======== Part 59. Such Different Loves ==========
Winter was over, but the corridors of Hogwarts were still cold. A good knowledge of warming spells was essential for everyone, even the younger students. Even now, students were walking through the corridors wrapped in their winter robes, because maintaining a spell constantly was not the easiest task, although it helped develop the source. There was no one on the eighth floor, and Draco habitually imagined the desired view of the room and entered cautiously. Ten minutes later, the door to the "Room of Requirement," which now looked exactly like the Slytherin common room, swung open again. Standing in the doorway was a slender girl with chestnut hair, and Malfoy smiled happily at his potential bride.
"What's going on at Hogwarts, Draco?" Hermione looked at him questioningly. "All classes have been cancelled, the professors are acting tense, and the headmaster refused to continue our potions lessons!"
"Snape expelled Carrow from Hogwarts for bullying Muggle-borns," Malfoy shrugged. "There's a chance that the Dark Lord will see this as a violation of his will and show up to kill our headmaster. The professors are preparing to evacuate the students to the dormitories so that no one gets hurt. Snape told me himself, as head boy," Draco said in surprise. "McGonagall didn't warn you?
"She's acting strange today," the girl complained. "She's not herself."
"She's probably nervous," Malfoy said to Hermione, pulling her onto his lap. "Look what I have for you."
The girl glanced curiously at what Malfoy was holding out to her.
It was a beautiful velvet box with a golden monogram on the lid. Granger held her breath, looking at Draco excitedly.
"Is it what I think it is?" she asked tensely.
"You check," Malfoy said with a sly smile.
Hermione excitedly opened the box, but instead of the expected engagement ring, she saw a small vial of potion, which she immediately recognised as "Luck Potion".
"Is this for me?" squealed the future master potion maker, delighted with the gift much more than if there had been a gold ring with the largest diamond in the box.
"It's getting dangerous at Hogwarts," Draco said, embarrassed, "and I decided to protect you in this way, at least. The thing you're so afraid of," he said, carefully smoothing her hair, "will definitely happen right after the final exams, but in a more solemn setting.
Hermione immediately forgot her worries and, settling more comfortably in his arms, looked at the gift with delight. She already had lots of ideas about how to use this rare potion.
After a couple of hours of talking about the future and other pleasant things, Malfoy and Granger left the Room of Requirement and immediately ran into Longbottom. Usually a cheerful, chubby teenager, he was now pale as death.
"What's wrong, Neville?" Hermione asked in surprise. "Did something happen?" Her face, flushed from the Room of Requirement, quickly turned pale.
"My grandmother was killed," Longbottom hissed. "By people like you, Death Eaters," he said, glaring at the Slytherin and clenching his fists.Malfoy was taken aback by the unexpected remark and frowned.
"Draco isn't a Death Eater and never has been," Hermione blurted out, unconsciously trying to defend her boyfriend. "His father was also killed by Voldemort!"
"You're all the same," Neville spat as he walked past. "Leave me alone!"
Hermione stared in shock at the back of the usually shy and kind boy as he walked away down the corridor.
"Come on, Hermione," Malfoy tried to distract her. "It's obvious that Longbottom is ready to attack anyone to ease his pain a little. He's incapable of punishing his real enemies. It's a good thing our house is protected by Fidelius, otherwise I'd be worried about my mum too.
Hermione was struck as if by an electric shock, instantly realising that her parents were completely defenceless against the Death Eaters.
"Draco!" she whispered hoarsely. "My mum and dad... They have no protection against Voldemort!"
Draco looked at the girl, who was ready to rush out, and thought for a moment. He couldn't invite the Grangers to his manor. His mother was in the last months of pregnancy, and his father would never allow strangers into the estate. So the only option was to offer Hermione's parents a place to stay abroad. Moving to the Dursley-Granger manor wasn't the best option either, as it would be even easier for the Death Eaters to find Hermione's parents in the magical world.
"Let's go to your house this weekend and talk to them," Draco decided. "We'll go to Hogsmeade, and from there it won't be difficult to get to London through the fireplace network.
***
The forbidden forest was visible from the window of the headmaster's tower. Cassius sat in an armchair and looked with interest at the old folios in the bookcase. With all these problems, studying magic had become much more difficult, but Black still tried to find time to learn something new. Now he had spotted an interesting tome on light magic that was worth looking at, if only out of curiosity.
There was no portrait of Phineas Nigel Black, and Cassius had nothing to talk about with the other directors. The oldest portrait was created in the seventeenth century, but Black was interested in more ancient times. Dumbledore was constantly asleep, enchanted by Snape, and the boy paid no attention to the portraits. Taking a small black cube out of his pocket, Cassius placed it on the table and waved his wand. In an instant, a stunned baby phoenix appeared in its place. Seeing Black, it squeaked angrily and immediately tried to peck his finger viciously.
"Yes, little one," Cassius grinned, "it's only been a moment for you, and you're already mourning your old master.
The naked and shriveled chick spread its wings belligerently and flashed fire every now and then, lunging at the outstretched palm. Waiting for the next attack, Black deftly grabbed the chirping chick.
"And now we'll remove the last of your bonds, little one," Cassius smiled.
With a wave of his wand, he created a bright ball of fire and immediately threw the magical bird into it.
"Born of fire, you shall return to the flames," whispered Black, maintaining the temperature of the magical sphere. The phoenix burst into flames and disappeared, merging with the element. Cassius stopped the spell only after ten minutes, and an adult bird appeared on the table, but with a slightly different colouring than Dumbledore's familiar.
"Now we just have to wait for your new master," muttered Cassius, stuffing the creature into a cage that was immediately transfigured. The phoenix immediately opened its amber eyes and tried to break free, testing the strength of its prison several times. It flashed with a white glow but remained unbreakable. Achieving nothing, the phoenix sat on its perch and fell silent, hiding its head under its wing.
The door opened silently and Snape burst into the office, looking angry about something. However, the potions master was often in a bad mood, so his menacing appearance made no impression on Cassius.
"Good evening, Mr. Snape," Black greeted the headmaster, causing him to flinch. "You look troubled. I think you need to get yourself a familiar.
Snape looked at Cassius in bewilderment, completely confused, not understanding how Black had so easily found his way into his office, which was locked with every spell imaginable.
"A familiar?" the potions master asked in amazement. "Are you mocking me, Mr Black, or is this a bad attempt at humour?"
"No jokes, headmaster," Cassius smiled. "It's just that I've had this stray phoenix lying around since the battle at the Ministry, and I spontaneously decided to give it to you. And since a magical bird cannot be kept near a wizard without being bound, it would be natural to perform the familiar ritual. Just imagine, Mr. Snape," the boy grinned. "Tears, feathers from its tail, spatial magic. The phoenix is a very useful bird; no other wizard in England has one like it."
Snape looked at the agitated phoenix with new eyes. Apparently, he imagined how much useful information could be obtained from the bird.
"He's different from Fawkes," Snape decided, studying the phoenix."Actually, it's the same immortal bird," Cassius shrugged. "I just cleansed it of its ties and excess memory. Now the phoenix has no obligations.
"Then I have no objection. Let's perform the ritual, Lord Black," Snape shrugged.
The students and professors in the Great Hall stared in amazement at the headmaster and Cassius as they entered. There was nothing unusual about the appearance of the wizards, except for one thing: a phoenix was sitting on the headmaster's shoulder. The contented bird had chosen its new place and was now enjoying the attention it was receiving.
In a deathly silence, the wizards approached the teachers' table. Cassius nodded to those present and sat down at the edge, while Snape took his usual place in the centre.
"Bon appétit," Severus muttered, and it was as if someone had turned on the sound in the Great Hall. Everyone began to talk loudly, discussing the unexpected appearance of the bird, even the professors glanced at Snape with curiosity.
"The phoenix has been reborn once again and decided to stay at Hogwarts," Severus muttered discontentedly, putting down his cutlery, tired of the curious glances.
"And since the headmaster has his favourite nuts in his office, the phoenix decided not to change his place of residence," Cassius commented quietly. "If the nuts are the same, what difference does it make who feeds you? Bearded headmaster or not."
The pretty black girl Aurora Sinistra, sitting nearby, heard Black's words and snorted softly.
"Snape is lucky with his bird," Cassius winked at the Astronomy teacher. "My whale-headed one loves to eat young crocodiles. Where can I get them in England? Nowhere," Black sighed. "I have to order them from smugglers.
Sinistra laughed merrily, and Pomona and Minerva looked at them disapprovingly.
The little half-goblin tore himself away from his plate and nodded intently to the boy:
"Mr Black, can you spare some time after lunch?
Cassius nodded affirmatively, not forgetting the letter and invitation he had received to talk.
"You can talk in the staff room, Filius," McGonagall smiled a little unnaturally.
Flitwick looked questioningly at Cassius, who simply shrugged.
"Where would be convenient for you, Professor?" Black grinned.
"Then let's go to the staff room," Flitwick said without hesitation.
Leaving the Great Hall and heading for the main exit, they approached the office, which was flanked by two stone gargoyles. Whispering the password, Flitwick entered the room, and Cassius followed him. Settling into one of the chairs, the young man looked curiously at the half-goblin, inviting him to speak.
"Mr Black," squeaked Filius. "Gringotts Bank is offering you a long-term partnership, which would be good to start with a single transaction.
"I'm listening, Professor," Cassius smiled kindly.
"There are quite a few vaults at Gringotts whose owners have never been found," Flitwick said seriously. "This happens when a family line is completely extinct and there is no blood relative who can claim the inheritance. These vaults remain closed for hundreds of years and then become the property of the bank when the storage lease expires. Very often," the half-goblin chewed his lips, "this involves considerable risk for us, especially when it comes to ancient and ancient magical families. The vaults are very seriously enchanted against intrusion, including by us. And that means casualties among curse breakers and goblins.
"Are you offering me to open them for you?" Cassius was astonished.
"No," Fleetwick shook his head. "We are offering them to you as your property, with all their contents. If you can open them, of course," the half-goblin grinned. "Believe me, there is much of interest to any wizard in the vaults of ancient families.
"And what do you want in return?" Black asked curiously. "Goblins aren't known for their charity.
"Just a small trifle," Fleetwick grinned. "We want the sword of Gryffindor back. Once upon a time, our people made an artefact for the founder, and after Godric's death, we expected the sword to be returned to us according to the agreement, but the wizards never gave it back.
"Trifle, indeed," Cassius thought to himself. "The key to Hogwarts' defence and the founder's relic. And as a prize, the opportunity to kill yourself on someone else's curse in the dungeons of Gringotts."
"I don't know where the sword of Gryffindor is," Black shrugged. "And the reward, excuse me, is too dubious. Getting some ancient curse from an enchanted vault is not much fun, don't you think?
"The blade is hidden in the Sorting Hat's pocket," continued the half-goblin, seemingly oblivious to the scepticism. "Only a dark wizard, a graduate of Gryffindor, can transfer it into the sole possession of our people. You are the only such case in several hundred years, Mr Black.
"I can't help you," Cassius sighed with feigned regret. "Rumour has it that the sword of Gryffindor can indeed be removed from the Sorting Hat. However, the person who removes it must be a 'true Gryffindor' and in desperate need of help at that moment.Flitwick looked at Black with an unreadable expression, waiting for an explanation.
"I hardly fit the definition of a 'true Gryffindor,'" Cassius smiled, remembering the Sorting Hat's futile attempts to read his mind. "And desperately needing help here, in the most protected place in England, is hardly possible for me either.
"Well," the half-goblin grinned. "Mother magic won't let me lie, I tried. I won't keep you any longer, Mr Black. I'll pass on your decision to Gringotts.
Cassius headed for the exit, while Filius remained seated in his chair, nervously fiddling with his wand.
***
Breaking free from Carrow's mind, Molly struggled to resist the urge to strangle the Devourer immediately. Such disgusting images were conjured up in Alecto's sick imagination that the former Prutt, now a frail young woman, was overcome with revulsion. However, the method Molly had decided to use to save the children did not involve killing Alecto. On the contrary, this bitch would have to be kept safe for the time being.
Having reduced the figure of the "Devourer" to a small size, Molly went to Knockturn Alley, where she bought a full flask of high-quality Polyjuice potion. Returning to the Burrow, she placed Carrow's body in the attic, under the protection of the house ghoul, and immediately used the Polyjuice potion. Transforming into Alecto, the woman immediately transgressed into Parkinson Manor.
***
Voldemort emerged with disgust from Ginny Weasley's mind. The petty red-haired slut had nothing useful for the Dark Lord in her head except a vague memory of the fate of the "diary" and some magical poison that helped to stupefy Potter in order to get his surname and money.
"None of that will be of any use to you now," the Dark Lord sneered, raising his wand to end the life of the "blood traitor," but stopped at the last moment. The sweet images of torture he had read in Carrow's mind gave the half-reptile a delightful thrill.
"All right, let's give Alecto the chance to take her revenge," the mage grinned. "A lord must encourage his servants from time to time." The Dark Lord rushed out of the dungeons, Nagaina crawling at his feet, hissing in disappointment.
The dungeons were once again filled with silence, broken only by the ragged breathing of the prisoners who were still alive.
"My head," moaned Ginny, curled up in a ball on the stone floor. Harry and Ron were in the same condition in the neighbouring cell.
Potter was in a terrible state. The Dark Lord came down to him every day and simply tortured him. The teenager received Cruciatus without any words, and Voldemort watched his torment with pleasure.
"I wish he would just kill me already," the half-dead teenager thought bitterly.
The Dark Lord, however, said that Harry would have to earn a quick death. He made it clear that he would only kill Potter in public to show all of magical England the futility of Trelawney's prophecy.
"And this is for you, so you don't get bored waiting for me, my boy," Voldemort mimicked Dumbledore's favourite phrase, throwing Harry the same collection of Biddley's tales. "The old man was confused in his senility before he died, Potter. Perhaps you will find some comfort in these stories."
And now, in the dim light of the magical lanterns, Harry, his glasses broken, read the scary and instructive stories of the past, but found no comfort. Potter really wanted to live, but he didn't know how to get out of the dungeons. Their wands had been taken away immediately, and the teenager had never practised wandless spells. All attempts to use "Oculus Reparo" to at least repair his glasses were in vain.
There was a sound of footsteps, and Voldemort's loyal follower, Alecto Carrow, entered the room. The teenagers tried to press themselves against the wall; they had heard the Death Eater's threats to take revenge on the Weasleys many times. So now neither Ginny nor Ron expected anything good from her.
"Don't touch them!" Potter shouted, watching in horror as the Death Eater took out her wand, approached the bars and opened the cells. Immobilising the teenagers, she turned them into small figures and put them in her pocket. Then she approached Harry, who was staring at her intently, cast a sleeping spell on him, and did the same thing she had done to the children. After that, she transfigured a copy of him out of straw and threw it against the wall of the cell. On her way to the exit, Weasley went into the room where the prisoners' belongings were kept and took Ginny's bag, putting the teenagers' wands and personal belongings into it. Then she gathered her strength, exhaled, and headed firmly for the exit.
Molly, disguised as Carrow, expecting to be called out at any moment, carefully closed the dungeon door behind her and stepped out into the corridor. With difficulty suppressing her trembling, she calmly walked past the crawling Nagaina and went out into the street. Nodding to a Devourer who waved at her from the courtyard, she walked with wooden steps towards the manor fence and immediately apparated just beyond it.
Only when she reached the Burrow did the woman allow herself to breathe a sigh of relief. Then she went up to the attic and, with a cruel smile, fed the unconscious body of the Devourer to the ghoul. Then she went out into the yard, locked the house, and apparated to Tinworth, located in Cornwall.
Here, on the shore, she bought a cottage called "The Shell," which no one knew about. After putting the children in bedrooms that were identical to those in Burrow, Molly activated the defences, went into her room, and passed out as soon as she lay down on the bed.
The sound of the sea could be heard even inside the house, and the smell of seaweed and the rustling of pebbles drifted in through the open window. Harry opened his eyes and at first couldn't believe it. He was lying in his room in the Weasley house. In clean pyjamas and in the same bed he usually slept in when visiting Ron. His best friend was fast asleep in the next bed, occasionally moaning in his sleep from painful memories.
"Ron, wake up!" Potter hissed, and the redhead immediately jumped up, looking around.
"Huh? What?" he asked, looking around the room with a frightened expression. "Are we home?"
"It certainly looks like it, but it's not the Burrows," whispered Harry. "Look out the window, there's the sea.
They both leaned out and saw the sea. There was a soft knock at the door, and Ginny's tousled head appeared in the doorway.
"You're here," she breathed with relief. "I thought it was all a dream.
There were noises from below, and the smell of cooking wafted up to the teenagers. They cautiously began to descend the stairs, startling at every sound, but to their relief, they saw Molly downstairs, cooking something in the spacious kitchen.
"Oh, you're awake," the woman smiled. "Come here, let me hug you.
They all rushed to her, chattering happily.
"Thanks for saving us, Mum," Ronald muttered into her ear. "I don't remember anything. How did you do it?"
"Sit down and have breakfast," the woman smiled. "I came and saved you, Ron. It was nothing heroic. I was just lucky that no one was there except the servants and the guards. And they all knew me. Or rather, the disguise I was wearing.
"So you were in the guise of Alecto Carrow?" Harry asked in amazement.
Weasley nodded in agreement.
"Enough talk, sit down and eat," she ordered sternly.
When everyone had eaten their fill, Molly looked seriously at the teenagers.
"I'm going to Burrow's now to set traps for the Death Eaters, if they show up. You stay here and don't go anywhere. The fireplace is connected to the network, but only the former owner knows the address. She's in France right now, so it's okay. It's just in case we have to run," Molly explained. "Anyway, relax, recharge your batteries, go for a swim. There's a nice stretch of beach cleared," she nodded towards the sea, then showed them where the food was and left.
The guys really did go to the beach, even though Ron whined the whole way there that he wanted to lie around in the room. The sea was still cold, but where the beach had been magically cleared, a warming artefact was in effect. So Harry, Ron and Ginny splashed around in the sea with great pleasure.
"We should have left my brother at home," the girl said, snuggling up to Potter. "Ron's sour face will ruin our whole holiday.
"He's just jealous," Harry grinned. "Granger sent him away last year, and he never really liked Lavender anyway.
"Poor Ron," the young witch sang mockingly, pressing herself even closer to Potter. "The whole Weasley family was ruined by a dirty mudblood.
"Shut up, Ginny!" Ron jumped out of the water angrily and shook his fist. "Granger will be mine anyway, she's not going anywhere. When I find out who her boyfriend is, I'll beat him up so he won't go near her again.
Finally, Ron managed to get dressed and headed for home with a proud, independent look on his face.
"I suggest we go and get up to some mischief," Ginny said hoarsely, pulling Potter towards her...
An hour later, the satisfied teenagers, holding hands, walked slowly barefoot on the warm sand, but at the edge of the thermal zone, they hurried to put their shoes back on. The mood was great, the couple had already managed to forget all the horrors of their captivity, only a sad shadow sometimes fell across Potter's face.
When they approached the house, Harry noticed a familiar owl in the window.
"Buckle!" Potter smiled happily. "You found me, my dear.
The large polar owl, looking very important, fluffed up its feathers and then stretched out its paw to its owner. Harry puzzledly unfastened the letter from his mail carrier's leg.
"It's from Neville," Potter said, looking at the agitated Weasley.
Calling Ron into the kitchen, the former Hogwarts students sat down at the table and began to study the message carefully.
Longbottom described everything that had happened at the school and shared his grief. Although the children had been there themselves, they had not heard about Madam Longbottom's death.
"How is this possible?" whispered Ginny, white as a sheet. "We're alive, Mum's safe, but the lady of the manor is dead?"
Neville said that Snape had expelled two Death Eaters from Hogwarts who had been bullying Muggle-born students and had banned them from the school grounds. For this, he faces trouble and possibly death at the hands of Voldemort.
"Slytherin is the place for Snape," Ron added. "They just couldn't share power. He's no better than Voldemort," Weasley cursed, remembering his Potions lessons.
"Neville says that we should join the other kids in defending Hogwarts," Potter's eyes lit up. "He wants me to lead the resistance!
"You know, mate," Ronald said seriously, looking at him. "Mum said to stay here, and for once I agree with her. Let Snape and Longbottom fight it out themselves if that's what they want.
"What are you talking about, Ron?" Harry was stunned. "Who else can defeat him but me? What about the prophecy?"
"Please don't be offended," the redhead smiled crookedly, "but you can't handle the one who must not be named. He's stronger, older, he's the Dark Lord, after all!
"That creature killed my parents!" Potter hissed indignantly. "If the prophecy says that only I can defeat him, then I have to be there!"
"Harry," Ginny stroked his arm. "If you and Ron leave, who will protect me?
Potter's face twisted in a grimace, as if in internal struggle.
"Then I'll go alone," Harry muttered. "You stay here and be safe.
Ginny, not embarrassed by her brother, kissed Potter passionately on the lips, and the teenager hurried upstairs to get ready. After changing, he grabbed his wand and, out of habit, tucked a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard into his robe.
"Goodbye," Harry sprinkled flying powder into the fireplace and disappeared in an emerald flame.
"Why did you let him go, Ginny?" Ron frowned angrily. "What if he gets killed there?"
"It's okay," the seventh Weasley looked coldly at her brother. "I'll still have his child, which means access to the Potter inheritance.