Cat and Mouse-Chapter 17
Harry's pronouncement was met with opposition as he thought it might. He really hadn't had a plan beyond talking to the students who returned to school and to tell everyone he was leaving. Curiously, Bill offered an alternative.
"Listen, everyone. I don't necessarily agree that Harry's idea is rash. I think he has the right idea but maybe he hasn't thought of an alternative that just popped into my head," he seemed to get back some of his old vigor like when Harry had first met him the year they went to the Quidditch World Cup.
"Okay, son. What is it?" asked Mr. Weasley.
"What if Harry did leave school?" asked Bill. Everyone looked at him with anticipation.
"Bill, why are you making us guess at what you're getting at?" asked Fred. "Come on, Bill."
Bill seemed to have not been listening. He seemed as if he were putting together a plan on the fly. "Okay, like I said. It just popped into my head, but I think it would work. It would do exactly what Harry wants it to do, but it would also make things less dangerous for him…at least in theory anyway. What if Fleur and I posed as Harry and Hermione at Hogwarts using Polyjuice Potion while Harry uncovers the secrets that Dumbledore has shared with him? They could leave school tomorrow after he speaks posing as Fleur and I. Lord Voldemort would get a message through the wizard press and any spies he has that Harry is at school with the added benefit of Harry being able to have a bit of a go at Voldemort and his Death Eaters."
Harry liked what he heard. It sounded so simple in theory, but he knew there were enormous risks. He liked the idea of doing what he had to do about the Horcruxes as soon as possible, but he didn't like the idea of putting even more people at risk, but in the long run he thought that it just might work.
Mr. Weasley had a large grin on his face. "It might be all we can do to start the process tomorrow for now. I mean the Ministry has a quantity of Polyjuice Potion on hand at all times for special operations that require Aurors to pose as other people. We could get some of that. Beyond tomorrow, we need to be careful to plan the rest without drawing attention to Harry and Hermione posing as Bill and Fleur. The last thing we want is for either of them to be seen as possible targets while they are being impersonated. Harry? I think you should give this careful consideration. It would give you time to get close to whatever it is you have to do without anyone being the wiser."
"Dad," said Bill. "I know enough about Hogwarts to pull this off. I think you will be surprised at how well Fleur could adapt."
"Yes, I can speak your disgusting English without the slightest trace of an accent if I like," said Fleur tauntingly with perfect British inflection. She winked at Hermione and said, "Now, whether or not I can be a pain in the arse know-it-all like Hermione remains to be seen."
Hermione smiled as she turned pink. She knew Fleur was having a bit of fun but her expression bore a little pain that people still thought of her that way. "Oh, have your fun now, but wait and see what happens if you don't get the highest marks and they get after you about it, Fleur. I don't want my reputation as one of the brightest witches Hogwarts has ever seen tarnished by some foreigner." It was Hermione's turn.
"Touché, Hermione. Touché," said Fleur with a little laugh. "I think that I can do it though. I was a really good student…the top of my class at Beauxbatons but certainly not in the class of Hermione Granger." Fleur smiled as she paid Hermione the compliment.
To this point no one else had spoken. They had all listened incredulously as if each of the participants in this conversation were crazy. "Arthur, you can't be seriously considering this idea?" questioned Molly.
"Molly, what's the worst that could happen? Harry has already decided he's not going to study at Hogwarts this year. Or, at least he's not until this is resolved with Lord Voldemort. The poor chap has dealt with people dying around him his entire life. I imagine he welcomes the opportunity to finish it once and for all," answered Arthur.
Molly shook her head in stunned silence. A minute or so passed and she spoke again. "What do you think of this plan Remus? Tonks?"
"Molly, I know you want these children to be protected at all times, but they will not be if this current state of affairs continues until they finish this school year," said Remus. "Sure, keeping them in school under the watchful eye of Ministry Aurors and teachers would be safer in the short-term, but what if it does nothing but allow Voldemort time to plan an organized assault on Hogwarts or some other location. No matter how good we are as wizards, the element of fear and surprise would surely work against us and then Hogwarts might not even be safe."
"I have heard all summer about something that Harry needs to do. I know that it involves finding and destroying something called Horcruxes, but why does it have to be Harry?" asked Molly.
Harry wasn't sure how many people here knew about Horcruxes and their uses. He couldn't remember if it had been discussed during the training with the other students this summer or if Lupin had divulged any of this information to the other adults. But he knew this was his question to answer.
"Mrs. Weasley, you know that I have a special connection to Lord Voldemort, right?" asked Harry waiting for her acknowledgement.
"Yes, Harry, everyone is aware of that," she replied rather impatiently.
"Professor Dumbledore has shared things with me that only I would understand given this connection. It is not because you or anyone one else is incapable of finding the Horcruxes, it is because I have been entrusted with information that gives me a certain insight into what must be done. I don't like it all that much either. But seeing as how Lord Voldemort will be after me in the end regardless of my like or dislike for being in this position, I need to make sure that he is at his weakest when he does. Destroying these Horcruxes is the only way to do that. In fact, it is the only way to keep him from being immortal. That's all I can say," explained Harry as he looked down to the floor.
There was a stunned look on almost every face except Hermione's, Ron's and Professor Lupin's. Hermione was quick to add, "Letting it slip to the wrong people that you even know that much could cost Harry and all of us our lives. Lord Voldemort must not be able to make new ones or get the opportunity to protect the ones he now thinks are safe. Just so you understand, that is all I know that you don't know." Harry understood why she was lying about not knowing more. She had to let them know that this is very significant to any hopes of succeeding in defeating the Dark Lord.
"I think we are all in agreement that something must be done. However, the question now is whether or not we will implement the first stage of the plan or not," said Remus. "I vote that we try it. Even if after five days we discover that it is too dangerous or that it is a wasted effort, we can simply carefully restore the two couples to their own identities and start over."
"Well, that's a point I didn't consider," said Molly in a calmer voice. "It isn't as if there is any lasting harm done by trying it. I am sorry for being a worrywart, but I am a mother." She blushed ever so slightly.
Harry looked at Hermione. "Hermione, it's up to you? You have to be willing to do this too. Or, you can stay at Hogwarts with Bill while Fleur and I make due," said Harry seriously.
"No, that won't work at all," said Bill with a chuckle. "Every time you get involved with a girl who is remotely connected to the Weasley family a Weasley ends up on the wrong end. You're not going to steal my wife." He laughed. "Seriously, all kidding aside, I think that it should be done as a couple or not at all. It will be stressful and to have the people we love and trust most with us will make it easier to stay focused."
"Harry, you know I'm with you whatever you decide. It seems that we might also be ablt to take advantage of another unexpected benefit. Bill, were you and Fleur going to take a honeymoon?" asked Hermione.
Harry smiled. He loved the way the plan seemed to be taking shape. Even if they had not been planning to take a honeymoon before this very moment, it could easily be arranged. "I think that's a very good idea, really."
"Whoa," said George. "This is really getting to be kind of exciting. We can make costumes and disguises with the best of them. You don't really need to be the same person the whole time, do you?"
"What do you mean?" asked Harry.
"I mean you could slip out of the flat or wherever you decide to stay and use a different set of costumes or disguises each time, right? I mean all you have to do is look like someone other than Bill and Fleur or yourselves," said George.
There was laughter all around. "This could get really confusing," said Tonks. "I think we need to keep it really simple or we will have a hard time planning for it and keeping things straight."
"You're right, Tonks," said George with a smile. "But it would be so cool if Fred and I could actually contribute."
"Well, we know we have the ability to hide you in one fashion or another," said Arthur. "That's the important thing. We don't need to decide anything except the initial stage for tomorrow. I suggest that Bill and Fleur have decided to go back to France to see her family while Bill is in the final stages of recovery. That's a bona fide excuse for a honeymoon if there ever was one."
"Brilliant, Dad," said Bill.
"The only problem with that is the fact that there may be spies in France too," said Fleur. "Lord Voldemort is here. But he is here because this is the stronghold of Ministry power. We often have unsavory wizards and witches making trouble in our country too. So it would be wise not to divulge too much about our plans or make them too rigid. I think the only explanation should be that we are getting away from this craziness and are going off to enjoy our lives together for a while. If only it were true."
Harry felt a pang of sadness for Fleur and Bill. Their beautiful wedding had been reduced to civic ceremony to make them legal in both the muggle and wizard worlds. Fleur had looked forward to the wedding with such anticipation. Bill had too, but he was more excited because of how happy Fleur seemed to be to have such a beautiful day planned. And now, they were being asked to sacrifice again.
"Fleur, Bill," said Harry. "I hope that Hermione and I are always able to call you friends. You have given up so much to help and protect me. And that goes without saying how much you've done to help the Ministry's cause. I admire you both." He knew he didn't need to say it, but, at the risk of sounding over-the-top he knew they needed to hear it.
"Thank you, Harry. You have no idea how much that means," said Bill. "Right, Fleur?"
Fleur looked at Harry with tears in her eyes. It was the same expression she'd had when he'd emerged from the Black Lake with her sister. "Harry, it is because I owe you my sister's life that I will always help you. Even if she wasn't really in danger then, you thought she was and I remember it every time I look at you. Yes, those words mean very much to me." She stumbled in her English for the first time as the emotion welled inside her. She hugged Harry and kissed him on the cheek.
"I think that's it for the night everyone," said Mr. Weasley. "It is late and we will never think of everything we need to do tonight. It seems to me that we are lucky to have the talents of each and every one of us here tonight. Good night." Mr. Weasley walked slowly up the steps toward the master bedroom.
The morning was the most chaotic Harry had ever had going off to Hogwarts. First, they had to go to Flourish and Blotts to get school books for Ginny, Ron, Harry and Hermione. They had never done this on the same morning that they were to be at Hogwarts. They would not be taking the train as they had always done. Tonks had arranged for the floo to be opened between the Ministry and Professor McGonagall's office. The arrival time had always been a late evening one and getting there much faster than normal allowed them extra time to organize the deception that would set Harry free to look for the Horcruxes.
"How do we explain being here without going on the train, Professor McGonagall?" asked Ginny as she sat with her family in the Headmistress' office at Hogwarts.
"It is simple. There are advantages afforded to the sons and daughters of Ministry officials these days. Besides, your entire family is here. That should be reason enough. Furthermore, there should be a lot less nosiness now that we no longer have students whose parents are supporting Lord Voldemort," said Professor McGonagall
Professor McGonagall was informed of the plan as soon as everyone had arrived. Everyone agreed that she deserved the respect of knowing what was going on within the school. She was pleased to see that Ron and Ginny were back and very saddened to hear that Hermione and Harry would not be with her.
"Mr. Potter, I am truly disappointed that I shall have to pretend you are here. Ms. Granger, I hope you know what you're in for with this boy." For the first time anyone could remember, Professor McGonagall had joked with someone. "Of course, I'm only partially kidding. But both of you please be careful. It would be my pleasure to allow you to return for your seventh year studies next year if you are unable to return this year. It is unprecedented, but we will be obliged to take care of your education if you are successful." She though momentarily. "On the other hand, why would you need us, if you are able to defeat the Dark Lord?" The faint trace of a smile crossed her face.
Since they were several hours earlier than the arrival of the vast majority of students and those who have come to hear how the school will fair after the death of Albus Dumbledore. Everyone involved in Harry's escape from Hogwarts (the term they gave it for simplicity sake) gathered together in the former Headmaster's study to further discuss the plans.
The most important of all of the things they discussed was that the only thing they could plan was what to do should they run into each other. It would be just as awkward for Harry and Hermione call anyone else by their name as it would be for Bill and Fleur once they had used the potion. Secondly, communication would go through Ron and Ginny at school. Owls would come from the Weasleys in both directions which meant that Harry and Hermione would return frequently to The Burrow should their search last longer than a few weeks. And, finally, everyone knew that it was imperative that what they knew remain a secret. No one, no matter how important, no matter how much they seemed to know, or no matter how threatening they became would be told anything of their plans if they were not in that room right then.
"Everything else…," said Harry, "we will have to handle as it comes up, I think."
"Agreed," said Bill. "There are just too many things that could interfere to try to plan for them all. That is why the communication path is so important. With Aurors throughout the school at all times I think that Tonks would be a logical person to pass things to Professor McGonagall. From there, I can handle it with Fleur, Ron and Ginny."
"I must admit that I never thought I'd be announcing Harry Potter's name as Head Boy. As for Miss Granger, I had always hoped it would be her," said the Headmistress.
Harry looked hurt. "Professor, was I truly that bad of a student?"
"No, Potter, not at all. Remember that Professor Dumbledore didn't give you many opportunities because of the burden you carried. I was merely saying that yours was a name that I had never anticipated. For what it's worth, it will be a good omen that someone such as you is named Head Boy."
The next two hours involved the usual beginning of the school year events. The arrival of the students, the herding in of the first years by Hagrid, and the Sorting Hat's song were the norm. Except that this year, the Sorting Hat lay quiet on the chair as the entire school and guests looked on in confused silence. Just as Professor McGonagall was to begin, the Sorting Hat's peak rose and the mouth at the brim opened.
In days of yore courage, wisdom, hard work, and daring prevailed
Today we mourn the loss of one our greatest, unceremoniously assailed
All that we hold dear must be renewed to keep our family alive
It will require the heart and soul of our forefathers to unite and strive
Remembrance of the greatness of this place and our lessons learned
United, four houses--not three--must join the fight till darkness be spurned.
The Sorting Hat fell silent until the first person sat. The sorting then began as it always had. But there was look of furious pride on each face that Harry noticed. It was as if the Sorting Hat had enchanted each student with new resolve. For unlike years previous, the new students cheered for each other regardless of house as they assumed there seats at each table. Harry stood at the announcement of the first Slytherin and cheered as the thought of Professor Dumbledore ran through his head from his very first year, "It is our choices, Harry, that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities." (CoS, 333) He decided that he was now going to be Head Boy and he chose to act like it.
Hermione and everyone at the Gryffindor table looked at Harry strangely, yet stood with him and applauded. Soon, every person in the Great Hall was on their feet applauding. They remained there applauding each new student without regard for the house for which they had been selected. When the sorting was done, Professor McGonagall took the podium.
"Welcome to Hogwarts everyone. I certainly cannot compete with the persona of my predecessor as a speaker, but I want to assure each and every one of you that Hogwarts will survive because of the strength of character and undying example of leadership that is the legacy of Professor Albus Dumbledore," she said. There was brief applause. "On to the business at hand," she continued. "It is unprecedented to announce the Head Boy and Head Girl at Hogwarts on this podium since in the past it was announced in the materials accompanying the letter of acceptance to the school. This year is different in very many ways. Because of these unusual circumstances, and also because we will be required to work much more closely together to ensure the safety of all who attend the school, I have decided to allow our new Head Boy and Head Girl the opportunity to speak to all of you. I present, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger."
Harry walked slowly holding Hermione's hand. There was complete silence. It seemed as if the entire room was stunned that it wasn't Ernie MacMillan or someone else. His mind was racing as he thought of what he planned to say. He knew what he said would have a great impact on Bill, so he wanted the message to be simple and uncomplicated but forceful.
"Hello, everyone. I am proud to be Head Boy at Hogwarts. I am proud to represent Hogwarts. I am proud of the way we supported each and every new member who was sorted tonight. Many of you already know my story. And, until a few short years ago, some of you knew my story better than I did. My parents were a wizard and muggle-born witch. My father was Head Boy here too. But that is not the reason I'm telling you about them. They were parents like yours. They loved me with all their hearts. They sacrificed their lives to give me the opportunity to live in a world without fear of people like Lord Voldemort. I am hear to inspire you with a story. I will not take much of your time. But I don't believe that many of you know this story the way I'm going to tell it."
"Lord Voldemort is a lying, two-bit mudblood, elitist fraud," said Harry loudly as he pounded the podium. "Yes, that's right. He was the son of a muggle father and witch mother. His mother by all accounts was mad as a hatter. She fell in love with the rich muggle man who road by their house. Through the use of a love potion, she convinced him that he loved her and married him. When she got pregnant she convinced herself that he loved her without the potion. She was wrong. He threw her to the street to fend for herself. She died in childbirth at an orphanage pleading that he be given his father's name. That child's name was Thomas Marvolo Riddle. He was Head Boy here at Hogwarts too. He was a member of Slytherin and was responsible for the death of a young girl here. The rest you all have probably learned in one way or another."
Every person in the room had a look of stunned silence and disgust. Harry looked around and continued. "Yes, he would have you believe that only pure blood wizards deserve to live. He would exterminate all muggles and half-bloods, or anyone who would associate with non-pure blood wizards. He is a madman--a very brilliant and powerful madman-but a madman none the less. His followers are sick men and women who will stop at nothing to silence people like me whose parents were murdered by him and his cronies." He let what he said sink in to everyone.
"This summer, he committed and act so disgusting and unwarranted that I find myself wanting to kill him with my bare hands as I stand in front of you. He killed an entire family whose children were our friends and classmates. He brutally murdered them."
"A few moments ago, I used a term that curdles my stomach. I learned the term when it was used to describe my best friend in the world-with due respect to Ron Weasley. Hermione Granger never hurt anyone in her life, but one of our classmates who is now running from the Ministry called her that for no other reason than to be mean and to disrupt what should be the most wonderful experience of our lives…our magical education. He wanted to humiliate her to the point of not wanting to come back. She has never given in and neither should any of us."
Harry knew he must wrap up quickly and forcefully. "I'm not here to recount every wrong that the misguided sons and daughters of the Death Eaters have done. I'm not here to cast a shadow on the house whose preference is people from solid wizard backgrounds. Everyone has the right to choose who his friends and associates are. What I am here to say is that if you are of like mind to Lord Voldemort and display any threat whatsoever to your fellow classmates, you will have me to answer to. I'll take that one step further. Why is Lord Voldemort obsessed with me? Is it because I kicked his arse as a one-year old baby and have been doing it ever since? He has no sense of style or nobility. The night he killed Cedric Diggory, he couldn't even let Cedric have a fair chance. He is a coward when it comes right down to it. He is dangerous, but he is also nothing but a glorified prat. If you don't think so, why is he afraid to confront a school boy like me in the open without six of his Death Eaters? Why must he send his henchmen out to kill innocent families instead of doing it himself? Don't get me wrong, I don't want to die. But he doesn't scare me like he used to. I know him now. He's a little boy that didn't get enough love from his mother and he hates me because my mother loved me with all her heart. And, that's the end of it. I stand here as Head Boy not to gloat over Lord Voldemort, but to show you that we stand for what is right. Your parents should be fighting him at every turn outside these gates, because if they don't, he is sick enough and powerful enough to destroy us all if we are not united. Thank you."
Harry stepped down toward the table. The entire room was silent until a woman's voice from the back interrupted it. "Mr. Potter, how are you different from him? You are calling him names from the safest place in the entire wizard world. Doesn't that make you a bit suspect in your call for action?"
"Ah, Miss Rita Skeeter, Animagus extraordinaire, wanting to start comparing notes about fairness," said Harry. "Oops, I'm surprised you didn't report this as if you were a fly on the wall. Oops, again. That is what you turn into, isn't it? A bug? Oh, never mind, I'm sure that the Ministry won't care a bit that you've never registered and have used that ability to spy on people for as long as you've been doing this. I'm sorry, would you repeat the question?"
The glum faces began to soften a bit. "Oh, you are quite a snotty little boy, aren't you? I'm quite shocked that someone such as you would be the public face of Hogwarts. I asked you if it wasn't a little disingenuous to call someone a coward when you are hiding behind the walls of one of the wizard world's most secure places."
"Oh, I suppose it is a little disingenuous as you call it, but as usual you have just called the place where the greatest wizard of our age was murdered in cold-blood by the treachery of people you seem to be defending. Is that what you're doing? Making excuses for the Dark Lord himself, Rita?" Harry had no idea where these responses were coming from. He wondered if this is what Professor Dumbledore meant when he said that he'd never truly be gone as long as there were still people loyal to him. The thought made him laugh openly. "Come on, Miss Skeeter. I've answered your question. Would you like me to embarrass you with my answer to your next one? You can make all the mistakes you want in your article too, just as you have for years. This time you can print that I want to have tea and crumpets with my dear friend Tom Riddle. I refuse to call a commoner such as Riddle by a term like Lord. Oh, by the way, you can print that."
Now there was laughter in the Great Hall. "Here, here Harry!" yelled one student from the Ravenclaw table.
"Let her have it, Harry!" yelled another.
Professor McGonagall stood at the podium allowing this banter for few moments until Miss Skeeter exited through the large doors. "Are you quite finished, Mr. Potter?"
"May I say one more thing?" asked Harry. The Professor nodded with a sigh.
"I want to say one last thing to all of you. I am exasperated with this whole thing. I am not asking you or telling you to disregard Lord Voldemort. That would be dangerous and illogical. What I am saying is that he is just a man. He has been corrupted by the dark side of our world. Many of our parents have toyed with it and we learned that it brought nothing but pain and sorrow. Some of us are related to people who are still severely misguided. I am saying don't give up hope of a better life. You have to fight for it as I have since I learned of my parents' fate. Hope is all I have to look forward to except for Hermione and the love of my new family the Weasleys. Stand strong. Stand together." The emotion caused him to choke out those last words.
Professor McGonagall stood at the podium and nodded approvingly to Harry. "Thank you, Mr. Potter for making me entirely ashamed of selecting you as Head Boy," she said drolly. Harry knew that she was not kidding at all.
The rest of the evening involved one of Hogwarts start of the semester classic feasts. Harry ate well and looked around for a sign from the guest table beside the teachers' table that Bill and Fleur were ready to make the switch. Bill nodded just as Professor McGonagall arose to send everyone off to their houses.
"Now, one last bit before we all go off to bed. The forest is off-limits and Hogsmeade weekends are suspended for the time being. It is unfortunate, but it is a necessary precaution. Last but not least, I want to introduce two people that I invited as my guests because I was unable to attend their small wedding ceremony just two weeks ago. Bill Weasley was Head Boy here just a very few years ago and Fleur Delacour was one of the Triwizard Tournament champions from the Beauxbatons school in France just three years ago. They have proven that international cooperation is not only possible, but has lasting consequences." She smiled. "They are leaving very soon on an extended honeymoon abroad and this would be my last opportunity to congratulate them. I present Mr. and Mrs. Bill Weasley."
Bill and Fleur stood and waved.
"Now, off to bed all of you. Prefects, take charge of your houses," declared Professor McGonagall.
The commotion of all of the students leaving the Great Hall afforded Harry and Hermione the time to disappear into the anteroom adjacent to the Great Hall and await Bill and Fleur. Mrs. Weasley had hastily lengthened some of Harry's things to fit Bill so that the transition would only take minutes. Fifteen minutes after everyone had except the Weasleys and Mrs. McGonagall had left the Great Hall, Bill and Fleur slipped into the room with Harry and Hermione.
The one thing that had been planned in minute detail was to ensure that the clothes under Harry's and Hermione's robes were almost identical in color and design to those of Bill and Fleur. For Bill and Fleur, it was easy. They would wear robes almost continuously. After the switch they would each simply use the other's wardrobe.
"Harry, good luck mate. You really gave whoever will pass things to Voldemort an earful. Hopefully, I'll live out the week," said Bill with a smile. "Just because you have this safety net, don't get careless. If he finds you alone and unprotected as I always am, you will have your hands full I'm afraid."
"I hear you there, Bill. Don't make me look like a dork on that broom either Bill. I know you're still recovering, but I have a reputation to uphold," said Harry.
The last thing they needed to do was drink the potion. Harry looked at the vial in his hand and said, "You're sure I have yours and not Fleurs. I'm not sure I'm ready for a brassiere." He gulped it down quickly. He felt that same awful tearing feeling he'd felt when he'd become Goyle five years before. His stomach lurched as he finally started to feel normal.
"Meow," said someone next to him. He looked at Hermione who pretended that she'd turned into a cat like she had that awful day as well. Harry couldn't understand why he felt so uncomfortable. His ear felt cold and the back of his neck felt warmer than usual. He turned to the mirror and almost laughed. He'd simply not thought of what it would be like to wear a ponytail and an earring until just now.
"Nice, Hermione, you almost made me believe you were a cat," he said rolling his eyes. Harry realized that Hermione would now be the one who had to look at Bill's scarred face. He looked in the mirror and couldn't help but admire how Bill had survived such injuries. The reality of the transformation would take days to get used to he thought.
"Harry, don't get romantic with Hermione while you're transformed. I don't want that lustful look in your eye when you see Fleur when this is all over. Besides, Hermione may never be the same if she makes love to me once," smiled Bill.
Another of those things that had never occurred to him came crashing down on him. He couldn't help but notice how much taller Fleur was than Hermione. This was going to be a very interesting change.
"Ah, yes, there is always the other side of the equation too," said Hermione who then switched to her best Fleur impersonation. "But `Arry's bottom is so cute." She giggled for a moment at the incredulous faces around her. "But enough is enough. Good luck, Bill and Fleur. I hope that you know that we really love you guys for doing this. I feel so much better knowing that everyone thinks Harry is here."
"Well, just go do what you have to do, Harry. Don't let him be careless, Hermione," said Bill.
"We love you too," said Fleur. "Really, be careful."
Harry and Hermione stepped out of the room. "Good night, Harry and Hermione," said Hermione as Fleur. "We shall see you ven ve return." Harry could tell that Hermione wanted to giggle but suppressed it.
"Professor," Harry said as he emerged with Hermione in tow. "Do you mind if we use your office again for the floo? We are due to leave mid-afternoon tomorrow." Harry looked up and saw a bug on the curtain just above Professor McGonagall's head. "No, it couldn't be," he said incredulously. "Professor, you don't think Harry was serious when he said that Skeeter woman was an Animagus, do you?"
"Why, yes Bill, he had told me that before. Well, Professor, I think that your friend has been listening to you talk with the Weasleys for the entire time that I talked to Harry about being Head Boy at Hogwarts. What a shameless woman," said Harry.
Professor McGonagall turned, raised her wand as the bug attempted to get away and cast a spell that instantly turned the bug back into Rita Skeeter. "You lot from the Daily Prophet will have to send someone besides you from now on Miss Skeeter. I shall not allow you into my school again. I thought you had changed, but maybe Mr. Potter wasn't as far off as I imagined."
Without a word, Rita Skeeter gathered her belongings and walked as fast as she could out of the Great Hall.
"Miss Tonks, would you kindly see that Miss Skeeter reaches the point where she may Apparate to wherever someone of her kind goes," said the Headmistress.
"Yes, ma'am, I will," said Tonks with a smile.
Harry and Hermione stood close to Professor McGonagall and asked under his breath, "Do you think she thought we were Bill and Fleur?"
"Oh, absolutely," she whispered in return. "I'm sure she would never believe that I would be part of such a sophomoric plan such as this." She spoke aloud now. "Now you two get along so that I may have my office to myself when my evening's work is concluded. Enjoy your honeymoon."
As Harry and Hermione left the Great Hall they passed several of the parents still standing in the corridor awaiting word where they would be able to use the floo. They all greeted them as Bill and Fleur which took some getting used to as they passed. There were just enough people that Harry and Hermione finally became comfortable with the thought of being addressed differently, but not nearly as many as they had expected. Finally, they were ready to leave…to make their escape. "The Burrow," said Harry. "The Burrow," said Hermione.
They gathered their belongings from the upstairs rooms and within minutes Apparated to their temporary home at Bill's and Fleur's flat. Harry felt around for the flask that had his polyjuice and found it inside his bag. Hermione did the same. "Well, we don't need it again tonight, but tomorrow will be a different story," said Harry.
Within a few minutes, each of them felt the dull ache become excruciating pain as the potion wore off. The transformation was one of the most difficult things Harry had ever done. "Maybe we should remain as them to avoid that feeling," said Harry.
Hermione crawled over to Harry and opened the button on his shirt. "No, we can't because as them we can't do this." She kissed his chest as Harry fell back against the sofa pillows in ecstasy.
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