kbinnz - Harry's New Home

Minerva grabbed the distraught elf before it could punish itself any further, but then every instrument in Dumbledore's office went berserk, and Bones' medallion flared like a sun before going black.

"What is it? What's going on?" The babble of voices slowly died out as, one by one, they caught sight of Dumbledore's ashen face.

"Wh-what does it mean, Albus?" Sirius finally found his voice and asked the question on everyone's mind.

"It means," Albus said, through bloodless lips, "that Harry Potter is dead."

TBCтАж

*Chapter 61*: Chapter 61

Author's Note: Okay, folks: in honor of Rosh Hashana, here's a new (albeit short) chapter to mark the start of 5770! (And yes, another, longer update will be coming along shortly). Enjoy!

"It means," Albus said, through bloodless lips, "that Harry Potter is dead."

Molly's wail could have rent stone, and she was far from the only one crying. Bones and her aurors managed тАУ barely тАУ to retain their composure, but the faculty and Weasleys were distraught, and Dobby was nearly demented with grief. Charlie had to wrap him in a hug to keep him from leaping out the window.

Dumbledore finally managed to pull himself together and he called for the others' attention. "Please тАУ we must keep our heads. Severus may yet be alive, and we must try to rescue him... or at least recover the bodies."

His words prompted a new outburst of grief from Molly and Dobby, but there were resolute nods through the tears. "How can we do it, Albus?" Arthur asked. "You heard Dobby. Even if he brings us there, it will take us a while to break through the wards, and the Death Eaters will have plenty of time to flee or attack us."

Dumbledore took a deep breath. "If our elvish friends will bring us to the site, I will lower the wards immediately. It can be done through brute force if one is powerful enough, and even at my age," he smiled grimly, "I have the strength to break any ward, even if it was made by Voldemort himself. I must warn you though, the effort will likely exhaust me. I will be unable to assist in the ensuing fight. I may even lose consciousness, if the wards are powerful enough to drain my core."

"Albus," Minerva said reluctantly, "it appears that we have already lost Harry, and likely Severus too, as I cannot imagine him not protecting Harry with his own life. With You-Know-Who gaining in power, we cannot risk losing you as well. It would be an unconscionable gamble and could mean that this coming war will be over before it's begun."

For once, Albus' eyes were cold when they looked at his old friend. "I will not leave my boys there to be desecrated by those monsters, Minerva. Not while there is breath in my body."

Minerva choked back a sob and nodded her understanding even as she continued to argue. "But Albus тАУ"

Flitwick interrupted, his eyes shining with tears but his mind working busily. "There is a solution. Use Navitas Transfero. It allows you to pull strength from another. Use it once you have lowered the wards for the rest of us."

Dumbledore shook his head. "I had thought of that, Filius, despite its being a Dark spell, but with all due modesty, my power is so great and my exhaustion likely to be so complete, that there is a very real likelihood that I would drain all the magic from whomever I tap. I will not be responsible for making someone a squib тАУ and at such a vulnerable time at that."

Remus stepped forward. "Choose me, and that won't happen. As soon as you drain all my wizarding magic, the Wolf will be loosed. Dose me with Wolfsbane first, and you'll have a werewolf outside of the full moon, fighting on your side."

Dumbledore and Flitwick exchanged glances. "It might work," the Charms professor admitted. "We know that lycanthropy magic is different from wizards'тАж"

"It's our best shot to save Severus and to get Ha-Harry back." Remus' voice broke, but his determination didn't waver.

"Very well," Dumbledore nodded once. "Dobby, please go down to the Potions lab and see if there is any spare Wolfsbane."

"There's bound to be," Remus assured him as Dobby popped away. "Ever since I came to Hogwarts, Severus has made sure to have an extra supply. Just in case," he added with a wry twist to his lips. "He wouldn't take any chances, having me around Harry."

"Remus, I must warn you," Flitwick spoke up, "that while being a werewolf might allow you to regenerate your Wizarding magical core, it might not. If that happens, you could well be stuck permanently in your wolf form."

Remus nodded soberly. "I understand. But it's still our best option." He glanced at Sirius, and the two friends locked eyes for a long moment. "And if the worse were to happen, I have a friend who will make sure I'm taken care of."

Sirius swallowed hard, understanding what Remus was demanding, but he nodded, struggling not to break down. He forced his thoughts away from the possibility. He could not deal with that right now. Not on top of losing Harry.

Molly had forced down her tears and was now in a somber debate with Arthur. With five of their children still in school, it was impossible to risk both of their lives. Bill and Charlie had made it clear that they were going on the rescue mission, but one of their parents would have to stay behind to ensure someone remained safe for the younger children.

"I'll go," Molly announced. Bones and the Aurors tried to hide their surprise, but they were obviously unsuccessful, as Flitwick rather haughtily reminded them that Molly Prewitt had been his prot├йg├й and the two of them had competed in - and won - the International Mixed Doubles Dueling Competition her last two years at Hogwarts. He patted Molly's hand fondly. "It will be like old times for the two of us, eh Molly?"

The witch smiled down at the little wizard. "We'll show them a thing or two, Filius. We always did, didn't we?"

"Padfoot, once we're there, take care of yourself," Remus said, laying a hand on his best friend's shoulder. "The wolf will fight best alone but just... watch out, all right?"

Sirius struggled to swallow the lump in his throat. "S-sure," he choked.

"He'll stay by me," Minerva McGonagall said, coming up behind the men and placing a proprietary hand on Sirius' arm. "We shall go in as animagi, stay low, and use the element of surprise." She quirked an eyebrow at the expressions of shock on the two men's faces. "What?"

"You тАУ you know I'm an animagus?" Sirius gasped, his emotional turmoil momentarily forgotten by the stunning revelation. "Did Harry tell you? Or Snape?"

McGonagall rolled her eyes. "I was your Head of House, Mr Black, and not exactly senile. Did you and the others really imagine you were subtle in your quest to become animagi? Did it never occur to you that all those library books about the transformation are not normally so easy to find? Did you think I would allow you to engage in such potentially dangerous experiments unmonitored?"

"But тАУ but Dumbledore didn't know!" Sirius protested.

Minerva shrugged. "Do you think I tell him everything?"

Sirius let out a bark of laughter тАУ albeit a bit subdued тАУ and hugged his old instructor.

Bill and Charlie were busy checking each other over. "We'll fight together, Dad, and we'll keep Mum safe," Bill promised.

Molly overheard and stepped away from where she and Filius had been reviewing their fighting strategy. "Oh, no, you won't, William Weasley!" she said firmly. "I would rather die than have to bury one of you, so you are to leave me and Filius to ourselves and protect each other. And тАУ " her voice wobbled " тАУ if by some miracle, the instruments are all wrong and Harry is alive, then you are to rescue him as your first priority."

The young men glanced at their father, but seeing a resolve every bit as firm as Molly's, they nodded.