"Runes for you and I'm going to start on my bag," Hermione replied. "It took me a week last time but it'll probably only take me a couple of days for this one. I'm glad I can do magic. I thought I was going to have to get Sirius to do the spell work for me."
"What about we do our knives this morning as well?" Harry suggested and when Hermione looked confused he continued. "Did I tell you that there is a whole set of Goblin made knives in the kitchen downstairs?"
"No, really?" Hermione asked.
"Yep. Sirius' mother was good for something at least. He suggested we take a couple of the smaller ones."
"Small kitchen knives would be excellent," Hermione agreed. "We'll just need something to encase the blades."
Sirius knocked a few minutes later and upon entering, told them the Weasleys had departed to get Arthur from St. Mungo's.
While Harry ran to the kitchen to grab the knives, Hermione got Harry's dragon hide gloves from his trunk and then pulled out the Basilisk venom.
"Is that..." Sirius asked as he nodded at the small jar Hermione was handling very gently.
"Yes, we got a few drops from each of the fangs left in the Chamber," Hermione replied. "It's not much but it's more than enough to do what we need."
Sirius lifted one of the knives carefully when it was finished. "Doesn't look that dangerous does it?"
"I wouldn't recommend you shave with it," Harry joked.
"True. Hey you know what would make these really nice? Make the cases from a fang of the Basilisk. That would be very unique."
Harry looked at Hermione and they both nodded. "Think we can get Dobby and Winky to take us directly into the bathroom there? I'd hate to be seen roaming the castle."
They'd wrapped the knives tightly and stored them in Harry's trunk when they heard the Weasleys return from the Hospital. Harry and Hermione walked down the steps to see how Arthur was. He tried to apologize for not protecting them but neither Harry nor Hermione would accept it.
"Sir, it wasn't your fault," Harry replied cutting him off when he tried to apologize again. "It all happened very suddenly. Besides it all worked out. Yaxley can't hurt the Ministry anymore."
"You could have been hurt.."
"And you were hurt sir," Hermione reminded him. "If they hadn't gone after you, we'd never been able to do what we did. What I want to know is how they knew we'd be there."
"Hopefully the Ministry will get it out of Yaxley," Arthur replied. "If they do, I'm sure Kingsley or Tonks will find out."
"I've already told the Headmaster it better not be Snape," Harry told the Weasleys.
"Harry Potter, you must show Albus the respect he deserves," Molly said once again.
"Mrs. Weasley, I am showing Dumbledore EXACTLY the respect he deserves," Harry said. He cut off Molly's response by continuing. "Ma'am, you once thought Gilderoy Lockhart was a great wizard, do you still think that? A man who was going to obliviate mine and Ron's memories and leave Ginny to rot in the Chamber?"
"Well no, of course not," Molly agreed.
"Then maybe, just maybe, you might be as wrong when it comes to Dumbledore," Harry said. "I'm not saying he's as bad as Lockhart, but maybe for once you might want to consider what he's done and not done instead of believing him mindlessly," He didn't wait for a response, he just turned and went back up the steps. Hermione was very close behind him.
Over the next few days, Sirius, with the help of Kreacher put all of the jewels and such they had been taken from the Room of Requirements into a vault in Gringotts. Everything was carried to the vault underneath things that would not draw attention. The also got a fang from Hogwarts and fashioned the sheaths for the knives. Hermione added a locking charm that prevented the knives from being unsheathed by anyone but the two of them.
***June 28th 1996 ***
Narcissa Black was back at St. Mungo's. This time she wasn't sitting beside her husband's bed as she'd done the past days. This time she was pacing the room while looking at the door expectantly. She wasn't disappointed. Andromeda Tonks walked through the door again as she had done every other evening.
"Andi, he's gone," Narcissa said at once in an almost panicked voice. "He's gone...and I don't know where or even when."
"Who? Who's gone?" Andromeda asked her sister.
"Draco," Narcissa replied. "I...I haven't seen him since that night. I just thought he was avoiding me or I just kept missing him, but he's gone."
"Where would he go?" Mrs. Tonks asked.
"I...I don't know but I'm worried. He's so much like his father," Tears were now gathering in the eyes of Narcissa. "He...he believes what happened with Lucius is Harry Potter's fault and...and..." Her voice faltered but the distress was clearly evident in her face.
"And Harry Potter has already killed a man who attacked him?" At her sister's slow nod, Andromeda went on. "It was self-defense you know. My daughter told me. The Death Eater was about to...well I think you know what Death Eaters do," She glanced over at Lucius' bed before looking back at her sister. "Did you know...no I shouldn't ask that question," Andromeda sighed. "Cissy, did you just want to tell me or were you wanting something?"
"I...I was hoping..." Narcissa started then stopped. Her face now had tears running down it. "I can't go the Ministry can I? But...your daughter...would she? He hasn't done anything wrong, not yet anyway."
"And you think he might?"
Narcissa hesitated before nodding.
"Who did you want Nymphadora to tell? The Ministry or Dumbledore?"
"I...I don't know. I don't care, I just want Draco safe. I CAN'T lose him."
"I'll see what I can do, but you know there are no guarantees. If he's takes the mark..."
"NO...he wouldn't, he couldn't," Narcissa objected but a cold chill descended onto her as she realized that is exactly what he'd do if he could. Draco believed what his father told him, of the honor of having the mark; to do the Dark Lord's bidding. Her entire composure broke at that thought. Only the comfort of her sister's arms that wrapped around her helped at all.
....
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