The Gryffindor common room was deserted. Everyone had gone to their classes. Only peeves was floating around the portrait hole tossing bits of parchment around for the house elves to clean later.
"Look who it is! Potty, Wesel and Ginger!" He screeched, dropping bits of parchment on them as they entered.
"Good to see you too Peeves." Ron muttered, dusting off the bits from his hair.
"Shall we get our stuff and go to class then?" Hermione asked hopefully.
"And study what? Nothing this school teaches us will help us stop a 600 year old powerful sorcerer from killing an entire bloodline for immortality." Harry said.
"Never underestimate what books can teach you." Hermione said definitively. "Besides, what will you do if you leave Hogwarts?"
"I told you, I'm going to take up Kingsley's offer and join the Aurors." Harry said.
"And then what?" Hermione said with her hands on her hips like Mrs Weasley used to do when she had to lecture the twins. "Do you have a plan?"
"You mentioned a girl, from Slytherin I think, who said her father was in the secret council at the ministry." Harry said.
"Yes, Greengrass or something." Hermione said. "What about her?"
"I need to talk to her." Harry said flatly. "I need to get more information about Flamel and so far the secret council are the only ones who can help."
"What about Kingsley?" Ron asked.
"He has enough to deal with as minister. I want to get to the council myself." Harry said. But that was not completely true. He knew Kingsley would get him to meet the council but he doubted if the council has been totally honest with their minister. Going through Greengrass might be more effective.
"I suppose I could find her..." Hermione said her voice trailing off. She couldn't help but think of Draco Malfoy and wonder what has happened to him since.
"Well, come on then, we need to find her." Harry said gesturing to the portrait hole.
"Can we get some breakfast first? I'm starving." Ron moaned, followed by a grumble from his stomach.
Harry rolled his eyes but Hermione clapped her hands together and said "Me too! Let's go to the kitchens. The feast ended a while ago."
Reluctantly Harry followed them to the corridor where the painting of the bowl of fruits hung.
Ron lifted his forefinger and tickled the pear and the painting gave way to the entrance of the kitchen.
As Harry Ron and Hermione stepped in, all the house elfs crowded around them in excitement.
"Harry Potter is alive!!" They cheered, jumping up and down happily.
"Yes, I'm fine too! Thanks for asking." Ron said with a frown.
"We Houselves was so worried when Deatheaters arrived." One of the smallest house elves squeaked.
"Thanks." Harry said chest getting heavy as he pictured Dobby running up to him in excitement.
"But we are fine!" Harry continued gesturing Ron who was clearly not enjoying the fact they had ignored him completely.
The house elves seemed to just realise that Ron and Hermione were with him and immediately began to apologise and offered them sandwiches and snacks.
This did not seem to make him feel better but he took the food and began to eat without complaining.
"How did Harry Potter escape?" Asked the house elf with big green eyes. She looked younger than the others.
The moment she said this however the other house elves shushed her and pushed her to the back.
"It is not a House elves business to ask such questions." One house elf told her and she bowed her head down in shame.
"We is very sorry for Holly, Harry Potter." The house elf told Harry.
"That's alright, Holly." Hermione told Holly, who lifted her head and looked at Hermione. "You can ask us anything."
"Thank you miss." She said and beamed at Hermione.
"Do any of you know what happened that night?" Harry asked as Ron dove for the sandwiches that the house elves set in front of them. "Did you notice anything odd?"
The house elf shifted uncomfortably.
"The ministry asked us already, Harry Potter. We has told them everything we is knowing." The house elf said looking miserable.
"I don't think they would know anything, Harry." Hermione said. "The house elves must have been busy preparing for the feast." The house elves nodded in agreement.
"Remember how you said that when you fainted it felt like there was magic involved." Harry said.
"Yes, the death eaters were chanting and then everything went blank." Hermione said.
"I didn't feel anything." Ron said through a mouthful of chicken. He then swallowed and said "they had knocked me out while I was carrying you out of there."
"That's when Malfoy arrived?" Harry asked Ron. Hermione's stomach did a funny turn at the mention of Malfoy' name.
"Yes. He shot spells at them and helped me move Hermione out of the way." Ron said looking at Hermione who was avoiding his eye.
"He helped us there but he was with them at the house." Harry said with a frown.
"I don't get it either." Ron said going back to his chicken. "He even told them about Hermione under the cloak. Thank goodness for that June girl."
"I hope she is ok." Hermione said. "I have so many questions."
"We can't go back now. The ministry busted in but they all disappeared shortly after we escaped." Ron said.
"I wish I had asked June about professor Slughorn." Hermione said with a sigh.
"Don't worry, we will find him too." Harry said patting her on the back.
"Professor Slughorn bad!" Holly cried suddenly and all the house elves who had been listening to Harry, Ron and Hermione quietly, jumped and one clapped his hands on her mouth.
"We do not speak to us masters that way." He said to her and she immediately ran to the cupboard and slammed her head on it.
"Stop stop!" Hermione yelled running to Holly and holding her back.
"A house elf must punish itself if it has done wrong, miss" Holly said.
"But you might be able to help us." Harry cut in before Hermione could say anything.
"She can?" Ron asked looking confused.
"You said that professor Slughorn is bad, Holly, What did he do exactly?" Harry asked.
Holly looked nervously around at the other elves before replying.
"He is not letting us clean his office, Harry Potter." She said cautiously.
"That's it?" Ron said.
"He is also not eating with school in the great hall." She continued, dramatically. Her eyes wide like he was a committing a crime.
Ron just scoffed and continued to eat. Harry was beginning to loose interest but Hermione sat up straight and was listening closely.
"Did he ever come to the kitchens, Holly?" Hermione asked.
"Yes miss, he comes everyday with a student. She would write and he would watch us work." Holly replied. The other house elves were acting weird. It's like they wanted this question session to end.
"We is must get back to work, miss." Said one of the elves. The food in front of them vanished and they were ushered out of the door.
"I hope to see you again Holly." Hermione whispered to the elf before they left.
"What was that about?" Ron asked as he dusted his robes. "I thought everything was going fine?"
"I don't know. But I think they are hiding something." Harry said.
"I agree." Hermione replied. "I feel Holly would be able to tell us if she wasn't interrupted."
"How do we talk to her? The house elves clearly won't allow it." Ron asked.
"I think I have an idea, but I need to go to the -"
"Library" Harry and Ron said in unison. They were used to this by now and wasn't surprised.
"What do we do now?" Ron asked as Hermione marched to the library.
"Let's just wait back in the common room." Harry suggested walking down the corridor.
"Potter! Weasley!" Someone called out to them as they walked.
It was Nox, the Slytherin boy the saw at Flamel's house.
Harry and Ron pulled out their wands immediately and pointed it at Nox who was standing alone looking very cheery and confident. He did not pull out his wand.
"What are you doing here?" Harry spat at him.
"I go to school here." Nox said like it was the most obvious thing on the planet. "You don't need those wands by the way."
"I'll be the judge of that." Ron said angrily and shouted "Expelliarmus!"
Nox dogged the spell easily and it hit an empty portrait
"tut tut, fighting an unarmed wizard, you could get in trouble for that." He said calmly. Harry had to hold Ron back from lunging at him. Nox just laughed at them and walked away.
"What is he doing back here? Doesn't he realise he could get caught?" Harry asked slightly panicked.
"You shouldn't have stopped me." Ron snapped, shaking in anger. Harry shook his head.
"I don't think we would allow him to provoke us. It might be a trap."
"I hope Hermione has some luck at the library. I don't think I can stand it much longer." Ron said his fists still balled up.
*******
Hey guys!!!
Say hello to a new house elf character, Holly. She will be back....
Also Is Nox really back? What's his plan!?
What did you think of this chapter??
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