2
The funeral is not until Thursday, three days after the letter arrives.
There is a rumor, one that has gained strength over the years, that predicts a tragedy in the month of August. And the list of tragedies in this month is long.
It was the first of August when the Ministry fell and the war began, it was August 16, 1999 when thousands of Muggles were rounded up and executed at the hands of Death Eaters in the Hogwarts gardens and it was August 26 of that same year when members of the Order of the Phoenix were ambushed while helping half-bloods and muggle-borns leave the country. And the list goes on and on.
But it is not only Molly's death that causes the order to meet again on the same day as her funeral.
Paris was an important point on the map during the war. Paris was where the war ended.
Notre Dame is not only an important cathedral and an architectural beauty but it is the center of magic – if we talk in terms of the history of magic.
The Hogwarts Restricted Section textbooks contain some really interesting stories if you know where to look, and there are hundreds of books dedicated entirely to Notre Dame. The cathedral is the oldest magical project on record and is strategically built. It is believed that at first it was intended to be a school of witchcraft and wizardry, when the Muggles knew about us and we did not hide, but after the hunt for witches and warlocks in 1450 - and after being taken over by the Muggles - it was abandoned. Or that’s what they make the muggles believe.
However, it is easier to hide things in plain sight, over the years the place was used as a conduit for different magical businesses – legal and illegal – and it even still houses many of the magical hollows. When I think about that place I can only compare it to Hogwarts, a place that keeps magic and has a life of its own, a place that knows how to keep secrets in plain sight.
We've been in Grimmauld Place for about fifteen minutes when Moody finally shows up.
It's funny how I feel like I'm 19 again instead of almost 26. And my sweater—knit by Molly Weasley herself in 1998—only makes the sour taste in my mouth intensify.
"Good night." To my surprise, Moody's voice is not as cold and calculating as always, he sounds tired and annoyed.“There is news, and it is not good. Molly’s body was found in the same chambers where the prisoners were held and there is a new mark.” Fortunately the Weasleys were not called to this meeting, the funeral was only a few hours ago and Mad-Eye is not known for being delicate about any subject that needs delicacy. “The Ministry of Magic sent four agents to investigate, only two returned. It seems that this new mark is not only a drawing to let us know that they are re-emerging…”
“What? Wait a second…”This time it's Remus who interrupts. “What makes you think they are resurfacing? Isn't it hasty to jump to conclusions when this could be a coincidence or maybe the mark was already there?
Mad-Eye casts a stern look at my former DADA professor before continuing.
“Our friends at MoD offered two volunteers to help with the investigation, conveniently they are the only ones who came out of the chambers alive. They reported a magical signature, one that hasn't been around for more than six maybe seven days, Molly's body was found on Saturday and the magical signature is not from before Friday. Our new friends had made a breakthrough with their dark mark.” Moody scoffs at the word friends. “This new mark contains the same bases as the dark mark and a curse. Anyone who approaches without protection will not live to tell the tale. It's as if they had discovered how to make the killing curse remain in force without being directed at someone specific, I guess I don't have to give more details so you understand the risk that this entails.
I can see some of their mouths fall to the floor. Of course you don't need to explain it. Someone found a way to make the killing curse act like some kind of gas. Like adding poison to a jug of water, you just have to wait for people to come into contact for you to have the expected effect, it doesn't matter if the contact is slight. It will instantly kill anyone who approaches it.
“Fortunately the range is not something, just a couple of meters, but it is large enough to cause two people to die the moment they put their foot in the place.” Moody continues, not allowing us to ask questions."The Unspeakables have been investigating the dark mark in depth for years, in a couple of days we will have more information to know if the spell can be traced or if the magical signature is recognizable." Moody looks around the room. “Until then we will know what we are facing, but one thing is for sure, if the death-eaters are not back then someone will be imitating them and we have to be ready.”
Sometimes, when I think about the past, I have this strange feeling of never having lived through a war and at the same time it feels like I'm still in the middle of it.
Molly Weasley disappeared before the war ended, she was one of those in charge of removing as many people as possible from the country. No one heard from her again after the ambush.
Years later she reappears, truly dead, even though there was no person on earth who could find her or get any clue to her whereabouts. What a joke.
Ginny's arm is wrapped tightly around mine as we walk through Diagon Alley. After a hard week, and months of insomnia, I had decided that it was a good time to replenish my zero reserve of potions to sleep-without-dream. So here we were.
Kingsley had decided that tonight's plan would still stand but now, instead it was just the three of us now Ginny and Ron were also guests for tonight's dinner.
I knew Kingsley just wanted to use it as an excuse to be supportive and give them a little moment to clear their heads somehow, so I didn't object.
If I had learned anything after my parents died, it was that you never get over it, I just learn to live with it, and one day, I realize that I didn't think about it as much as I used to and then I was able to continue with my life, with my new normal life.
Ginny has dragged me from place to place in search of I-don't-know-what, and I'm sure she doesn't know either – but we've walked through most of the shops in the alley and the options are starting to run out.
“I'm sure I'll find it.” At least those were her words after leaving the third store, and when I asked her what she was looking for she just shrugged her shoulders and pulled my arm towards the next one.
Thanks to the fact that it was the beginning of the month, the alley was not completely full, but I could see one or another family walking and leaving and entering the stores. I suppose that the old habit of leaving everything until the end was something it wasn’t about to change soon.
“Here, look!” Ginny pulled my arm again, this time we entered a jewelry store, once there she let go of my sore arm and began to look around.
If there was something I liked about the magical world it was jewelry, it wasn't just precious stones that make you look beautiful and elegant. Not unlike what muggles thought, jewelry did have magic in it. A small jade, with the right spell, allows its calming effects to have a real effect on the person wearing it, perfect for patients suffering from anxiety. Or a simple quartz that will help you contain little spells.
Ginny returns excitedly, her face held high showing the red stone around her neck.
"You look beautiful."And it's the truth. Ginny is the type of woman who doesn't need anything to look pretty, but an accessory here and a little makeup there makes her look beautiful without being much.
“I was thinking we could buy these…” In her hands she holds two silver bracelets, the chain is thin and decorated with two stones, an amethyst and an alexandrite. The stones of strength, health and regeneration. I smiled at her, taking one of the bracelets.“I know the order is hiding something from us.” My gaze moves away from the bracelet, feeling a pit in my stomach. Of course she knows, Ginny is no fool. I'm starting to feel the need to explain myself, to tell her that I'm sorry and that it was never my intention to leave her out, but honestly it isn't true. Many years ago I understood that it is better to keep secrets to protect those you love than to show them the truth and have them hurt. I don't mind suffering the consequences that lying may bring, not if I can save lives. Ginny sighed heavily, looking me directly in the eyes but I couldn't find any sign of annoyance or anger in her expression.“I'm not angry… well not anymore. I don't know what's going on, Herm, but I don't want to be in the dark. And I know you can't tell me anything because of the countless oaths we've sworn in the order, but... please... just don't leave me in the dark. I want to be ready and prepared. I don't want to go back to being the girl who was hidden... the one when the time to fight came didn't know what to do."
“We should add a third stone.”I tell her, hoping he can understand the meaning behind my words.“What do you think about agate stones?”
Ginny nods, gently removes the bracelet from my hand and walks towards one of the local artisans.
Later we came out with matching bracelets.
The agate stone has been added right in between the amethyst and the alexandrite. We both carry the stone of protection.