Chapter 2
“I’ve made my choice, Mr Malfoy.” Harry said, once he had the wizard’s attention.
“And which sentence have you decided upon, Mr Potter?” The blonde wizard asked.
“I choose the veil.”
~~~
May 5th 1998
“Miss Granger? Are you satisfied with the items that you have purchased on Mr Potter’s behalf?” Lucius Malfoy asked.
“I am, sir.” Hermione nodded.
“Very well. Please present each item to the court and provide the details for it.” Malfoy directed.
“First item. A heavy-duty canvass rucksack, no wizarding magic applied to it.” She held up the rucksack and passed it over to Percy Weasley, who flicked his wand over it and nodded to the court.
“No wizarding magic detected.” He placed the rucksack on a second table and turned back to Hermione.
“Three pairs of trousers, the list I was given stated cotton canvass, however, as agreed by the Wizengamot, single-use transfiguration charms have been applied to each garment. All Harry has to do is pulse his magic into the embroidered rune sequence and the charm will activate, transfiguring the garment into a similar style as those worn around him, at that time. There is also a single-use sizing charm applied to each garment. Oh and the same to the boots.” The trousers were placed on the second table and Percy’s wand waved over them. He nodded to the court but said nothing. “Three cotton button-down shirts.” The shirts were placed on top of the trousers and scanned, Percy nodding again. “Three cotton undershirts.” They joined the pile. “Six pairs cotton underpants.” As she spoke Hermione simply handed the items to Percy and kept going. “Six pairs of woollen socks. One pair of cotton pyjamas. One knitted woollen jumper. One pair of leather hiking boots. No wizarding magic not already discussed and approved, applied to any item.”
Once Percy had agreed with her, Hermione quickly and efficiently began to pack the items up. First, she laid aside one change, underwear, trousers, shirts, jumper, socks and boots, they were placed to one end of the second table. Then, in the middle of the table, she laid out a button-down shirt and on top of that an undershirt, followed by a pair of trousers folded at the waist, then two pairs of underpants and one pair of socks. Next, she folded the shirt sleeves over the rest and laid the second pair of socks, toes touching at the neckline of the shirt, once that was done, she began to roll the clothes into a tight log, she then folded the open cuff of the sock over this log. This was also done to the pyjamas, using the last pairs of underwear and socks.
“One change of clothes per roll.” She held them up for the court to see.
Percy again flicked his wand at the items and nodded to the court. Hermione then placed each of them inside the rucksack.
“This is the limit that the court is required by law to provide.” She stated.
“Agreed.” Malfoy nodded. “However, we are permitting other items to be provided. Auror Robards has viewed the items in Mr Potter’s mokeskin pouch and has ensured that it has been returned to him, without any tampering. This item is bonded to Mr Potter’s magical signature and as stated, the contents have been viewed and documented, none of which, this court is concerned with.”
Hermione placed the pouch alongside the unpacked change of clothes.
“Miss Granger, this court gave permission for you to provide five items to Mr Potter, on the condition that none of them neither contained, nor had wizarding magic applied to them. Have you procured those items? And will you present them to the court?” Malfoy said once Hermione had stepped back and Auror Robards had retaken his seat.
“I have and will.” Hermione answered. “First a muggle toiletry bag, containing a bar of soap in a tin container, a comb… even if Harry’s hair will never be neat… a toothbrush, toothpaste, three travel bottles of shampoo and the same of conditioner.” She placed it on the table and Percy scanned it, before nodding. “One leather trench coat, muggle made.” She held it out and Percy scanned it and nodded. She then carefully folded it and added it to the rucksack. “One travel sewing kit, containing needles, thread, buttons and other applicable items.” A small leather book-like item was held up to be scanned before it was carefully placed in a pocket on the front of the rucksack. “One box muggle playing cards.” She laid the box on the table and Percy scanned it. Another nod. “One bag of marbles, held in a canvass bag.” The bag was laid on the table a scanned, before it and the cards were packed into the rucksack.
“Thank you, Miss Granger.” Malfoy turned to Harry. “Mr Potter, please take the clothes provided by Miss Granger and get changed. You may use the bathroom attached to this chamber. Please return to your seat once you’ve done so.” As Harry stood, Malfoy turned to Percy. “Mr Weasley, we thank you for your impartial presence and request that you complete the provided parchmentwork in relations to today’s session.”
Harry tuned the chatter out as he headed for the bathroom. He had no idea what was to come and there was a part of him that was terrified, but the greater part of him was tired. He was exhausted having to deal with the Weasley’s the evening before and this morning just made him feel worse. Oh, physically, he wasn’t injured, but living for eight months, as what basically amounted to being homeless, meant that his physical and magical reserves were severely drained. Then duelling Voldy and being killed? No, he was tired. Too tired to deal with frantic people. Too tired to deal with an ungrateful public. Too tired to fight any longer.
He only prayed that Lady Magic would send him somewhere that he could rest.
~~~
The Veil chamber was dark, even though the torches around the chamber’s edge were lit. It had an ominous feel to it and the reason why they were in the chamber only made that feeling stronger.
Three days had passed, since Harry had announced that he had chosen the Veil. Three days that were surprising busy. It had taken a full day for the goblins to sort out his finances and approve his ‘Will’. The first hurdle to that, was that Hermione hadn’t had an identity test, without which, the Ministry could have denied that portion of his Will and claimed anything left to her, something that no muggleborn was told.
The second issue was that Voldemort had controlled the Ministry for the last year, which allowed people like Umbridge the chance to push their own agendas. In the case of Umbridge, she had pushed her anti-creature laws, one of which was against werewolves, and their offspring, and that was going to impact on little Teddy. It was going to depend on what the new Minister did, as to whether or not Teddy could even inherit his parents’ possessions, at present he was classified as a ‘beast’ not a person. Every time that he thought about it, Harry’s jaws clenched and he felt like hexing the pink toad into a pink toad.
~~~
“Thank you, Mr Weasley.” Malfoy nodded to Percy. “If you would be so kind as to step back and I do believe that Auror Robards has some additional parchmentwork that requires your signature.” Percy nodded and after a long, sad look at Harry, he turned and left the chamber. “Mr Potter, please make your farewells.”
At Malfoy’s words, Harry caught his breath and looked over at those gathered. Arthur and Ron supported Molly and Ginny, as the two cried quietly. George took a deep breath and stepped forward.
“Hey, Harry.” He whispered and with a wobbly smile.
“George.” Harry’s smile was just as wobbly.
“Live, Harry, live for us.” George held out his arms and Harry stepped into them. “Wherever you go, live, don’t mourn for us, here. Live for us.” The pair clutched at each other tightly.
“George…”
“Live, Harry.” George said and pulled out of Harry’s arms and staggered from the chamber, Bill quickly following him.
Ron helped Ginny over to Harry and exchanged watery looks with him. Ginny fell onto Harry and sobbed. Ron sighed and after a minute, eased Ginny off Harry and guided his distraught sister from the chamber.
Arthur and Molly gave him sad smiles and gentle hugs, something very not Weasley-like. They quickly followed their children, leaving Neville, Luna and Hermione alone with Malfoy and the other Wizengamot members.
Other than George, the Weasley’s had all left without having said a word.
Hermione nodded to Neville and he stepped up to stand in front of Harry and held out a hand.
“Heya, Harry.” The pair shook hands but didn’t let go, immediately.
“Neville.” Harry’s smile fell away.
“Be safe.” Was all Neville said before he dropped Harry’s and retreated to the chambers’ door and Luna came forward.
“Oh, Harry Potter.” Her smile was soft and serene. “You will not regret this, truly you won’t.” She hugged him tightly and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Pass that on.”
“To who?” Harry blinked and frowned.
“You’ll know when you see them.” Luna replied brightly and danced over to link her fingers with Neville’s.
Hermione sighed and stepped forward, adjusting a sleeping Teddy in her arms.
“Want to hold him?” She asked and smiled as Harry gathered the baby in his arms and held him close to his chest. She ran her hand down Teddy’s back and around to straighten the bib of his overalls. Harry saw her shift a scrap of parchment that was tucked into the bib’s pocket. “I’m going to miss you, Harry.” She let a tear run down her cheek.
“Same here.” Harry sniffled.
“I just…” She sighed. “I’m sorry, Harry.” She gave him a sad smile.
“What do you have to be sorry for?”
“For this.”
Harry barely had a chance to lift his head before Hermione stepped forward and shoved him hard, backwards into the veil.
With Teddy still in his arms.
He felt the Veil grab at him and watched as the Veil chamber was swallowed in darkness, unable to move, unable to let Teddy go, unable to clutch the infant closer.
~~~