After the elves had contacted everyone staying at the chateau, Dobby, Cindy and Brutus then temporarily removed two of the beds and placed more seats in the room. Sirius formally introduced Bill to the couple when he arrived with Ginny, while a now contrite Professor Vector tried to apologise to Harry. Susan walked in with Hannah before rushing to greet her aunt, and finding seats beside her. As everyone was getting settled and the elves were providing refreshments, Poppy was heard recommending everyone to try a cappuccino.
As their guests settled, Harry and Hermione were busy deciding on just how to go about this. Harry got things started.
"Sorry about all this but we decided as you are being asked to make life-changing choices here, everyone needed to know exactly what they were getting into. Since Emma can't yet move, this gathering needed to be held here."
Taking a calming breath, Harry got straight to the heart of the matter. "Yesterday, in full Death Eater garb, Lucius Malfoy and Edmund Parkinson used a highly illegal device to break through the wards at Hermione's home and attacked her parents in an attempt to find us. Emma had the cruciatus cast on her while Dan was held in a body bind. Hermione and I cast spells at the two Death Eaters, allowing Dan to break the curse he was held under. Parkinson had Hermione in a head-lock with his wand pointed at her face. Dan stabbed Parkinson in the neck before then attacking Malfoy with the same kitchen knife as the bastard cast an unforgivable at me. The Minister of Magic now wants both Dan and Emma arrested for murder, while Dumbledore is suggesting the law be changed so my lordship can be revoked."
This news almost started a riot as their friends were disgusted at the actions of the Ministry. Remus caught Harry's eye and nodded in understanding, he got it now.
"To discover what's behind all this, we need to go back to before Neville and I were born - I'll explain that in a minute. A Prophecy predicted the birth of a child, a child with the power to defeat the Dark Lord. 'Born to parents who had thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies'. Two children matched that description, me and Neville. That's why he came after me that Halloween night, and also why his supporters went after Neville's parents when Voldemort disappeared after attacking me. That prophecy was made to Dumbledore, and Snape told the first part of it to Voldemort..."
Neville was on his feet on hearing that news about Snape, he wasn't alone. Pomona then proved why she was their choice for Headmistress when she got them to sit back down before calmly asked a question.
"Harry, I'm not doubting you here, just asking if you can prove all this?"
Harry looked in Amelia's direction. She nodded then offered the conformation Pomona was looking for. "I was with Harry when he retrieved the orb from the Hall of Prophecies. Dumbledore's initials were on it. Severus Snape escaped trial purely on the word of Albus Dumbledore claiming Snape was his spy. Sorry Sirius..."
"It's fine, Ami. I'm free now, and able to help my godson."
"...and we're going to need that help. Folks, this next bit is effectively a State Secret. It's so secret, Dumbledore won't even let the State find out about it. We know Voldemort isn't gone, and also know what's stopping him from being dead. Bill, that diary Ginny was writing in was a horcrux. Dumbledore must be aware of that, I slapped that bloody diary onto his desk."
There was no screaming or shouting from the eldest Weasley, Bill just held his sister tighter while his eyes took on a steely determination. His family had been wronged, he would be doing something about it. Seeing this, Harry pushed forward with an offer.
"Bill, he made more than one - and we know where they are. Sirius, Remus and Amelia are going to be working with Hermione and me to see these things destroyed. If you want in, I could probably swing it with Ragnok to get you transferred to the team, and staying here with Ginny. A Death Eater was stupid enough to put one of these things in their Gringotts vault, so Ragnok is aware of what we're up to."
Bill's smile was chilling, it never reached his eyes. "I would like that, Harry. I would like that a lot."
Luna had been taking notes and asked for clarification. "Harry, what's a horcrux?"
"The darkest of magic, Luna. You undergo a ritual that detaches part of your soul that then gets attached to an object. As part of that ritual, you have to murder someone. As long as one of these things survives, Voldemort can't die."
As conversation stoppers go, that was a doozy. Hermione took over the conversation, knowing Harry would struggle with the next bit they planned to reveal.
"The diary was one, Hufflepuff's Cup in Gringotts was another. He also tainted Ravenclaw's Diadem and hid it in Hogwarts, we got that one too. There's one other that was destroyed, created accidentally the night he tried to murder baby Harry. It wasn't a proper horcrux though, it just attached itself to the only living thing in that bedroom."
Filius and Pomona had been upset at the destruction of founders' relics but this revelation shocked everyone.
"The night those dementors attacked in Hogwarts, they got very close to kissing all of us, they actually sucked that bit of Voldemort out of Harry. That released his power and enabled him to chase all those dementors away, saving Sirius and me too. This is why everyone is seeing a difference in Harry, that bloody thing was parasitical..."
Minerva had a question she wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer too. "Harry, do you think Dumbledore knew that abomination was behind your scar?"
"Without a doubt, professor. The prophecy says it's Voldemort or me, one of us will kill the other. With that bit of Voldemort in my head, I had to die so Voldemort could be defeated. That's why I was dumped on the Dursleys, and the only decent Defence Professor we've had found himself sacked. We're pretty sure that's why the Philsopher's Stone was in Hogwarts for our first year too. Dumbledore wants me to face Voldemort, and die. He doesn't know that thing is out of me, and we won't be telling him. He obliviated the Minister that night of the dementors, before turning his wand on us. That's why we needed to get out of Hogwarts, out of Britain. I'll fight Voldemort on my terms, not Dumbledore's or Fudge's. Any more questions?"
Pomona just had to ask. "Harry, you made me Headmistress, which gives me responsibilities. I need to know how will all this affect the institute?"
"That's the reason we wanted you for the job, Headmistress, you keep right on asking those hard questions. This house and the school will be under the best wards the goblins can provide. When the ward markers go up, everyone needs to stay inside them. If they leave the wards, they won't be able to find the school again. People will walk right past us and not even notice we are here. The only way in or out will be by portkey, again cutting the chances of anyone discovering exactly where we are."
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