Harry Potter and The Last Horcrux
The Aurors Assemble

A week after his and Ron’s visit to Hogwarts Harry foundhimself in The Ministry Library doing research into counter-spells.

“There you are!”

Harry looked up from the stack of books that were in frontof him at his teacher. Shacklebolt camein and stood across from Harry.

“I’ve been looking for you all morning!”

Harry removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes, “Sorry, Imust of lost track of the time.”

“Lost track of the time?” Shacklebolt said with a touch ofanger, “I’d say so. We need to be in ameeting of Aurors in five minutes, let’s go!”

Harry closed his book, placed it on the stack and broughtthe books back up to the librarian. Theyquickly walked towards the main Auror department and towards the large meetingroom in the back.

When they entered Harry saw the room was full. He went and stood with Shacklebolt in theback.

Every Auror in England must be here. He thought

“It’s about time,” a familiar voice hissed.

He turned and saw that Hermione had come over to him,“What’s going on?”

She shook her head, “I don’t know,” she said, “But it mustbe huge if Kathryn and I were pulled away from Hogwarts.”

All conversations stopped when Leon Filmier, the head of theAurors, came in. He was man in hismid-forties, in good shape, dark complexion and black hair. He had taken over after Amelia Bones wentmissing two years ago.

“Thank you all for coming,” he said, “Last night a smallgroup of Aurors discovered the location of You-know-who’s hide-out,” he saidwithout preamble.

There were a few mummers from the assembled group. Hermione looked at Harry’s reaction and sawhim just slightly shake his head.

“Now, we have reason to believe that What’s-his-name isstill there and we have had the building under constant supervision since thattime.”

“Where is he?” a witch asked in the front row.

“Malfoy Manor.”

The buzz of conversations started up again.

Hermione leaned over to Harry and whispered, “Could he bethere?”

Harry shook his head, “No, it’s too obvious. Besides Voldemort would know we’re watchingplaces like that.”

“Quiet please,” Filmier ordered, “Now I have spoken with theMinister and he has authorized us to go in and stop him.”

Harry shook his head again.

“I am putting together a plan to attack the manor and finishthis.”

Again Harry shook his head. Hermione again leaned close, “Why are you shaking your head.”

“It’s too easy,” Harry whispered, “This isn’t like Voldemortto leave himself open like this.”

Hermione thought for a second, “You’re right, but why don’tthey know?”

“They haven’t dealt with him over the last eight years likewe have,” Harry replied.

“Now this will be dangerous,” Filmier said, bringing Harryand Hermione back to the meeting, “and I would normally ask for volunteers, butthis situation requires all of us. So your assignments will be forthcomingwithin the hour. Thank you.”

He left the room with a few senior Aurors with him. The conversations were nearly incoherent tothe outside listener. The room startedfiling out slowly and Harry turned to Shacklebolt.

“He’s not there.”

Shacklebolt nodded, “Agreed,” he whispered, “But we can’tjust walk into Filmier’s office and say so without any proof.”

“So we just go along with this?” Hermione asked, lookingbetween Harry and Shacklebolt.

Shacklebolt’s mind was working quickly and he finallyshrugged, “I don’t see an alternative.”

“Hermione,” Kathryn called out as she approached, “You knowthree people talking in whispers constitutes a conspiracy.”

Hermione smiled at her supervisor’s joke, “I’m sorry I was…”

Kathryn held up her hand, “No need to apologize, I’ve heardevery word. I agree with Mr. Potterhere,” she turned to the young man, “Are you positive about your suspicions?”

Harry nodded.

“Well then this may very well be a trap,” she said, more toherself than to them, “Kingsley’s right, without proof they won’t listen. And I’m sorry to say that the word of HarryPotter won’t be enough to sway them one iota.”

“Settle down please class!”

Ginny stopped whispering to Luna and looked up atMcGonagall.

“Now today we will be putting to practice what you havelearned in the last two classes,” she speared everyone with a stern look, “So Ihope you all are prepared. Before webegin please pass in your papers.”

After a few moments of papers rustling the class settledback and waited.

“Excellent,” McGonagall said, “Now, the Absconditus spell ispart of your N.E.W.T. exam and you’ll need to have it mastered. This version of the disillusion spell is morepowerful and requires much more concentration. I expect nothing less that perfect and so will the Examiners. Now let’s begin.”

The class stood while McGonagall magically removed thedesks.

“Now I have a series of objects that have been magicallychanged into other objects and only a properly performed Absconditus spell willtransform it back to it’s original form.”

She went to her closet and returned levitating a large trunkfilled with items. She set it down nearher desk and picked up a plain silver pitcher. She placed the pitcher in the center of the room and stepped back.

“Now who would like to volunteer first?” she pointed atLuna, “How about you Miss. Lovegood?”

Luna came forward and stopped several feet from the pitcher,“Explico Absconditus!” she shouted.

The pitcher rattled in its spot for several seconds beforeit melted and reformed into a bowler hat.

“Very good Miss. Lovegood,” McGonagall said, “That wasperfect.”

Luna smiled at McGonagall and returned to her place next toGinny. McGonagall spent the whole classhaving the students transform various objects back into their originalforms. The class as a whole did verywell and McGonagall was pleased.

“That was very good class. Ten points to each house I think for your performance here,” she said tothe delight of her students, “Now next class…”

She was interrupted when the door opened and Ginny’s olderbrother Bill came in. He ignored hisyounger sibling and wordlessly walked up to McGonagall and handed her a note. She took it read it and quickly folded itup. They whispered for a few moments,but before Bill nodded and left, Ginny distinctly heard the words “attack”,“Voldemort” and “Malfoy”.

“I think we can end early today,” McGonagall said to thesurprise of everyone in the class, “Read the next sections in your texts and beprepared to discuss the topic next time. Dismissed.”

The class grabbed their things and quickly left theroom. Ginny waited for Luna and theywalked towards the library.

“What was that all about?” Luna asked.

Ginny shrugged, “Something about You-know-who.”

Luna stopped, “You don’t think…?”

Ginny’s face went white, “That Harry’s found him?” shefinished.

Luna nodded.

“No,” Ginny said after a few moments, “If that were thecase, McGonagall would have left straight away. Not to mention Bill would have been more hurried than he was.”

Luna nodded, “I wonder what’s happening?”

Hermione slammed her hands on the desk in frustration, “Thisis rubbish!”

Kathryn smiled at her student, “I agree, but hitting my deskwon’t change anything.”

Hermione, not in a joking mood, continued right along, “I’vehelped fight against him for the last eight years! Why not include me! Even if he isn’t there!”

“I don’t know,” Kathryn shrugged, “But your friend Mr.Potter wasn’t included either. He didn’tseem overly upset.”

“That’s because Harry knows Voldemort’s not there!” sheshouted and started pacing around Kathryn’s office.

Kathryn sat up, “Look will you please calm down and stopshouting. I’m on your side, remember?”

Hermione gave her a look and sat down heavily on the couch,“Sorry.”

“Look if what you’ve told me about Mr. Potter is true, thenhe won’t necessarily need to face Voldemort, just a powerful wizard…,” shelooked back down at the papers and muttered, “or seven.”

Hermione scowled in anger and crossed her arms across herchest, “But we, Harry and I, have more knowledge of Voldemort than anyone who’sgoing. We’d be a valuable asset.”

“I agree, but Filmier doesn’t,” Kathryn said, “Now justaccept that fact and let’s get back to teaching. We’ll still be on guard here.”

Hermione nodded, not mollified one bit. Harry and Shacklebolt had spoken to Filmierbefore Hermione and Kathryn had left to return to Hogwarts. They waited in Shacklebolt’s office until thetwo came back, Harry red-faced and angry and Shacklebolt disappointed. Harry had told Filmier that he suspected thisto be a trap and Filmier had just ignored him and went to further say thatHarry was just a kid and his experience in Auror matters was insufficient.

Shacklebolt had argued that Harry’s experience with andagainst Voldemort was far beyond any of the most experienced Aurors with theexception of Mad-Eye Moody. Filmierdidn’t listen to Shacklebolt either. Hestill thought Harry to be a little too impulsive, not too mention egotisticaland looking for glory.

“Well why don’t we grab some lunch before the attack comes,”Kathryn said bringing Hermione back to the present, “I hate fighting on anempty stomach.”

They walked out of the office and down the stairs. Kathryn noticed her apprentice’s restlessnessand chuckled.

“Are you laughing at me?” Hermione asked with a touch ofanger.

“Yes,” Kathryn said, “Relax, ok? I know you’re anxious about the attack, butthere’s nothing we can do but be prepared here.”

“I’ll try,” Hermione muttered.

“You know, you’re going to be quite a handful to teacharen’t you?”

Hermione smirked, “Harry always thought so.”