𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

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chapter twenty seven | dumbledore's will

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Β  Β  Β  Β  Sleep didn't come easy for Stella Mason. The chilling sneer on her father's face as he fought his friends plagued her mind. Would anyone think differently of her? Would everyone look at her and see her father's actions? Would she lose everyone she held dear? The thoughts went on and on. She laid awake later that night, Hermione sleeping soundly across the room, when she heard voices coming from outside. She got out of bed quietly, to not disturb her friend, and went downstairs to see Ron catching up to Harry outside.

Β  Β  Β  Β  "Going somewhere," Ron called out. Stella, not noticed yet, leaned against the doorway watching.

Β  Β  Β  Β  Harry turned around sharply, "nobody else is going to die. Not for me."

Β  Β  Β  Β  "For you? You think Mad-Eye died for you? You think George took that curse for you," Ron scoffed, "you may be the Chosen One, mate, but it's a whole lot bigger than that. It's always been bigger than that."

Β  Β  Β  Β  "Come with me."

Β  Β  Β  Β  "And leave the girls? You mad? We wouldn't last two days without them. Don't tell them I said that."

Β  Β  Β  Β  "Too late."

Β  Β  Β  Β  The two boys turned to see Stella, her arms crossed, walk over to them.

Β  Β  Β  Β  "Stellaβ€”"

Β  Β  Β  Β  "Harry, whether you want to leave right now or not, you still have the Trace on you," the girl pointed out, kind of peeved at the fact Harry was ready to up and leave them without a second thought.

Β  Β  Β  Β  "And we've still got the weddingβ€”"

Β  Β  Β  Β  "I don't care about a wedding," Harry cut off Ron, "I'm sorry, no matter whose it is. I have to start finding these Horcruxes. They're our only chance at beating him and the longer we stay here, the stronger he gets."

Β  Β  Β  Β  "Harry, we understand, but it's been a long night and we've got a long day ahead of us," Stella stepped forward to take Harry's hands, "please, Harry."

Β  Β  Β  Β  Harry sighed with a nod as Ron took the boys' bag and started walking back to the house, his friends following.

Β  Β  Β  Β Β  "Do you think he knows," Ron started, "I mean, they're bits of his soul, these Horcruxes. Bits of him. When Dumbledore destroyed the ring, you destroyed Tom Riddle's diary, he must have felt something. To kill the other Horcruxes, we have to find them. Where are they? Where do we start?"

β‹†β‹…β˜†β‹…β‹†

Β  Β  Β  Β  Stella always had a soft spot for weddings. Witnessing the commencement of two souls coming together to love each other forever was something Stella couldn't wait to be a part of. Her dress was a light blue silk, spaghetti strap dress that went down to the bottom of her knees. Stella liked it the most because of how it flowed compared to the tight dresses she had worn in the past.

Β  Β  Β  Β  She walked downstairs to see Harry Potter sitting at the kitchen table reading the Daily Prophet and smiled, "hey, green eyes, can you help me with my necklace?"

Β  Β  Β  Β  The boy smiled back at her and came up from behind to help. Her brown colored hair was curled and was brought over her shoulder for Harry to see clearly.

Β  Β  Β  Β  "It seems silly, doesn't it, a wedding," Stella spoke quietly, the silence between them practically killing her, "given everything that's going on."

Β  Β  Β  Β  Finishing the clasp of her necklace, he shrugged, "maybe that's the best reason to have it. Because of everything that's going on."

Β  Β  Β  Β  The Mason turned to face Harry with a small smile on her face. She reached a hand to cup his cheek and brought her lips onto his gently. The boy recuperated instantly, putting his hands on her waist.

Β  Β  Β  Β  They pull away to catch their breaths, only paying attention to each other.

Β  Β  Β  Β  "Harry," Stella brought her hands to rest on his chest, "promise me, no matter what, we stick together."

Β  Β  Β  Β  Harry nodded without a second thought, "I promise, Stel, you have my word."

Β  Β  Β  Β  Their gaze was interrupted by a noise coming from the kitchen, a clearing of a throat. The two teens turned to see George, his head wrapped in a bandage with a toothbrush sticking out of his ear as he sipped his tea, "morning," he greeted with a suggestive tone, adding a wink for good measure.

Β  Β  Β  Β  Stella sighed at his antics before grabbing Harry's hand to bring him out of the kitchen. They didn't get far because they were stopped by news that the Minister of Magic had arrived. The four friends were met with Rufus Scrimgeour, a briefcase in hand.

Β  Β  Β  Β  "To what do we owe the pleasure, Minister," Harry asked, his hand still grasped in Stella's.

Β  Β  Β  Β  "I think we both know the answer to that question, Mr. Potter."

Β  Β  Β  Β  The teens and the Minister settled in the living room, squished themselves on the small cushioned couch. Stella noted to herself how uncomfortable she felt as she didn't have any room to sit, but didn't say anything out loud. The two girls were on the end as the two boys were in between them, with the Minister sitting in front of them. Stella watched as Scrimgeour put his hand inside his cloak and drew out a pouch, presenting a scroll of parchment that floated in the air in front of them.

Β  Β  Β  Β  Without any further explanation, the Minister began to speak, "herein is set forth the last will and testament of Albus Percival Wolfric Brian Dumbledore. First, to Ronald Bilius Weasley, I leave my Deluminator, a device of my own making in the hope that when things seem most dark, it will show in the light."

Β  Β  Β  Β  Scrimgeour took the object from the pouch and handed it to Ron, who had a stunned look on his face. The device looked like a kind of lighter Stella used to see in the Muggle world.

Β  Β  Β  Β  "Dumbledore left this for me?"

Β  Β  Β  Β  "Yes."

Β  Β  Β  Β  "Brilliant," Ron expressed, "what is it?"

Β  Β  Β  Β  The Minister had no answer for him, so Ron tried it for himself. He pressed the button and watched as the light on the room was taken away and stored itself in the device. Ron pressed the same button again, and the light returned.

Β  Β  Β  Β  "Wicked."

Β  Β  Β  Β Β  Scrimgeour turned back to the will, "to Hermione Jean Granger, I leave my copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, in the hope that she will find it entertaining and instructive."

Β  Β  Β  Β  Hermione took the book from the Minister's hands and observed the book with puzzled features.

Β  Β  Β  Β  "Mum used to read me those," Ron broke the silence of the room, "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot. Babbitty Rabbitty and the Cackling Stump," he paused at the unimpressed looks his friends were giving him, "come on, Babbitty Rabbitty. No?"

Β  Β  Β  Β  "To Stella Marie Mason," the Minister spoke, surprising the girl, "I leave my dear Phoenix, Fawkes. For everyone should have a loyal companion whenever they need one."

Β  Β  Β  Β  Nothing was handed to Stella, making her question, "Dumbledore left me Fawkes? I hardly had a handful of conversations with him," she mumbled the last part to her friends, the three giving her curious looks right back.

Β  Β  Β  Β  Scrimgeour paid them no mind as he kept going, "to Harry James Potter, I leave the Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts. To remind him of perseverance and skill."

Β  Β  Β  Β  Harry reached forward to take the Snitch from the Minister. Everyone seemed to watch in anticipation as nothing happened when Harry finally took grasp of it. Stella noticed how Scrimgeour's features held disappointment, almost as if he was hoping for something to happen.

Β  Β  Β  Β  "Is that it, then?"

Β  Β  Β  Β  "Not quite," the man answered Harry, his eyes looking toward the teens and not the parchment, "Dumbledore left you a second bequest, the sword of Godric Gryffindor. Unfortunately, the sword of Gryffindor was not Dumbledore's to give away. As an important historical artifact it belongsβ€”"

Β  Β  Β  Β  "To Harry," Hermione interrupted confidently, the looks around the room got her to elaborate, "it belongs to Harry. It came to him when he most needed it in the Chamber of Secrets."

Β  Β  Β  Β  "The sword may present itself to any worthy Gryffindor Ms. Granger, but that does not make it that wizard's property. And, in any event, the current whereabouts of the sword are unknown."

Β  Β  Β  Β  "Excuse me?"

Β  Β  Β  Β  "The sword is missing," Scrimgeour disclosed, before leaning into the group slightly, "I don't know what you're up to, Mr. Potter, but you can't fight this war on your own. He's too strong."

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don't be a silent reader!
edited: 6 april 2021

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