Chapter 99 - Back to Hogwarts (2)

Professor McGonagall shot her a look, and Hermione hastily spoke to Dumbledore's curious eyes, one that too hoped for an answer, "Well…he wanted us to train in Non-Verbal, Wandless Magic, saying how the Wizards have grown weaker because of the reliance on Wand, and then we started arguing, where he wanted to mention the Artifacts of Old, which I would have argued upon."

Tifa and Aerith softly chuckled, and Professor McGonagall looked away, exasperated.

Hermione cleared her throat, "Anyway. Later that night, when Harry went to bed, he mentioned that he doesn't remember seeing the other Artifacts of the Houses. Slytherin's Locket, Ravenclaw's Diadem, Hufflepuff's Cup. He knows where Sword of Gryffindor is, but not the other three."

"He knows where the sword is?" Dumbledore stopped, standing beside the table, tapping on it.

"Yes. He wanted to know if the Founder's Relics were still there or if they were missing. In case…."

"In case they too have been turned into Horcruxes."

"Yes," Hermione pressed her lips, "And…I have a list in my luggage. There was a list of Murders in London over the past 30 to 40 years…that was only what he could get, and a cross match with the strange circumstances of the body. Matching the Killing Curse are few, but there are. One of the places…a village…."

"Little Hangleton?"

"Yes, a Murder took place around the same time as Harry's Dream and Voldemort's return. His hometown…there could be one there. He hoped you could go check, and if there is, then do not destroy the Horcruxes."

"Oh, why not?"

"He wishes to read memories of the Souls inside those objects, find the latest one, and know the locations of the others."

"Legilimency can't be used on an object," Professor McGonagall shook her head.

"Cloud's can," Aerith leaned forward, correcting her, smiling, "He is special. At the same time, Legilimency can be used to read one's mind. He reads memories of Mind, Body, and Soul."

"Wonderful," Dumbledore breathed out, clapping his hands, "While it still doesn't answer my questions about what truly happened there that day, it does give us a way to defeat Voldemort."

"Telling Harry…teaching him Legilimency, even kidnapping him to look like a desperate measure?" Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows.

"A ruse, Minerva," Dumbledore smiled, "Arrogant as Voldemort is. Suppose he thinks that he knows something; we don't. He is bound to focus on it. Revel even."

"I doubt he'd revel, if only he could," Tifa crossed her arms, smiling.

Dumbledore chuckled, "Very true. Miss Lockhart. If only he could…well, I shall not keep you any longer. Please, enjoy your year, but also, keep your ears and eyes open. For danger might be right around the corner."

They wondered what Dumbledore meant by that since Hogwarts was supposed to be the safe place, but when they reached the Start-of-Term-Feast, which had been delayed a little, and found a new addition to the other teachers—One that made Aerith wrinkled her nose in dislike.

It was a rare happening that not everyone got to see, and both Harry and Hermione thought she wasn't capable of it, "You know her?"

"Umbridge," Aerith whispered to them, "She kept an eye on us on Fudge's orders. She's not a very likeable woman."

"We got that," Hermione nodded, and they hadn't walked far when two people rushed up to them. One was Ron, who had been desperately waiting for his friends; the other was Angelina, who rushed over and hugged both Tifa and Aerith, "You two!"

"Angie," Aerith hugged the girl while Tifa gently stroked her head.

"We are fine. Sorry about not being able to write to you. Ministry was reading all our letters, and we didn't want their attention to turn to you," Tifa whispered.

"That's ok. I heard all about it from Fred and George, they wrote. Sorry you had to go through that," She smiled, backing. She looked over to Harry and Hermione.

"Cloud took you two. How is he doing?"

Hermione became flustered for a moment, but Ron rushed to their defence, "How would they know? They were kidnapped, remember?"

Angelina looked at him for a moment to see if he really believed that or acted before she raised her eyebrows, exchanging a look with Tifa and Aerith.

"Come on, others are waiting," She passed by Hermione and Harry, looking at only them, "Tell me later how's he doing? I am sure these two are just as worried, if not more. That is if they didn't find a way to talk to him while trapped in the Ministry."

"We didn't!"

"No way!" Tifa and Aerith hastily denied it, pushing her forward lest she revealed more of her keen insight into their affairs.

"Ok, ok, not saying anything," Angelina knowingly laughed, and when they reached their seats, they met their other friends, who all came over to greet them. But they had to sit down after getting all the looks from the Professors.

Soon, the feast started, and later, Dumbledore made his announcements, though interrupted by Dolores Umbridge. It came as a shock to many that she dared do what no teacher has done before.

She gave a lengthy speech, but only a few got the gist of it, like Fred and George, who disliked the woman from the bottom of their heart after hearing about her from Aerith of all people.

"Ministry is interfering in Hogwarts?" Angelina sighed, "I feel dark clouds on top of Hogwarts."

"Well, that's not all she is after, is she?" George looked at Aerith, "We heard a few rumours."

"What rumours?" Jordan blinked, joining their conversation, "Why haven't I heard of them?"

"Oh, I heard You-Know-Who had to run for his life after he made Aerith angry. Even Ministry is scared of her," Fred grinned, "Though I am not sure how true these rumours are."

"Very untrue. I have never gotten angry," Aerith wrinkled her nose.

Angelina nudged Tifa, whispering, "What is this about? You are telling me tonight."

"Not tonight," Tifa whispered, "Um…wait…you'll see."

"Oh, oh, I know that look," Angelina struggled not to raise her voice, and she covered her mouth, seeing Tifa's look.

She seemed giddy with the possibility of knowing the answer to a question she had been asking for years. She heard others whisper and ask what it was, but she only shook her head.

She waited until they could finally leave and was in the front row. Until they finally reached their room.

"Alicia!" She hugged Alicia, who hugged her back reluctantly, "So it's over?"

"Yeah," Angelina turned, blinkingly looking at Tifa and Aerith, "So? How do you do it?"

"We don't," Aerith shrugged, taking her bags and pulling them aside to make space, and then she waited with expectant eyes.

It was only a matter of moments when orange sparks appeared and formed a circling, spinning, and the portal was visible as a young man walked into the room, wearing homely clothes, yet he looked handsome.

He raised his blue eyes, which swept over them, and awkwardly raised his hand, greeting, "Hello?"

Alicia Spinnet widened her eyes, with no preparation for him coming, and she yelped, covering her mouth.

"Did you not tell her?"

"Sorry, I was too excited," Aerith jumped in his arms, resting her head on his chest, "I missed you so much!"

Cloud gently nuzzled his face against hers, "I know you did."

"Cheeky, as usual, I see," Angelina walked over, hugging him, taking a deep breath, "I am glad you are safe. After all the rumours I heard."

"I…."

"Don't explain. You have no need to explain," Angelina pulled away, grinning, "I don't know what you did or why you did, but I do know everything you do is because of how much you love these two."

Cloud scratched his cheek, and Angelina stepped back, "Tifa, don't you have something to say to him?"

Tifa peered into Cloud's eyes with confusion, walked up to him, and wrapped her arms around his neck, ferociously kissing him. She stepped onto the other side of the portal with him, and Aerith followed, waving her hand as the portal closed.

"Ok, so no talking?" Angelina exchanged a look with Alicia before the two burst into laughter.

"Um…both of them…and him…together?" Alicia asked in confusion, making Angelina raise her eyebrows.

"That, I gotta know."