Chapter 365 - The Will (2/2)
”He… he knew I liked books,” said Hermione in a thick voice, mopping her eyes with her sleeve.
”'To Mr. Colin Thomas Creevey, I leave the first moving photograph he took in Hogwarts and gifted me, which I treasured very much. I hope that this photograph serves as a reminder that the things you achieve by hard work will always be your most prized possessions.'” Scrimgeour pulled out a wooden photo frame and Colin's inside turned with excitement.
With shaking hands, Colin took it and stared at the photo inside the frame. It was their welcome speech more than five years ago. Dumbledore stood with a smile on his face, eyes twinkling over his half-moon spectacles and arms wide open as if he could embrace all the newcomers. Colin smiled at the picture remembering his happy and exciting and a little bit terrifying first day of Hogwarts.
”So is this also a keepsake?” Scrimgeour asked coldly.
”I guess your team had already reported that. Nonetheless, thanks for not destroying the frame and photo while looking for codes,” Colin replied sarcastically.
Scrimgeour decided against dignifying Colin's comment with an answer.
”'To Luna Pandora Lovegood, I leave one of my most precious blessings, the jeweled Conch, which was gifted to me when I became the headmaster as a sign that I would bring a new era at Hogwarts. My hope is she finds this equally inspiring.'” Grumbling Scrimgeour pulled out a beautiful purple-blue Conch, it had small colorful stones attached to it which glittered as it caught the light in the room.
Luna took the conch with a smile and before Scrimgeour could ask she said, ”I collect things,” she pointed at her hand where she wore more than two colorful handmade bracelets, made out of stones and polished glasses. ”Dumbledore knew it.”
”'To Harry James Potter,'” Scrimgeour read on. ”'I leave the Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, as a reminder of the rewards of perseverance and skill.'”
As Scrimgeour pulled out the tiny, walnut-sized golden ball, its silver wings fluttered rather feebly.
”Why did Dumbledore leave you this Snitch?” asked Scrimgeour looking hanging on to his last bit of patience.
”No idea,” said Harry. ”For the reasons you just read out, I suppose… to remind me what you can get if you… persevere and whatever it was.”
”You think this a mere symbolic keepsake, then?”
”I suppose so,” said Harry with the same unbothered way. ”What else could it be?”
”I'm asking the questions,” said Scrimgeour, shifting his chair a little closer to the sofa, looking utterly frustrated. ”I notice that your birthday cake is in the shape of a Snitch. Why is that?”
Hermione and Ginny both gave startled chuckles.
”Oh, it can't be a reference to the fact Harry's a great Seeker, that's way too obvious,” Colin said with a smile. ”There must be a secret message from Dumbledore hidden in the icing!”
”I don't think there's anything hidden in the icing,” said Scrimgeour glaring at them. ”But a Snitch would be a very good hiding place for a small object. You know why I'm sure?”
Harry shrugged, Hermione, however, answered.
”Because Snitches have flesh memories,” she said.
”What?” said Colin, Harry, and Ron together, all staring at Hermione, who barely cared about Quidditch.
Ginny, however, looked at Hermione sharply. She also knew about Snitches having flesh memories but she kept quiet in front of the minister. Hermione realized her mistake as well but she was late.
”Correct,” said Scrimgeour triumphantly. ”A Snitch is not touched by b.a.r.e skin before it is released, not even by the maker, who wears gloves. It carries an enchantment by which it can identify the first human to lay hands upon it, in case of a disputed capture. This Snitch” — he held up the tiny golden ball — ”will remember your touch, Potter. It occurs to me that Dumbledore, who had prodigious magical skill, whatever his other faults, might have enchanted this Snitch so that it will open only for you.”
Harry looked nervous as he gazed at the snitch.
”You don't say anything,” said Scrimgeour. ”Perhaps you already know what the Snitch contains?”
”No,” said Harry quickly.
”Take it,” ordered Scrimgeour.
Everyone held their breath as Harry held out his hand, and Scrimgeour leaned forward again and place the Snitch, slowly and deliberately, into Harry's palm.
Nothing happened. As Harry's fingers closed around the Snitch, its tired wings fluttered and were still. Scrimgeour, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and Colin continued to gaze avidly at the now partially concealed ball as if still hoping it might transform in some way.
”That was dramatic,” said Harry coolly. Luna, Colin, Ron, and Hermione laughed.
”Dumbledore also left you the sword of Gryffindor, Potter,” said Scrimgeour getting everyone's attention back.
Harry froze for a moment before asking, ”So where is it?”
”Unfortunately, that sword was not Dumbledore's to give away. The sword of Godric Gryffindor is an important historical artifact, and according to reliable historical sources, the sword may present itself to any worthy Gryffindor,” said Scrimgeour. ”That does not make it the exclusive property of Mr. Potter, whatever Dumbledore may have decided.” Scrimgeour scratched his badly shaven cheek, scrutinizing Harry. ”Why do you think--?”
”--Dumbledore wanted to give me the sword?” said Harry, struggling to keep his temper.
”Maybe he thought it would look nice on my wall.”
”This is not a joke, Potter!” growled Scrimgeour. ”Was it because Dumbledore believed that only the sword of Godric Gryffindor could defeat the Heir of Slytherin? Did he wish to give you that sword, Potter, because he believed, as do many, that you are the one destined to destroy He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?”
”Interesting theory,” said Harry trying to calm himself down. ”Will this be all? You see, I have a birthday party to get to.”
Looking furious Scrimgeour stood up.
”Remember you're not at school. Remember that I am not Dumbledore, who forgave your insolence and insubordination,” he spat.
”You made that very clear, sir,” Colin said also standing up.
Scowling Scrimgeour stuffed the will back and started walking out but Ginny stopped him.
”What did Dumbledore left for Chris? You didn't say,” she asked.
”. . . that doesn't concern you, Miss Weasley,” Scrimgeour said.
”It does,” Harry said getting up. ”Are you planning to hold onto whatever Dumbledore left for Chris?”
”Do not overstep your boundaries, Potter. I will give Miss Norton her possession when we find her,” Scrimgeour replied.
”What is it?” Ginny asked again.
After a long moment of silence, Scrimgeour pulled out the parchment and read, ”'To Miss Christina Agatha Norton, I leave a family heirloom, in the hope that this piece of jewelry will remind her to never lose focus from what's truly important.' . . . The heirloom is an old locket passed down to women in the Dumbledore family every generation. I believe none of you knows why Dumbledore would leave such a family heirloom to one of his students?”
No one replied.
”I thought so. Considering Miss Norton's father Mr. Norton is also absent, the ministry will hold onto this until Miss Norton arrives.”
⁂
Present.
The Vampire Castle.
”And Scrimgeour left,” Luna finished the story, looking up from the stuff she had spread on the table unpacking Chris's bag. ”The next thing we heard about him was the time at Bill's wedding. Kingsley said the Death eaters tortured him and killed him but he didn't give away Harry's location.”
”But I didn't get the locket Dumbledore left me,” Chris said with a sigh, stretching on her bed. ”Why do you think he left me the Dumbledore family heirloom?”
”No clue,” Colin said twirling his wand on the table while watching Luna sort things out. ”We were so focused about finding you, we barely gave our things a thought. But Hermione was very sure that these all are clues.”
”But we had to separate before we could figure it out together,” Luna said examining an empty flask. ”What was in this?”
Chris looked up and glanced at the flask.
”Healing potion, the old one.”
”How could you be out of healing potion, huh?” Colin joked.
Chris rolled her eyes at him and didn't reply.
”Don't worry, I will make some for you,” Luna said reassuringly.
”Thanks, Luna. You are the best,” Chris grinned at her.
⟦To be continued⟧