Madison Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Chapter 25: Have a Holly Jolly XMas

Ginny and I decided that it would be fun to decorate a Christmas Tree and put a garden gnome on top.

As we pulled carrots from the garden earlier, a gnome bit Ginny so we stupefied it and put it in a tutu and put it on the tree.

Later that night, in front of the fireplace, I was spending some quality time with Lupin and my brother and Mr. Weasley.

"Has it been busy at the Ministry?" Harry asked Mr. Weasley.

"Very. Out of the three arrests we'd made in the past two months. I doubt that one of them is a genuine Death Eater, but don't repeat that," Mr. Weasley told the both of us.

"Are they still holding Stand Shunpike?" I asked.

"I'm afraid so," Mr. Weasley sighed. "Dumbledore has tried talking to Scrimgeour about it, but anybody who as ever interviewed him believes that he's about as much as a Death Eater as this satsuma... But high levels want to look like they are making arrests, and three arrests sounds better to them that three mistaken arrests and releases."

"Mr. Weasley," I began to ask. "Have you heard anything about-"

"The Malfoy's? We checked. There was nothing that shouldn't have been there."

"Yeah, we saw in the Daily Prophet, but Harry believes that this is more..."

Harry and I told Mr. Weasley what we overheard. As Harry and I took turns talking, Lupin got a little more into the conversation.

"Has it occurred that Snape was pretending-"

"Pretending to offer help so he could find out what Malfoy's up too?" Harry asked.

"It isn't our business to know," Lupin unexpectedly told us. "It's Dumbledore's business, and he trusts Snape, and that must be a good reason for all of us."

"I think that it's quite within our right to know. Harry and I should be able to know at least. I mean, we are dealing with an overall enemy that killed our parents," I announced, probably sounding like a know-it-all.

"Yeah! What if Dumbledore's wrong about Snape and-"

"People have said it many times, Harry. It comes down to whether or not you trust Dumbledore. I do, so I trust Snape," Lupin revealed.

"But Dumbledore can make mistakes," I told my godfather. "Even he said so! And do you honestly like Snape?"

"I neither like nor dislike Severus," Lupin replied.

Harry and I gave him a look of disbelief.

"Madison, Harry, I am speaking the truth. We will never be friends, after everything that happened between James, Sirius, Snape and I- there is too much bitterness there. But the year I taught at Hogwarts, he made me the Wolfsbane Potion every month. Made it perfectly so I didn't have to suffer like I usually do at the full moon..."

"But he also 'accidentally' told everybody that you're a werewolf! You had to leave, Remus! I would have loved for my godfather to stay!" I told himS

He shrugged. "It would have been revealed anyway. We all know Snape wanted my job, but he could have done much more damage if he wrecked the potion. I am thankful for that."

"Maybe he didn't mess with the potion because Dumbledore was watching!" Harry said.

"You both are very determined to hate him," Lupin told us both, a faint smile evident on his save. "With James as your father and Sirius as your godfather, Harry, and me as yours, Madison, you have inherited an old hatred."

"Harry," I suddenly remarked. "What if Snape questioned Malfoy on Dumbledore's orders?"

Harry shook his head, stood up, and went over to talk to Ron.

I sighed as Mr. Weasley got eggnog for everybody.

"So, what's up with you lately?" I asked my godfather.

"I've been underground. Literally, which is why I haven't been able to write, Madison, it would have been a giveaway."

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

"I've been living with werewolves. Nearly all of them are on Voldemort's side, and Dumbledore wanted a spy... And here I was, ready-made," Lupin said, bitter.

"He wanted me to be a spy too. Told me he didn't exactly trust me because I was too smart for my own good, and wanted me to become a spy. Told him no, of course, because I would never do that," I told my godfather.

Lupin sighed. "It's been difficult gaining trust from them, and I show signs of living among wizards, while they shun themselves and live on their kills- eating. Cannibalism."

"How the duck can they like Voldemort?" I asked.

"It's hard to argue with Greyback..."

"Who the heck is that?" I asked him.

"I'm surprised you haven't heard of him, you being one of the smartest witches in your age," he replied, shocked.

"Well you also need to remember that I was kept in the dark about wizards for about the first 10 years of my life," I told him.

He nodded. "Fenrir Greyback is the most savage werewolf alive today. His life goal is to bite and turn as many people as possible. Wants to make enough werewolves to overcome the Wizards. Voldemort promised him prey in return for his services. Greyback... He specializes in kids. Bites them when they are young... Raises them away from their families and teaches them to hate normal wizards.."

There was a pregnant pause.

"Greyback was the one who bit me," Lupin told me.

"When you were a kid?" I asked him, astonished.

"Yeah. My dad offended him, and I didn't know for a long time who the werewolf that attacked me was. I often felt pity for him, thinking that he had no control, because I knew then how it felt to transform. Greyback is not like that though. He positions himself close to victims and makes sure he is close enough to strike. Plans it out.

"I can't pretend that my reason for my argument is making much a dent in Greyback's idea that we werewolves deserve blood and that we ought to revenge ourselves on normal people."

"But you are normal!" I fiercely yelled. "You've just got a.. A furry little problem!"

Lupin bursted out laughing. "Sometimes you remind me of James. He called it my 'furry little problem' in public; people assumed that I owned badly behaved bunnies."

I felt excited that Lupin said I reminded him of my father.

"You remind me of Lily, too of course," Remus told me. "Witty, willing to stand up for others, fiery temper.. Everything..."

I hugged Remus tightly as Harry came back in.

"Remus, have you ever heard of the Half-Blood Prince?" Harry asked him.

"Half-Blood what?"

"Prince," I told him.

"There are no Wizarding princes," he smiled. "Is it a title you are thinking of adopting? Madison could be the Half-Blood Princess-"

"It's not about us! It's the nickname of some bloke who went to Hogwarts. I got his old potions book, and there was spells in it. Spells he invented, like Levicorpus-"

"That spell is a fun one," I interrupted.

"That spell was popular during my time at Hogwarts. There were a few months in my fifth year when you couldn't move for being up in the air by your ankle."

"Dad used it," I said. "On Snape."

"Yes," Lupin smiled. "But he was not the only one. It was popular, and spells come and go..."

"It sounds like it was invented while you were at school," Harry said.

"Jinxes go out of style like clothes. And Madison, Harry, your father was a pure blood, and he never asked us to call him a prince."

"And it wasn't Sirius? Or you?" I asked.

"Definitely not."

"The books helped me a lot in potions..."

"How old is this book?"

"We don't know," I answered for Harry.

"Find out, and maybe it will give you a clue as to when the Prince was at school."

We were opening gifts at the moment, and all of us had received Weasley sweaters. Mine was purple with a blue M on it.

"Oh, and Madison dear, this is for you to give to Hermione when you go back," Mrs. Weasley told me. "It's her Weasley sweater."

I smiled.

George came and sat down next to me and passed me a little box wrapped in wrapping paper.

"Read the wrapping paper out loud," George told me.

"It takes only one person to turn one's life around, and that person could go years without knowing who and when they will come. Some are lucky to meet that person when they are young, and I must say, that you make me the happiest man on Earth, Madison. I will always love you, George."

I felt tears prickle in my eyes, and I found myself suddenly wrapping my arms around George's neck, hugging him and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

I opened up the package and found out why George was at book shop yesterday.

My green eyes prickled with tears once more, because inside the package was a piece of parchment from the store.

You might be thinking, wow, a piece of paper? How sentimental!

But the piece of parchment had an address on it in George's handwriting. At the bottom of the page, it said, "when the war is over, this will be our house".

My hands let go of the piece of paper and I jumped up and hopped onto George.

I tackled him down to the ground, and kissed him full on the lips. "Yes, yes," I told him.

"Really?" George said, his voice cracking.

"Yes, really. Now come here, you little joker," I told him, kissing him once more.

He deepened the kiss.

"I'm still here," Harry coughed.

George and I pulled apart, and I gave my brother a cold and hard glare. He looked at me with the same glare, and somebody (Ron) had the nerve to laugh.

"You guys have the same glare!" Ron laughed.

"Do we have the same parents too, Ron?" I sarcastically asked him.

Ron gave me a look and I smirked. I successfully won.

"Did Lavender get you anything, Ron?" Harry asked.

Ron pulled out a necklace that said 'My Sweetheart'. I started laughing.

"You don't talk much though. You two do much more snogging," I said.

"Like you and George don't do as much snogging as we do," Ron tried to fight back.

"Actually we don't, the amount of times you snog in a week is about the amount of times George and I have snogged during our relationship so far," I told Ron.

George kissed the top of my head. "She's probably right, because she's always right about statistics and stuff."

Harry pulled a face of disgust, and Ron and Fred did as well.

"Madison, I figured that you'd probably be the one to know... Are McLaggen and Hermione really dating?" Ron asked me.

I laughed. "They went to Slughorn's party together, but Hermione told me it really didn't end well."

There was a present under the tree that Ron saw and he gingerly handed it to both Harry and I, looking much more happy once I told him Hermione did not have a boyfriend.

"It's from Kreacher," I stated, happily.

"It's probably got maggots in it or something," Harry told me.

"Still! Kreacher got us a present! It was nice of him to do so," I told him, opening it up.

I shrieked when I saw what it was. "MAGGOTS!"

Maggots started climbing on me. "GET THEM OFF OF ME! NOW!"

"Scourgify!" George exclaimed.

The creepy-crawled soon disappeared, and I felt much more clean and less gross.

"I change my mind," I announced. "That wasn't very nice of him to give as a present. And to think- I sent him a nice new blanket!"

"Clothes?" Harry asked, dumbfounded.

"A blanket is not an article of clothing, you dimwit!" I told my brother.

Later at lunch, I found myself trying to contain my laughter.

"There's a maggot in your hair, Harry," Ginny told him. She reached over and got it out of there for him.

Harry smiled and said thanks, but I saw goosebumps on the back of his neck that most likely were not from the maggot.

Mrs. Weasley suddenly looked outside the kitchen window; snow was falling in large clumps. There were two figures, and I knew who one of them was.

Percy.

"Oh my! Arthur- it's Percy!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, tears beginning to flow down her cheeks.

Behind him was a figure- it was the minister.

"He's got the Minister with him!"

I knew that something would probably happen, and it would not be good.

The two sorry excuse for men walked in.

There was an unnatural and uncomfortable silence.

"Merry Christmas, mother," Percy stiffly stated.

"We were in the area," the minister began. "For work, and just had to drop in."

Percy stood there, almost as if he was an asswhole- wait, he already is one.

He had a stony look etched upon his face, almost as if he only wanted to greet Mrs. Weasley and not anybody else.

Mr. Weasley, Ron, Fred, George and Bill gave Percy a stony and cold glare.

After five minutes, Harry and I were out in the garden with Scrimgeour.

"I've been wanting to meet you two, did you know that? But Dumbledore has been very protective... Understanding, due to what you've both been through... But you two are the chosen ones, so I had to meet you both.

"Now, there's all these rumors about the prophecy and certain things involving the two of you. Has Albus discussed the matter with you both?"

"Oh, of course he has," I told the man, putting on a fake smile.

Dumbledore has really told us nothing.

"Good," the minister said, believing my lie.

"Now," he continued. "What has Albus told you?"

"Sorry, but that's between us and him," Harry told the man, reproachfully.

"Yes, well... You see, you both are a symbol of hope! And the people- the ministry need to show that to the people of the wizard community. For the greater good, of course," Scrimgeour told us both.

"So basically," I said. "You want us to be poster kids for the Ministry of Magic?"

"Yes, yes you are correct."

Harry and I quickly looked at each other and stated together, "No."

"What? Why?"

"We don't really like what the Ministry is doing," I began.

"Like locking up Stan Shunpike," Harry continued.

"These are dangerous times! You both are only sixteen-"

"Yes, but Dumbledore is way older than sixteen, and he believes that Stan should be free to go!" I yelled.

"You are making Stan a scapegoat," Harry said.

"And now you want us as a mascot."

"I see. You both are like your hero, Dumbledore, and seek to disengage from the ministry?" Scrimgeour faintly chuckled.

"We don't want to be used," we growled.

"Some would say, Harry, Madison, that it is your duty to side with the ministry!"

Unbelievable. This man was unbelievable.

"Yeah, and others might say that is your duty-"

"To check the 'Death Eaters' you are throwing in Azkaban-"

"And you are just like Barty Crouch-" I said, my temper now rising.

"Never get it right, do you people?" Harry said, his temper flaring up too.

"Just like Fudge, who was pretending that everything was all fine and dandy when people were being murdered right under his nose, and he knew it too-" Harry said.

"And then we've got you, just chucking people in Azkaban left and right, not even checking if those people are actually Death Eaters or not! Every person in the Ministry with high-ranking authority is the same!" I yelled.

"You don't care whether or not Madison and I live or die, because you just want us as poster kids!"

"But you do seem to care on whether or not we are helping you or not," I screamed. "To make it seem like the ministry is winning the war against Voldemort. And we haven't forgotten, Minister..."

Together, Harry and I raised our fists.

On our pale hands, there was the scars evident from Dolores Umbridge's detention methods.

"I must not tell lies".

"Last time I checked, minister, you weren't rushing to our defense when we tried to tell that Voldemort was back," Harry said.

The minister showed his weakness by wincing at the proper name for the nose-less bitch. What a wimp.

"The Ministry wasn't very keen to be our friends, if you remember..." I finished for my brother.

There was an awkward silence; I could only hear the sound of snowflakes being pelted against the windows of the burrow.

"What's Dumbledore been up to?" Scrimgeour suddenly asked, almost as if we would know. "Where has he been going during school?"

"As if we would know," I stated. "And even if we did-"

"You wouldn't tell me," the minister finished for me.

"Obviously," Harry replied.

"So it's true then?" Scrimgeour asked in a weird way.

"That you're an idiot? We've all already known that," I stated, letting my anger get the best of me.

The poor excuse of a man glared at me reproachfully.

"No. So it's true that you both are Dumbledore's man and woman through and through, Potters?"

I snorted.

Together, Harry and I stated:

"Yes, we are. Glad that we've got that figured out."

We both turned our backs towards Scrimgeour and trudged back into the Burrow, sour looks on our faces.

Hello everybody! So I have a few words before I actually end this chapter.

Recently, there has been a terrorist bomb attack in Brussels, Belgium. And we all know who did it.

Like I did say- or, write, I can't physically talk through a book- on my November 17th, 2015, update in the book "How To Go To Another Time Period", I stand with France through that attack.

And now I stand with Belgium.

To everybody in Belgium- whether you actually may be in Brussels, or maybe on the close borders of Germany and France (since Belgium is in the middle of it), my heart goes out to you.

I was born in Northern Illinois in 2000, and I was 1 when 9/11 happened. I still live in Northern Illinois, and while I don't exactly remember what happened that day because I was one, I can tell you that I sort of know how it feels to be in this situation I guess.

And then something else happened a few years ago.

The Boston Bombing.

Other countries stood with us during those times, and those times still seem to continue, unfortunately.

So I am here to say something.

I stand with you, Belgium.

Oh, and btw, this chapter is 38 pages according to the app, so if say it's a pretty long chapter.