Putting It Back

Chapter 30 – The Tomb

A few nights later, Harry, Ron and Hermione were panting just outside the doors leading into the castle. "Whew, that was close. I was sure that Filch was going to catch us this time."

"Ouch Ron," Hermione whispered. "You're crushing my hand." The three of them were huddled together under the invisibility cloak.

They quietly made their way down the steps and around the castle to Dumbledore's tomb.

"Clear?"

"Clear," Ron and Hermione whispered back.

Harry whisked off the invisibility cloak and carefully stored it in his cloak.

Hermione was looking at the tomb with a calculating look. Biting her lower lip in thought caused Ron to stare at her.

Harry nudged Ron out of his stupor. "Hermione, how do you figure we do this?"

Annoyed at the talking, Hermione didn't respond at first but started to cast privacy charms around them. "We should be able to open the tomb easily, but there seems to be a protection ward on it."

Harry pulled out the Elder wand, shut his eyes, and walked slowly towards the memorial.

"What are you doing?" Ron asked.

"Shh" Hermione explained, "He is trying to sense the magic in the ward. Didn't your brother tell you anything?"

Defensively, Ron snapped back, "I wouldn't know, would I? I would have had to listen to him first."

"Guys, could we hold off on the bickering till we get back? I'm trying to concentrate." When Harry closed his eyes to resume his exploration, Ron gave Hermione a playful smirk. She just rolled her eyes and focused her attention back on what Harry was doing.

Harry found what he was looking for. He tapped the top of the tomb with the wand and the lid slowly slid off.

With a rush of air, fire erupted out vault directly at Harry.

Without conscious thought, the Elder wand in his hand cast a shield charm just in the nick of time. Flames were harmlessly deflected off to the side and stopped.

"Wicked!" Ron exclaimed in amazement.

Hermione rushed over to him. "Harry, you alright?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders giving her a comforting look. "I'm fine, it just took me off guard."

She furrowed her brow and scrutinized him in disbelief.

"Harry, that wand is brilliant. You sure you don't want to keep it?" Ron walked over to take another look at the wand. "I mean, Dumbledore had it for years doing only good with the power."

Harry seemed to daze off in thought as he considered the idea. "Yeah, I'm sure. The risk is too great. I have Ginny, Teddy, you two, and the rest your families to worry about." He fitted the wand into the tomb and stepped back in determination.

Hermione placed a hand on his back to show her support.

"For everything there is a cost. Even the most powerful wand in the world is not worth either of your lives. And, death will follow this stick where ever it goes."

Ron sighed. "I guess your right." He used his wand to levitate the lid back onto the tomb.

Harry couldn't help but smile at the first year spell that saved their lives from the mountain troll all those years ago. He caught Hermione's smiling eyes and knew she was reminiscing of the same thing.

Hermione finished the job by adding back some protection wards and removing the privacy charms.

In the distance they heard the voice of Filch talking to his cat. "You say there out here? Ohh, out of bounds and out of the castle. There will definitely be an expelled student tonight."

Harry pulled out his cloak and threw it over the three of them. "I'm definitely going to miss this sneaking around after we leave Hogwarts."

Hermione and Ron stifled their laughs as they set off to make their way back to the castle.

The End