After the war

They spent the rest of the day working on the story, Rita asking them their own veiws on the battle, how it might have been different if the ministery was being headed by someone other than Fudge, the lives that could have been saved.

"What we really need is the full list of the dead. The one that will be read at the memorial. It's all very well us saying that hundreds of lives might have been saved, but we need to put names to them, names that people will know, relate to." Rita said.

"Yeah, but how would we get it?" Harry asked.

"I don't know. I suppose I could ask him for it. Tell him I want to run a story on the day of the memorial, print the list for all those who can't attend." She mused.

"It would be too risky. If he even suspects that you have been told he is a traitor, he will kill you." Severus said.

"I wonder what kind of security he has. Dobby might be able to get into his office and find it." Harry suggested.

"The ministery is sheilded from unauthorized apperition. That's why there is a specific apperition point." Severus said.

"Yeah, but house elves don't travel quite the same way, do they? If there are house elves there, he might be able to get in." Harry offered.

"And if they are loyal to Fudge, they will capture him, and take him to their master." Severus pointed out.

"Well, this isn't helping us. We need to finish up what we have got, and if we can get hold of the list, add it then." Rita sighed.

"OK, you're right." Harry said.

"Can I call my editor? He needs to know we have this for him." Rita asked.

"That would be unwise. We have no idea if the flue network is secure or not. Write him a message, make sure he will be certain it comes from you, and we can ask Dobby to deliver it to him, as he did our message to you. Much safer all around." Severus said darkly.

"All right." She said, pulling a fresh peice of parchemnt out and looking at it for a few minutes before starting to write. when she was done, she folded the parchment and sealed it, then she looked at Harry.

"Dobby." Harry called. The elf popped in and looked at them.

"Yes Harry Potter Sir?"

"Can you deliver this to the editor of the daily prophet, make sure there is no one watching him before you do so. If he is being watched, bring him here instead." Harry said. Dobby nodded eagerly and took the note, vanishing again.

"How did you say that he would receive the story?" Severus asked.

"I said I would deliver it to the Prophet offices first thing in the morning, so that there would be time to get it in the first edition. Are you going to let me go home tonight, or are you going to want to keep me here?"

"I think you would be safer if you stayed here. Fudge knows you have never really trusted him, and he may take it into his head to eliminate threats." Severus said.

"Very well." She agreed.

"Come on, I think Dobby was going to store some stuff in the kitchen for us. Let's go and see if we can find anything to eat. I'm starving." Harry said, jumping out of his chair. Severus bit down on an indulgent smile, and followed him.

They were just about to open the door when the snake ghosted onto the mirror from the other side.

"There isssss ssssomettthhing in the ssssssouth tower." It hissed in parseltonge, in it's rush to deliver the message.

"What did it say?" Severus asked.

"There's something in the south tower. Whhat?" He hissed in parseltongue for the question to the snake.

"Monsssster."

"It says a monster. I suppose it could be something that got in from the forest now that the wards are down." Harry said.

"Or, it could be something Fudge has sent in to try to catch or kill you. We should check, carefully." Severus said.

"Right." Harry said, and he and Severus drew their wands.

"Stay here, Ms. Skeeter." Severus warned her.

"What? You can't leave me here." She objected.

"We can and will. We could always petrify you, if that would help." Severus said.

"No, no that's fine. I'll stay here." She said.

"Be sure you do."

Harry and Severus steped out of the room, making sure the door was closed behind them.

"Don't let her out." Severus said to the snake, which had followed them back to this side of the door. It nodded a silent agreement, and they set off along the hall.

They moved cautiously along the dark halls, not daring to light their wands and risk drawing attention to themselves. The crept up the staircase to the south tower, and listened at each doorway.
As they reached the third floor, they could hear heavy, snuffling breathing, and they moved carefully off the staircase. At the end of the hall, they could see a dark lump of something snuffling around in the dim light cast by the moon through the window. They heard it take a deeper breath, picking up their scents, and it turned, glowing yellow eyes locking on to them. They both raised their wands as it lumbered in their direction.

************

Gulp.