The Night of 101 Surprises

In the meantime Hermione and Quinton were hastily walking up to Ron’s house trying to get cover before the situation escalated, although Hermione had no idea how bad the situation already was. As much as Hermione wanted to run, to get everyone that they ‘walked’ past out of their way, it would only bring attention to them which right now wasn’t a very good idea, not in Hermione’s opinion anyway. So she did the next best thing, she carried Quinton to save time. When they finally got to Ron and Ambers house they she felt a great deal of relief wash over her. Hermione quickly knocked on the door several times before Ron answered it. As soon as Ron opened his front door Hermione pushed through, shutting the door with a bold slam, then she put her full weight against the door with Quinn still in her arms. Then as she released the young boy and slid down the door looking absolutely frazzled.

“Where’s Amber and Mathew?” she asked with an almost silent voice, looking around.

“Shopping. Why, what’s going on?” he said glancing between his two visitors.

“Someone tried to kidnap Quinton today after his class.” She said in a tone that was obviously ferociously angry.

“What was that noise?” Ron asked worriedly looking out the window. Hermione immediately looked out of her best friends’ huge bay window, and as the brainy woman did so the former came up from behind her and put a wet cloth over her face, which resulted in her immediately passing out.

“What’s going on, why did you hurt aunt Hermione?” Quinton asked sounding scared, with tears rolling down his delicate, cheeks.

“That wasn’t your real aunt Hermione; it was some that was under a spell to look like her.” Ron grabbed on tight to Quinton before apparating away, he really hated having to lie to his godson, but he simply wouldn’t understand the truth. The set of them apparated to a very elegant looking room that was rather large in size.

“Is this him?” asked a voice that the confused child couldn’t seem to place.

“Yes, my lord this is he.” Ron said bowing to the new Dark Lord

“Uncle Ron. What’s going on? “ Ron looked to his lord who gave him a dismissing gesture. The red head immediately took the gesture and left the room.

“I think it would be best if we have your daddy explain it.”

“Where is daddy? Will be back here soon?” he boy was full of curiosity and for a very good reason.

“He has to go away on business for a few weeks.”

“Oh ok.” He took to what his godfather had said instantly, after all why would he ever judge one of the men that helped raise him?

“Let’s take you to your room.”

“Wow! This room is much cooler than my room back at the manor.” and it was. The room was very extravagant, in fact it was the size of a small cottage, and was very warmly furnished.

“Only the best for you little guy.”

“How long will we have to be here?” the youngster asked trying not to sound rude. The excitement is clear in his eyes.

“Until your daddy gets back.”

“Dose this mean I can’t go to school?”

“I‘m afraid so, but we’ll bring in a tutor for you, I have to go but I’ll see you in a bit.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Do make sure that you stay in the room alright do go wandering without someone, trusted with you.”

“Yes, sir.”

“That’s a good lad.” The man said ruffling the boys’ hair He left the room and walked the mansion in search of his new master. Once he found the room which his master was occupying he knocked on the set of double doors.

“Coming Ronald.”

“Thank you master’s” When he opened the door his master wasn’t standing far from him, so as soon as he acknowledged the fact he bowed to the man his respect in a hastened but respectful fashion.

“How is the youngest Potter-Snape fairing? Dose he find his accommodations up to par?”

“He is fairing quite well. He took to the story that I gave him quite easily, Master. He enjoys the room a great deal.”

“You are personally in charge of making sure nothing happens to him, as well as attending to all of his wants and needs. It is very important that he is happy healthy and most of all willing to do anything that I shall ask of him. He is the only one that will have the capability to funnel the Gems’ powers to me.”

“I’m very honored that you are bestowing me with such a responsibly, I wont let you down, Master.”

“I will give him tonight to settle him however tomorrow, I expect you to formally introduce him to me.”

“Yes, my lord.”

*******

Harry was at a loss, has far as he knew the Gem of Sarahja was only a myth. He needed to find a way to make it non-mythical to save the lives of his family. As the boy-who-lived contemplated his problem, Hermione popped into his mind. Of course he though, if anyone would be able to help him it would be Hermione. Harry quickly apparated to harmonies house which he ground rather empty. So the next logical idea would, of course be to go to Ron’s house. When he apparated to Ron’s Front door, he knocked and waited. After waited for several moments he heard something on the other side of the door he took out his want and gently opened the door. To find Hermione on the floor just regaining consciousness‘.

“Hermione, what happed?” Hermione’s first response was a painful moan.

“Harry?” Hermione asked drowsily.

“Hey Herms.” Harry said embracing Hermione as she came to her senses.
Hermione slowly looked up to Harry, her wet watery eyes, meeting his concerned ones.

“What happened?” Harry repeated slowly, so he didn’t overwhelm her anymore than she already was.

“Ron knocked me out and took Quinn.”

“It may not be the actual Ron. Somehow the latest “Dark Lord” is getting his lackeys to polyjuice everyone. Severus is in his dungeons.

“Oh Harry, I’m so sorry.”

“I need you to help me find the gem of Sarahja, what do you know about it.”

“Not very much, what could you possibly want with that Harry?” she said worriedly, not really wanting the answer.

”I’m expected to find it, or it’s the end of my whole family.”

“I’ll help you anyway that I can, you know that Harry.”

“Okay first things first, I need you to get to Hogwarts to look it up, and I’ll search exotic and rare bookstores. I’ll give the black market a look as well. This subject can’t be so taboo that I can’t find anything on it.”

“I hope your right Harry I really do.” She said before she left, giving him a kiss on the cheek in hopes of comforting that man the she cared so deeply for.

“Good luck ‘Monie, and be careful.”

“Yeah, you too on both counts.” After three hours of heavy studying on both sides Hermione was finally able to find what they were looking for. Harry however was having no luck. And the time it took for Harry to obliviate every shop keeper he asked only took up more time that he didn’t have. Harry was looking though a tomb when his mobile went off rather loudly, in the dark arts section of the last rare book shop that was in Wizarding London.

“Did you find something ’Monie?”


“Yes, hurry; meet me at that place, where we went for that event.”

“See you in twenty.” Harry said hanging up his phone and walking out of the store. Harry apparated to an old, abandoned, barn, where Hermione and Harry went to for a carnival when Ron and Severus couldn’t make it do to work.

“Hey.” Hermione said her voice full of exhaustion.

“Hey, what did you find?” Harry asked with a needy voice.

“Well, most of the myths say that, the Gem dwells were the temperature is great, the air is almost unbearable. Plant life if rare, and life beyond the mortal coil is more apparent than you may comprehend at first glance.

“And what the Hell dose that mean?” Harry snapped “Sorry, what dose that mean.” With the weight of his family’s lives on him, it was really starting to weigh down on the young hero. He had been reluctant to date Severus, but when the fiery potions master wanted a child it had taken several months of persuasion to get Harry to consent. Harry’s biggest fear was the death of his family members, and loved ones. It was a constant fear that only Voldermorts death had slightly lessened. Harry’s family was always the most venerable because he cherished it so.

“Well if one used logic, then you will find that it’s either in an extreme desert such as Africa or extreme colds such as Antarctica.”

“How do we figure out which place it is?”

”I’m not exactly sure, but I do have a few theories, and the fact that we’ve got one more piece of the puzzle is forward momentum.”

“Not much considering that we’ve only got two weeks to find the damned thing and bring it back.”

“We’ll figure it out. We’ve been in worse situations.”

“Alright we know that it’s either in African desert or it somewhere in Antarctica. I think we should split up again and as I’m fluent in nothing but English and Latin you should go to Africa.”

“O.k. be careful.”

“Yeah sure.” She said sympathetically before she took her leave.

*****

“Quinn!” Ron called

“Yes Uncle Ron?” Quinn asked as he emerged form one of the many rooms in his quarters.

“Come with me their is someone I want you to meet.“

“Yes sir.” Quinton said as he put up his crayons and paper. Ron took the boys hand as he led the young lad thru a maze of hallways until they reached as set of large double doors; they were made of mahogany with gorgeous bronze handles. They were the ones that they used to exited after they apparated here.

“I have a bad feeling, in my tummy.”

“It‘s alright pet. I’ll make sure nothing bad happens to you. I Promise.”

“O.k.” The tall wizard opened the door slowly allowing his god son to enter first, and then he closed the door behind them.

“Master.” he said with a most respectful how.

“And to whom this this be?”

“This is my Godson Quinton Potter-Snape.”

“Hello sir. “He said nodding in respect. The little boy found it quite odd that someone didn’t know him. Almost everywhere he went he was running into people who knew of him, but most of those people he had never seen his parents socialize with.

“Your fathers have left you in our possession until they get back from a very important mission. It’s our job, mine and your godfathers to keep you safe.”

“What happened to aunt Hermione?” The Dark Lord looked to the boys’ godfather. Who merely told him that their was an unexpected problem that he had taken care of.”

“That is the main issue behind their mission, but you’re not supposed to know so it should be our little secrete.”

“Yes sir.” Severus had always told his son that if he had to sneak around to do something chances are that it was wrong. On the other hand he liked feeling so grown up, being told important things, so he decided to keep it to himself for now.”

“O.k.”

“Quinton this is Mr. Marley, you are to treat him with the highest respect.”

”Yes sir.”

”How would like to come with me to the kitchens for some delicious marshmallow ice cream?”

“That sounds most delightful.” Marley walk down to his kitchens with the Potter-Snape heir, in hopes of gaining the boys trust. Quinn felt a little weird about Mr. Marley but he was a kid and the idea of eating ice cream for lunch was enough to temporarily make him forget about his worries. Besides Uncle Ron said it would be ok.

“So young man tell me about yourself.”

“Well, I live with my dads, in a really big house. My father is a Potions Master, but he might stop teaching at Hogwarts, I don’t know why though. I think he’s worried about the family.”

“What’s wrong with your family is their anything that I can do?” he said sounding as worried as he could try to make the boy think he actually cared.

“I’m not sure, but I it has to do with daddy being so protective of me and my father.”

“You know it’s getting a bit late, how about we finish this conversation tomorrow, with some milk and biscuits?

“That sounds like a great idea, sir.”

“Allow me to walk you to your room then.”

“Thank you, sir.”

*****

Hermione sure hoped that she was right, she was certain that it existed but actually finding it was going to be the tricky part. It was times like this when Hermione was very happy that she decided to learn Afrikaans. Their had only been a handful of times she actually put it to use. Harry apparated to Antarctica, after changing into warmer cloths. For some reason Harry apparated into the middle of Antarctica with no map or transportation, one of these days Harry would heed Severus’ advice about always being prepared. So he apparated to a back alley of a hotel and decided to spend the nigh, he was too exhausted both physically and mentally to do anything else. Harry woke early, then proceeded to put up a silencing charm so one would hear him apparated way. Once he left to London he grabbed some Coffee and a paper. What de seen caused him to do a double take? It was about him visiting several rare bookstores looking for look on the Gem of Sarahja

“Damn” This was not going to go well. Harry was sure, so he Apparated back to his hotel room changed and showed. Then he rented some sledding dogs, and bought a map. He spent two hours practicing with them before he took them out. Harry was approaching what seemed nothing to the naked eye however he felt all sorts of energy cloaking what he deemed a rather large radius. The only question was how to get past the wards. Marley said that you had to be a parcel tongue to get the gem so he spoke a couple of random phrases. It didn’t work, not that he really expected it to, but it was worth a try. So the only rational thing to do in a time of trouble was to talk to ‘Monie land see if she knew what to do, and how to do it. However after about an hour of hunting the globe Hermione was no where to be found, so Harry started pouring over all sorts of tests looking for answers. He merely jumped out of his skin when he heard he loud sound of apparation right nest to him. However harmonies voice calmed his heart, somewhat.

“Where have you been I’ve bee searching everywhere for you?”

“Sorry I had some personal things that need my attentions. Did you find anything?”

“I thing so I fund an area of powerful magical content, I think it’s what we’re looking for. I have a few barrier breaking spell I think we should try ASAP.”

“I agree” so they both apparated to the gems possible location. On the theirs try Hermione knocked down the wards.

“Ok if it was that easy to break the wards down we’ll need to be extra careful once were inside.”

“Sure thing.”

“They slowly walked not knowing where they were walking, or even if they were about to collide with a wall. As they walked they felt the sensation of cobwebs all over their skin once they passed the opening they seen a gorgeous thrown room made of gold. The walls were engraved with amazing ancient symbols and pictures. Where the walls and floor met their were plies upon piles of treasures, gold, gems scrolls. In the middle of the room was a beautiful podium which held a beautiful purple gem. After surveying the room Harry and Hermione began to move again, but their second step caused the earth to shake and the room to be filled with hundreds of snakes. Harry pointed to himself and cast ‘Wingardium leveosia, Hermione quickly followed Harry’s example. Once they were out of the snakes striking distance Harry began to talk to the snakes, causing them to part from where he was. Hermione followed closely behind him, when they were about ten yards from their goal the floor began to crumble beneath them. They fell though the floor with rocks and stones hitting them by the time they reached the ground both were unconscious and half buried in rock.