Chapter 1
Fransisca Weasley
It was a rather hot summer day and Harry was spending it baking in his bedroom! Earlier that day he had a rather high tempered discussion with the Dursleys about none other than his late godfather, Sirius Black, whom he missed more than he could possibly describe and which loss was unbearable to him. His only true link to his father other than Remus Lupin.
He had let his temper get the best of him and finally he had no other choice but to withdraw to his bedroom unless he wanted to receive another letter from the Ministry about illegal use of magic. He was pretty sure he would use the Avada Kedavra curse if they wouldn't let him be soon.
From his position on the bed he could hear the doorbell ring downstairs, but he didn't care all that much. It couldn't be anyone he knew anyway. He remained in the same position for ten minutes, fifteen. Then his curiosity got the best of him. He pricked his ears up to hear who it might be. The voices downstairs were neither loud nor excited so it wasn't any sure give-away. Probably a salesman or something. Finally he gave up trying to find out who it was.
Another ten minutes past and he could hear his uncle call him down in a tone of voice that was anything but polite or calm.
He rolled slowly off the bed and made his way slowly across the room. He was in no hurry.
"GET DOWN HERE BOY!" boomed his uncle once again.
He slightly picked up his pace and went downstairs to find the three Dursleys in the living-room with a young redhead woman who was wearing a rather expensive looking pale blue dress and a matching wide-brimmed hat. On her hands were white lace gloves. She looked far from anything the Dursleys had ever dragged into the house and she was definitely not a salesperson.
"Hello, Harry," she said to him and smiled as he entered the living- room and the warmth in her deep blue eyes and the serenity in her smile made him smile back at her although he had no idea who she was.
"This is Miss Winston," explained his aunt Petunia. "She has come to take you away for the rest of the holiday."
Harry stopped dead in his tracks, his smile slowly fading. He looked up at her and knew there were something extremely familiar about her, but he just couldn't place her.
"It's ok, Harry. We're going to the Burrow. I have explained to your aunt and uncle who I am and that they will not see any more of you the remains of the holiday. Probably not next summer either as you are officially soon of age and that we have found a more. suitable guardian for you."
Harry looked from this unfamiliar woman two his uncle's distorted face at the words 'more suitable guardian'.
"Who?"
"You'll meet her later, Harry," said Miss Winston. "She has a very official-looking document that says she can claim you anytime she wants. She was one of your parents' true friends, but most of all she was a friend of your late godfather."
It was like a hand made of ice clutched his heart and squeezed tight. "She was a friend of Sirius?"
Apparently the woman detected the tension in the room because she asked Harry if they could go upstairs so that he could pack his things.
Once he had led her up to his room and closed the door behind her she sat down on the bed and took off her hat and chucked it halfway across the room.
"First thing's first, Harry," she said as he made to start packing. "My name isn't really Miss Winston, I had to make up a name to even get through the front door. I don't think your aunt and uncle connects my surname to anything pleasant. My name is really Fransisca Weasley, I'm Arthur's niece."
"I knew there were something familiar with you!" He beamed at her.
"Well," she said and the smile crept back up. "You mean besides the red hair and freckles?"
He smiled back at her, but eventually the concern crept back up his spine. Who was this woman with an official-looking document? He voiced his question.
"Well, let's say that Dumbledore was beside himself with joy when she turned up at his doorstep in the beginning of the holiday. I'm not really in liberty to say all that much, old Dumbledore has given me a rather tight muzzle. Almost literally," she added. "But he almost exploded with rage when she presented him the paper with the permission to claim you. She said you had suffered enough with the Dursleys. A great deal of harsh words exchanged owners, but finally Dumbledore had to give in. The woman is a rather stubborn person."
"But who is she?"
Fransisca sighed. "I really can't say, love. Dumbledore has, as I said forbidden me to say too much to you. To be honest I really don't know much more. To be perfectly honest I don't know any more."
"But what's her name? Where does she come from? Why haven't I met her before? Why hasn't she taken me away from this hellhole before?"
"I can't say, Harry, I'm sorry. I couldn't even tell you if I knew."
"Will we be dropping in on Grimmauld Place anytime this summer?" He changed the subject to stop thinking about it. although he has asked he hoped they wouldn't.
"No, Molly doesn't think that's a good. Others are. are staying there."
"So, straight to the Burrow and stay there, then?"
"Right. Shall we?"
"Wait, why are you collecting me when this woman has-"
"All good things to those who wait, Harry. She doesn't want to make any move before Dumbledore gives a green light, as in his approval. The whole thing is going through the paper mill right now. She'll come forth before the end of the year if Dumbledore says it's ok."
***
About fifteen minutes later they arrived at the Burrow after having to use Mrs. Figgs fireplace to travel to the Burrow by Floo powder.
"Where on Earth have you been?" asked Mrs Weasley when they finally arrived at the Burrow. "How are you, Harry, dear?"
"Fine," he replied.
After about ten minutes of greetings and hugs and trying to wriggle away they all settled around the kitchen table.
"Where's Remus and the others?" asked Fransisca.
"Why, are you in love with him, Sisca?"
Harry half expected her to turn red or something, but she just stared at George.
"I just wondered. I haven't seen Bill and Charlie since I got back, thought they were with Remus."
"They are," replied Mrs Weasley. "Maybe you should consider. Remus is a nice gentleman."
"Forget it, Molly. He's a bit too nice for me."
"Well, I was just making a suggestion."
"Well, don't." Fransisca rolled with her eyes.
"They should be back here any moment now," said Mrs. Weasley. "They are bringing Tonks and Moody with them so I think it's going to be a bit crowded."
"What about Sirius' old place? I thought headquarters were there," said Harry testily. He was a bit curious as to who was there.
Mrs. Weasley looked down. "That woman is there."
"Molly, Venara is ok, just a bit misunderstood."
"Can't understand what Dumbledore were thinking. Showing up from nowhere and." she cast a glance at Harry and he could swear there were tears in her eyes.
"Come off it, Molly."
Mrs. Weasley seemed to calm down as she sat down at the table.
"So, Sisca, looking forward to teaching at Hogwarts, then?" asked Ron.
"Both yes and no," said Fransisca thoughtfully. "I look forward to teach you feeble little midgets." (At this Fred and George sniggered) "But I must admit I don't like the Ministry's interference at Hogwarts. It's a school, it should be kept well away from those pansy bureaucratic-"
"That's enough!" hissed Mrs. Weasley.
"They are pansies, mum," muttered Ron.
"They seem to have come to their senses now," said Mrs. Weasley. "Not a moment too soon if you ask me."
"It's a miracle, if you ask me," replied Fransisca. "That Cornelius Fudge Arthur works for has his thumb so far up his-"
"Fransisca!"
This time even Harry sniggered.
"Imagine that." muttered Fransisca. "This year there will be two Ministry officials working at Hogwarts. Yours sincerely and Venara."
"Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, right?" asked Harry.
She nodded.
"What job did you have with the Ministry, then?"
"Arthur's job; Misuse of Muggle Artefacts. But of course that's in the glorious state of Los Angeles, California, USA." Her smile broadened as she said this.
"And our other teacher?"
"Venara works for the other Ministry office in Florida. You see USA is so big that one single office couldn't possibly muster all the things that need handling." She rolled with her eyes. "Well, they could, but that would mean that they would need to build a tremendous building and wee need to keep a low profile. So. an office in LA in the north and an office in Florida in the south makes us being able to handle everything that comes our way."
"What office within the Ministry does this Venara work for?"
"She works for the." She never got a chance to finish the sentence because her uncle came home and brought with him Alastor Moody, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks along with his two oldest sons.
"Hello, you lot," he greeted his family. "Hello, Harry."
"Hello, Mr. Weasley," replied Harry.
Fransisca pursed her leaps. "I'm thinking perhaps a barbecue or something easily digested. outside."
Mr. Weasley looked around and counted them all to be 12 people all in all. "Outside might be a very good idea, don't you think, Molly?"
"Either that or Fransisca will be forced you to be transfigured into rats or something."
A picture of Peter Pettigrew as Scabbers fleetly crossed both Harry and Ron's minds and they both hurried to their feet.
Fifteen minutes later they were gathered outside and enjoying a fabulous meal.
"Where are Hermione, by the way?" asked suddenly Lupin.
"She's in Florence with her parents," chorused Ron and Harry.
"Some has it grand," muttered Fransisca. "I was in Venice once, learned a great deal about the courtesans they had in the 16th century."
"What's that?" asked Ron when he saw his parents' faces turn to stone.
"Medieval whores," chorused Fred and George.
"That will be enough!" said Mrs. Weasley.
"But they had really grand lives," said George.
"Please."
"They did, though," said Lupin. "But hardly a suitable subject at a dinner table with children around," he added.
"You said something about our new Defence teacher working for the Ministry," said Harry to change the subject.
"Yes. oh, yes," said Fransisca and rolled with her eyes at her own lack of memory. "Venara works at some office that ensures that werewolves, vampires and other magical beings get what they need. The social-worker of the magical world so to speak."
Harry was the only one to crack a smile about this although the matter in itself wasn't really anything to smile or laugh about. By the sound of it this woman did an important job. He voiced his thoughts.
"Yes, before she got any kind of power within the ministry it was like mayhem all over America. The vampires and werewolves have been suppressed over many years and if she hadn't been given the presidency of her department when she did there would have been a full scale war."
Ron whistled. "She must know a thing or two, then."
"Yes, she does."
They all turned to look at Lupin. "You know her, Remus?"
A dreamy look crept over his face for a moment. "I think I do, one hears rumours, but I won't say anything before I know it's the same person. Won't get anyone's hopes up."
"Anyway, the amusing part is," continued Fransisca. "That she was given this job as a last resort, the step before unemployment. The result was that she managed to unite all the magic creatures, make them live in peace. She stopped the riots and the Minister, who is in LA ordered that his department should follow her example. She is today the most prestigious, most powerful Ministry official except from the Minister himself. He hated to let her go to be a teacher at Hogwarts, but since Fudge practically begged him and the fact that she was more than thrilled at the prospect of teaching he had to give in. What's even more amusing is that neither of us are really planning to co-operate with Fudge, only Dumbledore."
"You know all this because.?"
Fransisca turned to Lupin. "Newspaper-clippings, rumours, you know. I have one with me. You can see if you'd like." She fished out a newspaper-clipping and gave it to him.
He looked at the picture on the paper-clipping and his face turned suddenly sickly pale before it turned slightly pink.
"What's the matter?" asked Fransisca.
"Nothing," he replied a bit too fast. He gave the clippings back to her.
About thirty minutes later Mrs. Weasley, Ginny and Tonks were clearing the table while Fransisca and Charlie were playing with a couple of enchanted kites that looked like small copies of dragons, which bit at each other with their plastic teeth and tore large bits of paper from each other.
Fred and George cheered and Moody gave them advises he thought useful while the two controlling the kites pushed each other out of balance so that it was easier for the pusher to get at the pushed's kite.
Laughter and cheers filled the air as the sun slowly made its way down, leaving the sky almost as red as blood.
Finally calm settled once more as everything had been cleaned and cleared away and the kites were lying on the ground, reduced to tiny pieces of paper.
The group were gathered around the table with tea and biscuits, swapping everything from war tales to summer flings.
Suddenly Fransisca interrupted everyone with an episode Harry and Ron had nearly forgotten, a thing that happened a year and a half ago.
"I heard about that little incident on the Hogwarts Express at the end of your fourth year," she said out of the blue. "About what happened, about what you four," she said to Fred, George, Harry and Ron. "And Miss Granger did to Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. I want you all to know that I am outraged and that you should really be ashamed of yourselves."
Fred and George opened their mouths to say something to their defence, bur she continued before they got a chance.
"For not taking a picture of the result and sending it to your poor cousin who doesn't get to laugh all that much."
The entire table roared with laughter except for Mrs. Weasley.
Soon it was time for bed and as Harry readied himself for just that he thought of Hermione's reaction when she first would meet Fransisca. He was dead sure she wouldn't like her one bit and this made him snigger.
"What?" asked Ron.
"I was just thinking about Hermione's first meeting with Fransisca."
Ron started to laugh as well. "What about when she finds out that she will be her new Muggle Studies teacher?"
They both laughed so hard that Mrs. Weasley had to come up and tell them to be quiet.
Harry looked forward to the new year again and thankful for that no one had mentioned his late godfather all day he slowly fell into a dreamless sleep.
Fransisca Weasley
It was a rather hot summer day and Harry was spending it baking in his bedroom! Earlier that day he had a rather high tempered discussion with the Dursleys about none other than his late godfather, Sirius Black, whom he missed more than he could possibly describe and which loss was unbearable to him. His only true link to his father other than Remus Lupin.
He had let his temper get the best of him and finally he had no other choice but to withdraw to his bedroom unless he wanted to receive another letter from the Ministry about illegal use of magic. He was pretty sure he would use the Avada Kedavra curse if they wouldn't let him be soon.
From his position on the bed he could hear the doorbell ring downstairs, but he didn't care all that much. It couldn't be anyone he knew anyway. He remained in the same position for ten minutes, fifteen. Then his curiosity got the best of him. He pricked his ears up to hear who it might be. The voices downstairs were neither loud nor excited so it wasn't any sure give-away. Probably a salesman or something. Finally he gave up trying to find out who it was.
Another ten minutes past and he could hear his uncle call him down in a tone of voice that was anything but polite or calm.
He rolled slowly off the bed and made his way slowly across the room. He was in no hurry.
"GET DOWN HERE BOY!" boomed his uncle once again.
He slightly picked up his pace and went downstairs to find the three Dursleys in the living-room with a young redhead woman who was wearing a rather expensive looking pale blue dress and a matching wide-brimmed hat. On her hands were white lace gloves. She looked far from anything the Dursleys had ever dragged into the house and she was definitely not a salesperson.
"Hello, Harry," she said to him and smiled as he entered the living- room and the warmth in her deep blue eyes and the serenity in her smile made him smile back at her although he had no idea who she was.
"This is Miss Winston," explained his aunt Petunia. "She has come to take you away for the rest of the holiday."
Harry stopped dead in his tracks, his smile slowly fading. He looked up at her and knew there were something extremely familiar about her, but he just couldn't place her.
"It's ok, Harry. We're going to the Burrow. I have explained to your aunt and uncle who I am and that they will not see any more of you the remains of the holiday. Probably not next summer either as you are officially soon of age and that we have found a more. suitable guardian for you."
Harry looked from this unfamiliar woman two his uncle's distorted face at the words 'more suitable guardian'.
"Who?"
"You'll meet her later, Harry," said Miss Winston. "She has a very official-looking document that says she can claim you anytime she wants. She was one of your parents' true friends, but most of all she was a friend of your late godfather."
It was like a hand made of ice clutched his heart and squeezed tight. "She was a friend of Sirius?"
Apparently the woman detected the tension in the room because she asked Harry if they could go upstairs so that he could pack his things.
Once he had led her up to his room and closed the door behind her she sat down on the bed and took off her hat and chucked it halfway across the room.
"First thing's first, Harry," she said as he made to start packing. "My name isn't really Miss Winston, I had to make up a name to even get through the front door. I don't think your aunt and uncle connects my surname to anything pleasant. My name is really Fransisca Weasley, I'm Arthur's niece."
"I knew there were something familiar with you!" He beamed at her.
"Well," she said and the smile crept back up. "You mean besides the red hair and freckles?"
He smiled back at her, but eventually the concern crept back up his spine. Who was this woman with an official-looking document? He voiced his question.
"Well, let's say that Dumbledore was beside himself with joy when she turned up at his doorstep in the beginning of the holiday. I'm not really in liberty to say all that much, old Dumbledore has given me a rather tight muzzle. Almost literally," she added. "But he almost exploded with rage when she presented him the paper with the permission to claim you. She said you had suffered enough with the Dursleys. A great deal of harsh words exchanged owners, but finally Dumbledore had to give in. The woman is a rather stubborn person."
"But who is she?"
Fransisca sighed. "I really can't say, love. Dumbledore has, as I said forbidden me to say too much to you. To be honest I really don't know much more. To be perfectly honest I don't know any more."
"But what's her name? Where does she come from? Why haven't I met her before? Why hasn't she taken me away from this hellhole before?"
"I can't say, Harry, I'm sorry. I couldn't even tell you if I knew."
"Will we be dropping in on Grimmauld Place anytime this summer?" He changed the subject to stop thinking about it. although he has asked he hoped they wouldn't.
"No, Molly doesn't think that's a good. Others are. are staying there."
"So, straight to the Burrow and stay there, then?"
"Right. Shall we?"
"Wait, why are you collecting me when this woman has-"
"All good things to those who wait, Harry. She doesn't want to make any move before Dumbledore gives a green light, as in his approval. The whole thing is going through the paper mill right now. She'll come forth before the end of the year if Dumbledore says it's ok."
***
About fifteen minutes later they arrived at the Burrow after having to use Mrs. Figgs fireplace to travel to the Burrow by Floo powder.
"Where on Earth have you been?" asked Mrs Weasley when they finally arrived at the Burrow. "How are you, Harry, dear?"
"Fine," he replied.
After about ten minutes of greetings and hugs and trying to wriggle away they all settled around the kitchen table.
"Where's Remus and the others?" asked Fransisca.
"Why, are you in love with him, Sisca?"
Harry half expected her to turn red or something, but she just stared at George.
"I just wondered. I haven't seen Bill and Charlie since I got back, thought they were with Remus."
"They are," replied Mrs Weasley. "Maybe you should consider. Remus is a nice gentleman."
"Forget it, Molly. He's a bit too nice for me."
"Well, I was just making a suggestion."
"Well, don't." Fransisca rolled with her eyes.
"They should be back here any moment now," said Mrs. Weasley. "They are bringing Tonks and Moody with them so I think it's going to be a bit crowded."
"What about Sirius' old place? I thought headquarters were there," said Harry testily. He was a bit curious as to who was there.
Mrs. Weasley looked down. "That woman is there."
"Molly, Venara is ok, just a bit misunderstood."
"Can't understand what Dumbledore were thinking. Showing up from nowhere and." she cast a glance at Harry and he could swear there were tears in her eyes.
"Come off it, Molly."
Mrs. Weasley seemed to calm down as she sat down at the table.
"So, Sisca, looking forward to teaching at Hogwarts, then?" asked Ron.
"Both yes and no," said Fransisca thoughtfully. "I look forward to teach you feeble little midgets." (At this Fred and George sniggered) "But I must admit I don't like the Ministry's interference at Hogwarts. It's a school, it should be kept well away from those pansy bureaucratic-"
"That's enough!" hissed Mrs. Weasley.
"They are pansies, mum," muttered Ron.
"They seem to have come to their senses now," said Mrs. Weasley. "Not a moment too soon if you ask me."
"It's a miracle, if you ask me," replied Fransisca. "That Cornelius Fudge Arthur works for has his thumb so far up his-"
"Fransisca!"
This time even Harry sniggered.
"Imagine that." muttered Fransisca. "This year there will be two Ministry officials working at Hogwarts. Yours sincerely and Venara."
"Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, right?" asked Harry.
She nodded.
"What job did you have with the Ministry, then?"
"Arthur's job; Misuse of Muggle Artefacts. But of course that's in the glorious state of Los Angeles, California, USA." Her smile broadened as she said this.
"And our other teacher?"
"Venara works for the other Ministry office in Florida. You see USA is so big that one single office couldn't possibly muster all the things that need handling." She rolled with her eyes. "Well, they could, but that would mean that they would need to build a tremendous building and wee need to keep a low profile. So. an office in LA in the north and an office in Florida in the south makes us being able to handle everything that comes our way."
"What office within the Ministry does this Venara work for?"
"She works for the." She never got a chance to finish the sentence because her uncle came home and brought with him Alastor Moody, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks along with his two oldest sons.
"Hello, you lot," he greeted his family. "Hello, Harry."
"Hello, Mr. Weasley," replied Harry.
Fransisca pursed her leaps. "I'm thinking perhaps a barbecue or something easily digested. outside."
Mr. Weasley looked around and counted them all to be 12 people all in all. "Outside might be a very good idea, don't you think, Molly?"
"Either that or Fransisca will be forced you to be transfigured into rats or something."
A picture of Peter Pettigrew as Scabbers fleetly crossed both Harry and Ron's minds and they both hurried to their feet.
Fifteen minutes later they were gathered outside and enjoying a fabulous meal.
"Where are Hermione, by the way?" asked suddenly Lupin.
"She's in Florence with her parents," chorused Ron and Harry.
"Some has it grand," muttered Fransisca. "I was in Venice once, learned a great deal about the courtesans they had in the 16th century."
"What's that?" asked Ron when he saw his parents' faces turn to stone.
"Medieval whores," chorused Fred and George.
"That will be enough!" said Mrs. Weasley.
"But they had really grand lives," said George.
"Please."
"They did, though," said Lupin. "But hardly a suitable subject at a dinner table with children around," he added.
"You said something about our new Defence teacher working for the Ministry," said Harry to change the subject.
"Yes. oh, yes," said Fransisca and rolled with her eyes at her own lack of memory. "Venara works at some office that ensures that werewolves, vampires and other magical beings get what they need. The social-worker of the magical world so to speak."
Harry was the only one to crack a smile about this although the matter in itself wasn't really anything to smile or laugh about. By the sound of it this woman did an important job. He voiced his thoughts.
"Yes, before she got any kind of power within the ministry it was like mayhem all over America. The vampires and werewolves have been suppressed over many years and if she hadn't been given the presidency of her department when she did there would have been a full scale war."
Ron whistled. "She must know a thing or two, then."
"Yes, she does."
They all turned to look at Lupin. "You know her, Remus?"
A dreamy look crept over his face for a moment. "I think I do, one hears rumours, but I won't say anything before I know it's the same person. Won't get anyone's hopes up."
"Anyway, the amusing part is," continued Fransisca. "That she was given this job as a last resort, the step before unemployment. The result was that she managed to unite all the magic creatures, make them live in peace. She stopped the riots and the Minister, who is in LA ordered that his department should follow her example. She is today the most prestigious, most powerful Ministry official except from the Minister himself. He hated to let her go to be a teacher at Hogwarts, but since Fudge practically begged him and the fact that she was more than thrilled at the prospect of teaching he had to give in. What's even more amusing is that neither of us are really planning to co-operate with Fudge, only Dumbledore."
"You know all this because.?"
Fransisca turned to Lupin. "Newspaper-clippings, rumours, you know. I have one with me. You can see if you'd like." She fished out a newspaper-clipping and gave it to him.
He looked at the picture on the paper-clipping and his face turned suddenly sickly pale before it turned slightly pink.
"What's the matter?" asked Fransisca.
"Nothing," he replied a bit too fast. He gave the clippings back to her.
About thirty minutes later Mrs. Weasley, Ginny and Tonks were clearing the table while Fransisca and Charlie were playing with a couple of enchanted kites that looked like small copies of dragons, which bit at each other with their plastic teeth and tore large bits of paper from each other.
Fred and George cheered and Moody gave them advises he thought useful while the two controlling the kites pushed each other out of balance so that it was easier for the pusher to get at the pushed's kite.
Laughter and cheers filled the air as the sun slowly made its way down, leaving the sky almost as red as blood.
Finally calm settled once more as everything had been cleaned and cleared away and the kites were lying on the ground, reduced to tiny pieces of paper.
The group were gathered around the table with tea and biscuits, swapping everything from war tales to summer flings.
Suddenly Fransisca interrupted everyone with an episode Harry and Ron had nearly forgotten, a thing that happened a year and a half ago.
"I heard about that little incident on the Hogwarts Express at the end of your fourth year," she said out of the blue. "About what happened, about what you four," she said to Fred, George, Harry and Ron. "And Miss Granger did to Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. I want you all to know that I am outraged and that you should really be ashamed of yourselves."
Fred and George opened their mouths to say something to their defence, bur she continued before they got a chance.
"For not taking a picture of the result and sending it to your poor cousin who doesn't get to laugh all that much."
The entire table roared with laughter except for Mrs. Weasley.
Soon it was time for bed and as Harry readied himself for just that he thought of Hermione's reaction when she first would meet Fransisca. He was dead sure she wouldn't like her one bit and this made him snigger.
"What?" asked Ron.
"I was just thinking about Hermione's first meeting with Fransisca."
Ron started to laugh as well. "What about when she finds out that she will be her new Muggle Studies teacher?"
They both laughed so hard that Mrs. Weasley had to come up and tell them to be quiet.
Harry looked forward to the new year again and thankful for that no one had mentioned his late godfather all day he slowly fell into a dreamless sleep.