" Harry James Potter is fifteen tomorrow…"
Fifteen! I never would've thought he'd survive to be fifteen… always getting into some kind of mess or another.
Arabella Figg sat in a dark office facing her supervisor, Mundungus Fletcher.
She studied the lines on his middle-aged face. Hasn't aged well, has he? She thought. Gray hairs everywhere, an' he's getting all pasty… z
"…and we must see that he lives to see his sixteenth birthday…"
That was the way Mud talked. Like everybody has all day, and you'd better think on what he's just said or he won't even bother to go on.
Arabella hated this. Everyone hated this. She looked around for confirmation. Remus, slouching in his chair, was trying to stay awake in between sentences. Sirius, who was looking much better now that he was eating again, was the opposite. He was sitting with his back rigid and unyielding, paying ever so much attention- even during the long pauses… but he wasn't really looking at Mud, now was he? Bell followed his gaze. He was staring out the window that was behind Mud, watching a butterfly…
" …since, as you are all aware of, Voldemort has returned." Everybody snapped back into attention at this; Remus stopped slouching, Sirius re-directed his gaze to Mud's weary face, and
Arabella's eyes focused.
" So this is what I want you all to do…"
Another pause.
" Remus," Mud said, turning to him, " you are to be expected at Hogwarts by eleven tonight. You are to check all of the Hogwart's grounds," Mud put much emphasis on the word all, " for anything unusual. If a teacher blinks irregularly- if a suit of armor creaks too much- I want to know. We can't risk something happening like it did last year. When you're done with that, you're to be the new Potions teacher, as Snape… well, you know…"
We all remember getting the news of Harry Potter's duel with Voldemort… and that he had survived only to risk being killed again by yet another Death-Eater who happened to be posing as a Hogwart's teacher…and they also remembered Dumbledore telling them that Serverus Snape would be returning to Voldemort as a spy.
" Bell, you are to go with him. Congratulations," he said sardonically, " you're to be the next Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher." There was a number of half-willed claps and murmurs around the large oak table.
" What?" Bell said, looking at him incredulously, " I can't be… really? Dumbledore agreed to that?"
Mud nodded. " He did… said you'd do a fine job…"
" I hope so… Dumbledore's never done that before, has he? Let someone else choose a teacher or whatnot?"
Mud sighed, " Yes, and look where it got him. Two death-eaters, one obliviator, and a werewolf," he glanced at Remus.
" The werewolf was best," added Sirius, grinning.
" The werewolf could've eaten one of the children…" Remus murmured, looking at his shoes. He could never quite forgive himself for that night…
" Getting back on subject…" Mud said, " Sirius, you and I are going to go into Animal form, and we are going to patrol the Forbidden Forest for the school year." Sirius groaned and Mud gave him an austere look. " We need to. Guarding and patrolling all of the main enterances and exits and grounds of Hogwart's to make sure that everyone inside is safe-" he looked around, " Is what our job is this year. C'mon people, we can't risk this."
" Is everyone clear?" He asked, and stood up when they nodded. Just then, when Bell was least expecting it, he gave a great sigh and transformed into a raven. Bell turned away. She detested watching Mud or Sirius transform… it was just weird. First, for instance, Mud's head got as small as a raven's, then he grew wings, and then the rest of him shrunk- and then---oh you get the point.
When a raven and a dog stood in their place, Sirius and Mud tan and flew out of the room, leaving Remus and Bell alone.
" I don't know about this…" Bell turned to Remus. He wrapped her in a tight hug.
" We'll make it through, Bella, don't worry." She loved the way he called her Bella instead of Bell. It was just so, so romantic…
" At least we'll be together," he offered, seeing the look on Bell's face.
She smiled up at him. They'd been having sort of a secret fling for more than a year now, and, to tell the truth, Bell was all ready to make it an open relationship…
" Let's go, then," she said, and apparated with a small pop.
Harry Potter was having a dream about frogs. There were frogs everywhere, millions of them, climbling on his bed, climbling on his head… oh look there, said dream- Harry, you just made a rhyme. The frog on Harry's head looked down at him and said , " Well, aren't you special," in a really snotty French accent. Dream-Harry decided that he didn't like being insulted by a French frog, so he yelled up at the ceiling, " Yes, er, Harry, could you please re-route your dream? I'm thinking a dream featuring Cho Chang would be in order right about now…" he grinned and waited…and waited…and waited… the frogs were climbling all over him, one was looking in his mouth…
And quite suddenly Harry woke up. It was a Wednesday, about seven o'clock in the morning… and it was also his fifteenth birthday. Looking around, he noticed that someone had sent him two parcels each, both bulging and brightly wrapped. Harry leaped off the bed and attacked them, much to the surprise and bewilderment of Hedwig, his snowy owl. Harry tore through the first package, which was from Ron. It was a Chudley Cannons hat, complete with a moving player in bright orange. Ron had also included, in the next package, several mince pies, some chocolate frogs, some ice mice, and a pack of exploding snap. Harry grinned broadly and read his letter.
Dear Harry,
Happy Birthday! How've you been doing? I hope you're well, as everyone's been worrying like mad, and they won't listen to me when I told them that Dumbledore said you're safe, but oh well. I would really like you to come and stay, but I don't think it's a good idea.
Harry groaned. He was well looking forward to the annual Weasley invitation.
Dad agrees with me. Seems like he's the only one who'll listen. Of course my Mom's been asking at least three times a week, and so has Ginny, ( with a very red face, mind you,) but he keeps telling them that your safer at those muggles' house. I don't get it, Harry. I just don't get why you're safer there than you can be here. That's definitely something that we need to figure out… whatdaya say?
Write Back,
Ron
Harry agreed. They'd have to find that out. He wondered if they should just straight away ask Dumbledore, or if they shouldn't, because if it was really important Dumbledore would have told him already. Harry hated the always-existent, non-adventurous little voice in the back of his head. Pushing that out of it, he turned to open Hermione's gift, and almost fell over. Hermione's gift had left it's place on the floor where it had been, and was now levitating about three feet in the air. Harry, who couldn't help gaping, slowly and carefully unwrapped the parcel, which was getting higher by the moment. What in the hell can this be, he thought as he fought to unwrap the package. It was a sphere, a gold one, and it had PRESS HERE in very large purple letters on the front. Harry did, and it developed wings all of a sudden. Harry got it. It was a model of a snitch, a very slow one at the moment, but it was cool none the less. He ripped open Hermione's second package, or what he thought would be Hermione's second present, and was puzzled to find a large tin of assorted candies… all hard as a rock. Opening the letter, he stared at them, and didn't realize that they weren't from Hermione until he saw the untidy scrawl that inhabited the page.
Dear Harry,
Happy Birthday! Do yeh like my candies? Made 'em myself. Listen, Harry, this year I'm gonna be gone on- well I guess you could call it a mission. I won' be at Hogwarts till late April if everythin' goes well. I think you'll be very pleased when you find out who the teacher's gonna be, but I'm not gonna tell yeh, because that would ruin the surprise. Have a good Brithday an' be careful, Harry.
Hagrid
Harry sighed happily and then cringed when he heard, " Get up, boy!" from downstairs. " Hmm… seven-fifteen, a new record," he said bitterly, checking his watch. He decided that Hermione's letter would have to wait until he was done with his chores. Harry stood up and got dressed in his regular muggle clothes, thinking of the ' light at the end of the tunnel' that was his last year at Hogwarts. That would mark the end of his enslavement at the Dursley's, because then he would be a fully qualified wizard, and able to live on his own. But hey, he thought, cheering a bit, maybe Sirius'll be cleared by then and I can go live with him. He trampled down the stairs and found himself face-to-face with Aunt Petunia.
" G'morning," he said to her optimistically, ignoring her look of contempt. Harry passed her and went to go hunt down breakfasat.
" You are to weed the garden, scrub the kitchen floor, and," a torturing smile crossed her face, " clean the 2nd floor bathroom. All this is to be done by eleven this morning, as we are going to brunch and the races with the Aurthurs for the remainder of the day."
He opened his mouth to say, " and I'll be staying here?" when she answered his question for him.
" And, no, you can't stay here. Goodness knows what messes you'd get yourself in. You are to be staying with Mrs. Figg across the street."
Harry wouldn't give her the satisfaction of a groan as he sat down to scarf down his cereal. Mrs. Figg isn't all that bad, at least she lets me watch all the Television I want…
" Hurry up, boy," barked Uncle Vernon when he came in. " We need you out of here by eleven!"
" Oh, but I don't want to leave," muttered Harry sardonically, " I want to stay here and scrub bloody toilets all day…"
" I'm sure that can be arranged," said Uncle Vernon acidly as he sat down, and Harry was startled because he didn't realize that his beefy, dim Uncle had heard him. With one last spoonful of cereal, Harry stood up and walked out to the garden. It was probably ninety degrees out today, and, scowling, Harry went to check the outdoor thermometer. Sure enough, his suspicions were confirmed when he read 93.4º. Bloody slave-driver has me working in hot, muggy, conditions like these, he thought. Wonder if a freezing charm would get me a letter from the Ministry?
Truth was, Harry knew it would, and he knelt down to begin de-weeding the garden.
***
So, at ten o'clock, Harry trudged through the back door and into the kitchen, only to be met by Aunt Petunia's screeches telling him to step on the freakin' towels, and was he stupid? Harry, much to her further angriness, replied that he must be because he was living with a group of slave-driving muggles. At the word ' muggle,' Aunt Petunia picked up her broom, screeching even louder, and Harry narrowly avoided a blow to the side of the head. Harry- be it for good or bad- was becoming increasing hostile with the Dursleys, and he really wasn't holding anything back. This, so far, had gotten him two swats and a clunk on the head. Seekers weren't seekers for nothing, mind you, so Harry got away most of the time.
" Guess I'll do the upstairs bathroom first, eh?" he called to her as he sprinted up the stairs.
This, he thought miserably, is what it's going to be like for the next month…
Arabella Figg was sitting in the Hogwart's express, twiddling her thumbs. She had memories of Hogwarts- bad ones as well as good. Mostly bad. Of kids shunning her because she was different. That's the way it worked, wasn't it? Be the same as everyone else, have no true identity, and be accepted. It was still like that today. Sad, sad thing, it was…. She remembered Remus, on graduation day, when they were talking about marriage, telling her that he was a werewolf and no, he couldn't still marry her and was she crazy? He was bitter then. Didn't want anything but pity. But, being young and stupid, Bell didn't give him any of what he needed, and he left. Therefore, for about ten years that was that. No more Remus and Bella. No more this and that. For Bell, it had been the worst ten years of her life. For Remus, well God knows what happened to Remus those years. All Bell knew was that he'd showed up on her doorstep looking like a drowned dog, and begged her to take him back ten years after he'd left her. Bell smiled and looked over to a sleeping Remus. She was glad she did. And so for a year, they dated, and Bell talked Remus into marriage successfully, and they were over to James and Lily's place to tell them about it…
" Bella?" Bell turned and smiled at Remus, who had gotten up during the time she was lost in her thoughts.
" Hey there Re. Thought you'd died on me."
" Yes, well I thought you'd turned into a vegetable when I was sleeping…" He grinned at her.
" Yes, well you've been sleeping for three hours. I was about to go over there and shake you awake."
Remus pouted. " Why didn't you? I think I might have enjoyed it," he stood and sat next to her.
Bell glanced at Re. Re gazed back.
" You were thinking about Hogwarts, weren't you?"
" Yes."
" And you were thinking about graduation…"
How well did he know her?
She turned to face him. " Yes. And how every time we want to get married something awful happens."
" Well," Remus exhaled loudly, " do you think we were meant to get married?"
" Honestly," she said slowly, " I think that if two people love each other-" she thought of all the murders, the illnesses, and the horrible, unrelenting tragedy…
" Then marriage shouldn't mean anything."
They embraced, and Bell was just about to smile when the plump witch that usually carried the lunch cart burst in.
" Arablla," she said, chest heaving with emotion, " it's your mother…"
***
Harry Potter was finished with his chores at ten-fifty nine. Sweaty and cursing, he slogged down the stairs again, and was met by Dudley.
" D' you know what?" he said, in between bites of a large piece of chocolate cake in his hand.
Harry, both disgusted and annoyed, snapped, " No."
" Well I'm going' t tell you." Dudley blocked the doorway-- which was easy for him, considering his size, and held Harry back.
" Please, why don't you spare yourself the trouble and leave me alone?"
Dudley smirked broadly, and you could see bits of cake in his teeth as he said, " I know today's your birthday."
Harry, who was going to spew in a second, nodded and said, " Well spotted."
Dudley, however, did not move. He simply stood there and looked as if he was deciding what to bother Harry about next.
" Well," said Harry, growing impatient and checking his watch, " shouldn't you get going? It's eleven o'clock."
" We're not going."
" Why not?"
" Because that would mean leaving you with the crazy witch lady next door… and Dad and Mum said that-"
Harry didn't wait for anything more. He turned right around and walked out the back door.
Not knowing what to possibly expect, he circled the yard and headed for Mrs. Figg's house.
What he saw there made his stomach reel and he almost fell over.
The bright, green, forbidding symbol of Voldemort was floating fifty feet above the ground, right above Mrs. Figg's house.
Then, all of a sudden, Harry heard a small pop right behind him. Acting on his first impulse, he ducked, and sure enough, a booming voice shouted " Obliviate!" where his head had been.
" Stop! Stop! I'm- I'm a wizard!" he said, covering his face with his hands.
" Harry?" said the voice cautiously, and he recognized it as Mr. Weasley's.
" M-Mr. Weasley! What are you doing here?"
Aurthur Weasley looked down at Harry with tiredness, relief, and recognition.
" I was the closest, Harry." He pressed his hand to his eyes, and, glancing at the old Victorian house across from him, added, " I remember this…"
Arthur Weasley ambled to the house slowly. Harry realized that Voldemort could still even be in the house… and if he was…
" Mr. Weasley! Wait!" Harry shouted after him.
Mr. Weasley turned around slowly.
" What if… what if-"
" ARTHUR!" Harry looked beside him, where Dedalus Diggle had just popped up.
" Arthur, wait! He's still there! He's still -"
Just then, a bright green flash of light engulfed them and Harry heard a deafening crash.
When the light subsided, he could see that a large hole had been blown into the top of Mrs. Figg's house.
" Not anymore," Mr. Weasley and Diggle said simultaneously, before running towards it.
Arabella sat in Dumbledore's office, shaking and sobbing. Remus was holding and comforting her, but could only do so much. Bell had just lost her mother, her only living relative, to the same monster who had killed her father, her brother, her aunt and uncle, and her grandmother. It was because of Voldemort that she was alone right now. She looked up at Remus. Not entirely alone, a voice in her head prompted. But nothing, nobody, could ever replace family. Nobody. Not even Remus.
" Arabella," said Dumbledore, his voice full of sorrow, " I'm so sorry." He paused, looked down, and, glancing at her, added, " if there's anything I can do-"
Bell looked up, the grief and sadness in her eyes replaced by anger, " Yes, Professor Dumbledore, there is something you can do." She stood up, walked over to one of his large bay windows, and sighed heavily. " For forty years, our people have watched their loved ones die mercilessly at the hands of a monster." She turned to face him, " A monster," her voice broke, " that no-no one will even say the name of."
Dumbledore started to speak but she held her hand up to silence him. " This cannot go on for yet another forty years. I, for one, will not let it." She sat in one of the chairs adjacent to his oak desk, " and I want you to help me."
Harry Potter was in the middle of one of the biggest messes of his life. Police cars were everywhere, as were ministry officials. Right and left you could hear loud, booming voices shouting, " OBLIVIATE!"
There were Privet Drive residents roaming the street, wobbling, after they had just gotten their memories modified, telling him to have a Happy New Year and that sort of thing. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had, aware of everything that was going on and even perhaps why, barricaded themselves and Dudley in number four, and whenever Harry glanced over to see what in the bloody hell they were doing, he could see Aunt Petunia's bony face peeking through the curtains, shouting at Uncle Vernon that they were still there and no, they didn't yet take Harry, or " the boy," with them. To be frank, Harry wished they would. Harry sighed, and walked over to Mr. Weasley.
" Harry!" He said, looking surprised to see him there. " Harry, I've just gotten a message from Dumbledore. He wants you at Hogwarts immediately."
Harry must have looked as though Christmas had come early, because Mr. Weasley smiled at him wearily. " The quickest way to get you there is on the Floo Network, and… and the closest person connected would be the late Mrs. Figg."
Harry nodded grimly, and followed Mr. Weasley into the old, now dilapidated house. The familiar smell of cabbage filled his nostrils. Everywhere, in every corner, were Ministry Officials. Loads of them. Looking over at the large collection of pictures that Mrs. Figg had of every cat she'd ever owned, Harry was engulfed with sadness.
"You know, I never knew she was a witch," Harry confided in Mr. Weasley, " I never even suspected…"
After a long, uncomfortable pause, during which Mr. Weasley seemed to be debating to himself weather or not to say something, they both found themselves in front of the fireplace.
" She-well, I suppose Dumbledore'll want to explain it to you himself, so off you go." Mr. Weasley took a small pouch from the inside of his cloak, conjured up a fire, and through a pinch of Floo Powder into it.
" Thanks, Mr. Weasley," Harry said.
Mr. Weasley gave him yet another weary smile. " Maybe Dumbledore will let you spend the Christmas Holiday with us this year, eh? We'd love to have you."
" I'd like that, Mr. Weasley, thanks." Harrry stepped into the now bright green flames, feeling pleasantly like warm breath, and shouted a muffled " Hog-Hogwart's!" at the top of his lungs. Whirling through the endless swirl of color and light that was traveling by floo powder never did catch Harry's fancy, so he closed his eyes, tucked his elbows in, and focused on trying not to be sick. Harry landed on a cold stone floor, and, standing up, recognized his new surrounding area as the Hogwart's massive kitchen. At once, he was attacked- rather, greeted, by about twenty house-elves who were positively delighted to see him. In the crowd was Dobby, his old friend.
" Harry Potter has come to see me!" he shouted, looking elated at the thought.
" Er… hello Dobby. I… I'm here to-" he paused, not wanting to offend Dobby, " to- well, do you know where Professor Dumbledore is?"
" Certainly, Harry Potter," he said, " Professor Dumbledore is upstairs in his office. Why is Harry Potter wanting to know?"
Dobby always was extremely inquisitive, thought Harry, sighing. " Er, I think he wanted to see me," he paused, " and, Dobby, I'm to be staying here at Hogwarts until the term starts," Dobby's face lit up, " so I'll come down and see you as soon as I'm able."
" That would please Dobby very much Harry Potter!" he shouted.
Harry climbed out of the entrance smiling. He had enough éclairs and biscuits to last him all the way up to the gargoyle on the third floor- the entrance to Dumbledore office.
Wandering through the hallways and through the secret compartments at Hogwarts was never boring, and as Harry had never been there in the summer, there was much to see. Hogwarts was an unusual place for many reasons, and one of them happened to be that all the rooms changed places now and then. This was a bitch for most of the first years, but for Harry, who had been at Hogwarts for four years, it was no problem. He easily got to the gargoyle on the third floor, with only minor setbacks involving Peeves the Poltergeist chucking bottles of empty Mrs. Skewer's All- Purpose Magical Mess Remover at him. Now, realized Harry, the only thing that was holding him back was the password.
" Er… lets see… names of candies…" Harry scratched his head. " Er…Lemon Drop?"
The stony gargoyle didn't budge an inch.
" Er… Snickers?"
Nothing.
" Mr. Goodbar?"
Nope.
" Milkyway?"
Try again.
" 3 musketeers?"
Sorry.
" Er…" Harry tried more of his wizarding favorites.
" Ice Mice?"
Uh- uh.
" Acid Pops?"
Nope.
" Pepper Imps?" he said, getting rather frantic.
Nothing.
" Droobles Best Blowing Gum?" said Harry, desperate by now and hoping that someone would eventually find him waiting out here… when the gargoyle sprang to life and stepped aside.
Harry, pleased with himself, stepped onto the revolving marble staircase.
As he neared the door to Albus Dumbledore's office, he could hear a woman crying softly. Unsure of what to do, Harry just stood there for about five minutes, not wanting to interrupt the Headmaster if he was in the middle of something important. About ten minutes later, the crying had stopped, Harry heard voices coming from behind the door.
" But what is he going to do now? He has nowhere to go…"
Harry strained to listen… that voice sounded oddly familiar….
" I'm positive we can think of something," came the voice of Dumbledore, " It's just a matter of who now. We'd, of course, have to perform the Fideleus charm again. That could take a lot of effort from Harry…"
So they were talking about him! Harry thought. Now he must hear what they're saying…
" Yes. I remember very well the day we performed it last. Do you, Bella?"
" Yes," came a small, weak voice, " yes I do. And I happen to think that there's no need for it."
Silence.
" Harry could stay at Hogwart's until he is capable to stay alone. You know very well, professor, that there is always someone residing at Hogwart's. And all who do are more than qualified to watch after a teenage boy."
More silence. Harry could imagine Dumbledore stroking his beard, deep in thought.
" You could be right, Arabella, although you must give me some time to think about this. Harry's social life must be taken into consideration…"
What social life? thought Harry. His summers with the Dursley's were spent cleaning toilets and de-weeding the garden.
" Perhaps his friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley could visit him now and then?" The other, male voice suggested. Harry recognized it this time. Sitting behind that door was none other than Remus Lupin, Harry's favorite teacher and good friend. Harry thought that since they were talking about him, and that he could identify two of the seemingly three people in Dumbledore's office, that it was okay to make himself known. He rapped three times on the oak door.
" Aha, that'll be Harry now," he heard Dumbledore say, " Come in, Harry."
Harry opened the door and stepped inside. Lupin, who was smiling, was
sitting on a couch with the Arabella something or other. Dumbledore himself
sat behind his vast oak desk. They all stood when he entered, and Lupin asked how he was doing.
" Fine," replied Harry, shaking his hand, " and you?"
" Not too good," he answered honestly, looking uncomfortable.
The Arabella lady introduced herself as Professor Figg, and Harry recalled hearing the name Arabella Figg somewhere, although he couldn't place it. He then walked to Dumbledore, and was greeted by a serious and somewhat grave expression.
" Headmaster Dumbledore," he said, shaking the man's hand, " how're you?"
Dumbledore, his silvery beard glowing in the candlelight, nodded at Harry.
" I am well, Harry, but we are not here to discuss my well- being. We're here to discuss yours."
Harry sat down in one of the high-backed oak chairs and listened intently as Dumbledore spoke.
" Harry," he began, " although you didn't know very much about your neighbor Mrs. Figg," he paused, thinking of the right words, " you must understand that her existence and presence were an immense factor regarding your safety."
Harry, not sure how this could be, watched Dumbledore as he paced the room.
" She was indeed a witch, and a very powerful one at that. By being your neighbor, Harry, she agreed to put away her normal lifestyle and live as a muggle- to keep an eye on you."
Harry blinked.
" And," Dumbledore stopped pacing and stood in front of Harry, " while we do not know how Voldemort detected this, we know that you are no longer safe at your Aunt and Uncle's house."
Since this was a most grave subject, Harry ignored the leap in his stomach.
" Harry," he continued, " the night your parents were murdered, Professor Lupin, Professor Figg, Sirius Black, Mundungus Fletcher, and myself performed a charm so powerful it has only been performed a handful of times." He sighed, " The Fidelius Charm is one that is placed over an area. In this case, it was both yours and Mrs. Figg's houses. It makes both areas invisible to those who do not want to harm the people within them. Only someone who both knows about the curse and does not want to harm you can enter."
Harry sat back and tried to take in all of this. The Dursleys, whom had treated him so horrible for fifteen years of his life, were merely an extra safety precaution? And if Mrs. Figg was gone, then the curse was broken…
" Er… Professor Dumbledore, sir," Harry said, " if the curse is broken, then do I still have to live with the Dursleys?"
Dumbledore seemed to be thinking something over. Finally, he said " No. No you do not. There is no point in it, seeing as you aren't happy there,"
Harry briefly wondered how he could possibly know this…
" so, if it pleases the court," he glanced at Lupin and Professor Figg, " then you'll stay at Hogwarts for the remainder of this summer and the next summers as well."
This was almost as good as saying Harry could go home with Sirius; now he was free of the Durselys, he would live in the castle permanently. Harry could not express his joy. He settled for a stammered thank you to Dumbledore and Professors Figg and Lupin. He half listened when Dumbledore told him the details of his stay- including that he was to stay in his regular dormitory in Gryffindor Tower, and that the meals were served at 7:30, 12, and 6, and that tea was at half past four. Afterward, Harry went up to the owlery to tell Ron and Hermione. Thinking of Hermione, he remembered that he'd forgotten to open her letter earlier. Thinking of her letter, he remembered that today was his birthday. Thinking he was doing too much thinking, he settled down to write the news to his friends. When Harry was finished, he tied the letter to one of the school owls and threw it out the window. Now what to do… he thought. Harry had never seen Hogwarts in the summer, so he decided to do some exploring.
Wandering around the hallways of Hogwarts without purpose Harry found quite a few things; for one thing, he had stumbled upon some sort of extremely old tower, which was filled with odd instruments that he didn't recognize- and yet when he had looked for someone to share it with, and later returned, found it that it had disappeared and that in it's space was an overlarge Victorian window. Shrugging, Harry decided to go down to dinner- as it was almost six- and ran into Professor Lupin at the foot of the Grand Staircase.
" All right, Harry?" He said, smiling.
" Yeah, I'm fine. I just can't believe that I'm going to be spending my summers here!"
" You don't mind, do you?" said Lupin, anxiously.
" Not at all," replied Harry, " actually it's a very welcome change. I'll just have to talk to Professor Dumbledore about getting my stuff here."
" Yes, yes that's moderately important, don't you think?" He winked. "Oh, and yes, I was going to wait until you asked, but since you didn't…" He trailed off, " I'm going to be your new potions teacher for this year."
" YOU'RE JOKING!" Exclaimed Harry in disbelief and happiness.
Lupin chuckled and walked toward the Grand Hall. Harry followed behind him, still in shock.
" B-but what happened to Snape? He isn't- isn't hurt or something, is he?" He tried forcefully to keep the hopefulness from reaching his tone of voice.
Lupin sighed and turned to face him. " I knew you were going to ask that. Knew it," he muttered to himself sounding just slightly mad, " Listen," he sighed again, " I can't tell you that. Wish I could but I can't. I'm sure if you'll remember the events and the planning and whatnot that occurred subsequent to your duel with You- Know- Who, you'll be able to put some of the pieces together.
So," said Lupin, obviously changing the Subject, " How do you like Professor Figg?"
" Professor Figg's going to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, right?"
" Yep."
" Yeah, she's okay. But why didn't you take that job?" Harry inquired.
" Because I'm ready for something different. That's my job, Harry. Defense. Only," he added, laughing, " I doubt I top Ar- er- Professor Figg."
When they arrived in the Great Hall, Harry found it looked not a bit unlike it did during Christmas, with only one large table adorning it.
" Yes, but you were the best teacher we've ever had…" trailed off Harry as he sat down opposite Lupin. As they were the first to arrive, Harry thought he would be able to get some questions in regarding the existing faculty.
" Well I thank you sincerely," said Lupin, his voice dripping with sarcasm. " Consitering the other- erm- extremely wonderful Defense teachers you've had."
Harry grinned. " You sure you don't want to be the Defense Teacher?"
" Yes," Lupin replied, drumming his fingers on the table impatiently. He sighed, " Yes, Harry I'm sure. Seriously, I want some variety. And you make it seem like Professor Figg's incompetent. She taught me some things you wouldn't believe-"
Remus almost blushed at the hidden meaning to this-
"Yeah well…"
" What're you guys talking about, huh?"
" You," said Lupin, staring up at her fondly.
" Really?" said Professor Figg suspiciously. " Exactly what were you saying about me?"
" We were just saying how wonderful and smart and caring and charismatic you are…" Lupin rambled on and Harry had to laugh. As Professor Figg sat down, Harry had a chance to study her. She was short, about a head and a half shorter than Lupin and curvy, with chin length black hair in a bob. Noticing Harry looking at her, she looked up and tipped her head.
" What's up, kiddo?" Professor Figg grinned. " I guess we haven't had the opportunity to meet yet…" She extended a hand, which Harry shook, " I'm Arabella, or Professor Figg, as you'll be calling me. I'm to be your new Defense Teacher this year."
" Nice to meet you," said Harry. He felt he should say something about Mrs. Figg, as part of the reason she died was due to his need for protection. Hot guilt slid down his chest as if he had swallowed a piece of fire. Unable to say much for an instant, Harry managed to choke out, " I knew your mother. She was a wonderful woman."
Professor Figg seemed extremely saddened at this, although she remained smiling. " Yes, that she was…. I knew your mother," she added, " She was my best friend - sort of like your father and Remus here." She glanced at Remus. " I miss them every day. As," she gave a long sigh, " I will my mother. You-know- who is destroying more lives every day it seems," she sighed again and looked extremely tired, " and it's funny, you know…"she looked up and met Harry's eyes with forest green ones, " I never thought it could happen to me."
***
"Precarious as his last home environment was, Dumbledore, I cannot see how keeping Potter at Hogwarts to shelter him -"
" Serverus, I have made my decision. I believe that being at Hogwarts will be in the best interests of Harry and it will also provide him with a loving family- the Hogwarts faculty."
Serverus Snape sat silently seething at Dumbledore in his office. How could he and that dreaded troublemaker of a boy ever live in the same castle? Well, he thought miserably, at least I won't have to deal with him this year, because I'll be kissing You- Know- Who's ass. Serverus groaned and Dumbledore looked up.
" Is something the matter?"
" Yes," said Serverus narrowing his eyes at the Headmaster, " Yes there is." He stood up and started pacing. " This is not going to work."
Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak, but Serverus held up a hand.
" I will most likely be killed within an hour of returning. There are to many Death Eaters who know that I was an emissary," he sighed loudly, " and while You-Know-Who doesn't - well, I'm nearly persuaded that someone would have told him."
He thought of Lucius Malfoy, and the warnings that he had received at the end of last year.
No, they would as soon to exonerate him as they would to join Dumbledore and promote tranquility involving Muggles and Wizarding Folk.
" Serverus, although I cannot force you to do anything, I can urge you to remember what great assistance your work had when we last had this problem."
Serverus stared unbelieving at Dumbledore. " Do you not realize what I'm saying?! Once is fine, Dumbledore, these people can be fooled once. But you have to realize that they are clever beyond their means! They do not forgive quickly, Dumbedore, as they do not forget."
" I realize you are afraid, although-"
" I AM NOT AFRAID!" roared Snape, frustrated. Although this did bring on somewhat of a calming result, Snape glared at the Headmaster, unsatisfied, as Dumbledore didn't merely blink. He just continued on his last sentence.
" Although I do see where you are coming from. And, believe me, Serverus, if I could find another person that has once been accepted into the Dark Circle, and has now joined our side, and is brave enough to risk their lives so that the lives of others will not be taken, I would. But there is no one with such qualifications. There is only you. I am depending on you."
What was he to say to this? Serverus stared at the headmaster, and it was as if his head was splitting into two different personalities. On one side, there was the argument that he would almost assuredly be killed, and what help could he be to anyone dead? On the other, a smaller, more optimistic voice was coaxing him with the contrary. It was disputing the slight possibility that everything went peachy. 'Think of the hero you'll be, it advocated. Think of how your inside information could make all the difference, and more importantly how you will be hailed for it when we finally do win!' And then the other voice shot it down. 'Who said we're to win,' it inquired.
" Fine," he said and walked out of Dumbledore's oak door and down the revolving marble steps. Snape, at that moment, greatly resented Dumbledore. It was easy to play leader, he thought, if you don't actually have to get your hands dirty. You just order other people to do it for you. And, Serverus shook his head, people think that you are wise, and they respect you. He respected the spies, the espionage experts, the duelers: the people who risked their lives for good. Not stood in their office and ordered others to; the ones who actually risked their lives so the lives of others could be saved. He laughed dryly. Oh, Serverus, wasn't that what Dumbledore was just talking about? Advocating something that he hasn't done in nearly sixty years. Making it seem like a cake job. A cake job that Serverus was lucky to come out alive of. If he does come back, Serverus noted scowling, if he does live, then at least he'll have permanent life with Harry Potter to deal with when he returns.
Harry Potter was thinking how absolutely wonderful life without Snape would be. He would actually enjoy Potions, maybe, if Professor Lupin was teaching it- and maybe he would do good in it, as it was, Potions was his worst subject. So far, three weeks had passed since the death of Mrs. Figg, and three weeks he had lived in the castle. Harry'd been down to see Dobby five times so far, and had delighted the elf each time with a particularly ugly pair of socks. He was regarded as his hero. It was a nice feeling to be someone's hero, and only at the expense of Uncle Vernon's moldy old socks. Wile Harry was pondering what he was going to buy next Tuesday in Hogsmeade when Hedwig swooped in and nearly landed on his head.
" Hullo, Hedwig. Brought me something?" he asked her, and she lifted her leg so he could pry off the small, neat letter that was attached to it.
" Well, not from Sirius, eh? Wonder what it is…"
He recognized Hermione's tidy cursive handwriting on the envelope. He opened the letter with diminutive circumspection, and, just for the sake of doing so, read the letter out loud.
Dear Harry,
Where in God's name have you been? I've been sending letters to your house, and my the owl I keep sending comes back with marks on him, as though someone might've shoved him out the window. I thought you wanted to be alone or something. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I'm vacationing in Venice this holiday, because I'm sure you forgot. Ron didn't though, and wrote me a letter telling me how wonderful that you were living in the castle. I thought you hadn't sent me a letter for whatever reason, and I got worried. Then I considered maybe you'd sent it to my house by mistake, and so I sent this letter to you to confirm. The thing is, Harry, and I know I'm worrying too much, but that's all I do now. I worry for you, for Ron, for his family, for my family and I. You can't begin to imagine all the things- worst-case scenarios, mostly, that went through my head when you answer. But now I know, and it took a load off my mind, I tell you. So how's life at the castle? Will Dumbledore let you have any guests? Maybe Ron and I can come for the last couple of weeks of summer. Write Back!
Love from Hermione
Placing the letter aside, Harry realized that he would have to ask permission for Ron and Hermione to come to the castle. Still, he remembered a bit of that conversation between Lupin and Dumbledore in which Dumbledore seemed concerned about Harry's social life. Deciding it shouldn't be a big problem, Harry set up to the third floor. He would go ask Dumbledore right now, and maybe Ron and Herm could stay for longer…. When he approached the Gargoyle, he half- shouted "Droobles Best Blowing Gum!" in its ear, and when it sprang to life, it gave him a very patronizing look. Harry glared back, and set up the revolving marble staircase. Immediately as Harry reached the landing leading into Dumbledore's spacious office, he noticed a green light spanning out from under the oak doorway. The scene instantly was blocked out of Harry's head and in its place he heard the pleas and screams of a young woman, but Harry himself saw nothing… until a bright green flash erupted from the corner and illuminated the scene.