'There's no way I'm going back to school.'
This was completely unfair. 13 years of exhaustingly rigorous training and examinations from the mere age of 2, all so I could be put into Fagwarts to protect some skinny kid I didn't even like the sound of. I deserved a proper job. I was, technically, a qualified Auror.
'You don't have a choice, Nat. Didn't you hear what happened?!' asked my 'beloved' mother.
'What?'
'The poor boy was attacked by Dementors!'
'WHAT?!'
'They might expel him for using a Patronus as self-defense. Underage magic. I don't know, there's going to be a hearing- it's all very complicated.'
'Well he can look after him-fucking-self then, can't he!'
'Watch your tongue,' my dad interfered, whilst perusing a copy of the Daily Prophet.
'He's been doing it for 15 years, why not now?'
'Would you lower your voice?! We're in the Blacks' home, for god's sake! Potter's two best friends are in the other room! Do you have no respect?! You are going, and that's final. Your uniform and books have been bought and we have kept your money in an envelope in your room-'
Before mum could finish, I left the filthy excuse for a living room and slammed the door behind me.
Goddamned Harry Potter. What a good-for-nothing little shit. Can't even keep himself in school. But a Patronus? At fifteen? Admittedly, I expected worse. I shook my head. It's not like it was that impressive. Pah! I learnt how to use the Patronus at nine.
'NAT! TIME TO GO!' I heard Tonks' voice from downstairs a couple of hours later. I groaned and, putting aside my work papers, stepped into my boots, grabbed my broom and ran downstairs, where Moody, Tonks, Kingsley, and two others I didn't know and didn't care to know the names of were waiting. My parents stood in the kitchen doorway beside Molly Weasley, eyebrows raised, arms crossed. I lifted my hand to gesture a goodbye before turning with a sigh.
'Let's just get this over with.'
The six of us travelled together across London, and into the outskirts; Tonks and I racing as usual. Finally we descended onto a wide road with a dead-end, where I could see a sign reading Privet Drive. With a flick of his wand, Moody unlocked the front door of a large, detached house that looked exactly the same as the one next to it, and we all stepped in. Tonks lit her wand, and we all got a glance of the house. It was tacky, with floral sofas and antiques that had been incongruously placed.
'This place is disgusting. God, does anyone have any sense of style anymore?' I blurted.
'Oh, will you shut up, Creswell?! We're only here for the boy,' Moody whispered. I complied.
We advanced up the stairs and, with attempted stealth (the goddamn floorboards kept creaking) approached the door, which Kingsley unlocked with a flick of his wand. I kicked the door open.
'They're very clean, these Muggles! It's unnatural,' Tonks whispered, holding her lit wand in front of her.
'Tonks, for god's sake,' interrupted Moody.
Standing in the middle of the room was a scrawny, sweaty boy with a wand held firmly in front of him. His hair looked as if a crow had given birth on his head, and then died. His eyes, however, were a brilliant green and his expression changed quickly from fearful to excited.
'Professor Moody! What are you doing here?'
'Rescuing you, of course.'
He glanced at all of us through his stupidly round spectacles before throwing on a jacket and following us out. The idiot wouldn't shut up.
'Where are we going? The letters said that I've been expelled from Hogwarts.'
'Well you haven't been. Not yet,' said Moody. 'Kingsley, you take point.'
'But the letters said-'
'Dumbledore has persuaded the Minister to suspend your expulsion, pending a formal hearing,' Kingsley answered, in his deep, accented voice.
'A hearing?' Would the loser just be quiet?
'Yes, a hearing!' I exclaimed in irritation. He turned his head to face me in shock.
'Don't worry, Harry, we'll explain everything when we get back to Headquarters.'
'Not here, Nymphadora!' Moody whispered.
'Don't. Call me. Nymphadora.' Tonks' hair grew a fiery shade of red as Moody's command inflamed her, and then back to its usual purple.
'Stay in formation, everyone!' Moody ignored her. 'Don't break ranks if one of us is killed.'
I snorted and glanced at Harry. 'Don't worry.'
Together, we mounted our brooms and made our way back to Grimmauld Place. The encounter had been exactly as I had expected- a complete and utter waste of time. We arrived at Grimmauld Place, and house numbers 11 and 13 separated, revealing a number 12. Potter marvelled at this, of course.
'In you go, son.' He entered, moving slowly and cautiously. Could he just move his arse for once?! It seemed my feelings were mutual amongst the group, however, as Moody shoved him aside and limped past through the narrow corridor. We all followed in single file, me being the last, as usual. Of course, Moody came to a halt to speak to Kingsley just as I was about to squeeze past Potter. The two of us stood there, stuffed in a corridor meant for one person at a time. I could feel his breathing, and he could feel mine. The corners of his mouth curved upwards slightly, and I rolled my eyes.
'Could we keep moving, please?!' I called. He wasn't about to charm me into falling in love with him, or whatever it is arrogant, pretentious boys do these days.
Moody stopped muttering, glowered at me and entered the kitchen, where Sirius, Arthur Weasley, Remus and my dad seemed to be having a heated discussion. This all stopped when Sirius caught sight of Harry. A smile started to form on both their faces as realisation sunk in. There was a shuffling as everyone attempted to awkwardly hide the fact that they had been talking about Potter. I pushed past him and sat down next to dad, as Molly Weasley rose to her feet, left the kitchen and strategically shut the door behind her, leaving the room in silence.
'Well that was awkward.' I just had to.
'That's it, you're going to your room,' mum's response was immediate, as if she'd expected every word of it.
Exhaling, I stood and left the room. With my luck, Potter was prudently making his way up the stairs in front of me. He exceeded my expectations- he was an even bigger idiot than I had thought.
Having heard my footsteps, he turned to look at my exasperated face, and moved aside to let me pass. What a true gentleman he was. I glared at his seemingly absent-minded face. I could feel his eyes on me as I ran to the top of the house and into my room, where I remained until dinner.
'This is very, very peculiar,' Mr Weasley said at dinner. 'It seems that your hearing at the Ministry is to be before the entire wizard'
'I don't understand... What's the Ministry of Magic got against me?' It's like every time he opened his mouth he was asking me to shove a fist down his throat.
'Show him,' said Moody to us. 'He'll find out soon enough.'
My dad passed his copy of The Daily Prophet he'd been reading earlier to Harry, and mixed feelings of horror, shock and annoyance developed in his face as he read.
Sirius tried to cheer him up. 'He's been attacking Dumbledore as well...' As if that was much better. He sighed. 'Fudge is using all his power, including his influence on the Daily Prophet to smear anyone who claims the Dark Lord has returned.'
'Why?!'
'The Minister thinks Dumbledore's after his job,' said Lupin.
'But that's insane! No-one in their right mind could believe that Dumbledore would've-'
'Exactly the point! Fudge isn't in his right mind. It's been twisted and warped by fear. Now fear makes people do terrible things, Harry. The last time Voldemort gained power, he almost destroyed everything we hold most dear.' He glanced at Sirius, and Sirius looked down, pensively. 'Now he's returned, and I'm afraid the Minister will do almost anything to avoid facing the terrifying truth.'
'We think Voldemort wants to build up his army again,' Sirius continued. I knew where this was going. This conversation wasn't going to end well. 'Fourteen years ago he had huge numbers at his command, and not just witches and wizards, but all a manner of dark creatures. He's been recruiting heavily, and we've been attempting to do the same. But gathering followers isn't the only thing he's interested in.'
Moody cleared his throat.
'We believe... Voldemort may be after something.' Oh god.
'Sirius,' Moody interrupted.
'...Something he didn't have last time.' There we go. Here comes the drama.
'You mean... like, a weapon?' Harry asked.
'No. That's enough,' Molly Weasley stepped in. 'He's just a boy! You say much more and you might as well induct him into the Order straight away!'
'Great! I want to join! If Voldemort's raising an army then I want to fight!' Oh, please no. Not Potter. Anyone but Potter.
Sirius winked at him, and I left the table.
