Harry became the newest employee to the Hogs Head. Abe showed him around and gave him a list of jobs to do. He started cleaning rooms first and remembering what Professor Trelawney said about bed bugs he banished the mattresses and conjured new ones. When he was finished with that he started in the bar. People were already there so Harry started cleaning empty tables and took dirty glasses to the sink and washed them.
He worked with Abe every evening for a week and then approached him, "I was thinking of going to the Three Broomsticks to see about work during the day. I want to see about working from 10:00 am to 6:00 and then I'll be back here for the rest of the evening. I'm hoping to make enough to get some books so I can finish my education."
Abe knew Harry's story about being home schooled so he said, "That's fine by me."
So Harry stepped out of the bar and went to talk to Madam Rosmerta. He spent the next couple of months working in the two bars learning everything about what was going on. Sometimes he broke up fights but mostly everyone was quiet. People were scared and didn't talk about anything except in whispers, Harry was grateful for a couple of extendable ears he still had in his pocket.
There were several differences from his own world he found. For one the death toll was much higher, he guessed that had to do with the Voldemort free years his world had. Muggles and muggleborns were losing fast, in many cases muggleborns were missing and no one knew if they were hiding or dead. The Ministry was quickly falling under Voldemorts control; people knew it but had no idea how to stop it. What made Harry the angriest was that everyone was waiting for someone else to do something about this whole mess.
Harry had seen several people he knew to be in the Order of the Phoenix. One night he had even seen Moody and he almost didn't recognize him because he wasn't as mangled. He complained to Abe about the orders he was getting concerning death eaters. A few nights later Tonks and Kingsley had a meeting with Moody at the Hogs Head, he heard them mention an order they were joining because the Ministry was becoming ineffective.
One night in early August a man stumbled into the bar yelling that dementors were in Hogsmead. Harry vaulted over the bar and was the first out the door. Several men were behind him including one from the bar who was wearing a cloak. Harry conjured his stag patronus and sent in through the streets. All of Hogsmead was alight with its glow and in a few minutes the dementors were gone.
People started coming out of the houses and businesses to tend to the wounded. Harry walked back to the bar passing first the person in the cloak and then the others who had emerged from the bar. As he stepped back behind the bar the others came in but not the man in the cloak. Unknown to Harry the group that had gone out was telling others about what Harry had done. Several said they had never seen a corporeal patronus before, many wondered what a wizard as strong as Evan was doing working in a bar.
It was near the end of August the next time Harry saw the cloaked man. He knew it was the same man but he wasn't sure how he knew it. That night two men got into a fight Harry put up a shield that threw each man to a different end of the bar and knocked them out. He then went to each man and revived them, apologized if he had hurt them and set them up with a drink at opposite ends of the bar.
Before he could step back behind the bar another man stopped him. He introduced himself and made Harry an offer, "My name is Severus Snape, I am a member of the Dark Lords Death Eaters. I have been sent to bring you an offer to join our prestigious group fighting for the betterment of wizards everywhere."
"No thank you." Harry declined and started to walk away. Snape pulled his wand and stopped him again, "I don't think you understand. This is not an offer you just walk away from; you are coming with me to meet my Master."
Harry also pulled his wand and said "I don't think so." He blocked the curse that had been sent and before Snape could do anything else Harry stunned and obliviated him and sent him on his way. Then he stepped into the back of the bar motioning Abe to follow him. "That was my cue to move on Abe. I don't want to cause you or Rosmerta any trouble so I'll be disappearing." Harry said.
"Wait just a minute Evan, there is someone I want you to meet first." Abe said, then he hurried out to the front and returned with the man in the cloak. Abe continued, "This is my brother Albus, he is the headmaster of the Hogwarts School." As Abe said this Albus had removed his cloak, Harry was shocked to say the least, he had no idea Albus was alive in this universe.
After a few seconds the shock wore off and Harry noticed the resemblance, he had never seen the two men standing together in his world. Harry took the proffered had of Albus Dumbledore and said, "Pleasure to meet you sir."
"The pleasure is mine." replied Albus, "Abe tells me you are planning on leaving the area, does this have anything to do with the proposition you just turned down to join the death eaters?"
"Yes sir." Harry said, "A dark wizard killed my family when I was small, I have no inclination to join them now. I'm afraid my presence here will bring trouble for my employers so I feel I must leave."
"Too right." Albus nodded his head, "Before you leave may I offer you an alternative?" Harry nodded; this was what he had been hoping for. Albus continued, "I head up a group of people dedicated to fighting for the light. It is called the Order of the Phoenix because the Phoenix is the brightest symbol of the light. "
"This one knows all about phoenixes he has one that follows him around." Abe interrupted, "It was here the first day I met him. After he woke up from a nightmare it showed up and trilled a little and he calmed right down. "
"Is that so?" Albus looked surprised, "Well then I am sure I am making the right choice then. You are seventeen correct?" Harry nodded again. "So my offer is this, you join the order, continue your schooling at Hogwarts and when you finish you fight for the side of the light."
"I would love that sir, but I don't have any proof of my education, I was home schooled by my Godfather and I'm not even sure what level I would be at. I don't have much money to pay for tuition or anything." Harry stuck to his story.
"Not to worry my boy, "Albus said, "We will test you for level in all the subjects you wish. I believe we can even offer remedial classes anywhere you are lacking. We also have a fund to help with costs. We have never let a lack of money be a cause for lack of education."
"How soon can we leave?" Harry asked, "I don't want to be here when reinforcements come. Will they leave your bar in one piece if I'm not here?"
"We can leave now if you're ready. "Albus said, "Don't worry about Death Eaters there are a few Aurors in the bar, but I think your obliviate will hold." Harry packed up his rucksack and followed Albus to the fireplace and Albus said, "Just say Hogwarts, Headmasters office and I will see you in a few moments." Albus stepped in and in a swish of green flames he was gone.
"I'll let Rosmerta know tomorrow, she'll be glad you're safe." Abe said. Harry nodded and stepped in and was quickly taken away.
Harry appeared in the Headmasters office, it looked just like the office in his own Hogwarts, Albus even offered him a lemon drop. Harry took the one and sat in a chair opposite the Headmaster and waited for whatever he was going to say.
Albus was stunned but didn't show it. This young man who wasn't supposed to have a formal education looked very much at home in the office. He wasn't looking at the portraits or trinkets around the room he was just sitting there patiently waiting for Albus to speak. Just as Albus was ready to speak there was a flash of fire in his office and when his eyes cleared he saw a phoenix sitting on the back of a chair next to Evan. Evan grinned and spoke to the bird, "I was wondering when you'd show up again. I've been missing you." He then reached up and stroked the head feathers of the Phoenix.
Fawkes thought to Harry, "You should probably introduce me now."
"Oh, right, sorry. Professor this is Fawkes, he is a phoenix, although I'm sure you know that." Harry said.
Albus was stunned again; this young man was full of surprises. He was evidently able to converse with the phoenix. And it was evidentially reminding Mr. Jameson of proper behavior. This brought several questions to Albus' mind so he decided to ask some of them, "How did you meet?"
Harry was blank for a moment then said, "After I found my Godfathers grave I ran until I couldn't go anymore and I lay down and fell asleep right where I stopped. When I woke he was there watching over me."
"Quick thinking" Fawkes thought to Harry.
"Astounding, " Albus said, "Did he introduce himself right away or did it take time for him to start talking to you?"
Harry laughed, "Actually the first thing he did was talk to me. Scared me to death, I could hear someone talking but I couldn't see anyone. He was asking if I was hurt, and when I realized it was him talking to me I just shook my head and stared at him. I thought I was going crazy at first but he convinced me I wasn't and then we started our journey."
Albus thought a moment, "Why Hogsmeade?
Harry looked at Fawkes for an answer and he thought, "Tell him I knew you could get help here, this is where you belong." Harry repeated what Fawkes had said.
Albus was thrilled; this is just what the order needed. Young people would give it life and bring more people with them. Now what to do with Mr. Jameson; a place to stay until school started, sorting would need to happen first, "I think we should have the Sorting Hat sort you now, we need to know which house to put you in so you will have a place to sleep."
Harry nodded, and wondered how this would go. Fawkes thought, "Don't worry, he won't give you away, but you aren't supposed to know about any of this you should question more. I'll be leaving before the others get here; it's not time for them to see me yet."
Dumbledore summoned the Hat and was ready to put it on when he decided he should have the heads of houses in attendance for this. So he spoke to his wand and with a flick his patronus left to notify those he needed.
Albus saw Harry's enquiring look and said, "I have summoned the Heads of the Houses to witness."
Harry's opportunity to question things as Fawkes had said came up quickly, "What are the Houses?"
Albus smiled, finally a question the boy must be relaxing, "Hogwarts has four houses, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. " He went on to explain about each house and the founders. How the Hat sorted students. This went on until Fawkes flashed out. Albus stopped in mid sentence looking at the spot the Phoenix had vanished from.
Harry just smiled, "He does that a lot, comes and goes as he pleases, he is not a pet he is my friend."
Albus nodded and started to talk again but was interrupted when McGonagall, Sprout, and Flitwick walked in followed by a man Harry didn't know. Albus introduced each Professor and told Harry which house they had including Irvin Fleming as Potions master and Head of Slytherin. All else was the same Harry was glad to know. After the introductions Albus handed Harry the Sorting Hat and told him to place it on his head.