Chapter 2
In the days and weeks following the skirmish in Diagon Alley, Harry and Su found themselves confined to the penthouse Derek and Sun had bought. She understood the decision, but disliked the effect it had, imprisoning her and Harry in their home in London.
One benefit of the change had been the enormous amount of time she and Harry had together. Her mother had been called to support the ICW forces in the hunt for Tanjij and his warriors, and her father was often in the field chasing leads on various gang members. They rarely came home until late at night, and were gone by the time the teens awoke the next morning. She and Harry had certainly grown impossibly closer in the time spent together. They began an in-depth study of Spell Design and Runes to supplement hours of playing chess or holding impromptu concerts for birds fluttering outside the the building's windows.
After reading over the syllabus for Hogwarts, Harry and Daphne found they were well ahead in all subjects besides Herbology, Runes, Arithmancy, and Transfiguration. They were perhaps at 6th year level in the latter subject, and the expected levels for the first three. The remainder of the subjects were well below their current level. Knowing there was nothing to catch up on for school, they maintained their normal course of study. With little else to do, they eventually persuaded Derek Li to allow them to invite several friends to the Penthouse. Sophie, Alexa, Julius and Claudius were friends they had known at the Athens Academy, and also children of various ICW Hunter force veterans. Sophie and Julius were twins, while Claudius was only 11 months older than his sister, Alexa. They, too, would be attending Hogwarts that fall. Their requests finally wore down her security-minded father in mid-August. Eventually, their friends were allowed to stay for the remainder of the summer.
Their friends had been raised in a manner similar to their own upbringing; siblings often left at home while their parents hunted the worst criminals in Europe and Asia. Indeed, they had turned to similar pursuits as Harry and Su had: Chess, research, literature, and music. Alexa was a talented flute player, with a true flair for Transfiguration and Charms. Sophie played the clarinet as well as anyone. Her passion was Arithmancy and Spell Design. Julius, a talented Cellist, loved spell design and Potions to a disgusting degree. Claudius, who was Harry's closest friend if one didn't count Su, had an aptitude for defensive and combat magic, history, and warding. He played the viola with a skill rarely seen.
Beyond those skills, the group seemed incredibly similar. None could claim to be another's master in the noble game of chess; they had grown up outwitting equally skilled opponents. Harry had taken a bit longer due to his adoption, but now counted himself on par with all the others.
Two days after the arrival of their friends, the six lazed about the conservatory, occasionally tweaking some semblance of a melody from their instruments, but primarily enjoying the sun streaming through the windows and the company of their closest friends. Harry lay stretched out on the floor, with Su's head propped on his chest. Alexa grinned at Julius as he cracked a joke while Claudius pored over a muggle take on the decline of Rome, written by a man named Gibbon. Sophie watched from a wingchair in the corner.
With a devious grin, Julius looked at Harry. "You've been holding back on us, H. Did you finally ask her?" he joked, with a nod at Su.
That caught everyone's attention. Harry blushed a magnificent shade of scarlet. Claudius looked up with an amused expression on his face while Sophie and Alexa gave Su identical glares. If they could communicate telepathically, Su knew her ears would be splitting from cries of 'SPEAK!'
Shrugging, Harry said, "Right before we started blowing Diagon Alley to shit. We were rudely interrupted by that 4-faced Japanese bastard."
The glares Su was receiving lessened somewhat. Alexa gazed longingly at Julius, while he did the same, both being rather obvious about it. Claudius bounded out of his chair and clapped Harry on the back while Sophie hugged Su with a squeal.
Su snorted. "Calm down, calm down. It was bound to happen eventually, Wise One." Before turning and wrapping herself around Harry.
Harry grinned, giving Su a quick peck on the cheek. Julius walked over and clapped him on the back with a sinister grin. "Cough up, Romeo."
Harry gave him and odd look, as did the others. Suddenly, Claudius burst out laughing. "You're not seriously holding him to that bet, are you? There has to be some limit on how long it takes to come true, you ass!"
Julius grinned. "Nope. I was a very wise 6-year-old." With that, he pretentiously jabbed his nose into the air. Grumbling, Harry fished in his pocket, pulled out a handful of gold, and handed it over.
"Git."
Su looked back and forth between the boys with Alexa and Sophie, trying to figure out what had happened. Catching the look his girlfriend was giving him, Harry explained.
"You remember when we first met when we were 6? At the time, Julius was still in the 'girls-are-icky' phase. He was mocking me and bet 10 galleons that we would end up dating at some point. I was a tick-headed dimwit and tok him up on it. None of us expected him to remember that, though."
Julius cracked an evil smirk. "I wouldn't have. I write down every bet you ever make with me. Why do you think I always collect?"
Harry glared. Julius laughed at him. Finally, Harry tossed his long hair and sat on a couch, sparing whatever dignity he had left.
Thus passed most of the month of August. The six spent their time reading, playing chess, talking, playing their instruments and training. One afternoon, as they sat in the living room of the penthouse, the floo alarms started wailing. Harry and Su quickly drew their wands and stood facing the floo while the others ducked into cover and drew their own wands.
After a few tense moments, her father stepped from the fire. He looked at them, nodded approvingly and turned to face her.
"Your mother was just injured. Tanjij led a team into the ICW headquarters in London and started attacking indiscriminately. The Mages were out chasing down a false trail, so we couldn't stop him. Ater a few minutes, the researchers and warders drove him off, but the HQ is badly damaged. We lost 2 healers and most of the others are badly injured. Nowhere else was available, so the ICW is moving here for headquarters. All of you need to move out."
Su nodded, as did Harry. "Where are we going, Mr. Li?" asked Claudius.
Derek scowled. "That was the problem. Dumbledore offered to let all of you stay at Hogwarts, but he's also pushing a bill in the Wizengamot that allows faculty to bind a student's magic indefinitely. We believe he wants to make you helpless so he can drain your core and gain leverage in the ICW. Surprisingly, James Potter and Sirius Black put up a hell of a fight about that, temporarily stopping it. The ICW has been informed and they're trying to censure Dumbledore. Obviously, Hogwarts won't work. There are no other places big enough for all of you, and we believe we have to keep you together for safety's sake. The Potters and Malfoys offered to house you for the last 2 weeks of summer. As much as I dislike it, it will have to be the Potters. Malfoy is a known Dark Wizard and would hand you over to the Roses in a flash. Sorry, Harry."
Harry frowned, but nodded. "It's fine. I should probably hear their story, anyhow. Even if I end up loathing my parents, my siblings can't be all that bad."
Derek Li nodded. "I'd hoped you would say that. Grab whatever you need, and we'll send the rest to you at school. If we don't see you between now and when you leave, good luck and have a good term."
Su hugged her father. "Thanks, dad. Tell us when Mom recovers."
Derek nodded. "Of course. Be on your guard; the Potter wards aren't ICW quality, so Tanjij can probably break them. We're depending on secrecy for a few weeks, but we have no choice. Send us a patronus if you get in any trouble." With that, he departed.
Su looked over at Harry. He seemed irked, but accepting.
"You alright, Harry?"
Sensing they needed to be left alone, their friends left the room, presumably to pack their bags.
Harry looked at her, his gaze filled with love. "I'll be fine. I owe them the chance to tell their story, at least. I haven't spoken with them that I can remember. And like I said, my siblings can't be all that bad. I'll have to get used to it, as all of them will be at Hogwarts this year."
She nodded. "I'll be there with you, Harry, don't worry about that. Let's just hope twinkle-twinkle doesn't show up. My father hates him, as you've probably realized."
Harry mocked a stunned look. "Really? Your father hates Albus 'The Greater Good' Dumbledore? I thought he loved manipulative dark lord wannabes. That's why he spends time chasing them, isn't it? He loves the company."
Su slapped his arm. "Haha. Don't let him hear you say that, or you'll find your karate skills still need work. C'mon, lets pack. We have to deal with your family at some point tonight."
