R: Zzzzzzzzzzzz.
POC2: Randomly? Randomly! Wake up and do the disclaimer!
Disclaimer: I am currently involved in a complicated plot that I will tell you no more about because of plausible deniability. Until I succeed, POC2 owns nothing.
POC2: (gulp) I've got another disclaimer: What ever Randomly's up to, it's not my fault.
H: Despite that fact that you are the same person…..
M: It's better not to ask. Trust me.
H: Did you just speak English?
M: Meow.
Letters from Hogwarts
All Harry wanted to do was sit and think about what he had just heard, but as soon as he reached his room, he noticed an unfamiliar owl perched on his bed. Groaning, he picked it up, and nearly dropped it in shock when he saw what it was.
"A letter from Hogwarts?" thought Harry. "Now? But summer just started."
Wary of some kind of trick, Harry opened the letter and began to read.
Dear Mr. Potter,
In light of recent events, we realize that some students may consider not returning to Hogwarts this year. While we urge you to reconsider if this is what you had been planning, we understand that, ultimately the decision belongs to you and your parents or legal guardians. However, we have taken a number of steps to ensure that you are still able to complete your education.
You have received this letter either because you have attended Hogwarts within the past three years or because you are a prospective student. On July 14th at 1:00 pm, we ask that you, as well as your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) if you are underage, and any siblings you may have if they wish to attend, come to Hogwarts for an important meeting that will tell you more about the steps we have taken. We strongly advise that you attend.
We will be using floo powder; for one day only, the houses of all Hogwarts students will be connected to the floo network, even muggle houses. There will be a large number of Aurors present at this meeting, and we will be taking every possible precaution to ensure your safety and the safety of your family. Please let us know whether you will be coming and who you will be bringing with you so that we can arrange to have your house added to the floo network. For safety reasons, no one who does not inform us beforehand will be allowed into the school.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Headmistress
Frowning, Harry picked up the now-empty envelope, only to realize that it was not empty. Instead, there was another letter inside. Harry noticed that while this letter was on the same type of parchment, the writing seemed to be somehow less formal.
Dear Harry,
There are some things that I would like to discuss with you before the general meeting on the 14th. I am not sure how long it will take, so I would like to pick you up at 10:00 that morning. Please owl me back as soon as possible. We will use floo powder to travel. At the end of the general meeting, you can go to the Weasley's house, where you will be able to stay until after the wedding. If you have any objection to this, let me know in your response owl. If not, have your luggage ready when I come.
Sincerely,
Professor McGonagall
P.S. It's Order business.
Harry thought for a minute. There was a possibility that it was a trap, but Harry didn't think so. He would just have to be careful when the Professor came.
Picking up his quill and ink, he quickly wrote his answer.
Dear Professor,
I don't have any problem with going to the Weasley's until the wedding. I'll see you July 14th at 10:00.
Harry.
His head still spinning slightly, Harry sat down on his bed and tried to sort out everything that had happened over the past few days.
Luckily, the next few weeks were much less exciting than the beginning of the summer, and Aunt Petunia was even able to ensure that Dudley and Uncle Vernon were out of the house at when Professor McGonagall was scheduled to arrive.
By the time 9:50 rolled around, Harry was sitting in front of the fireplace with all of his worldly possessions, excluding the money in his Gringotts vault, piled around his feet. Not eager for a repetition of the disaster that had occurred when the Weasleys had tried to floo into his house in his fourth year, Harry had carefully removed the planks across the fireplace and lit a small fire. Aunt Petunia would put out the fire and replace the planks when he was gone.
At exactly 10:00 am, Professor McGonagall's spinning form appeared in the fireplace. She stepped out and turned to Harry, all business.
"Alright, if you will use this," she held out some floo powder, "to go to Hogwarts, I will drop off your luggage and follow."
Harry hesitated for just a moment. "What were me and Professor Dumbledore doing together last year?"
That earned him an odd look. "You never told me."
"Exactly." With a slight smile, Harry grabbed a handful of floo powder, shouted, "Hogwarts," and stepped into the fire.
When Harry emerged from the fireplace, he found himself in the office that had been home to Dumbledore for so many years. Looking around, he noticed that Professor McGonagall had made few changes and had not removed what had been Fawkes' perch. He smiled slightly at all the memories.
Suddenly, Harry heard a voice that he had never expected to hear again. "Hello, Harry."
Harry turned around to face the smiling picture of Albus Dumbledore perched on the wall.
POC2: If you would like to know where I come up with my crazy ideas, drop me a review (hint hint) and I'd be happy to tell you. Oh, and Weird asked about the last year thing, so…. After Dumbledore dies, McGonagall asks Harry what they were doing that night. He doesn't tell her. That's it. He's just making sure it's really her, the rational being that a Death Eater would have gotten flustered or tried to make something up.
G: Kl,ooooooooooooooooooook
POC2: Oh, hi Gabi. I just let my 8-month-old cousin type a little. Inspiring, ain't it?
R: You're a strange one.
POC2: That is your influence.
R: I didn't say it's a bad thing.
POC2: Well, that's all for now. Please review and I hope to see you soon.
Next: Harry plans for the coming war.
