Disclaimer: I own Izzy and nothing else.

Chapter 4: Politics and Scheming

The next day, after having breakfast, Izzy and Harry went up the revolving staircase to meet Dumbledore in his circular office. When they entered his office they were surprised to find Dumbledore with a visitor—Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"Come in, come in, Harry and Isobelle. As you can see I have a visitor. You of course Harry, would know him from last year."

"Hullo Harry! It's been a while since we last met." Kingsley greeted Harry like an old friend.

"Hello, Kingsley", Harry replied, while trying hard not to think of the last time they saw each other. That was after all, the night when Sirius died.

"Ah. And you must be Ms. Isobelle de Lune. Professor Dumbledore here has told me of the circumstances which led you here. I am greatly sorry for your loss my dear Ms. de Lune. The loss of a de Lune is not just the loss of Greece but the loss of the entire wizarding community as well. If ever you would need assistance of any kind, I am ready to take on the responsibility. Kingsley Shacklebolt at your service", Kingsley took Izzy's hand and kissed it, just like in old black and white muggle movies. Harry was surprised by this move and was even more surprised when Izzy responded as if they had rehearsed this meeting beforehand.

"It's my pleasure to meet you Mr. Shacklebolt. It lifts my spirits to hear of your sympathies for the loss of the de Lunes of Greco royalty. And though my queen is no longer present to hear your words of compassion I am certain of the joy she would feel from your kindness and your noble heart. It is a great honor to have an Auror like you at the service of the de Lunes of Greco-royalty. The ancient and noble Kingdom of the de Lunes look forward to strengthening magical bonds with you in the near future." Izzy responded as though she was reading from an etiquette book complete with accent and a curtsy.

Harry blinked at the scene he had just witnessed. He felt like he was watching one of those old movies his Aunt Petunia liked to watch. It was like reading from a fairytale book. Everything was princess-like, from their manner of speech to the curtsy Izzy just did.

Izzy smiled at Harry's expression and said, "You're quite new to this, aren't you?"

Harry smiled shyly.

"Ah yes. It is not surprising for Harry to be new to all of this. He was, after all, brought up like a muggle. Don't you worry Harry, that's one thing you would need to address on your training with Isobelle. You are to learn the ways of high society, particularly the ways of wizarding royalty, which would come in handy for your spy and undercover missions. You are going to need these skills for your mission on the Eastern part of Europe. With the influence of the de Lune Royal line and your reputation as the boy-who-lived, we are considering the possibility of gaining loyalty from more European countries in our war against Voldemort. That's one new thing you will learn from your training with the arrival of Isobelle, Harry. I know that with your past experience with the Ministry, you are quite hesitant to do some politicking but this will serve as your preliminary training for Aurorship. Kingsley here will monitor your progress closely, and will act as your mentor for Auror studies. This of course, would be kept a secret. Auror training is usually done after graduation from Hogwarts and after passing the OWLs, NEWTs and the AAEs or the Aurorship Aptitude Exam. And besides, we do not want to give the death eaters an upper hand by letting them know what you are about to do. But then you have a big battle ahead of you and Kingsley has agreed to make you an exception to the rule. So you are officially an Auror trainee, Harry. " Dumbledore explained.

"As for you my young lady, you will be teaching Harry everything he has to learn about high society wizarding world. And Harry and I will help you with your battle skills which have proven to be very promising. In my last correspondence with your mother, she has told me of your desire to become an Auror yourself. Kingsley has also accepted you in as his apprentice Auror and therefore you will undergo Auror training under him together with Harry. We need to teach you how to fight as well as Harry can, while we try to gain the loyalty of the royal network of Eastern Europe. If everything goes according to plan, it will be up to the both of you to bring Voldemort down." Dumbledore continued.

"As your mentor, I will be the one to teach you battle defense and espionage tactics—starting with the basics such as magical auras, deception and disguise and to the more complex ones like wandless magic, which given your magical powers, I am sure you are capable of. I will be helped in this area by Professor Dumbledore who has experienced quite a few battles and finished a Dark Lord himself. In addition to training, I will be the one informing you of what's happening in high society wizarding world. I will keep you updated regarding any social functions, any gatherings that may prove to be useful for our benefit. But we have to make sure that you are prepared well for it, Harry.", Kingsley told them.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of Harry's lessons and I'll make sure you'd mistake him for a natural born de Lune before school term starts", Izzy said with conviction.

"Why do I have the feeling that you're making me into something like Malfoy?" Harry asked.

"Malfoy? As in Mr. Lucius Malfoy's son?", Izzy asked.

"Yes. Do you know Draco?" Dumbledore asked.

"Not really. But the Malfoy family is a very prominent and influential force in high society wizarding world. It would be hard not to know of their family if you've been exposed to gatherings and social functions.", Izzy explained.

"I see. We are still looking into the possibility of converting Mr. Draco Malfoy to our side. Maybe when the school term starts you two could weigh the options and see just how trustworthy the Malfoy heir is?", Professor Dumbledore asked.

"You're kidding right? Malfoy, going over to our side when his father is clearly in Voldemort's inner circle?", Harry was dumbstruck.

"But I am not kidding Harry. Towards the end of the previous school year, Draco Malfoy has been having doubts about the side his family is on. I know for a fact that his father, Lucius Malfoy has been forcing him to take the Dark Mark and start serving Voldemort. My spies tell me that Draco Malfoy's initiation has always been postponed to the irritation of the senior Malfoy. We do not know the exact reasons for these delays but it seems that the younger Malfoy has been resistant to this initiation. I believe that now that he generally has more freedom to decide for himself, with his father locked up in Azkaban, he might be able to examine things more carefully, with more thought. Now what I really want to know is whether the younger Malfoy is truly having doubts about his predetermined destiny set by his father, and whether he can be converted to our side." Dumbledore explained.

"I don't really know. But I don't think Malfoy would ever consider going against his father and Voldemort. He's one of those people who takes pride in his being a pureblood and looks down on half-bloods and muggleborns. Look at how he treats Hermione!", Harry argued.

"Well I don't really know Mr. Malfoy personally and this Hermione you're talking about. But if having Draco Malfoy on our side will improve our chances of winning, and will be for the benefit of all, then I believe it's worth giving a shot.", Izzy expressed her opinion, sounding very much like a politician.

"You sound as if you're trying to run a country. Come to think of it, you used to run a country, didn't you?", Harry narrowed his eyes.

"Well—actually, no. It was my mother who did that, when she was still alive."

The room went silent, and remained so until Harry spoke once more.

"Why don't we just leave that first. Let's just do what we can now and worry about Malfoy later. Merlin knows in the little time that we have we need all the training we can get. So when do we start training?", Harry asked.

"Today, after we have our lunch", Kingsley replied.

"Well, it's good to know we're not wasting our time. I have mastered sensing magical auras by now. I want to learn more about concealing my own magical aura, if you don't mind. And I guess Izzy would want to learn about magical auras herself, don't you Izzy?", Harry asked.

"Uhm—yeah, sure. I can sense magical auras myself but I am still incapable of concealing my own as well. I guess that would be a perfect place to start our training.", Izzy agreed.

"Okay then. We will be covering concealment of magical auras this afternoon" Kingsley announced.

"Uhm Professor Dumbledore? Can I ask you something?", Harry inquired.

"Of course Harry. What is it?", Dumbledore replied.

"Well, you know that I stay at the Burrow for at least a week every summer break, right? Well this break is no exception. Just before the term ended a few months ago, Ron asked me to stay over. I have owled him and Hermione about the things that have happened here yesterday, although of course I had to be cautious in my writing. I told them I would ask you if you would allow me to stay there for a week or so. And maybe bring Izzy along if she wanted to. So I wanted to ask if you would let me—us, stay there for a while, perhaps just before the term starts?", Harry asked, awaiting Dumbledore's answer with crossed fingers.

"Well Harry, I don't see why not. You are most certainly allowed to go. And the same goes for you Isobelle, that is, if you want to go with Harry?", he asked Izzy.

"Uhm, I guess. I mean it would be nice to meet Harry's friends", Izzy said uncertainly.

"Don't worry Izzy, you'll like them. I'd be surprised if you don't end up being great friends with Ron, Hermione and Ginny", Harry said convincingly.

"That settles it then. You two would start your training this afternoon and will continue until a week before the school term begins. During that time you would be headed for the Burrow and would stay there until it is time for you to ride the Hogwarts Express. I believe it's time for your lunch. Why don't you go back to your common room and eat lunch there? I am sure the house elves have prepared a sumptuous meal for both of you. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that there's already food waiting for you on the dining area. Kingsley and I will have something to talk about regarding the activities of the Order of the Phoenix. We shall see you both after lunch.", Harry and Izzy took this as a cue for them to leave. Thus, they stood up from their chairs and went down the revolving staircase. Just before they reached the gargoyle guarding the entrance, they turned left and entered their common room.

Harry decided to owl Ron and Hermione about Dumbledore's decision regarding their stay at the Burrow. So he sprinted up his staircase, got his quill, ink and parchment from his desk and scribbled hurriedly:

You two,

I couldn't possibly wait for your reply since I have just talked to grandfather. I just spoke to grandfather about me staying there, where I always stay during the summer break. He told me it would be okay, as long as I continue what I've been doing since the school term ended. This time around I will be with my new friend, the one I met two nights ago. So I'd only be able to get there on the week before term starts. And by the way, I asked my new friend if she'd like to join me there, and she agreed. Grandfather also gave her permission to go. I hope it will be okay with you, mate. So I guess see you a week before term starts? We are both excited about it.

The boy who must not tell lies

Harry then folded the letter and went to Hedwig, who was currently on her perch at the corner of the room. He attached the letter to Hedwig's leg and let her out the window just as he did yesterday. Then he sprinted back downstairs to join for lunch. When he got there he found that Izzy was already eating. They were having roasted chicken glazed with honey, one of Harry's favorite dishes. Thus, when Izzy looked up at him, she saw Harry wearing a smile.

"Aren't you in a good mood today? I take it you just owled your friends about our stay there before school term? Or maybe you just like roasted chicken?", Izzy teased.

"Well, both actually. I'm really excited about everything that's about to happen. Of course I want to see my friends again. I haven't seen them for ages! And I really do want to be an Auror, so you know.. I'm pretty excited about the training as well", Harry said while piling his plate with roasted chicken, and taking a bite. "And this.. is just awesome! Hogwarts' roasted chicken is certainly the best there is! I've really missed eating this you know, since I skipped the end-of-term feast.", Harry said.

"Well take it easy won't you? Or you might choke with all that chicken you just stuffed in your mouth.", Izzy joked.

"You think this is stuffed? Wait until you meet Ron! He can stuff twice as much food in his mouth!", Harry laughed.

"Twice as much? How big is his mouth?", Izzy asked.

"I dunno. But when he does that he often mumbles incoherently, sometimes spitting bits of food from his mouth and even choking. It's funny really. But Hermione just finds it disgusting and rolls her eyes. She kind of gave up on telling Ron off about his eating habits anyway", Harry chuckled.

"Well, it is really disgusting. But it's rather funny too. Are all of your friends funny, Harry?", Izzy asked.

"I guess you can say they both have funny sides to them. Ron is funny in his little ways, the way he eats, the way he looks when he's startled or doesn't have a clue. Hermione on the other hand is serious. She's the smartest witch in my age, my year level, always at the top of every class, except Defense Against the Dark Arts. I'm the one who tops that. But she really is funny, in the way she always rushes to the library when she wants to investigate about something she finds interesting, or when she rolls her eyes at a clueless Ron. I guess what's really funny is the fact that everybody in the whole world knows they're madly in love with each other, everybody except themselves, that is.", Harry laughed, as he remembered the way Ron and Hermione fought during the Yule Ball in their fourth year.

"What about—what's her name again—ah, Ginny? Yes, what about Ginny?", Izzy smirked.

"Ginny? Uhm, well, Ginny is not really in my year. So at school we hardly really spend a lot of time together until last year when we held something like a study group together called the DA, short for Dumbledore's Army. But aside from that I only get to spend time with her at the Burrow. Well, she's really great and funny too. I am starting to think that she inherited the pranking talents of her older brothers Fred and George, the twins who owns the new joke shops in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Yeah, I guess she's funny too. But then again I'm not really that close to her. I mean she has her own set of friends, mostly Gryffindors like herself, coming from the same year. They're dorm mates you see, so that's why they've got this bond we don't have. I've never really met them properly though, but I know them by face, I guess. I—I'm rambling aren't I?

"Uh—huh. You seem rather fond of Ginny, actually. So why are you telling me that you're not friends?", Izzy smirked.

"Well, she has her own life, her own set of friends. And she even has a new boyfriend, my dorm mate Dean Thomas", Harry frowned.

"So that's why you're so touchy about being her friend", Izzy smiled knowingly.

"What? What do you mean?"

"You like her, obviously", Izzy rolled her eyes.

"Of course not. She's my best mate's sister", Harry said.

"And?"

"And, what? Nothing? Didn't you hear me? She's my best mate's sister. So that's it. She's off limits cause she's just like a sister to me. And a best mate's sister is always out of bounds", Harry said.

"So you admit it! The 'best mate's sister issue' is the only thing that's stopping you! I'm right aren't I? You like Ginny!"

Harry didn't say anything, but he nodded. By then his face was about the same shade of Ginny's hair.

"Oh this is going to be interesting. Looks like I'm going to play matchmaker!", Izzy said.

"No you're not. There will be no matchmaking at the Burrow. Please. Promise me you'll keep this a secret. No one is supposed to know about this. So please, please promise me that there'd be no matchmaking once we get to the Burrow.", Harry pleaded.

"Okay okay. I promise. I won't tell anyone, not even a ghost. And I won't even try playing the matchmaker when we go to your friend's house. Satisfied?", Izzy frowned.

"Satisfied. Anyway, I'll just go to my room and change my clothes for the training. You better do so as well. I expect Kingsley will be teaching us some defensive spells this afternoon. We'll be dead tired when we finish", Harry said just before climbing the stairs to his room.

When Harry was already in his room, Izzy smirked and thought to herself.

Oh this is going to be interesting. True, I promised not to play matchmaker at the Burrow, but who says I can't be a matchmaker once the school term starts? He he he. I'll be observing at the Burrow first. And when the school term starts, I shall make my move, and start what I would call Operation: Bring Harry and Ginny together. They didn't call me 'scheme queen' back at my old school for nothing. It's time to reuse some of my good old tricks!