-Chapter Four-
Battle Lines Drawn
"Hello Harry," said the stranger, "It is good to see you again, no?"
"Viktor, I wasn't expecting to meet you again, especially so soon. How are you?" replied Harry still suffering from the shock of the surprise birthday party and also that Viktor Krum, the legendary Bulgarian Quidditch player was a guest at his surprise 16th Birthday party.
"We talk later, ok. Let us party first." Krum said, shaking Harry's hand and slinking back in to the party group.
"Harry, Harry, Harry. How are you my dear?" asked Mrs. Weasley as she rushed over to give Harry a huge hug. Molly Weasley crushed Harry in one of her typical motherly hugs.
"I'm so glad we got you out of that place early this year," she added, before rushing back into the kitchen to supervise the food preparation. Quite rightly as Tonks was in the kitchen and it is never wise to leave Tonks in charge of anything as she is very clumsy.
Harry looked around the rest of the room at all the faces smiling back at him. There was Ron, his best friend, Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnigan with whom he shared a dormitory.
Standing with Hermione were Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister, Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, Katie Bell and Colin and Dennis Creevey who were also in Gryffindor.
The rest were non-Gryffindor's; Padma Patil, Parvati's twin sister; Justin Finch Fletchley; Ernie Macmillan; Susan Bones and Luna Lovegood. If Harry had been thinking properly then he would have realised that this was most of Dumbledore's Army, a group Hermione had set up, so they could learn Defence against the Dark Arts in practice from Harry. Rather than in theory the way their current teacher, Dolores Umbridge, was doing at the time.
Umbridge had been working for the Minister of Magic at the same time and trying to make Hogwarts an outpost for the Ministry rather than just a school.
Mrs. Weasley had prepared a sumptuous feast as always and the tables that had been set up in the back yard, an enchanted gramophone was shouting out the latest Weird Sisters album and there was a real party atmosphere with Harry the centre of attention. Harry was enjoying it, as it was not often, especially recently, he was the centre of attention for enjoyable reasons. Even his Triwizard Tournament triumph had been muted by the death of Cedric Diggory and the return to body of Lord Voldemort.
Harry wandered around the group talking to everyone, finding out how all his classmates had got on in their exams. To Harry's delight everyone that he had taught had got an Outstanding in their Defence against the Dark Arts OWL. Katie told Harry about how both Angelina and Alicia had been signed up by Puddlemere United Quidditch team, thanks to a good recommendation from the team's new vice-captain Oliver Wood.
What Harry enjoyed the most was when he got to talk to Seamus alone. Seamus gave Harry, disguised as a birthday card, a letter of apology from Seamus' mum for not believing Harry the previous year.
"Thanks Seamus, you really didn't have to," Harry had told him.
"Well me mam didn't want you to hate me for something that she caused, she is a good woman really."
"I know, I don't hold anything against you. Thanks again. Oh and where is Dean?"
"He's coming. He should be here by now. He was meant to get his parents to drop him off at the Leaky Cauldron and then Floo here. Whatever dropped off means."
"It means they give him a ride in their car."
"Oh, is that a Muggle broomstick?"
"Something like that," Harry said rolling his eyes. Seamus missed it as he was looking over at the house, "I will just go talk to Mrs Weasley about trying to contact him," said Seamus and headed back towards The Burrow.
Harry set off to find either Ron or Viktor. He didn't expect to find them in the same place though. They were both sitting on the backstep of the house talking about the up and coming European Quidditch Championship. He was about to announce his presence when a very stern looking Professor McGonagall appeared behind them in the doorway of the house, looking sterner than Harry believed he had ever seen.
"Excuse me boys but I need to get everyone's attention," she said in her slightly feminine monotone voice. Ron and Krum both got up quicker than if they had sat on the sting of a Blast-Ended Skewt. McGonagall strode in to the middle of the garden, raised her wand and cried, "Ballisto!" Out of the end of the wand there was a huge bang, which got everyone's attention. She pointed her wand at her throat and muttered, "Sonorus." Her voice now loud enough for both the garden and inside the house to hear said, "I think you all better come sit inside, I have something important and shocking to tell you," and then pointing her wand at her throat again she muttered, "Quietus."
Everyone looked puzzled about the appearance and were all silently dreading the news they were about to receive. Everyone crowded into the Weasley's living room and looked with baited breath at Professor McGonagall.
"This is going to be hard to say, so I would appreciate no interruptions," McGonagall began ominously in her flat slightly monotone voice, "earlier today there was a major Death Eater attack on Diagon Alley.
It is now believed that they had been using a shop in Soupafish Alley as a base of operations. When they learned that the location had been compromised, they launched an unprovoked attack. It is with regret that I have to inform you that four Hogwarts students were killed. Unfortunately one of the four was a friend of yours. It is with great sorrow that I must inform you that Dean Thomas has been murdered by the followers of You-Know- Who."
She paused at the sharp intake of breath from the room as they learned of the death of their friend. She continued, "If any of you would like to talk to anyone, all members of the school staff will be available for the rest of the summer. Now you must excuse me, I have to go spend some time with Mr Thomas' parents. I desperately hope to see all of you in September."
She went in to the kitchen to confer with the adults before she disapparated with a loud pop.
Harry heard a girl crying on his right hand side, he instinctively put his arm around her and pulled her into a hug. From the flame red hair Harry could see, it must have been Ginny, who would have taken the news harder than everyone else because she had been seeing Dean since the end of the last school year and had probably had been looking forward to seeing him again.
Harry was at a loss for words, even though he had lost the most out of all his friends, he still could not think of anything appropriate to say that sounded suitable.
"There, there now. Be sad now but know life goes on tomorrow."
"I know Harry, but I hope someone would hurry up and kill that bastard."
Harry felt a lump grow in his throat. None of his friends knew that only he could stop Voldemort and at this moment he certainly did not feel he had the power to vanquish the Dark Lord. Dumbledore will help he thought to himself. He helped with Occlumency and then taught me Ligilmency. He would not have done that unless he thought I needed it.
Harry felt a tug on his arm, he saw Hermione trying to get his attention.
"I'll take over," she muttered to him. Harry let go of Ginny and Hermione took over the job of comforting the distraught Weasley daughter.
Harry started to move around the house, the party atmosphere had disappeared. People had congregated into small house groups to comfort each other. Harry spotted Neville sitting on his own and he hurried over to him to keep him company.
"Are you ok, Neville?" Harry asked sympathetically.
"Yes, but I was just thinking," Neville whispered barely able for Harry to hear, "look at everyone. One attack by Voldemort and we lose someone we care about, and we are reduced to this. What I was really thinking is that this has happened to us now, I was very young when I lost my parents and now I realise how wrong I was to deny that. I think that it is time everyone knew."
"You are very brave Neville. We always knew that you were put in Gryffindor for a reason."
A brief smile flashed across Neville's round face. Though it seemed to be getting less and less round as he grew taller and taller, "Thanks Harry."
"Do you know where Ron is?" Harry asked the somewhat cheerier Neville.
"He went outside with Krum, I think," was the reply.
"Thanks Neville," Harry said as he got up and headed towards the garden.
Once he reached the open air, he saw two figures on broomsticks in the paddock behind the Weasley homestead. So Harry disappeared inside to fetch his Firebolt.
Krum and Ron were talking animatedly when Harry flew up alongside them.
"Hey Harry, how are you feeling?" his best friend asked him.
"Not bad considering what has just happened. How have you taken the news?"
"I'm just trying to block it out. It's so hard, I mean Dean, he's gone. We are never going to see him again. No more stationary photos in the dorm, no more colourful drawings, and I don't want to think what this has done to Ginny. Especially as I was none to pleased when I found out about them."
Ron had tears in his eyes, and his ears were glowing red as they always had when he got worked up. Both Harry and Krum flew closer to him to put their hands on his shoulder to calm him down and comfort him.
"Thanks," Ron stuttered, "I needed to get that off my chest, but can we talk about something else, please."
"Of course, vot ever you vant," said Krum, "Harry, I haff to tell you something interesting. Professor Dumbledore has invited me to help teach Defence against the Dark Arts this year at Hogvorts. Though I am puzzled as to why he asked me rather than me looking for a job."
"Its Dumbledore doing what Dumbledore does best. There is probably something in the big picture that you are part of. Dumbledore probably wants to keep you safe, though he probably will not tell you why for five years." Harry added with a scathing sarcasm in his voice.
"Did Dumbledore say who would be teaching the other Defence against the Dark Arts classes?" asked Ron.
"No, I don't think he has anyone yet, he said he will haff to chose between the two candidates that haff applied."
"Well I am guessing one of them is Snape, but who is the other one I wonder?"
"Who knows Harry, as long as it is not another Umbridge," Ron replied to Harry's question.
"Come, it is getting dark. We haff to get back to the house."
"You're not our teacher yet Vicky."
"That's Professor Krum to you Veasel Boy." Krum replied with a huge grin across his face.
Harry could not contain his laughter, Ron shot him a look of daggers nearly as bad as the one he had shot at Krum.
"Anymore of that and I will have to talk to Professor Dumbledore about his choice of Defence against the Dark Arts teacher," said Ron.
There was an uneasy silence as Krum looked like he would reply or was trying to get his next witty reply right. Harry guessed that Hermione had told Krum about how to wind up Ron, if Ron annoyed him. Harry was glad though Krum had let Ron have the last word. Ron would have been waxing lyrical about Krum all evening if Krum had not.
The next week or so was an interesting experience for Harry, people tended to look for comfort in him. Although he was at the Weasley's and having a good time, he had found himself the most popular person there and simply for the reason that he had lost his parents when he was a child. Though being around his friends helped. Dumbledore had visited The Burrow the day after Professor McGonagall had broken the bad news to them.
Dumbledore had talked to everyone individually, saying the same things to everyone except Harry.
Dumbledore had a sympathetic chat with them and offered them the sanctuary of staying at The Burrow for the rest of the summer. Strength in numbers, he had said. Lavender, the Patil twins, Justin, Ernie and Susan had taken the offer up.
Harry's chat was different though. Dumbledore offered his sympathies but also took the conversation further, "Now Harry, these next few weeks will be harder for you than the rest of your friends."
Harry made to interrupt but Dumbledore put him off with a wave of his hand.
"There will be time for you to speak in a minute Harry, please let me finish."
Harry nodded, Dumbledore continued, "They will be harder times for you as you friends will seek comfort and sympathy from you. You have suffered these losses already and to a much greater extent. With the exception of Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, and myself, they only see your calm exterior and will look for your advice in how you cope with these extraordinary and disturbing events in one's life. Considering the extra difficulties I have chosen to appoint extra prefects at the school to cope with any future problems that may arise. Would you like to be one of those prefects, Harry?"
"What about "I thought you had enough responsibilities to deal with", you know. What you told me at the end of last year?"
"Now everyone has those responsibilities this year. However you will also remember that I asked you to forgive me for an old man's mistakes. This is one mistake I can correct. Though I must warn you that if you accept that there is one condition. If you accept you must expand your private Defence against the Dark Arts lessons to include everyone that wants to take part can, you can hold regular meetings in the Great Hall."
"You want me to carry on the DA?"
"Yes, Harry, but I think that we will have to do something about that name. I do not think that that name is suitable anymore."
"Ok, I'll take the job provided that Viktor helps me."
"Aah..yes, our new Assistant Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. That was meant to be a secret..."
"But naturally the whole school knows," Harry finished, interrupting his headmaster.
Dumbledore smiled at his pupil, acknowledging how far he had come since he had said that line to an eleven year old Harry after he had fought Quirrell/Voldemort in the depths of the school.
"Professor, who is going to be the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher?"
"Some things must remain a secret, Harry. I hope you have learnt that from last year."
"Yes, Professor."
"Now I think there will be a little celebration tonight, when the school letters arrive." Dumbledore added with a wink over his half-moon spectacles.
"Pardon?" asked Harry.
"All in good time Harry, all in good time. Now I think that concludes our conversation. I must get back to the ministry. The elections need to be sorted out, along with a hundred other things. That is why I never wanted to be Minister of Magic in the first place. Teaching students is so much more rewarding."
That afternoon Harry realized what Dumbledore had meant when he said that there might be a little celebration at The Burrow. The school letters arrived; Harry opened his up and read the now very familiar emerald ink of Hogwarts.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDARY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin First Class; Grand Sorcerer; Chief
Warlock; Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of
Wizards.)
Dear Mr Potter,
Congratulations on your recent Ordinary Wizarding Level
success. We look forward to your rejoining us to undertake
your Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test. Enclosed is another
NEWT selection form as we have yet to receive one from you.
Please fill it in and owl it to us no later than next
Tuesday. You may choose between 5 & 8 NEWT's plus any
further OWL's you wish to take.
It is with great pleasure that I inform you that you have
been selected to assume the responsibility of House
Quidditch Captain for the forthcoming year,
congratulations.
Enclosed is also a list of new items required for Sixth
Years to have for their next two school years; also
enclosed is the full book list to enable to buy whichever
books are necessary.
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Harry looked stunned at the letter. He was Quidditch Captain for Gryffindor this year, the idea was just sinking in and Harry was delighted. He had received good news so few times in his short woe-betide life that he was unsure how to react and break the news to his friends.
Then it hit him, how was he going to tell Ron, Ron who had his heart on becoming Quidditch Captain as well as Head Boy in order to eclipse all his brothers.
Harry thought well he got prefect, I deserve this.
I have been on the Quidditch team since my first year, but we have both won only one cup each.
Ron performed in one game; you performed in all of yours save when Dementors knocked you off your broom. Also your performance in the first game last year saved his embarrassment, Ginny would never have beaten Malfoy.
I accepted his prefectship; he will just have to accept this.
Harry returned to his envelope and removed his new prefect and Quidditch Captain badges and proudly pinned them to his T-shirt before joining everyone else in the living room.
There was quite an impromptu celebration going on when Harry reached the downstairs room. Mrs Weasley was bear-hugging her youngest daughter.
Ron came bounding towards Harry, his eyes wide with a combination of shock and delight.
"Harry, Ginny has been made a prefect. Isn't that wonderful?"
"Yeah fantastic. Taking after her older brother," replied Harry with a grin on his face. Ron's grin was as wider than Harry's was but it flickered when he saw Harry's Quidditch badge.
"What's that?" Ron asked.
"I have been made Gryffindor Quidditch Captain. I have just found out in my school letter."
"Harry that is great," Ron said without any enthusiasm.
"Which NEWT's are you going to take, Ron?" asked Harry, quickly changing the subject.
"Well I thought that we should take all the required courses to become Aurors together. I am going to take the Magical Transportation option rather than the first aid. What about you?"
"I thought Magical First Aid might be useful considering how often I end up in the Hospital Wing."
"Good idea..."
Ron never finished his sentence as he was staring at the Weasley Family Clock. Now while the clock was useless if you wanted to know the time it did state where every Weasley member was.
The hand that pointed to Percy Weasley, the estranged family member had just clicked into a new position for the first time in a year.
It was pointing at the Home position.
Percy Weasley was coming home.
Battle Lines Drawn
"Hello Harry," said the stranger, "It is good to see you again, no?"
"Viktor, I wasn't expecting to meet you again, especially so soon. How are you?" replied Harry still suffering from the shock of the surprise birthday party and also that Viktor Krum, the legendary Bulgarian Quidditch player was a guest at his surprise 16th Birthday party.
"We talk later, ok. Let us party first." Krum said, shaking Harry's hand and slinking back in to the party group.
"Harry, Harry, Harry. How are you my dear?" asked Mrs. Weasley as she rushed over to give Harry a huge hug. Molly Weasley crushed Harry in one of her typical motherly hugs.
"I'm so glad we got you out of that place early this year," she added, before rushing back into the kitchen to supervise the food preparation. Quite rightly as Tonks was in the kitchen and it is never wise to leave Tonks in charge of anything as she is very clumsy.
Harry looked around the rest of the room at all the faces smiling back at him. There was Ron, his best friend, Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnigan with whom he shared a dormitory.
Standing with Hermione were Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister, Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, Katie Bell and Colin and Dennis Creevey who were also in Gryffindor.
The rest were non-Gryffindor's; Padma Patil, Parvati's twin sister; Justin Finch Fletchley; Ernie Macmillan; Susan Bones and Luna Lovegood. If Harry had been thinking properly then he would have realised that this was most of Dumbledore's Army, a group Hermione had set up, so they could learn Defence against the Dark Arts in practice from Harry. Rather than in theory the way their current teacher, Dolores Umbridge, was doing at the time.
Umbridge had been working for the Minister of Magic at the same time and trying to make Hogwarts an outpost for the Ministry rather than just a school.
Mrs. Weasley had prepared a sumptuous feast as always and the tables that had been set up in the back yard, an enchanted gramophone was shouting out the latest Weird Sisters album and there was a real party atmosphere with Harry the centre of attention. Harry was enjoying it, as it was not often, especially recently, he was the centre of attention for enjoyable reasons. Even his Triwizard Tournament triumph had been muted by the death of Cedric Diggory and the return to body of Lord Voldemort.
Harry wandered around the group talking to everyone, finding out how all his classmates had got on in their exams. To Harry's delight everyone that he had taught had got an Outstanding in their Defence against the Dark Arts OWL. Katie told Harry about how both Angelina and Alicia had been signed up by Puddlemere United Quidditch team, thanks to a good recommendation from the team's new vice-captain Oliver Wood.
What Harry enjoyed the most was when he got to talk to Seamus alone. Seamus gave Harry, disguised as a birthday card, a letter of apology from Seamus' mum for not believing Harry the previous year.
"Thanks Seamus, you really didn't have to," Harry had told him.
"Well me mam didn't want you to hate me for something that she caused, she is a good woman really."
"I know, I don't hold anything against you. Thanks again. Oh and where is Dean?"
"He's coming. He should be here by now. He was meant to get his parents to drop him off at the Leaky Cauldron and then Floo here. Whatever dropped off means."
"It means they give him a ride in their car."
"Oh, is that a Muggle broomstick?"
"Something like that," Harry said rolling his eyes. Seamus missed it as he was looking over at the house, "I will just go talk to Mrs Weasley about trying to contact him," said Seamus and headed back towards The Burrow.
Harry set off to find either Ron or Viktor. He didn't expect to find them in the same place though. They were both sitting on the backstep of the house talking about the up and coming European Quidditch Championship. He was about to announce his presence when a very stern looking Professor McGonagall appeared behind them in the doorway of the house, looking sterner than Harry believed he had ever seen.
"Excuse me boys but I need to get everyone's attention," she said in her slightly feminine monotone voice. Ron and Krum both got up quicker than if they had sat on the sting of a Blast-Ended Skewt. McGonagall strode in to the middle of the garden, raised her wand and cried, "Ballisto!" Out of the end of the wand there was a huge bang, which got everyone's attention. She pointed her wand at her throat and muttered, "Sonorus." Her voice now loud enough for both the garden and inside the house to hear said, "I think you all better come sit inside, I have something important and shocking to tell you," and then pointing her wand at her throat again she muttered, "Quietus."
Everyone looked puzzled about the appearance and were all silently dreading the news they were about to receive. Everyone crowded into the Weasley's living room and looked with baited breath at Professor McGonagall.
"This is going to be hard to say, so I would appreciate no interruptions," McGonagall began ominously in her flat slightly monotone voice, "earlier today there was a major Death Eater attack on Diagon Alley.
It is now believed that they had been using a shop in Soupafish Alley as a base of operations. When they learned that the location had been compromised, they launched an unprovoked attack. It is with regret that I have to inform you that four Hogwarts students were killed. Unfortunately one of the four was a friend of yours. It is with great sorrow that I must inform you that Dean Thomas has been murdered by the followers of You-Know- Who."
She paused at the sharp intake of breath from the room as they learned of the death of their friend. She continued, "If any of you would like to talk to anyone, all members of the school staff will be available for the rest of the summer. Now you must excuse me, I have to go spend some time with Mr Thomas' parents. I desperately hope to see all of you in September."
She went in to the kitchen to confer with the adults before she disapparated with a loud pop.
Harry heard a girl crying on his right hand side, he instinctively put his arm around her and pulled her into a hug. From the flame red hair Harry could see, it must have been Ginny, who would have taken the news harder than everyone else because she had been seeing Dean since the end of the last school year and had probably had been looking forward to seeing him again.
Harry was at a loss for words, even though he had lost the most out of all his friends, he still could not think of anything appropriate to say that sounded suitable.
"There, there now. Be sad now but know life goes on tomorrow."
"I know Harry, but I hope someone would hurry up and kill that bastard."
Harry felt a lump grow in his throat. None of his friends knew that only he could stop Voldemort and at this moment he certainly did not feel he had the power to vanquish the Dark Lord. Dumbledore will help he thought to himself. He helped with Occlumency and then taught me Ligilmency. He would not have done that unless he thought I needed it.
Harry felt a tug on his arm, he saw Hermione trying to get his attention.
"I'll take over," she muttered to him. Harry let go of Ginny and Hermione took over the job of comforting the distraught Weasley daughter.
Harry started to move around the house, the party atmosphere had disappeared. People had congregated into small house groups to comfort each other. Harry spotted Neville sitting on his own and he hurried over to him to keep him company.
"Are you ok, Neville?" Harry asked sympathetically.
"Yes, but I was just thinking," Neville whispered barely able for Harry to hear, "look at everyone. One attack by Voldemort and we lose someone we care about, and we are reduced to this. What I was really thinking is that this has happened to us now, I was very young when I lost my parents and now I realise how wrong I was to deny that. I think that it is time everyone knew."
"You are very brave Neville. We always knew that you were put in Gryffindor for a reason."
A brief smile flashed across Neville's round face. Though it seemed to be getting less and less round as he grew taller and taller, "Thanks Harry."
"Do you know where Ron is?" Harry asked the somewhat cheerier Neville.
"He went outside with Krum, I think," was the reply.
"Thanks Neville," Harry said as he got up and headed towards the garden.
Once he reached the open air, he saw two figures on broomsticks in the paddock behind the Weasley homestead. So Harry disappeared inside to fetch his Firebolt.
Krum and Ron were talking animatedly when Harry flew up alongside them.
"Hey Harry, how are you feeling?" his best friend asked him.
"Not bad considering what has just happened. How have you taken the news?"
"I'm just trying to block it out. It's so hard, I mean Dean, he's gone. We are never going to see him again. No more stationary photos in the dorm, no more colourful drawings, and I don't want to think what this has done to Ginny. Especially as I was none to pleased when I found out about them."
Ron had tears in his eyes, and his ears were glowing red as they always had when he got worked up. Both Harry and Krum flew closer to him to put their hands on his shoulder to calm him down and comfort him.
"Thanks," Ron stuttered, "I needed to get that off my chest, but can we talk about something else, please."
"Of course, vot ever you vant," said Krum, "Harry, I haff to tell you something interesting. Professor Dumbledore has invited me to help teach Defence against the Dark Arts this year at Hogvorts. Though I am puzzled as to why he asked me rather than me looking for a job."
"Its Dumbledore doing what Dumbledore does best. There is probably something in the big picture that you are part of. Dumbledore probably wants to keep you safe, though he probably will not tell you why for five years." Harry added with a scathing sarcasm in his voice.
"Did Dumbledore say who would be teaching the other Defence against the Dark Arts classes?" asked Ron.
"No, I don't think he has anyone yet, he said he will haff to chose between the two candidates that haff applied."
"Well I am guessing one of them is Snape, but who is the other one I wonder?"
"Who knows Harry, as long as it is not another Umbridge," Ron replied to Harry's question.
"Come, it is getting dark. We haff to get back to the house."
"You're not our teacher yet Vicky."
"That's Professor Krum to you Veasel Boy." Krum replied with a huge grin across his face.
Harry could not contain his laughter, Ron shot him a look of daggers nearly as bad as the one he had shot at Krum.
"Anymore of that and I will have to talk to Professor Dumbledore about his choice of Defence against the Dark Arts teacher," said Ron.
There was an uneasy silence as Krum looked like he would reply or was trying to get his next witty reply right. Harry guessed that Hermione had told Krum about how to wind up Ron, if Ron annoyed him. Harry was glad though Krum had let Ron have the last word. Ron would have been waxing lyrical about Krum all evening if Krum had not.
The next week or so was an interesting experience for Harry, people tended to look for comfort in him. Although he was at the Weasley's and having a good time, he had found himself the most popular person there and simply for the reason that he had lost his parents when he was a child. Though being around his friends helped. Dumbledore had visited The Burrow the day after Professor McGonagall had broken the bad news to them.
Dumbledore had talked to everyone individually, saying the same things to everyone except Harry.
Dumbledore had a sympathetic chat with them and offered them the sanctuary of staying at The Burrow for the rest of the summer. Strength in numbers, he had said. Lavender, the Patil twins, Justin, Ernie and Susan had taken the offer up.
Harry's chat was different though. Dumbledore offered his sympathies but also took the conversation further, "Now Harry, these next few weeks will be harder for you than the rest of your friends."
Harry made to interrupt but Dumbledore put him off with a wave of his hand.
"There will be time for you to speak in a minute Harry, please let me finish."
Harry nodded, Dumbledore continued, "They will be harder times for you as you friends will seek comfort and sympathy from you. You have suffered these losses already and to a much greater extent. With the exception of Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, and myself, they only see your calm exterior and will look for your advice in how you cope with these extraordinary and disturbing events in one's life. Considering the extra difficulties I have chosen to appoint extra prefects at the school to cope with any future problems that may arise. Would you like to be one of those prefects, Harry?"
"What about "I thought you had enough responsibilities to deal with", you know. What you told me at the end of last year?"
"Now everyone has those responsibilities this year. However you will also remember that I asked you to forgive me for an old man's mistakes. This is one mistake I can correct. Though I must warn you that if you accept that there is one condition. If you accept you must expand your private Defence against the Dark Arts lessons to include everyone that wants to take part can, you can hold regular meetings in the Great Hall."
"You want me to carry on the DA?"
"Yes, Harry, but I think that we will have to do something about that name. I do not think that that name is suitable anymore."
"Ok, I'll take the job provided that Viktor helps me."
"Aah..yes, our new Assistant Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. That was meant to be a secret..."
"But naturally the whole school knows," Harry finished, interrupting his headmaster.
Dumbledore smiled at his pupil, acknowledging how far he had come since he had said that line to an eleven year old Harry after he had fought Quirrell/Voldemort in the depths of the school.
"Professor, who is going to be the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher?"
"Some things must remain a secret, Harry. I hope you have learnt that from last year."
"Yes, Professor."
"Now I think there will be a little celebration tonight, when the school letters arrive." Dumbledore added with a wink over his half-moon spectacles.
"Pardon?" asked Harry.
"All in good time Harry, all in good time. Now I think that concludes our conversation. I must get back to the ministry. The elections need to be sorted out, along with a hundred other things. That is why I never wanted to be Minister of Magic in the first place. Teaching students is so much more rewarding."
That afternoon Harry realized what Dumbledore had meant when he said that there might be a little celebration at The Burrow. The school letters arrived; Harry opened his up and read the now very familiar emerald ink of Hogwarts.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDARY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin First Class; Grand Sorcerer; Chief
Warlock; Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of
Wizards.)
Dear Mr Potter,
Congratulations on your recent Ordinary Wizarding Level
success. We look forward to your rejoining us to undertake
your Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test. Enclosed is another
NEWT selection form as we have yet to receive one from you.
Please fill it in and owl it to us no later than next
Tuesday. You may choose between 5 & 8 NEWT's plus any
further OWL's you wish to take.
It is with great pleasure that I inform you that you have
been selected to assume the responsibility of House
Quidditch Captain for the forthcoming year,
congratulations.
Enclosed is also a list of new items required for Sixth
Years to have for their next two school years; also
enclosed is the full book list to enable to buy whichever
books are necessary.
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Harry looked stunned at the letter. He was Quidditch Captain for Gryffindor this year, the idea was just sinking in and Harry was delighted. He had received good news so few times in his short woe-betide life that he was unsure how to react and break the news to his friends.
Then it hit him, how was he going to tell Ron, Ron who had his heart on becoming Quidditch Captain as well as Head Boy in order to eclipse all his brothers.
Harry thought well he got prefect, I deserve this.
I have been on the Quidditch team since my first year, but we have both won only one cup each.
Ron performed in one game; you performed in all of yours save when Dementors knocked you off your broom. Also your performance in the first game last year saved his embarrassment, Ginny would never have beaten Malfoy.
I accepted his prefectship; he will just have to accept this.
Harry returned to his envelope and removed his new prefect and Quidditch Captain badges and proudly pinned them to his T-shirt before joining everyone else in the living room.
There was quite an impromptu celebration going on when Harry reached the downstairs room. Mrs Weasley was bear-hugging her youngest daughter.
Ron came bounding towards Harry, his eyes wide with a combination of shock and delight.
"Harry, Ginny has been made a prefect. Isn't that wonderful?"
"Yeah fantastic. Taking after her older brother," replied Harry with a grin on his face. Ron's grin was as wider than Harry's was but it flickered when he saw Harry's Quidditch badge.
"What's that?" Ron asked.
"I have been made Gryffindor Quidditch Captain. I have just found out in my school letter."
"Harry that is great," Ron said without any enthusiasm.
"Which NEWT's are you going to take, Ron?" asked Harry, quickly changing the subject.
"Well I thought that we should take all the required courses to become Aurors together. I am going to take the Magical Transportation option rather than the first aid. What about you?"
"I thought Magical First Aid might be useful considering how often I end up in the Hospital Wing."
"Good idea..."
Ron never finished his sentence as he was staring at the Weasley Family Clock. Now while the clock was useless if you wanted to know the time it did state where every Weasley member was.
The hand that pointed to Percy Weasley, the estranged family member had just clicked into a new position for the first time in a year.
It was pointing at the Home position.
Percy Weasley was coming home.