Rating and Disclaimer: See Chapter One
Chapter Note: Many thanks to my beta who helped out SO much with last chapter. These are just my theories. Ms Rowling will blow them out of the water with Book 7. I'm going on Dumbledore's line to Sirius (sniffle for both-RIP) in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire "Lie low at Lupin's for a while; I will contact you there." (American paperback ed., p. 713). So, I gave him a house. A small one, but big enough to fit a wife and children
Author's Note I: I know Ms Rowling has said Lupin won't be the next DADA teacher, but I wrote everything before she said it. Ask a couple of Quillers, I freaked when I found out. However, my wonderful beta, Whimsy, pointed out that I am not Ms Rowling (er, he must have seen my bank statement), so I can't be expected to predict things 100, and that people like to read fan fiction to get different perspectives on the books.
Such a pearl of wisdom!
Author's Note II: Sorry it took so long to update. My Muse (my sister) requested not one, but two fics, so I had to comply. Then this happened:
Gijane: Look, Whimsy, Ch4! And so quick!
Whimsy: Betas then punches plothole punches plothole punches plothole (and few more) Here you go, 'jane.
Gijane: Uses word that would impress even Ron mental block swears a bit more
So here, after a month of racking my brain, is Chapter 4!
Chapter Four- Plots and Plans
McGonagall stood on the pavement in front of number three, Privet Drive. She was frowning at the group of people, which included past and present students, who were all stood frozen on the drive of number four staring back at her.
"Well, I see none of you noticed me following behind you since Arabella's," she barked. "Is someone going to say something?"
She almost cracked a smile as four members of the group stepped back leaving the fifth, Lupin, standing alone.
"Well, Remus, the others have made you their spokesman. Do you have anything to say?"
McGonagall had to bite her lip as Lupin turned around to glare at the others. "Et tu, Dora?" he asked the oldest of the remaining group.
"Sorry, darling," Tonks smiled prettily at him. "Love you." The other three, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, all snickered at the look of mock outrage on Lupin's face.
"Well, Mr Lupin, I'm still waiting for an answer." McGonagall swept across the road and into number four's front garden, an imposing sight dressed in black.
"Well," he began. "That line certainly brings back memories."
Finally, she smiled. "It certainly does, except you are covering for your new Marauders. Why the look of surprise, Remus? I miss nothing. I just decide not to comment." She glared at Tonks, then Harry, who both smiled weakly at her. "Nevertheless, that does not excuse what you and the rest of you just did. You," she turned her gaze back to Tonks," are an Auror for Merlin's sake. That was a severe breach of the Statute of Secrecy." She turned her glare on her current three students. "Strolling down a Muggle street discussing lycanthropy, our world-"She stopped short as the front door to number four cracked open and Harry's Aunt Petunia peeked out. "Good evening, Mrs Dursley," she called. She then noticed a pair of heads peek over the fence next door, and she turned her glare on them. "May I help you?" she barked, nodding in satisfaction as they scurried off. However, she had to repress an undignified smirk when Harry whispered to his friends, "Even the Muggles know not to mess with the Headmistress."
"Professor McGonagall?" Petunia questioned.
"Yes I am. Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, Miss Granger, to Harry's room. You'll find your owl there, Mr Potter. I will call for you when I'm ready for you. For now, I wish to speak to Mrs Dursley alone."
Petunia raised an eyebrow of surprise as she stepped aside to let them pass. Her nephew and his two friends obeyed the Headmistress immediately. She smiled weakly as McGonagall and the other two remaining people followed Harry inside.
"Yes, now, Mrs Dursley. Oh, I believe you have met Mr Lupin and Miss Tonks before."
"I'm…not sure," Petunia stuttered, eyeing them up and down. She watched as McGonagall made herself comfortable in her husband's armchair and conjured herself a service of tea, complete with scones.
"On the train platform at King's Cross last year," Tonks' voice drew Petunia's attention away from the Headmistress. "Only…" Tonks paused and scrunched up her eyes. Her hair morphed to short, spiky, and bubblegum pink almost instantaneously.
"Ah, yes," Petunia looked away as she had done last year. "I remember now. How…?"
Tonks grinned. "I'm a Metamorphmagus." Petunia did not say anything. "It means I was born with the ability to change my appearance at will," Tonks explained.
"Well, yes, now. Mr Lupin and Ms Tonks were just leaving. I have something to discuss with the two of you. I will call by later," the Headmistress said.
"Until then, Professor," Tonks smiled at McGonagall and with a loud crack, she Disapparated. Lupin nodded politely at the Headmistress and Petunia, and then quickly followed.
"Must they do that?" Petunia sniffed. She took a seat on the couch opposite.
McGonagall glared at her over the rims of her square framed glasses. "It's either Apparition or Floo with the fireplace. I think you would prefer the former. Now then, I have come to speak to Harry. With your permission of course."
"Oh, yes, go right ahead. Would you care for tea? Never mind, you…you…" Petunia mimicked the swishing of a wand with her hand.
"I conjured some, yes. Would you care for tea?" McGonagall flicked her wand and another service of tea appeared. Flicking her wand again, she conjured a small table between herself and Petunia. She set her cup on it.
"Now, for my discussion with you. Harry sent me an owl last week asking regarding magical protection for you and your family. The charm that was cast to guard Harry while he lives here will expire when he comes of age on the 31st of July. Harry suggested, and I agree, that you should be moved from Privet Drive when he leaves, for your protection. We will place you in number 12, Grimmauld Place, the Black family ancestral home."
"Ancestral home?" Petunia squeaked.
"Yes. The Black family is now defunct with Sirius' death. It is the house that Harry inherited," McGonagall explained.
"Sirius was his godfather."
"Yes," McGonagall continued. "I have also contacted the Ministry of Magic. They assure me that they have contacted their American counterparts and an Auror has been assigned to watch over your son while he is abroad. Once Dudley is back in Britain, he will join you at Grimmauld Place. We will tackle the problem of his returning to school later. Any questions?" Petunia shook her head. "Very well. Can you call Harry now for me?"
Before Petunia could rise from her seat, there was the sound of a car pulling into number four's drive.
Just as he made it to the landing to eavesdrop, Harry also heard the car. He whispered excitedly to his friends, "Uncle Vernon's home! I'd like to see him try to take on Professor McGonagall. Dumbledore had him sputtering like an idiot last year."
Harry felt a stabbing pain in his chest as he mentioned his former Headmaster's name. It was still hard to believe he was actually gone. Glancing at Ron and Hermione, he saw the same reaction reflected in their eyes.
Harry watched as Vernon entered his housewhistling cheerfully – it must have been a very productive day at work. He placed his briefcase on the table in the hall and moved to enter the living room, but stopped short in the hall at the sight of Professor McGonagall.
Harry crept down a few more stairs to watch. Ron and Hermione followed.
"Hello," Vernon said curiously, sending his wife a perplexed glance.
"Good evening, Mr Dursley," McGonagall stood and offered her hand. "My name is Minerva McGonagall. I am the Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." She paused as Vernon's face went purple at the word 'Hogwarts'. He ignored her hand. "I am here to speak to Harry. Also to Mr Weasley and Miss Granger. Your wife was about to call them for me, but I believe that they are listening on the first floor landing." The last bit was said loud enough that the trio huddled on the stairs didn't need to strain to hear it. "Come into the living room please," she finished, resuming her seat in Vernon's armchair.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione shuffled into the living room in single file a few moments later. They sat on the couch recently vacated by Petunia, who was now next to Vernon and making sure he did not explode. Harry sat in the centre, flanked by Ron and Hermione.
"That will be all," McGonagall said to the Dursleys, dismissing them. Harry bit his lip as Petunia led a still purple faced Vernon away and into the kitchen, where she shut the door. Once she was certain the Dursley's were gone, then McGonagall began, "Firstly, how are you three doing? As well as can be expected, I presume."
"Yes, Professor," they muttered, not looking the Headmistress in the eye.
"No, you three aren't fine," she sighed. "You haven't mourned yet, have you? I know you, Harry. You've bottled up your emotions again, haven't you? And you, Mr Weasley, won't let Miss Granger take him to task for it. Am I correct?"
McGonagall faintly smiled at the looks of wonder that crossed their faces. "That is neither here nor there, but you do have to mourn. It's part of life. Now, Professor Dumbledore and I had a chat today. He seems to think that there is something that you would like to tell me, Harry."
Harry opened his mouth but was cut off by Ron. "How did you and Professor Dumbledore chat? He's…he's…you know…"
"Dead, Mr Weasley? Yes, I know. The portraits of the former Heads are in our office. They are there to offer their advice, services, and such to the current Head. Now, Harry, is there anything you'd like to tell me?"
Harry opened and closed his mouth several times. He wasn't sure what to say to McGonagall. He felt that this was his fight with Voldemort; he knew it was his fight. He alone was going to have to face Voldemort in the end. However, he had begun to realize that he was not going to be able to seek and destroy Horcruxes alone. "I'll be right back," he muttered.
He ran upstairs to his bedroom where he flung open his trunk. Rummaging around in it, he found the fake Horcrux. Bounding back down the stairs, he noted his aunt peering out from behind the kitchen door as if eavesdropping. She quickly shut the door as Harry came into view.
Glancing curiously over his shoulder, perplexed by his aunt's actions, Harry re-entered the living room. Crossing over to the Headmistress, he silently handed her the locket.
"This is what Professor Dumbledore and I found the night…the night…" Harry trailed off.
"The night you left the school," McGonagall gently finished for him. "What is it?"
Harry quickly explained what Horcruxes were to her. By the end, he'd never seen the Headmistress' lips set so thin.
"Is this a Horcrux, Harry?" she asked.
"No, it's a fake. Here, read this." He handed her the note that had been inside.
While McGonagall was reading, Harry turned to Ron and Hermione. "We're going to need all the help we can get if we're going to find all the other Horcruxes and destroy them. We have the best of the wizarding world at our fingertips, the Order of the Phoenix. I intend to use them, if they will help." Ron nodded his agreement while Hermione beamed at him.
"Of course we will," McGonagall told him.
For the first time ever, Harry voiced aloud what he knew all along, "It's going to have to be Voldemort and me at the end; it was always going to be that way. However, the quicker we figure out, find, and destroy all the Horcruxes, the better. It took Professor Dumbledore a year alone to locate one. We have four to find. I, for one, do not want to be fighting a war forever. Now, Professor Dumbledore believed there were six Horcruxes, plus the bit of soul left inside Voldemort himself. The diary and the Gaunt family ring have been destroyed. That's two. Then the Slytherin locket and the Hufflepuff cup we are almost positive are two more. That's four. Now, the last two we aren't sure of, something of either Ravenclaw's or Gryffindor's and Voldemort's pet snake," Harry added. "Professor Dumbledore was positive that the only known Gryffindor relic, his sword, has been perfectly safe in the Head's office. We think that it is something of Rowena Ravenclaw's, and Nagini the snake, since Voldemort could not reach the Gryffindor relic. That's six."
"Any ideas, Professor, on the Ravenclaw relic?" Hermione asked.
"No. However, since Professor Flitwick is Head of Ravenclaw House and is now a member of the Order, I shall discuss the Ravenclaw relic with him. He can go through the Library and research Ravenclaw while I'm at the Ministry discussing the reopening of the school for next term. Which leads me to my next subject. We will discuss these Horcruxes again at the next Order meeting, which is next Wednesday at Hogwarts. I will arrive to escort you all there at five o'clock."
"I'd like to get a look at Professor Dumbledore's Pensive if I could. There are no books or anything at Hogwarts about Horcruxes, but I'm betting that he has loads of notes and such in his office. "
"Very well, I shall arrive earlier in the day to pick you up. Now I need your help, Harry."
"Anything you need, Professor," Harry responded immediately.
McGonagall smiled. "Spoken like a true Gryffindor, just like your parents. Now, I have two open teaching positions I need filled, Defence Against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration. The Transfiguration post should be no problem, but I need your help filling the Defence position."
"How?" Harry looked perplexed.
"I want Remus back at Hogwarts this term, as Defence teacher again..."
Hermione cut McGonagall off. "And you'll have another Order member in the castle as well. But, how are you going to get him? Umbridge's laws practically prevent him from ever being employed ever again. And with Greyback out there, biting everyone who crosses Voldemort, werewolves are hated more than usual." The Headmistress stared at her over her spectacles. "Sorry," Hermione added, blushing.
"Precisely the problem, Miss Granger. While I cannot do anything about the community hating werewolves, as with any law, there are loopholes. One such loophole is that a werewolf can be employed if an extraordinary outstanding member of wizarding society vouches for them. That would be someone like the Minister, or myself, as Headmistress, "she added in a bit of a rush, blushing faintly. "Then the Minister for Magic can give his approval. Albus told him he would vouch for him immediately after Umbridge's laws went into effect, but Remus had decided that he would take Order missions instead. He was living at Grimmauld Place and he had his Wolfsbane Potion. For him, at that time, that was all he needed. We know how his werewolf mission turned out," McGonagall sighed. "I want him at the castle. A Defence teacher that actually knows what he is doing would be very valuable in the current climate. And, as Miss Granger mentioned before, he would be another member of the Order of the Phoenix at Hogwarts. I would vouch for him myself, but the Minister's not interested in my word."
"He's interested in mine," Harry said. "And as 'The Chosen One', you believe that I am an extraordinary outstanding member of wizarding society,"
"Yes. However, the Minister won't just take your word. He's going to want you…"
"As his morale booster and poster child," Harry finished for her. He sighed. "I'm going to have to think about it. I know it's for Professor Lupin, but I don't like what the Ministry's doing right now."
"We have to wait until you are of age anyway, then I will make an appointment with the Minister," McGonagall told him. "You'll have until then to decide, Potter." Harry noted his surname and felt almost guilty that she was upset with him. "I won't speak to Remus until I have your decision."
"I'll let you know, Professor. I promise."
"What about your Transfiguration position?" Ron finally spoke up. "If you have Professor Lupin heading back to Hogwarts, hopefully," he added, "why don't you ask Tonks to fill the post? Obviously, she's great at Transfiguration, and you'll have a fully trained Auror and another member of the Order in the castle." Ron grinned at Harry and Hermione, who were staring at him in shock.
He went on. "With an Auror at the school itself and more Aurors guarding Hogsmeade, parents will be more…open to sending their children back to school. The students wouldn't be in any more danger at Hogwarts than they would be at home. In fact, we're probably safer at school, especially with all the Order members inside teaching. Then the parents wouldn't have to worry as much over their children and could worry about themselves." Harry grinned. Ron had basically said the same thing at Dumbledore's funeral.
McGonagall smiled. "Strategy was always your forté, Mr Weasley. That is precisely who I was going to ask, for precisely those reasons. Also, how could I separate them now that they are together?"
"Finally," Harry muttered, and then grinned as McGonagall smiled. "Professor Tonks…sounds funny. You'll need another Transfiguration teacher once her assignment's over; she'll never leave the Aurors. I'll make it a bargaining point to get the Minister to assign her to Hogwarts. She's already at Hogsmeade; he won't miss her much more if she's inside the castle. Are you going to allow her to have bubblegum pink hair while she teaches?" he asked jokingly.
"Could you see the other students' faces?" Ron asked. "'That's our teacher?'"
Harry laughed. The Headmistress said, "I will hopefully have Nymphadora…and Remus. However, Albus and I agree that I need one more thing to ensure that Hogwarts reopens for next term." The trio looked at her expectantly.
"I need you three back as students. Well, just at the school. It's up to you whether or not you continue to go to lessons. I know what you are facing right now, Harry, and Hogwarts will be the safest place for you. Use it as a base if you wish. I just need you there." Harry, Ron, and Hermione all exchanged glances.
"It's up to you, mate, "Ron told Harry. "I know Mum would be pleased if I finished my education…or at least attempted to. And you know Hermione'd love to go back. What?" he asked her, when Hermione shot him a nasty look.
"It's completely up to you, Harry. I go where you go," Hermione told him, still glaring at Ron.
Harry got up and paced. Thinking hard, he went to the window and looked out. It was a perfect June day in Surrey. It was hard to believe that Voldemort was out there and that there was a war going on, especially since he was right in the middle of it. Then two faces came to his mind, his parents. He turned around and faced his friends and his Headmistress who were watching him, waiting.
"I'll go back," he told them. "I'll even go to some of the lessons; I'm going to need to really learn if I'm going to eventually go up against Voldemort. Dumbledore said that even if his Horcruxes were gone and he was mortal again, he would still be one of the most powerful wizards out there. I hate to admit it, but it's true. However, I don't want to have to worry about NEWTs, homework, or any tests. I can use the castle as a base. As you said, Ron, it's probably the safest place in Britain right now. And I'll have practically the whole Order there to help me as well."
"While we can postpone your exams, and perhaps homework, I can't have you just running about the castle. It wouldn't be fair to the other students. We'll figure out exactly what your limits will be later, at the Order meeting."
Harry nodded, understanding her point.
"Excellent. Well, I have to be going now." McGonagall stood and Vanished the tea service and table she had Conjured. "I shall be back to escort you to the Order meeting. I believe I will ask Nymphadora now, since I told them I was stopping by."
"Good luck. Just don't call her Nymphadora," Harry advised, "and she'll do anything for you."
"Sound advice, Mr Potter. If you reach a decision, let me know. Until tomorrow." With a nod to Ron and Hermione and a loud crack, McGonagall Disapparated.
"Well, looks like we're headed back to Hogwarts after all." Harry laughed as he saw the broad grin on Hermione's face. "Can your smile be any broader?" He raised an eyebrow at her.
Both he and Ron laughed as Hermione blushed.
TBC
