CHAPTER THREE
Fred Weasely whistled as he prepared to go for practice. Playing for the Falmouth Falcons was a fairly fulfilling career, though it was not the dream of his life. He had once hoped to start a jokes industry in collaboration with his brother. They had even invented quite a few things. But the trend never caught on, and when they were both offered the position of Beater for the Falcons, they had immediately accepted. They had been told that they had the reputation of the Broadmoor brothers to live up to, and this afforded them some amusement. It was a profession which brought them fame and money. Though they were not in the Harry Potter category in either commodity, they were not too badly off. As he pulled his gray robes over his head, he felt a kiss on his head. He twisted around and pulled his wife into his arms. Angelina and he had dated for five years before they finally decided to marry, and this was the best decision of his life. This was also something he and George had done together. They had a huge double wedding -Angelina and him, Katie and George.
Fred grinned to himself as he followed his wife into the dining room. As he sat across the table from her, he surveyed her with pride. Angelina was the chief assistant to Kevin Troy of the famous Troy, Mullet and Moran, the Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, a tall elegant black woman with wit, class and brains. She had risen to the top at an almost meteoric pace and was touted to be the next head, even though she had never even played for any of the clubs, having turned down all the offers.
A knock on the door reminded him to hurry. "That must be George, darling. I have to go. I'll see you tonight. What about dinner out? Maybe we can double date with George and Katie." Without waiting for an answer he ran out, leaving Angelina smiling indulgently behind him.
Reaching the pitch, the twins were astonished to see Harry at the gates waiting for them. "Guys, we need to talk."
The twins, mystified, followed their friend to the dress room. "What are you doing here, Harry? Aren't you supposed to be practicing with the Magpies today? The Season will be starting pretty soon."
Harry nodded dismissively, "Yeah, yeah practice doesn't begin till one any way. I have a problem. Ron seems to have disappeared and I don't know who to talk to."
Fred was about to crack a joke, but seeing the tension on Harry's face he arranged his own features into an expression of almost ludicrous concern. "What's up, man?" he asked.
"Well," said the younger man seriously. "Dumbledore came to see me today. He said that there was some serious dark magic trouble going on. It seems some neo-death eaters have organized themselves into a band. Their leader is supposed to be someone brilliant. No one knows who they are or who he is. They are deeply secretive and very well prepared. We have to find out who they are, who the ringleader is. And he has asked me to do this."
The twins gaped at him. "Why you?" asked George. "I mean you're not even a Auror or an Unspeakable! You are just a Quidditch player."
"Well, I did top my year in the Auror Training Academy, and I defeated Voldemort. So you can't say that I haven't had any experience. But the real reason he wants me on it is because he thinks that my Quidditch playing, my interaction, my traveling, my reputation is the perfect cover. Nobody will suspect I'm on the case. He'll be sending a detective to help me, but I will be the one in charge. So what do you guys think? Should I do it?"
The twins glanced briefly at each other. They knew how wholeheartedly Harry threw himself into any project, they remembered the years of tension that everyone who had cared for Harry had gone through. They recalled all the times Harry had almost died. But they also realized that, though Harry was an exceptional Quidditch player, his real vocation was in fighting the dark arts. That was what he was meant to do. They nodded in unison.
"Yeah, Harry we think you should go for it. You know you'll feel guilty if you don't. Go ahead and kick some evil ass."
Harry grinned at them. "You know what, I'm going to do just that. And guys, another thing, don't tell anybody. I'm going to tell Herm and Ron of course, but even they are going to be bound to secrecy. Now go out there and do your job."
The twins walked off and Harry went out, his face reflecting deep thought. Though he had shown characteristic flippancy in front of the twins, this had been a tough decision to make. He remembered how difficult it had been for him to break away from the field of DADA.
FLASHBACK:
"I am going to flunk. I just know it. I can't pass this exam. I totally forgot everything."
"Oh, shut up Herm," grinned Harry. "Have you ever flunked anything in your life?"
"No, but there could always be a first time. And with my luck it would be the most important exams of my life, the one that would qualify me to teach DADA."
"Every exam of your life has been the most important to you. This is exactly how you behaved after the OWLS and after the NEWTS and after the Auror Academy Entrance Exam. Must I remind you how you performed in those?"
Hermione flounced away and Harry went off to his own room laughing to himself. Like most brilliant people, Hermione was desperately insecure about her own prowess. After Graduation, he remembered one long night when the three of them sat and talked about what they wanted to with their lives. Ron, of course, was set for the Ministry of Magic where he was going to do his fathers old job in the Improper Use of Muggle Artifacts Ministry. Harry knew what he wanted to do. Ever since he had defeated Voldemort, he knew that he had to dedicate his life to fighting against evil, to wiping out the remnants of Voldemort's corrupt empire. Hermione was the indecisive one, unsure about her abilities and about her opportunities. They discussed a job deciphering runes, a job as an Arithmancy logician, but she chose eventually. She wanted to do DADA and teach at Hogwarts, hold down the job that had such a dicey reputation. With that aim in mind Harry and she had joined the Academy. Now two years had passed and it was time to take their place in the real world.
The results were out. Harry had topped, but this was not really surprising. DADA had always been his field, where he could beat even Hermione effortlessly. She came a very close second though, and got the job in Hogwarts without even having to apply for it, Dumbledore himself requesting her to join. Harry was all ready to join the Aurors, Mad Eye Moody himself offering to initiate him in the ways of the Hunters.
Thrilled by this offer, Harry went off to celebrate at a nearby Wizard bar. He was alone because term had already begun in Hogwarts and Ron had been sent off to take care of a dancing pressure cooker, which sang 'I am too sexy for my spout' every time it was put on the fire. He was sitting at the bar, nursing a Grand Marnier when a beautiful girl sidled up to him. Harry had not had an overwhelming exposure to attractive women, he was still unsure about his potential looks so he was pleasantly surprised. She sat on the chair next to him. They got to talking as happens so often with strangers. Even so, he was taken aback when she offered to come home with him. Walking home they were attacked by death eaters who wanted to kill Harry. He managed to hold them off, but not for too long. He saved himself, but she was killed. She died of the Cruciatus curse, unable to withstand the agony; she died writhing in his arms. Over her body Harry Potter vowed that he would never take up a profession which would harm anybody but himself.
Harry shook himself. That was three years ago, and the memory of it still haunted him, the memory of the girl with her wonderful smile and glorious eyes. He still blamed himself for her death. But some things were larger, and more pervasive than guilt, and he was going to dishonor his vow to the dead by honoring his duty to the living. He was going to tell Dumbledore that he was ready for whatever they wanted him to do.
Review, flame whatever, just want to know you've been reading
Fred Weasely whistled as he prepared to go for practice. Playing for the Falmouth Falcons was a fairly fulfilling career, though it was not the dream of his life. He had once hoped to start a jokes industry in collaboration with his brother. They had even invented quite a few things. But the trend never caught on, and when they were both offered the position of Beater for the Falcons, they had immediately accepted. They had been told that they had the reputation of the Broadmoor brothers to live up to, and this afforded them some amusement. It was a profession which brought them fame and money. Though they were not in the Harry Potter category in either commodity, they were not too badly off. As he pulled his gray robes over his head, he felt a kiss on his head. He twisted around and pulled his wife into his arms. Angelina and he had dated for five years before they finally decided to marry, and this was the best decision of his life. This was also something he and George had done together. They had a huge double wedding -Angelina and him, Katie and George.
Fred grinned to himself as he followed his wife into the dining room. As he sat across the table from her, he surveyed her with pride. Angelina was the chief assistant to Kevin Troy of the famous Troy, Mullet and Moran, the Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, a tall elegant black woman with wit, class and brains. She had risen to the top at an almost meteoric pace and was touted to be the next head, even though she had never even played for any of the clubs, having turned down all the offers.
A knock on the door reminded him to hurry. "That must be George, darling. I have to go. I'll see you tonight. What about dinner out? Maybe we can double date with George and Katie." Without waiting for an answer he ran out, leaving Angelina smiling indulgently behind him.
Reaching the pitch, the twins were astonished to see Harry at the gates waiting for them. "Guys, we need to talk."
The twins, mystified, followed their friend to the dress room. "What are you doing here, Harry? Aren't you supposed to be practicing with the Magpies today? The Season will be starting pretty soon."
Harry nodded dismissively, "Yeah, yeah practice doesn't begin till one any way. I have a problem. Ron seems to have disappeared and I don't know who to talk to."
Fred was about to crack a joke, but seeing the tension on Harry's face he arranged his own features into an expression of almost ludicrous concern. "What's up, man?" he asked.
"Well," said the younger man seriously. "Dumbledore came to see me today. He said that there was some serious dark magic trouble going on. It seems some neo-death eaters have organized themselves into a band. Their leader is supposed to be someone brilliant. No one knows who they are or who he is. They are deeply secretive and very well prepared. We have to find out who they are, who the ringleader is. And he has asked me to do this."
The twins gaped at him. "Why you?" asked George. "I mean you're not even a Auror or an Unspeakable! You are just a Quidditch player."
"Well, I did top my year in the Auror Training Academy, and I defeated Voldemort. So you can't say that I haven't had any experience. But the real reason he wants me on it is because he thinks that my Quidditch playing, my interaction, my traveling, my reputation is the perfect cover. Nobody will suspect I'm on the case. He'll be sending a detective to help me, but I will be the one in charge. So what do you guys think? Should I do it?"
The twins glanced briefly at each other. They knew how wholeheartedly Harry threw himself into any project, they remembered the years of tension that everyone who had cared for Harry had gone through. They recalled all the times Harry had almost died. But they also realized that, though Harry was an exceptional Quidditch player, his real vocation was in fighting the dark arts. That was what he was meant to do. They nodded in unison.
"Yeah, Harry we think you should go for it. You know you'll feel guilty if you don't. Go ahead and kick some evil ass."
Harry grinned at them. "You know what, I'm going to do just that. And guys, another thing, don't tell anybody. I'm going to tell Herm and Ron of course, but even they are going to be bound to secrecy. Now go out there and do your job."
The twins walked off and Harry went out, his face reflecting deep thought. Though he had shown characteristic flippancy in front of the twins, this had been a tough decision to make. He remembered how difficult it had been for him to break away from the field of DADA.
FLASHBACK:
"I am going to flunk. I just know it. I can't pass this exam. I totally forgot everything."
"Oh, shut up Herm," grinned Harry. "Have you ever flunked anything in your life?"
"No, but there could always be a first time. And with my luck it would be the most important exams of my life, the one that would qualify me to teach DADA."
"Every exam of your life has been the most important to you. This is exactly how you behaved after the OWLS and after the NEWTS and after the Auror Academy Entrance Exam. Must I remind you how you performed in those?"
Hermione flounced away and Harry went off to his own room laughing to himself. Like most brilliant people, Hermione was desperately insecure about her own prowess. After Graduation, he remembered one long night when the three of them sat and talked about what they wanted to with their lives. Ron, of course, was set for the Ministry of Magic where he was going to do his fathers old job in the Improper Use of Muggle Artifacts Ministry. Harry knew what he wanted to do. Ever since he had defeated Voldemort, he knew that he had to dedicate his life to fighting against evil, to wiping out the remnants of Voldemort's corrupt empire. Hermione was the indecisive one, unsure about her abilities and about her opportunities. They discussed a job deciphering runes, a job as an Arithmancy logician, but she chose eventually. She wanted to do DADA and teach at Hogwarts, hold down the job that had such a dicey reputation. With that aim in mind Harry and she had joined the Academy. Now two years had passed and it was time to take their place in the real world.
The results were out. Harry had topped, but this was not really surprising. DADA had always been his field, where he could beat even Hermione effortlessly. She came a very close second though, and got the job in Hogwarts without even having to apply for it, Dumbledore himself requesting her to join. Harry was all ready to join the Aurors, Mad Eye Moody himself offering to initiate him in the ways of the Hunters.
Thrilled by this offer, Harry went off to celebrate at a nearby Wizard bar. He was alone because term had already begun in Hogwarts and Ron had been sent off to take care of a dancing pressure cooker, which sang 'I am too sexy for my spout' every time it was put on the fire. He was sitting at the bar, nursing a Grand Marnier when a beautiful girl sidled up to him. Harry had not had an overwhelming exposure to attractive women, he was still unsure about his potential looks so he was pleasantly surprised. She sat on the chair next to him. They got to talking as happens so often with strangers. Even so, he was taken aback when she offered to come home with him. Walking home they were attacked by death eaters who wanted to kill Harry. He managed to hold them off, but not for too long. He saved himself, but she was killed. She died of the Cruciatus curse, unable to withstand the agony; she died writhing in his arms. Over her body Harry Potter vowed that he would never take up a profession which would harm anybody but himself.
Harry shook himself. That was three years ago, and the memory of it still haunted him, the memory of the girl with her wonderful smile and glorious eyes. He still blamed himself for her death. But some things were larger, and more pervasive than guilt, and he was going to dishonor his vow to the dead by honoring his duty to the living. He was going to tell Dumbledore that he was ready for whatever they wanted him to do.
Review, flame whatever, just want to know you've been reading