Chapter 7
Godric Gryffindor's Family Tree

On entering the kitchen the next morning Harry saw he was the last one down and noticed a decided hush as he entered the room.

"Good morning," Ron said, overly cheery, making it certain in Harry's mind that they had been talking about him.

Harry sat down at the end of the table next to Hermione, looking up he noticed Dumbledore seated at the head of the table sipping at a cup of tea.

"Good morning Harry," Dumbledore said smiling and lowering his cup of tea to its saucer. "I hear you had quite an eventful evening."

Harry groaned, the last thing he wanted was an earful from Dumbledore.

Dumbledore smiled again, sensing what Harry was thinking. "Don't worry, Miss Granger has filled me in on what happened, I don't need to hear it again. You might be pleased to hear, however, that I have taken steps towards removing Kreacher from Grimmauld Place. It is your house after all and I want to thank you in every way possible for letting us use it as the Order's headquarters."

"What have you done with him?" Harry asked.

"What I should have done a long time ago. Set him free."

"But…but, we didn't want to set him free," Harry said concerned. "Now he'll go and tell Voldemort where we can be found."

"I took him with me into London where I gave him a hat of Mrs Black's, that Molly found in his cupboard. He immediately threatened to do just what you feared, so I was forced to perform a memory charm on him – rather a strong one at that. I think he was having trouble remembering his name when I left him outside St Mungo's hospital!"

Harry felt relieved. "Thanks, I don't think I could have coped with having to live in the same house as him for another second knowing what he did."

"However, Harry," Dumbledore cut in, using a more serious tone of voice. "I do need to discuss what happened with you."

"I didn't mean to, honestly, I didn't even know I was controlling it." Harry said desperately.

"It's nothing new to us Harry, we have known for some time now that you are capable of performing magic without use of your wand. What worries me, was the fact that it was the Cruciatus curse that was used. Obviously that is an unforgivable curse, but I don't believe you did it willingly. I worry though that Voldemort's power might be taking too much of a control of you."

"I haven't felt anything through my scar for a while now," Harry began. "I haven't had any dreams or any sort of visions at all. I've been practising Occlumency," Harry said dropping his voice and leaning closer to Dumbledore.

"Good, Harry. That's really good, I never thought you were really that interested in learning how to do it," Hermione said cheerfully.

Harry rolled his eyes, just what he didn't need; Hermione thinking he enjoyed swotting up on things outside of school.

"Maybe we can do a bit of reading around it sometime as you're interested," she continued. Harry groaned.

"That is what has been keeping Voldemort out of your mind Harry you're right. But you must have become quite skilled at it if you can keep Voldemort out. Do you mind if I try a bit of Legilimency on you?"

Harry agreed and began to relax his mind, clearing it of all thoughts. He had been practising this every day since he had returned from Hogwarts and found it quite easy to do now. He felt something begin to probe his mind, like a finger prodding at him. He kept his mind clear and concentrated on forcing Dumbledore out.

"Excellent Harry!" Dumbledore cheered as Harry felt the felling drop away, leaving his mind to himself once more. "You are more than proficient at that now. I couldn't even break the surface to get in at all. This is definitely good news for us. It means that you can be told more things in relation to the Order than before, as Voldemort has less chance of being able to get hold of the information. It appears he managed to break through to you briefly last night as you were feeling such strong anger and must have let your guard down for a while."

Everyone was pleased with Harry's new found talent and Ron, Hermione and Ginny were obviously pleased that they were going to get to know more about what was going on with the Order. After all what one knew, all would soon find out. Well, with nearly anything anyway. Harry still had one big secret hidden from them. He didn't feel ready to have to share his destiny with them yet, though he knew he'd have to eventually.

"Can we go to see Fred and George's shop today, Mum?" Ron suddenly asked.

"Yeah, can we? Please, they invited us," Ginny added.

"I'm busy today. Sorry but I haven't got time to take you to Diagon Ally," Mrs Weasley said abruptly, turning back to the sink.

"We could always go on our own," Hermione muttered quietly. So quietly in fact that Harry was surprised when Mrs Weasley whirled around to face them, obviously having heard Hermione.

"Yeah, there's no reason why we can't Floo to their shop, we are 16 now Mum – I think it's about time we were allowed to travel somewhere on our own," Ron chipped in.

"I…well, I…," Mrs Weasley stammered, obviously put off by the fact that it was Hermione who had challenged her.

"I think it's a brilliant idea," Mr Weasley said from the other side of the table. "Come on Molly, you can't hang on to them forever. I can't think of safer place for them to go to than Diagon Ally. They'll be fine."

"Staying here would be safer than going to Diagon Ally, Arthur," Mrs Weasley began.

"I think it would do them good to get some fresh air, Molly" Dumbledore said speaking up. "No one wants to be trapped inside all the time and there's a while left of the holidays."

"They are children, Molly, let them enjoy themselves sometime. Think of what you were able to do as a child. They have had a really tough childhood because of You-Know-Who, let them have something," Arthur continued.

Mrs Weasely looked around the table and seeing only pleading eyes looking towards her she relented.

"Alright, you can go to Diagon Ally," they all cheered. "BUT! I want you all back before dark – long before dark and stick together, no separating, do you understand?"

"Yes, thanks Mum," Ron said. They all got up and ran upstairs to get ready to go out. Harry paused as he passed Mrs Weasley.
"Thanks, Mrs Weasley," he said grinning.

Arriving at Weasley's Wheezes around mid-day Harry stood open mouthed and eyes wide open, as he walked into the shop area. They had arrived by the floo network into the fireplace at the back of the shop. Hearing the commotion George had come to the back of the shop and upon seeing who it was welcomed them warmly.

"Look who's here!" He announced proudly to Fred who was helping a customer at the counter.

"Little brother, little sister!" Fred exclaimed, throwing his arms round Ron and Ginny. "Why I haven't seen you since, oooh, this morning!"

"Ha ha! Fred," Ginny said pushing him away. "We've brought Harry and Hermione to have a look round. Mum finally let us out on our own."

Fred and George were equally pleased to see Harry and Hermione and began to show them round the shop pointing out all their latest and greatest inventions. Harry was really impressed with what the twins had achieved. The shelves were nearly empty with many items 'out of stock'.

"It's been incredibly busy here," Fred was saying. "We've not been able to keep up with the demand at the moment."

"We've got orders coming out of our ears now, I don't know when we're going to find the time to start building the stock up for Christmas," George put in.

"Maybe you could speak to Lee Jordan," Ginny suggested. "He might be interested in helping you out here – just over the summer or whatever."

"Not a bad idea, little sister," George said.

"Yes something we'll definitely have to look into," Fred agreed.

Harry picked up an item labelled as Peppermint pigs.

"Dare I ask?" He said. "Or are you branching out into sweets?"

"Ah, the peppermint pigs. Innocent looking little things aren't they?!" Fred said, fondling one of the miniature white piglets.

"What happens to the unsuspecting consumer of the Peppermint Pigs," continued George. "Is once they've eaten the whole sweet -which look and taste just like muggle peppermint mice - surprise, surprise they turn into a pig!"

Hermione gasped, whilst Ron burst into laughter.

"It's a good result actually," Fred explained. "The consumer sprouts a curly tail and their skin turns bright pink. They can no longer speak but they just oink instead!"

"Interestingly if a foreigner eats one, their oinks sound completely different to an English persons oinking," George said.

"Hmm, interesting," Fred said.

"Yes interesting," George agreed nodding vigorously,

Harry looked around the shop for a long time removing a few things from the shelves that took his and Ron's interest. Using the gift voucher the twins gave him for his birthday to pay for the goods, they left the shop to look elsewhere in Diagon Ally, wishing them goodbye for now.

Stepping out into the road Harry realised just how close to Knockturn ally the twins shop was. Ginny shivered.

"Come on, I don't want to get caught out in there," she said, nodding towards Knockturn Ally. They moved off down the street towards Flourish and Blotts as Hermione had ordered a book several weeks ago and wanted to collect it.

Once that task had been completed they all stuck together moving off down the street towards where the junk shop stood at the end of the road.

"Can we go in here?" Harry asked as a shiny instrument caught his eye from the junk shops window. Everyone agreed and they went in.

Having never stepped inside the junk shop in Diagon Ally before everyone was very interested in what interesting objects there were on sale here.

"I didn't know there was a junk shop in Diagon Alley," Ron said, picking up what looked like a small wooden pipe.

"No, I've never seen it before either," Hermione whispered. The shopkeeper, having heard the bell above the door tinkle as they entered, had returned to the counter ready to serve them if required. He was a small wizard dressed in the finest robes Harry had ever seen. They were a deep dark purple colour and made of plush velvet that looked so thick it reminded Harry of rabbit fur. Beaded in gold trim, with silver leaves stitched into the arms the robes were the most elegant Harry had ever seen.

"I see you're admiring my robes," the old wizard croaked. He was small and seemed even older than Dumbledore, if that was possible.

"Yes, they're beautiful," Harry said.

"They used to belong to Godric Gryffindor," the wizard began. "I came across them at a house clearance several years ago. I don't think the owners knew what it was they were selling. Of course I didn't realise what they were either until I researched into them a while later. It appears they were Gryffindor's robes whilst he was headmaster at Hogwarts. I suppose that's where you attend?" He questioned the group.

"Yes, we're all students there. In fact we're all in Griffyndor house," Hermione said stepping forward.

"Really?" The wizard said raising an eyebrow. "Then I have something else that might interest you. Wait here." The wizard stepped out from behind the counter and it became apparent that he was the shortest wizard any of them had come across. He had been standing on top of a tall chair to make himself appear taller. Waddling off to the back of the shop that was hidden through a doorway covered by a dark blue sheet, the shopkeeper was drowned in Godric Gryffindor's robes.

"He'll be able to sweep the floor wearing Gryffindor's old robes," Ron scoffed, turning to look at an oddly shaped black object that was placed high up on a shelf.

"Here we go," the old man said as he shuffled back into the shop. "This is parchment that is meant to contain Godric Gryffindor's family tree. It is supposed to have all his ancestors and continues to grow with each family member that is born being added to the list."

"How do you mean 'meant to'?" Hermione asked.

"Well, no one has been able to work out how to get the parchment to show what it contains. Look," he unrolled the scroll. "It's blank all over." Hermione lifted it from his hands and turned the scroll over and then back again. Ron grabbed it from her and looked, then Ginny.

"Be careful," the old man said, taking the parchment back. "This could be very precious. I don't want over zealous teenagers ruining it." He began to roll it back up and moved towards the back of the shop once more.

"Wait," Harry said catching the old mans arm. "How much do you want for it?"

"You want to buy it?" The old man said inquisitively. "Sorry, it's not for sale." He said, turning away.

"I'll give you five galleons for it," Harry said taking a handful of coins from his pocket.

The old man turned back around. "Make it ten."

"Harry, don't throw your money away on that, you don't even know that it's anything more than a bit of old parchment," Hermione pleaded.

"Thanks for the advice, Mum," Harry said sarcastically. Hurt, Hermione quickly turned away from him. Ron grabbed hold of her arm and put his arm round her shoulder, whispering closely to her.

"I'll give you seven and that's my last offer," Harry said firmly, ignoring Hermione.

The old man thrust the scroll towards Harry, who slipped the money into his hands.

They left the shop and walked up the road.

"Come on. I'll get us each a drink in here," Harry said, steering the group into the Leaky Cauldron.

Having purchased a round of Butterbeer's Harry sat down at the table they were occupying.

"Hermione, I'm sorry I was short with you," he apologised. "It's just that I have never had money before in the muggle world so I like to spend it sometimes when I get into the wizarding world. I'm sure if the parchment is a fake, then I'll be able to sell it to a gullible first year for twice what I paid for it anyway."

Hermione looked up at Harry her mouth open in shock. "Harry! You wouldn't!? I won't allow it. I am a prefect you know."

"I'm just having you on. I'd use it do a bit of Snape's homework on or something."

Hermione smiled. "Pass it over, lets have a look at it." Harry was obviously forgiven.

They spent what turned out to be the next few hours, pouring over this parchment trying out different spells and talking about what could be stopping the parchment from revealing whatever was on it.

"Why would Godric want to keep his history secret?" Ron finally asked, in frustration as he flung the parchment back onto the table.

"Excuse me," said a dark man who was covered with a black cape from head to foot. "But I can't help noticing that you've got Godric Griffydor's family tree there. Is that right ?"