AUGUST 1ST STILL
Hermione had left first so of course, she arrived first and as she waited for her boyfriend and friend, she scanned the sea of faces. It was a lot less than one would expect out of the magical shopping town but still, in current times one couldn't be too careful and want to avoid open and popular spots.
Soon the witch was joined by the boys and they all entered the bank together. Walking up to the Potter family's personal goblin banker, Hermione was slightly surprised that it was Ragnok, the goblin in charge of reading Dumbledore's will.
"Good morning Ragnok, how are you this fine day?" Harry asked the goblin before him.
The goblin bowed slightly before answering the wizard, "I am doing well Lord Potter bar the fact that I have to read the will of a great friend. How may I help you until then?"
"Could we speak to Griphook or is he busy?"
"Okay Lord Potter," Ragnok walked away leaving the trio standing there, Hermione and Ron looking at Harry oddly.
"Since when have you been a Lord, Harry?" Ron asked curious at the title.
"I didn't know I was, I should ask Dumb- umm Ragnok about that," Harry had almost gone and said Dumbledore when he was in trouble again.
"Oh Harry," Hermione hugged her boyfriend to try and comfort him.
Ron tapped his mate on his back in his own attempt to comfort him but he needn't have bothered because Harry was fine, just realising that his safety net was gone now. Ragnok returned with another goblin, only this one was more scarred and burnt.
"This is Griphook, Griphook these are Lord Potter, Mister Weasley and Miss Granger."
Griphook shook each of the teen's hands and coughed loudly, "It is a pleasure to meet you all, Charlie says great things about all of you. Now you must be here about the dragon hide, please follow me."
The goblin led the teens to a large conference room to talk to them in privacy, "This is better, be seated and let's talk."
Hermione started, "We need armour, it has to be the best dragon hide, and it must be made by the best the goblin race has."
Griphook nodded and pulled out a small bag, "This is a list of current hide from around the world. I would suggest Norwegian Ridgeback for Mister Weasley, Swedish Short-snout for Miss Granger, and for Lord Potter Hungarian Horntail. With making the armour I know of an armoury in Germany that is the best in the eyes of my race. Hans has been forging for longer than I've been around and that's going ion 200 years in November. Shall I take your measurements and send them along with the specifications?"
The trio nodded and Griphook placed a screen up so Hermione could be taken care of by a female goblin, seeing as the armour would be going on under their clothes. It took the remaining hour and a half working out measurements and specifications, i.e. how many holsters would be needed and where they would be placed.
Ragnok entered the room and started getting everything ready half an hour before they were done, not that the trio minded because he would suggest certain things here and there. Too soon it was time for Griphook to leave and send off the orders, while the trio were stuck sitting and wait for the rest of the group to get there. They all must have been waiting together in the foyer of the bank because at exactly midday the doors of the room opened and everyone entered.
There was Minerva, Molly, Arthur, Alastor, Hagrid, Remus, Tonks, and Ginny, each carrying their own saddened expressions.
Ragnok waited for them all to be seated and then cleared his throat, "I have the sad duty of reading the Last Will and Testament of our dear friend and mentor, Albus Dumbledore. Firstly, he has asked that no one cry but knows that it will be hard to do so."
That caused the sad looks to fade slightly and smiles to appear on a few of the faces.
"To Rubeus Hagrid I leave the ownership of the Hogwarts Thestrals, an acre of forest for Grawp to live and a permanent place at Hogwarts if you wish it.
"To my one love, Minerva McGonagall I leave my school trunk and the contents of chest 1 of my memory vials. I love you Minnie.
"To Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks I leave 1 million of my own Galleons to get you a nice house and land, may I suggest having a large house with plenty of rooms.
"To Alastor I leave my trinkets and bits and bobs that I have collected over the years, be careful my dear friend they can be dangerous if handle wrongly.
"To Molly and Arthur Weasley I leave 2 million Galleons from my parents vault and the hope you take good care of your children with it, even those you don't know of yet.
"To Ginerva Weasley I leave 1 million Galleons to further your studies in any field you wish and know that Harry isn't your only choice, open your heart my dear.
"To Ronald Weasley I leave 2 million Galleons for the purpose of getting a large block of land and a large house for your future army. Don't let radish earrings put you off.
"To Hermione Granger I leave my entire library collection and my voting position on the Wizengamot, use it to further your causes. Love Harry my protégé, with everything you have to give.
"Finally, to Harry James Potter I leave everything else I have to my name and in my vault. May I suggest going over the inventory as soon as this is done.
"My dear friends and truly my family, I am sorry that I had to leave this world for the next big adventure but know that I am looking down on you. Please stay safe, I don't wish to see any of you any time soon. Love and live, forever love and live."
Ragnok finished and there wasn't a dry eye in the room but most were just from remembering the kind soul that was the old coot. Those that had had their futures predicted were surprised and stunned at what was destined for them. Remus couldn't believe that there were more than the one that Tonks was currently pregnant with. Though at 12 weeks, even with the magical sonogram, they couldn't be certain of how many there were in his love. This thought scared the hell out of Remus and caused him to faint.
"REMUS, LUPIN, Oh baby," Were the responses that the unconscious werewolf received from everyone there but they were soon worrying over Ron too.
Ron had been thinking about what the deceased wizard had written in his will and went over it again and again. Finally, once it had all sunken in Ron keeled over in his chair in a dead faint.
"RONALD!"
The remaining witches and wizards split into two groups, each trying to revive the fallen men. Remus was first and when he roused, he pulled his pregnant wife to him and passionately kissed her until the need for air got too much. Ron was soon up but was petrified at the thought of having kids at such a young age.
"Ron, you do realise he could have meant in 20 years you start having multiple births and that is how an army of Luna and Ron's start terrorising everyone?" Hermione explained as she blew cold air onto her friend from her wand.
"Oh of course. Now who else is hungry?" Ron was always thinking with his stomach.
"I need to go to my vault and we need Dobby to bring the books to the house for Hermione. I think an Order meeting is in desperate need too," Harry explained as he watched everyone sign using their wands.
Soon it was the teens turns and they did so willingly, placing the tip of their wands to the dotted lines. Harry asked Ragnok if he could borrow the conference room to call an impromptu meeting of the main member s of the Order of the Phoenix.
Ragnok agreed and stated that he would be awaiting Harry to take him to his enlarged vault. Harry thanked the goblin and waited for him to exit before standing at the head of the table, "If I could all get your attention please."
Everyone in the room, bar Hermione and Ron, quietened down and took their seats again, and Harry started up again, "Now I know that a new leader hasn't been formally chosen but I would like to say that even though we are only just legal, Hermione, Ron and myself do have everything planned out for the moment and would like to take over as the new leaders of the Order."
Molly was the first to object, or at least seemed to by her scream of "NOOOOOO!"
Minerva also objected but a lot quietly, "No, you need to be in school this term, not running a war. Please just be children for once in your lives."
The men and Tonks didn't seem to object so Harry passed the floor over to Hermione, "We are going to run this war whether with the Order or not. We already have dungeons, an interrogation cell, a war room, and enough wards to put Azkaban out of business. We have more important things to do that attend Hogwarts but we will be for appearance sakes only."
Ron then stood and started talking strategies, "We have word of another giant colony in Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Hagrid, we need you and Madame Maxime to work with us to create some gifts for the Gurg of that colony. We also need to remove the threat of the larger colony in France that you visited last time. It may come down to using muggle bombs and blowing the bastards sky high."
The group before the teens were impressed at how organised they were and Tonks was first to comment, "I nominate Harry, Ron, and Hermione to be the newest members and new leaders of the Order. Either that or do you guys have health benefits?"
The golden trio laughed, which earned them glares from Molly, "How can you joke about this? You are CHILDREN! And in front of Ginny too."
Ginny looked shocked at her mother, "What do you mean 'And in front of Ginny?' I was possessed by Voldemort and saved by Harry, I was with them when they went to the Ministry and were attacked by Death Eaters, who I took down with them, and just a few weeks ago I was in the battle at Hogwarts and held my own with my fellow students! We aren't stupid mother and I won't stand by while the ones I love are in danger and fighting for the safety of our world. And I guess if you don't like that Harry always has a few extra rooms available."
Molly was stunned silent. Never before had her daughter spoken to her like that, any of her children actually, and it felt painful to think that she was pushing her only daughter away from her, "I didn't mean it like that Ginny, just that this is a very sensitive subject and you shouldn't have to listen to it."
The red head teen witch rolled her eyes before turning to her friends, "Will you be running DA again this year?"
The trio huddled and then broke with an answer, "Yes but this time I would like if Headmistress McGonagall would make it compulsory, or at least available to all, even the Slytherins that want to join."
Minerva nodded, just happy that the trio would be returning, "Of course Mister Potter, though you may not have many students to volunteer because I doubt we will have any new ones this year. It would help greatly if we could regain the support of the public, and show them that life shouldn't stop just because Albus was murdered."
Harry knew that there was one way he could get admissions back to a normal height but he knew it was very dangerous for all the students if he was to do so. It seemed Hermione, Ron had thought the same thing, and they nodded slightly to show their support of the idea.
"What if I was to do an interview stating that I wasn't afraid of Voldemort and would be attending Hogwarts again this year? Do you think that would boost numbers?"
The headmistress thought this over and finished with a smile, "Yes I think it would Harry but we would need to keep the students safe in case of another attack. Hopefully we can pick out a few of the dangerous students and keep them out of Hogwarts for the duration. Which publication would you be using?"
"The Quibbler," All three answered.
"Ahh of course, I caught your interview to Miss Skeeter in your fifth year and it was superb. Hopefully the dreadful woman can do another wonder with this one or were you considering not using Rita?"
The teens shook their head vehemently, they were sick and tired of the beetle known as Rita freaking Skeeter. They were actually going to talk to Kingsley about arresting her for being an unregistered animagus.
"Well then, we had all best be off but before we do a vote on whether these three should become the new leaders of the Order."
All of the hands, including Ginny's, rose making it official as the majority of members were here in the room. Once that was done everyone left, though Molly was dragging Ginny away from going to her vault. The golden trio went to find Ragnok but saw that he was busy so went to a free goblin to take them to Harry's vault.
"Right this was please," The grizzled goblin ordered as he took them to the trolley cart that took them into the depths of London.
After a bumpy and stomach churning trip, they finally made it to the hardly used vault door, "Key please."
After a long search Harry found the key, which the goblin used to open the door, as well as his finger. The trio entered the vault to find that it had expanded greatly to hold the new possessions of it's owner. Harry shyly started searching, trying to find what it was Dumbledore intended him to find, while his friends looked around the other new belongings.
"FOUND IT!" Harry yelled out, coming out from around a huge stack of Galleons with a scroll clenched in his hand.
"Good job mate, what does it say?" Ron asked as he made his way to his friend.
"Dear Harry, Hermione and Ronald,
If you are reading this it means that the inevitable has occurred and I have passed away. The Horcruxes must be found quickly but carefully by the three of you. DO NOT TELL ANYONE ELSE ABOUT THEM. In impress that onto you. Love is the key to destroying them, love and the sword of Gryffindor. Hold it before attempting to destroy one and it will go with you into the fight. These are dangerous items my friends, please be careful.
Fawkes will bring you the sword then I do not know what he will do after that. If he does stick with you give him a few ferrets every few days, he likes those. Continue your schooling and take care of your family and friends. I have included a list of possible items used and possible places that they could be hidden.
Stay well my students,
Albus Dumbledore."
On the end of the letter was a list;
"Ravenclaw's battle gloves
Gryffindor's wand
Hufflepuff's teacup
Nagini
Orphanage Tom was brought up in
Riddle Snr old home in Great Hangleton
Chamber of the Secrets"
"Well that's helpful," Ron said with only slight sarcasm.
"Yes it is, only we need to be certain of them before we go head first in. Now what say we go back home? Or maybe we should go make an appearance in Diagon Alley, and thank the twins for their birthday presents?" Hermione offered suggestions, wanting nothing more than to strangle the twins for their presents.
"Oh let's go see the twins," Harry smiled evilly as he wrapped his arm around the waist of his girlfriend.
The trio exited the vault, caught the trolley car up to the surface and then exited Gringotts, after saying goodbye and thankyou to Ragnok. Making their way to the twins store the trio noted that there weren't many people around, even less than when they first arrived those hours ago. Shrugging it off, they noticed that they were at the storefront of Weasley Wizard Wheezes, the store the Weasley twins had started up in Diagon Alley after leaving Hogwarts in the trio's fifth year. Harry knew that they were doing well because, even though he had insisted against it, the twins had made him part owner and he received a share of what they made, which was a lot.
Entering the teens were started by the atmosphere that the store presented. There were dummy Voldemort's sitting on the toilet, manikins for blowing up in the shape of everyone's favourite Death Eaters and then all of their other creation in their different sections.
"CUSTOMERS!" A voice squawked from above them but when they looked up there was nothing up there.
Fred and George exited from a back room and had wide grins on their faces when they saw the trio standing there.
"Welcome to our store, like what you see?"
Harry was poking a Voldemort when he answered, "So damned lifelike, how'd you know what he looked like?"
"We bribed Dumbledore for his memory of him last year. I'm glad you think it's that realistic," Fred or George answered.
"Damn near perfect though I've been somewhat busy whenever he's been near me, like holding my head in pain. It's amazing Fred."
"George," The twin corrected.
"Well then George, it's amazing."
"You're not George, you're Fred," The twins began to play fight over who was who.
"Just wear nametags from now on, ok?" Ron pleaded with his elder brothers.
The twins nodded and then turned on Hermione, "So used Harry's pressies yet?"
Harry and Ron began to choke but Hermione lightly blushed before answering calmly, "No boys but even if I had I wouldn't be telling you anything but how to better your products. I have been reading up on many of the spells and potions you are using, unfortunately if you've been selling them then I would expect some serious lawsuits. You know nothing about women's bodies."
The twins looked dumbfounded before dropping to their knees and looking up to Hermione, which at their height was nearly eye high, and started to plead with her, "What have we done wrong? Should we recall everything? What should we do?"
Hermione started to laugh but was concerned when the twins didn't start up too, "Oh you're serious well firstly..."
Harry and Ron got bored from that point and started looking around the store for different things that the twins had created since the last time they had been in there. Of course they were both on the mailing lists but there could have been new creations since then, like the contraceptive items.
"You really think they were dumb enough not to consult a female or a Healer before making these?" Ron asked Harry quietly.
The wizard nod, "Yep, they probably thought they knew everything they needed to about women. Hell even Casanova didn't know everything about women."
That confused Ron as Casanova was a muggle person, "He was a muggle who could get any lady he liked but in the end knew nothing about them."
"Oh ok. Cool, look at these Harry," Ron called his mate over the offensive weapons part of the store.
Everything there was dangerous in the hands of a wizard, witch or any other magical race, as long as they didn't have a Dark Mark. The twins had learnt from the debacle with the Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder that Draco Malfoy and other Death Eaters had used to escape capture at Hogwarts when they attacked. Apparently, if you had a Dark Mark anywhere on your body you were instantly captured.
"Great idea, maybe we could get them to capture and send them to the dungeons, we should ask the twins about that."
"Ask us about what?" The twins were done with Hermione and they had come over to see what the boys were doing.
"About whether they can capture and send to the new Order Headquarters' dungeons," Ron told their idea to his brothers.
The twins thought this over between themselves and after a few minutes, during which time the trio were looking over the items on the shelves. There were swords and spikes, more of the Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder, shield cloaks and more. The teens were impressed at the extent the twins had gone too to be certain that no one but the light touched these products.
"Right, we've thought about it and yeah I guess we could always add a transportation spell, if only for the Dark Mark holders. Now where would the new headquarters be?" Fred, or was it George, asked.
"You've already been told where, Godrics Hollow."
"WHAT?!" The twins yelled out causing one of the twin's employees to walk out the front and look at the group oddly.
"It's ok Verity, go back to stocktaking," Fred called out, trying to calm the situation.
"Ok Mr Weasley."
"Now what?"
"We're the newest members and new leaders of the Order is all," Ron told his brothers proudly.
This made the twins grin from ear to ear, "You think we're going to follow your rules little brother?"
"No but you'll have to follow mine and Harry's or else we'll leave you on the side of the road on your arses," Hermione replied for Ron, stepping up to defend her friend.
"Ahh ok then. We had best be getting started on the new charms to place on the stock, too-roo then," The twins walked away after giving hugs and handshakes goodbye.
The trio left the store and walked to the alley next to them to apparate home, "Beat you there." Hermione popped away but wasn't quick enough for the boys, who had known she was going to do that again.
