A/N: Ah...writer's block, tis a thing moste evile. anyways I got this chapter done on sunday, but couldn't upload it for some strange reason...I'm sorry for the delay!

This chapter is dedicated to BC,

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling, but I own Brian!


Chapter 9: Chamber Music

After Umbridge slammed the door loudly behind her, Professor McGonagall looked inquiringly at Mad-eye Moody. He stared at the door, or past it, with his magical eye for a few moments, and then with a satisfied expression on his heavily scarred face he rounded on Harry.

'They're gone' he said gruffly. 'Good show Potter, we'll make an Auror of you yet, great thinking mind like that'.

Harry shifted uncomfortably while everyone in the room looked at him. 'I didn't do anything' he said modestly. 'And, I shouldn't have lost my temper like that'.

'You put Rufus Scrimgeour in his place, he wouldn't dare question your appointment as a teacher here; the wizarding community will have something to say about it' observed Lupin, who was standing at a far corner of the room. Harry hadn't noticed him before.

'I'm curious…' he said, a faint smile on his lips. 'Why did you leave all Albus' money to the Order?'

Harry shrugged. 'I dunno, I guess it was the right thing to do. Dumbledore didn't leave the Order any money…' He looked away from Lupin and became very interested in a smudge on his trainer; Lupin's clothes looked scruffier than ever, they had more patches on them and yet his face seemed to be fuller, and less lined. Evidently a certain someone was ensuring the man was kept well fed, even if he refused to let her buy him new robes.

'We don't think any less of him because of that' said Professor McGonagall. Aberforth looked like he strongly disagreed, but he held his tongue and occupied himself by examining the mugs he had received. The Headmistress rolled up the parchment, sealed it magically and vanished it in a single wand movement.

'The reading of the will is at an end' she said, her tone brisk again. 'I thank all of you for coming, Albus would have been pleased…' She raised her hand as though to straighten her glasses, but Harry didn't miss the subtle motion with which she wiped her left eye.

'Arthur, Molly, I believe you already know Harry isn't returning to the Burrow' she continued.

'But why- 'began Mrs. Weasley.

'I want him to become familiar with his role as the new Defence Professor, I hope it is not an inconvenience'

'Professor?' said Hermione tentatively, 'I-we, that is, Ron and I were wondering if we could remain at Hogwarts with Harry…'

Ron looked at her, surprised. 'Wha-'

'I mean, Harry has asked us to be his teaching assistants, we were in the DA with him after all, wouldn't it be alright for us to do some research with him?' she continued, gazing intently at Harry, who knew this wasn't true.

'DA?' asked Mrs. Weasley. 'What's that?'

'Dumbledore's Army, an illegal dueling club which Mr. Potter set up in his fifth year' said Professor McGonagall. 'No Molly' she said, smirking at Mrs. Weasley's forbidding expression. 'I actually encouraged the idea, at the time the students were not being taught to defend themselves properly'

'Yeah', said Ron. 'That ha- I mean Umbridge insisted on teaching defensive theory'.

'All this brings us back to Miss Granger's request, Mr. Potter, do you require teaching assistants?'

Surely it couldn't hurt to have his two best friends spend the rest of the summer with him; the castle wouldn't be so gloomy if they kept him company.

'Yeah, I'd like them to be my teaching assistants. If that's ok with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, that is'.

Mrs. Weasley seemed to struggle with herself for a moment before giving in. 'Oh I guess it would be alright' she said finally. 'But we'll have to write to your parents, Hermione dear'.

'It is decided, I will inform Filch of the situation. Mr. Potter, you will be taking over my old office and you may stay in Gryffindor tower with Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger till the start of term'.

'What about me?' asked Ginny.

'You'll be going back to the Burrow' said Mrs. Weasley in a firm voice. 'You are certainly not going to be Harry's assistant'

'But I was in the DA too!'

'Ginny' said Harry quietly. Slowly, she turned look up at him. 'Gin, I need you to go home with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, it's for the best…' Although he didn't really believe that, Hogwarts was the safest place in the Britain for wizards. Could he really send her back to the Burrow, knowing it had been infiltrated just a week earlier? Knowing Voldemort now knew about their relationship?

The red-head hung her head, her shoulders slumped in defeat, she didn't even protest as Mrs. Weasley led her to the door. Professor McGonagall waited until she and the three students were the only ones left in the room before she began speaking.

'Mr. Potter' she said, 'there are certain matters I wish to discuss with you, if Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger would care to wait for you in-'

'No it's ok Professor, they can listen' said Harry quickly.

Professor McGonagall regarded him for a few moments before producing another roll of parchment which she stared at for several seconds before speaking again.

'It seems you have inherited the Potter Family vault as well' she said simply.

'The what?' asked Harry, not sure if he had heard correctly.

'Your grandparents' vault at Gringotts, it seems you are quite the heir, Harry'

Harry gave Hermione and Ron an exasperated look, which they didn't return. Hermione's eyes were wide as she stared at him in shock, but Ron had an oddly blank expression on his face which Harry found unreadable. They had been through this before, was Ron feeling jealous again?

'As you have now come of age, the key is yours' Professor McGonagall said, her voice sounded distant to Harry who was lost in thought, recalling his fourth year, Ron had stopped talking to him then, just because Harry had been chosen as a champion for a competition he hadn't even entered for…

'Albus was supposed to be the one to hand it over to you but…'

'Circumstances prevented it' said the old man's voice, Harry's mind snapped back to the present, he looked on as Ron and Hermione gawped at the old man's portrait.

'Professor' whispered Hermione, her eyes wide.

'Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley' nodded Dumbledore in acknowledgement, unabashed by the awed expressions on their faces. 'Am I correct in believing Mr. Potter has informed you of the current situation?'

'I believe I have some explaining to do' said Dumbledore, looking around at all of them. 'My apologies Minerva, for keeping you in the dark as well'.

'What do you mean, sir?' asked Harry.

'Albus is responsible for all the somewhat…controversial decisions I have been making of late: The reopening of Hogwarts, your appointment as Defence Professor, and certain decisions related to the fight against He-who-must-be-named'.

'Surely, the new leader of the Order of the Phoenix can address its enemy by his name, Minerva?' said Dumbledore rather seriously.

'Albus, you know full well you are still making all the decisions, including having the Order abandon Harry at Privet Drive' retorted McGonagall as she glared at him, but her lips were slightly upturned as though she was trying, fighting, not to smile.

'Well, he stands before you now. I took great steps to ensure he had a formidable amount of protection while at his uncle's house' replied Dumbledore serenely. 'But we digress, Harry I would like you to remain at Hogwarts till the start of term. Until then I shall be instructing you in certain matters'.

'Certain matters?' repeated Harry.

'I am afraid I cannot say more just yet Harry. I require your presence daily at Potter Manor, perhaps from noon till evening…yes that seems right. And now Minerva, if you would give them to him?'

Professor McGonagall reached into her robes and placed two silver instruments in front of Harry, who recognized them from his previous visits to the office while Dumbledore was alive.

'What am I supposed to do with them?' he asked, not having the slightest clue what they were.

'They help to repel dark magic' said Dumbledore. 'I shall explain their uses in more detail later, but now Minerva and I have certain matters to discuss'.

Harry took that as the sign to leave; he nodded to the portrait and Headmistress before walking out of the office, with Ron and Hermione behind him.

The walk to the common room was painfully slow, and quiet. Harry occasionally felt the eyes of his friends on him, especially Ron's. He had been very aware of the boy's behaviour ever since McGonagall mentioned the family vault. If Dumbledore knew about that, what had he been thinking when he left Harry all that money, giving the Order of the Phoenix nothing? They had all worked longer than him in the fight against Voldemort.

'Well most of them…' he corrected himself, remembering Mundungus Fletcher. So what did that smile of approval from Dumbledore mean, when Harry had given the money to the Order? It was almost as if the old man had planned it…but that didn't make sense, he didn't, couldn't, have known he was going to die, to be betrayed by Snape, right?

'You worry too much, Harry' said Brian's voice in his head. 'You should be focusing on your lesson tomorrow'.

'Oh, it's you' thought Harry, feeling the now familiar presence in his head; he could now tell when his familiar was nearby. 'Do you know something? Is Dumbledore still keeping secrets from me?'

'They are not secrets, as he will tell you in time, do not get ahead of yourself ' replied Brian.

'So you do know something? Asked Harry, curious.

'I didn't say that' came the reply.

'So what are you saying?' asked Harry, he was starting to get slightly annoyed. But there was no reply, apparently the bird had left.

'Grrrr….' Growled Harry inwardly.

'You're scowling mate. Something the matter?'

Harry looked up in surprise. Ron was grinning at him rather sheepishly; Hermione walked into a suit of armour and toppled over, a resounding crash echoed through the abandoned corridors, carrying on longer than usual.

'Hermione! Are you alright?' asked Ron.

'I'm fine' she said, but she was staring at Ron with a funny expression on her face

'We should get out of here before Filch comes' said Harry quickly but Hermione didn't move an inch, she was still gawking at Ron as though he had just popped out of the ground.

'Something on my face Mione?' asked Ron.

'Uh…no…' replied Hermione, slightly breathless.

'Why'd you walk into that suit of armour? Hang on, you thought I was jealous didn't you?' said Ron, with more insight than usual.

'No!' said Hermione, her face turning a deep red.

Harry stood, tense. He braced himself for the explosion that was sure to come…

'Hmph' snorted Ron, pulling her to her feet. 'Well you were right- for a while in Dumbledore's office I was, but then I thought that I don't have time to worry about who's poor and who's rich while we're searching for the hor- stuff. Besides Fred and George give me spending money'.

Hermione stared at him, but Ron didn't notice, he was looking Harry straight in the eye.

'Harry, I know I've been a prat in the past, but I guess I don't really have time to be one now, we've got work to do'.

Harry grinned broadly and held out his hand, Ron grasped it tightly in a firm handshake while Hermione looked on in disbelief.

'That's good to hear Ron, that's good to hear'.

Ron was right; there was work to be done, a lot.


Early the next morning Harry, Ron and Hermione went to pay Hagrid a visit. His hut was good as new having been restored by Professors McGonagall and Flitwick shortly before the end of term. They found the half-giant walking out of the Forbidden Forest with Fang at his heels.

'Yeh alrigh' yeh lot?' he called. Harry waved and jogged towards him.

'I hear yeh' gonna be teaching Defence Agains' the Dark Arts, think yeh can handle it Harry?'

'I hope so' replied Harry. 'But the Ministry doesn't seem to think so'.

'Ah, forget the Ministry, s'ok s'long as yeh've come of age. Besides yeh've seen more dark magic than most Aurors put together, 'specially that Dawlish…'

'Was something in the forest Hagrid?' asked Hermione, nervously eyeing the large crossbow he had slung over his shoulder.

'Nah, it's nothin'. Jus bin goin' through extra rounds since the end o' term' he said glumly. 'Well, come on in'.

Apparently Hagrid had gotten over Dumbledore's death, he told them, sounding very much like Ron the day before, that there were things to be done, and he didn't have time to mourn properly.

'What kind of things?' Ron had asked.

'Well, there's Order business, there is' Hagrid had replied, his voice lowered somewhat, it seemed to make the words more dramatic.

'Order stuff?' replied Ron, in equally hushed tones. Hermione stifled a giggle at her friend's ridiculous behaviour while Harry himself barely suppressed a smile.

'Well, You-know-who's bin more reckless since Dumbledore d-died. He's bin recruitin' mor' followers an' doin' in several Ministry folk as well'

Hagrid leaned back and gave Hermione a sympathetic look, she looked like she was going to be sick. 'Yea Hermione, it ain' pretty. It's jus as bad as las' time, an' without Dumbledore… well Professor McGonagall's bin doin' ok, the Order captured some Death Eaters trying to attack the muggle American's Embs-Ebm-'

'Embassy, Hagrid?' offered Hermione helpfully.

'Yea, tha' ' said Hagrid, nodding, 'Don' know how she knew bout tha' one, she ain' tha' bad for a leader'.

Harry smirked; he strongly suspected a certain portrait was still in the thick of things.

'But she's worrying, mind' continued Hagrid. 'She reckons You-know-who'll try an' take Hogwarts soon'.

At this Ron, who had been attempting a softening charm on the bagels Hagrid had offered them jumped and misfired the spell, hitting his arm instead.

'OW! OW! OW! OW!'

Hermione pulled back his robe sleeve and Harry saw his skin, it had turned red and swollen.

'Wha happened!' asked Hagrid.

'Sorry Hagrid…I set off a spell by accident' said Ron with a straight face as Hermione attempted to dispel the charm. 'Did you say attack Hogwarts?'

'Yea, but don' go tellin' anyone tha', she jus' reckons he'll do something real brash see?'

'I guess she has a point. If he's attacking foreign embassies now then he's changed his style, it's a full-scale war' said Harry, getting to his feet. 'Sorry Hagrid, I've got to go Professor McGonagall's office… I won't be back for a while'.

'We'll be in the library when you get back Harry' said Hermione brightly.

As Harry walked out of Hagrid's hut he felt his curiosity peak, what did Dumbledore want to teach him everyday? Was he going to show Harry more memories, or some powerful spells as Hermione had erroneously thought last year?

He continued to think, but he found himself no closer to an answer as he stood outside McGonagall's door. Deciding he would find out in a few moments he took a deep breath and knocked sharply on the door.


Harry stepped out of the fireplace and into the familiar study at Potter Manor. He got quite a jolt when he realized he wasn't alone, Brian the phoenix was perched on a mahogany stand behind the table while several portraits of his relatives occupied three of the four canvases in the room.

'What's going on?' he asked.

Professor Dumbledore occupied the fourth canvas, wearing red open-front robes. He had what appeared to be a book stand in front of him and had been flipping through the pages of the script resting on it.

'The more talented members of your family have agreed to lend me a hand in training you Harry'.

'Train?'

'Well yes, there are certain skills which, if you master them, will be invaluable in your fight against Voldemort'.

'So you'll be teaching me how to duel?' asked Harry hopefully.

'No Harry' said Dumbledore cheerfully. 'I have often found learning how to duel is a tiresome exercise, and of little use, I will be teaching you the art of conducting'

'What?' said Harry.

'Chamber music, Harry. Music is a most powerful form of magic and far more useful than learning to defend yourself against an opponent when used properly'

'Hang on' said Harry incredulously 'chamber music will help me defeat Voldemort?' He was only vaguely aware that most of his relatives flinched every time he said the name, so even portraits feared the name? 'I mean I can understand love being his greatest weakness, but chamber music?'

Dumbledore's smile widened and he shook his head. 'You do not see the connection yet…I didn't expect you to, few ever do. Just follow my hand movements as precisely as you can; you will be leading your relatives, and I will be leading you'

'Brian?' thought Harry desperately. 'He's joking right?' Though he never cared for the bird's opinion he was willing, this once, to turn to it for advice.

'I am afraid he is serious Harry, you should do as he says' said the bird gravely, flapping its wings gently as it was about to take flight. 'Though I must say I am going to enjoy this'.

Harry looked round, hoping for someone to tell him this was a dream, to wake up. But instead of finding comfort, he watched in horror as his grandfather raised what appeared to be a tuba to his lips, Harry saw others clutching viola's, cellos and the likes.

'One, two, and off we go!' cried Dumbledore.

It was the most awful thing Harry had ever heard, including the Hogwarts' school song and the musical saws at Nearly- Headless-Nick's deathday party in second year. Everyone seemed to be playing a different tune as he struggled to copy Dumbledore's fluid hand movement, the rhythms clashed horribly with each other and Harry wished within himself it would end.

And finally it did, a good thirty minutes later. But Dumbledore insisted on going over it once again, much to the groans of everyone, but the old man didn't hear the complaints as he had a large set of ear-muffs over his ears, presumably to keep out the extremely bad music.

Five hours later Dumbledore thanked the other paintings, all of whom were red in the face from continuous playing, as they trudged out of the study. Harry slumped on the only chair in the room (all the furniture had been removed). His head was filled with absurd thoughts such as whether Snape's killing curse had unhinged Dumbledore somehow. Finally he mustered the strength to look up into the old man's face.

'Why?' he croaked.

But Dumbledore merely smiled and shook his head. 'As I said, I do not expect you to see the connection, goodnight Harry'.

Minutes later, Harry was walking back towards Gryffindor tower, oblivious to his surroundings, with all his energy spent he headed straight to his bed in the dormitory. He believed Ron and Hermione would still be in the library researching, and suddenly with a jolt he realized he hadn't asked Dumbledore about R.A.B…

His last thought before he fell asleep was Albus Dumbledore had finally gone mad.


A/N:(Pokes head cautiously from underneath table), I wonder if any of you saw that coming? Please don't be angry, this chapter was just begging to be written, can anyone guess what Dumbledore's playing at? you're free to leave flames, reviews or speculations! now please excuse me while I take cover...