Chapter 10: Getting the Ball Rolling
James led Julia toward the Ravenclaw Tower as he had been instructed. When they were about halfway there, he looked over at her. She was looking at the ground and looked somewhat subdued and saddened.
"What's wrong?" he asked her.
"I've just turned my back on my family," she said, stopping, looking a bit stunned.
"You did the right thing," James assured her.
"I know, but... still... he IS my dad," Julia said, looking disheartened.
James wasn't sure of what to say. He gave Julia a tight hug and they continued their trek to the Ravenclaw dormitory.
Rose woke up with a start the next morning. She looked out the window to see the sun peering out from behind the distant mountains. She climbed out of bed and tightened her night robe and headed downstairs.
Ben was sitting downstairs, writing in a small black book.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
Ben jumped and tossed his book underneath him.
"Oh, nothing," he said nonchalantly.
"Benjamin, you have a diary!" Rose exclaimed. "That's so sweet!"
Ben glared at his sister.
"No. It's not a diary. It's a thought book." He crossed his arms crossly.
"Really, so if it's not a diary, care to read some?" Rose asked smugly. She pulled out her wand. "Accio, diary!"
The book zoomed out from under the couch cushion and into Rose's outstretched hand.
She casted a shield charm and began reading. Ben's struggle was futile against her charm.
"I am in love with Leanne. Her hair is so pretty. Her eyes are so bright... between a blue and a green. I can't get enough of them." Rose giggled. "Awww... Benji's in lurve!"
"Give me that!" Ben growled.
Rose tossed it back to him.
"It's such a shame, though..." Rose sighed.
"What?" Ben asked.
"Never mind," Rose said, thinking of Leanne's actions just a few days prior, how she hadn't been sprucing up for Ben... Zack was the center of her affection. She couldn't break that to Ben.
"You can tell me, Rose. It's not like I've proven myself to be untrustworthy."
"True," Leanne said, coming down the stairs. She walked toward the big lumpy sofa near the fireplace, pulling her long red hair up into a ponytail.
"How much did you hear of that?" Ben asked, looking nervous.
"Hear of what?" Leanne asked. "All I heard was 'It's not like I've proven myself to be untrustworthy.' You haven't."
Ben's eyes shown like emeralds from Leanne's praise. Rose nearly gagged.
"Okay. I'm going to go upstairs to get Cora and we're going to the library."
Ben sighed.
"I swear, she drives me crazy sometimes," he said, glancing at Leanne.
"She has the tendency to do that. Just the other day, she was dancing on her bed in the dorm, singing some Muggle song by this Muggle singer... Britney Spears? The song was called Hit Me Baby, One More Time.
"Wow," Ben said, surprised. "She's my sister and all, but she still surprises me on a daily basis."
"Rose is your sister?" Leanne asked, intrigued.
"Bloody hell! I wasn't supposed to tell anyone that. We only just found out."
Leanne whistled.
"It's okay. I won't tell anyone," she promised.
"Breakfast should be ready soon... do you wanna come with me?" Ben asked.
"Sure!" Leanne said. "But, you might want to get on your robes first," she said, laughing.
Ben blushed and ran up the stairs.
The next few months were busy for the Weasley-Potter clan. It was nearing Christmastime and Harry and Ginny's relationship was still going strong. The kids had continued to bond. Things on the Dark Side were getting darker and darker by the day. Harry and Ginny knew that the time would soon come when they needed to reveal the prophecy to their children. However, they kept putting it off in hopes that they would learn more and better be able to protect themselves.
"Harry!" Ginny yelled. "Get your lazy bum out of bed so we can go pick up the kids!"
Ginny was both nervous and excited about the children's impending arrival. She had been writing to Rose on a regular basis and they had become somewhat closer, but she still was beyond nervous to have a daughter to spend time with during Christmas. How was she supposed to be a mother to a child who had never had a mother figure in her life?
"I'm coming," Harry grumbled.
"Geesh, at least I know where Zachary gets his sleeping habits. Come on, dear. We're running late."
Harry waved his wand to straighten his clothes. He grabbed Ginny's hand and they Apparated to King's Cross Station.
They found Ron and Hermione and sat down on the bench next to them. They all waited as the huge scarlet engine pulled into the station.
"Look!" Ginny shouted with glee. "There they are!"
Harry looked up saw James stand up in the furthest compartment to the back. He gave his mother a bit of a wave and then disappeared. He reappeared a few minutes later with Ben, Zach, Rose, Cora, and Julia in tow.
"Looks like you brought the whole school with you, son," Harry said, looking over the pack.
"Not this time," James said, looking over at his mother. "Mum, I'd like you to meet my friend Julia Adams," he said, grabbing Julia's hand and pulling her toward him.
Julia smiled weakly at Ginny.
"Don't be nervous sweetie. We're all family here."
Ginny went over to hug the twins and gave Rose a swift kiss on the forehead.
"Cora," young Caroline squealed. "Come look at my new dolly. Her name is Dolly!"
"Caroline, let your sister say goodbye to her friends first," Hermione laughed. "It's nice to see you again, Harry. We've missed you." She gave Harry a quick hug.
"Don't be a stranger, sis," Ron reproached Ginny. "It's only a quick stop on the Floo Network."
"Actually, I've been needing to speak with you all about that," Harry said, pulling Ron and Hermione over to a nearby bench. "Ginny, can you watch the kids for a bit?"
"Sure," Ginny said.
Harry sat between Ron and Hermione.
"I can tell when something's on your mind, Harry," Hermione said. "What is it now?"
"A new Dark Order is in the early stages. Rumour has it that Professor Grumblat at Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy, and Blaise Zabini are behind it, with Ignatius Adams as the ringleader. McGonagall refuses to believe that Hogwarts could be in any danger, but I'm seriously considering pulling the kids out of Hogwarts."
"How long have you known about this?" Ron asked.
"Since October," Harry said. "The little girl staying with us, Julia, is Adams' daughter. He's been trying to place the Imperius Curse on her. McGonagall told Ginny and I to take her with us this winter to keep her safe. If Adams' doesn't know where Julia is, he can't hurt her. Our house has some of the strongest enchantments known to Wizard-kind on it, so she'll be perfectly safe. What I'm trying to say is that you might need to pull Cora out of Hogwarts as well. The two of you are more than welcome to stay at Potter Manor with Ginny and I. We're trying to recruit members of the Order of the Phoenix to nip this new Order in the bud."
Hermione gasped.
"Harry, are you sure pulling the kids out of Hogwarts is the best thing to do? I mean, you're going to need an informant to keep watch on Grumblat..."
"That's going to be my job. I'm going to take Polyjuice Potion and take Julia's place at Hogwarts... just long enough to figure out what his plan is. As long as I can keep myself in detention, I'll have the perfect spying opportunity."
"But Harry, you've never been particularly good at Occlumency," Hermione reminded him.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Ron asked.
"I don't know. But it's going to have to work. I can defend myself against Grumblat if I have to. He can't be worse than Voldemort."
"I don't know..." Ron sighed.
"I need to know... are you two still a part of the Order, or do I need to find someone else to be my righthand man?" Harry asked, glaring at Ron.
"Of course you know I'm in," Hermione said, glaring at her husband.
"I guess I've got no choice," Ron sighed.
I know it's been forever since I last updated this... but I got bored and this was the last story someone had reviewed. So, I decided to update, since I couldn't sleep. No, I haven't given up on this story, I've just been entirely WAYY too busy lately.
I love you guys for being faithful readers and putting up with me and my laziness.
ily!
Leanne