Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and make no profit from the writing of this story. The characters that are not OFC or OMC belong to J.K. Rowling. The movies are the property of Warner Bros. Pictures and Heyday Films.
Chapter Nine Part Two: Shopping in London, Harry Puts Mrs. Black in Her Place, Ron defies Mrs. Weasley, Albus's Offer
After collecting the trunk and leaving the store, they made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron. While Cedric asked for the same room from breakfast, which he paid for before anyone else could Harry handed her purchases to Tonks. Before she left for the floo Tonks gave her order of Gilly water and a Lasagne with chips, peas and sweetcorn, before giving her share of Galleons towards her meal to Remus.
After Tonks left, Harry added her share of Galleons to the order before ordering a Butterbeer, with Spaghetti Bolognaise and meatballs and a side order of garlic bread. Cedric added his own Galleons to the order and ordered a Butterbeer, with Cottage pie (Shepherd's), chips, peas and gravy. Remus was last, added his own Galleons to the order, and ordered a small pot of tea, and a medium rare stake with chips, peas and sweetcorn.
As they headed upstairs Harry asked Remus, "How come you only got medium rare instead of just rare?" Remus replied as Cedric opened the door, "Because some people become uncomfortable eating when someone else is eating meat when blood is practically swimming on their plate. With Werewolves we do not just have it rare; we have it really rare with minimal amount of cooking." He added as they took the same seats around the table from breakfast, "Plus, the full moon is not due for another two weeks yet, which is when I usually have my meat extra rare."
Tonks arrived back from headquarters fifteen minutes later and joined the others upstairs after Tom told her they were in the same room from breakfast. She entered the room to discover their drink order already delivered to the room. She took the same seat next to her husband that she sat in at breakfast. She told them, "Mrs. Weasley has made Beef Hotpot, Corn on the cob with freshly baked bread rolls for lunch back at headquarters."
Remus moaned and said, "Of course she would make her Beef Hotpot on the day I am eating out and Sirius is at work, of course she would. Sirius will be annoyed when he finds out she made it for lunch instead of dinner." This caused the others to laugh at the annoyed and clearly put out Werewolf. Remus and Sirius were very fond of Mrs. Weasley's Beef Hotpot, and the fact she made it when they were not around to eat, well, that in the two Marauders eyes was a form of betrayal on the older woman's part.
After their food had arrived, Tonks asked where and in what order she wanted to visit first once reaching muggle London. Harry had replied and said, "Well, as for today, to start I want to visit the biggest book store I can find, which according to Hermione one of if not the biggest is Boarder Books." She paused before adding, "I want to buy a portable CD player and some headphones to, but figured I'd wait until next Saturday after getting my office furniture at Pottery Barn, and go back with Hermione and Angelina and pick out some muggle music at HMV. They are best as they allow you to sample the music before buying it to see if you like it."
She drank from her Butterbeer before adding, "As for where first today I would love to visit Starbucks as I mentioned this morning about the coffee and desserts, and Angelina recommended it during our talk last night. " She paused and added, "Molton Brown will be our first stop after Boarders Books and Starbucks." She concluded after pausing to twirl some spaghetti around her fork, ate the bite, swallowed and said, "Hermione on the other hand recommended Harrods, which is a large high end department chain store that sells just about everything you can imagine in the muggle world. I figured that would be our last stop before returning back to headquarters, in less you three have some stores in mind that you want to visit."
Tonks shook her head no, as did Cedric and Remus. Through Cedric did ask what a high-end chain store meant and that he figured by her tone that it did not sell actual chains. Harry chuckled and explained, "No Cedric it is not, no a chain store is when a store with the same company name and owner have opened multiple stores all over the world in different locations."
She paused before continuing to explain, "While a high-end store means it sells posh and very expensive items, for example designer name brands, which are clothes and other accessories designed by famous people. For example a single pair of shoes with a designer name could cost a lot more than even one hundred Galleons, which in muggle currency is four hundred pounds." Cedric looked incredulous, as did Remus, while Tonks looked as if Harry had slapped her.
They left the pub after eating and handing in their key at the bar, and walked to a nearby alleyway. Harry took hold of Cedric's arm after Tonks gave Cedric the co-ordinates for the apparition point that Kingsley had given to her when she had floo called him earlier on that morning. Within moments, Cedric was turning them on the spot and they disappeared with an almost soundless popping sound. Harry clutched onto Cedric's arm for grim death as she experienced the darkness and absolute horrid sensation that is apparating.
They met up in another alleyway ten minutes away from the nearest shopping centre. From there they walked for ten minutes until they reached the huge shopping outlet centre. Their first stop after a further fifteen minutes of walking was an absolute huge store, Boarders Books. The four of them were impressed with the set-up, and noted many huge, tall, wide and long bookcases full to the brim with all kinds of books, even large displays of CDS and different kinds of stationary and folders. No wonder Hermione had recommended there, and wagered Hermione must enter some kind of heaven every time she set foot inside of the store.
Harry looked around as if a child inside of a candy store at the choices she had to choose. Harry instructed them to each grab two baskets and place discreet enlargement, extension and feather light charms on them as she was going to need all of them. The other three exchanged amused glances, which Harry was sure to make a point of pretending she had not seen happening. It was hardly amusing, just because they had never seen this side of her before did not mean it had not existed pre-female Harry, she just preferred to not hide that trait she had inherited from her mother now she had changed back. Oh no, there definitely would be no more hiding what she liked and was capable of, the time for concealing who she really is would soon be long in the past if she had any say in the matter, and she'd bloody make certain she did.
As soon as they had two baskets each and cast the required charms discreetly, in other words none verbal and wandlessly, Harry went through her mental list of what Hermione had recommend and what she thought Harry might like. Her first choices were the whole Charles Dickens collection, displayed in full collection of all thirty-six works, written by the author. For example, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, A tale of two cities, and David Copperfield among the whole collection. That collection alone was over eighty pounds, which amazed the others that one muggle author end up writing so many stories.
Next was the whole Bram Stoker collection of twelve novels, Dracula among them. She even placed the whole Roll Dahl collection consisting of all fifteen known titles into one of Remus' baskets. Next was the whole William Shakespeare collection consisting of all twenty-seven titles, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet, The Tempest, The Twelfth Night, and Taming of the Shrew to name some of the titles, which all found a place inside one of Cedric's baskets.
She next selected the whole Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice, Interview with a Vampire and the Queen of the Damned to name a few in that series. She even spotted a huge collection of muggle fairytales such as Peter Pan, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Red Riding Hood, Alice in Wonderland, and many other titles included of the same genre. Lastly, she picked up The Count of Monte Cristo, Dangerous Liaisons and twenty-five titles from the Mills and Book collection.
After that, she decided to head to the till to pay, and told the others what she did not get today she would come back another day or once the internet was up and running she would look online. Once they reached the till they made a point of placing the books on the counter out of the basket themselves so the Sales Assistant did not noticed how more books fit in the basket then rightfully should have. There was one hundred and fifty two books, the Sales Assistant was stunned but never commented knowing she was going to make one hell of a commission off this customer.
Whilst the Sales Assistant scanned each book, the others discreetly removed all of the charms from the eight baskets. Remus made a mental note to place a minor charm on the Sales Assistant when they left the store, which worked so the woman knew she had just made a huge commission but would not think about how so many books had fitted inside of those eight small baskets. It was not a memory charm just a distraction kind of charm so the assistant would not become suspicious.
When she scanned all the books, the total came to four hundred and eighty pounds, but because she had spent so much and seem to like books, she explained to Harry if she filled out some short and brief paperwork she could register and join the Boarders Books book club. It allowed customers to purchase multiple books either online or in any Boarders Book store in the country and get a discount. The size of the discount depended on how many books and how much spent.
Harry agreed and filled out the paperwork and signed her signature on the blank strip on the back of the black and silver club card. The woman then swiped it through a slot on the till and activated the card. The new club card earned her a discount worth eighty-five pounds off the original price before paying three hundred and ninety five pounds.
After accepting her new club card and signing the stores copy of the receipt, she took her own copy. She then helped the others and picked up four of the bags full of books, two in each hand. Tonks took the same, while Cedric and Remus had three in each hand. Luckily, the Sales Assistant had the sense to double up on each of the bags, seeing as she had placed ten books in thirteen of the bags and twelve in the fourteenth of the extra large bags.
They assured the Sales Assistant that they had come by car and did not have far to go so the risk of any of the bags splitting was minimal. When they left the store after Remus discreetly cast a charm on the Sales Assistant they quickly made their way to a nearby corner in the shade. Harry and Tonks stood in front of Cedric and Remus sheltering them from prying muggles eyes as they quickly shrunk down all fourteen large carrier bags and then placed them inside of Harry's backpack.
Cedric shook his head amazed as Harry zipped up her backpack. He said, "I cannot believe you just bought that many books and spent three hundred and ninety five pounds, hell would have Hermione done that." Harry replied, "It was more than worth it, and now that I have them I do not have to buy them again. All I will do is add to the collection repeatedly once finished with what I have bought today. Though what I have there I do not honestly think I will buy more until well after the war, it will take me a long while to read even half of that, what with it being my last year at Hogwarts and my training and medical training on top of reading and studying for class."
She paused before adding, "As for Hermione, no she normally does not splurge, but if she could afford it and seen what was inside of that store I hardly think she would have been able to stop herself, or anyone been able to hold her back. I know I could not there was so much to choose from, and I love to read but nothing even close to the level Hermione does, so you can well imagine what damage she would have done in there."
Their next stop was Starbucks and after ordering their choice of drinks and desserts, Tonks and Remus sat three tables down from Harry and Cedric, wanting give the younger pair some privacy, yet still be able to see and get to the younger witch if any trouble was caused and they needed to protect her. The older couple drank their drinks and ate their desserts, all whist keeping a discreet eye on Harry. The younger pair talked and laughed as they ate and drank, and had the chance to learn and ask things about the other they would never dreamed of before engaged to each other.
After finishing their drinks and deserts, their next stop was Molton Brown, and Harry positively had the time of her life inside of that beautifully perfumed scented smelling store. She purchased multiple candles in different colour, size, shape and various stunning scents. She also purchased the same shampoo and conditioner she found in Boots but only bigger bottles and much more expensive. Her purchases included bath salts, bombs and pearls, along with shower gels, bubble baths, moisturisers and lotions of various size, colour and scent.
Even Tonks had enjoyed what the store had to offer and purchased four candles, two body lotions and finally two bubble baths. Her purchase did not cost near as much as the two hundred pounds Harry had spent. The difference being Harry had all of her inheritances, whereas Tonks relied on her wages as an Auror.
After they left the store and Harry's purchases with shrunken down and stored in her backpack, they headed for their final destination, that being Harrods. In there she picked four lovely cashmere cardigans, one in black, another in sapphire blue, a cream coloured one, and finally one in a shade of deep emerald green. She also selected four pairs of dress pants that had a silky sheen to them, in colours black, deep navy blue, a silvery dove grey and finally a pair in deep chocolate brown. She also selected six pairs of jeans each slim fitting and boot cut legged, in colours deep purple, black, deep blue, white, dark red and dark emerald green. Lastly, she picked up six silk blouses and six long sleeved t-shirts in colours purple, black, cream, emerald green, white, and finally blue.
After leaving the store, shrinking and storing her purchases in her backpack, it was at this point they decided it was time to stop for the rest of the weekend. Harry needed a break, as did the others, as it had been a long and tiring couple of days. Harry sidelong apparated with Cedric back to the same alleyway behind of the Leaky Cauldron they had come from earlier on that afternoon.
She moaned and buried her face in his chest as she grumbled around an irritable growl, "I hate apparition, damn it, I hate it!" This was how Remus and Tonks found them when they appeared in the alleyway a few moments later. Cedric at some point had wrapped his arms around Harry, whilst burying his face in her hair as he tried to stifle an amused grin.
Remus raised a brow and asked as Tonks smirked wondering what they had missed, "And what's this I see?" Cedric replied as he lifted his face from Harry's hair and said with ill concealed mirth colouring his tone, "Oh you mean this, well, this would be one Harry Potter bemoaning apparition again, for example, 'Apparition I hate it, damn it, I hate it' which is a direct quote from the witch herself by the way."
Harry finally removed her face from his chest and made a point to deliver a sharp jab with her elbow to his side as she pulled back, causing him to let out a brief grunt of both amusement and slight pain. She grumbled as she looked up at the others and said, "Quit mocking me, it is no laughing matter apparating to me is a right ruddy foul way to travel. Travelling from one place to another has no business being this disconcerting or unpleasant whatsoever."
Harry sniffed looking generally disgruntled and ruffled as Remus and Tonks chuckled. Remus signed and ran a hand though his hair as he asked amused yet there was a slight undertone of worry as he said, "Oh Harry, I cannot begin to imagine what you will be like and how you are going to cope come Monday during your apparition testing." He shook his head as he added, "The method and written part to be honest I can see you passing with flying colours, yet the practical part of the examination, well, that's where I am really starting to worry and wonder whether you can do it, or should I say will you want to do it."
Harry grunted and shrugged as she replied, "That's just it I don't honestly know until I am there doing it, though I do know I absolutely despise sidelong apparating, which is all I have been subjected to at this point. Perhaps sole apparition might piss me off less and feel less like as if I am being dismembered and shoved though a really damn narrow tube before being rearranged and spat out again at the other end."
Cedric had to stifle a snort as he tried to get his head around the particular mental images his currently disgruntled fiancée had just ever so graciously painted for him. Harry let out a tired sigh before remarking in a somewhat disgruntled tone, "Now, when you have quite finished mocking me I would like to get back to headquarters so I can set up my new trunk with my new books. And after that if I have time before my solicitor arrives and to nights meeting I would like a nap before dinner."
They made their way to the pub all the while not mentioning the floo trip they were about to take, especially as Harry looked about ready to hex the next person to look at her wrong. Cedric considered that perhaps his fiancée had reached her limit for the day, for example sidelong apparition twice accompanied by flooing also twice by the time they reached headquarters. Yes, he decided as he took in the weary grimace on her face, he definitely would say she had more than reached her limit and the near end of her tolerance.
Harry went though the floo first and as soon as she stumbled out at the other end at headquarters, the first thing she heard was the sound of the infuriating screeching and disgustingly racist and discriminative slurs of Walburga Black inside of her portrait.
Ok, now let it be said that before she changed back and on a normal day she would have ignored the current ongoing scene having had the time since fifth year to become accustomed to it. However, she had changed back and it was not considered a normal day, hell more like not a normal last couple of days, so it was hardly surprising at least to Harry that what happened next did.
Harry narrowed her eyes having heard and had enough of what was happening right in front of her. It was without any warning to those currently present in the main hall that she barked irritably at the foul older witch in the portrait, "Oh do shut your damned mouth Mrs. Black!"
She added in a very biting and waspish tone, "Whether you realise this or not, let me tell you this, that your ranting and raving disgusting discriminative and racist slurs have become such old hat that they are practically falling upon deaf ears." She paused and let out a heaving breath before sneering cruelly, "Get over yourself and get yourself a new campaign of insults already, no one cares or gives an actual damn in this house about pureblood supremacy crap any longer, except for that old house elf of yours, Merlin you have well and truly brainwashed that elf."
She walked to stand almost nose to nose with the witch in the portrait and told her in a tone dripping with icy cruel malice, "Get the picture already you, you foul banshee are stone cold dead, have met your maker, are worm food, pushing up the daisies, and are a bloody portrait for Merlin's sake."
She paused to grit her teeth as her angered increased by the second, "Get it though to your thick and obstinate mind that this is no longer your house and has not been ever since your death. You are a disgusting blight on what could be a perfectly good home if only your portrait was not stuck hanging on this wall for all to see and hear whenever they enter though the front door or the floo."
She said around a fierce snarl once pausing to catch her breath, "Finally, make no mistake here Mrs. Black, that if it were not for the fact you have had something done to your portrait that is preventing its removal from the wall, I would gladly help your son tear it down and burn it to cinders." She concluded in a deadly calm tone that was decidedly worse than if she had snarled or shouted, "Now you take the time to think about that before you mention the terms filthy Mudblood or blood traitors in my presence from now on."
Before a shocked and positively enraged Mrs. Black could say a word in reply Harry sent a powerful wandless and none verbal silencing charm at the portrait with a careless flick of her wrist of her wand hand. With that done, she turned from the now very much silenced portrait and ignored a stunned Sirius and a smirking Severus. Albus, Minerva and Mrs. Weasley eyed her in shocked wonder as if they had never seen her before.
The final two were Hermione and Ron, Hermione looked troubled, while Ron on the other hand was caught between gobsmacked and wanting to cheer out aloud that finally, someone had shut that ruddy portrait up and done it in style. In Ron's eyes, what she had just done had been beyond sweet.
Unknown to Harry, Cedric and the others had come though the fire just in time to witness Harry delivering Mrs. Black's portrait a positively scorching verbal blasting of both her life and afterlife before wandlessly and silently silencing the portrait with a careless flick of her wrist. Meaning when she was out of earshot and had gone upstairs to her bedroom, they were just as stunned as everybody else present was.
Sirius looked incredulous when he turned to the other three and asked, "What in Merlin's name has happened since this morning to put her in a mood like that?" He added quickly around a wide smirk, "Not that I am about to complain about what she just said to and how she handled my disgusting excuse for a mother of course, oh no believe me when I say I definitely feel the utter most gratitude for that?" Truly, he did and was absolutely blown away, yet was also worried as he wondered what must Harry being feeling and going through right then to let loose like she had, even if it had been his inhuman beast of a mother on the receiving end.
Cedric and Tonks were caught between laughter and cringing at what the older wizard had just said. Remus on the other hand replied to Sirius's question, "Padfoot, I honestly think it is a mixture of things that have made Harry blow like she just has. For one it has not been two days yet since she went through a life changing and altering transformation, which unfortunately she had no ample prior warning of beforehand."
Tonks added wincing in sympathy, "On top of not only discovering for practically her whole life she was not who she thought she was, combine that with discovering she still actually has living relatives that were concealed from her up until yesterday. Worst of all she has been made aware that the house which she spent over a decade and a half being mentally and physically abused in was in fact all along meant to be hers to inherit when she came of age."
Cedric sighs as he added, "Finally of course, there is today, and put it this way she in total sidelong apparated twice with me and also had to use the floo twice as well. Now considering how she feels about any form of wizarding transportation that is not a broomstick to say she has reached the limit of her tolerance would be a major understatement." He paused and smirked before adding, "Finally, after what she said before we flooed back here also gave me a real clue to her current mood, for example, 'I hate apparition, damn it, I hate it' which was a direct quote from the witch herself."
Ron sniggered, while Hermione's lips twitched ever so slightly as if trying to suppress the urge to smile, though something told her the other witch would not appreciate amusement at her expense about this. Though what Cedric pointed out next was truly sobering for them as they realised the very valid point he made.
Cedric concluded, "Now combine all of that with everything else we know but have not mentioned so far, hardly surprising she truly lost it when she heard your mother sprouting all of that pureblood, Mudblood and blood traitor crap. I'd say she made it perfectly clear only last night what she thought of that subject when she was mentioning Malfoy Junior, and a certain nutcase, namely Voldie as she has taken to calling that monster."
Sirius on the other hand moaned out aloud and covered his eyes with his right hand in exasperation as he said, "She has her apparition test Monday morning for her licence." He cringed as he added, "I dread to think how that process is going to turn out." He continued sadly asking, "But how can we help her whenever we mention all we kept from her she verbally tears us to shreds, not that I can honestly blame her for her reaction, but still?"
Hermione said worriedly, "Perhaps it would help if she spoke to someone who is more removed from the situation and is willing to talk to her and give her advice, yet at the same time will not mollycoddle her and has no issue telling her the truth whether she wants to hear it or not." She added, "Besides we all know what mollycoddling Harry gets us, she hates it, probably because she never received any of that with her dreadful relatives and had no choice but to be self-dependent." She concluded asking in an incredulous tone, "I mean really, who in their right frame of mind would dare to consider actually relying on the Dursleys as a plausible or sane option?"
Ron asked, "What I wanna know is how she is going to take the apparating test on Monday without being seen, and her being a witch from getting out before she is ready?" Everyone looked at Ron incredulously, that it was he of all people to show the surprising common sense to think of never mind actually bringing up an actual real concern. Ron snorted and rolled eyes and drawled out in pure sarcasm, "Yeah, I know what you're all thinking and it's not the least bit ruddy insulting."
Sirius stifled a snort before quickly interrupting when he saw not only Hermione and Mrs. Weasley open their mouths to comment, but worst of all Snape as well which he knew without a doubt would not go down well at all. "To answer your question Ron, very simple actually, considering how I called in a favour with an Order member, who by chance happens to be the head examiner for the apparition board. He is going to be the one to test her in private and have her paperwork and licence processed personally if she passes so no one will have access until Harry is back at Hogwarts" he said.
He added, "In fact, he will be coming tonight and wants to meet with Harry and explain what will be expected of her Monday, even says he has a book with the exam questions for her to go through so she can revise for the test and be prepared for the written and actual practical. I just hope that talk will not be long as Robert her solicitor will be arriving within the next half an hour to meet and to debrief her on her assets both wizarding and muggle." He concluded, "And perhaps to discuss Harry's ideas for the Daily Prophet and get the process started with the current owners."
Albus cleared his throat thinking it high time they got down to business, they had been standing talking in the entrance hall for the past ten minutes or so, and could probably go on for longer if he did not interrupt, and he still needed to speak with Harry and to prepare for the Order meeting later on.
He said when he had everyone's attention, "I will need to speak with Miss Potter when Severus does about her studies with him. I on the other hand wish to speak with her and offer her the opportunity to join the Order tonight, along with Miss Granger-Black and Mr. Ronald Weasley."
Molly opened her mouth to protest and let her horror and how much she greatly disapproved of such a concept of what Albus was planning be known. Albus was having none of it, there was absolutely no way he was going to allow Molly Weasley to interfere and try to stop his plans from coming to function.
He held up a hand and said, "I am sorry Molly, but they are the age of consenting adults, which means the decision of whether to except my offer or not is their decision to make." He added at Molly's continued expression of pure stubborn disapproval, "I am certain he along with Miss Granger-Black and Mr. Diggory will be the individuals who will be by her side and accompanying her when she searches for the Horcruxes no matter how she will protest their presence. I am certain neither will ever allow her to partake in such a task on her own no matter how she will undoubtedly try to persuade them otherwise."
The three in question nodded firmly confirming what he said to be correct. Cedric said firmly, "Oh trust me when I say she is stuck with me, Hermione and Ron whether she likes it or not. She does not get a say or allowed to question it." Hermione added, "To search for the Horcruxes on her own would be pure insanity and nothing short of suicidal." Ron snorted as he said, "Ha, oh please I and Mione have not spent almost seven years arguing against Harry trying to play the lone hero or now I guess lone heroine, to stop now, not ruddy likely. And something tells me Diggory will be more than happy to join us." Cedric returned the snort and drawled, "Goes without saying that does."
Molly fumed and was not about to allow this to continue further for a moment longer, it was positively preposterous. Before she could voice her objections Albus quickly said, "They will not be the only young members to join, as after all we do have Mr. Diggory and even Miss Chang, Miss Delacour, and Miss Johnson, and will even have Mr. Longbottom after tonight."
He added at Ron and Hermione's surprised expressions, "His grandmother believes that it is high time he joined the war effort now he is of age, that keeping him behind the scenes and oblivious to what is happening around him will not increase his chances of survival, only being able to defend himself will do that."
He concluded, "I happen to wholeheartedly agree that hiding and mollycoddling him will not keep him alive any more so than it will Miss Potter or Miss Granger-Black and your son. Besides, Mr. Longbottom has expressed the interest to join when I represented the offer, he is all for it as long as he is able to watch and keep an eye on Miss Potter's back, wanting to return the favour for her teaching him to defend himself during DA meetings was what he informed me when we spoke this afternoon."
Mrs. Weasley finally found the opportunity to voice her opinion and Merlin did she voice it. "I will not have another child of mine risking their lives, it is bad enough the twins, Bill and Charlie have joined already, I will not have my youngest son going down the same dangerous route not if I have any say in the matter he will not. They are children Albus not even yet finished with their education what help could they possibly be to the Order? No I absolutely forbid it Albus, forbid it!"
Ron quickly interrupted his mothers ranting and said firmly, "I hate to break it to you mum but I am seventeen and legally of age, meaning I am old enough to make my own decisions without your input. Trust me mum I am making a decision right now, and will be accepting the Headmaster offer to join the order of the Phoenix."
He paused before adding at her furious scowl of disapproval and said, "Nothing you can say or do will make me change my mind. Believe me despite what you all seem to think of me, I know we are at war and war is not a game, that people can and do end up dead every single day without so much as a warning."
He sighed and took a deep breath before continuing unflinchingly under his mother's furious and blistering gaze, "I know what I am getting myself into, believe me I do, and am not about to walk into this blindly. I have been in almost constant danger since my first year at Hogwarts, and not about to stop now that the war has finally taken a serious and more lethal turn."
He shook his head and continued with such vehemence that Hermione had to stifle a gasp of shock. "I will be by Harry's side until the end, and whether I live or I die I will fight in this war, at the end of the day it is my right as a wizard to defend my world as is it anyone else's" he told his mother.
He bit his lower lip before saying, "I am sorry mum but you are not going to get your way, not his time and at least not about this. If you need to stop one of us kids so desperately from joining the war effort then our Ginny at sixteen, she is the only one of us left that you can have a say and actually overrule. Percy does not count at this point seeing as he is of age and the traitorous prat has already deserted and turned his back on his family."
Mrs. Weasley was bright Weasley red from fury and sheer indigence of her second youngest child daring to defy her to such a degree. Just as she was about to open her mouth to give him a piece of her mind, was when he held up his hand in a silent plea as he told her in a fierce tone. "Enough just stop already. I love you mum and know that you think you are only protecting me and know what is best for me, but in fact you need to know that you are smothering me. Please you need to let go and let me live my own life and makes my own mistakes. You need to finally realise I am not a little boy anymore."
He added in a more subdued tone and said, "I do not want to die anymore than the next wizard or witch does, but if I do die during this war then I want to go out fighting for what I know is the right thing to do." He finally concluded in pure exasperation having said all he was going to, "Really mum we could do this all night long but I reckon that everyone else wants to get out of this hallway already and stop having to listen to you fighting against something you cannot change."
Molly had tears streaming down her cheeks and looked as if she had been slapped. Ron did not bother comforting her, he could not and knew he was in the right, and would not change his mind because he made his mother cry as much as that made him feel terribly guilty he would not back down or cower to his mother's demands. His mother, Harry and Hermione wanted him to finally grow up and realise that this was a war and more important than a Quidditch game, well he was doing that now, better late than never he figured.
Ron spared his mother one last glance before turning on his heel and leaving the front hallway. Hermione looked troubled yet she knew Ron was right and she was ever so immensely proud of him for taking a stand finally and showing there was potential for maturity in Ron. She cleared her throat and said to the Headmaster, "Thank you for the offer and yes I will be taking you up on that offer Headmaster." Finally, before leaving to follow Ron she shot a truly apologetic glance at Mrs. Weasley.
Ron had left a decidedly stunned silence in his wake. Molly Weasley clenched her jaw as she shot a firm yet apologetic Albus a furious black filled look. She spat waspishly, "I hope you know what you have done Albus Dumbledore. If my son dies it will be on your conscious, his blood will be on your hands for involving him in this Order, this war, make no mistake of that!" She then stormed away heading for the kitchen before she cursed the older wizard.
Severus was mildly surprised with how the youngest Weasley male had handled himself, and apparently was some hope for him yet, would wonders ever cease he mused in mild amusement. He wondered if the red haired wizard could keep up his sudden streak of maturity, or would it fall by the wayside when the time for action truly counted and needed and the pressure that came with making life and death decisions were involved.
He cleared his throat and asked Albus, "Shall we visit with Miss Potter; I have a list of books and potions ingredients for her buy for her private lessons?" He added, "I would prefer to deliver the list and answer any questions she will no doubt have before everyone else arrives for dinner and the meeting." Albus replied, "Of course, seeing as if you she agrees to my offer she will be expected to not only attend dinner but the meeting to, so best to get your business with her sorted when I extend my offer."
Sirius did not appreciate the thought of Snape teaching Harry one bit, but knew he had to face facts; Snape was a master Occulmens and Legilimens. On top of that, he was one of the best and most talented Potions Masters in all of Great Britain. Harry deserved the best, and unfortunately in Sirius's opinion Snape just so happened to be the best. He knew he needed to put aside his dislike for Snape and allow Harry to get the best education and training available.
He cleared his throat as he remembered Harry's living arrangement issues for the up and coming year at Hogwarts, and knew Minerva would need to join the other two when they saw Harry. "Oh actually Minerva you might want to join them, seeing as I feel you need to discuss sleeping and living arrangements at Hogwarts for the up and coming school year with Harry." He paused and grimaced slightly as he added, "She hates Lavender Brown one of the seventh year girls she will be sharing a dormitory with."
Minerva raised a stern brow as she asked, "Are you saying that Miss Potter is refusing to share a dormitory with Miss Brown?" Sirius nodded and told the older witch, "That's exactly what I am saying here Minerva. She hates her and insists she will not be hold accountable for what she will end up saying and doing if the Brown girl provokes her. She has promised she will refrain from doing or saying anything until Brown does, then all bets are well and truly off."
Minerva replied firmly, "I cannot move Miss Potter to a private set of quarters of her own in less Miss Brown and Miss Patil display any protest about sharing a dormitory, considering that they knew her when she was a wizard." Sirius smirked as he replied in a somewhat grim tone, "Ah yes, about that, Harry says she would be sure and glad to make certain both witches, Brown in particular, had something to protest."
Remus grimaced grimly and added, "In fact she has expressed the urge to curse Miss Brown Bald. I truly worry over the fact of Hermione most likely not being in the same dormitory to hold her back means Miss Brown might in the future be seeing the hospital wing on a regular basis. Apparently even though she has never shown such behaviour in the past Harry knows how to hold onto a fierce grudge, namely fourth year during the Triwizard tournament and those unfortunate articles Miss Brown commented in of Rita Skeeter's about Harry, Hermione and Viktor Krum. Now being female seems to have escalated these ill feelings in Harry towards the other witch."
Minerva spluttered indignantly, while Severus let out a loud snort, and knew that ability to hold onto a grudge with such fierce and firm determination came from both of her parents. He on some level understood where Potter was coming from. Lavender Brown was as blonde as her hair suggested, and was only moderately better then Longbottom at potions, and that was not saying an awful lot as far as Severus was concerned.
Sure he supposed she had a somewhat firm grasp on DADA but it was nowhere in the same league as Potter was capable of. She did not have a hope or prayer in hell of producing near a fourth of the power Potter was mostly likely capable of after her magic surge on her seventeenth birthday. He wagered she had received the lions share if the wandless and no verbal silencing charm she had cast with such effortless ease on Walburga Black's disgustingly annoying wailing portrait was anything to judge.
Albus cleared his throat and said to his clearly ruffled Transfiguration Professor and deputy, "Perhaps Minerva dear it would be best to allow Miss Potter the use of her own rooms and space considering her schedule this year. It would not do for her to arrive from a training session after curfew and wakeup her dorm mates." He added after a brief pause and said, "I understand that Miss Brown has burnt more than a few valuable bridges with Miss Potter during the tournament when she allowed Rita Skeeter to use her services."
Minerva asked, "But which set of rooms would we set her up in?" Albus replied, "The set nearby to the hospital wing, it has its own common room, a small kitchen, a rather quite large bedroom and adjoining bathroom, you know the one with the tub half the size of the bath in the prefects bathroom, even has all of those taps to. The very same rooms we use when we have special guests visit the school. I feel Harry deserves a little luxury and comfort considering how strenuous her training sessions are going to be."
He added, "Of course there is the added bonus of it being nearer to the teacher's wing, meaning she will be far from the students staring and gossiping. On the plus side, her rooms will not be that far from Mr. Diggory's either, which will allow them to spend more time getting to know the other before they marry, and without the stares and whispers of others. I am hoping he will be able to give her an extra helping hand with her studies."
He concluded, "We will also be able to keep an eye on her progress with her training and make certain she is close to my office and to the hospital wing should she need of Poppy or I if Voldemort sends her anymore unfriendly dreams or visions through her scar. If she is close by means that Poppy can treat her much more quickly."
What he was not saying out aloud was the fact if he allowed Harry to have her own rooms then not only would it mean that he could keep an extra close eye on her whereabouts and other activities. It also would earn him better standing with her and might defrost some of the frosty reception he was on the receiving end of from Harry. If only he knew it would take more than a set of fancy pretty rooms for her to decorate to heart's content to get back in her good standing, she never was much for being bribed or buying your way back into her good graces.
Therefore, with that decided the three of them made their way upstairs after Sirius informed them which door was to Harry's bedroom. Sirius and the others finally left the main entrance hall and decided to head to the kitchen and brave the possible wrath of Molly Weasley who was fuming as she made that evenings meal knowing she was cooking for the Order as well as the usual residents of Grimmauld Place.
Upstairs outside of Harry's room Albus knocked on the door and called out to her asking, "Miss. Potter it is professor Dumbledore, would it be possible for I and Professors McGonagall and Snape to enter and discuss some important business with you, all which I believe will benefit you greatly?" There was a noticeable yet brief pause before an audible sigh, followed by the reply, "The door is unlocked."
Albus opened the door and entered followed in by Severus and Minerva, who closed the door quietly behind her. The three could not help but take in the room, and noted how big it was, clearly the result of an extension charm. Minerva could not hide her honest delight at the array of French furniture; it was truly stunning and positively elegant. If this was her bedroom at headquarters then she could well imagine what the younger witch would do with the set of rooms she would receive at Hogwarts.
They noticed Harry's leather jacket draped over the neatly made bed, while the witch in question was kneeling and sat on her bare feet on the rug at the foot of her bed. She appeared to be busy placing numerous books inside of an evidently new, larger, and undeniably expensive trunk. She looked right at ease and clearly at home in her surroundings they noted, and had never seen her look like this before, especially when she had been a wizard.
Severus eyed the various titles he saw her placing inside of one of the trunks large and vast compartments. For example, he spotted Charles Dickens, Roald Dahl, and William Shakespeare. He quirked a brow at the other tiles he spotted such as Ann Rice's The Vampire Chronicles, Bram Stokers Dracula, The Count of Monty Cristo and Dangerous Liaisons, even Mills & Boon.
What also surprised him were not only the romance novels but also the fairy tales he spotted such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Little Red Riding Hood, Peter Pan, and finally Alice in Wonderland. He even took quick note of the Medical Charms and Potions texts, including a medical encyclopaedia. Even advanced Potions, Transfiguration, Charms and DADA's texts, and was pleased to note the sight of the Occlumency and Legilimency texts.
He commented, "Quite the collection you have here Potter, well, you're about to add to it." He took out a piece of rolled up parchment from his pocket of his robes and handed it to Harry, who at this point had stood and moved to sit down on the stool in front of her vanity.
She accepted the rolled up parchment, unrolled it, and scanned its content, discovering eight titles of different texts. There was also quite a long list of complex potions ingredients that she had no doubt would also be expensive. She instantly knew that the ingredients were the sort only found inside of Professor Snape's private stores, which even students in Newt level Potions did not use or have access to.
She looked up from the parchment and asked, "When will all of this be needed?" Severus replied, "Like I said in Diagon Alley I recommend you purchase the texts and ingredients Monday after your apparition testing. Also your mind better be clear by the time of our first lesson, I recommend practising clearing your mind for an hour before you to sleep tonight." Harry nodded as he added, "I have also decided that during the school year you will be having not only private Potions lessons but also DADA lessons as well."
He paused before concluding, "I admit I did not mention that I am also under strict orders from the Dark Lord to get closer to you Potter, in order to lead you into a sense of false security. I am to report to the Dark Lord about your extracurricular activities, to report on what you have said or done in hopes of finding any sort of weaknesses to use against you. I only plan on giving him the bare minimal information and definitely will not be mentioning the private lessons, that's not what the Dark Lord wants, as obviously he does not want you prepared or even given the remotest chance of being able to defeat him."
Harry nodded knowing he was right. Before she turned her gaze on Albus wondering what he wanted and was planning for her now when the elder wizard cleared his throat gaining her attention. He said, "I have two things to discuss with you the first involves Professor McGonagall she being your head of house." He continued at her nod and said, "Now it has been brought to mine and Professor McGonagall's attention that you are very much against sharing sleeping quarters with the seventh year girls in your house, one Miss Brown in particular."
Harry screwed up her face in disgust at the sound of the name and the very thought of they not agreeing to letting her have her own living and sleeping space for that up and coming school year. She told them straight, "Sorry to be of an inconvenience, but I have to be honest here when I say I have the overwhelming urge to curse or hex her bald, followed by the much needed casting of a chastity charm lasting until she is least in a stable relationship and not spreading herself around and graduated from Hogwarts. I mean seriously I can easily see her ending up pregnant before graduation next year and will truly be amazed whether she will actually be able to identify the father."
Severus could not help but smirk appreciatively and knowingly, while Minerva flustered scandalised. Everyone in that room knew what she was not so subtly implying Lavender liked to sleep around, or as Molly Weasley would say, a scarlet woman. If Molly had called Lavender that now instead of Hermione at fourteen then she would have been completely correct.
Albus asked, "Are Miss Brown's relationship habits the only issue?" Harry looked incredulous as she replied, "Far from it Headmaster." She added, "I cannot tolerate the way she gossips and spreads rumours, rumours that are often harmful and have far reaching consequences then even she is aware of."
She shook her head and scowled as she asked, "Remember last year that poor Ravenclaw who end up trying to rearrange Lavender's face that she end up in the hospital wing?" She paused and grimaced as she added, "She actually slept with the wizard the witch had been dating, and after that to add insult to injury Lavender spreads around the whole school that the other witch was a lesbian and would not know how to pleasure a wizard, not even one old enough to be her grandfather. That right there Headmaster, that's a classical example of why Lavender Brown is poisonous."
She spat irritably as she continued, "The way she eyed and would act around both Cedric and Viktor Krum during the tournament, and only went after Cedric because his name came of the Goblet of Fire and is very easy on the eyes. As for Viktor, she followed him around trying to get him to take her to the ball as his date all because one he is a famous seeker and second he was one of the Triwizard champions. She in short wanted to extend her fifteen minutes of fame in the spotlight, and naturally she could not get it with me after her stunt with Skeeter and I turned her down letting her know exactly what I thought of her, so why not go after the next best thing."
She paused to scowl before saying in a waspish tone, "But what mainly makes me want curse or hex her into a lengthy stay in the hospital wing, well, that was when she allowed that foul bitch Rita Skeeter into the school. She allowed her to spy on me, even on Hermione, whilst in her unregistered Animagus form, which by the way is a beetle with circular markings around her eyes where those Merlin awful ugly glasses of hers would be."
She glowered and clenched before unclenching her hands into fists round the parchment from Severus still in her hands, and quickly placed it down on her vanity before she could tear it. She spat, "Lavender told Skeeter how Hermione was supposedly dating me and Viktor at the same time. I am certain you all remember all too well that several readers of the Daily Prophet, Mrs. Weasley included, referred to Hermione as a scarlet woman that year. If that was not enough one crazed fan even went as far as to send Bubotuber Pus in an envelope to Hermione who end up in the hospital wing for Merlin's sake."
She gritted her teeth as she continued, "I despise the way she would try to be seen with me so they believed she was a friend of the 'Boy Who Lived', even went as far as to be among those other witch's who asked me to the Yule ball." She snorted and sneered incredulously as she asked, "Merlin how dense and airheaded would she actually need to be to even dare to dream I would accept her offer to go to the Yule ball with her after her little childish bid for the spot light and her fifteen minutes of fame by talking to Skeeter of all damned reporters?"
She added, "Then there is the ways she snubs both Hermione and Luna Lovegood. She is jealous of the close friendship Hermione has with Ron, and jealous of the fact Ron loves and is dating Luna and turned her down at the end of sixth year when she tried to get him back after their pathetic excuse for a fling during the beginning of sixth year until the middle."
She paused and grimaced before saying, "I am certain you all, particularly Professor Snape, remember and seen for yourselves her antics after the love potion laced chocolates incident during the middle of the year. Ron ate those chocolates and when he was in the hospital wing after the antidote Lavender started wailing when Ron called out Luna's name in his sleep alerting everyone to exactly whom he wanted to be with and not who he currently was with."
She finally concluded, "Finally let me make this clear if you were not aware already, Romilda Vane was the one who laced those chocolates meant for me, but Ron got to them first. That was always going to be the case, and if he had not eaten them, they would have gone stale and to waste. I think the chocolates she sent me are disgusting on the best of days. Oh and Merlin the thought of what she must have thought of me to give me love potion laced chocolate is even more disgusting and makes my skin bloody crawl."
Severus inwardly sneered oh yes he remembered that all too well after all he had been the one to administer the antidote after the disgusting display gone wrong. Cornelia had been off grounds for the afternoon having business to take care of at Gringotts so she had not been present or able to give the antidote. However, she had been more than happy to agree to sit in on and monitor the detention Minerva a given Romilda Vane. She disliked those who made fools and a mockery out of the art of good Potion making. The fact those chocolates had originally meant for Harry had helped as well, from the moment she met Harry Cornelia had been quite fond of the raven-haired witch, then wizard.
Minerva sighed and said, "I see the point Miss Potter that placing you in the same dormitory as Miss Brown would be more disastrous then I or the other staff are strictly willing to condone or deal with the consequences." Albus added, "So that means Miss Potter you will be provided with unused guest rooms in the teacher's wing. It helps in any case, we do not need for you to be seen out after curfew and others start to become suspicious and spread rumours." He paused before adding, "In fact you are very much welcome to redecorate as you see fit, perhaps over the summer holidays when you floo to Hogwarts for your private lessons."
Harry looked positively relieved as she looked around her bedroom and said, "Much appreciated, and pretty much this is the style I'll be using to decorate, but black instead of white furniture, and emerald green, black and cream with soft gold ascents instead of purple, plum and Ivory." That sounded even appealing to Severus, and Minerva and Albus, Severus could imagine it perfectly and was mildly surprised of her choice of colours having figured she would have pick Gryffindor red and gold.
Harry asked the Headmaster, "So what was the second thing, you said there were two things you wanted to discuss?" She quickly added, "Oh and one more thing will I be able to keep the rooms once I graduate and start my medical training full time after the war is over, and possibly expand them to fit Cedric to after we are married?" She added, "It after all makes sense with them being in the teacher's wing." Albus replied, "Actually those rooms are located practically next door to the hospital wing, so yes."
He added, "As for the second order of business, I need to discuss with you the invitation I wish to extend to join and become a member of the Order of the Phoenix. The same invitation I have already extended to Miss Granger-Black and Misters Weasley and Longbottom, all whom having already accepted the invitations to join. All three were especially accommodating and accepting when I mentioned they would not be kept in the dark and would be able to help and cover your back with all of the information represented to them."
Harry nodded and gave her answer immediately after all she had been waiting for the opportunity finally to be in on the inside instead of constantly left outside in the dark and completely unaware of what was happening in the war. She said, "I am up for it, I need all of the information I can get my hands on, including the cooperation of the order, especially if am to succeed in taking down that psychopath for good this time."
She shook her head firmly as she informed the Headmaster, "There will be no third or even fourth chances this is it, Merlin sake he is already on his second attempt as it is." She paused before asking coldly, "Truly you have to ask yourself Headmaster, how many more innocent and not so innocent people have to needlessly die before he is finally stopped?"
Albus nodded and replied, "Of course, no one needs or wants a third or even a fourth repeat of this war, and once he is taken down it will be permanently as he has repeatedly proven he is passed redemption and for the wizarding world to consider him even fit to go to Azkaban. I strongly believe not even Azkaban will be able to hold him for long if at all. No I am afraid he must be stopped to the point that there is no chance of him ever being able to return."
Harry nodded firmly in agreement, before suddenly cringing as she remembers him mentioning the same offer to join the Order extended and accepted by Ron. She commented around a smirk, "Speaking of joining the Order, I wager Mrs. Weasley's reaction was less than pleased considering how over protective she can be. Then there is the fact I have never heard of anyone being allowed or asked to join the Order whilst still not a graduated Hogwarts student."
Albus looked wry as he replied, "Quite, she did not take it at all well as expected before I even asked. However, I must admit young Mister Weasley handled the situation rather quite admirably and with more maturity then I have seen from him so far. It seems there is hope for him, and that you and Miss Granger-Black telling him off seemed to have done some good and finally gotten through to him."
Harry raised a brow of surprise, which had Severus smirking and commenting with a mildly humorous tone, "Yes Potter I too was mildly surprised at the level of maturity he displayed considering his immature display about Quidditch of all things the previous evening." Harry returned the smirk and shook her head, oh no, she definitely was not going to go there. If Ron could show some maturity then good for him she was not about to knock it, whilst at the same time wondering how long such a display of maturity in her best male friend could possibly last.
Albus chuckled before saying, "Oh yes and you would be correct about the Order not recruiting members yet to have graduated Hogwarts." He paused before adding, "Unfortunately the war has escalated more so than last time. In addition, it will be you who will need to finish off Tom, which is why I believe having Misters Diggory, Weasley, and Miss Granger-Black in the Order will be for the best."
He paused once more before saying, "They alongside you will be the ones accompanying you with your search for the Horcruxes." He paused again as he saw the look of protest come over Harry's face, "Now, now Miss Potter it is a must, you cannot search for the remaining Horcruxes on your own, it is by no means shameful to ask for help when genuinely needed."
He continued, "Besides, I need members on the inside who have closer contact with the student body then say members of staff. I say who better than actual members of the student body to keep a discreet eye on certain members we have suspicions to believe have dark intentions." He concluded, "Then of course if Tom decides to send you more unfriendly visions or dreams I will need you to report it during Order meetings."
Harry nodded and said, "Fine." She added, "Oh and whilst on the subject I still stand by what I said last night, I still say and believe you should check out or in the very last keep a close eye on both Corners and Finch-Fletchley." Severus rolled his eyes and asked exasperatedly, "You are not going to let that go are you Potter?" Harry shook her head as she replied firmly, "Not a chance, least not until I or someone else has sold proof that I am wrong I won't."
Severus shook his head in even deeper exasperation and drawled silkily, "I reserve the right to say I told you so when it turns out you are wrong Potter, just you know and remember that." Harry instead of becoming offended smirked and replied just as silkily, "Oh believe me when I say Professor that we will most definitely see about that."
Albus and Minerva on the other hand inwardly sighed at the situation and the stubborn and hardheaded antics of the pair, knowing without a doubt that one was just as bad and unrelenting as the other was.