Chapter 55
Owl Post
Author's Note: This will be in Harry's PoV.
Because of the current events, Harry didn't know how long the Floo Network and the Apparation Network would be activated. So, during the daylight of the following few days, he, Ginny, Ron and Hermione worked together to move things into his new house. They offered Mrs. Weasley to help them, but she said this would be a great group project for the four of them, and politely refused.
After a tour of Harry's new, and for the moment, empty house, they apparated to Diagon Alley and went into Gringott's wizarding bank. Yellowfoot, the goblin that had helped Harry get down to his parents' vault, had been promoted recently to Head Goblin after the former Head had fallen ill. He gave permission to Harry to let him move the furniture out of the vault to the house, and also showed him how to do it. It was a complex spell, and even Hermione had a little trouble with it.
Because of the quantity of time that they would have to use Apparation, Harry and the others had to Apparate right into the house, in order to avoid Muggles spotting them. This made it much easier, though there were a few times where Harry and Ron nearly splinched themselves after apparating near a couch, chair, bed or other piece of furniture and tripping over them.
Unfortunately, the spell didn't move the furniture exactly where they needed to be in the house. Some of the furniture was meant to be upstairs, and the stairs were a bit narrow for magic. So some heavy lifting was called for.
"You don't appreciate magic -- for what it really is -- until you aren't doing it!" Ginny said, nearly breathless, as she helped Harry move the bed up the stairs.
"Y-yeah," Harry said.
Five minutes later, Harry and Ginny had finally managed to get the bed into the master bedroom. They sat on the bed, out of breath.
"I don't know how Muggles do it, Harry," Ginny said, "They move furniture like this all the time. Even heavier than this."
"There are people who do this for a living," Harry said.
"Should've hired them," Ginny said, with a laugh.
"I don't think they would take wizard money," Harry said.
Ginny laughed and laid back on the bed.
"I could get use to this place," she said.
"Yeah," Harry said, laying beside her.
Ginny smiled and leaned into Harry and kissed him full on the mouth. Harry
moved his hands around her small waist and returned her gentle kiss. Ginny gasped a little as Harry's hands reached her waist.
"Something wrong?" Harry asked, in mid-kiss.
"No," Ginny said, "Your hands are just a little cold. That's all."
"Oh," Harry said, "Maybe we shouldn't do this now. I haven't put any magical locks on the doors or anything, and… well, Ron and Hermione might come looking for us."
"Harry, if we can't have privacy in your own house," Ginny said, "Where could we have it?"
"We'll have all the privacy we'll need soon," Harry said.
"When, Harry?" Ginny asked, with a exasperated sigh, "Huh? When?"
"After you are out of Hogwarts," Harry said, "We've talked about this already, Gin."
"I know," Ginny said, sighing, "I've just been thinking a lot. I won't get to see you when I go back to Hogwarts."
"I could visit during Hogsmeade weekends, perhaps," Harry said.
"Yeah, but when will those be?" Ginny asked, "The professors haven't given us a schedule for those. Besides, you are going to be busy, right? You are going into Auror training soon?"
"Yeah, I will be," Harry said.
"You see," Ginny said.
She sighed and laid back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling.
"It's the worst part of going back to Hogwarts," Ginny said, "Even if it is for a few months. Knowing you won't be there is just… it's not a happy thought, Harry."
"We've talked about that too," Harry said, "You know how I would feel if you weren't focused on stuff at Hogwarts. You have N.E.W.Ts to look forward to."
Ginny scoffed.
"There is also Quidditch," Harry said, "You have one Quidditch match left. The scouts will be watching quite attentively for the future stars. Don't ruin that by being upset because I won't be there."
"I know," Ginny said.
Harry sighed. Ginny still looked a little down-heartened. Harry put his hand on her cheek, and she smiled a little.
"I love you, Ginny," he said.
"I love you too, Harry," Ginny said.
Harry leaned in to kiss her, when the doorbell rang. Harry turned.
"Who could that be?" Ginny asked, looking at Harry, "Does anyone else know you're here?"
"Er… yeah," Harry said, getting up off the bed quickly.
He hurried out of the room and headed down the stairs. He walked over to the door, where Ron and Hermione were.
"It's the doorbell, Ron," Hermione explained.
"Annoying bugger if you ask me," Ron said.
Hermione sighed and saw Harry over Ron's shoulder.
"Are you expecting anyone?" she asked.
"I just asked him the same thing," Ginny said behind Harry.
"I will explain it later," Harry said.
He walked over to the door and opened it. Agatha was there.
"Hi, Harry…Oh!" she said, in embarrassment, "You have friends over. I am sorry."
"It's okay," Harry said, "We are just moving things in."
"Really?" Agatha said, looking around, "I don't see a moving truck."
Hermione gasped.
"It's okay, Hermione," Harry said, knowingly, "She knows about the wizarding world."
"Oh, you're a witch?" Hermione asked Agatha.
"I am only a Muggle," Agatha said, shaking her head, "But I was dear friends with Harry's father and grandparents."
"Would you like to come in?" Harry asked.
"I wouldn't want to intrude," Agatha said.
"Oh, it is no intrusion," Harry said, "I want you to meet my friends."
Agatha agreed and walked in. Harry introduced her to Ron, Ginny and Hermione.
"Hermione's parents are Muggles too," Harry said, "They are dentists."
"You're Muggleborn?" Agatha said, "Just like Lily was, then."
"You didn't tell me you knew my mother," Harry said, shocked.
"Oh, I never met her," Agatha said, shaking her head, "But I know enough about her. You're father talked about her all the time. So you are moving things into the house using magic? Handy!"
"Yeah," Harry said.
"Oh, I bet you guys don't have anything to drink or eat here, do you?" Agatha asked.
"No," Ron said, quickly.
"How about I make some tea and biscuits then?" Agatha said, "I think I will. I will be back in a little bit."
Agatha walked out of the house, and Harry shut the door behind her.
"Nice lady," Hermione commented.
"She's been pretty lonely for a while," Harry said, "She is the one whose been keeping an eye on this place. It was something she promised my father the last time she talked to him."
"And you can trust her?" Hermione asked, "I mean, it isn't usually a good idea to expose the wizarding world to random Muggles."
"She has known about the wizarding world for more than thirty years, Hermione," Harry said, "I think I can trust her to keep it a secret."
"How did she find out that magic is real anyway?" Ginny asked.
"My father set fire to her carpet when she was babysitting him once," Harry said.
Ron snorted. Agatha returned a few minutes later with a tray full of biscuits, along with tiny marble tea cups and a matching teapot.
"Be careful with the tea pot, my dears," Agatha said, "It's had quite a lifetime, that has."
For the next thirty minutes, Harry, Agatha and the others had a wonderful conversation which consisted of the differences in everyday things Muggles and Wizards use (Harry was sure Mr. Weasley would enjoy hearing about some of this stuff), and then to more serious matters.
"I've been wanting to ask, Harry," Agatha said, "The wizarding world wouldn't be in the middle of a war, would it?"
Harry looked around at Hermione, Ron and Ginny. Each of them looked as surprised as he did that Agatha had asked that question.
"I wouldn't say we are in the middle of it, but yeah," Harry said, "The war is, more or less, almost over. Er… why do you ask?"
"Just confirming what I've been thinking about lately," Agatha said, "Your father and grandparents told me about a war that was going on in their time. Strange things were happening all over England, and it's been happening again. The news has been getting weirder and weirder, and they were having trouble explaining what was going on. For instance, the cold weather was due to problems with the glaciers in the arctic. Scientists said we could be in for another ice age. Rubbish, if you ask me, and I knew that it was! And you know how they explained the Millennium Bridge collapsing? A Hurricane! Yeah, scientists couldn't come up with rubbish good enough to explain how a Hurricane strong enough to knock down a bridge that big could disappear without causing more damage than that!"
"All caused by bad wizards," Harry said.
"Same wizard that did it all last time?" Agatha asked.
"It was," Harry said, "but he is dead now."
"Wonderful to hear," Agatha said.
"Hear, hear," Harry said, and drank the rest of his tea.
--
The day after everything was moved into the house, Harry said his goodbyes to the Weasleys and thanked them for everything. After promising a tearful Mrs. Weasley that he would visit whenever he could, and a promise to Ginny that he would see her before she returned to Hogwarts, he apparated from the Burrow to Diagon Alley, where he did some grocery shopping. Then he apparated back to his house. As he was putting the groceries away, an owl landed on the kitchen windowsill. An envelope was in his talons.
Harry took the envelope from the owl, who stayed on the windowsill.
"You are expecting a reply to send back, I suppose?" Harry asked.
The owl hooted.
"I guess I better read this, then," Harry said.
He looked at the back of the envelope. The Minister of Magic seal was on the back. He opened the envelope and took the letter, than read it:
Mr. Harry Potter,
I must apologize for not contacting you earlier. I will explain further in this letter. A couple days before Christmas, Minerva McGonagall came to my office, and we had quite the interesting conversation. She told me about the discovery that was made about Emelius Browne. I was all for firing the current Headmaster, and giving the job to Minerva, but she refused. She told me that Browne's family is being held captive by Death Eaters. This confirms what I had heard from the Auror John Dawlish days before he was killed.
Minerva also said that you wanted to find Browne's family yourself, with help from the Aurors. Ever since I had the meeting with Minerva, I've been in contacts with the Auror Department. I've talked to only a handful of Aurors: the same Aurors that will help you with your mission. Nobody else needs to know what is going on. I wouldn't even be writing this much in this letter if I didn't trust the new measurements in the Owl Post. Anyway, it took some time for the Aurors to accept the mission. You will understand that they were having some doubts. This is going to be dangerous and they know that. But they also know that this mission could end the Second War once and for all.
So this is what I request from you: reply back with the best possible time to meet me for an interview. Because of your past history, it has already been confirmed that you will be a brilliant addition to the Auror department. The Aurors that will be helping you are honored to work with (and I beg your pardon here) the "Hero of the Second War".
I hope to talk with you soon.
Kingsley Shacklebolt
Minister of Magic
Harry took the set of quills and ink from one of the bags and replied at the bottom of the letter.
Kingsley Shacklebolt,
Tomorrow at 9:00 sharp. See you then.
Harry Potter
Harry tied the note onto the owl's talon and sent him off. He flew into the sky then disappeared soon after going into flight.
Harry continued putting away the groceries, though with less gusto. It was official. Harry would be an Auror very soon, and he would be starting the mission that could very well end the Second War. Because of the excitement of moving into his own house, he had pushed the mission of rescuing Professor Browne's family to the back of his mind. With the Minister's letter, it was suddenly pushed forward again.
During the rest of the day and into the night, Harry was alone in his living room with only ink, a quill and parchment. He was writing ideas and stuff that he would need for the interview tomorrow and the mission with the Aurors that would follow.
He was in the middle of writing thoughts on where Browne's family could be, when he heard a pecking on the living room window. Harry got up quickly and walked over to it. He opened the window and Pigwidgeon flew in. Harry smiled as he walked over and grabbed the tiny owl out of the air. He figured Ginny had written to him.
When he took the letter and opened it, it wasn't Ginny's writing, but Ron's.
Harry,
George's shop in Diagon Alley has been attacked. George is in St. Mungo's. We will be there. Just thought I'd let you know.
Ron
--
Cliffhanger! I am sorry the chapter was short, but I got all I wanted in the chapter.
Next chapter should be up pretty soon!
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Feedback would be great!
