Conti...
"Alright then." Harry agreed. "Let's start this from the beginning." He leaned carefully against his father's desk, smiling slightly apologetically at Luna for the barrage of information that would follow. "My name is Harry Potter. And one Halloween night, when I was one and a half years old, I banished Voldemort."
Luna blinked rapidly as Harry breathed in and jumped into explaining what he could, his brothers and Ginny interjecting here and there, showing Luna a few memories in the pensive when he thought it necessary.
"I wasn't expecting that." Luna admitted; hands thrown around Neville as he held her in support.
"Nobody ever expects that." Draco assured her. "We surprise people; it's how we operate."
"So, basically, six people are handling the war preparations for the whole country." Luna carried on.
"And a few dozens of goblins." Harry added. "Though they will be obliviated later on." He frowned, trying to think of something to add in the face of that observation. "We did build a town though." He pointed out.
"And you're hunting down pieces of Voldemort's soul, two of which are hidden in Hufflepuff's Cup and Ravenclaw's Diadem."
"So, maybe we're a little bit crazy." Neville admitted, looking at her tentatively. Luna blinked once, twice and then smiled widely.
"As luck would have it, so am I." She stage whispered, evoking a relieved chuckle from her boyfriend.
"Well then, Luna Lovegood," Harry said, claiming the attention of all four teens, "welcome to the family."
Continuation……..
...Severus entered his office to the sound of laughter and chuckling, giving a relieved smile. "So, Miss.Lovegood has been brought up to date." He commented.
"Whatever was possible, in a couple of hours." was Harry's smiling response.
"It's already time for dinner," said Prof.Snape. "We will be missed in the Great Hall. All of you should make your way there."
A chorus of "Yes Sir" with a "Yes dad" thrown in was the boisterous response, followed by a mass exodus towards the Great Hall.
Routine classes followed with weekend visits to Orbien. Heavy loads of classwork and homework were piled on all the students by the professors during their all-important OWL year.
The exception being DADA, which was monotonously theoretical - reading from the "stupid, useless" textbook, - occasionally broken from ennui by the arguments arising between Umbridge and Adrian, and once with Hermione, invariably ending in detention for them.
Adrian's behaviour of glaring hatefully at Harry continued. On his part Harry just ignored him to keep his calm.
Harry's magic had to be kept calm. They were heading for a showdown, but Harry wanted to gain total control over his magical core before any further outbursts happened.
"Dad look" burst out Harry as Snape opened his office door.
"What has happened?" asked Snape apprehensively looking at Harry, who he was appeased to see, looked excited rather than worried. He led Harry into his office after closing the door.
"Look," said Harry changing into a beautiful peregrine falcon. Its eyes retained their green colour. The aerial predator though one of the smaller birds of the family was the fastest and fiercest of them all.
"Great job, you have done it. Beautiful." Severus congratulated looking at his son with pride. "You have successfully completed your second Animagus transformation," he said with some amazement and enormous pride in him.
Harry never failed to astonish him with his unwavering dedication and achievements. "Have I told you how proud of you I am?" he commented, standing back and thinking how far Harry had come in three short months, as it was the first week of December now.
The work on Andun had been completed and the Goblins had handed over Orbien to Harry's and Severus' great satisfaction and happiness. Even though the goblins had been obliviated of the location – which they had totally accepted -; after speaking to Nagnok, substantial bonusses were given to both goblin architects and their workforces.
Nagnok had visited Orbien through the floo from Gringotts at Harry's invitation, so that he could get an idea on:- the scope of the arrangements being done, facilities available and also get an idea on the future requirements and supplies that would be needed. Nagnok's report to President.Melvoz was well received. Pres.Melvoz was getting highly irritated with the continued efforts of the Ministry of Magic to interfere in the functioning of Gringotts.
Harry as the next step, wanted to plan on how to provision Orbien and to brainstorm with his now extended family on the necessary resources needed. There was a lot that had to be made to happen.
Harry reverted to himself and sat in his favourite armchair. "Thanks Dad", he sighed.
"What are you thinking about?", queried Severus, knowing that Harry was worried about something. "Is it about Adrian?".
"No, yes not directly. Mom has the written inviting me to Potter manor for the Christmas break." He told Severus, looking at him with a frown. "but with Adrian behaving as he is," Harry drawled out. "also, I want to work on something at Orbien without school or other interferences." He said. "and this would be the best opportunity I would get, for quite some time.". Harry stated looking at his father, with an appeal for help. "I'd also wanted to be with you for Christmas".
"I guess Lily and James are not going for a vacation this year", said Severus. "what with Voldemort's return and Adrian's ongoing drama, you can always visit Potter Manor for Christmas dinner." Continued Severus looking at the grimace Harry made at his suggestion, grimacing in turn.
"But I never have" Harry said loudly "I have never had Christmas at Potter Manor at least in the past few years" vehemently. "why now suddenly? What about Adrian's training that they usually go for? Does he not need it now more than ever, now that Voldemort's actually back?" his frustration and distaste at the thought of having to spend Christmas at Potter Manor with his 'family' bubbling out. "Adrian still has his head stuck up his arse, and I have so much to do!" he exclaimed.
"Relax Harry" consoled Severus, "Why don't you just give it some time?" looking worriedly at Harry and pulling him down to sit next to him. "I will see if I can talk to Lily at the Order meeting – there is one on Sunday, the day after tomorrow – and enquire about Adrian's training, maybe something will come up. There is still time till Christmas break." He softly consoled his son.
Harry eitherwise resolved to get his Christmas gifts completed on first priority for his dad family and friends. "When do we let the others know about who the boy-who-lived is, stuff, after all Voldermort knows, or do we wait?". Harry fretted over another of his concerns, his brows drawn together in thought. "also, who do we tell and what are we going to do about the diadem and cup?".
Before Severus could answer that was a knock at his door, "come in" he said seeing Draco Neville, Luna and Ginny at the door.
"What's up" asked Neville, "You were so excited when you asked me to get Draco and come here", he queried.
"Luna and I are here as ordered", said Ginny smirking.
Smiling at them his mood instantly lightened, he got up and shifted to his falcon form. "I just wanted to show all of you", he said shifting back after a quick flight around the room.
With shouts of, "great, you have your form down", "congratulations, what a beautiful bird", "awesome", ringing around, Nev and Draco started jumping around Harry tackling him down, to the laughter of Severus and girls.
"How are all your Animagus coming along?" asked Harry
"Got it", grinned Ginny shifting into a beautiful fox.
"Almost there", said Neville and Draco in stereo. "maybe in a week continued Neville.
Luna just turned into a blue bird.
Once all of them had settled down again, Harry asked, "do you all want to visit Orbien tomorrow?" looking at Severus he continued "Can we all go? Would it be possible?" he asked his dad, looking at him hopefully
Looking at the expectant faces around them and hearing the immediate yesses, Severus was thoughtful. Mass trips from school may end up in problems, but the next day was a Hogsmeade weekend. Maybe they could take advantage.
Evy might also make the trip with them. Neither of them had chaperone duty. "OK we can have lunch at Silbreith. Millie would be pleased", he said to whoops of glee from the boys.
Luna had not yet been to Silbreith, let alone Orbien. Neville was thrilled. "do you know how to ride?" he asked looking at Luna doubtfully.
Surprisingly her answer was positive. She had learnt on one of her trips with her father.
"OK guys, as we are all altogether and have total privacy" said Harry, "I want to discuss as to how to proceed on our search for the two confirmed Horcruxes. We have to identify and get rid of them before facing Voldermorte-which might be at any time."
"You think one of them is at Hogwarts?" asked Luna.
"That's what we gathered from the locket Horcrux", said Neville with Harry and the other is nodding.
"What exactly did the locket soul piece say?" Asked Luna. "it might help by giving a clearer picture" she continued.
"True", said Severus thoughtfully, suddenly calling on Millie and asking her to get his pensieve which she brought immediately, which he placed on a smaller table around which all of them could stand comfortably to reach the pensieve. Harry looking at Severus asked "shouldn't we call Evy also?"
"She planned to work on her lesson plan, on completing which she would be joining us anyway" replied Severus.
"Ok dad", so saying Harry concentrated on his memory of dealing with the locket soul piece that day in Orbien and removed the memory strand to put in the pensieve.
All of the people present extended their wands into the pensieve and were immersed into the memory. "Open", Harry hissed at the locket and the following scenes played out till Harry fell back against the wall in the memory.
Comments of "wow", "ouch" and pale faces were all around. Just then there was a knock with Evy entering. "What happened? What were you doing?" she queried looking at some of the pale faces and quiet demeanours gathered around pensieve.
"Just reviewing the locket Horcrux dialogue to brainstorm where the diadem Horcrux may be hidden in Hogwarts". Neville said in a monotone
"Actually, a very good idea, if highly traumatic. There might be something that can be learnt which we missed when it happened" said Evy thoughtfully.
"Very well, to enumerate" said Draco "there are three Horcruxes left."
"One in Gringotts-most probably Hufflepuffs' cup" interjected Neville.
"Yes" agreed Harry.
"The second, Ravenclaws diadem", continued Draco, "is hidden in Hogwarts".
"How is your scrying coming along?" asked Severus looking at Evy.
"I am trying," she said quietly. "it would help having a clearer image of the diadem.
"Oh you should visit the Ravenclaw tower", interjected Luna enthusiastically "there is a bust of Rowena Ravenclaw wearing her diadem in the commons room" to shocked looks on everyone's face, including Severus who had never had the necessity to go to the Ravenclaw tower in all his years as a student or as a professor at Hogwarts.
"Wow, really", said Harry and Evy respectively, "that would be a great help" she continued.
"What did the Horcrux mean by 'she told you', when talking about the diadem? Who could have told you? What?! Questioned Ginny thoughtfully.
Harry and the others looked at each other. The Horcrux had said that. What had it referred to? Was it to the location of the Horcrux and who was that 'she' referred to in this connection?
Harry had completely missed this point earlier, totally lost in his upset that the last Horcrux was a living female.
"You could possibly speak to the Grey lady" said Luna in the silence.
Everyone turned to look at her "the Grey lady?" said Evy questioningly.
"Yes, the Ravenclaw ghost, Grey lady. She was Helena Ravenclaw, Rowena's daughter. She might know something about this. The Horcrux might have referred to her. She is the only one who might have known about her mother's diadem and also she was in the school during snakeface's time as Tom Riddle, and continues to be here now" said Luna looking around at the shocked faces.
"Luna you are brilliant" exclaimed Neville, hugging her.
"She does not speak much, but I can ask her" Luna volunteered smiling. "Would you like to come with me?" Luna ask Severus and Harry. "I don't think all of us should go. We would draw too much attention", she continued.
Severus and Harry looked at each other and turning to Luna nodded their agreement. "Yes, we would like to speak to her, but there should be privacy." said Severus.
"That will not be a problem" said Luna. "the Grey lady frequents the Astronomy tower in the evenings. If we go once dinner hour has started, we can be sure of privacy for your talks" Luna continued.
"OK, then that is what we will do." Harry replied for both of them. "you are a lifesaver Luna!" Harry exclaimed.
"Now that we have a plan of action for the diadem, we only have to identify who the final Horcrux is and find a way to get Hufflepuffs' cup out of Gringotts" finished Draco in an upbeat tone.
I
"Yay, go team" cheered Neville earning chuckles from everyone, lightning the sombre mood.