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Chapter 4: Friendship
"What's the Order of the..." Harry started to ask but was quickly silenced by his former professor. "Not here, Harry. Once we get inside you can ask the questions."
Inside where. Harry wanted to ask but stopped himself when he saw a new building appeared in front of him. A silver 12 nailed onto the door. Remus walked towards the door and beckoned Harry to join him as he knocked on it.
A few seconds of silence passed.
"Remus?" they heard a male voice which Harry immediately recognised as Mr. Weasley call from inside the building. "Yes." He promptly replied.
"What was your nickname when you were in Hogwarts." Harry thought it strange that they needed to ask such a question but quickly shrugged it off. Some sort of verification he guessed.
"Moony." He answered without hesitation.
The door creaked opened to show an Arthur Weasley standing in front of them.
"Hullo Harry, doing fine I hope?"
"Yes, thank you Mr. Weasley."
"Come in, come in." Mr. Weasley wrapped his hand around Harry and led him into the house. Harry looked around as he walked inside. A damp smell engulfed him when he stepped inside, the inside was dimly lit, most of the walls were cracked and peeling wallpaper was hanging from the walls threatening to drop. The front door led into a hallway, at the end was a decent sized room, the only light source was a chandelier hanging from the ceiling covered in cobwebs.
"Oh, Harry, its lovely to see you again." A familiar voice sounded from the right, Harry looked to the source, Molly Weasley was standing in a doorway to what seemed to be the kitchen. She immediately draped the towel she was holding onto a chair and wrapped Harry bone-crushing hug. "There should be some leftovers from today, just wait in the dining room. Ron and Hermione are upstairs, feel free to join them dear." Harry smiled at the red-haired woman but deep down his heart pained at the sound of his former best friend's name.
He entered the kitchen and his stomach instantly grumbled when he caught the whiff of food coming from the kitchen, he sat on a chair, waiting for the food to arrive, knowing all too well that Mrs Weasley would berate him for trying to help her.
Harry's eye's shifted to the left when he saw a figure coming into the room, Harry's eyes widened with joy when he recognised the man, Harry jumped up from his chair at once, and slammed into the man, knocking the wind out of him.
"Sirius!!"
The long-haired man reciprocated, "Glad to see you too, Harry." He laughed. "I understand that you have a shit-ton of questions that weren't answered."
"You don't know the half of it."
"No worries, that's what I'm here for, ask away." He said dramatically.
"Umm... Okay. Where am I?"
Sirius grimaced, "Number 12, Grimmauld Place, ancestral home of the Blacks, otherwise know as the Headquarters to the Order."
"Brings back bad memories?" Harry asked noticing the expression on his godfather's face. Sirius nodded. "I don't like to talk about it. Next question?"
"What's the Order."
Sirius looked paused, "Well...to put it short, it's a secret society, started by Dumbledore to fight against the last war with You-Know-Who, He has restarted it again, though with much less members than last time."
"Here's your lunch, Harry." Mrs Weasley said as she put a plate filled with food in front of Harry. "Thanks, Mrs Weasley."
"You're welcome dear."
Harry and Sirius sat in silence, broken only by the sound of cutlery scraping against a plate.
"What have you been doing this Summer?"
"Oh, you know, running from the ministry, avoiding everyone in general" Sirius shrugged. "Until Dumbledore contacted me a few days ago, said he wanted to start the Order again, offered him this place and here we are. Anymore questions?"
"What do the members of the Order do?"
Sirius looked around him before answering, "Molly will have my skin if she every caught me saying this to anyone too young for the Order-."
"Too young?" Harry interjected.
"Later." Sirius silenced him, "You asked me a question."
"Sorry." Harry apologised sheepishly.
Sirius nodded and continued. "The Order tracks what You-Know-Who does and we try to counter it, but so far he has been awfully quiet."
Harry looked at Sirius thoughtfully. "What does Mrs Weasley mean by I'm too young, I'm 15, not some 7 year old. I can help. " He demanded.
"And I'm sure you can, but what she means is that you're still underage, you can't do magic outside of school or have you forgotten about your Hearing already."
Harry's face fell, Sirius saw this and put his hand over his shoulder, "I'm sorry, Harry, that was tactless of me, I'm sure you will win the Hearing."
"Thanks. "Harry mumbled. "It was good seeing you Sirius, I'll go see Hermione and Ron now if you don't mind."
"Of course, Don't let me keep you. They're in the second room from the stairs."
Harry stood up, took his plate to the kitchen and washed it. As he left the dining room he muttered his thanks to the former prisoner.
Harry slowly walked up the stairs, not knowing what to expect from Ron. Hermione one the other hand, Harry was angry at for not even writing a single letter to him for all of Summer.
He reached the door, knocked on it and opened it, "Harry!" he couldn't even react, all he saw was some brown bushy hair then before he knew it he was being hugged by Hermione. Harry did all but hugged her back, when she finally released him. All she did was apologise profusely. "I'm sorry Harry, I really wanted to write to you, I really did, but Dumbledore prohibited us from doing it. I'm really sorry, I don't know how much pained it caused you but I'm truly sorry." She apologised tears threatening to fall from her face. Harry felt his anger dissipate at her words. He couldn't blame her, after all he himself would have listened to Dumbledore.
"It's alright 'Mione" he heard himself say, "it must've been hard for you too." Hermione smiled softly and stepped aside for Harry to come in.
The room had two beds, Ron was sitting on his bed looking at his own feet, while a snowy owl sat, perched upon the windowsill. "Hedwig." Harry exclaimed. He had sent her owl when Harry discovered that he was going to be expelled but as it turned out she had found Hermione and had been living with them in his absence.
Harry took a deep breath and approached Ron, "Hey." He said.
Ron didn't look up from his feet.
Harry sighed, "Look, Ron, I know you're still angry with me, but can you just look at me."
The red-haired teenager lifted his head up and look into Harry's eye, when Harry looked into those eyes he found no anger, no sadness, no regret, just eyes, dead, lifeless eyes with not a single emotion.
"Why don't you just believe me Ron. I didn't put my name in to the cup, I didn't want the fame, the money, and please believe me when I say I didn't kill Cedric, I don't know if you believed what the Prophet said, but I'm not a murderer. Please Ron. I know you think that we're not friends anymore but please—"
"I did believed you." Ron mumbled, interrupting Harry. "I really did, ever since the first task if I'm being honest with myself."
"Then why didn't you tell me" his green eyes practically pleaded. "it was hard losing you, especially when you were my first true friend. Did you know how hard it was losing a four years friendship with you, it killed me thinking about it during the summer. If it weren't for Corvus and Aderyn I probably would've do it for real." Harry found a sobbing Hermione looking at him, though she was crying she looked like she wanted to ask about the twins.
"Harry, please understand—"
"Understand what?" Harry shouted, finally losing his self-control. "What was there to understand in the first place, you are nothing but a coward, a selfish one at that."
"Yes I was." Ron replied sadly.
Harry paused. "What?"
"You are right, I was a bloody coward. I was practically a mess during the first few weeks of Summer, I didn't have any appetite, I couldn't sleep for weeks, my guilt was eating me alive, it made me think of how immature I've been, of what an idiot I was. I vowed to changed, to be a better man. I'm sorry Harry, I really hope we can still be friends. I'll understand if you don't want to be friends anymore. Please forgive me."
Harry was speechless. He was expecting a lot of things but this certainly was not one of them. He stepped forward and hugged his friend, tears dripping from his eyes. "I forgive you." Both boys stood there unmoving, embracing each other.
(-) (-) (-) (-)
Harry laid on his bed, smiling at the events that happened, after he'd made up with Ron, they both went to explore the house, they found themselves happily enjoying each other's company, they joked with each other like they had never been apart ever at dinner. If only the Peverells were here with him, then he would truly be happy.
"Goodnight." Harry heard Ron said from the other side of the room.
"Goodnight Ron, thank you." Harry replied
"No, thank you." His friend replied.
Harry smiled to himself as he went to sleep.
(-) (-) (-) (-)
Three days. Three days had passed since Harry left.
Aderyn laid as still as a log on her bed, eyes staring at the ceiling and bored out of her own mind. Summer just couldn't end quickly enough, she thought. After fourteen years of being taught by their father she was finally able to go too a magical school, not that she was complaining of course, her father was more than competent enough to teach her and her brother. It was just that she wanted somebody to talk to. Sure, her brother was great company but she wanted more than just her brother, she, like her brother never had the luxury of having friends, well... Not long term ones anyway. So when her father announced to both of them that they'll be attending Hogwarts this year both of them were ecstatic though Corvus was more curious by why they were only starting now. Something that she didn't think about too much.
Aderyn sighed, stretched and got out of her bed. Still wearing her pyjamas she walked to the bathroom to wash up. After she finished brushing her teeth shen went down to get some breakfast, where she found her brother and father in the kitchen discussing something "Good morning dad, Corvus."
"Morning Sis." Corvus yawned.
"Had a good night's sleep?" her father smiled warmly at her.
She shrugged, "Not bad."
"Now that both of you are awake, it seems that we should get down to business." Both twins looked at their dad curiously. "Do you know what today is?" he continued ignoring their looks.
"Monday?" Corvus said, confused.
"The 7th?" Aderyn said at the same time. Realisation dawned on the twins after she finished saying this.
"It's our birthday." they chorused before bursting into fits of laughter. Their father only shook his head amused.
"What kind of person.forgets their own birthday anyway?"
"Well to be fair..."
"...this was only a one time thing."
"Anyway, Happy birthday to you two." Cygnus handed two packages to the twins. "Don't open them first." He ordered seeing the twins having their hands ready to rip the wrapping apart. "I have some things to tell you."
Both twins immediately stopped what they were doing and looked at their father expectantly, "Do not interrupt me" He said before starting to speak once more.
As you both know our family magic is Enchanting; the ability to add or change magical properties on an object permanently unlike that of charms and runes, a form of magic so rare and sought after that other families began to hunt us down, wanting to learn the art but none complied as familial magic is a secret to be kept, only being able to learn if you have the blood of the family. One by one the Peverells were struck down until only four carrying the name were left. Our ancestor, Peregrinus Peverell and his cousins, Antioch, Cadmus and Ignotus. They each created an item capable of helping them to carry on the Family name. Antioch crafted the Elder Wand, a wand with extreme power that it would win every battle but he was too proud and so he bragged about the wand which caused him his demise. Cadmus created the Resurrection Stone, it was able to call on the souls of the dead, he used it to gain knowledge from our forefathers,but he eventually succumb to his grief when his wife was killed and hanged himself. The youngest brother, Ignotus wove an Invisibility Cloak, one which magic's would never dilute and had the power to go unnoticed by everyone even if they had used magical means of any kind and so he hid from his foes successfully, as he grew old, his home was discovered by the ones that so desperately wanted the knowledge of Enchanting, he handed the cloak to his eldest and only son, and gave himself to the intruders greeting them like old friends as a final fuck you. The cloak eventually was passed down form heir to heir until it reached the hands of Mr. Potter. This was the true story behind the Tale of Three Brothers, history turned myth. Their cousin, our ancestor however, constructed the world's first Portkey. This Portkey unlike so many others is not a one time use object, no boundaries and no limitations, and so Peregrinus used this Portkey to travelled the world, hiding from his pursuers and like Ignotus he also passed his creation down from eldest to eldest until it reached the hand of mine. Cygnus Peverell took out an object from his pocket. An ornately crafted cross made from gold but with keys on each end instead of rectangles. Both twins looked at each other thinking the same thing. "Ahem." They turned their attention back to their father.
Exactly 780 years ago Peregrinus swore on his magic that he and his descendants would go into hiding for 780 years, apparently he calculated it would take this long for the world to forget about our name and its link to Enchanting. This worked, nearly. Now, the Peverell name is merely a memory, an echo of the past and known as the first Magical family to go extinct. Peregrinus had to go as far as striking a deal with the goblins to watch over our vault, letting them make investments but under a condition that they keep 65% of the profits to ensure his family survival. He also swore that whenever a member of the Peverell family turned fifteen they were to be told the reason why they were hiding in the first place, I have done my part now it is your obligation to do yours when your children turns fifteen. Your ancestor had also made sure that the eldest gets the Portkey whenever they turn that age.
"Well that was certainly intresting as well as eye-opening." Corvus said which caused Aderyn to nod her head agreeing.
The Peverell Patriarch pushed the Portkey towards the twins. "Now it is my time to entrust this to your hands, both of you. I hope that both of you will share this without any disagreements."
Aderyn and Corvus stared at their father in shock. It was Corvus who reacted first, he took the Portkey gently turned it around looking at it very carefully, he saw three words chiselled pristinely into the gold. The words read: Clara Mente Semper.
"Clear Mind, Always." He whispered.
"So how does it work." Aderyn asked her father, intrigued.
Cygnus smiled, "All you need to do is to think of the location, you don't even need to know what it looks like, touch it and say our family motto."
Corvus grinned mischievously and whispered the word under his breath, Aderyn jumped when her brother disappeared
"HEY, IT WORKS." Both father and daughter laughed when they heard him shout from upstairs. He reappeared back onto his seat and gave the object to Aderyn. "Here, keep it, I've had my fun."
"What?" Aderyn stared at him,
"It's yours, I don't want it."
Even his father looked at shocked at what came out from his mouth.
"But... It isn't fair at all."
Corvus simply shook his head, "I don't want this thing to get in the way of our relationship. Besides I have Horus and you don't like that isn't fair at all."
"I guess you're right" she sighed, "but you can still use it if you want."
Corvus grinned and held out his hand, "But it's still yours, deal?"
"Deal. Still, I don't like this one bit. " Aderyn grumbled.
"Oh. "
Both twins looked up at their father startled. "What?"
"One more thing, the Portkey only works for Peverells unless you explicitly give permission. If someone uses it without permission, their hands will be burned so badly that they can't even use their wand. And I'm proud of you Corvus."
The twins grimaced at the thought but Corvus did smiled at his father's praise.
"Now, if both of you have finished eating, I think it's time for you to open up your presents."
The twins excitedly ripped opened their presents, the contents inside was a book, both books had the same title: True Enchanting by Tiberius Peverell.
"Wow." They whispered in awe. Their father chuckled, "Only you two will be able to see the contents of this book, anyone else who tries, will only see blank pages."
"Thanks, Dad." The twins said in unison.
Their father smiled, this time standing up. "Enjoy your presents. I have an appointment with Gringotts today. It's time for the Peverells to be introduced back into magical Britain.
A/N I hope you guys like this chapter, hopefully I didn't make the conversation between Ron and Harry too unreasonable and unrealistic. I also wrote some backstory for the Peverells which may or may not clear things up. And always, thanks for all the reviews, follows and favourites.