Chapter Three - Of Presents and Parties

Nobody ever died of laughter - Max Beerbohm

During his last week at the Dursleys, Harry continued writing to the Order about his wellbeing, with the same monotony all his letters contained.

Dear Moody,

Everything's fine at the Dursleys. Nothing new.

Bye for now,

Harry.

Short, yes. But he really didn't feel like writing anything more, all summer. Which was why all his letters were written in more or less in the same manner. He saw most of them whilst they were on Patrol, even though technically he shouldn't be aware they were there. But Dora particularly made a point of calling for Harry from across the street, even if she didn't approach Number 4 directly.

Finally the day to leave had arrived. Harry had packed the night before, so his room was tidy. Except… Harry didn't know what time the Order was coming. He didn't know whether they were going to come at night like last time, or during the day. So, Harry was stuck in the house all day, just in case. The Dursleys had already made themselves scarce for the day when they found out that Harry was being picked up that day.

It turned out to be during lunchtime when the order arrived. He heard the knock, and asked Remus a question.

"What flavour was the chocolate bar that you fed me when I first encountered the Dementor in Fourth year?"

"It was your Third year and it was plain," Came Remus' amused answer.

Moody looked approvingly at Harry.

Most of the people who came to pick him up last year came this year. Remus, Tonks, Kingsley, Moody and a fifth man Harry didn't recognise. He thought he recognised his from somewhere, but he couldn't place where. He was a tall handsome man, with blue eyes, and dark hair.

"Wotcher, Harry." Came the greetings from Tonks.

"Hiya Tonks, guys…" Harry looked at the last man questioningly

"Kevin Gallagher," the newcomer said, with a strong Mancunian accent striding forward with a smile on his face, his right hand outstretched to shake Harry's hand.

"Have we met?" asked Harry. There was something familiar about the man.

"Can't have done, Harry. Gallagher is new. Moved here from overseas. He's been a traveller in the past." Answered Moody.

Gallagher and Remus grabbed Harry's trunk, which was at the foot of the stairs and went outside to stow in the car.

"Kingsley's driving," said Remus, closing the boot. They all go into the car, which was expanded from the inside magically to seat more people than it should have.

"How's business?" asked Harry.

"We've been surprisingly busy this summer. Preparing for everything." Said Tonks.

"Preparing for what?" asked Harry

"I might actually get to teach you this year, Harry. Tonks, Kingsley and I are going to be your teachers for DADA, along with Professor Killian." Moody said from the front.

"Isn't the position cursed?" Gesturing towards Remus and Moody, he said "Is it really safe for you to return?"

"The plan is to have multiple instructors and to slightly rename the class and confuse the curse," Dora grinned. "Dumbledore thinks that might work."

"And Fudge is bending over backwards to accommodate Dumbledore after last year," Remus added with a grimace.

"You'll have four DADA teachers this year. We were originally going to be just us three. But there were other applicants. Dumbledore picked Killian, on DADA, and there are others who will be teaching something else."

Harry mulled this over. He thought it might be interesting to have more than one DADA professor, especially if some of them were trained Aurors. As they progressed on the subject changed from school, to Harry's life at the Dursleys. Harry told them that along with Dudley's boxing training, and his diet, Dudley wasn't as fat as before.

Once when Harry glanced towards away he thought he saw Gallagher looking at him and Remus a little wistfully. But the expression was gone before Harry could be sure; therefore he dismissed it as his imagination.

Without Harry realising, they had arrived at Grimmauld Place. Kingsley went to park the car, where it was going to be picked up by another Order member.

Moody concentrated on the address, and Harry saw 12 Grimmauld Place looking cleaner and less shabby from the outside than before.

"The Weasleys have working hard on cleaning the place up again." Said Remus.

They all walked up the steps, Gallagher and Remus with Harry's trunk between them. Tonks glanced back at Remus with a weird grin on her face, whilst Moody opened the front door.

Harry and the other walked inside, which did look considerably cleaner than last year, and quietly walked past the portrait of Mrs Black, and straight down into the kitchen.

Harry got the surprise of his life when a flash went off and many enthusiastic voices calling yelled at him,

"Happy Birthday, Harry."

The white spots were barely gone from his eyes, before he was taken in bone crushing hug by each Hermione, Ginny and Mrs Weasley. Harry stepped further into the room; with many more thumps on the back coming from all directions.

Harry counted all the Weasley's (Minus Percy), the twins still in horrible dragon skin vests, Hermione's parents- sat next to an enthusiastic Arthur Weasley pelting them with questions, apparently the novelty still hadn't worn off. Much to his surprise, Harry saw Neville and his Gran, along with Luna, and an older man he presumed was her dad. Harry thought Mr Lovegood looked rather ordinary looking, since he thought someone who ran the Quibbler would also have the same dress sense as Luna did. Shows what he knew, thought Harry. Harry spotted 2 witches and a wizard sitting in the far corner. The younger looking witch must have sensed Harry's glance for she looked up and winked at Harry when she met his eyes. Harry could see her eyes; the glow of yellow gold seemed to glint at him with humour. She had beautiful pale skin and pure white shoulder length hair that would put even the whitest of snow to shame. Harry thought in the dark that hair must glow like a ghost. Harry saw Kevin Gallagher make a beeline for trio in the corner. The white witches two companions were older than her, but they seemed to exude a certain kind of youthfulness.

Kingsley slipped back, and Harry made his way to the centre followed by Ron, Ginny and Hermione. Harry got closer to the trio and saw that the wizard had dark brown hair, peppered with bits of grey, and he had grey eyes, kind and warm. The witch had blonde hair and hazel eyes flecked with yellow. Harry stopped as he recognised the witch and wizard. Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel. He recognised them from the Chocolate Frog wizard cards.

Harry was pleasantly surprised that a birthday party had been thrown for him. His first ever. Mrs Weasley, who piled enough food on his plate to serve four people, personally served Harry.

"You're much too thin," fretted Mrs Weasley.

After dinner, everyone insisted he open his presents. He thought he'd already got his presents last week but apparently that wasn't the case. From Ron he received lots more Chocolate Frogs, and Seekers gloves. Hermione gave Harry a book on curses and jinxes.

"For the DA, Harry." She whispered.

Harry just smiled at that. He would put the books to good use.

Mr and Mrs Weasley, along with Remus, Moody, Tonks, Kinsgsley, Bill and Charlie had all pitched in to buy Harry a wand holster and a thick dragon skin vest to ear beneath his robes.

"The holster so you don't blow your buttock off by sticking your wand in your back pocket," laughed Tonks.

Moody glared at Tonks, and said that Harry should get used wearing his dragon skin vest as it repelled most minor curses and some major ones as well.

The Weasley twins and Ginny gave Harry an assortment of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, including Skiving Snack boxes.

Neville and Luna just gave Harry a lot of Honeydukes best chocolate.

After Harry opened all his presents, everyone drifted into to their own groups. "So, what do you think of the multiple DADA teacher scheme?" Harry asked.

"I think it's quite exciting. To learn from Aurors, and not to mention the variety." Hermione launched forward excitedly.

"Don't forget all the extra homework." Ron groaned.

Harry just grinned. "Who's Professor Killian?" he asked.

Ron pointed towards the white haired witch who had winked at Harry. "That's Professor Killian. Remus told us she's a seer (Harry heard Hermione give a disdainful sniff at this), and she has other powers as well. Teleki… Telekine…."

"It's telekinesis, Ronald." Said Luna.

"Remus will be teaching as well. He's going to take off from where he left. Teaching us about Dark Creatures," said Hermione.

"What do you know about Professor Killian?"

"Nothing much. She's here quite a lot. She doesn't stay here, but comes over everyday. Hermione doesn't like her." Said Ginny.

Harry looked at Hermione questioningly, but it Ron who answered.

"Hermione doesn't like her because Killian said that books can be misleading as the author can be biased. Then she said that Hogwarts: A History doesn't give the full facts and it's better off gathering dust." Ron laughed.

Harry could see why Hermione didn't like her. Hogwarts: A History was one of Hermione's favourite books, and one she always quoted from. Harry and Ron had a bet on who would cave first and read the book first. They had started the bet in second year when Hermione had hunted for the book during the Chamber of Secrets disaster. It had started at five galleons and increased every year. This year the stakes were at twenty-five galleons.

They continued to talk about the classes, to Ron's dismay, when he saw the twins, Moody, Remus and Tonks all head towards Killian, Gallagher and the Flamels.

After a bit of laughter Harry saw Gallagher move off towards Bill and Charlie. Harry and the other drifted towards the gathering crowd. When they were close enough they heard Perenlle Flamel asking, "What makes you think you can do it?"

Harry thought her voice had a musical quality to it.

Remus cast around the room as if looking for something, and when he saw Harry he waved for him to come closer.

"Harry," he said, "as you've probably been told, this is Professor Killian, Nicolas and Pernelle Flamel. Professor Alanna Killian will be one of the of the DADA teachers, Nicolas and Perenelle along with Kevin will be the new History of Magic professors."

Harry had already decided to drop History of Magic but wondered if he should reconsider if they were going to be taught by the Flamels. Harry stayed there and talked a little longer before eventually moving back to his friends.

The rest of the even passed pleasantly and ended in a gale of laughter after the twins let loose a few pranks that involved yellow thongs and bananas. Harry laughed with the rest of the group, but was a little disturbed by the position of the banana when it floated between Gallagher and Remus.