Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Chapter Three: Letters and More
Harry just sat in the front seat of the BMW and stared at the woman driving the car before him. Was she her sister? She seemed a few years younger than her sister, but perhaps it was just... stress. If so, her Mum really enjoyed their namesake, the goddess of wisdom and war. I see the wisdom, but where's the war...?
The car jolted to a halt and Athena gave him a look that was so utterly familiar that he knew she must be related to her. The look in her eyes told him that she knew every word he thought, but he thought it wasn't possible. Unless...
And she broke further thought by saying, "Harry Potter... Don't judge upon looks alone. I thought so much more of you..." she stated cryptically and drove on.
This got Harry even more confused. He decided to change the subject and said, "Are you taking me to Hogsmeade?"
"Yes, but after a brief stop at Gringotts and then Diagon Alley." Fishing through her top pocket for a second, she stated, "Ah! I heard of your friend - the Weasley boy. I presume his name to be Ronald? Well, he sent you a letter..."
Harry kept his composure and took the letter calmly, trying not to betray his feelings inside. Notice from friends was always deeply desired. Upon opening the letter, a multitude of pictures dropped out. He read the letter first.
Harry,
Mum has been begging Dumbledore to let you come, and he owled us with the reply. I asked Mum if I could read it aloud, and she said sure. So I read it, and HE SAID YES! He said something about Hogsmeade though, don't know what he was talking about.
We'll pick you up at the Shrieking Shack at 7:00. You can stay the rest of the summer with us.
Bill and Dad got a promotion. He's now the head of the whole Muggle Artifacts Department! Bill just became Vice-President... and to celebrate he took us on a vacation. Charlie wanted us to visit him in Romania, but after Norbert, I'm not fond of dragons. So he came here instead and then we went to Australia. I learned to surf! Ginny went diving in the coral reefs and got some great pictures. (I've enclosed her letter, and don't worry, I didn't read it.)
Hope your life has improved,
R
P.S. Happy Early Birthday! We'll really celebrate once we get together...
Then the next letter...
Dear Harry,
I know Ron has told you about our summer, so I'm not going to talk about it anymore (though I have enclosed some pictures!) I just wanted to say "Happy Early Birthday." I hope your birthday turns out better than our summer (which is saying something.)
Can't wait to see you!
Ginny
They were all wizard photos. The Weasley Family was at the beach happily splashing waves upon each other. The next one was of Ron catching a huge wave... and toppling upon it. There were some underwater pictures were fish seemed right before you. And the final one was Ginny and the rest of the family, holding a birthday cake. But she seemed the only one taking the picture seriously. Fred and George were setting some spell upon Ron, and Bill and Charlie were changing the icing on the cake different colors. Their mother was trying to stop Pigwidgeon from dive-bombing the cake, and finally he assumed their father was taking the picture.
Harry sat staring dreamily at the picture for a few moments wondering what it would be like to have a family like that. They all looked so normal, so happy, so loved. The silence must have been tense because McGonagall broke it with some practical information.
"I understand that you are attending Hogwarts this year? Here is your supply list."
Harry took a moment to read the parchment she half-tossed at him.
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5
by Miranda Goshawk
Potions, Potions, and More Potions
by B. Chupson
Ghosts, Goblins, Ghouls, and other such Phantasms: Dealing with any Non-entity
by Spectra Smith
*Students are now allowed to choose their newest class from the choices listed below. Please choose according to your likes and not what your best friend has chosen.*
Muggle Studies:
Legends; Fact or Fallacy
Jade Calow
Muggles and their World
Drew Jacobson
Arithmancy:
Arithmancy Basics
Intermediate Arithmancy
Advanced Artihmancy
All by: Dr. J. Benford
"Harry, read the list to me..." Athena almost ordered.
After reading, she said, "They didn't recommend another book. Your OWL's and NEWT's are coming up... you need those review books too."
"What are they called?"
"Taking the OWL's: The Second Most Important Test of Your Life... (No Pressure there) and Taking the NEWT's (Nastily Excruciating Wizarding Time-wasters. Both are written by April Auggots. Excellent books... without those I probably would have failed. Do you want some chocolate or something? They're in the glove compartment..."
The rest of the car ride was held in complete silence (except for the munching that Harry made on the treats in the glove compartment...) until Harry broke it. With a mouth practically stuck together, he managed to say, "Umm... Miss McGonagall? Why exactly did Dumbledore need to meet me?"
"Ah! Dumbledore is a great man... and his secrets are not widely known. But he feels that you should see something. Owls could be intercepted..."
The car stopped at a run-down cottage. Looking at her watch, Athena McGonagall left Harry's stuff (except for Hedwig) in the trunk much to his surprise and rushed inside.
It was what the American Muggles would call "a subway."
Amazed, he looked outside. The car had disappeared! Athena saw the look on Harry's face and explained, "I charmed it to receive us in Gringotts. I'm still not sure if that is exactly legal..." and she shot him a winning smile.
Now that's the kind of woman I could see Sirius with! Harry thought while scanning his surroundings. Only a few people seemed to know about the place, and they were following painted lines on the floor.
"Harry! Hurry! It leaves in a few moments!"
He followed the witch and got on. The seats weren't very comfy, and personal space was completely lacking.
Sometime during the ride Harry must have fallen asleep because he suddenly found himself floating like a fly on the wall.
He was just a pair of eyes, floating without a guide, and watching the scene unfold before him. He looked around him for any signs of life, but none were apparent. The room he had transported himself to was dank and musty. Either a potion or a fireplace was in the room, because smoke was everywhere. It reached all the way to the ceiling, encompassing every available space. Harry started choking, but trying to suppress his coughs altogether. The smoke started dissipating around the center of the room, and all at once he was above it.
A group of people near the center were holding hands around a fire and chanting a dirge while swaying to some unknown rhythm. Although Harry knew he had never heard it before, he started swaying to their inane beat.
Each wore costumes slightly resembling the Death Eater's outfit. A hood, ankle length robe and cloak, and a mask. They were masquerade masks with each one covering their eyes and adorned with feathers. A potion sat upon it, held up by a pewter tripod. The potion bubbled and frothed madly.
One person, obviously the leader, stepped closer to the potion. Mumbling inaudibly, the leader lifted the masquerade mask to reveal -
But again, his dream was interrupted for Harry awoke to Athena gently shaking him. "Harry, wake up. We're almost there."
He recalled his dream, which was unusual. But the only question he had was, if he was dreaming, then how did he knew the room smelt musty? And how could he choke upon dream smoke? Lifting Hedwig, Harry stepped out to find himself a few yards left of directly before Gringotts.
*~*~*~*
The Goblins regarded Hedwig with disdain and insisted that she be left behind. Harry argued furiously for his owl, but in the end he lost because of the fact that they were going underground.
Hedwig was put under a sleeping charm -- but not before she fluffed her white wings angrily and narrowed her yellow eyes at Harry.
A few moments later they came out from underground, Ms. McGonagall sounding like a house-elf high from butterbeer.
"I never realized how exciting a trip in Gringotts would be! That felt awesome! Can we do it again, Harry?"
Harry couldn't exactly share her happiness... his stomach didn't seem to be in agreement with the rest of his body.
"Stupid treats... I should have waited..." he mumbled.
A voice to his left answered back, "But you figured that out the hard way didn't you..."
The voice sounded familiar and he turned, searching for it. The walls were covered with black and green, shadowed grime and other moss. However, he knew the voice was there among it somehow.
Harry followed Athena to the Leaky Cauldron to relax. (She could use what little common sense she possessed to figure that if someone turned green, it was time to relax.)
Not feeling like killing time, he pulled out a parchment and a quill and scribbled.
Ron,
Thanks for remembering me. The meeting place would be fine, I'll be sure to be there. Athena McGonagall is taking care of me for now, (did you really think that the Dursleys would take me there?) Yes, Athena McGonagall. She said she was Snuffles's girlfriend for a while, so don't do anything to make him angry. I'm not quite sure about the relationship to Head of Gryffindor House, but somehow I think I'll be finding out quite soon.
So I'll stay with you, and not at Hogsmeade? Sure, whatever you say. Shrieking Shack, 7:00 PM. You're Mum still makes that Treacle Fudge, right? Can she bring some? The Dursleys hardly gave me anything, which isn't surprising at all.
H
PS. Say "Hi!" to Ginny for me.
Athena gave him a little nudge in his side and caused Harry to spin wildly around. There, upon turning, he saw the new Vice-President of Gringotts bank enter the Leaky Cauldron with an entourage of goblins.
A/N: I just wanted to acknowledge my dear friend Melissa who told me a spell was wrong, she so blatantly put it, "You spelled Alohomora wrong!" I do admit, although hesitant, (I looked it up at www.thepotterpages.f2s.com/ at the spell directory) that I was wrong. I spelled it Alomohora.
(Happy now, Meli?)
I would also like to thank everyone that reviewed, please remember to put your name so I can do personal thank-you's next chapter.