Chapter four-
The New HeadQuarters
When Mad-Eye came back to the hiding place, everyone was relieved that things were fine.
But when Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasley saw the Ministry of Magic for their second time,
they took a prominent double take.
Hermione screamed when she saw the aurors. Mrs. Weasley shrieked, "AUTHUR!!!" and
waddled off to the elevator. Harry looked at the message on the floor and tugged on Ron's sleeve.
"Well that's not good," Ron said simply.
"Not good at all..." Lupin said to Ron. "This is a warning for everyone. They are coming.
Everyone. The war is starting."
"Don't scare the kids, Remus!" Tonks said and slapped him over the head. "HYDROLICA!"
Tonks said and her wand shot water out at the brilliant fire that was still burning strong.
"I'm sorry, Tonks. But isn't it true? The Dementors... Death Eaters now... the Ministry
attacked. This is only the beginning."
"Very true," Mad-Eye said as he propped his cane down on the floor and limped over to the
group. "But it isn't nearly as bad as it was back over sixteen years ago."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"What do I mean? I mean... on a simple day like this, sudden fires could break out, burning
people. Hogwarts would constantly have to shut down when Dementors came into the school. Giants
would attack Hogsmeade, stomp on the buildings. HUNDREDS were killed. It's a miracle we defeated
them all."
Hermione gasped. "So it's like our army verses theirs?"
"Except their army is much much larger," Lupin said. "We might have a couple hundred. They
might have over a thousand... less than two thousand though."
"Kids... sorry to tell you this," Tonks began. "I always fear that this will be the end." She put
out more of the fire with her spell.
Mad-Eye shook his head. "Tonks, this will not be the end. We will conquer." He looked at his
watch. "My, my! Six o'clock already? Okay, followed me... new headquarters."
They walked off to that same corridor but turned right into a smaller one. There were huge
chandeliers flung from the ceiling. There were only two or three wizards in the area, but stalked off
when they saw people approaching.
When they got to the end of that corridor, they had to turn right again into yet an even
smaller hallway.
"What room are we in?" Ron asked, confused.
"36A and 36B," Lupin replied while he hummed.
"Were only near Room 25A, B, and C... we've been walking for five minutes!"
"Well hidden isn't it?" Tonks jested. "Just a couple more minutes..."
They finally reached the new had quarters at 6:15 exactly. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were
told to walk down to room 36B which they would be staying in.
"Where are our trunks?" Hermione realized.
"Oh sorry... I apparated them here," Lupin said. "Just come to the other when your done
unpacking.
The three of them took off to 36B... it took a while to get there, but they finally did. Hermione
twisted the doorknob and entered.
Ron gasped.
"Holy shit!" he yelled. Hermione hit him.
There were crystal chandeliers hanging down from the ceiling. In the middle of the area was a
comfortable looking black sofa with black chairs set up around it. A fireplace with wood inside was set
against the wall opposite it. Extravagant paintings were hung on every wall. There was a kitchen in
the far corner with a few stoves, a refrigerator, a trash compactor, and a dishwasher. On the west
wall were three doors. They each had signs hung up. One said Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Another
said Mr. Lupin, Miss Tonks, and Mr. Mad-Eye Moody. For the other door, it said Albus Dumbledore.
"Wow," Harry said. "They sure go all out to impress us and give us their apologies now that
they know that we were right about Dumbledore."
All three of them laughed.
"I wonder," said Hermione, "how did Fudge find out about the Headquarters?"
"Ohh!" Ron said exuberantly. "This is what my dad tod me--Well, Dumbledore had to tell him
right? I mean, he has to join forces with everyone no matter how much of an idiot Fudge is. Fudge
was PISSED when Dumbledore told him. I mean... Fudge was MAD! He threatened to fire Shacklebot
in particular. But then... a couple of days later, Fudge apologized for his behavior. He said it was good
what Dumbledore did and offered all his help for what Dumbledore was doing. Dumbledore said the
only help he needed was to build us a new headquarters and a new school. I mean, were not safe at
Hogwarts... there are still Dementors there!"
"That explains a lot," Hermione said and kissed Ron on the cheek. Harry rolled his eyes.
"How's Percy?" Harry asked.
Ron winced. "Dad wants to kill him. Mum disowns him. He hates me for not ditching you. He
despises Fred and George for leaving Hogwarts, WHICH by the way, mum and dad are very proud of
them for their business–"
"Really!?" Hermione said. "They are proud?"
"Yeah, o' course! They've earned over ten thousand galleons since we left school. And they've
given tons of it to us!"
Harry gleamed. He felt good that the Weasley's at least had some more money.
"Percy also hates Bill and Charlie for joining the Order and he just hates Ginny... for no reason
at all."
"Where is Ginny?" Hermione inquired.
"She spending the month at Luna Lovegod's mansion of a house. She'll be arriving here very
soon."
Harry was not listening to Ron anymore though... he was too busy staring in amazement at
his, Hermione, and Ron's room. There were amazing four poster beds with curtains draped over... you
could pick which colors you wanted the draperies by pressing a keypad on the wall. There was another
chandelier and yet another fireplace. There was an oak desk set up in the corner, a huge walk-in
closet for their stuff and a complimentary wizard chess game set up.
"Woah," Ron said from behind him. Harry turned around to Ron and Hermione.
"So... Hermione, have you been with Ron the whole summer?"
"Oh no," Hermione said. "I had to cut my trip in France short because Dementors were raiding
where we lived. We had to get my stuff. I checked my parents into The Leaky Cauldron. We should go
and visit them tomorrow."
At that moment, two people burst through the door to 36B.
"WE ARE HERE... TO SAVE THE DAY!!!" two voices bellowed. Ron turned around and looked
extremely happy because two of his favorite people were in the doorway.
"FRED! GEORGE!" Ron outcried.
"Hey chap," Fred said and hugged Ron. George walked over to Harry and patted his shoulder
and shook Hermione's hand.
"Percy was in the main hall. He waved at us. We just said, 'Who are you?' and walked away,"
Fred said.
"Yeah... the old brute thinks that everything is fine between us... But we know he's ashamed
of us for leaving Hogwarts. For the best wasn't it?" George jested.
"How are you guys doing?" Hermione asked.
"We usually sell out of our fireworks every day. People think they are amazing. If we make
about 500 of them, priced anywhere from 5-20 galleons, we make a handy profit of 2500 to 10000
galleons a day off of them. We've had to extend the store because so many people are in. We've
hired employees too!" George explained.
Ron looked up to them, Harry could tell. He thought they were the coolest people alive.
"Were not joining the Order... we are just taking some vacation time. Until you guys go back
to school. We will probably lose a lot of valuable business, but it's fine. We'll be staying at that small
hotel that was built here a while ago. There are so many people coming in and out. It's fabulous.
These are dark times, but everyone is lively!" Fred said. He looked at his watch. "We best be going,
George. We need to get some reservations."
They all said their good-byes and Hermione, Ron, and Harry made their way to 36A. All they
had to do was walk across the room they were in and open a door. The headquarters was even more
amazing with many gadgets set up like a Penseive, some Sneakoscopes, Foe Detectors, and magical
creatures. There were bathrooms in the corner, and Ron squealed and ran off for one.
"Harry... I need to talk to you," Hermione said and dragged Harry to a corner.
"Yeah?" Harry asked.
"Should I dump Ron?"
"Oh for God's sake. You too never stop touching or kissing each other. Does it look like I really
care?"
"Sorry. I guess you don't," Hermione said simply with an sharpness to her voice and took off
to where Tonks was sitting on the couch, turning her hair a dark green.
Harry walked over to Mr. Weasley who had come back with Mrs. Weasley who had seemed to
have calmed down.
"Harry!" Mr. Weasley said and shook Harry's hand. "Still having visions?"
Harry had not thought of Voldemort since the day Sirius had died. "No," Harry said.
"You shouldn't be. He's abandoned your mind anyways... remember when he was wrapped
around you as the snake and then he vanished?"
Harry nodded. That made sense.
"This is the new headquarters!" Lupin said, walking over to Harry. "It's beautiful isn't it?"
Harry nodded.
"Well, I have to go talk to Fudge with Tonks and Mad-Eye. You kids are welcome to stay here,"
Lupin said to Harry. "If you guys leave to go somewhere within the Ministry, leave a note on this
counter," Lupin instructed and pointed to a counter top.
"I have to go with Molly to go help Fred and George. We won't be back until late. We might go
out to eat at the buffet they have!" Mr. Weasley said.
"Same with us," Lupin said. "We'll be tardy also."
And with that, everyone left, leaving Harry to sit with Ron and Hermione on the couch.
"What shall we do?" Harry asked.
"I have a question for Harry," Hermione said, not looking at him. She was probably still
offended from before. "What did you get on your O.W.L.S.?"
Harry remembered all of a sudden.
"Oh yeah!" he said and took out a letter from his cloak pocket. It was damp from the
"hurricane" still. He eagerly tore it open and looked happy as could be.
"Charms... Outstanding. Transfiguration... Outstanding. Divination... Exceeds Expectations.
Astronomy... Outstanding. Defense Against the Dark Arts... Exceeds Expectations. And thank god. I
thought Umbridge would fail me for now particular reason. Care of Magical Creatures... Outstanding.
History of Magic... Exceeds Expectations. Potions.."
He looked up in awe. "Outstanding."
"Good job!" Ron congratulated.
"Yes, very," Hermione eyed him.
"Well thank you," Harry said and smiled.
The New HeadQuarters
When Mad-Eye came back to the hiding place, everyone was relieved that things were fine.
But when Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasley saw the Ministry of Magic for their second time,
they took a prominent double take.
Hermione screamed when she saw the aurors. Mrs. Weasley shrieked, "AUTHUR!!!" and
waddled off to the elevator. Harry looked at the message on the floor and tugged on Ron's sleeve.
"Well that's not good," Ron said simply.
"Not good at all..." Lupin said to Ron. "This is a warning for everyone. They are coming.
Everyone. The war is starting."
"Don't scare the kids, Remus!" Tonks said and slapped him over the head. "HYDROLICA!"
Tonks said and her wand shot water out at the brilliant fire that was still burning strong.
"I'm sorry, Tonks. But isn't it true? The Dementors... Death Eaters now... the Ministry
attacked. This is only the beginning."
"Very true," Mad-Eye said as he propped his cane down on the floor and limped over to the
group. "But it isn't nearly as bad as it was back over sixteen years ago."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"What do I mean? I mean... on a simple day like this, sudden fires could break out, burning
people. Hogwarts would constantly have to shut down when Dementors came into the school. Giants
would attack Hogsmeade, stomp on the buildings. HUNDREDS were killed. It's a miracle we defeated
them all."
Hermione gasped. "So it's like our army verses theirs?"
"Except their army is much much larger," Lupin said. "We might have a couple hundred. They
might have over a thousand... less than two thousand though."
"Kids... sorry to tell you this," Tonks began. "I always fear that this will be the end." She put
out more of the fire with her spell.
Mad-Eye shook his head. "Tonks, this will not be the end. We will conquer." He looked at his
watch. "My, my! Six o'clock already? Okay, followed me... new headquarters."
They walked off to that same corridor but turned right into a smaller one. There were huge
chandeliers flung from the ceiling. There were only two or three wizards in the area, but stalked off
when they saw people approaching.
When they got to the end of that corridor, they had to turn right again into yet an even
smaller hallway.
"What room are we in?" Ron asked, confused.
"36A and 36B," Lupin replied while he hummed.
"Were only near Room 25A, B, and C... we've been walking for five minutes!"
"Well hidden isn't it?" Tonks jested. "Just a couple more minutes..."
They finally reached the new had quarters at 6:15 exactly. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were
told to walk down to room 36B which they would be staying in.
"Where are our trunks?" Hermione realized.
"Oh sorry... I apparated them here," Lupin said. "Just come to the other when your done
unpacking.
The three of them took off to 36B... it took a while to get there, but they finally did. Hermione
twisted the doorknob and entered.
Ron gasped.
"Holy shit!" he yelled. Hermione hit him.
There were crystal chandeliers hanging down from the ceiling. In the middle of the area was a
comfortable looking black sofa with black chairs set up around it. A fireplace with wood inside was set
against the wall opposite it. Extravagant paintings were hung on every wall. There was a kitchen in
the far corner with a few stoves, a refrigerator, a trash compactor, and a dishwasher. On the west
wall were three doors. They each had signs hung up. One said Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Another
said Mr. Lupin, Miss Tonks, and Mr. Mad-Eye Moody. For the other door, it said Albus Dumbledore.
"Wow," Harry said. "They sure go all out to impress us and give us their apologies now that
they know that we were right about Dumbledore."
All three of them laughed.
"I wonder," said Hermione, "how did Fudge find out about the Headquarters?"
"Ohh!" Ron said exuberantly. "This is what my dad tod me--Well, Dumbledore had to tell him
right? I mean, he has to join forces with everyone no matter how much of an idiot Fudge is. Fudge
was PISSED when Dumbledore told him. I mean... Fudge was MAD! He threatened to fire Shacklebot
in particular. But then... a couple of days later, Fudge apologized for his behavior. He said it was good
what Dumbledore did and offered all his help for what Dumbledore was doing. Dumbledore said the
only help he needed was to build us a new headquarters and a new school. I mean, were not safe at
Hogwarts... there are still Dementors there!"
"That explains a lot," Hermione said and kissed Ron on the cheek. Harry rolled his eyes.
"How's Percy?" Harry asked.
Ron winced. "Dad wants to kill him. Mum disowns him. He hates me for not ditching you. He
despises Fred and George for leaving Hogwarts, WHICH by the way, mum and dad are very proud of
them for their business–"
"Really!?" Hermione said. "They are proud?"
"Yeah, o' course! They've earned over ten thousand galleons since we left school. And they've
given tons of it to us!"
Harry gleamed. He felt good that the Weasley's at least had some more money.
"Percy also hates Bill and Charlie for joining the Order and he just hates Ginny... for no reason
at all."
"Where is Ginny?" Hermione inquired.
"She spending the month at Luna Lovegod's mansion of a house. She'll be arriving here very
soon."
Harry was not listening to Ron anymore though... he was too busy staring in amazement at
his, Hermione, and Ron's room. There were amazing four poster beds with curtains draped over... you
could pick which colors you wanted the draperies by pressing a keypad on the wall. There was another
chandelier and yet another fireplace. There was an oak desk set up in the corner, a huge walk-in
closet for their stuff and a complimentary wizard chess game set up.
"Woah," Ron said from behind him. Harry turned around to Ron and Hermione.
"So... Hermione, have you been with Ron the whole summer?"
"Oh no," Hermione said. "I had to cut my trip in France short because Dementors were raiding
where we lived. We had to get my stuff. I checked my parents into The Leaky Cauldron. We should go
and visit them tomorrow."
At that moment, two people burst through the door to 36B.
"WE ARE HERE... TO SAVE THE DAY!!!" two voices bellowed. Ron turned around and looked
extremely happy because two of his favorite people were in the doorway.
"FRED! GEORGE!" Ron outcried.
"Hey chap," Fred said and hugged Ron. George walked over to Harry and patted his shoulder
and shook Hermione's hand.
"Percy was in the main hall. He waved at us. We just said, 'Who are you?' and walked away,"
Fred said.
"Yeah... the old brute thinks that everything is fine between us... But we know he's ashamed
of us for leaving Hogwarts. For the best wasn't it?" George jested.
"How are you guys doing?" Hermione asked.
"We usually sell out of our fireworks every day. People think they are amazing. If we make
about 500 of them, priced anywhere from 5-20 galleons, we make a handy profit of 2500 to 10000
galleons a day off of them. We've had to extend the store because so many people are in. We've
hired employees too!" George explained.
Ron looked up to them, Harry could tell. He thought they were the coolest people alive.
"Were not joining the Order... we are just taking some vacation time. Until you guys go back
to school. We will probably lose a lot of valuable business, but it's fine. We'll be staying at that small
hotel that was built here a while ago. There are so many people coming in and out. It's fabulous.
These are dark times, but everyone is lively!" Fred said. He looked at his watch. "We best be going,
George. We need to get some reservations."
They all said their good-byes and Hermione, Ron, and Harry made their way to 36A. All they
had to do was walk across the room they were in and open a door. The headquarters was even more
amazing with many gadgets set up like a Penseive, some Sneakoscopes, Foe Detectors, and magical
creatures. There were bathrooms in the corner, and Ron squealed and ran off for one.
"Harry... I need to talk to you," Hermione said and dragged Harry to a corner.
"Yeah?" Harry asked.
"Should I dump Ron?"
"Oh for God's sake. You too never stop touching or kissing each other. Does it look like I really
care?"
"Sorry. I guess you don't," Hermione said simply with an sharpness to her voice and took off
to where Tonks was sitting on the couch, turning her hair a dark green.
Harry walked over to Mr. Weasley who had come back with Mrs. Weasley who had seemed to
have calmed down.
"Harry!" Mr. Weasley said and shook Harry's hand. "Still having visions?"
Harry had not thought of Voldemort since the day Sirius had died. "No," Harry said.
"You shouldn't be. He's abandoned your mind anyways... remember when he was wrapped
around you as the snake and then he vanished?"
Harry nodded. That made sense.
"This is the new headquarters!" Lupin said, walking over to Harry. "It's beautiful isn't it?"
Harry nodded.
"Well, I have to go talk to Fudge with Tonks and Mad-Eye. You kids are welcome to stay here,"
Lupin said to Harry. "If you guys leave to go somewhere within the Ministry, leave a note on this
counter," Lupin instructed and pointed to a counter top.
"I have to go with Molly to go help Fred and George. We won't be back until late. We might go
out to eat at the buffet they have!" Mr. Weasley said.
"Same with us," Lupin said. "We'll be tardy also."
And with that, everyone left, leaving Harry to sit with Ron and Hermione on the couch.
"What shall we do?" Harry asked.
"I have a question for Harry," Hermione said, not looking at him. She was probably still
offended from before. "What did you get on your O.W.L.S.?"
Harry remembered all of a sudden.
"Oh yeah!" he said and took out a letter from his cloak pocket. It was damp from the
"hurricane" still. He eagerly tore it open and looked happy as could be.
"Charms... Outstanding. Transfiguration... Outstanding. Divination... Exceeds Expectations.
Astronomy... Outstanding. Defense Against the Dark Arts... Exceeds Expectations. And thank god. I
thought Umbridge would fail me for now particular reason. Care of Magical Creatures... Outstanding.
History of Magic... Exceeds Expectations. Potions.."
He looked up in awe. "Outstanding."
"Good job!" Ron congratulated.
"Yes, very," Hermione eyed him.
"Well thank you," Harry said and smiled.