Chapter Seven: Mark Evans

Two days before the beginning of term, Harry, and his friends were sitting in the kitchen of Gryphon's Eyrie eating breakfast, when an elderly owl - who resembled nothing as much as a large grey feather duster - flew in through one of the windows and collapsed on the table.

"Errol!" exclaimed Ginny, and reached over to pry a small envelope from his beak. She quickly scanned the message and put it down. "It's from Mum. She wants Ron and I to come back to Burrow today so that she can see us before we go back."

Tonks leaned over and poked Errol with her wand. "I hate to say it, Ron, Ginny, but I think your owl's dead."

"I doubt it," said Ron, taking the last forkful of scrambled eggs and eating it. "He always pulls through."

"No, I think Tonks is right," said Harry. "I'll get Velik to take a look at him, but I think he's had it."

Once they had finished eating, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny excused themselves so they could go and pack. Harry stayed at the table for a few minutes, discussing defensive magic with Tonks and Lupin, and then he rose and headed for the back door, saying that he was going for a walk. Civis transformed into his crow form and followed at a discrete distance.

Harry's first stop was the South Tower at the boundary of the castle itself, where he checked in with Velik, the house-elf responsible for maintaining the large Owlery, who told Harry exactly what he expected to hear. When he was passing the stables, he heard a familiar female voice inside. He pushed the main door open and went in. Ginny was standing at a stall several doors down with her head touching the winged gelding Aeneus, talking quietly into one of the small horse's ears.

"Hi Ginny."

Ginny started and swung around to face him, "Harry! You startled me."

"Sorry Gin," Harry told her, walking up to stand beside her as she was quieting Aeneus, who had panicked at her shout. "Are you ready to go?"

Ginny nodded, "I just came to say goodbye to Aeneus. I'll miss him. I've enjoyed our rides together over the last few weeks."

"I'm sure he'll miss you too, Ginny." Harry told her. I know I will. "You can come back any time you want. What is mine is yours."

"Thanks Harry," said Ginny, then she gave her horse a last pat and headed for the door.

Harry gave his own horse, the iron-grey stallion Ravlin, a quick pat and then followed her, catching her up easily. "I talked to Velik about half-an- hour ago."

"And...?"

Harry shook his head sadly. "Velik says Errol actually had a heart attack, he stabilised him, but it'll take at least six months of rehabilitation before he can fly again."

"That's going to be a problem," Ginny said. "Mum won't have an owl at home without Errol."

Harry considered whether to mention a thought he'd been having since he talked to Velik, and decided it couldn't hurt. "Why don't you take one of my owls? Velik's got twelve, plus I've got Hedwig and Civis and Jarred both have bird forms, so we don't need that many."

"Are you sure Harry?" asked Ginny.

Harry nodded, "Why don't take one for yourself too Gin. You should have a pet."

Ginny hesitated for a moment, struggling with her natural tendency to refuse. "Can I have Hedley?" she said, naming a large Snowy Owl that had caught her eye when Civis had given them the guided tour several weeks ago. Harry nodded and Ginny spent the rest of the walk back to the keep jumping up and down with joy.

----

The next two days passed relatively quietly for Harry, and all too soon it was September 1st and it was time for Harry to return to Hogwarts.

Accompanied by Remus, Padfoot, Tonks and Civis - disguised as an elderly black-suited gentleman - Harry Flooed to the Leaky Cauldron with his trunk and Hedwig's cage. After nodding a greeting to Tom the bartender, they walked out of the front door, to where a black taxi was waiting. After getting inside Harry glanced at the driver, it was Kingsley Shacklebolt. The Auror picked up the microphone of the Muggle two-way radio. "Cyclops, this is Sovereign. The package is onboard."

The radio squawked and Moody's gravely voice issued from it, "Received Sovereign. Vatus and Lex are in position, you're good to go."

"Rolling now," confirmed Kingsley, putting the car into gear and pulling out from the kerb. A large black motorcycle pulling in front of them as they joined the main traffic flow. "ETA, King's Cross Station, fifteen minutes."

"Received, station security is expecting you. Cyclops out."

Peering through the windscreen at the man in full gold-trimmed motorcycle leathers and a red-and-black full-face helmet, Harry thought he recognised a familiar silhouette. "Is that Josef Phobus?" he asked.

Tonks nodded, "And if you look behind you, you'll see another friend."

Harry glanced out the small, oblong-shaped back window and immediately spotted another rider in the same outfit. The fact that this one was female and that long strands of blond hair poked out from under her helmet, allowed Harry to identify her as Andrea Castle; one of only three people who could stand being paired with Phobus and the only intelligent and down- to-earth person that Harry knew of that had managed to get an 'Outstanding' in her Divination NEWT.

"Moody's not taking any chances is he?" Harry observed.

Sirius chuckled, "If you think this is tight, wait 'till you see the station."

It was only ten o'clock when they arrived at the station. Glancing around, Harry immediately spotted half-a-dozen Aurors maintaining surveillance outside. There was nothing wrong with their disguises - tan trenchcoats over pale-grey summer suits - but the fact that four men and two women all dressed the same were trying to pretend they didn't know each other, told them who they were.

Kingsley picked up the mike as they headed in. "Sovereign to Cyclops. The package has been delivered. Handing over to on-site security."

"This is Cyclops. Message received. Nighthawk and the Aurors will take it from here."

The group headed into the main concourse, as they passed over the threshold with Tonks and Padfoot in the lead, Harry had an uncontrollable urge to look upwards. He did and was just able to make out a man sitting crouched on one of the beam near the ceiling. The man was marked a wizard by the fact that he wore a cloak, the rest of his outfit - black dragonhide boots, black breeches, a black ribbed stretch top with a blue and red eagle design on the chest, and full-length leather gloves, topped with a pair of wrap- around sunglasses - could have easily passed for Muggle clothing. Harry had no trouble recognising his martial arts teacher, Jason Draper. "Why's Jason hiding?" he asked Professor Lupin in an undertone.

"Jurisdictional issues," Lupin told him.

"Security here is being handled by the Aurors. A Hit-Wizard, especially one like Draper, who doesn't always play by the rules, won't be welcome."

Harry nodded, understanding perfectly.

They were crossing Platform Nine when a voice behind them caught Harry's attention. "Excuse me, are you going to Hogwarts?"

Harry turned around and started when he saw a vaguely familiar face, he smiled kindly. "Yeah. I bet you don't know how to get onto the platform?"

The red-haired boy nodded. "It's my first time. Can you help me?"

Harry nodded, " Mark Evans, isn't it? You've had some problems with my cousin and his gang, haven't you?"

"You're Harry Potter!"

Harry nodded, "Guys, this is Mark Evans, he's a Muggleborn and lives in Little Whinging. Mark, this is Professor Lupin, a family friend, my companion Charles Goodfellow, and Tonks another friend and her dog Padfoot."

Padfoot growled in indignation at his description but did nothing more than that. Lupin smiled to himself and then spoke, "Shall we get moving Harry?"

Harry nodded, pushing his trolley forwards towards the platform, Mark, Professor Lupin and Charles followed him. "Mark, to get onto the platform, you have to walk straight through the barrier between Platforms Nine and Ten."

"That's crazy."

"No, it's magic." Harry assured him with a grin, he'd been almost a sceptical as this boy when Mrs Weasley had first told him how to get onto the platform five years before. "Just watch Tonks and Padfoot."

They passed through the barrier without incident, although Harry and Mark both had to show their tickets to a cream-and-gold-robed Auror before they could get on the train. "I'll see you at Christmas Harry." Sirius told him, he had transformed back to his human form as soon as they entered Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Harry nodded and closed the door behind him. He was just able to make out Tonks speaking into another Muggle walkie-talkie before they disappeared into the crowd. He smiled to himself, her call- sign, Changeling, was rather appropriate, as he had rarely seen her with exactly the same appearance twice. When they passed a compartment full of fist years, Harry dropped off Mark inside, although he managed to pick up Jamie instead, who had been waiting there for him. With the help of Justin Finch-Fletchley and Susan Bones - two Hufflepuff sixth years Harry was reasonably friendly with, who had also been members of the controversial Dumbledore's Army the year before - he managed to locate Neville and Luna. He introduced Jamie to his two friends and they both sat down. "The others are at the Prefects meeting I take it?" he asked.

Neville nodded. "I don't know who most of the new prefects are, but Katie's Head Girl and Simon Capper's the other new Gryffindor prefect," he told Harry. "I take it you know Ginny got the badge?"

Harry smiled, "Yeah. She told me when she owled back to tell me that she and the other Weasleys would be attending Sirius' trail with Hermione."

"How did that go away?" asked Neville. "I know he got off, but nobody's talking about it."

"It went fine. Sirius had to admit he was an illegal Animagus, but that's all been sorted out. Wormtail was executed."

"Did he get any compensation? The reports in the Prophet didn't say."

"Ten thousand Galleons." Neville nodded, seeming satisfied.

Jamie, who had remained silent until this point spoke up, "Why was your godfather on trial Harry? What did they think he did wrong?"

Harry sighed, but after a moment repeated the entire story of the Prophecy, the Fidelius Charm, Wormtail's betrayal, Sirius' capture and subsequent escape, the ambush at the Ministry, Sirius' reappearance and Wormtail's capture on his birthday, and finally the trial two days later.

"You haven't had an easy life have you Harry?"

"No I haven't, and with this prophecy hanging over my head is not likely to get much easier any time soon. Luckily, some of the Order have been training me since I moved to Gryphon's Eyrie so I'm a bit more prepared than I would be otherwise."

The carriage fell silent after that, and the companionable silence was broken only twice, once when the snack trolley came by - Harry bought an armful of goodies so that Jamie could try a little of everything, which he did - and the second time a few moments later, when Hermione, Ron and Ginny returned from their Prefects meeting.

"Malfoy's still a Prefect, worse luck." Ron told bitterly and he savagely bit off the head of a Chocolate that Luna had offered him when he sat down. "Roger Davies is Head Boy and I suppose you know Katie's Head Girl?"

Harry nodded, "Neville also mentioned that Simon Capper's the other Gryffindor Prefect. Who are the others?"

"Joseph Fawcett and Alana Corvus are the new Ravenclaw Prefects," Ron replied. "Summersby and Justin's little sister Vivian are Hufflepuff's and Morgan Redthorn and Jessie Blackfern are the Slytherin Prefects."

"What are they like? Do you know them?" Harry asked Ginny.

"Yes I do. And I think Snape chose well for once." she admitted. "They're tough, but Blackfern at least is reasonably open-minded, rumour has it she spent part of the summer with the Davies', apparently she's good friends with Roger's younger brother Huw."

"And he's a Muggleborn." Harry finished for her. "Maybe we should think about bringing them into the DA this year."

"We're continuing the DA?" asked Hermione, incredulously. "Why?"

"Albus and I talked about it when we met at St Mungo's, he says with the school being a target like it is, it'll be a good idea for everyone who has the school's best interests at heart to get as much as they can. But it's going to be an official school club now, anyone can ask to join although we don't want too many first or second years, we're going to be learning some pretty heavy stuff, most NEWT-level. I'm still going to be in charge though and I'll have a veto on anyone who I think might be a security risk. McGonagall, Flitwick and the new Defence teacher have all agreed to act as consultants if we need them."

"Who is the new DADA teacher?" asked Ginny. "Do you know?"

"Yeah, Meredith Ambrose. She's one of the Order's curse specialists."

"She's a lot more than that Harry," said Hermione, with a slight hint of annoyance in her voice. "She's a Spell Weaver, one of only a handful that have been born in the last three hundred years."

"What's a Spell Weaver?" asked Jamie.

Hermione took a deep breath and went into what Harry often thought of as her 'lecture-mode'. "Spell-Weavers don't need to use a wand, and they can use any spell that they know exists without even needing the words or anything. They can also weave pure magic into spells and constructs at will. According to Hogwarts: A History a lot of the wards and protections around Hogwarts were put together by a man called Myelin Ambrosius, a descendant of Merlin and probably an ancestor of Professor Ambrose."

"And this all means what exactly?" asked Ron, who was now on his third Chocolate Frog.

"It means Ron. that while I don't normally credit Malfoy and Voldemort's rubbish about pureblood being better than people like me. she is probably the most powerful witch on the planet. She might even be more powerful than Professor Dumbledore or Voldemort."

"Wow." Said Ron, slightly awed by this revelation. "And we've got for Defence Against the Dark Arts!"

Well, this year will certainly be. interesting. Harry decided, settling back into his seat, with Jamie on one side and Ginny on the other. The group chatted for a while, but about two hours out of London, Harry felt a thud against his chest. He looked down and saw that Jamie had fallen asleep on him, her head tucked into the crock of his arm. Harry smiled down at her and brushed a lock of hair out of her face and shifted so that she'd be more comfortable. He glanced across at his friends and saw to his amusement that Ron had done almost the same thing with Hermione, unlike Harry she seemed slightly fazed by this, but seemed reluctant to wake him, so instead continued to read her book, A Practical Guide To Self-Transformation, and acted as if nothing unusual was happening.