~ Chapter 7: To the Weasleys'
Thursday, 6th of July. Time to move out….
It was a cool night. Harry had finished his dinner about half-an-hour ago. By general agreement--of the members of the order-- they would move out at night, preferably sometime towards midnight. If they hadn't change the plan of flying to The Burrow. Harry had told both his caretakers. Uncle Vernon could not care less; he'd be much happier if Harry would not be around in the house for his Aunt Marge would be coming in to visit again during the weekend.
Discreetly, Harry and the Grangers-- who were taking up residence across the Dursleys' for the time being-- had shipped most of Harry's possessions during the cover of the night. There was nothing else left in his bedroom save for his Firebolt, and a few changes of clothes and his wand, naturally. Hedwig was experiencing freedom over in the other house and relished in making frequent hunts at night. Harry did not blame her. If I were an owl, I'd probably do it too, provided I don't turn feral…or something…
Harry was in a considerably light mood. The prospect of spending the rest of the summer with the Weasleys' had cheered him at least that much. Provided things don't get any much worse, we could all practice some Quidditch. If I can get Ron away from Hermione…I wonder…when did they started to go out…
Harry paused a moment to stare at his wand absently. He took several minutes to search deep within his heart. Thank goodness…thank goodness this revelation didn't make me jealous…Harry gave a huge sigh of relief.
Knock knock…
That's funny; the Dursleys' never knocked on my bedroom door before…
A familiar tired-looking face poked his head inside. Professor Lupin looked much more exhausted than ever and Harry found himself getting alarmed by the seconds. The once Defence against the Dark Arts teacher shook his head admonishingly.
"Now don't you dare ask me if I'm all right…seriously," his voice sounding a little surly, "you, Ron, Hermione and especially her parents, always seem to want to ask me that every time I show up." The middle-aged wizard almost sulked, and just for a moment, he looked very young, incredulously boyish, but as serious as he usually was.
"Well if you a--"
"I'm ready," Harry said, slinging his bag over his shoulders, his hand grabbing his Firebolt. His wand was already tucked safely in his pocket.
"We'll be going by Floo powder by the way," Professor Lupin said, looking over his shoulder as he proceeded down the stairs. Harry took one brief moment to stare his cousin down and nodded towards the Dursleys. Only his aunt paused at the front door to watch Harry leave, to enter the house opposite theirs.
"Harry!" Ron gave his best friend an one-armed hug. "The rest are already at home, and the twins are there too!"
"There's just one thing I would really like to know," Harry said, "is Percy back home?"
"Nope; I bet he's too damn proud to admit that he's been a nitwit."
"Can't you kids hurry up?" Professor Lupin grumbled.
"We are, we are, don't get grouchy," Ron answered. "Well, here I go," Ron muttered as he took a fistful of Floo Powder. "The Burrow!"
"Here you go, Harry," Professor Lupin handed him the bowl and Harry took a handful of the Powder. "Tell Mrs. Weasley I'll be about an hour late, I've got to keep watch on this house until Fletcher comes in from his errands--whatever they were."
"All right," Harry nodded. "The Burrow!" Harry felt the familiar spinning feeling and the roar in his ears. In just a moment, he slid over the floor of the Weasleys'.
"Welcome home, Harry!" the twins gave him a bear hug after they pulled him up to his feet, as Hermione and Ron took over his Firebolt and his rucksack.
"You'll get to share room with us, Harry," Fred whispered.
"Now, we've got Percy's room, had to make way for Hermione's parents," George nodded towards Mr. And Mrs. Granger, who were looking at the family clock with amazement.
"Dad's still working out late, and he'll be so-ooo pleased when he finds out that they'll be staying with us the whole summer," Ginny said. She gave Harry a quick kiss on the cheek as a greeting, dusting Harry's smudged face with a damp face towel.
"Hey, Harry!" Fred called out, his right hand holding a small package. "Care to try this?"
"What is it?" Harry asked rather cautiously.
"It is called Lemon-wakees," Ginny answered, giving him a wide grin. "It's great!"
"This is our latest product! Something that would really come in handy if you're ever studying in Professor Binns's class."
"A wake-up call gummy?" Harry asked rather archly, his hand already reaching inside the small package.
"Something like that," Fred shrugged indifferently.
"Ah--any side effects I should know about?" Harry asked as he picked one of the yellow-colored gummy, then suddenly froze.
George shook his head. "None--but be sure you don't take them at night unless you're planning to do some last-minute studying or something like what the Ms. Granger standing behind me likes to do."
"It keeps you up, Harry. It acts something like coffee," Hermione answered as she made her way back to the group, making a face George.
"Go on, Harry," Fred urged desperately. "Don't tell me you don't want to stay up and chit-chat before you settle down?"
Harry quickly popped the sticky sweet in his mouth and he knew why they were named Lemon-wakees. His face immediately puckered up and he shuddered at the concentrated taste of very sour lemons. Ginny cackled in the background and Hermione's self control evaporated at that point when she watched Harry's reactions and broke into helpless laughter.
"Dear Merlin!" Harry gasped, blinking his watery eyes, and shuddered again as a second wave of acidity attacked his taste buds.
"Harry!" Mrs. Weasley gave the still-shuddering boy a hug. "My, aren't you getting tall? And what did you do to your hair?"
"Oh, leave him, Mom," Bill interrupted. The eldest Weasley brother gave him a quick hug, then remarked, "Nice hairstyle, Harry."
Harry could not speak; it took about fifteen minutes for the sour taste of the gummy to fade.
"By the way Mrs. Weasley," Harry started, his voice sounding a bit scratchy; "Professor Lupin will be late. He has to wait until Mr. Fletcher gets back."
"That man--"
Whoosh…
Professor Lupin coughed for a bit. "Now, now, Molly, I'm here now."
"Remus," Mrs. Weasley shook her head at him, and with Bill's help, they pulled him up to his feet. Mrs. Weasley's face indicated that she was worried about the appearance of the werewolf-wizard but remained mum.
Mrs. Granger squealed with delight when one of the many hands of the clock- this one with a picture of Mr. Weasley- moved and pointed to 'Home'.
"Hello everyone!" a lively voice called from the outside.
"Hello, Arthur," Mrs. Weasley greeted her husband fondly.
"Hello, Harry! Welcome ba--" Mr. Weasley stopped abruptly when Mrs. Granger waved cheerfully at him.
"Dear God! Hermione, you didn't tell me that your parents will be coming too!" the balding-man quickly stepped forward to shake the Grangers' hands.
"It's sort of a surprise for you, Mr. Weasley," Hermione said mischievously. Harry blinked at the studious, self-righteous Hermione.
"Positive influence by the twins and the sister that's likely to follow their footsteps if they aren't careful about it," Bill whispered roguishly.
"I agree, bro. Our little sister might just outstrip them if they aren't watching carefully," Ron nodded vigorously.
"What's this about?" Harry whispered back.
"Ginny's the one whom invented the Lemon-wakees, but she lets the twins get the credit. No use having mom worrying about the only female offspring in the family," Ron answered Harry, after making sure that his mother was not around to hear it.
"All right everyone!" Mrs. Weasley called. "Time for supper!"
**********
"The kids have a right to know too," Mr. Granger was saying to his wife who just shrugged.
"A right to know what?" Mr. Weasley asked curiously as they all seated themselves comfortably in the living room. Professor Lupin was sitting near to the window. Harry gave him a curious look. He's looking sort of detached as if he's mind is somewhere else. He's looking very worried too… The young wizard frowned. What's Professor Lupin worrying about? Harry turned his attention to the present.
Mr. Granger looked at Hermione pleadingly and she gave a small sigh. "My parents have been keeping a secret from you that they think you have a right to know about. I've just got to know about it this summer, and Ron and Harry got to know it a few days ago."
Professor Lupin became instantly alert. I have the feeling that the girl is going to say something very important.
"I've just found out that my parents-- in their own right-- holds some magical talents," Hermione said proudly.
Except for Harry and Ron, with the Grangers, the rest looked as if she had suddenly spoke to them in an alien language. Mr. Granger gave them a very mysterious smile and the Weasleys' found that they did not have to chew on Lemon-wakees to keep them awake that night. The Grangers began telling them of an elite group working in the Muggle world.
"Unbelievable," Mr. Weasley breathed as he gazed at the Grangers with awe.
Professor Lupin was not looking at the Grangers with awe; instead, he was looking at them reverently and relief. That however, abruptly changed when Mr. Granger gave a startled yelp and jumped in his seat.
"That is too much!" he suddenly exploded, and began to swear creatively, much to Hermione's horror.
They all looked at Mr. Granger who was staring at something before him, his face growing angrier by the seconds.
"Lover, what is the matter?" Mrs. Granger asked her husband but he was not paying attention to his wife, so engrossed in whatever he was swearing at. Mrs. Granger gave up and called her Sylph by the name of Arenii. A sudden wind penetrated the house, and the Weasleys', including Harry jumped up and took out their wands and held them warily. Professor Lupin looked about the surroundings. The breeze died, and only Hermione was still sitting down, calmly looking at her parents. To her surprise, her mom joined in the swearing. Seriously…are they adults or what? It's too bad I can't hear what Arenii's saying…
"Outrageous--bloody hell--those things…How I wish I was there with the elves!" Mrs. Granger screamed as her face turned white with anger.
"Children! Dear Lord! I don't bloody believe it! Imagine that…Lord, children!" her husband raved.
Mrs. Weasley was getting alarmed. "Please, could you tell us what's wrong?"
Hermione was deciding if she should use a spell to calm her parents down when her father shot her a look.
"I don't recommend you to do that daughter," Mr. Granger spoke firmly. Hermione sighed.
"Then could you please calm down and tell us what's going on? I can't see the Salamander but I can see Arenii," Hermione calmly told her parents.
"Who's Arenii?" The Weasleys asked and at the same time, Hermione's parents blurted out.
"You could see her?"
"Yes, I've seen her around since I was a child," Hermione shrugged indifferently. Mrs. Granger stood up and was not surprised to see a little Sylph hanging about Hermione's hair.
"We should have expected it… I guess," Mrs. Granger suddenly smiled at her husband, but the look that he gave his wife was sulky.
"Why not a Salamander?"
"Who is Arenii?" Ginny repeated and was answered by Mrs. Granger.
"She is my Sylph, an Air Elemental. Our respective helpers--or you could call them spies, which is one of their responsibilities-- had just brought us grave news."
"And isn't Fenix angry about it? It happened in a neighboring jurisdiction after all," Mr. Granger remarked, as he cocked his head to one side, almost as if he was talking to an imaginary friend.
"Angry? That is an understatement; She practically came down and gave them a showdown. And the elves weren't really prepared to see a Fire Master really, really furious." They were all so surprised when they heard a deep voice that seemed to be coming out at the spot where Mr. Granger was staring intently.
"If you would care to look at the window for a moment," a soft musical voice piped out, "you would see that she is still extremely pissed off." They all looked out.
"Bloody hell!" Ron muttered as they all watched the whole sky lightened up in an eerie blue glow. Then they heard several explosions and the sky burst with blue flames.
"These Dementors ought to have been more careful in choosing their prey," Mr. Granger said menacingly as his eyes took in the fireworks.
"Dementors? And who were their prey?" Professor Lupin asked quietly, as he felt the vibrations of the thunder-like detonations in his body and he closed his eyes, almost as if he was trying to savor the feeling.
"Children, Professor Lupin. Children," Mrs. Granger replied in a disgusted voice.
"I think the Dark Lord has made a very stupid move involving the Dementors in the Muggle World. If he's the one in charge of deploying them…" Harry observed.
"I think you are quite right, and I understand why the elves are also involved," Professor Lupin agreed. "They are very protective creatures, destroy their Groves, they'll hunt you for decades. Try to harm children, be it their own kind or mortals-- except for Evil-- they will wage war with you. And they will not rest until those responsible are presented to the Wheel," the Professor said as the Elemental Mages nodded their agreements. He opened his eyes and suddenly Mrs. Granger gasped.
Against the background of the night-sky, was a soaring Phoenix, engulfed in blue fire of various shades. I thought the flames should be red, a detached part of Professor Lupin's mind thought. It spread its wings wide, head thrown proudly back and screamed its anger.
"Do you think the Dark Lord will be aware of this?" Mr. Granger asked mildly, directing his question at the head of the Weasley family.
"I don't think he has any choice," Mr. Weasley replied shakily, still staring out at the sky.
Harry forced himself to look away from the window. "Were any of the children hurt?"
Mr. Granger shook his head. They heard the deep voice belonging to the Salamander again.
"Fenix would kill herself a thousand times if that happens. Right now, she is extremely glad that she had pressed the Fair Ones and the Elementals to keep constant watch. Somehow, she has developed a technique that will prevent future Apparations of these Dementors. It seems that her neighbors did not take her suggestions seriously."
"Mr. Granger," Ron asked timidly, "is the Phoenix the Fire Master you had been telling Hermione, Harry and me few days back?"
"Yes, she is," Mrs. Granger replied quizzically.
"A woman?" Ron spluttered suddenly but blushed when four women and at least one Sylph in the house gave him a hard, unfriendly look. Count yourself lucky Ron, you can't see the way the Sylph is looking at you in this instant, Hermione's eyes flashed in anger.
"Have a problem with that?" Ginny asked dangerously. Ron hastily gulped and shook his head, not looking at any of the women.
**********
It was about two hours from dawn. Professor Lupin was not asleep, as he opted to sit by the fireplace. Hermione's fluffy and big cat accompanied him as he brooded. Crookshanks purred its contentment as he scratched its chin absently.
Fenix…I've heard that name somewhere…It must have been a long time ago because every time I repeat the name in my head, I always see Sirius and Lily…
There was a crackle in the space right in front of him and the Headmaster's face peered up at him.
"Good morning, Remus. You are not looking well," Professor Albus Dumbledore greeted him bluntly.
"Uh…thank you... I think," Professor Lupin replied tiredly.
"I assume you were all aware of the…fireworks?" the Headmaster began carefully.
"We watched it in time."
"Oh?" Professor Dumbledore gave him an inquisitive look.
"It seems that there are a lot of people out there who have strange abilities."
"Explain."
"Hermione's parents are examples," and he re-explained what the Grangers had told them.
"Remarkable piece of information. However, I would really like to meet this astounding lady. She has managed to get me curious and Fawkes seemed terribly excited when he viewed the…mock-display." Professor Dumbledore mused.
"Headmaster," Professor Lupin's voice suddenly cracked, "is there any news about Sirius?"
The Headmaster sighed regretfully. "I'm afraid not Remus. Back to work, I guess. I'll call in time and time again."
"Have a good day, Dumbledore."
"Still no news about Sirius?" Hermione asked, her voice quavering. He jerked his head to see the young woman staring at him; her eyes luminous with unshed tears.
"You knew?"
"Yes," she halted and ventured several steps forward and sat herself down. "Professor Lupin?" Hermione gulped but continued, "are you developing some kind of resistance to Professor Snape's potions?"
The older man sighed, "I think so, Hermione. Sometimes, I think you are too bright for your age. And why aren't you asleep?"
"I don't really know. I haven't really been sleeping well ever since summer started."
The two sat down in silence as Crookshanks devoted itself to the two people.
"Don't give up hoping Hermione," Professor Lupin said softly.
"Not going to stop until there are some real evidence he is really gone," Ron said quietly, sitting himself beside Hermione. "What's your reason for hoping he'll be back?"
Hermione gave a shocked look at Ron. However, her partner seemed determined to get an answer from him.
"I would not deny that I want to spend some time with Harry," Professor Lupin admitted. Ron gave a triumphant look at Hermione. "But I'm hoping because Sirius is my closest friend. I don't really know how to say this but they treated me like a brother…" Professor Lupin paused. "Sirius…Harry's father and him were my personal clowns. They never failed to amuse me when the full moon draws nearer and nearer. I was afraid of my transformation and I'm still afraid. Sirius was there to guard me when I changed. Now that the Professor Snape's potions are becoming useless, it's getting harder for me to control myself. After losing James to him, and then Sirius…to the prison…and getting him back again…was the happiest moments of my life Ron. And then to lose Sirius again?" Professor Lupin looked directly at Ron, and the boy flushed.
"Sorry, Prof-- I misunderstood you."
Professor Lupin chuckled sadly under his breath, "Don't worry; I'm used to that." Professor Lupin sighed, his eyes stared out blankly. Hermione was right on the verge of tears when she saw the haunted look in the man's eyes. She stared furiously at Ron, who squirmed uneasily in his seat when Hermione gave him a look signifying, 'Insensitive lout'. He answered back with one of his typical expressions, 'How was I supposed to know?'
The three looked up in relief when Mrs. Weasley came into sight.
"I see you three haven't been sleeping," she called. "No worries, I'll give you something to work on until you're simply to exhausted to do anything else but sleep," and she set off to make some breakfast.
"There goes Quidditch practise." Ron sighed with disappointment.
"Ummm…Ron… does the work part include me too?" Professor Lupin asked.
"I think so."
"What have I gotten myself into?" He muttered under his breath.
**********