Chapter 1:
It was only a week into summer, and Harry was already tired of the Dursley's. He was ready to go to his godfather's house. He was ready to spend time with his friends, even if the only thing they did was clean the Black home. He was ready for anything.
Since his return from his fifth year at Hogwarts, Harry had spent his time bottling up his grief over the loss of Sirius. Sure it had only been a week, but it was amazing how quickly hatred could completely overtake grief, and turn it into a passionate drive for revenge.
Ok, maybe not that far, not just yet. But at the rate Harry's emotions were going, he was going to become just what he always hated, a cold hearted slytherin. Ready to walk all over someone to get what he wanted. And that wasn't good for anyone. The world didn't need another Lucius Malfoy or any more Lord Voldemorts, one of each was bad enough.
Lying on his bed, Harry ran his fingers through his unruly hair and waited for Hedwig to return. He had sent her to Professor Lupin with hopes that a written plea would get him an invitation to the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. Hedwig had been gone only a few hours, and Harry couldn't really expect her back so soon could he?
So he resigned himself to a foot long essay on the 20 different uses of Mangor mushrooms in a Potions class. Something that only bored and frustrated him even more. And once finishing, moved on to read a chapter about Mountain Troll Wars for Professor Binns. As if his lectures weren't bad enough, now he had to go over the man's material during his break!
Luckily for Harry, he hadn't been given any more homework than that. Or was it? He now had nothing to do. His homework finished, Dudley had been tortured earlier (and that was losing its luster each time he did it), and his letter had been sent to Lupin.
Turning to look out the window, Harry rested his chin on his hands, and noticed something different about himself. Where once his face had been smooth, it now prickled to his touch. He had stubble, great lets add shaving to his list of things to learn how to do.
Throwing his bare feet to the floor, Harry stood and unlocked the window to let in his snowy white owl. His face lighting into a smile as he read the letter she had brought him.
Harry,
So it's only been a week, and already you want to leave? Well can't say we blame you, the Dursley's are horrible muggles. But I guess it would not be a problem if we came to get you, it would actually be perfect. Dumbledore has something he wants your help with. Ron and Hermione are already here. So pack your things, the guard will come to get you tomorrow around noon. Be ready to fly, and make sure the muggles know we are coming to tea. I' am sure they would love the company.
R. Lupin
His grin did not fade as he scrambled hurriedly around the room to pack his trunk --------
At noon the next day, Harry's trunk and broom, along with Hedwig's cage, all sat in a spotless corner of Aunt Petunia's living room awaiting the arrival of Harry's advance guard. Harry, however, sat completely alone in the immaculate kitchen, because the Dursley's had left wanting no part in tea with wizard's.
With three loud cracks, a crash, and the excited apologies of Tonk's, three of Harry's advance guard apparated into the kitchen. A peeved looking Moody, a tired Lupin, and the ever-clumsy Tonks each stood before him with their brooms in hand.
"You ready?" Lupin asked hinting a weary smile.
With a nod Harry led the group to the living room where Tonks shrunk his things, Moody cast a disillusionment charm on all of them, and they left. Harry's mood began to rocket back and forth between happiness and grief. He was going to see his friends and help the Order, but, and this was a big but, he was going to have to do all of it in Sirius's old home.
A home he loved and now hated for the memories he had to relive in it's presence. Taking a deep breath Harry shoved the thoughts back, throwing them into the seemingly endless black void the loss of Sirius had caused. Maybe one day he would find something to fill that ever-increasing void within himself.
But for now he had something to keep his mind occupied, the sudden whoosh of the broom into the air gave Harry that adrenaline rush he needed. His blood pounded in his ears as he soared higher and higher into the air, letting the frigid air wash over him. If he hadn't been going for stealth he would have let out a whoop of happiness.
Soaring over to follow Tonks, Harry positioned himself in the center of his guard and settled in for the long ride.
Fortunately it didn't take as long as it had the previous summer. Just as Harry's fingers felt numbingly cold, Lupin motioned for them to descend. Harry urged his Firebolt downwards slowly, and landed on the ground with a grace that many wizards or witches would envy.
Taking a look around Harry pin pointed the area where Number 12 Grimmauld Place should have been, and as he thought the address to the head quarters the place appeared in it's correct spot.
Without waiting for Tonks, Moody, or Lupin, Harry made his way to the door and entered it as quietly as he possibly could. The foyer of the Black home was dark, but it had lost the mildew smell it had once possessed.
Adjusting his eyes to the darkness, Harry noted with a faint smile that the picture of Sirius's mother still hung on the wall along with the heads of all the former house elves. Behind him the door opened again silently as the three others entered the house.
Tonks whispered for Harry to follow her as she lead him up to the room he had shared with Ron the year before. There she returned his things to normal size and told him when he was ready he could come downstairs, Mrs. Weasley had cooked dinner.
Harry hurriedly washed his hands and made his way to the kitchen, trying in a vain attempt to flatten his unkempt, wind-blown hair.
On his way down the staircase he noticed some of the picture's were missing, but not much else had been taken off the walls. Rounding the corner to the kitchen, Harry could make out the voices of several people, Ron and Hermione included. Smiling at their friendly bickering he pushed open the large wooden door and took a seat in between the two red faced friends.
"Don't you two ever stop?" He said in a sarcastic tone, an amused glint in his green eyes. Ron gave Harry a friendly punch on the shoulder, and Hermione just smiled. "We probably wouldn't argue so much if Hermione wasn't such a know-it-all," Ron said.
Then gaining his own amused glint at the girl's heightening red face, he added, " All she does is read books, how are we supposed to keep up when she's smarter than both of us and half the wizarding world too?" It was Ron's way of apologizing, and thankfully his comment worked. But Hermione's face only gained more heat as she blushed.
Mrs. Weasley arrived at the table a moment later with a large pot of stew in her arms and smile on her motherly face.
"Well hello Harry," she said, putting down the pot, "It's nice to see that those muggles haven't had a chance to do much harm to you in a weeks time."
Harry smiled and ladled out a spoonful of the stew she had set on the table. But before he could answer her comment, she said," Dumbledore will be coming later this evening, did Remus tell you he has a job for you three to do this summer?" her hand motioning toward he, Ron and Hermione.
"Remus told me he wanted us to do something, but he didn't mention what." Harry answered with hopes she would tell him.When Mrs. Weasley did not offer anymore information, Harry let the matter drop. He would find out later any way.
Dinner conversations among wizards were very interesting to Harry, even after the five years he had spent in their presence. He loved the talk of magic, his favorite sport quidditch, and the way everyone in the room seemed like family. They were all so closely knit, their bonds of friendship gluing them together.
Looking around the table, He felt a knot in his stomach. The place Sirius had once sat was now empty. Well technically Sirius didn't have an assigned seat at the table, but that wasn't the point. The point was he wasn't at the table, and he never would be again. The knot rose, forming a lump in Harry's throat. Swallowing hard, he again pushed down the thoughts of Sirius.
But it wasn't till Dumbledore entered the kitchen, that the thoughts completely disappeared. The seemingly ancient wizard greeted the room with his usual twinkling eyes, and got straight to business.
" I have received word that Lord Voldemort is planning some sort of muggle raid in America. He has sent over a hundred of his Death Eaters there and they await their orders. We have no way of knowing where Voldemort will strike, he has kept the whereabouts of his servants secret, even from the other Death Eaters. We do know that he will strike somewhere in on the eastern shore, in one of the southern states." Dumbledore's eyes had grown darker, the twinkle fading slightly as he gave this sad news. The room was silent. No one seemed to know how to respond to this.
Dumbledore conjured a seat from mid air, a fluffly looking recliner, and continued. " I have allowed Harry, Ron, and Hermione to this meeting because I believe that they will be able to help the Order."
The wizard turned his face to glance at all the adults present in the room." We each have duties to perform. Duties that will not allow us to keep watch on things as we would like. It is for this reason that I ask for the help of these three young people."
Anticipation coursed through Harry's veins. Dumbledore had something up his sleeve, no literally. Pulling three pieces of rolled parchment from his sleeve, Dumbledore smiled in what Harry could only describe as his most slytherin smile. It was an odd look on the old wizard's face, but it gave Harry a feeling that said Voldemort was going to be sorry when Albus Dumbledore got a hold of him.
Harry shifted his green eyes to the three pieces of parchment, now lying on the table, and studied them. Each looked like an ordinary piece of paper except that when Harry looked at the one on the left hand side of Dumbledore, it Seemed to flash a green tint. Looking first to Dumbledore for permission, Harry reached out timidly toward the parchment. But before his hand made it anywhere near the glinting parchment, the paper flew into his hand.
Harry's eyes widened in shock, and the Headmaster gave a little chuckle. "We wouldn't want you to lose something as important as that map you now hold, Harry." Dumbledore told him.
"A map?" Ron questioned as he watched Harry unroll the parchment.
"Yes, all three maps were designed by Mr. Lupin actually. They are very similar to the map he and his friends made in their years at Hogwarts."
Harry looked up at Lupin, who gave him a knowing smile as Dumbledore continued, "To activate the maps use the words 'I am a watcher of the innocent and unknowing.' But remember they will only work if you or someone you trust completely says the words."
The three nodded their heads to show they understood, and then Hermione asked," What exactly are we to do with these maps??" But the only answer they received was, "Why you will watch the innocent and unknowing of course, and you will inform one of us if your map begins to glow red." With these last words, Dumbledore dismissed the three young friends to their rooms. ----------- A/N: This story is going a little slow for me, but maybe its cuz I'm the one writing it. I need u guys to tell me what u think. Who knows, but if u aren't liken the pace, tell me and I'll lighten up a little. What the hay I'm gonna lighten up ne wayz I promise(I'll try at least, I'm still new to this). Oh well *scampers off to write the next chapter. *
It was only a week into summer, and Harry was already tired of the Dursley's. He was ready to go to his godfather's house. He was ready to spend time with his friends, even if the only thing they did was clean the Black home. He was ready for anything.
Since his return from his fifth year at Hogwarts, Harry had spent his time bottling up his grief over the loss of Sirius. Sure it had only been a week, but it was amazing how quickly hatred could completely overtake grief, and turn it into a passionate drive for revenge.
Ok, maybe not that far, not just yet. But at the rate Harry's emotions were going, he was going to become just what he always hated, a cold hearted slytherin. Ready to walk all over someone to get what he wanted. And that wasn't good for anyone. The world didn't need another Lucius Malfoy or any more Lord Voldemorts, one of each was bad enough.
Lying on his bed, Harry ran his fingers through his unruly hair and waited for Hedwig to return. He had sent her to Professor Lupin with hopes that a written plea would get him an invitation to the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. Hedwig had been gone only a few hours, and Harry couldn't really expect her back so soon could he?
So he resigned himself to a foot long essay on the 20 different uses of Mangor mushrooms in a Potions class. Something that only bored and frustrated him even more. And once finishing, moved on to read a chapter about Mountain Troll Wars for Professor Binns. As if his lectures weren't bad enough, now he had to go over the man's material during his break!
Luckily for Harry, he hadn't been given any more homework than that. Or was it? He now had nothing to do. His homework finished, Dudley had been tortured earlier (and that was losing its luster each time he did it), and his letter had been sent to Lupin.
Turning to look out the window, Harry rested his chin on his hands, and noticed something different about himself. Where once his face had been smooth, it now prickled to his touch. He had stubble, great lets add shaving to his list of things to learn how to do.
Throwing his bare feet to the floor, Harry stood and unlocked the window to let in his snowy white owl. His face lighting into a smile as he read the letter she had brought him.
Harry,
So it's only been a week, and already you want to leave? Well can't say we blame you, the Dursley's are horrible muggles. But I guess it would not be a problem if we came to get you, it would actually be perfect. Dumbledore has something he wants your help with. Ron and Hermione are already here. So pack your things, the guard will come to get you tomorrow around noon. Be ready to fly, and make sure the muggles know we are coming to tea. I' am sure they would love the company.
R. Lupin
His grin did not fade as he scrambled hurriedly around the room to pack his trunk --------
At noon the next day, Harry's trunk and broom, along with Hedwig's cage, all sat in a spotless corner of Aunt Petunia's living room awaiting the arrival of Harry's advance guard. Harry, however, sat completely alone in the immaculate kitchen, because the Dursley's had left wanting no part in tea with wizard's.
With three loud cracks, a crash, and the excited apologies of Tonk's, three of Harry's advance guard apparated into the kitchen. A peeved looking Moody, a tired Lupin, and the ever-clumsy Tonks each stood before him with their brooms in hand.
"You ready?" Lupin asked hinting a weary smile.
With a nod Harry led the group to the living room where Tonks shrunk his things, Moody cast a disillusionment charm on all of them, and they left. Harry's mood began to rocket back and forth between happiness and grief. He was going to see his friends and help the Order, but, and this was a big but, he was going to have to do all of it in Sirius's old home.
A home he loved and now hated for the memories he had to relive in it's presence. Taking a deep breath Harry shoved the thoughts back, throwing them into the seemingly endless black void the loss of Sirius had caused. Maybe one day he would find something to fill that ever-increasing void within himself.
But for now he had something to keep his mind occupied, the sudden whoosh of the broom into the air gave Harry that adrenaline rush he needed. His blood pounded in his ears as he soared higher and higher into the air, letting the frigid air wash over him. If he hadn't been going for stealth he would have let out a whoop of happiness.
Soaring over to follow Tonks, Harry positioned himself in the center of his guard and settled in for the long ride.
Fortunately it didn't take as long as it had the previous summer. Just as Harry's fingers felt numbingly cold, Lupin motioned for them to descend. Harry urged his Firebolt downwards slowly, and landed on the ground with a grace that many wizards or witches would envy.
Taking a look around Harry pin pointed the area where Number 12 Grimmauld Place should have been, and as he thought the address to the head quarters the place appeared in it's correct spot.
Without waiting for Tonks, Moody, or Lupin, Harry made his way to the door and entered it as quietly as he possibly could. The foyer of the Black home was dark, but it had lost the mildew smell it had once possessed.
Adjusting his eyes to the darkness, Harry noted with a faint smile that the picture of Sirius's mother still hung on the wall along with the heads of all the former house elves. Behind him the door opened again silently as the three others entered the house.
Tonks whispered for Harry to follow her as she lead him up to the room he had shared with Ron the year before. There she returned his things to normal size and told him when he was ready he could come downstairs, Mrs. Weasley had cooked dinner.
Harry hurriedly washed his hands and made his way to the kitchen, trying in a vain attempt to flatten his unkempt, wind-blown hair.
On his way down the staircase he noticed some of the picture's were missing, but not much else had been taken off the walls. Rounding the corner to the kitchen, Harry could make out the voices of several people, Ron and Hermione included. Smiling at their friendly bickering he pushed open the large wooden door and took a seat in between the two red faced friends.
"Don't you two ever stop?" He said in a sarcastic tone, an amused glint in his green eyes. Ron gave Harry a friendly punch on the shoulder, and Hermione just smiled. "We probably wouldn't argue so much if Hermione wasn't such a know-it-all," Ron said.
Then gaining his own amused glint at the girl's heightening red face, he added, " All she does is read books, how are we supposed to keep up when she's smarter than both of us and half the wizarding world too?" It was Ron's way of apologizing, and thankfully his comment worked. But Hermione's face only gained more heat as she blushed.
Mrs. Weasley arrived at the table a moment later with a large pot of stew in her arms and smile on her motherly face.
"Well hello Harry," she said, putting down the pot, "It's nice to see that those muggles haven't had a chance to do much harm to you in a weeks time."
Harry smiled and ladled out a spoonful of the stew she had set on the table. But before he could answer her comment, she said," Dumbledore will be coming later this evening, did Remus tell you he has a job for you three to do this summer?" her hand motioning toward he, Ron and Hermione.
"Remus told me he wanted us to do something, but he didn't mention what." Harry answered with hopes she would tell him.When Mrs. Weasley did not offer anymore information, Harry let the matter drop. He would find out later any way.
Dinner conversations among wizards were very interesting to Harry, even after the five years he had spent in their presence. He loved the talk of magic, his favorite sport quidditch, and the way everyone in the room seemed like family. They were all so closely knit, their bonds of friendship gluing them together.
Looking around the table, He felt a knot in his stomach. The place Sirius had once sat was now empty. Well technically Sirius didn't have an assigned seat at the table, but that wasn't the point. The point was he wasn't at the table, and he never would be again. The knot rose, forming a lump in Harry's throat. Swallowing hard, he again pushed down the thoughts of Sirius.
But it wasn't till Dumbledore entered the kitchen, that the thoughts completely disappeared. The seemingly ancient wizard greeted the room with his usual twinkling eyes, and got straight to business.
" I have received word that Lord Voldemort is planning some sort of muggle raid in America. He has sent over a hundred of his Death Eaters there and they await their orders. We have no way of knowing where Voldemort will strike, he has kept the whereabouts of his servants secret, even from the other Death Eaters. We do know that he will strike somewhere in on the eastern shore, in one of the southern states." Dumbledore's eyes had grown darker, the twinkle fading slightly as he gave this sad news. The room was silent. No one seemed to know how to respond to this.
Dumbledore conjured a seat from mid air, a fluffly looking recliner, and continued. " I have allowed Harry, Ron, and Hermione to this meeting because I believe that they will be able to help the Order."
The wizard turned his face to glance at all the adults present in the room." We each have duties to perform. Duties that will not allow us to keep watch on things as we would like. It is for this reason that I ask for the help of these three young people."
Anticipation coursed through Harry's veins. Dumbledore had something up his sleeve, no literally. Pulling three pieces of rolled parchment from his sleeve, Dumbledore smiled in what Harry could only describe as his most slytherin smile. It was an odd look on the old wizard's face, but it gave Harry a feeling that said Voldemort was going to be sorry when Albus Dumbledore got a hold of him.
Harry shifted his green eyes to the three pieces of parchment, now lying on the table, and studied them. Each looked like an ordinary piece of paper except that when Harry looked at the one on the left hand side of Dumbledore, it Seemed to flash a green tint. Looking first to Dumbledore for permission, Harry reached out timidly toward the parchment. But before his hand made it anywhere near the glinting parchment, the paper flew into his hand.
Harry's eyes widened in shock, and the Headmaster gave a little chuckle. "We wouldn't want you to lose something as important as that map you now hold, Harry." Dumbledore told him.
"A map?" Ron questioned as he watched Harry unroll the parchment.
"Yes, all three maps were designed by Mr. Lupin actually. They are very similar to the map he and his friends made in their years at Hogwarts."
Harry looked up at Lupin, who gave him a knowing smile as Dumbledore continued, "To activate the maps use the words 'I am a watcher of the innocent and unknowing.' But remember they will only work if you or someone you trust completely says the words."
The three nodded their heads to show they understood, and then Hermione asked," What exactly are we to do with these maps??" But the only answer they received was, "Why you will watch the innocent and unknowing of course, and you will inform one of us if your map begins to glow red." With these last words, Dumbledore dismissed the three young friends to their rooms. ----------- A/N: This story is going a little slow for me, but maybe its cuz I'm the one writing it. I need u guys to tell me what u think. Who knows, but if u aren't liken the pace, tell me and I'll lighten up a little. What the hay I'm gonna lighten up ne wayz I promise(I'll try at least, I'm still new to this). Oh well *scampers off to write the next chapter. *