Thought I should recap: The characters and background of original ideas of
this series is from the mind of and owned by J.K. Rowling. However, this
particular take off, or spin if you will, is owned and copy written by me,
as are any new characters and concepts I introduce(© L.E.A., 2003).
Chapter 5
Revelations
Harry, Tonks and Lupin gathered all of the belongings and brought them near the desk. The house remained silent except for the creaking of the floorboards beneath them.
"I'm surprised that Sleeping Spell worked so well," Tonks said, smiling proudly. "I had so much trouble with it in school."
"I'm glad you got it right," Harry breathed. "Or else we would have had to use something stronger to silence those three."
"All right," Lupin said. "Harry, you and I will use the Portkey to get there. Tonks will stay back to dismantle it, and then she'll Apparate right behind us. Ready?" Harry nodded. Lupin grabbed the trunk. "Hold on to Hedwig and the Firebolt." They waved goodbye to Tonks and touched the Portkey at the same time. As Tonks drifted from his view, Harry felt the pull from the pit of his stomach, and then a light, airy sensation as though he were weightless. He whirled in a space for a few seconds before he felt his feet plant firmly on the ground. He looked around at the familiar setting of the kitchen of Twelve Grimmauld Place. Lupin was standing next to him, dusting off his robes.
"Harry!" exuberant voices yelled. He turned and saw his best friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley spring up from the table. Hermione wrapped him in a big hug while Ron clapped him excitedly on the back.
"Oh Harry, it's so good to see you again," Hermione said, happy tears springing up in her eyes. "I just got here yesterday, and when Lupin found out he needed to get you tonight, we were so excited."
Ron was equally enthusiastic. "Yah, mate, you've got to tell us everything that's happened to you this summer."
Lupin disappeared upstairs and the three sat around the table for hours, sharing their respective summers. Hermione told Harry of the vacation she had taken to Spain to study the ancient rituals of Spanish wizards during the 16th century. Ron told them about his trip visiting Charlie in South Africa, Bill's continuing involvement with Fleur Delacour, and Fred and George's thriving joke shop, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, which they were running while studying to join the Order. Ron even mentioned Percy, who was slowly reconciling with the family now that the Ministry had acknowledged Voldemort's return. And Harry made sure to tell them about Penny Poppington. He purposely left out the bit about the Converselope and his conversation with Lupin.
"So what's the newest news?" Harry asked in a low voice.
Ron's smiled waned. "Voldemort's following has grown. More purebloods are missing from their homes. There haven't been any deaths yet, which worries Dumbledore. So far, the Order's still gathering information but just waiting for him to make a move."
"Why would it worry Dumbledore that no one has died yet?"
"Apparently, when Voldemort was last in power, the massacre started early on," Hermione said, shuddering. "His goal was broad, so he went about killing just about anyone in his way. They knew what he was working towards, and knew that he was using any means to get there. But now, there's really been no movement from him directly. So either he has no specific goal, which is unlikely, or else he's planning for something so specific but so great that he'll get what he needs without having to cause a slaughter right away. We know that it's a weapon. And that's about it."
All three were silent for a moment. And then Harry spoke.
"So who is this visitor that I'm supposed to meet?" Harry asked them.
"We're not quite sure," Hermione said, dropping her voice a level. "All we know is that Dumbledore is the brains behind the whole thing and that Snape went to France to retrieve her. They should be back soon."
"Her?" Harry said incredulously.
"Yes, her," Ron said. "And apparently she'll be staying awhile. Mum's upstairs tidying the room." By the way, Kingsley, Moody and Dad all say hello. They'll be back later. They've all been working late at the Ministry."
"Do you think she's got something to do with Madame Maxine, or Fleur?" Harry asked. They're the only people I know who are French."
"I doubt it," Ron said, shaking his head. "Madame Maxine is off with Hagrid in the Himalayas. They're trying to get more magical creatures on our side. And Fleur, well, believe me, if it had anything to do with her, Bill would have told us."
The sound of people moving down the stairway startled the three. Moments later, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley appeared.
"Harry, it's so good to see you!" They both said. "We fixed up a room for you upstairs. How's your summer been?"
Harry repeated the tales of his lackluster summer for Ginny and Mrs. Weasley, though he didn't mind at all. They told him of theirs and when Ginny mentioned the number of owls she had received from Dean Thomas, Harry had to stifle a laugh when he glimpsed the face Ron made. The five continued talking softly, and soon Tonks came down and joined them. It wasn't until the sound of three voices speaking outside of the house that the group became quiet.
"I'll get the trunk and cages."
"Thank you, Severus. It's just this way, my dear."
"It looks just as I remembered it, Professor."
The heavy front door swung open and three figures stepped through the threshold. The first was a greasy-looking, hooked nosed wizard Harry immediately recognized as Snape. He was levitating a large, expensive- looking trunk behind him, as well as two cages, one holding a raven and the other holding a barn owl. The second person was Dumbledore, who was guiding the third person through the door. The third figure was draped in a long black cloak with a hood over its face. She put the hood down.
Harry was taken aback.
It was a young girl of about 16, long and thin and wearing a lavishly embroidered black robe. Her eyes were an electric blue that seemed to radiated heat and fire constantly. She had long limbs, a pert nose and curvy lips. Her skin was sun-kissed, not tan, but a shade darker than the pale complexions around her. Her most amazing feature though, was her hair.
Long, straight strands of hair framed her demure oval- shaped face. The color of her hair appeared to be a mix of black and blond, like ebony and gold streaked through her hair. The streaks were thin and mixed, making her hair appear almost striped in the most subtle way. She pulled a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
She was the most unusual looking girl that Harry had ever seen.
And the most beautiful.
"Hello Professors," Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny somehow managed to say.
Snape gave a sneering "hello" and followed the levitating trunk and cages upstairs. Dumbledore smiled at the table of adults and his students.
"I would ask you to prepare some tea, Molly," Dumbledore said, in his melodious voice. But before I do, I should introduce you to our guest. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to Cordelia Lockwoode. Or perhaps, more officially Cordelia Black. Sirius's daughter."
Chapter 5
Revelations
Harry, Tonks and Lupin gathered all of the belongings and brought them near the desk. The house remained silent except for the creaking of the floorboards beneath them.
"I'm surprised that Sleeping Spell worked so well," Tonks said, smiling proudly. "I had so much trouble with it in school."
"I'm glad you got it right," Harry breathed. "Or else we would have had to use something stronger to silence those three."
"All right," Lupin said. "Harry, you and I will use the Portkey to get there. Tonks will stay back to dismantle it, and then she'll Apparate right behind us. Ready?" Harry nodded. Lupin grabbed the trunk. "Hold on to Hedwig and the Firebolt." They waved goodbye to Tonks and touched the Portkey at the same time. As Tonks drifted from his view, Harry felt the pull from the pit of his stomach, and then a light, airy sensation as though he were weightless. He whirled in a space for a few seconds before he felt his feet plant firmly on the ground. He looked around at the familiar setting of the kitchen of Twelve Grimmauld Place. Lupin was standing next to him, dusting off his robes.
"Harry!" exuberant voices yelled. He turned and saw his best friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley spring up from the table. Hermione wrapped him in a big hug while Ron clapped him excitedly on the back.
"Oh Harry, it's so good to see you again," Hermione said, happy tears springing up in her eyes. "I just got here yesterday, and when Lupin found out he needed to get you tonight, we were so excited."
Ron was equally enthusiastic. "Yah, mate, you've got to tell us everything that's happened to you this summer."
Lupin disappeared upstairs and the three sat around the table for hours, sharing their respective summers. Hermione told Harry of the vacation she had taken to Spain to study the ancient rituals of Spanish wizards during the 16th century. Ron told them about his trip visiting Charlie in South Africa, Bill's continuing involvement with Fleur Delacour, and Fred and George's thriving joke shop, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, which they were running while studying to join the Order. Ron even mentioned Percy, who was slowly reconciling with the family now that the Ministry had acknowledged Voldemort's return. And Harry made sure to tell them about Penny Poppington. He purposely left out the bit about the Converselope and his conversation with Lupin.
"So what's the newest news?" Harry asked in a low voice.
Ron's smiled waned. "Voldemort's following has grown. More purebloods are missing from their homes. There haven't been any deaths yet, which worries Dumbledore. So far, the Order's still gathering information but just waiting for him to make a move."
"Why would it worry Dumbledore that no one has died yet?"
"Apparently, when Voldemort was last in power, the massacre started early on," Hermione said, shuddering. "His goal was broad, so he went about killing just about anyone in his way. They knew what he was working towards, and knew that he was using any means to get there. But now, there's really been no movement from him directly. So either he has no specific goal, which is unlikely, or else he's planning for something so specific but so great that he'll get what he needs without having to cause a slaughter right away. We know that it's a weapon. And that's about it."
All three were silent for a moment. And then Harry spoke.
"So who is this visitor that I'm supposed to meet?" Harry asked them.
"We're not quite sure," Hermione said, dropping her voice a level. "All we know is that Dumbledore is the brains behind the whole thing and that Snape went to France to retrieve her. They should be back soon."
"Her?" Harry said incredulously.
"Yes, her," Ron said. "And apparently she'll be staying awhile. Mum's upstairs tidying the room." By the way, Kingsley, Moody and Dad all say hello. They'll be back later. They've all been working late at the Ministry."
"Do you think she's got something to do with Madame Maxine, or Fleur?" Harry asked. They're the only people I know who are French."
"I doubt it," Ron said, shaking his head. "Madame Maxine is off with Hagrid in the Himalayas. They're trying to get more magical creatures on our side. And Fleur, well, believe me, if it had anything to do with her, Bill would have told us."
The sound of people moving down the stairway startled the three. Moments later, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley appeared.
"Harry, it's so good to see you!" They both said. "We fixed up a room for you upstairs. How's your summer been?"
Harry repeated the tales of his lackluster summer for Ginny and Mrs. Weasley, though he didn't mind at all. They told him of theirs and when Ginny mentioned the number of owls she had received from Dean Thomas, Harry had to stifle a laugh when he glimpsed the face Ron made. The five continued talking softly, and soon Tonks came down and joined them. It wasn't until the sound of three voices speaking outside of the house that the group became quiet.
"I'll get the trunk and cages."
"Thank you, Severus. It's just this way, my dear."
"It looks just as I remembered it, Professor."
The heavy front door swung open and three figures stepped through the threshold. The first was a greasy-looking, hooked nosed wizard Harry immediately recognized as Snape. He was levitating a large, expensive- looking trunk behind him, as well as two cages, one holding a raven and the other holding a barn owl. The second person was Dumbledore, who was guiding the third person through the door. The third figure was draped in a long black cloak with a hood over its face. She put the hood down.
Harry was taken aback.
It was a young girl of about 16, long and thin and wearing a lavishly embroidered black robe. Her eyes were an electric blue that seemed to radiated heat and fire constantly. She had long limbs, a pert nose and curvy lips. Her skin was sun-kissed, not tan, but a shade darker than the pale complexions around her. Her most amazing feature though, was her hair.
Long, straight strands of hair framed her demure oval- shaped face. The color of her hair appeared to be a mix of black and blond, like ebony and gold streaked through her hair. The streaks were thin and mixed, making her hair appear almost striped in the most subtle way. She pulled a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
She was the most unusual looking girl that Harry had ever seen.
And the most beautiful.
"Hello Professors," Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny somehow managed to say.
Snape gave a sneering "hello" and followed the levitating trunk and cages upstairs. Dumbledore smiled at the table of adults and his students.
"I would ask you to prepare some tea, Molly," Dumbledore said, in his melodious voice. But before I do, I should introduce you to our guest. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to Cordelia Lockwoode. Or perhaps, more officially Cordelia Black. Sirius's daughter."