Sorry everyone ! Bermuda was great though, and I have been working on the
story. Read the end of chapter eight to refresh and here's nine. I hope
you like it...and by the way, look for some teasers in the future!
Chapter 9
O.W.L.S.
"You lie." It was all that Mrs. Weasley could say.
"No, I'm afraid he doesn't," Dumbledore said. "Now it's not as though Rellivia just declared herself a Death Eater to the entire world. Heavens no, that's no how all of this came about. But from what we've gathered" -Dumbledore glanced fleetingly at Lupin and Snape- "and what Cordelia has told us, Rellivia had indeed joined Lord Voldemort's side."
"What did Cordelia tell you?" Kingsley asked.
"That her mother was a Death Eater," Dumbledore replied simply. "And from my correspondence with Madame Rousseau, she gathered about the same."
"And the rest of the information?"
Dumbledore merely looked at Snape.
"But Dumbledore, why didn't you tell us before she came? So we might have a little awareness to the fact that we would be harboring-"
"A lonely sixteen year-old girl," Dumbledore filled in. "She is no more a threat to you than I am, as far as I am concerned. What are parents do and feel is no reflection upon us. Sirius was a perfect example of such. And I do not believe that his daughter would be on Lord Voldemort's side merely because her mother, whom she hasn't seen in nearly a decade, was believed to be. We cannot judge the character of a man by the actions of his elders."
"I agree," said Mr. Weasley. "There is no reason why we shouldn't trust Cordelia, or at the very least give her a chance. Besides, there was no way to completely confirm that Rellivia is a Death Eater. Nothing Severus or I have found can completely and undeniably support such."
Every head around the table nodded, including a reluctant Moody.
Harry was not as forgiving as the Order seemed to be. How could they trust Cordelia so easily when her mother was, well, what she was? What would make them assume that Cordelia had turned her back on the Dark World, and followed the path of the father she never knew, rather than the mother she had? Just from what he had gathered in his encounter last night, Harry was quite doubtful that Cordelia would be a great ally to the Order.
Harry padded silently up the stair way. He paused for a minute before re-entering his bedroom.
"Mum and Dad are unbelievable!" Ron said, obviously filled with excited anger. "They didn't even MENTION that fact that they caught any Death Eaters. But they got MacNair! I hope they get that sleezy git Malfoy next. I'd love to see the look on Draco's face when his father's being taken down by the Ministry!"
"Forget them. They ought to worry about Cordelia being so close to headquarters and such."
Ron looked at Harry curiously. "Why would you say that, Harry? You still don't believe her?"
"They know her mum was a Death Eater."
Ron's eyes grew wide and his mouth gaped open. "Sirius married a Death Eater?" Ron whispered faintly.
"I'm sure Sirius didn't know that at the time," Harry said quickly. "He never would have married her if he did. No wonder his mum would have been thrilled to know. Sirius married into another family of Dark wizards."
"And to think, that's my cousin."
"Distantly related, but yeah, I know what you mean."
Ron shivered. "I'm never going to get to sleep with her staying across the hall."
Harry pulled out his wand, but stopped himself short. "Right, no magic yet." He and Ron pulled his school trunk over and placed it in front of the door. Ron then placed a glass vase on the edge of the trunk.
"What was that for?" Harry asked him.
"Well, that's to wake us up if she tries to get in. The trunk's just to slow her down."
"I'd still feel safer with a Sealant Charm."
"Me too mate, but I don't want another letter from the Ministry. I learned my lesson from the car in second year."
Harry and Ron climbed into their beds. "So what else do you think they're not telling us, Harry?" Ron asked after a long yawn.
"I couldn't even begin to imagine, Ron." After a few moments of silence, Harry heard Ron's steady breathing. However, it took Harry much longer to put aside the questions swimming around in his head.
~~~~~**~~**~~**~~~~~
The next two days were quiet in Twelve Grimmauld Place. Harry and Ron told Hermione and Ginny all they had discovered first thing in the morning, right after the sounds of a Shrieking Vase and a shrieking Mrs. Weasley woke them up.
"What in the world was that trunk in front of the door for? AND MAKE THAT VASE STOP SHRIEKING!"
After placating the vase and mending it back together with Spell-o- Tape, the four discussed the recent developments of the night. Hermione and Ginny weren't so quick to side with Harry and Ron.
"We don't know anything about her," Ginny said. "You cant just assume that she's on the Dark side because her mother is BELIEVED to be."
"But it would make sense to assume such." Ron said, looking at his sister in disbelief.
"No, Ron, it wouldn't," Hermione interrupted. "Firstly, she was raised by her grandmother, who as far as we know, was on our side. Secondly, she had been corresponding with Sirius and Lupin, both of which who would have gone to Dumbledore and informed him immediately. Thirdly, if Dumbledore trusts her, you don't even have the slightest reason not too. He would never purposely put our lives in danger."
"Unless he's gone nutters," Ron mumbled. "And I think he has."
The days were terribly uneventful. Members of the Order came in and out of the house, and Harry had the opportunity to meet several members he hadn't known. After breakfast, the days were usually composed of Quidditch games (Hermione wasn't great, but she was better than any of them anticipated), reading, completing summer reading and having discussions about the possible movements of the Dark side. Cordelia had shut herself up in her room, and could only be seen during mealtimes, in which she only spoke when spoken too. Ron and Harry definitely didn't make an effort to engage her in conversation. In fact, the only interesting thing that occurred happened four days before the beginning of the term.
During breakfast, four owls swooped in the window and hovered overhead. They all bared post from Hogwarts. Each of the three sixth years grabbed the envelopes addressed to them and tore them open furiously. Harry began to read his letter:
Dear Mr. Potter,
The following are your results from your O.W.L. examinations. We hope that your results satisfy your expectations.
History of Magic- Dreadful Transfiguration- Exceeds Expectations Charms- Acceptable Potions- Outstanding Care of Magical Creatures- Outstanding Divination- Dreadful Herbology- Exceeds Expectations Astronomy- Poor Defense Against the Dark Arts- Outstanding
In accordance with your results, your suggested class placement is listed, as well as any other books you will need in addition to those on the list you have already received from your school. Congratulations and good luck.
Best Wishes,
Edwin Higleww
Executive Director
Registry of Standard Level Examinations
Ministry of Magic
"How'd I manage that?" Harry said aloud.
"What did you get Harry?" Hermione and Ginny asked simultaneously. Both girls leaned over his shoulder. "Harry, that's wonderful!" Hermione exclaimed. "Six O.W.L.S.? Well done!"
The three of them looked at Ron, who was speechless.
"What'd you get Ron?" Ginny asked, taking his letter. Her mouth turned up into a grin. "Mum!" She called. "Mum, come look at Ron's marks!"
Mrs. Weasley walked into the kitchen. She took a look at Ron's letter and a similar grin spread across her face. "Oh Ron, your father will be so pleased, 5 O.W.L.S.!"
Harry looked at Ron's letter. Ron had received an Outstanding in Care of Magical Creatures, Exceeds Expectations in Herbology and Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Acceptable in Potions and Charms. The rest of Ron's marks matched Harry's. Hermione put her letter down on the table and Harry saw that she had received all Outstandings except for the Exceeds Expectations that she received in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Arithmancy.
"Cordelia, dear, how did you do?" Mrs. Weasley asked the one silent person at the table.
"I thought only Hogwarts students took O.W.L.S.," Harry said, looking inquisitively at Mrs. Weasley.
"No dear, O.W.L.S. are an international standard fifth year examination," Mrs. Weasley said. "I'm sure they give them at Beauxbatons."
Cordelia lifted her eyes from her letter and gave Mrs. Weasley a small smile. "I did well, thanks," she said, before rising from the table. She ran back up the stairs before anyone could utter another word.
"I think that was an understatement," Ginny said under her breath as Mrs. Weasley left the room.
"Why'd you say that?" Hermione asked, trying to hide the fact that she was still beaming at her letter.
"Well, I saw her letter. Her O.W.L.S., that is, since she got a second letter that she didn't open. Anyways, she was taking all of the same courses that you had, except that she had chosen Muggle Studies and Arithmancy as her electives. She got all Outstanding, except for in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms. She got Exceeds Expectations."
"I should talk to her about Arithmancy," Hermione said at once. "I wonder how she managed that."
"Probably by all that studying she does. I saw her opening her trunks, and she has enough books to fill a library. All she does in her room is read."
"I bet she's reading up on how to torture-"was all Ron said before a blood-curdling scream filled the house.
Chapter 9
O.W.L.S.
"You lie." It was all that Mrs. Weasley could say.
"No, I'm afraid he doesn't," Dumbledore said. "Now it's not as though Rellivia just declared herself a Death Eater to the entire world. Heavens no, that's no how all of this came about. But from what we've gathered" -Dumbledore glanced fleetingly at Lupin and Snape- "and what Cordelia has told us, Rellivia had indeed joined Lord Voldemort's side."
"What did Cordelia tell you?" Kingsley asked.
"That her mother was a Death Eater," Dumbledore replied simply. "And from my correspondence with Madame Rousseau, she gathered about the same."
"And the rest of the information?"
Dumbledore merely looked at Snape.
"But Dumbledore, why didn't you tell us before she came? So we might have a little awareness to the fact that we would be harboring-"
"A lonely sixteen year-old girl," Dumbledore filled in. "She is no more a threat to you than I am, as far as I am concerned. What are parents do and feel is no reflection upon us. Sirius was a perfect example of such. And I do not believe that his daughter would be on Lord Voldemort's side merely because her mother, whom she hasn't seen in nearly a decade, was believed to be. We cannot judge the character of a man by the actions of his elders."
"I agree," said Mr. Weasley. "There is no reason why we shouldn't trust Cordelia, or at the very least give her a chance. Besides, there was no way to completely confirm that Rellivia is a Death Eater. Nothing Severus or I have found can completely and undeniably support such."
Every head around the table nodded, including a reluctant Moody.
Harry was not as forgiving as the Order seemed to be. How could they trust Cordelia so easily when her mother was, well, what she was? What would make them assume that Cordelia had turned her back on the Dark World, and followed the path of the father she never knew, rather than the mother she had? Just from what he had gathered in his encounter last night, Harry was quite doubtful that Cordelia would be a great ally to the Order.
Harry padded silently up the stair way. He paused for a minute before re-entering his bedroom.
"Mum and Dad are unbelievable!" Ron said, obviously filled with excited anger. "They didn't even MENTION that fact that they caught any Death Eaters. But they got MacNair! I hope they get that sleezy git Malfoy next. I'd love to see the look on Draco's face when his father's being taken down by the Ministry!"
"Forget them. They ought to worry about Cordelia being so close to headquarters and such."
Ron looked at Harry curiously. "Why would you say that, Harry? You still don't believe her?"
"They know her mum was a Death Eater."
Ron's eyes grew wide and his mouth gaped open. "Sirius married a Death Eater?" Ron whispered faintly.
"I'm sure Sirius didn't know that at the time," Harry said quickly. "He never would have married her if he did. No wonder his mum would have been thrilled to know. Sirius married into another family of Dark wizards."
"And to think, that's my cousin."
"Distantly related, but yeah, I know what you mean."
Ron shivered. "I'm never going to get to sleep with her staying across the hall."
Harry pulled out his wand, but stopped himself short. "Right, no magic yet." He and Ron pulled his school trunk over and placed it in front of the door. Ron then placed a glass vase on the edge of the trunk.
"What was that for?" Harry asked him.
"Well, that's to wake us up if she tries to get in. The trunk's just to slow her down."
"I'd still feel safer with a Sealant Charm."
"Me too mate, but I don't want another letter from the Ministry. I learned my lesson from the car in second year."
Harry and Ron climbed into their beds. "So what else do you think they're not telling us, Harry?" Ron asked after a long yawn.
"I couldn't even begin to imagine, Ron." After a few moments of silence, Harry heard Ron's steady breathing. However, it took Harry much longer to put aside the questions swimming around in his head.
~~~~~**~~**~~**~~~~~
The next two days were quiet in Twelve Grimmauld Place. Harry and Ron told Hermione and Ginny all they had discovered first thing in the morning, right after the sounds of a Shrieking Vase and a shrieking Mrs. Weasley woke them up.
"What in the world was that trunk in front of the door for? AND MAKE THAT VASE STOP SHRIEKING!"
After placating the vase and mending it back together with Spell-o- Tape, the four discussed the recent developments of the night. Hermione and Ginny weren't so quick to side with Harry and Ron.
"We don't know anything about her," Ginny said. "You cant just assume that she's on the Dark side because her mother is BELIEVED to be."
"But it would make sense to assume such." Ron said, looking at his sister in disbelief.
"No, Ron, it wouldn't," Hermione interrupted. "Firstly, she was raised by her grandmother, who as far as we know, was on our side. Secondly, she had been corresponding with Sirius and Lupin, both of which who would have gone to Dumbledore and informed him immediately. Thirdly, if Dumbledore trusts her, you don't even have the slightest reason not too. He would never purposely put our lives in danger."
"Unless he's gone nutters," Ron mumbled. "And I think he has."
The days were terribly uneventful. Members of the Order came in and out of the house, and Harry had the opportunity to meet several members he hadn't known. After breakfast, the days were usually composed of Quidditch games (Hermione wasn't great, but she was better than any of them anticipated), reading, completing summer reading and having discussions about the possible movements of the Dark side. Cordelia had shut herself up in her room, and could only be seen during mealtimes, in which she only spoke when spoken too. Ron and Harry definitely didn't make an effort to engage her in conversation. In fact, the only interesting thing that occurred happened four days before the beginning of the term.
During breakfast, four owls swooped in the window and hovered overhead. They all bared post from Hogwarts. Each of the three sixth years grabbed the envelopes addressed to them and tore them open furiously. Harry began to read his letter:
Dear Mr. Potter,
The following are your results from your O.W.L. examinations. We hope that your results satisfy your expectations.
History of Magic- Dreadful Transfiguration- Exceeds Expectations Charms- Acceptable Potions- Outstanding Care of Magical Creatures- Outstanding Divination- Dreadful Herbology- Exceeds Expectations Astronomy- Poor Defense Against the Dark Arts- Outstanding
In accordance with your results, your suggested class placement is listed, as well as any other books you will need in addition to those on the list you have already received from your school. Congratulations and good luck.
Best Wishes,
Edwin Higleww
Executive Director
Registry of Standard Level Examinations
Ministry of Magic
"How'd I manage that?" Harry said aloud.
"What did you get Harry?" Hermione and Ginny asked simultaneously. Both girls leaned over his shoulder. "Harry, that's wonderful!" Hermione exclaimed. "Six O.W.L.S.? Well done!"
The three of them looked at Ron, who was speechless.
"What'd you get Ron?" Ginny asked, taking his letter. Her mouth turned up into a grin. "Mum!" She called. "Mum, come look at Ron's marks!"
Mrs. Weasley walked into the kitchen. She took a look at Ron's letter and a similar grin spread across her face. "Oh Ron, your father will be so pleased, 5 O.W.L.S.!"
Harry looked at Ron's letter. Ron had received an Outstanding in Care of Magical Creatures, Exceeds Expectations in Herbology and Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Acceptable in Potions and Charms. The rest of Ron's marks matched Harry's. Hermione put her letter down on the table and Harry saw that she had received all Outstandings except for the Exceeds Expectations that she received in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Arithmancy.
"Cordelia, dear, how did you do?" Mrs. Weasley asked the one silent person at the table.
"I thought only Hogwarts students took O.W.L.S.," Harry said, looking inquisitively at Mrs. Weasley.
"No dear, O.W.L.S. are an international standard fifth year examination," Mrs. Weasley said. "I'm sure they give them at Beauxbatons."
Cordelia lifted her eyes from her letter and gave Mrs. Weasley a small smile. "I did well, thanks," she said, before rising from the table. She ran back up the stairs before anyone could utter another word.
"I think that was an understatement," Ginny said under her breath as Mrs. Weasley left the room.
"Why'd you say that?" Hermione asked, trying to hide the fact that she was still beaming at her letter.
"Well, I saw her letter. Her O.W.L.S., that is, since she got a second letter that she didn't open. Anyways, she was taking all of the same courses that you had, except that she had chosen Muggle Studies and Arithmancy as her electives. She got all Outstanding, except for in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms. She got Exceeds Expectations."
"I should talk to her about Arithmancy," Hermione said at once. "I wonder how she managed that."
"Probably by all that studying she does. I saw her opening her trunks, and she has enough books to fill a library. All she does in her room is read."
"I bet she's reading up on how to torture-"was all Ron said before a blood-curdling scream filled the house.