Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix- Chapter 3
Sunday came. Harry waited in the livingroom with his trunk and Hedwig's cage ready. The Dursleys were all sitting tensely on the couch. Aunt Petunia was squashed between Dudley and Uncle Vernon and the couch looked as though it would burst under the weight of Dudley and Uncle Vernon together. Aunt Petunia's eyes kept darting to the closed blinds as though expecting to see a neighbour peeking in. Uncle Vernon kept making weird grunting noises and Dudley jumped at every sound. Harry almost laughed when remembering the last times Dudley had met wizards. He had come off with a curly pigtail the first time from Hagrid and a four-foot-long tongue after eating a candy Ron's older brother, Fred had dropped. Harry briefly wondered who was coming to pick him up and how. At 2:00 precisely there was a knock on the door. Since no one else moved (except Dudley who squealed and jumped), Harry answered it. It was elderly Mrs. Figg from down the street. Harry felt disappointed and quickly wondered the best, and most polite way, to get rid of Mrs. Figg before a witch or wizard suddenly apperated or came out of the fireplace.
" Hello Harry." Mrs. Figg said. Harry smiled politely while his brain strained for some excuse. Everyone's sick.some African jungle virus. very contagious. No, obviously not. She wouldn't believe him. He was so busy thinking of the best excuse that he missed the next question.
"Umm, sorry?" He asked.
"I said, are you ready to go?" Ready to go? Harry frowned, were the Dursley's going somewhere and wanted to dispose of Harry? Perhaps they forgot to tell Mrs. Figg that Harry wouldn't need a babysitter that year.
"So-Sorry?" He asked again. Mrs. Figg smiled.
"I've come to take you to Hogwarts. Come, come or we'll be late." Harry gaped at her. How did she know about Hogwarts? How'd she know about Harry? Something told him to leave his questions for later and to get his stuff. The Dursleys stared in shock as Mrs. Figg walked in. Harry though Aunt Petunia was going to faint and he saw her eyes flicker towards the trunk and Hedwig.
"Ca-can we he-help you?" She stammered.
"No, I'm just here picking up Harry." She smiled as though she enjoyed seeing their distress and shock. She turned back to Harry, "Is that it? Are you ready to go? Let Hedwig meet us there. We'll just bring her cage. Right then," she took a blue bag out of the pocket and offered it to Harry. He recognised it at once as Floo powder.
"We're going to the Leaky Cauldron, al right?" He nodded and took a pinch of the Floo powder. He threw it into the fireplace and lugged his trunk and Hedwig's cage into the fire and yelled "Leaky Cauldron". Everything around him disappeared and he fell, swirling and spinning. He felt himself slowing down and stuck out his hand to stop himself from falling on his face. Harry looked up and saw Mrs. Figg already waiting for him. He blinked at her in shock. Sometime after Harry had left the Dursley's she had changed out of her summer dress and into blue robes. She helped Harry to his feet and dusted him off. She smiled at his shocked expression.
"I'll explain everything later. We're taking the train to Hogwarts, but first we're going to get your stuff for this year. I have your letter, don't worry."
They left Harry's trunk and Hedwigs cage behind the desk of the Leaky Cauldron and moved off towards Gringotts, the wizarding bank. After Harry stalked up on Sickles, Knuts and Galleons they set off to get his books and more quills. Mrs. Figg and Harry walked to the train station. Harry and Mrs. Figg held between them his trunk and cage, which, Harry reckoned, had been given a charm to make it lighter. They both strode calmly and quickly to the wall between platforms 9 and 10 to get to the platform for Hogwarts. Platform 9 ¾. Harry realised that they were the only ones on the whole train. They chose a compartment and sat down.
"Now," Mrs. Figg started, "I'm sure you have many questions, but let me talk and any questions that I did not answer in this explanation, you can ask." Harry nodded.
"Now, "Mrs. Figg settled back into the seat, her face relaxed and her eyes fixed at a spot above Harry's head. "Let's go way back, to when your parents were in school. James, Lily, Sirius, Remus and Peter, they were all starting their first year at Hogwarts. I was in my fifth year. Yes," She smiled at Harry's disbelieving look. " I look quite old don't I? Well, let me get on with the story and I'll get to the reason. Yes, I remember the four troublemakers. I was the Prefect that year, and the amount of times I caught them in the middle of making some sort of mischief." She sighed as the memories engulfed her. "Lily was a sweet, eager girl. Never was any trouble. Unfortunately, she started dating James and, well, let's say that the foursome got the better of her and soon she was helping to rig traps at the Slytherin table and to disrupt her classes. She wasn't as bad as James and Sirius though, Peter and Remus help to create havoc but mainly it was your fathers and Sirius' ideas. I suspect that they had an invisibility cloak because the times that something happened and no one was within trouble-causing distance..." She smiled at Harry again, "do you know just how much you look like James? But I guess so many people have told you that, yes. Well, anyway, on with the story. I was a chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team when James joined us as Seeker in his second year. His talent was amazing! He made quite the enemy with Severus Snape though. The times I caught them fighting in the hall! When I left school I began working for the Ministry and was soon training to be an Auror. I knew that the Ministry would need all the help they could get in the near future. By that time You-Know-Who was gaining followers and power. Soon I heard about James' and Lily's wedding, and shortly afterwards of their baby boy, you. Your mother was working for the Ministry after school as a security worker. She was in charge of making sure that Muggles didn't know about big Wizard events, like the Quidditch cup, or any Quidditch game for that matter. Any gatherings or new buildings had to have many powerful charms put upon it to ensure that no Muggle stumbled upon it. Lily had always been on top of the class when it came to Charms. James wanted to play Quidditch for England but unfortunately was injured and couldn't play Quidditch anymore. James was also. well, I suppose Professor Dumbledore will tell you when we get to Hogwarts. James helped in. well Albus will tell you about that too." By now Harry was looking at Mrs. Figg suspiciously. "Let's just say that your father really helped our side in the fight against You-Know-Who, which, I guess, is part of the reason that You-Know-Who wanted to kill them, but then again Albus will expand on that when we get there. I'm also, er, part of the, er, thing your parents were involved in so when they were killed I was told to go undercover as an ordinary old lady who lived just down the street from you. That is why I look so old. I had to change my appearance slightly so You-Know-Who and his followers wouldn't be able to recognise me. I drink a bottle of Ageing Potion every day, so really I am younger than I look. I was sent to watch over you because I am your protector. I was to watch over you until you went to Hogwarts and during the summers. Once at Hogwarts Dumbledore could watch over you. However You-Know-Who managed to outsmart him a few times. Luckily you're okay." She leaned back again, "Now, any questions?"
Harry paused, collecting his thoughts.
"Yes, so, did you believe that Sirius didn't betray my parents?" He smiled sympathetically at her shock expression. Clearly that was the last question she had been expecting. She thought for a minute then leaned forward and very seriously said, "Sirius, James, Peter and Remus were the best of friends. They demonstrated that when they became Animagi for Remus. Yes, I know about that, Sirius came to one of our more recent mee-." She stopped suddenly, looked at Harry's eager face and slowly shook her head. "I would never have thought that Sirius, Remus or James would turn on another. They were too strongwilled, but Peter." She shook her head again.
"I knew that Sirius was their Secret Keeper, but Sirius would never-. Let me put it this way. Peter worshipped Remus, James and Sirius, but I wonder if ever he was just friends with them because they were popular, tough and strong. Those characteristics were the three he lacked without them. I would expect Peter to betray his "friends" if it meant saving his own life, he was not strongwilled, and if it meant getting an even more powerful friend. After the shock of the whole thing had blown over I suspected Peter, not Sirius like everyone else. It seemed so brilliant. Everyone would expect their bestman, your godfather, and their closest friend to be their Secret Keeper, in fact that's what they told everyone at The, er, that's what they told us. But to change their Secret Keeper at the last minute! That was ingenious. No one would have ever thought Peter could be the Secret Keeper, You-Know-Who would go after Sirius and Peter, Lily, James and you would be safe. So you asked if I ever suspected Sirius, my answer is no." Harry took all this in. Mrs. Figg looked outside.
"Now if you have no more questions. I expect we'll be there in about five minutes." She opened her purse, "Want to have a game of Exploding Snap?" Harry smiled and nodded. While she shuffled the pack he turned all the information over in his head. Wow, was the only word that came to mind. He couldn't wait to send and owl to Ron and Hermione and tell them...
Sunday came. Harry waited in the livingroom with his trunk and Hedwig's cage ready. The Dursleys were all sitting tensely on the couch. Aunt Petunia was squashed between Dudley and Uncle Vernon and the couch looked as though it would burst under the weight of Dudley and Uncle Vernon together. Aunt Petunia's eyes kept darting to the closed blinds as though expecting to see a neighbour peeking in. Uncle Vernon kept making weird grunting noises and Dudley jumped at every sound. Harry almost laughed when remembering the last times Dudley had met wizards. He had come off with a curly pigtail the first time from Hagrid and a four-foot-long tongue after eating a candy Ron's older brother, Fred had dropped. Harry briefly wondered who was coming to pick him up and how. At 2:00 precisely there was a knock on the door. Since no one else moved (except Dudley who squealed and jumped), Harry answered it. It was elderly Mrs. Figg from down the street. Harry felt disappointed and quickly wondered the best, and most polite way, to get rid of Mrs. Figg before a witch or wizard suddenly apperated or came out of the fireplace.
" Hello Harry." Mrs. Figg said. Harry smiled politely while his brain strained for some excuse. Everyone's sick.some African jungle virus. very contagious. No, obviously not. She wouldn't believe him. He was so busy thinking of the best excuse that he missed the next question.
"Umm, sorry?" He asked.
"I said, are you ready to go?" Ready to go? Harry frowned, were the Dursley's going somewhere and wanted to dispose of Harry? Perhaps they forgot to tell Mrs. Figg that Harry wouldn't need a babysitter that year.
"So-Sorry?" He asked again. Mrs. Figg smiled.
"I've come to take you to Hogwarts. Come, come or we'll be late." Harry gaped at her. How did she know about Hogwarts? How'd she know about Harry? Something told him to leave his questions for later and to get his stuff. The Dursleys stared in shock as Mrs. Figg walked in. Harry though Aunt Petunia was going to faint and he saw her eyes flicker towards the trunk and Hedwig.
"Ca-can we he-help you?" She stammered.
"No, I'm just here picking up Harry." She smiled as though she enjoyed seeing their distress and shock. She turned back to Harry, "Is that it? Are you ready to go? Let Hedwig meet us there. We'll just bring her cage. Right then," she took a blue bag out of the pocket and offered it to Harry. He recognised it at once as Floo powder.
"We're going to the Leaky Cauldron, al right?" He nodded and took a pinch of the Floo powder. He threw it into the fireplace and lugged his trunk and Hedwig's cage into the fire and yelled "Leaky Cauldron". Everything around him disappeared and he fell, swirling and spinning. He felt himself slowing down and stuck out his hand to stop himself from falling on his face. Harry looked up and saw Mrs. Figg already waiting for him. He blinked at her in shock. Sometime after Harry had left the Dursley's she had changed out of her summer dress and into blue robes. She helped Harry to his feet and dusted him off. She smiled at his shocked expression.
"I'll explain everything later. We're taking the train to Hogwarts, but first we're going to get your stuff for this year. I have your letter, don't worry."
They left Harry's trunk and Hedwigs cage behind the desk of the Leaky Cauldron and moved off towards Gringotts, the wizarding bank. After Harry stalked up on Sickles, Knuts and Galleons they set off to get his books and more quills. Mrs. Figg and Harry walked to the train station. Harry and Mrs. Figg held between them his trunk and cage, which, Harry reckoned, had been given a charm to make it lighter. They both strode calmly and quickly to the wall between platforms 9 and 10 to get to the platform for Hogwarts. Platform 9 ¾. Harry realised that they were the only ones on the whole train. They chose a compartment and sat down.
"Now," Mrs. Figg started, "I'm sure you have many questions, but let me talk and any questions that I did not answer in this explanation, you can ask." Harry nodded.
"Now, "Mrs. Figg settled back into the seat, her face relaxed and her eyes fixed at a spot above Harry's head. "Let's go way back, to when your parents were in school. James, Lily, Sirius, Remus and Peter, they were all starting their first year at Hogwarts. I was in my fifth year. Yes," She smiled at Harry's disbelieving look. " I look quite old don't I? Well, let me get on with the story and I'll get to the reason. Yes, I remember the four troublemakers. I was the Prefect that year, and the amount of times I caught them in the middle of making some sort of mischief." She sighed as the memories engulfed her. "Lily was a sweet, eager girl. Never was any trouble. Unfortunately, she started dating James and, well, let's say that the foursome got the better of her and soon she was helping to rig traps at the Slytherin table and to disrupt her classes. She wasn't as bad as James and Sirius though, Peter and Remus help to create havoc but mainly it was your fathers and Sirius' ideas. I suspect that they had an invisibility cloak because the times that something happened and no one was within trouble-causing distance..." She smiled at Harry again, "do you know just how much you look like James? But I guess so many people have told you that, yes. Well, anyway, on with the story. I was a chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team when James joined us as Seeker in his second year. His talent was amazing! He made quite the enemy with Severus Snape though. The times I caught them fighting in the hall! When I left school I began working for the Ministry and was soon training to be an Auror. I knew that the Ministry would need all the help they could get in the near future. By that time You-Know-Who was gaining followers and power. Soon I heard about James' and Lily's wedding, and shortly afterwards of their baby boy, you. Your mother was working for the Ministry after school as a security worker. She was in charge of making sure that Muggles didn't know about big Wizard events, like the Quidditch cup, or any Quidditch game for that matter. Any gatherings or new buildings had to have many powerful charms put upon it to ensure that no Muggle stumbled upon it. Lily had always been on top of the class when it came to Charms. James wanted to play Quidditch for England but unfortunately was injured and couldn't play Quidditch anymore. James was also. well, I suppose Professor Dumbledore will tell you when we get to Hogwarts. James helped in. well Albus will tell you about that too." By now Harry was looking at Mrs. Figg suspiciously. "Let's just say that your father really helped our side in the fight against You-Know-Who, which, I guess, is part of the reason that You-Know-Who wanted to kill them, but then again Albus will expand on that when we get there. I'm also, er, part of the, er, thing your parents were involved in so when they were killed I was told to go undercover as an ordinary old lady who lived just down the street from you. That is why I look so old. I had to change my appearance slightly so You-Know-Who and his followers wouldn't be able to recognise me. I drink a bottle of Ageing Potion every day, so really I am younger than I look. I was sent to watch over you because I am your protector. I was to watch over you until you went to Hogwarts and during the summers. Once at Hogwarts Dumbledore could watch over you. However You-Know-Who managed to outsmart him a few times. Luckily you're okay." She leaned back again, "Now, any questions?"
Harry paused, collecting his thoughts.
"Yes, so, did you believe that Sirius didn't betray my parents?" He smiled sympathetically at her shock expression. Clearly that was the last question she had been expecting. She thought for a minute then leaned forward and very seriously said, "Sirius, James, Peter and Remus were the best of friends. They demonstrated that when they became Animagi for Remus. Yes, I know about that, Sirius came to one of our more recent mee-." She stopped suddenly, looked at Harry's eager face and slowly shook her head. "I would never have thought that Sirius, Remus or James would turn on another. They were too strongwilled, but Peter." She shook her head again.
"I knew that Sirius was their Secret Keeper, but Sirius would never-. Let me put it this way. Peter worshipped Remus, James and Sirius, but I wonder if ever he was just friends with them because they were popular, tough and strong. Those characteristics were the three he lacked without them. I would expect Peter to betray his "friends" if it meant saving his own life, he was not strongwilled, and if it meant getting an even more powerful friend. After the shock of the whole thing had blown over I suspected Peter, not Sirius like everyone else. It seemed so brilliant. Everyone would expect their bestman, your godfather, and their closest friend to be their Secret Keeper, in fact that's what they told everyone at The, er, that's what they told us. But to change their Secret Keeper at the last minute! That was ingenious. No one would have ever thought Peter could be the Secret Keeper, You-Know-Who would go after Sirius and Peter, Lily, James and you would be safe. So you asked if I ever suspected Sirius, my answer is no." Harry took all this in. Mrs. Figg looked outside.
"Now if you have no more questions. I expect we'll be there in about five minutes." She opened her purse, "Want to have a game of Exploding Snap?" Harry smiled and nodded. While she shuffled the pack he turned all the information over in his head. Wow, was the only word that came to mind. He couldn't wait to send and owl to Ron and Hermione and tell them...