HARRY POTTER AND THE BEGINNING OF THE END!
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Disclaimer- I don't own the likes of Harry Potter© and never will! Hope you all like it so far!
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CHAPTER TWO- ATTIC CREATURES
Harry was packed and ready to go the next day. He kept glancing at his watch, hoping he could skip the next hour and get going with the Grangers. But it was no use. Every time he glanced at his watch, it had only been at least ten seconds later than the last time he checked. He had gotten over the first shock of continuing Occlumency with his most hated professor, Severus Snape, and thought of it as a way of protecting the people he loved. This year he was actually going to try harder in his lessons and ignore any snide comments made by any Slytherin, student or not.
The clock continued to tick, Harry only shifted his gaze from the swinging pendulum when aunt Petunia wanted to sweep the floor where he was sitting on his trunk. His stomach grumbled in protest of food, Harry hadn't eaten since lunch the day before; he had been too excited about leaving the Dursleys that he'd skipped breakfast that morning. The clock struck half- past eleven and Harry's stomach did a funny jump. Only half an hour to go, he thought hungrily. It was five minutes to twelve.
"What are you doing, boy?" snapped Petunia angrily, as she passed him still staring open mouthed at the clock. He didn't answer; she stalked away, a scowl planted on her face. Five...four...three...two...one...zero. Harry jumped up from his trunk and bounded to the door, opening it wide a large grin on his face. There was no one there. His smile faded slightly, but grew as he spotted a sleek, deep blue BMW pull up in the drive-way. Hermione exited from the back door, and practically flew up and into Harry's outstretched arms. She pulled back and helped him with his trunk, pulling it down to the drive, where two very nervous adults were standing.
Mr. Granger had dark brown, shiny hair, while Mrs. Granger had shoulder length, dark brown, bushy hair, the same as Hermione's, only a little darker. They smiled at him nervously. Mr. Granger extended his hand, which Harry shook happily.
"You must be Harry, Hermione has told us so much about you!" he said, "I'm Robert and this is my wife Cordelia." He stepped aside while Cordelia Granger moved into his spot. Harry was very surprised when she enveloped him in a large, motherly hug.
"Pleased to meet you, Harry. Are you sure you're allowed to go?" she asked, glancing at the house with a worried look. Hermione moved forwards.
"It'll be fine mum, but remember what I said to do?" they both nodded slowly. "Good, now here they come, so remember they're Vernon and Petunia Dursley!" she whispered frantically as Harry's beefy uncle and boney aunt came strolling out of their house.
"I say, who are you lot, and what are you doing with him?" Vernon spat, trying to keep from exploding.
"Hello, I am Robert Granger and this is my wife, Cordelia. We are both dentists and the company we work for is looking for a good Drill Company, and I have been told that you were the man to come to!" began Mr. Granger, moving forward to shake Vernon's pudgy hand.
"Indeed, sir, indeed. This is my wife Petunia and of course you know who I am. Come inside, come inside!" with that the Granger's disappeared inside Number Four, where Petunia would serve them lemonade and prawn crackers. Hermione and Harry burst out laughing, clambering into the car after loading in Harry's trunk next to Hermione's. They were traveling along an unfamiliar London Street about three quarters of an hour later, Hermione's parents having been invited over for dinner the following weekend. They politely declined, saying they better get Hermione home. Hermione and Harry pretended to have become fast friends and pleaded with his relatives to let Harry go with them. They immediately allowed Harry to go, threatening him in private that if he stuffed things up, he'd have to find a new home.
They were still laughing about it as they climbed out of the backseat of the BMW when they arrived in a dirty, old deserted street. A battered old sign read: Grimmauld Realty across the street from Number Eleven Grimmauld Place. The four of them moved towards a small crack between numbers eleven and thirteen. Harry thought of the house he wanted to enter, as it popped up in front of them, startling Mr. and Mrs. Granger beyond belief. They moved forwards, with their trunks and Harry's owl. Crookshanks was curled up in his basket on Hermione's trunk, growling angrily. They knocked three times, hearing the wailing of Mrs. Black's portrait just inside the door.
Mrs. Weasley's face appeared in the doorway, it was angry and flushed. But when she saw who it was a broad grin appeared in its place. She pulled them inside, fastening the many locks on the inside of the door, before pulling Harry and Hermione into a large hug. She then shook the hands of both Hermione's parents before taking them downstairs for lunch. Ron was in the kitchen, shoveling food into his mouth at an incredible pace. He didn't even notice Ron and Hermione until he was hugged briefly by Hermione, who didn't want to get too close to the salmon soufflé he was eating heartily. Harry smiled at his best friend, before a plate of a salmon dish was pushed before him.
He didn't really like salmon, but ate it anyway as he was extremely hungry. Molly Weasley bolted back up to the landing to close the curtain on Mrs. Blacks painting. She came back dusting her hands on her apron and a very satisfied look on her face. Ron had finally finished eating and was rubbing his stomach lovingly. He groaned as he stood, waiting for Harry and Hermione to finish as well.
"Hermione, I think we'll be going now, Mrs. Donavon has got an appointment at two thirty," announced Robert standing from the table as did Cordelia.
"Oh, ok, dad, I'll see you both either in the Christmas holidays or next year!" said Hermione, giving them both a hug and kiss. Harry was once more hugged by Mrs. Granger and had his hand shaken by Robert. Ron was also hugged momentarily by Hermione's mum. When she pulled away his face had a red blush on it.
"It was nice to finally meet you, Harry, Ron, Molly, but I'm afraid we have to go." They waved them away at the door, watching as their BMW pulled away and around the corner. Harry had a faint feeling of someone watching him, and would bet anything that the Advance Guard was now tailing the Granger's car. The trio moved upstairs passing Ginny and Hermione's room where Ginny was quietly playing with Crookshanks.
"Hey, Ginny!" greeted Harry, watching as she smiled, blushed briefly and waved back. Hermione went in with her, while Harry and Ron kept going. They reached a door, which Harry hadn't noticed before. Ron rolled his eyes and pushed the door open. Harry gasped as he scanned the many bookshelves with his eyes. They covered every wall, except one which had a desk placed below a window, a lamp and parchment scattered its top.
"I've been doing my homework in here," Harry looked at his disbelieving. "Yeah, I know, hard to believe. But I've been dangerously bored stuck in here all the time. We hardly ever go to the Burrow any more, as Fred and George have joined the order and mum wants to be as close as possible to them. And there's always a meeting being called, so it's just easier this way!"
Ron walked over to a large armchair and collapsed into it, watching Harry move along the bookshelves, reading the titles in awe.
"Some of these books aren't even in the restricted section at Hogwarts!" Harry said, pulling a book from a shelf. It was named: Defense from the Dark Arts by Imagona Killu. It was fairly old. Its bind was tattered and red letters were peeling away. He flipped it open and slammed it shut once more. On the front page was a graphical picture of a large, red eyed wolf- like dog. It was ripping away at the flesh of a poor person lying on the ground. It looked somewhat familiar. Harry placed it back on the shelf and kept looking.
"Ron, your mum wanted..." Hermione had just walked in and spotted the many shelves of books. She gasped and scrambled around the walls, pulling off books here and there, her face getting more excited at each turn. "Why didn't you tell me this place had a library!" she said, flicking through a book she had opened in her arm. She gasped, "These books are more terrible than those in the restricted section at school! These are very dark! Some of these are even banned from the Ministry!" she said, placing a book on Different Ways to Murder back on the shelf. Even though these books were dark, Harry found them very interesting.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
He was cold. So cold. His body was aching and sore. It was dark. Shadows leapt at him. Blood covered the floor. A rat scuttled across his hand. Water dripped steadily from a crack in the dark, cold, stone roof. He was so tired.
Harry awoke, panting and sweaty. He gripped the blankets rapped around his chest. He made his way into the bathroom, shutting the door and switching the light on. He splashed water onto his face, washing away the sweat. His breath slowed down, as his first reaction of the dream subsided. He'd never had that dream before. It felt so real. He could still feel the cold biting into his skin and feel the tingling on his hand where the rat had touched his flesh. Shaking his head forcefully, he made his way to the library, he wouldn't be able to go back to sleep.
His eyes scanned the shelves, looking for a book he could read while his mind was awake. He spotted a large, black hounded book just outside the candlelight. He pulled it off the shelf and sank into the large armchair, resting the candle on a small table beside him. The book had no title on the front or back. He turned the page.
Kill or be killed? A book on Defending Your Defenses!
Read the sentence in the middle of that page. There were no pictures in the book, Harry noticed as he flipped through. There were pages upon pages of typed writing, and a few diagrams on different wand movements. Harry lay back min the armchair, and started on the first chapter: Introduction into the Mind of Enemies.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
"Harry, you look terrible, mate!" said Ron the following morning. Harry had stayed up all night reading the Defense Book he'd found. The dream was still fresh in his mind. He could still feel the lingering cold in his bones and the distinct feeling of a rat running across his bare hand. He hadn't told his friends about the dream, and he wasn't planning to. He didn't want them to overreact like they had done last year. No. He wouldn't tell them. He needn't have them fussing over him and telling him to tell Dumbledore. That was the last thing he wanted.
That day they handed Mrs. Weasley their school lists and money, and she and Tonks went to Diagon Alley to pick up their supplies for them. Harry knew the only reason for this was him. They didn't want to take too many risks that could lead to a Death Eater attack. Mrs. Weasley had given them a task. That was to try and clean up the attic in the third floor.
Harry pushed open the trap door leading from Sirius's mum's old room. They had to bow to Buckbeak the Hippogriff before making their way to the old chest in the corner. Harry was standing on it now, and reaching up through the trapdoor. He pulled himself up. Dust lay on the musty floorboards in inch thick layers. He had to stoop to keep his head from hitting the slanting ceiling. He called for Ron to come up, but immediately regretted it. Hundreds of bats took flight from the beams holding the roof up. Harry dived down, landing on a box. Dust flew up from it, covering the entire room in a brown mist, Ron called out from below.
"Harry what's-AHHHHHHH!" he yelled, as the many winged beasts escaped though the open trapdoor. Harry heard a thump and more squeals and screams through the squeaking of the bats. When he heard no more, he hoisted himself off the ground. He coughed as dust flew into his lungs. His clothes were completely covered in decade old dust. Still coughing he called down to Ron and the others.
"Are-you ok?" he said, still spluttering and coughing, trying to get the taste of dirt from his mouth. Hermione's head appeared. She had a humored grin on her face.
"Ron fled; he thought they were spiders jumping down at him. I think he's in the kitchen. Ginny just went to get him." She said, taking Harry's hand to help her up. She waved her hand in front of her face to swipe the floating dust away. "Its pretty, umm-old, up here, isn't it?" she said, wiping dust from her hands. Harry nodded, and began to explore. Many boxes and trunks covered the floors, as well as bits of parchment, clothes and remnants of a broomstick. He was just bending over a trunk and about to open it when Ron pulled himself up from the manhole. He looked terrifyingly up at the ceiling and into the shadows before putting his arms back through the hole and pulling Ginny up. They looked around then to Harry who was just about to open the trunk, Ron backed up.
"If there's more bats in there, I'm outta here!" was all he said, jumping as a small fluff ball floated down to his shoulder. Harry grinned and cautiously lifted the lid on the battered trunk. Dust rose from it. He coughed and swiped the dust away from where he was looking. He jumped back this time. Right in the middle of the trunk was a large, eight-legged, black spider. He tilted his head forward to look at it better.
"What is it, Harry?" squeaked Ron's voice. Harry ignored him, reached into the trunk.
"Loom out, SPIDER!" he yelled, flinging the dead spider across at Ron. He screamed so loud, dust fell form the roof. He was flipping around on his feet, swiping at his arms and head. He was still screaming when Ginny held up the dried out form of the tarantula. He threw a filthy look at Harry who was struggling not to fall to the ground in hysterical laughter. Hermione was giggling. Ginny just dropped the spider through the manhole and shook her head, tutting.
"That was not funny, Potter!" Ron snarled kicking a small box on the ground. There was a mad fluttering, as many fairy like, furry creatures emerged from the bow. Their four arms were shaking and their beetle black wings were beating furiously. The Doxy's surrounded Ron and the others. They yelled and jumped frantically down the manhole, slamming it behind them. Ron was pulling a large Doxy out of his hair; it was baring its sharp little teeth savagely.
"I think we're gonna need some Doxy Poison and a bucket." Soon after the Doxy Attack, they were back in action. A bucket sat over to the side, full of stunned Doxy's. They each carried a small spray bottle in their hands, ready for unsuspecting creatures. Ron had also grabbed a can of Insect Repellant and sprayed it over his entire body. "No spiders for me!" he said triumphantly. Harry was now rummaging through an old trunk. So far he'd only come across ancient, yellowed pieces of parchment. Some had maps of unknown places sketched onto them, or notes on different spells that caused pain. The things that looked as though they were worth something or were interesting, they placed in a pile. But the things that were rubbish were tossed out of the attic from the manhole.
They stopped for lunch. Ginny and Harry made up dozens of sandwiches, with all different fillings, while Ron and Hermione poured them drinks. After their refreshing lunch break, they traipsed back up into the attic, their Doxy Poison and in Ron's case, Insect Repellant at the ready. There were no more Doxy or bat attacks that afternoon, but Hermione did stumble upon the remains of a large rat. This sight stirred up Harry's dream in his chest. He brushed it away, and scooped the dead rodent out with the trash.
That night, after many long, luxuriating showers (the bath tub was cracked and moldy) the group was found lounging by the fire while an order meeting took place.
"I don't see why they don't let us join!" said Ron angrily for the fifth time. "We've done heaps of stuff that many of them said was amazing! And even if they didn't let us in, they should let Harry! He's faced you-know- who heaps of times, heaps more than many of them have!" Harry sighed. He knew what Ron was getting at, and it infuriated him to know that Professor Dumbledore still believed that he was too young. He'd said himself how much Harry had grown up!
At that moment, the lounge room door opened a crack. The group looked around to find Remus Lupin standing there, smiling sadly.
"Professor Dumbledore would like you four to come down to the kitchen!" They looked at each other, totally confused.
"Why-?" began Harry, but Lupin held up a hand.
"You'll find out when you get there, come on!" he said, pulling the door open, and following after them when they passed. Harry entered the dungeon kitchen first, to find it had expanded quite a lot. Many people sat at the chairs around the very long, stone table. It had been at least tripled since the last time he had seen it. Albus Dumbledore sat at the head of the table, and stood when they entered. Mrs. Weasley stood at the sink, looking angry and ready to explode, but she didn't when he spoke.
"Welcome, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny! We've just had a vote amongst ourselves here, and we'd all like to welcome you four, to the Order of the Phoenix!" Ron whooped happily, Ginny and Hermione grinned broadly, but Harry just stood, staring, his teeth grinding. How could Dumbledore let his friends join? They'd be in more danger now, than they had before!
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Words- 3,134
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Disclaimer- I don't own the likes of Harry Potter© and never will! Hope you all like it so far!
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CHAPTER TWO- ATTIC CREATURES
Harry was packed and ready to go the next day. He kept glancing at his watch, hoping he could skip the next hour and get going with the Grangers. But it was no use. Every time he glanced at his watch, it had only been at least ten seconds later than the last time he checked. He had gotten over the first shock of continuing Occlumency with his most hated professor, Severus Snape, and thought of it as a way of protecting the people he loved. This year he was actually going to try harder in his lessons and ignore any snide comments made by any Slytherin, student or not.
The clock continued to tick, Harry only shifted his gaze from the swinging pendulum when aunt Petunia wanted to sweep the floor where he was sitting on his trunk. His stomach grumbled in protest of food, Harry hadn't eaten since lunch the day before; he had been too excited about leaving the Dursleys that he'd skipped breakfast that morning. The clock struck half- past eleven and Harry's stomach did a funny jump. Only half an hour to go, he thought hungrily. It was five minutes to twelve.
"What are you doing, boy?" snapped Petunia angrily, as she passed him still staring open mouthed at the clock. He didn't answer; she stalked away, a scowl planted on her face. Five...four...three...two...one...zero. Harry jumped up from his trunk and bounded to the door, opening it wide a large grin on his face. There was no one there. His smile faded slightly, but grew as he spotted a sleek, deep blue BMW pull up in the drive-way. Hermione exited from the back door, and practically flew up and into Harry's outstretched arms. She pulled back and helped him with his trunk, pulling it down to the drive, where two very nervous adults were standing.
Mr. Granger had dark brown, shiny hair, while Mrs. Granger had shoulder length, dark brown, bushy hair, the same as Hermione's, only a little darker. They smiled at him nervously. Mr. Granger extended his hand, which Harry shook happily.
"You must be Harry, Hermione has told us so much about you!" he said, "I'm Robert and this is my wife Cordelia." He stepped aside while Cordelia Granger moved into his spot. Harry was very surprised when she enveloped him in a large, motherly hug.
"Pleased to meet you, Harry. Are you sure you're allowed to go?" she asked, glancing at the house with a worried look. Hermione moved forwards.
"It'll be fine mum, but remember what I said to do?" they both nodded slowly. "Good, now here they come, so remember they're Vernon and Petunia Dursley!" she whispered frantically as Harry's beefy uncle and boney aunt came strolling out of their house.
"I say, who are you lot, and what are you doing with him?" Vernon spat, trying to keep from exploding.
"Hello, I am Robert Granger and this is my wife, Cordelia. We are both dentists and the company we work for is looking for a good Drill Company, and I have been told that you were the man to come to!" began Mr. Granger, moving forward to shake Vernon's pudgy hand.
"Indeed, sir, indeed. This is my wife Petunia and of course you know who I am. Come inside, come inside!" with that the Granger's disappeared inside Number Four, where Petunia would serve them lemonade and prawn crackers. Hermione and Harry burst out laughing, clambering into the car after loading in Harry's trunk next to Hermione's. They were traveling along an unfamiliar London Street about three quarters of an hour later, Hermione's parents having been invited over for dinner the following weekend. They politely declined, saying they better get Hermione home. Hermione and Harry pretended to have become fast friends and pleaded with his relatives to let Harry go with them. They immediately allowed Harry to go, threatening him in private that if he stuffed things up, he'd have to find a new home.
They were still laughing about it as they climbed out of the backseat of the BMW when they arrived in a dirty, old deserted street. A battered old sign read: Grimmauld Realty across the street from Number Eleven Grimmauld Place. The four of them moved towards a small crack between numbers eleven and thirteen. Harry thought of the house he wanted to enter, as it popped up in front of them, startling Mr. and Mrs. Granger beyond belief. They moved forwards, with their trunks and Harry's owl. Crookshanks was curled up in his basket on Hermione's trunk, growling angrily. They knocked three times, hearing the wailing of Mrs. Black's portrait just inside the door.
Mrs. Weasley's face appeared in the doorway, it was angry and flushed. But when she saw who it was a broad grin appeared in its place. She pulled them inside, fastening the many locks on the inside of the door, before pulling Harry and Hermione into a large hug. She then shook the hands of both Hermione's parents before taking them downstairs for lunch. Ron was in the kitchen, shoveling food into his mouth at an incredible pace. He didn't even notice Ron and Hermione until he was hugged briefly by Hermione, who didn't want to get too close to the salmon soufflé he was eating heartily. Harry smiled at his best friend, before a plate of a salmon dish was pushed before him.
He didn't really like salmon, but ate it anyway as he was extremely hungry. Molly Weasley bolted back up to the landing to close the curtain on Mrs. Blacks painting. She came back dusting her hands on her apron and a very satisfied look on her face. Ron had finally finished eating and was rubbing his stomach lovingly. He groaned as he stood, waiting for Harry and Hermione to finish as well.
"Hermione, I think we'll be going now, Mrs. Donavon has got an appointment at two thirty," announced Robert standing from the table as did Cordelia.
"Oh, ok, dad, I'll see you both either in the Christmas holidays or next year!" said Hermione, giving them both a hug and kiss. Harry was once more hugged by Mrs. Granger and had his hand shaken by Robert. Ron was also hugged momentarily by Hermione's mum. When she pulled away his face had a red blush on it.
"It was nice to finally meet you, Harry, Ron, Molly, but I'm afraid we have to go." They waved them away at the door, watching as their BMW pulled away and around the corner. Harry had a faint feeling of someone watching him, and would bet anything that the Advance Guard was now tailing the Granger's car. The trio moved upstairs passing Ginny and Hermione's room where Ginny was quietly playing with Crookshanks.
"Hey, Ginny!" greeted Harry, watching as she smiled, blushed briefly and waved back. Hermione went in with her, while Harry and Ron kept going. They reached a door, which Harry hadn't noticed before. Ron rolled his eyes and pushed the door open. Harry gasped as he scanned the many bookshelves with his eyes. They covered every wall, except one which had a desk placed below a window, a lamp and parchment scattered its top.
"I've been doing my homework in here," Harry looked at his disbelieving. "Yeah, I know, hard to believe. But I've been dangerously bored stuck in here all the time. We hardly ever go to the Burrow any more, as Fred and George have joined the order and mum wants to be as close as possible to them. And there's always a meeting being called, so it's just easier this way!"
Ron walked over to a large armchair and collapsed into it, watching Harry move along the bookshelves, reading the titles in awe.
"Some of these books aren't even in the restricted section at Hogwarts!" Harry said, pulling a book from a shelf. It was named: Defense from the Dark Arts by Imagona Killu. It was fairly old. Its bind was tattered and red letters were peeling away. He flipped it open and slammed it shut once more. On the front page was a graphical picture of a large, red eyed wolf- like dog. It was ripping away at the flesh of a poor person lying on the ground. It looked somewhat familiar. Harry placed it back on the shelf and kept looking.
"Ron, your mum wanted..." Hermione had just walked in and spotted the many shelves of books. She gasped and scrambled around the walls, pulling off books here and there, her face getting more excited at each turn. "Why didn't you tell me this place had a library!" she said, flicking through a book she had opened in her arm. She gasped, "These books are more terrible than those in the restricted section at school! These are very dark! Some of these are even banned from the Ministry!" she said, placing a book on Different Ways to Murder back on the shelf. Even though these books were dark, Harry found them very interesting.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
He was cold. So cold. His body was aching and sore. It was dark. Shadows leapt at him. Blood covered the floor. A rat scuttled across his hand. Water dripped steadily from a crack in the dark, cold, stone roof. He was so tired.
Harry awoke, panting and sweaty. He gripped the blankets rapped around his chest. He made his way into the bathroom, shutting the door and switching the light on. He splashed water onto his face, washing away the sweat. His breath slowed down, as his first reaction of the dream subsided. He'd never had that dream before. It felt so real. He could still feel the cold biting into his skin and feel the tingling on his hand where the rat had touched his flesh. Shaking his head forcefully, he made his way to the library, he wouldn't be able to go back to sleep.
His eyes scanned the shelves, looking for a book he could read while his mind was awake. He spotted a large, black hounded book just outside the candlelight. He pulled it off the shelf and sank into the large armchair, resting the candle on a small table beside him. The book had no title on the front or back. He turned the page.
Kill or be killed? A book on Defending Your Defenses!
Read the sentence in the middle of that page. There were no pictures in the book, Harry noticed as he flipped through. There were pages upon pages of typed writing, and a few diagrams on different wand movements. Harry lay back min the armchair, and started on the first chapter: Introduction into the Mind of Enemies.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
"Harry, you look terrible, mate!" said Ron the following morning. Harry had stayed up all night reading the Defense Book he'd found. The dream was still fresh in his mind. He could still feel the lingering cold in his bones and the distinct feeling of a rat running across his bare hand. He hadn't told his friends about the dream, and he wasn't planning to. He didn't want them to overreact like they had done last year. No. He wouldn't tell them. He needn't have them fussing over him and telling him to tell Dumbledore. That was the last thing he wanted.
That day they handed Mrs. Weasley their school lists and money, and she and Tonks went to Diagon Alley to pick up their supplies for them. Harry knew the only reason for this was him. They didn't want to take too many risks that could lead to a Death Eater attack. Mrs. Weasley had given them a task. That was to try and clean up the attic in the third floor.
Harry pushed open the trap door leading from Sirius's mum's old room. They had to bow to Buckbeak the Hippogriff before making their way to the old chest in the corner. Harry was standing on it now, and reaching up through the trapdoor. He pulled himself up. Dust lay on the musty floorboards in inch thick layers. He had to stoop to keep his head from hitting the slanting ceiling. He called for Ron to come up, but immediately regretted it. Hundreds of bats took flight from the beams holding the roof up. Harry dived down, landing on a box. Dust flew up from it, covering the entire room in a brown mist, Ron called out from below.
"Harry what's-AHHHHHHH!" he yelled, as the many winged beasts escaped though the open trapdoor. Harry heard a thump and more squeals and screams through the squeaking of the bats. When he heard no more, he hoisted himself off the ground. He coughed as dust flew into his lungs. His clothes were completely covered in decade old dust. Still coughing he called down to Ron and the others.
"Are-you ok?" he said, still spluttering and coughing, trying to get the taste of dirt from his mouth. Hermione's head appeared. She had a humored grin on her face.
"Ron fled; he thought they were spiders jumping down at him. I think he's in the kitchen. Ginny just went to get him." She said, taking Harry's hand to help her up. She waved her hand in front of her face to swipe the floating dust away. "Its pretty, umm-old, up here, isn't it?" she said, wiping dust from her hands. Harry nodded, and began to explore. Many boxes and trunks covered the floors, as well as bits of parchment, clothes and remnants of a broomstick. He was just bending over a trunk and about to open it when Ron pulled himself up from the manhole. He looked terrifyingly up at the ceiling and into the shadows before putting his arms back through the hole and pulling Ginny up. They looked around then to Harry who was just about to open the trunk, Ron backed up.
"If there's more bats in there, I'm outta here!" was all he said, jumping as a small fluff ball floated down to his shoulder. Harry grinned and cautiously lifted the lid on the battered trunk. Dust rose from it. He coughed and swiped the dust away from where he was looking. He jumped back this time. Right in the middle of the trunk was a large, eight-legged, black spider. He tilted his head forward to look at it better.
"What is it, Harry?" squeaked Ron's voice. Harry ignored him, reached into the trunk.
"Loom out, SPIDER!" he yelled, flinging the dead spider across at Ron. He screamed so loud, dust fell form the roof. He was flipping around on his feet, swiping at his arms and head. He was still screaming when Ginny held up the dried out form of the tarantula. He threw a filthy look at Harry who was struggling not to fall to the ground in hysterical laughter. Hermione was giggling. Ginny just dropped the spider through the manhole and shook her head, tutting.
"That was not funny, Potter!" Ron snarled kicking a small box on the ground. There was a mad fluttering, as many fairy like, furry creatures emerged from the bow. Their four arms were shaking and their beetle black wings were beating furiously. The Doxy's surrounded Ron and the others. They yelled and jumped frantically down the manhole, slamming it behind them. Ron was pulling a large Doxy out of his hair; it was baring its sharp little teeth savagely.
"I think we're gonna need some Doxy Poison and a bucket." Soon after the Doxy Attack, they were back in action. A bucket sat over to the side, full of stunned Doxy's. They each carried a small spray bottle in their hands, ready for unsuspecting creatures. Ron had also grabbed a can of Insect Repellant and sprayed it over his entire body. "No spiders for me!" he said triumphantly. Harry was now rummaging through an old trunk. So far he'd only come across ancient, yellowed pieces of parchment. Some had maps of unknown places sketched onto them, or notes on different spells that caused pain. The things that looked as though they were worth something or were interesting, they placed in a pile. But the things that were rubbish were tossed out of the attic from the manhole.
They stopped for lunch. Ginny and Harry made up dozens of sandwiches, with all different fillings, while Ron and Hermione poured them drinks. After their refreshing lunch break, they traipsed back up into the attic, their Doxy Poison and in Ron's case, Insect Repellant at the ready. There were no more Doxy or bat attacks that afternoon, but Hermione did stumble upon the remains of a large rat. This sight stirred up Harry's dream in his chest. He brushed it away, and scooped the dead rodent out with the trash.
That night, after many long, luxuriating showers (the bath tub was cracked and moldy) the group was found lounging by the fire while an order meeting took place.
"I don't see why they don't let us join!" said Ron angrily for the fifth time. "We've done heaps of stuff that many of them said was amazing! And even if they didn't let us in, they should let Harry! He's faced you-know- who heaps of times, heaps more than many of them have!" Harry sighed. He knew what Ron was getting at, and it infuriated him to know that Professor Dumbledore still believed that he was too young. He'd said himself how much Harry had grown up!
At that moment, the lounge room door opened a crack. The group looked around to find Remus Lupin standing there, smiling sadly.
"Professor Dumbledore would like you four to come down to the kitchen!" They looked at each other, totally confused.
"Why-?" began Harry, but Lupin held up a hand.
"You'll find out when you get there, come on!" he said, pulling the door open, and following after them when they passed. Harry entered the dungeon kitchen first, to find it had expanded quite a lot. Many people sat at the chairs around the very long, stone table. It had been at least tripled since the last time he had seen it. Albus Dumbledore sat at the head of the table, and stood when they entered. Mrs. Weasley stood at the sink, looking angry and ready to explode, but she didn't when he spoke.
"Welcome, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny! We've just had a vote amongst ourselves here, and we'd all like to welcome you four, to the Order of the Phoenix!" Ron whooped happily, Ginny and Hermione grinned broadly, but Harry just stood, staring, his teeth grinding. How could Dumbledore let his friends join? They'd be in more danger now, than they had before!
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