Chapter 3
Around seven that evening, Harry still watching at his window, he saw a light go out. Harry cautiously grabbed his belongings and swept down the stairs. He knew that this could be a trap. If it was going to be anything like last time. He waited in the hall, this way he could either get out from the kitchen or the front door if the occasion would call for it. Harry set his trunk down, and looked out one of the small windows nearest to him. He saw nothing for a moment. Then suddenly, a tabby cat with strange markings around it's eyes walked up the walk to number 4 Privet Drive. Harry recognized the cat in an instant.
The cat saw him through a window and slunk around to the back of the house. Harry walked to the back end of the house and opened the back door. The cat looked up at him and changed in front of his eyes.
"Potter, are you ready?" said Professor McGonnagle.
"Yes. When will we be leaving? How will we be getting there." harry asked her.
"Soon. The guard are in the back now. We will be taking a portkey back to the headquarters."
Harry and the professor walked into the back yard where Lupin, Tonks, Kingsley, and Mad Eye were waiting for them. They all stood around a yellow toy shovel. Harry and the rest of the guard put a finger on the shovel.
"Three...two...one.."he heard a familiar deep voice.
He felt it behind his navel. The jerking sensation. The blurs of colors as he was being pulled forward to his destination.
He landed nearly gracefully in the circle of his guard. He took a look around and noticed that they were not at 12 Grimauld Place. As he thought they would be. They were in a room that he had never been in before, this room was sizable with a chandelier in the ceiling that lit the room very well despite its small size. At the far corner was a small table with tea, sugar, cups and other condiments that would make the inhabitants as they requested. There was a large wooden table with claws for feet that would accommodate twelve occupants. To the left there was a door.
"Where are we?" Harry asked the room.
"The new headquarters." Lupin commented. "We could no longer use Sirius' house. Shortly after his passing, Kreatcher was no where to be found. We could not take the chance that he would be able to pass on to any one any information that could be damaging. With the Ministry on its toes, we are now able to work here. It is some where that is unplotable and we can keep an eye on any situation that would occur. Wait here and I will be back in a minuet. I have to tell Dumbledore that you are here."
"Congratulations on your O.W.L.'s, Potter." Professor McGonnagle commented.
"I haven't even looked to tell you the truth professor." Harry said.
"Well, perhaps it would be prudent to do so since you will need to be buying your books soon." the professor said with a smile. "I daresay, you may be needing help this year on your potions. Perhaps, when the need arises, Ms. Granger will be able to help you."
This made Harry think. Harry set down his trunk and rummaged through until he found what he was looking for. Harry slowly counted all of them. Twelve in all. He would be taking Advanced Potions, Advanced Transfiguration, Advanced Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic and Care of Magical Creatures.
Off to his left he heard voices through the door he had noticed earlier. "What do you mean, she has information?" he heard from a voice he did not know. "She is not giving information at this time. After what happened, I can't blame her not trusting very many people just now..."
"Harry, we have a room upstairs ready for you. You can take your things up there and Dumbledore will see you." Lupin said.
"I know that we are at the new headquarters, but where are we?" Harry asked.
"In London, not far from the Ministry of Magic." Lupin commented.
"What will happen to 12 Grimauld Place?" Harry asked.
At this Lupin sighed, "Well, all of Sirius' possessions are your's now. I have a copy of all the paper work if you would like to see it."
Harry felt the pit of his stomache fall out. He did not want to think about it anymore and decided to change the subject.
"When will we be going to get my supplies at Diagon Alley?" Harry asked.
"We can go as soon as you like. I know that Ron and Hermione are going there next week, if you would like to meet them there." replied Lupin.
"I thought the Weasley's and Hermione would be here." commented Harry
"No, the Weasley's primally stay at the Borrow. Hermione will be staying at the Leaky Cauldron the night before term starts. Ah, here we are."
Harry's room was furnished with a twin bed. Something he was not used to. There was a small chest where he could keep his clothes and two side tables. There was a Chinese rug and a small fire place. Harry placed his trunk at the foot of the bed, and followed Lupin out into the hallway and back the route that they had taken out of the room that they had started.
When Harry entered, Professor McGonagall was sitting at the table with Dumbledore. Dumbledore was asking Professor McGonagall something that Harry did not hear. When Harry sat down at the table, Dumbledore looked up at Harry with a smile.
"Harry, glad to see you could make it." Dumbledore said.
"Thank you for coming to get me." Harry said.
Harry was still not sure how to feel about his headmaster. Harry knew that Dumbledore had withheld information about his past for his own reasons. Still it made him wonder what else was he withholding from him. Harry decided he would start the conversation before the headmaster could speak.
"What is going on with Voldemort?" he asked.
"Well, we know that the Death Eaters we captured a few months ago, have escaped. This makes this difficult at best. We also know that Kreacher has taken up residence with the Malfoy family. We were unable to keep him in Grimauld Place. After the attack on the Ministry of Magic, he left Grimauld place. He knew he had little time before the Order would be back to the headquarters. We believe that he has given information to the Malfoy's and therefore to Voldemort about the Order. That is why we have moved the headquarters. There have been several small attacks here and there. We have been able to stop most of them."
This pacified Harry. He was given information directly from Dumbledore taking any questions from his mind.
"I want to go to Diagon Alley, next week to meet Ron and Hermione there to buy my supplies." harry stated.
"I am sure that can be arranged." Dumbledore said to him.
Harry realized how hungry and tired he was. It had been some time before he had gotten a proper meal and some sleep. He looked at Dumbledore and asked when he could get something to eat and sleep.
"Now, if you wish." Dumbledore stated.
Harry was leaving when Dumbledore turned to Professor McGonnigall,
"Have you taken our guest around the city?" he asked her.
"Yes, we have done all she wished to do. I don't understand why she went to some of the places she went to. Abbey Road for one. She walked across the street barefooted. She insisted on going barefooted. Can you tell me about that?" she asked the headmaster. Dumbledore looked at the professor with a sparkle in his eye.
"Well, Professor, perhaps when you take her to...."
At this Harry left the room. He was not interested in hearing about barefooted guests when he was so hungry. When he left the room, he found Lupin waiting for him.
"Hungry?" Lupin asked harry.
"Famished. Lead the way." Harry said.
Around seven that evening, Harry still watching at his window, he saw a light go out. Harry cautiously grabbed his belongings and swept down the stairs. He knew that this could be a trap. If it was going to be anything like last time. He waited in the hall, this way he could either get out from the kitchen or the front door if the occasion would call for it. Harry set his trunk down, and looked out one of the small windows nearest to him. He saw nothing for a moment. Then suddenly, a tabby cat with strange markings around it's eyes walked up the walk to number 4 Privet Drive. Harry recognized the cat in an instant.
The cat saw him through a window and slunk around to the back of the house. Harry walked to the back end of the house and opened the back door. The cat looked up at him and changed in front of his eyes.
"Potter, are you ready?" said Professor McGonnagle.
"Yes. When will we be leaving? How will we be getting there." harry asked her.
"Soon. The guard are in the back now. We will be taking a portkey back to the headquarters."
Harry and the professor walked into the back yard where Lupin, Tonks, Kingsley, and Mad Eye were waiting for them. They all stood around a yellow toy shovel. Harry and the rest of the guard put a finger on the shovel.
"Three...two...one.."he heard a familiar deep voice.
He felt it behind his navel. The jerking sensation. The blurs of colors as he was being pulled forward to his destination.
He landed nearly gracefully in the circle of his guard. He took a look around and noticed that they were not at 12 Grimauld Place. As he thought they would be. They were in a room that he had never been in before, this room was sizable with a chandelier in the ceiling that lit the room very well despite its small size. At the far corner was a small table with tea, sugar, cups and other condiments that would make the inhabitants as they requested. There was a large wooden table with claws for feet that would accommodate twelve occupants. To the left there was a door.
"Where are we?" Harry asked the room.
"The new headquarters." Lupin commented. "We could no longer use Sirius' house. Shortly after his passing, Kreatcher was no where to be found. We could not take the chance that he would be able to pass on to any one any information that could be damaging. With the Ministry on its toes, we are now able to work here. It is some where that is unplotable and we can keep an eye on any situation that would occur. Wait here and I will be back in a minuet. I have to tell Dumbledore that you are here."
"Congratulations on your O.W.L.'s, Potter." Professor McGonnagle commented.
"I haven't even looked to tell you the truth professor." Harry said.
"Well, perhaps it would be prudent to do so since you will need to be buying your books soon." the professor said with a smile. "I daresay, you may be needing help this year on your potions. Perhaps, when the need arises, Ms. Granger will be able to help you."
This made Harry think. Harry set down his trunk and rummaged through until he found what he was looking for. Harry slowly counted all of them. Twelve in all. He would be taking Advanced Potions, Advanced Transfiguration, Advanced Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic and Care of Magical Creatures.
Off to his left he heard voices through the door he had noticed earlier. "What do you mean, she has information?" he heard from a voice he did not know. "She is not giving information at this time. After what happened, I can't blame her not trusting very many people just now..."
"Harry, we have a room upstairs ready for you. You can take your things up there and Dumbledore will see you." Lupin said.
"I know that we are at the new headquarters, but where are we?" Harry asked.
"In London, not far from the Ministry of Magic." Lupin commented.
"What will happen to 12 Grimauld Place?" Harry asked.
At this Lupin sighed, "Well, all of Sirius' possessions are your's now. I have a copy of all the paper work if you would like to see it."
Harry felt the pit of his stomache fall out. He did not want to think about it anymore and decided to change the subject.
"When will we be going to get my supplies at Diagon Alley?" Harry asked.
"We can go as soon as you like. I know that Ron and Hermione are going there next week, if you would like to meet them there." replied Lupin.
"I thought the Weasley's and Hermione would be here." commented Harry
"No, the Weasley's primally stay at the Borrow. Hermione will be staying at the Leaky Cauldron the night before term starts. Ah, here we are."
Harry's room was furnished with a twin bed. Something he was not used to. There was a small chest where he could keep his clothes and two side tables. There was a Chinese rug and a small fire place. Harry placed his trunk at the foot of the bed, and followed Lupin out into the hallway and back the route that they had taken out of the room that they had started.
When Harry entered, Professor McGonagall was sitting at the table with Dumbledore. Dumbledore was asking Professor McGonagall something that Harry did not hear. When Harry sat down at the table, Dumbledore looked up at Harry with a smile.
"Harry, glad to see you could make it." Dumbledore said.
"Thank you for coming to get me." Harry said.
Harry was still not sure how to feel about his headmaster. Harry knew that Dumbledore had withheld information about his past for his own reasons. Still it made him wonder what else was he withholding from him. Harry decided he would start the conversation before the headmaster could speak.
"What is going on with Voldemort?" he asked.
"Well, we know that the Death Eaters we captured a few months ago, have escaped. This makes this difficult at best. We also know that Kreacher has taken up residence with the Malfoy family. We were unable to keep him in Grimauld Place. After the attack on the Ministry of Magic, he left Grimauld place. He knew he had little time before the Order would be back to the headquarters. We believe that he has given information to the Malfoy's and therefore to Voldemort about the Order. That is why we have moved the headquarters. There have been several small attacks here and there. We have been able to stop most of them."
This pacified Harry. He was given information directly from Dumbledore taking any questions from his mind.
"I want to go to Diagon Alley, next week to meet Ron and Hermione there to buy my supplies." harry stated.
"I am sure that can be arranged." Dumbledore said to him.
Harry realized how hungry and tired he was. It had been some time before he had gotten a proper meal and some sleep. He looked at Dumbledore and asked when he could get something to eat and sleep.
"Now, if you wish." Dumbledore stated.
Harry was leaving when Dumbledore turned to Professor McGonnigall,
"Have you taken our guest around the city?" he asked her.
"Yes, we have done all she wished to do. I don't understand why she went to some of the places she went to. Abbey Road for one. She walked across the street barefooted. She insisted on going barefooted. Can you tell me about that?" she asked the headmaster. Dumbledore looked at the professor with a sparkle in his eye.
"Well, Professor, perhaps when you take her to...."
At this Harry left the room. He was not interested in hearing about barefooted guests when he was so hungry. When he left the room, he found Lupin waiting for him.
"Hungry?" Lupin asked harry.
"Famished. Lead the way." Harry said.
