I am back.
Seems that you liked the previous chappies. The Potter boy requires some time to get all that he had heard into his head, he will probably need some time to recover from the good and bad news.
Well, this chappie will surely get you into a headstart into the pairings.
Except for the lovely girl Maria Densington, Sylvia Crawford and dis stori line the rest is owned by JKR.
So kontinu reeding. ;)
Chapter 5. Coming of Age
Petunia Dursley was calling out to her husband to get ready for breakfast, Vernon Dursley was already in a neat suit and tie to match. "Getting some buyer for his drills, mostly", thought Harry.
"Ah! Here comes the piglet squealing for food". Dudley Dursley was walking towards the table, gluttonously eyeing the table laden with foodstuff. Harry's Uncle started the dull conversation, speaking at length, about his office and staff. Privet Drive didn't seem so interesting.
Turning his attention away, he walked up back into his new room, a promotion from small room. He had returned from Grimmauld Place, back to Little Whinging, a week back. His uncle had been quite pleased with his quiet mannerism, Harry suspected that his Aunt could have had a hand in his promotion.
Hedwig's soft hooting greeted him, as he entered his room and she was flying around happily. Seeing him, she now came to rest on his shoulders.
"Much better now, aren't we?"
As if in reply, she nuzzled her beak against his cheek affectionately and flew onto the bed. This bed was a bit hard but very good as he put it, considering the fact that it was no less a luxury, for him. As he lay down on the bed, many recollections and thoughts flooded his mind, sadness of being unable to see his parents and the loss of Sirius, desire for seeing his friends and happiness as Ron and Hermione, along with many other slowly crept into his thoughts.
A barrage of noise invaded his room. His uncle was probably laughing at his own joke but Harry wasn't hearing anything. He was lost in his own little world.
"Dad and mum had entered the Order immediately in their 7th year. All was going well until Voldemort discovered that prophecy. Then he started a hunt for them and Dumbledore knowing the prophecy wanting to keep th-us away from him. Dumbledore had set up some charm and set them in hiding.
Voldemort discovered their hideout when the traitor Wormtail …"
Harry let out an angry hiss and turned in his bed. "I should have killed him when Sirius had told me", he thought feeling put out. "He is the reason I've no parents and Sirius too". Harry winced badly, this thought was too troublesome.
The letter given to Aunt Petunia had given the answer to his questions. It had told him who would tell him all that he wanted to know about himself, his parents and his past. At that moment, the door to his room creaked and opened.
"The food is on the table below. If you are hungry come and eat it", his Aunt said, no trace of the previous conversation in St Mungos visible in her tone.
"I want to know about Mum and Dad", Harry retorted. "So all that happened at Mungos was just a show, wasn't it?" he thought.
She looked at him fixedly for a moment. Harry returned her look with an angry look "Telling me about my parents wouldn't hurt, would it?"
She closed the door and sat down on the opposite side of the bed.
"What do you want to know?" she asked as her fixed look died away. Harry looked at her intently. "The answer to all my questions…" he thought.
"About my parents", he said quickly, every bit of him hoping that she would relent.
After a short pause, his prayers were answered. Taking in a deep breath she related his past as Harry listened in rapt attention.
"Your mum, was my only younger sister, Your grandparents and us used to stay here". He nodded, prompting her to go on.
"Everything was as good as it could be, till your mother reached the age of ten."
"Just after she finished her primary schooling, an owl flew in delivering a letter from Hogwars - whatever", she said in a spiteful voice.
"It was then we knew that your mother had submitted an application for learning magic in some place called something like Mesmerizing Moat of … Magic and … Wizardry. Your mother was very much taken in by the freaks, the way they vanished things, created pigeons out of marble and the like". Giving a shudder she stopped for a minute.
Harry was quiet. The sound of flies buzzing in the room could be faintly heard in the silence.
She continued in a quicker voice, "The letter said that she was a witch. We tried to tell her that going to some school which was not at all like a usual one and which practiced magic was all cheap rubbish. I even tried to reason but she was too determined. She told us that she had already checked out the school and it seemed great. We didn't want her to go to some godforsaken school but then father decided to give her a chance."
Harry was still silent, silently thanking his aunt for all that she was telling him but neither she nor he wanted to show their thoughts on their faces. Aunt Petunia looked at him for a while and then continued in a disapproving voice.
"After the first year, there was no looking back. She brought back frogs in her pockets, made pastries out of thin air. She had some friends at that – that silly school of yours to aid her. Once, she even asked permission to bring them with her home. Mother almost died out of fright but father assented. Mother once asked my adamant sister to return back to a normal life but she didn't listen and retorted saying that she was very much happy and belonged there."
Aunt Petunia continued a bit morosely, "That statement of your mother had us in a jinx. It cleanly meant that she would stay back but she always came back at the year's end." "In her fourth year, I got married and-". A streak of anger crossed his aunt's face before she continued, "-it was then that your mother brought her friends, I think seven or eight, all of them horrible, no dress sense."
Hearing a suppressed snort of laughter she continued hastily, "Well it was after the marriage when your uncle found out that …" Harry cut her off. Choking on his words as he tried not to laugh, he said, "… they were wizards …"
She winced and said sharply, "Your uncle lost his temper and yelled at your mother. Your father could not keep his temper and he magicked your uncle into … into something. Some people from a so-called Magical Ministry set it all right but I told them to keep away from me and Vernon. That was the first time I saw the old man, but he looked good too."
Harry nodded in amazement. He was surprised that she knew all this and had kept it all cooped up in her head. "Wonder what something is?" he thought as an obvious answer popped up in his head
"So you knew Dumbledore", he said shaking the image of a pig out of his mind.
"That time onwards, yes".
"Your uncle saw your mother once practise magic in the house and he ordered her to throw out all the nonsense and get back to a normal life. She replied saying that he should mind his own business and not bother her. A quarrel ensued and after that your mother gave us another surprise. When, Vernon proposed to marry her off, she told us that she was going to marry another wizard, who turned out to be the person who had magicked your uncle at the marriage".
Harry looked at his aunt. His mum had been as bad in her attitude as his uncle. She was to blame too.
Gauging his thoughts correctly, she told him, "Your mother didn't do anything wrong. She just told us before she married Potter. I think she did that just to get to your uncle's head …"
Harry was gaping at her now. "She knows everything", he thought amazedly.
After the incident at the marriage, Serious and Looping told your dad to apologize", she continued ignoring the smirk on her nephew's face.
"Your dad surprisingly did apologize but Vernon lost his temper seeing your father and your mother together again. The awfully stupid temper of your dad had him again in trouble and he turned Vernon into a log … Aunt Marge was present too".
This time, Harry didn't feel like laughing at all. He had only once encountered with Marge Dursley, which was not at all pleasant. Harry understood that his mum was in very bad trouble.
Changing the topic she said in a strained voice, "Lily and … James married when I think they finished schooling. Well, after the fourth year, your grandparents passed away after that incident. Your mum was under tremendous pressure to quit from the school. She and her friends had come to the graveyard. That was the last time I saw your mum and her group."
"Mum and Dad were bad enough", murmured Harry as the image in Snape's pensive flashed across his eyes.
"Not at all, the two of them didn't quarrel with everybody all the time. They were very good to be with. Lily and my self were on good terms most of the time. It is just something between you and your uncle. You seemed to have inherited your father's traits, for that matter", his aunt frowned disapprovingly.
Harry looked out of the window, feeling worse by the minute. His aunt's voice permeated his ears, "Lily and James weren't bad. It was just that your uncle wouldn't agree to them being together". Harry realized that his aunt wasn't angry with him anymore. She had said the name of his parents, twice.
"At a time after 11 years since she joined that school, the letters that she would write, suddenly held words of caution. I thought that Lily and your father were under some threat to their lives, which Dumbledore told me was some great Dark Freak called Lord Voldemort. The number of letters in turn began to dwindle and exactly the year before you were delivered to us, all letters stopped."
At that point she got up and said, "Either eat your food quickly or it goes down the drain". Then Petunia Dursley simply walked out of the room.
Harry wasn't angry with his aunt, he had expected them to become more cold towards him after Voldemort had come, however, this was more than he had hoped for. He now understood properly what could have happened. Voldemort was gaining power. His parents had done schooling, enrolled in the Order. Till the prophecy everything was fine, after which he only very well knew the story. Harry only wished he knew what his parents had done at school. It was of no use but he wanted to know. Sirius was dead, no one else would tell him, Mrs. Weasley would simply fuss over him. Moody was out of question. Wonder what Lupin would say?
His thoughts now shifted to the prophecy. "Voldemort marked me as his equal maybe not knowing so, he gave me powers which I don't kn-", thought Harry as another thought shook him up.
That duel with the son of a snake.
The Dark Lord and he himself had had a confrontation, just two and a half weeks back. Unlike in his fourth year, Harry had definitely come out much better this time. Dumbledore's words came tumbling back to him.
"He had said that Voldemort had transferred some of his powers to me, when the killing curse had failed, giving me powers more than him, befitting me to defeat him". Also, he remembered that whenever Voldemort had a powerful surge of emotion, he could feel it too. "It could mean that I'm using my foes' strength to my own benefit, thanks to that failed curse, through that scar", thought Harry.
However, this did not tally with the fourth and fifth year experiences, where he was even unable to duel even against Bellatrix Lestrange in the fifth year, in the former case against Voldemort himself.
With this, an obvious question sprang up in his head.
Why had he not experienced that amount of strength, which had pulsed like a volcano in his veins, before? Had it been desire to kill Voldemort?
He had pulled off a similar stunt at Grimmaulds but that feeling had not gripped him, he had been genuinely angry.
"It is the power stored in a room in Department of Mysteries that came to save me five times, something that my parents, the Longbottoms could not achieve".
Harry pondered deeply but he couldn't find a proper answer. Trust Hermione to find an answer.
Telling Hermione and Ron meant that they would suspect something fishy and he would have to tell them the whole prophecy too. He could very nicely imagine their reaction, putting it simply, petrified. It also meant sharing his burden with them, though they did not deserve it. Dumbledore …
A tickling sensation on his forefinger lifted his trance. "Hedwig is another friend too", he added, looking on ardently as Hedwig nibbled at his thumb. He had left her unnoticed for too long.
His stomach gave an explicit rumble. His hunger had remained unnoticed too.
Sighing, he got up and marched to the floor below, Hedwig perched precariously on his shoulder. His uncle had already gone.
His cousin was nowhere, "Roughing up some small kid, maybe", he thought. The food was on the table. He pushed some of it onto his plate and quickly gobbled it up, half hoping to find an answer to the question in his mind. His aunt was probably working in the kitchen.
"So this is why the piglet had squealed loudly", thought Harry, as he noticed something kept behind a bowl.
A quarter of a cake was sitting on a plate, apparently waiting for him to devour it.
At that moment, an owl soared into the room and landed with a plop beside him, nearly upsetting the pudding.
"EYOL!" he warbled, halfway between eating his part of the cake. "Definitely Ron", saying so he caught the bird, untied the parchment on its leg. Errol took off immediately.
He stuffed the letter into his pocket, ran at breakneck speed to the sink and washed his hand. Tearing into his room, he opened the letter. One hand held the letter, the other hand was rubbing his slightly aching chest. After the pain subsided, he started reading the letter.
Hi Mate,
His eyes lit up, all thoughts forgotten.
--------------
Guess what? I am a prefect, again. Of course, Hermione is the other. Fred and George are at their wits end.
Hermione is in high spirits, as she has started on another book titled, 'Ancient Runes and Their Secrets'.
"A History of Magic, has me bored", she says so.
She surely must have got a crateful of OWLs. Ginny is the fifth year prefect. You should really see Fred and George now. Their faces are a real treat to see. Two prefects in the family, eh?
Dad's now running for the Minister of Magic posting, to be held soon. Details in the Daily Prophet. Hermione says that it will keep you occupied till we pick you up.
See you soon.
Ron
---------------
Harry went on reading, now smiling.
---------------
Hi,
I'm a prefect now, my dull brother may have told you. It seems payback time for Fred and George. Hope you are doing fine? Is your chest still troubling you? Mum keeps worrying. The troublesome two, have some sort of surprise for you and are keeping shut.
See you soon.
Ginny
---------------
He could not help not being surprised. Ron had told him that Ginny had a crush on him in his third year but she had done away with it. What was this then?
"She is just genuinely concerned about you. Besides there doesn't seem to be anything out of the way in the letter". Harry felt stupid. Just because she had written a letter for the first time, he was thinking too much. Smirking at himself, he read on.
----------------
Its us.
We have decided that you need not go to King's Cross tomorrow alone.
Instead, we will pick you up today evening. Tomorrow, your group will get a move on.
Harry was nearly dancing with delight.
Lots of love.
Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, George, T- and Harry's eyes widened further, as the senders' list never seemed to end.
------------------
He simply lay down on the bed, feeling much better, letter in hand.
Privet Drive dissolved in his thoughts, to make room for all his friends, Hermione reading a book, Ron zooming on a broomstick waving at him … then hooded faces.
"I see that all my faithful Death Eaters have come back to serve me", came a voice, which Harry felt was coming from his mouth, his hands were playing with a wand. Some of the cloaked persons were shivering slightly.
"Lucius, I see that you are doing quite well and are a person to reckon with in society. Being in the running for the Minister of Magic, what do you intend to do?" spoke Harry again in the same deep voice. He had now understood that this was another vision of his, not at all dissimilar than those which had come in the last year.
"Master, in any case I, according to your excellent plan, will fr-".
"That will do", he interrupted and the Death Eater bowed.
"Cunning, powerful and loyal, of course no one can lie to me", a thought floated across his head, while looking at the death eater, who was retreating to his place, bowing low.
"Bella, I see that you could not capture Mungos. My faithful Death Eaters have let me down twice already", drawled the same voice, filled with a desire to punish.
"She deserves to die for that failure but-", Harry reasoned.
Before she could beg for mercy, a jet of violet light, the Cruciatus, had hit her. Bellatrix Lestrange was screaming at the top of her lungs.
Harry woke up with a start, to find two pairs of gleaming eyes. As his eyes adjusted to the light in the room he found Vernon and Petunia Dursley staring at him. A look of shock and fright etched in neat lines all over their face. One of his hands was rubbing his scar, which seemed to have been touched by a red-hot iron rod.
"Wha – What is it boy?" said Uncle Vernon, in a tone barely audible. Harry could sum his condition in exactly two words, pissed out. His aunt was standing stiff, as if made of granite, her eyes fixed onto his own.
"I-I had a dream", said Harry hastily, rubbing his inflamed scar and trying to get up.
Remembering the last time the boy had had a dream, his uncle stepped back, a look of horror on his face. "You are going to a psychiatrist. If not a mental hospital will be perfect". Having said so, his uncle shot out of the room, putting on a spurt of speed, which would put even a speeding bullet to shame.
"Your … uh … friends are waiting for you down", said his aunt, now shaking slightly. Harry surveyed her face for a moment and decided to keep the vision with himself . "Good bye", he muttered taking out his wand. A few moments later, he and his trunk were in the living room, in the ground floor, with Hedwig hooting happily on his shoulder and the thought of Bellatrix and Lucius Malfoy traversing through his mind.
"Hello Potter, readied the trunk?" asked Moody in his rough voice, dressed in typical Muggle attire, with that so familiar bowler hat. The Dursleys were standing at one end of the room, keeping quiet.
"Yes". At that moment, Harry had a doubt. "Why did you come now? It is hardly noon."
"It means that the surprise is perfect", exclaimed a girl's voice behind Moody. The living room door opened. Harry leaned over Mad-Eye's shoulder and found Tonks, Lupin and Kingsley coming over to him.
"All set Harry?" asked Lupin, his eyes shining. On seeing a nod, Moody growled at Lupin, "Ask a Death Eater that and hasten your death".
"Tell us where you were for the last three weeks".
This question surprised Harry. He stood eyeing Moody warily, his grip tightening on his wand. Glimpsing Tonks' impression of 'Mad-Eye' Moody, he understood and grinned.
"Maria Densington was stuck at St Mungos thanks to Dumbledore's dumb charmwork".
Tonks stopped miming abruptly, "Perhaps Moody's magical eye had found an unwary target", Harry smiled inwardly.
Another doubt struck him as he noticed the four, "How come Kingsley and Tonks are with Lupin and Moody, in broad daylight?"
Moody's growl took Harry's attention, "Potter, keep up with the times".
Lupin looked puzzled at that statement.
Seeing, two emerald eyes wandering over their group, he continued in a solemn voice, "The Daily Prophet has never given more sensible news, Harry".
Digging the Daily Prophet, out from his haphazardly packed trunk, Harry looked for any news. It was written as clear as daylight, covering the entire fourth page.
DAILY PROPHET
Minister of Magic decides to resign
Amidst uproars in the wizarding community, Mr. Cornelius Fudge has decided to hand over his resignation to the Ministry. This decision has been deemed, an intel …
…
Meanwhile, it is understood that the incidents occurring at Hogwarts School of Wizardry were the handiwork of You-Know-Who himself. Could the real Moody have really been in trouble? The ministry officials were against a werewolf teaching in Hogwarts, all the students have said that the subject Defense against The Dark Arts had never been more interesting. The ministry had enforced stringent laws on the school only to find You-Know-Who in their backyard. All the while Mr. Albus Dumbledore (now reinstated Chief Wizengamot) and Harry Potter (the boy who vanquished the Dark Lord) have consistently claimed that You-Know-Who is alive and gathering his forces. Whom should we believe? …
Looking up, Harry noticed the foursome grinning at him, even Moody was looking at him less suspiciously.
Two hours later, they were at Grimmaulds.
Harry entered the door and saw Ron walking towards another room.
"Hey Ron", he called out.
Ron stopped dead in his tracks. Seeing Harry his mouth opened in amazement. After a couple of seconds, he strolled towards Harry and whispered, "So they decide to bring you in stealth after all". Meanwhile, Lupin had entered and was grinning at a smiling Ron and he walked off with Tonks, Kingsley and Moody following him.
"Mate, they are having a huge meeting here. Many other guys who we haven't seen before are present too", said Ron, a bit thoughtful.
"HARRY", yelled Hermione, making both him and his friend jump a foot into the air. She hugged Harry carefully, lest the pain shoot up in his chest. Then, she motioned both of them to go into the adjacent room quickly, considering the fact that the two were still standing in the doorway.
All the other Weasleys were in the room, including Charlie and Bill, who was flashing a huge grin at Fred (or George). "Hi Harry", called out Ginny, enthusiastically. Ron let out a small snort. "Hi All of you", replied Harry, while casting an odd look at Ron.
"Er- Hi", Fred and George looked a bit choosy on their words but Harry cut them off, "Forget that and I'm sorry again for that outburst", he was on the impression that they were still angry. "How're your ribs, all patched up?" that was a relieved looking George (or maybe Fred).
"Yeah, nearly". Turning to Ginny he said, "Are Bill and Charlie the surprise you told me about?" Ginny simply motioned at the twins.
"Actually", Hermione broke in sporting a condemning glare, "Mundungus talked them into something besides their Joke shop".
George continued in tone full of reason, "He said that since You-Know-Who had returned we needed a better teacher for DADA.
Ginny continued in a small voice, "Even I had done some proper Dark Arts last year".
Seeing Harry's expression becoming wary, Fred said, "So we got him to sell us a small piece of land -".
"-on which I could teach students for a tiny fee", completed Harry. If he was angry, he was not showing it.
Ron whispered in his ear, "Even Neville had said that you are good, did we ever ask him about the DA? Please, think about it." Seeing his friend's expression changing from a guarded expression to a small smile slowly, he took a deep breath and burst into a flurry of words. "So you are sure it is a great idea. I knew that you wouldn't be angry". The twins had decided to play mute, having remembered the previous misadventure with Maria.
"Mom told me that you were fantastic", said Bill, seeing Harry raise an eyebrow, he added quickly, "at duelling". Charlie nodded his head vehemently.
"So you agree don't you?" asked Fred, throwing a hint. "But I didn't actually mean to fight", argued Harry. Hermione now spoke up, "I don't see anything wrong, besides with Voldemort on the rise, this seems to be a really great idea. However, the DA had better be held in the school". Everybody winced hearing the name.
She continued, "The decision is yours, Harry". The twins gave her two massive grins, followed by vigorous nods.
"Oh-er-um", stuttered Harry lost for a reply. He was happy that Hermione had not winced while saying Voldemort. Fred intervened, "Harry, we would surely have you for practical Defense too, whether you like it or not. DA is solid proof of that".
"No teaching for me now but I am flattered", countered Harry now smiling. The twins sure know how to mint money. Fred looked a bit disappointed but his face suddenly looked squashed.
"You have NEWTS this year so it is OK". "It wouldn't be so bad", piped up Hermione looking at him. "Even horrible would not describe it properly", retorted Fred, as George looked on agreeing with his brother's words. Harry looked inquisitively at Ron, generally NEWTs weren't until 7th year. To his surprise he saw Ron smirking.
"Hello Harry", a voice entered the room. He turned to find Lupin standing by the door.
"Hello Rem-Professor Lupin". For an instant, Harry thought that a streak of joy had just darted across Lupin's face. All the others busy chatting, now turned towards the new visitor.
The ex-professor announced, "Mrs. Weasley has asked me to call you all for breakfast".
"Better not keep her waiting", he added, eyeing the door, with caution. All the persons got up and walked down towards the dinner table. Hermione was discussing NEWTS with Fred and George. Ron was looking ready to pounce on his breakfast. Ginny was looking at him, he promptly returned a smile and looked turned away. Bill and Charlie were discussing dragons and vaults. It was then Lupin met his eyes. The two of them allowed all the others to go and brought up the rear.
Placing one hand on his shoulder, Lupin asked him gently, "Liked the surprise?"
He returned a constrained smile.
"Grimmauld seems to be a very vile place, doesn't it?"
Harry looked up, his astonishment written clearly on his face.
The ex-professor gave him a small smile. Obviously, it was costing him quite an effort. "You are missing Sirius, aren't you?"
Harry dropped his gaze to the floor. He received a reassuring pat on his shoulder.
"You cannot forget him ever. I can understand. It will be difficult to live without him", continued Lupin.
"He never wished that you detest this house just because he died for no fault of yours. I am sure that you never meant it", though very indistinct, Harry could very well make out the sadness in Lupin's voice.
Harry burst in. The heavy pail of guilt within him finally spilt out, in the form of words. "But – But it was me who had the stupidity to enter the Department of Mysteries, just to set him free. I could have had so many other people killed. I had acted so stupid. I lost Sirius too."
A tense silence followed.
"Though, you did make a mistake of going to that place, thankfully nobody else was killed. You never knew that Sirius could never be in that place. You never forced the other students to come with you. They chose to come because they all love you as much as you do. Sirius decided to come only because he desired to, he wouldn't listen. Voldemort is the sole reason that you went there and it is this reason Sirius is no more. I understand that, no one else misses him more than you, Harry, though you will have to learn to cope. You may never be able to forget him but try not to dwell too much on memories. His thoughts can be your source of inspiration but never let your emotions control you."
Giving the boy an affectionate pat on his head he continued, "Every body else here agrees that Voldemort is the one who is responsible for Sirius's death, along with countless others. We must learn from our past mistakes and live a better tomorrow. I'm sure that you will prove yourself."
This statement calmed Harry down, though his heart was a bit fidgety. He knew that he was guilty and he had suffered nevertheless due to his stupidity. Then, something more disturbing dawned on him.
"Lupin must be affected more, having seen my parents die too, though he keeps mum", he was thinking.
He would bear this suffering. He also knew that he would always give a second thought to whatever he did and then act.
They had reached the end of the corridor. All the plates and food were ready on the table. Ron was motioning them to come, with a plate of pudding in one hand and a bowl containing something like soup in the other.
Both looked at each other and made a beeline for the two remaining empty chairs.
"This is not bad Mom", quipped Fred, while finishing his bowl full of porridge, for the third time. Ron was busying himself with his food, at such a speed that it seemed to be disappearing directly into his stomach. Hermione was eating her food while reading a book kept on her lap.
"So how does Gringotts suit you", that was Molly Weasley. "Excellent, all I have to do is sit at the desk and write", replied Bill as George snorted into his porridge. "How about the Eeenglish teaching course?" asked the twins. "Very dull", came the reply.
Charlie was talking with Mr. Weasley about his job with Dragons in Europe, near Karl Marx. Mr. Weasley however seemed to have taken more interest in the Muggle households in the area. Ginny was finishing off her food quickly while petting Crookshanks with her free hand, who had curled up on her lap.
"Are you hungry Harry dear?" asked Mrs. Weasley. "No, I had breakfast at the Dursley's, I'm not hungry", he replied truthfully. However, she did not seem to accept it and it took a few moments to convince her. "Ron, see you upstairs, in the living room", Harry trooped away. Reaching the room, he saw some books scattered on the sofa.
Picking one of them up he noticed Hexes for the Vexed … Crescendo of Curses …The perfect guide to fight the Dark Arts …The Compelling Compendium for Charmwork. "This sounds good", he opened the book, only to gaze at wonder at the illustrations given in the book.
So the shielding charm is an assortment of smaller spells, I never read that. The silencing charm consists of three important ingredients. The target, which has the ability to talk, the source which has the capability of imagining the target to lose the power of speech and the power of the issuer. The Fide…
Harry was so absorbed in reading the book that he had not noticed someone standing beside him and looking at him with great interest.
On sensing some movement, he turned around. "So I see that you are getting serious about your studies", Hermione said looking pleased.
"He was just trying to see how you manage to mug up all those books".
She simply let out a pained sigh. "What's the matter, Ron?" asked Harry, turning around to get a proper look at his friend. He felt Ron was definitely growing at a pace comparable to a bamboo shoot and was two - three inches taller than before.
"My idiot brothers decided to fool with those Doxys, which mistook me for them while I was walking by the curtains, beside Mrs. Black's photo." He winced and continued, "One Doxy clawed my hand and I stunned him. The second one decided to eat my head but I punched it and that thing fell right on a vase breaking it. Mrs. Black decided to sing her lullaby. Guess what, all that happened in front of my mum".
Harry returned a weak smile and asked "Where's Kreacher gone?"
The other two looked at each other and Ron continued in a lower tone, "Gone over to the Malfoy's taking some of the valuables from here, that scum of -".
"HE IS NOT A SCUM", shrieked Hermione, cutting him off. "He is what he has become taking orders from proud wizards where he stays, who treat him like the dust on their shoes". Ron had frozen to his spot, fear etched on his face. Still angry at Ron, she turned towards Harry only to see him looking at her, intense anger encased in his eyes.
"Kreacher is what he has become because of proud wizards hasn't he?" He said slowly, unlike his usual temperament.
"He could have been treated b-better, Harry. I didn't talk abo-", stuttered Hermione, not at all liking the tone.
"So Sirius is at fault always and Kreacher is the good elf."
"I-I did not mean to, I – Not I", she was thoroughly shaken up now.
"She didn't mean Sirius, Harry", interjected Ron, he too was feeling uncomfortable.
"So, I misheard her do you say, of course, I do misunderstand", hissed Harry, his voice cold.
"You asked me whether his approval to start the DA could be trusted", he drawled on. "Don't you think he has become sort of reckless cooped up in Grimmaulds?" his anger was now rising. Hermione was in tears, Ron was looking at him not daring to speak. With that, Harry got up and stalked out of the room, his clenched fists to his side.
"Damned Kreacher", cursed Ron, seeing the receding back of his friend. Turning to her, he continued, "Hold it don't go behind him. You'll only mess it up further".
"I n-never meant it. I was just … I …" She was crying openly.
"Sirius is dead now though", he muttered despairingly, punching the sofa softly.
Harry was in such a rage, he only hated everything, anything that set foot in front of him. They don't understand Sirius, it is always his or my mistake, always.
In his rage, he didn't even notice somebody walking around the end of the corridor. A collision was the result and the next moment he was sprawled on his back, on the carpet.
"I didn't see Harry ..", so saying Tonks helped him to his feet. He simply looked at the floor and hurried ahead, leaving her in a daze. When someone called out his name he yelled back, "WHAT IS IT?"
"Sorry for having called you by your name", Lupin replied simply.
Instantly, a feeling of shame coursed through him. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have vented out my anger at you", he replied not meeting Lupin's eyes.
"Some quarrel you three must have had". Harry looked up perplexed. Lupin was smiling.
"James also had quarrels at times with your mum, after which this would be a familiar expression on their faces", he was now shaking his head. He continued in a lighter tone placing one hand on the boy's shoulder, "Usually, the argument would not be worth it".
Harry shot up, "Hermione said that Kreacher is what he is because of how the Blacks treated him. Sirius never-" but was cut off as Lupin raised his hand.
He was not smiling now, "She wouldn't have meant anything against Sirius or you. Tell me you don't know anything about SPEW and her passion for it. Didn't she come with you on the Sirius Rescue mission even though you told her to stay back?" Harry was trying to speak but his mouth seemed to have sealed itself.
"Give it a thought". The young Potter nodded and stared at the floor, realizing that his temper had gotten the better of him, again.
"Now don't take everything to heart. I miss him as much as you do. That does not give me any reason to vent my frustration on you or anybody else for no mistake of theirs. Also, friends like yours are to be treasured, I wonder if anybody would have even thought of helping a so called mass murderer", finished Lupin.
"I understand Professor".
The professor returned a nod.
"Professor, Did Sirius and mum quarrel too".
A small smile found its way onto Lupin's lips. "Yes, they did, finally your dad would try to play peacemaker, all the three would bicker endlessly".
"So you were the peacemaker, right?"
"Sometimes … At times they would fight a pitched battle of words, go away in anger and the next day all would be forgotten".
Lupin looked around and lowered his voice, "One black day in our seventh year Lucius Malfoy and Professor Snape had laughed at the three quarrelling with each other. The next day the former called your mum a MudBlood, unfortunately for him her friends happened to overhear his comments. Sirius and James flattened him to the ground and pelted him with hexes. From then on, he would always be a bit choosy of what he said, when the two were around. All the three spent a night detention with McGonagall."
"Professor McGonagall?"
"Yes, she is a couple of years older to me, no, probably, twenty, oh-oh nearly twice my age. Just don't tell her that I told you". Harry was now snickering.
"She was much into teaching I say. I was the eldest in the group followed by Sirius and James, your mum did come around sometimes but she wasn't into our league as Padfoot put it". Harry noted the absence of another name and was very glad.
"I never heard anyone talk about mum though everybody talks about dad". Lupin stiffened slightly and kept looking at the boy in front of him for some time.
"Since, you look most like him, he was excel-".
"Quidditch, looks and just eyes of mum, nothing more?"
Harry kept looking at Lupin, he needed answers.
Lupin took in a deep breath and continued, "Your mum was an excellent student, she was though not interested in Quidditch but she was top in most things, including DADA. She was and is never mentioned by most of the people because … she … was of Muggle parentage".
These words hit him like a thunderbolt. "That means even the teac-"
Lupin continued, "Unfortunately, many of them did think so. We were always there for her, well to be truthful she was more attached to Prongs and Padfoot but we saw it to that that didn't affect her in any way. There were three teachers who never distinguished and they are Dumbledore, McGonagall and the then Herbology Professor ... I forgot his name. I and Pet-".
Noticing the troubled look on Lupin's face Harry realized that he wasn't the only one feeling bad. Thanks to the traitor Pettigrew, Lupin had lost his entire ring of friends. Harry didn't want to even think losing either Hermione or Ron.
"Professor", he said softly. Lupin jerked out of his trance and looked at him.
"Can I call you Remus?" A pause and then a quiet nod came as an answer.
Returning a smile, Harry ran off feeling much better. First I get Tonks.
He managed to catch her, while she was trying to mend a broken vase. He apologized profusely and mended the vase in a trice. She accepted his apology then threatened to curse him if he acted silly again.
Hermione was still sitting in the room, leafing through some book. Ron was sitting beside her cursing his friend. She never wanted another face off between the two again. In the fourth year, the fight had caused trouble to both of them, they had reconciled only after the first task, in the TriWizard Tournament. At that precise moment Harry burst into the room. One look at him and Ron had arisen from his sofa, eyes flaming.
"She was telling me something, you had nothing to do with it". Harry felt another impulse of anger but he managed to contain it and was near Hermione immediately.
"Sorry Hermione. I just got mad at you for no reason. I am really very sorry for bursting out like a-", he was interrupted midway. Hermione had hugged him tightly and was sobbing onto his T-shirt. He just hugged her back and apologized again. After a couple of moments, she pulled back, wiping her eyes with a hanky. Harry felt dirty, he had made her cry for no reason at all.
Ron maintained a straight face, "You gave him a bath". Hermione choked over a smile. After some time they were busy talking over Hogwarts, Quidditch, Voldemort, Books (Ron had winced) all other things forgotten. Harry smiled inwardly as Remus flashed in his mind.
"Apparating and Animagi training", Hermione was in her mood, "Followed by NEWTs. This year is going to be real fun".
"I look forward to Apparating and becoming an Animagus" said Ron importantly and added, "Damn the NEWTs".
Harry nodded. He didn't miss the small smile on Ron but Hermione was lost in her thoughts.
"Hermione, What does your marksheet say?" quipped Ron. Turning to his best friend, he mouthed, fifty owls.
The reply said, "Forty eight". Ron was gaping at her, lost for words.
"Just, twenty two you dolt", Hermione was snickering. Ron had now managed to find his voice, "You are bang on your way to St Mungos, keep it up, we won't stop you, just twenty two".
Turning him a deaf ear, she turned to Harry.
"Ten owls", he replied. "Me too", jumped up Ron. "Hermione, you are worth more than both of us", he remarked. Seeing her putting on an angry face and failing miserably, he added in a lower but clear voice, "only in studies". She simply picked up a book and began to read it.
"Not Ancient Runes and Their Secrets again", said Ron exasperatedly.
"Hi Harry". "Hi Ginny", replied Harry. Ginny flashed a smile and went over to a sofa.
"How did you fare?" cut in Hermione, Harry could see her still thinking deeply.
"Eight owls", replied Ginny, jerking out of her trance. Ron was looking at her oddly.
"Any one knows about the subjects this year?" Harry asked to nobody in particular. Ginny had taken a seat opposite him and was looking at Hermione steadily.
"I have the usual stuff you had the last time and will not be taking Divination and Astronomy. Instead Runes and Arithmancy suits me better", replied Ginny, receiving an appreciative nod from Hermione.
"So what are the subjects you two are taking?" asked Harry, knowing who would be the first to answer.
"DADA, Charms, Runes, Potions, Healing–". "What's that for?" cut in Ron.
Hermione looked irritated, "I choose what I want".
Before Ron could retaliate, Harry cut in, "In case, Madam Pomfrey takes it, let's see". Ron was smirking. She was smiling.
"We'll take it" Ron replied, looking at her with amusement. When she nodded her head dumbly, Ron stated pompously, "Does that stand a chance?"
She replied coolly, "I overheard Dumbledore saying something". Harry heard an angry voice expelling a string of somethings related to cheating, madness and elfs, from someplace near Ron.
"What about you Harry?" That was Ginny. She was sitting on a comfy looking sofa and looking at him inquisitively.
"Same as before leaving out Astronomy, I may substitute Healing for Divination, if it seems to be any better". Ron let out a snort of approval, "I'm with you mate".
"I look forward to the DA", said Ginny showing full enthusiasm.
Harry merely grinned.
"Hi Fred, any news" Ron spoke up looking over the top of his best friend's head.
"The meeting's still going on. I figure it is something big", was the reply.
George who had also entered said, "Twenty people are stuffed together below. Initially, they chatted on some dumb matters related to the You-Know-Who's plans but my mum found us with our Ears". Fred remarked, "Looks like You-Know-Who has a good plan at hand. The Order members are thinking of some means to stop it". The four on the sofa exchanged hungry glances. From the corner of his eye Harry noticed the others exchange significant glances.
"I see that Ron, Hermione and Virginia (Ginny gave him a calculated look) are prefects" Fred sighed and shook his head.
Harry chuckled. "But I am not". "Three prefects – Three pranksters", George eyed the prefects rebelliously.
The three prefects looked skeptical as the three pranksters exchanged grins. "Harry, see us later", quipped George with an air of importance.
Hermione intonated warningly, "Nothing illegal in the house, Mrs. Weasley has been reminding you as always, she won't mind if we aid her".
Ginny spoke up, "I am a prefect too, dearies". Ron preferred keeping mum.
The twins swept from the room, not before coolly displaying two I-dare-you-to looks. Harry stayed behind, his mouth changing into an odd grin.
"Harry, mixing with them will surely get you in trouble with Mrs. Weasley", Hermione told him warningly. Ginny was giving him a shrewd look. Ron was looking at the other two and his best friend, intermittently.
"No I won't", he replied innocently and added dreamily, "Wonder what the Order is doing".
Faking deep thought, Ron murmured, "There are around twenty people, of all sizes and shapes. It could concern us and they won't let us know".
Hermione decided to talk, "They've allowed us once". "No way, my mum's around", sighed Ginny.
Various thoughts crept into their minds. After a while, Harry stood up, "I'm going down" and went for the door.
To his surprise, Mr. Weasley opened it. "Care to join us?"
The four of them nearly pounced on him.
Minutes later they were in the dining room below.
Many of the people were absent, "Must have left, the main meeting's over", thought Harry.
"So all the kids have come, I see".
"Hello, Mrs. Jones". Hestia Jones looked surprised for an instant but she smiled in acknowledgement.
Looking around Harry found many people including the usual alongwith others who had picked him up at the Dursleys the previous year. "Hello Mr. Diggle (his top hat had fallen again, he seemed to be prone to that), What's this? Oh its Dung, Ms. Vance …" he gave a smile which she returned. "… our usual crowd. Of course Mr. Podmore is no more."
Ron was way ahead of him and was walking right into the crowd greeting every one. His eyes nearly popped out of his head as he noticed a lady. Harry could just make out the tight bun the lady's hair was bound into.
"Careful Mr. Weasley", said a stern voice.
Ron hadn't seen the tiny stool right in front. The next moment as his legs collided with it, he did a kind of balancing act but thankfully, did not fall. Not daring to look up he muttered, "Hello Professor McGonagall and thank you". Looking up, Ron saw Snape whose mouth twitched and Snape's head turned away.
Harry greeted McGonagall and edged away. He marvelled at how Hermione could talk to the Deputy Headmistress easily. Ginny and the twins gave her an impish smile, which gradually receded away as their sights rested on a certain greasy headed teacher.
After a while, all the other people began to leave. In the end, it was the usual crowd but alongwith Dumbledore.
Harry noticed all them looking at him, so he strolled towards an empty chair and sat on it, looking at the ground intently. He could clearly see someone missing, someone he liked very much, a person who truly liked him. All the others took their seats. His two best friends moved their chairs beside him. The twins were talking excitedly.
A complete silence settled in the room.
"What do you want to know?" asked Dumbledore calmly. "I will answer your questions to the best of my knowledge".
Before Harry could answer, he remembered his godfather telling him something similar. He said quietly, "Learn from the past and make a better future".
"What's the matter Harry dear?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
He shook his head and said, "I had a vision". All the heads in the hall turned to him.
He recounted the short vision that he had observed at Privet Drive. Snape looked almost asleep. Harry had a sudden desire to shove ten bottles worth Dreamless sleep Potions, down his throat. Suppressing his irritation with great difficulty, he looked at the table intently, tightening his fists behind his back. He felt Dumbledore's look fixed at him, for a moment.
"Do you have any questions?" the headmaster asked again, in the same voice he kept for all students.
"How come I saw Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix?" asked Harry with a hope that the vision was a dream.
His hope was quashed when Dumbledore replied in a heavy voice, "Bellatrix managed to escape before reaching Azkaban. The latter gave the slip in court".
Harry nodded his head. Only last year Dementors had attacked him at Privet Drive, he was forced to conjure up a Patronus for which he had a trial in court.
Mr. Weasley had accompanied him too and it was here that Mr. Weasley had told him that Lucius Malfoy always used the power of money to get his work, any kind of work done. Coming back to the present he understood with a heavy heart that his vision had been true after all.
He also wanted to know about the whereabouts of Voldemort, about the the Dursleys too. Harry had a sly thought, that told him that the headmaster would read his mind and get any question. The next instant he realized that the headmaster was not looking at him. This idea was useless. He also felt that he wasn't interested in their dull discussions anymore.
"That is all". From the corner of his eye, he noticed Ron and Hermione exchanging a puzzled glance.
With that, Dumbledore got up and swept out of the room and everything was silent. Harry followed suit, before anybody would ask anything.
Minutes later, he was lying down on a bed on the same floor between the kitchen and the dining room, racking his brains.
"Why didn't Voldemort try to kill me at Privet Drive? Why could he not kill Dudley, that piglet was a very easy target. Hopefully, the curse would burn some of the fat in him. Two Killing curses would have sufficed". "He didn't even try the Avada Kedavra, on me. Does he think I will join him? Wonder what he is playing at."
However, he could not answer it, "Another question unanswered". Sighing, he picked up a small ashtray and made it twirl in the air, as if it would reply to all his questions. Minutes later, Ron came in.
Having watched the ashtray which was now bobbing up and down, Ron began, "Try setting it -".
WHOOOSH.
He rubbed his scar forcefully, setting his wand down. The ashtray stopped twirling midair and fell with a clatter onto the table.
All the while peering at Harry's scar, Ron asked him "You-Know-Who's doing some nonsense?" knowing very well what it could mean.
"Didn't you hear that sound?" Harry countered his best friend with a question.
His best friend was now confused.
"Did you?" urged Harry.
"What kind of sound? Did somebody fa-"
"I heard a whooshing", Harry explained. The itching in his scar had subsided for the time being. "Didn't you see anything?" muttered Ron.
Catching the doubtfulness in the muttering, Harry hastened to add, "Even my scar was paining". Having said so he closed his eyes and relaxed.
A minute later, the table near which Harry toppled over as his fist came in contact with it. Ron's eyes followed the ashtray which went sailing out of the room with the sheer force of the blow.
Harry could feel his scar aflame and tried to put it out by rubbing it viciously. Trying to get rid of the vision, he was trying to grasp something or the other when he felt a sharp blow, heard a crash and a sharp pain in his hand.
"Harry. HARRY. MATE WHAT HAPPENED?", Harry could hear someone shouting far in the distance. Next, he heard footsteps and he was drenched in cold water. Shaking badly he sat bolt upright, his head spinning slightly. A redhead's face swam into view against a backdrop of a portrait of a snake. He then realized that the cold water was his perspiration.
"Get the kid", he yelled fearfully, sitting up bolt upright.
"Which kid Harry?" Lupin was looking at him worriedly.
"GET IT NOW", he yelled again, jumping to his feet but his quaking legs gave way and he fell back onto the ground. "Calm down Harry dear", Mrs. Weasley was quite shaken but she was keeping calm, obviously with a great deal of effort. "PLEASE GET BOTH OF THEM OUT OF THERE NOW", he was desperate, wanting someone to go there "Why don't they understand?"
"Fred and George are in the kitchen. Hermione and Ron are here. Even Ginny is here. There is no other kid Harry dear", Mrs. Weasley told him affectionately, while rubbing his back. It was then that he understood that he was in Grimmauld Place. He sat stricken and didn't even attempt to move as she set him against the fallen table. The pain in his chest had now begun to resurface thanks to the enormous effort Harry had put in his shout. He began to massage his chest vigorously with his left hand.
Seeing Mrs. Weasley's, concerned but blank expression, he had understood that he had just experienced a live telecast of Muggle torture, from the eyes of the very person who had initiated it. Turning around Remus's eyes met his.
Having realized what Harry could have seen, Lupin immediately led the horror-stricken children out of the room. He gave one look at Ron, who nodded and followed suit, a terrified Hermione in tow. The ex-professor returned after some seconds.
"Harry dear, are you fine?" Molly Weasley was now beset with fear. He had not even talked and the look on his face... Shaking off her thoughts she took his hand.
It shook lifelessly. Harry did not even acknowledge it.
As she and Remus Lupin walked out of the room towing a silent and motionless Harry onto a bed, one question occupied her head, leaving no room for any other thoughts. What had he seen this time? Some one killed perhaps.
In another room all the children were in deep discussion.
"What happened to him?" asked Ginny, pale as a ghost.
"He had another vision", said Ron in a tense voice. The twins looked at him blankly. Fred said slowly as something dawned upon him, "So this is how he knew that Dad was –".
"Yes", interjected Ron.
"He will be alright, won't he Ron?" said Ginny in a quaking voice.
Ron replied unsurely, "He will be fine". One look at Hermione and he understood that her head was now working overtime.
It was confirmed when she said in a shaky voice, "If Dumbledore was the only one who matched Voldemort in strength and power, why had he left Harry alone in that house even when Voldemort was able to attack Harry there."
"He may have not known that Voldemort could attack Harry there, Hermione", interjected Ginny unsurely.
"But Harry always has to go to that awful place every year end", cut in Ron now angry.
"Maybe, he needn't anymore", added Hermione, now a spasm of fear evident in her voice.
"Well, we'll be going now to see Harry", announced the twins deep in thought and made off. "Wait I'll come too", so saying Ginny took after them.
Ron made to get up, when Hermione whispered "Sorcerer's stone, Basilisk, a fake Moody and then comes a prophecy. What do you make of it?"
Ron simply blinked at her.
Note:
So interesting that you wanted to shut down the computer??
^@$% Snape, unfortunately I do like his character too.
I needed to set the stage for the future. Besides, this point onwards Harry's behaviour will change slowly. The friendship between the trio will grow more strong.
It looks as if Virgin- * ouch * Ginny is probably in you-know-what with you-know-who. This fluff stuff gets on my nerves.
Care to give me creative ideas outta yur smart head?
If you could give me tips about the characters too, I wouldn't mind AT ALL.
See you at Diagon Alley next. I have a feeling that this year isn't going to be like before, whaddaya say? ;-)
On updating the story I agree that there may have been mistakes and a certain David305 has pointed them too. Please do read my story and kindly do not hesitate to point out any mistakes (and whatever you liked about my story too). Well, thanks to the person above I have re-edited the story again and here you are.
Gah! It was cunfusin' with the 'he' and the 'she' alongwith 'the others with the others'. I did bungle up badly did I?.
However since you reviewers do think this story is good, I modified it. I may skip mistakes unknowingly, Too much work in too less time.
GINNY GETTING OWLS IS NOT WRONG SHE IS JUST KIDDING WITH HERMIONE, the Weasleys were being prankish on her, why? You'll know later.
Wanye: A titanic review but I understand (I'll sort out chap 5) and will surely work on those characters. Lily wasn't in the group but I guess I had put it wrongly, its now updated. Many guys told me that 4th year didn't have OWLs I know.
About the OWLs, I suggest you read the story further, how Hermione got 22 OWLs you'll know later. Hey! I'm not telling in which chapter You read on ;-)
PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZ REVIU and tell OTHERS TOOOOOO