CHAPTER 5
FAVOUR
In the next week, Ginny received the results of her OWL's that she had sat during her fifth year at Hogwarts. She grabbed at her letter and threw the her booklist onto the table, and ripped open her results, she stared down at the sheet of parchment that held the results of all her hard work and last minute revision. After a minute of silence, Harry could stand the silence no longer.
''Well, what did you get?'' he asked impatiently, and also excitedly.
''I......I got Outsatnding's in everything apart from Transfiguration,Care of Magical Creatures and Astronomy.'' Ginny said happily, as she re-read the parchment again just to check that she had read it correctly. Harry's own Hogwarts letter lay abandoned on the table as he rushed forward and hugged Ginny, before moving out of the way so that Mrs Weasley could rush forward and hug her daughter so tightly that Ginny actually started to turn purple. The next five minutes were spent congratulating her, there was almost a queue to hug her and pat her on the back, the Weasley's and Hermione first, then Lupin, then Sirius and then Destiny. The congratulating of Ginny was interrupted five minutes later by a loud shriek.
''I got Headgirl.'' Hermione shouted happily. She had opened her letter while Destiny was hugging Ginny. She held out her hand to reveal a small red bage with Head Girl written on it in gold. ''Oh, I wonder who Head Boy is?'' Hermione said as Ron threw his arms around her, and hugged her tightly, kissing her lightly on the cheek.
''Well it certainly isn't me.''' he replied, looking pleased with himself, as though he had been dreading finding the small red badge in his envelope.
''I hope it isn't Malfoy.'' Hermione stated with a disgusted look on her face as she too was congratulated by every member of the Weasley's and everyone else besides.
There was another small party that night to celebrate Ginny's excellent results and Hermione being made Head Girl. There weren't as many people there this time but it was fun all the same. Towards the end of the party Harry pulled Ginny away from the party and walked with her hand in hand up to his bedroom, where he shut the door tightly behind him, before turning to Ginny. The candles that were illuminating the usual dark room, gave off a golden glow, that made Ginny's hair shine and sparkle as she moved, and her eyes to glint happily.
''Well done angel, I'm so proud of you.'' Harry said softly as he moved closer to Ginny and kissed her softly on the lips. ''I wanted you to have something.''
''What?'' Ginny asked quietly and curiously, smiling from Harry's kiss.
''This.'' Harry said softly, as he pulled a small velvet box out of the pocket of his baggy jeans. He watched as Ginny opened it and her eyes lit up in amazement, it was a golden locket, engraved with a picure of an angel, on a delicate gold chain. She looked up at Harry, her eyes shining with tears.
''It's beautiful.'' she breathed, as Harry put it around her neck, and clasped it tightly. ''You shouldn't have.''
''I wanted to.'' he said as he kissed her lightly again. ''Open it.'' he whispered into her ear as he showered kisses on her jawline, his hands travelling slowly down her back, giving her shivers of excitement, she opened it slowly and beautiful music filled the air around her, it was a song, a song that was very familiar to her, it was hers and Harrys song that they danced together to in the Masquerade last year. Ginny listened as the beautiful music resounded throughout the bedroom, flooding her with memories from the dance, when she felt so close to Harry, she felt as though their souls had actually entwined and become one. ''Do you like it?'' Harry asked nervously, looking into her emerald eyes and seeing them fill up with silent tears.
''I love it, It's perfect Harry.'' Ginny said as the tears started streaming down her face, she brushed them away roughly and smiled up at Harry. ''I love you, you're the best thing that has ever happened to me. I don't deserve you.'' she said, as fresh tears replaced the ones that had already fallen.
''No you don't deserve me. You deserve someone a hundred times better, but I'm never going to let you go angel. You're my world, my everything.'' Harry answered, feeling a lump in his throat that was making it hard for him to talk. He needed Ginny to know how deeply and truly he cared for her, what with the attacks and the increasing danger the wizarding world was in, he couldn't bear it if something happened to him and she never knew how he felt about her.
''I never want to go.'' Ginny replied, as she fell into his arms, and lifted her hands up to stroke the hair at the nape of his neck, as they slowly, intimately kissed.
******************************************************************
On a sunny afternoon in the summer holidays, when most everybody was out enjoying the sunshine, and relaxing, Destiny Golding, Remus Lupin and Sirius Black could be found in a circular office, behind a large oak door. Albus Dumbledore the Headmaster of Hogwarts school had called them all there under urgent business. The school was under a threat, that fact had been confirmed, but Albus Dumbledore wasn't about to sit back and let his school fall to Lord Voldemort, he was taking action, making a stand, proving to the world that you shouldn't just lie down and take whats coming, you have to fight, fight for what you believe in, never take no for an answer and never give up.
In Voldemorts first reign of terror, he had attempted to take over Hogwarts, and had failed, but this time he was more powerful, more deadly and had a larger group of followers, but these facts did nothing to discourage the members of the order and any other person willing to take a stand against Voldemort, since the day that the plan of the attack on Hogwarts had been confirmed, Albus Dumbledore and several members of the order had set to work on thinking up any possible ways of protecting and guarding the school from the most evil wizard to have ever lived.
''So Destiny, are you planning on returning to your post as a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?'' Dumbledore asked as he addressed the woman with long, dark hair that was sitting in a chair in front of his desk.
''Of course I am, I have to prove that the job isn't cursed.'' she answered good-naturedly, smiling revealing a row of perfect, white teeth.
''Good, I want as many members of the order as I can, to be present at Hogwarts this year.'' Dumbledore said gravely, as he peered over the top of his half moon spectacles at the three people sitting before him, he smiled as he recalled them all sitting in the same positions years ago, only then they had been joined by a red head, a boy with black scruffy hair, and a girl with sparkling blue eyes and blonde hair. The only difference was that then, they had all only been sixteen, and were here, not to discuss methods of protecting Hogwarts from an imminent attack, but to discuss why it is wrong to have a prank war, in the middle of exam time, in the middle of a crowded common room, full of people who are trying to study. Dumbledore broke out of his memories and looked up once agin at the three people sitting before him. ''Which brings me to my next point, Remus I would like it if you too would return this year.''
''What, I can't the parents......they won't like it.'' Remus stuttered as he looked down at the floor, he would love to return to Hogwarts, but not if it meant being bombarded with howlers everyday telling him he shouldn't be allowed to live in a civillised community, let alone teach at a school, full of young, vulnerable witches and wizards.
''Remus I think, given the circumstances that parents would rather their students be taught by a werewolf, who is no more of a danger to anyone than I am, than lose the protection of a highly skilled man, leaving their children open to attacks.'' Dumbledore said reasonably.
''But, what would I do?'' Lupin asked resignedly, there was no way he'd ever win an argumnet with Dumbledore when he had really set his mind on something, plus it made sense for him to be around to help guard Hogwarts, the more people the better.
''As a second Defence Against the Dark Arts, you will go over the basics, with those students who did not continue with Defence Against the Dark Arts. While Destiny will continue teaching the more advanced spells to those students who took Defence Against the Dark Arts for NEWT level.. And anyone else who wishes to go over anything they may have had trouble with. It would do well for all students to have a basic defensive knowledge, in case the defences don't hold.'' Dumbledore explained rationally.
''I'll do it.'' Lupin stated firmly, he thought that it was an excellent idea.
''As for you Sirius, I have an exeptionally large favour to ask of you.'' Dumbledore said surveying Sirius's, handsome face regardingly.
''I know, stay at home and don't do anything rash. Got it.'' Sirius said sulkily, he wanted more than anything to be at Hogwarts with his friends, with Harry, with Destiny, but he knew that he was still a wanted man and couldn't risk Fudge ressuming the hunt for him once again. Dumbledore looked at Sirius, and saw the fire that had been burning in his eyes throughout his time at Hogwarts, start to fade at the thought of staying home alone for another whole year, having to hear all of the events second hand. The fire that was his passion, his lust for life, Dumbledore couldn't bring himself to extinguish it, he couldn't bring himself to be the one to suck the passion and fire from Sirius's soul. He was a wild spirit who wouldn't be content to stay away from the action, not when his friends, family and loved ones were in danger.
''Actually, there is another vacant teaching post here at Hogwarts.'' Dumbledore said, watching Sirius's face light up, only to darken once again after a moment of realization hit him.
''I can't take it.'' he answered sadly. ''I'm a wanted man.''
''That is where the very large favour comes in.'' Dumbledore said hopefully. ''I know you are a man of honour and truth Sirius, and that you have spent the last fourteen or fifteen years of your life living a lie, and have hated every second of it, being wrongfully accused for murders you didn't commit. But I am about to ask you to start living another lie.''
''I don't understand.'' Sirius said genuinely confused. ''I need a new Magical Maintenence teacher, here at Hogwarts, and as I said earlier I would like as many order members as possible to be here this year, which is why I'm offering the job to you.'' Dumbledore explained graciously.
''But how, how can I teach when there is a ten thousand galleon price on my head?'' Sirius asked hopelessly. ''I can't risk getting caught, not now when I have Destiny back, and Harry has gotten used to me being around.
''Polyjuice potion.'' Dumbledore stated simply, then noticing the confused looks on the three of his old students faces he explained. ''You will take the polyjuice potion and take on the appearance of someone else, you'll still have your own thoughts and feelings but someone elses body.''
''And whose body willl that be?'' Destiny asked, the idea of Sirius taking on a totally new appearence creeped her out, she'd miss his crooked smile and his long dark hair.
''Well Mundiungus Fletcher.....''
No way.'' Sirius interrupted instantly. ''No way on earth am I turning into Mundungus Fletcher for a year.'' Sirius shouted, totally against the idea of trading his athletic body for Mundungus's less than perfect figure, trading his long dark hair for Mundungus's balding ginger hair.
''If you let me finish, I was about to say that Mundungus has managed to obtain a lot of hair from a man in Australia, it turns out that Mundungus, snuck into a muggle hairdresser's and stole all the hair that fell from the mans head. And because he's from Australia there is no chance of both of you being in the same place at the same time.'' Dumbledore explained as Sirius looked sheepishly down to the floor.
''Count me in.'' he said happily as he looked up from the floor and met Dumbledore's smiling eyes. His trade mark grin, firmly back in place.
''I have already started brewing the polyjuice potion so it'll be ready by the first day of term. Everyone in the order knows that you have all been asked to teach at Hogwarts so it is safe to tell Harry and the others, but keep it quiet.'' Dumbledore said as he got up out of his large oak chair, signalling that the meeting was over.
*******************************************************************
That night in Hermione and Ginny's room, the two girls sat around talking and reading, while Harry and Ron were in their own room, discussing new Quidditch tactics for the upcoming season.
Since being back at Grimmauld Place, neither Ginny nor Hermione had been allowed to sleep in with their boyfriends and for them it was a blessing in disguise, because even though they missed Harry and Ron and wanted nothing more than to be able to be held in their arms every night, it gave them a chance to become closer again, as they had drifted apart since they had started seeing their boyfriends, and allowed them to have lots of girly chats that they missed out on when they were with Harry or Ron, although Hermione swore that Ron was actually a worse gossip than Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil.
''It was really sweet of Harry to buy you that locket.'' Hermione said as she lay on her single bed that was covered in thin sheets. ''You know you've brought out a side to him that I've never seen before, he must really love you.''
''Yeah, he does.'' Ginny said as she held the locket tightly in her hand, feeling a warm feeling as she thought about Harry. ''But the lockets just the half of it, look what it does.'' Ginny said as she opened the locket and the beautiful music started playing, stirring emotions inside Ginnys heart, and making her think of Harry.
''Wow that's amazing.'' Hermione gushed. ''That's a lovely song.''
''Yeah, it's our song, the one we danced to at the Masquerade.'' Ginny explained happily, as she grudgingly closed the locket, ending the music, as though she was afraid it would fade away to nothing if she carried on listening to it, even though Harry assured her it would never fade, just like his love for her.
''That is so sweet.'' Hermione replied, and the room was in silence for a few minutes as each girl lay on their beds staring up at the ceiling. ''It's weird how things work out isn't it?'' Hermione mused, breaking the comfortable silence that had enveloped the bedroom..
''What do you mean?'' Ginny asked curiously.
''Well I'd never have thought six years ago, that I'd end up with the annoying but adorable boy with dirt on his nose.'' Hermione said smiling fondly at the memory. ''Or that I'd be prepared to spend the rest of my life with him.''
''I know, I'd never have guessed that I would be the girlfriend of the boy who lived.'' Ginny said enthusiastically. ''I mean that's not why I love him, becasue he's famous and stuff. I love him becasue he is the just perfect.'' Ginny said, trying but failing to explain everything that made Harry so special to her. ''And who'd have thought that Sirius would come back, and actually be the long lost love of our Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.'' Ginny said as she laughed.
''Yeah, but speaking about love I've been meaning to ask you, have you noticed anything about Lupin?'' Hermione asked mischeivously.
''You mean the way he looks at Tonks. I know it's so obvious that he likes her, the way he stares at her when she's not looking, and then when she does look he turns away and looks down at his hands, obvious signs that a boy likes you.'' Ginny said knowledgably.
''Pity we didn't notice those signs in Ron and Harry.'' Hermione said heavily.
''I know it'd have saved us a whole lot of time and worry.''
****************************************************************
An old abandoned house, stood alone, unkempt and overgrown with weeds, outside of a small little town. The house was rumoured to be haunted, ever since the days when a family had been mysteriously murdered there. There had been no marks on the bodies, no traces of poison in their blood, no evidence that the bodies had been harmed in anyway, other than the fact that they were all stone cold and breathless laying on the floor of the dining room in the large house, which had been, back in it's day, one of the finest houses in and around Little Hangleton.
The same house, only three years previous to this day had been the place of a murder, a murder that was excatly the same as the murders that had happened many years before, no signs of a struggle, no fingerprints on the body, just the same terrified expression that the Riddle family had on their faces when they had been brutally murdered by Lord Voldemort. That was the good thing about magic, it left no sign of foul play, no evidence to tie the murderer to the crime and no evidence to suggest that there had been a murder at all apart from the dead body.
The villagers of Little Hangleton, were old fashioned people, they believed the many rumours surrounding the haunted house on the hill, they believed that the Riddle family had been killed by the murderous ghouls that inhabited the house, never would they have guessed that the agonising, ear splitting screams that echoed around the village almost every night were made by real, alive people, and not by the ghosts that allegedly haunted the old Riddle house.
The screams that could be heard throughout the village, chilled the villagers to the bone and made their blood run cold, and once the screaming had subsided, a cold high pitched laugh would take its place, a laugh that was worse than the, sometimes hours of screaming the villagers had to listen to, a laugh that made the birds stop singing, the warm breeze blow icy cold and the gentle trickle of the stream turn into a raging torrent.
But the fact was that the old house on the hill was not haunted, nor was it abandoned, in fact it was now home to the most evil wizard in history, Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. And the mysterious deaths that had been occuring in villages all around the house, were not the work of the ghosts and ghouls, who the villagers thought had grown restless because the house had lain empty for so long, but of a band of sick and evil men and women, who were servants to Lord Voldemort.
That night the screams were as loud as ever and the villagers of Little Hangleton, froze when they heard it. However many times they had heard the screams it never prepared them for the true horror it inspired in them. The screams on this particualr night subsided after a while, to be replaced by a snivelling whimper and small sobs, that were inaudiable in the village below, but were perfectly heard in an empty room in the house, that contained only a black, leather chair, with a very high back, and a fireplace that was burning with deep red flames, casting fickering shadows around the room.
''So you didn't get them.'' Voldemort said in his cold, hard unforgiving voice. ''I give you the simplest of tasks Wormtail.......''
''But master.....I...I couldn't get in.....the security is too high.'' Wormtail stuttered, twitching slightly as the nerve endings in his body cooled down from the intense inferno of pain that they had just been subjected to, his voice was hoarse from screaming.
''But I need to know when they are.......it won't be half as effective if I do it on the wrong day.'' Voldemort snapped, losing his patience very quickly.
''I'm sorry master.....I am so sorry...'' Wormtail said weakly as he crawled forwards to kiss the hem of his masters robes. ''Please forgive me...''
''Lord Voldemort does not forgive....I have been failed too many times.'' Voldemort said as he raised his wand and pointed it at Wormtails chest. ''Crucio.''
***************************************************************
(A.N Thanks to all reviewers, I really appreciate it. I am sorry I am not updating as often but I have just started in year 12 and I am doing 4 A levels. For all you reviewers who have requested more fluff I can assure you that there is some coming up in the next chapter, and to the reviewer who asked about the R rating, it will come into play in the next chapter, but maybe not in the way you think. Please review and let me know what you think. luv ice princess12 x x x x x x )
Re-writing Destiny - leave a review and let me know how your night out went, good luck in college tomorrow. luv ya x x x x x
FAVOUR
In the next week, Ginny received the results of her OWL's that she had sat during her fifth year at Hogwarts. She grabbed at her letter and threw the her booklist onto the table, and ripped open her results, she stared down at the sheet of parchment that held the results of all her hard work and last minute revision. After a minute of silence, Harry could stand the silence no longer.
''Well, what did you get?'' he asked impatiently, and also excitedly.
''I......I got Outsatnding's in everything apart from Transfiguration,Care of Magical Creatures and Astronomy.'' Ginny said happily, as she re-read the parchment again just to check that she had read it correctly. Harry's own Hogwarts letter lay abandoned on the table as he rushed forward and hugged Ginny, before moving out of the way so that Mrs Weasley could rush forward and hug her daughter so tightly that Ginny actually started to turn purple. The next five minutes were spent congratulating her, there was almost a queue to hug her and pat her on the back, the Weasley's and Hermione first, then Lupin, then Sirius and then Destiny. The congratulating of Ginny was interrupted five minutes later by a loud shriek.
''I got Headgirl.'' Hermione shouted happily. She had opened her letter while Destiny was hugging Ginny. She held out her hand to reveal a small red bage with Head Girl written on it in gold. ''Oh, I wonder who Head Boy is?'' Hermione said as Ron threw his arms around her, and hugged her tightly, kissing her lightly on the cheek.
''Well it certainly isn't me.''' he replied, looking pleased with himself, as though he had been dreading finding the small red badge in his envelope.
''I hope it isn't Malfoy.'' Hermione stated with a disgusted look on her face as she too was congratulated by every member of the Weasley's and everyone else besides.
There was another small party that night to celebrate Ginny's excellent results and Hermione being made Head Girl. There weren't as many people there this time but it was fun all the same. Towards the end of the party Harry pulled Ginny away from the party and walked with her hand in hand up to his bedroom, where he shut the door tightly behind him, before turning to Ginny. The candles that were illuminating the usual dark room, gave off a golden glow, that made Ginny's hair shine and sparkle as she moved, and her eyes to glint happily.
''Well done angel, I'm so proud of you.'' Harry said softly as he moved closer to Ginny and kissed her softly on the lips. ''I wanted you to have something.''
''What?'' Ginny asked quietly and curiously, smiling from Harry's kiss.
''This.'' Harry said softly, as he pulled a small velvet box out of the pocket of his baggy jeans. He watched as Ginny opened it and her eyes lit up in amazement, it was a golden locket, engraved with a picure of an angel, on a delicate gold chain. She looked up at Harry, her eyes shining with tears.
''It's beautiful.'' she breathed, as Harry put it around her neck, and clasped it tightly. ''You shouldn't have.''
''I wanted to.'' he said as he kissed her lightly again. ''Open it.'' he whispered into her ear as he showered kisses on her jawline, his hands travelling slowly down her back, giving her shivers of excitement, she opened it slowly and beautiful music filled the air around her, it was a song, a song that was very familiar to her, it was hers and Harrys song that they danced together to in the Masquerade last year. Ginny listened as the beautiful music resounded throughout the bedroom, flooding her with memories from the dance, when she felt so close to Harry, she felt as though their souls had actually entwined and become one. ''Do you like it?'' Harry asked nervously, looking into her emerald eyes and seeing them fill up with silent tears.
''I love it, It's perfect Harry.'' Ginny said as the tears started streaming down her face, she brushed them away roughly and smiled up at Harry. ''I love you, you're the best thing that has ever happened to me. I don't deserve you.'' she said, as fresh tears replaced the ones that had already fallen.
''No you don't deserve me. You deserve someone a hundred times better, but I'm never going to let you go angel. You're my world, my everything.'' Harry answered, feeling a lump in his throat that was making it hard for him to talk. He needed Ginny to know how deeply and truly he cared for her, what with the attacks and the increasing danger the wizarding world was in, he couldn't bear it if something happened to him and she never knew how he felt about her.
''I never want to go.'' Ginny replied, as she fell into his arms, and lifted her hands up to stroke the hair at the nape of his neck, as they slowly, intimately kissed.
******************************************************************
On a sunny afternoon in the summer holidays, when most everybody was out enjoying the sunshine, and relaxing, Destiny Golding, Remus Lupin and Sirius Black could be found in a circular office, behind a large oak door. Albus Dumbledore the Headmaster of Hogwarts school had called them all there under urgent business. The school was under a threat, that fact had been confirmed, but Albus Dumbledore wasn't about to sit back and let his school fall to Lord Voldemort, he was taking action, making a stand, proving to the world that you shouldn't just lie down and take whats coming, you have to fight, fight for what you believe in, never take no for an answer and never give up.
In Voldemorts first reign of terror, he had attempted to take over Hogwarts, and had failed, but this time he was more powerful, more deadly and had a larger group of followers, but these facts did nothing to discourage the members of the order and any other person willing to take a stand against Voldemort, since the day that the plan of the attack on Hogwarts had been confirmed, Albus Dumbledore and several members of the order had set to work on thinking up any possible ways of protecting and guarding the school from the most evil wizard to have ever lived.
''So Destiny, are you planning on returning to your post as a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?'' Dumbledore asked as he addressed the woman with long, dark hair that was sitting in a chair in front of his desk.
''Of course I am, I have to prove that the job isn't cursed.'' she answered good-naturedly, smiling revealing a row of perfect, white teeth.
''Good, I want as many members of the order as I can, to be present at Hogwarts this year.'' Dumbledore said gravely, as he peered over the top of his half moon spectacles at the three people sitting before him, he smiled as he recalled them all sitting in the same positions years ago, only then they had been joined by a red head, a boy with black scruffy hair, and a girl with sparkling blue eyes and blonde hair. The only difference was that then, they had all only been sixteen, and were here, not to discuss methods of protecting Hogwarts from an imminent attack, but to discuss why it is wrong to have a prank war, in the middle of exam time, in the middle of a crowded common room, full of people who are trying to study. Dumbledore broke out of his memories and looked up once agin at the three people sitting before him. ''Which brings me to my next point, Remus I would like it if you too would return this year.''
''What, I can't the parents......they won't like it.'' Remus stuttered as he looked down at the floor, he would love to return to Hogwarts, but not if it meant being bombarded with howlers everyday telling him he shouldn't be allowed to live in a civillised community, let alone teach at a school, full of young, vulnerable witches and wizards.
''Remus I think, given the circumstances that parents would rather their students be taught by a werewolf, who is no more of a danger to anyone than I am, than lose the protection of a highly skilled man, leaving their children open to attacks.'' Dumbledore said reasonably.
''But, what would I do?'' Lupin asked resignedly, there was no way he'd ever win an argumnet with Dumbledore when he had really set his mind on something, plus it made sense for him to be around to help guard Hogwarts, the more people the better.
''As a second Defence Against the Dark Arts, you will go over the basics, with those students who did not continue with Defence Against the Dark Arts. While Destiny will continue teaching the more advanced spells to those students who took Defence Against the Dark Arts for NEWT level.. And anyone else who wishes to go over anything they may have had trouble with. It would do well for all students to have a basic defensive knowledge, in case the defences don't hold.'' Dumbledore explained rationally.
''I'll do it.'' Lupin stated firmly, he thought that it was an excellent idea.
''As for you Sirius, I have an exeptionally large favour to ask of you.'' Dumbledore said surveying Sirius's, handsome face regardingly.
''I know, stay at home and don't do anything rash. Got it.'' Sirius said sulkily, he wanted more than anything to be at Hogwarts with his friends, with Harry, with Destiny, but he knew that he was still a wanted man and couldn't risk Fudge ressuming the hunt for him once again. Dumbledore looked at Sirius, and saw the fire that had been burning in his eyes throughout his time at Hogwarts, start to fade at the thought of staying home alone for another whole year, having to hear all of the events second hand. The fire that was his passion, his lust for life, Dumbledore couldn't bring himself to extinguish it, he couldn't bring himself to be the one to suck the passion and fire from Sirius's soul. He was a wild spirit who wouldn't be content to stay away from the action, not when his friends, family and loved ones were in danger.
''Actually, there is another vacant teaching post here at Hogwarts.'' Dumbledore said, watching Sirius's face light up, only to darken once again after a moment of realization hit him.
''I can't take it.'' he answered sadly. ''I'm a wanted man.''
''That is where the very large favour comes in.'' Dumbledore said hopefully. ''I know you are a man of honour and truth Sirius, and that you have spent the last fourteen or fifteen years of your life living a lie, and have hated every second of it, being wrongfully accused for murders you didn't commit. But I am about to ask you to start living another lie.''
''I don't understand.'' Sirius said genuinely confused. ''I need a new Magical Maintenence teacher, here at Hogwarts, and as I said earlier I would like as many order members as possible to be here this year, which is why I'm offering the job to you.'' Dumbledore explained graciously.
''But how, how can I teach when there is a ten thousand galleon price on my head?'' Sirius asked hopelessly. ''I can't risk getting caught, not now when I have Destiny back, and Harry has gotten used to me being around.
''Polyjuice potion.'' Dumbledore stated simply, then noticing the confused looks on the three of his old students faces he explained. ''You will take the polyjuice potion and take on the appearance of someone else, you'll still have your own thoughts and feelings but someone elses body.''
''And whose body willl that be?'' Destiny asked, the idea of Sirius taking on a totally new appearence creeped her out, she'd miss his crooked smile and his long dark hair.
''Well Mundiungus Fletcher.....''
No way.'' Sirius interrupted instantly. ''No way on earth am I turning into Mundungus Fletcher for a year.'' Sirius shouted, totally against the idea of trading his athletic body for Mundungus's less than perfect figure, trading his long dark hair for Mundungus's balding ginger hair.
''If you let me finish, I was about to say that Mundungus has managed to obtain a lot of hair from a man in Australia, it turns out that Mundungus, snuck into a muggle hairdresser's and stole all the hair that fell from the mans head. And because he's from Australia there is no chance of both of you being in the same place at the same time.'' Dumbledore explained as Sirius looked sheepishly down to the floor.
''Count me in.'' he said happily as he looked up from the floor and met Dumbledore's smiling eyes. His trade mark grin, firmly back in place.
''I have already started brewing the polyjuice potion so it'll be ready by the first day of term. Everyone in the order knows that you have all been asked to teach at Hogwarts so it is safe to tell Harry and the others, but keep it quiet.'' Dumbledore said as he got up out of his large oak chair, signalling that the meeting was over.
*******************************************************************
That night in Hermione and Ginny's room, the two girls sat around talking and reading, while Harry and Ron were in their own room, discussing new Quidditch tactics for the upcoming season.
Since being back at Grimmauld Place, neither Ginny nor Hermione had been allowed to sleep in with their boyfriends and for them it was a blessing in disguise, because even though they missed Harry and Ron and wanted nothing more than to be able to be held in their arms every night, it gave them a chance to become closer again, as they had drifted apart since they had started seeing their boyfriends, and allowed them to have lots of girly chats that they missed out on when they were with Harry or Ron, although Hermione swore that Ron was actually a worse gossip than Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil.
''It was really sweet of Harry to buy you that locket.'' Hermione said as she lay on her single bed that was covered in thin sheets. ''You know you've brought out a side to him that I've never seen before, he must really love you.''
''Yeah, he does.'' Ginny said as she held the locket tightly in her hand, feeling a warm feeling as she thought about Harry. ''But the lockets just the half of it, look what it does.'' Ginny said as she opened the locket and the beautiful music started playing, stirring emotions inside Ginnys heart, and making her think of Harry.
''Wow that's amazing.'' Hermione gushed. ''That's a lovely song.''
''Yeah, it's our song, the one we danced to at the Masquerade.'' Ginny explained happily, as she grudgingly closed the locket, ending the music, as though she was afraid it would fade away to nothing if she carried on listening to it, even though Harry assured her it would never fade, just like his love for her.
''That is so sweet.'' Hermione replied, and the room was in silence for a few minutes as each girl lay on their beds staring up at the ceiling. ''It's weird how things work out isn't it?'' Hermione mused, breaking the comfortable silence that had enveloped the bedroom..
''What do you mean?'' Ginny asked curiously.
''Well I'd never have thought six years ago, that I'd end up with the annoying but adorable boy with dirt on his nose.'' Hermione said smiling fondly at the memory. ''Or that I'd be prepared to spend the rest of my life with him.''
''I know, I'd never have guessed that I would be the girlfriend of the boy who lived.'' Ginny said enthusiastically. ''I mean that's not why I love him, becasue he's famous and stuff. I love him becasue he is the just perfect.'' Ginny said, trying but failing to explain everything that made Harry so special to her. ''And who'd have thought that Sirius would come back, and actually be the long lost love of our Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.'' Ginny said as she laughed.
''Yeah, but speaking about love I've been meaning to ask you, have you noticed anything about Lupin?'' Hermione asked mischeivously.
''You mean the way he looks at Tonks. I know it's so obvious that he likes her, the way he stares at her when she's not looking, and then when she does look he turns away and looks down at his hands, obvious signs that a boy likes you.'' Ginny said knowledgably.
''Pity we didn't notice those signs in Ron and Harry.'' Hermione said heavily.
''I know it'd have saved us a whole lot of time and worry.''
****************************************************************
An old abandoned house, stood alone, unkempt and overgrown with weeds, outside of a small little town. The house was rumoured to be haunted, ever since the days when a family had been mysteriously murdered there. There had been no marks on the bodies, no traces of poison in their blood, no evidence that the bodies had been harmed in anyway, other than the fact that they were all stone cold and breathless laying on the floor of the dining room in the large house, which had been, back in it's day, one of the finest houses in and around Little Hangleton.
The same house, only three years previous to this day had been the place of a murder, a murder that was excatly the same as the murders that had happened many years before, no signs of a struggle, no fingerprints on the body, just the same terrified expression that the Riddle family had on their faces when they had been brutally murdered by Lord Voldemort. That was the good thing about magic, it left no sign of foul play, no evidence to tie the murderer to the crime and no evidence to suggest that there had been a murder at all apart from the dead body.
The villagers of Little Hangleton, were old fashioned people, they believed the many rumours surrounding the haunted house on the hill, they believed that the Riddle family had been killed by the murderous ghouls that inhabited the house, never would they have guessed that the agonising, ear splitting screams that echoed around the village almost every night were made by real, alive people, and not by the ghosts that allegedly haunted the old Riddle house.
The screams that could be heard throughout the village, chilled the villagers to the bone and made their blood run cold, and once the screaming had subsided, a cold high pitched laugh would take its place, a laugh that was worse than the, sometimes hours of screaming the villagers had to listen to, a laugh that made the birds stop singing, the warm breeze blow icy cold and the gentle trickle of the stream turn into a raging torrent.
But the fact was that the old house on the hill was not haunted, nor was it abandoned, in fact it was now home to the most evil wizard in history, Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. And the mysterious deaths that had been occuring in villages all around the house, were not the work of the ghosts and ghouls, who the villagers thought had grown restless because the house had lain empty for so long, but of a band of sick and evil men and women, who were servants to Lord Voldemort.
That night the screams were as loud as ever and the villagers of Little Hangleton, froze when they heard it. However many times they had heard the screams it never prepared them for the true horror it inspired in them. The screams on this particualr night subsided after a while, to be replaced by a snivelling whimper and small sobs, that were inaudiable in the village below, but were perfectly heard in an empty room in the house, that contained only a black, leather chair, with a very high back, and a fireplace that was burning with deep red flames, casting fickering shadows around the room.
''So you didn't get them.'' Voldemort said in his cold, hard unforgiving voice. ''I give you the simplest of tasks Wormtail.......''
''But master.....I...I couldn't get in.....the security is too high.'' Wormtail stuttered, twitching slightly as the nerve endings in his body cooled down from the intense inferno of pain that they had just been subjected to, his voice was hoarse from screaming.
''But I need to know when they are.......it won't be half as effective if I do it on the wrong day.'' Voldemort snapped, losing his patience very quickly.
''I'm sorry master.....I am so sorry...'' Wormtail said weakly as he crawled forwards to kiss the hem of his masters robes. ''Please forgive me...''
''Lord Voldemort does not forgive....I have been failed too many times.'' Voldemort said as he raised his wand and pointed it at Wormtails chest. ''Crucio.''
***************************************************************
(A.N Thanks to all reviewers, I really appreciate it. I am sorry I am not updating as often but I have just started in year 12 and I am doing 4 A levels. For all you reviewers who have requested more fluff I can assure you that there is some coming up in the next chapter, and to the reviewer who asked about the R rating, it will come into play in the next chapter, but maybe not in the way you think. Please review and let me know what you think. luv ice princess12 x x x x x x )
Re-writing Destiny - leave a review and let me know how your night out went, good luck in college tomorrow. luv ya x x x x x