Part 12.
The next morning Harry awoke to find Dobby standing beside his bed, tending a tray placed upon his dresser.
"Would Harry Potter like a cup of tea?" Dobby asked, picking up the teapot and a cup.
Harry fumbled for his glasses, then nodded.
"What about me?" Ron asked, sitting up in bed, his hair standing up on end.
"Dobby has brought cups for all. Is this well Master?" The house elf asked Harry.
"That's fine." Harry accepted the hot cup of tea gratefully, already feeling the chill in the morning air.
The other clamoured around Dobby, eager for a hot drink.
"I have to say Harry, employing a house elf was a mark of genius." Dean said, draining his cup.
"Boys of Gryffindor should be getting ready to go down to breakfast." Dobby said to Harry.
"Thanks Dobby." Harry replied, placing his teacup back on the tray.
************
As they sat down to breakfast, Hermione threw herself down beside Harry, slapping a copy of the Daily Prophet down on his plate. "You have to read this."
Harry looked at her, surprised at her pale face, and the breathlessness in her voice.
Lowering his eyes to the paper, taking in the headline. 'Our World in Danger.'
"I've just run all the way from the girl's dormitories." Hermione told him, beginning to catch her breath. "I put an express on my subscription for special editions."
Harry skimmed the article. Voldemort rising, Harry Potter, strange deaths, murders, the incident in the department of mysteries, people being in danger, Harry Potter, the Dark Mark being sighted all over England, Harry Potter.
Harry's faced paled as he looked up.
Already Professor McGonagall, flanked by Tonks and Remus was hurrying across the Great Hall towards him. "Potter, Potter I need to see you immediately." She said to him, motioning for Harry to follow her.
Obediently he stood from his place, without speaking and followerd her out of the Great Hall and into her office.
He declined Professor McGonagall's offer to sit, instead standing calmly, unmoving.
"Have you seen a copy of the Daily Prophet yet Harry?" Tonks asked.
Harry nodded. "Hermione's copy came express. I only got to read the front page."
"Professor Dumbledore has decided that you need constant protection, more than any one person here can give you. Therefore it has been decided that you will have at least one member of the Order with you at all times." Professor McGonagall told him.
Harry nodded slowly. "Even in my classes?"
"Even in your classes." Remus told him. "We'll make sure nothing happens to you."
"Thank you." Harry saind quietly.
"You can go now Potter." Professor McGonagall said gently. "Remus and Tonks will be your body guards today."
As Harry left the room, flanked by both Tonks and Lupin, Dobby met him just outside. "Dobby has been told that Master did not eat breakfast." The house elf said, pressing a plate of toast towards Harry.
"Thanks Dobby." Harry told the elf, taking a piece of toast. "This is Dobby." He said to Remus and Tonks. "He's my house elf."
"It's nice to meet you Dobby." Lupin said sincerely.
"Would great friends of Harry Potter like some breakfast as well." Dobby asked them.
"Thank you." Tonks and Lupin said to him as they both accepted pieces of toast from the plate.
"Dobby, can you tidy up my trunk, and find my Potions book for me while I'm in class?" Harry asked the house elf. "As Master wishes." Dobby bowed his head, and magically disappeared.
"That's new." Remus said as the three of them walked out the front doors and down towards the Greenhouses.
"Dobby only bound himself to me last night." Harry explained. "Dumbledore thought it was a good idea, extra protection."
"He's right." Remus agreed.
************
"Harry," Professor Sprout called, "There you are!"
"Sorry I'm late Professor." He apologized
"Is everything all right?" She asked, looking from Tonks to Remus.
"We're just here as a precaution." Tonks reassured her.
"How have you been Nymphadora?" Professor Sprout asked. "Top of my Herbology class in her NEWTS." She told the class.
"Curse my fool of a mother." Tonks muttered. "Well thank you Professor, and its just 'Tonks'."
"What's going on?" Hermione whispered in Harry's ear.
"Bodyguards. I'm supposed to have at least one member of the Order with me at all times." He whispered back as Professor Sprout began the class.
************
As Harry, with Hermione and Ron walked back up to the castle Tonks and Lupin followed closely behind, never more than several paces away from Harry.
At the doors they were met by Dobby, a large pile of books beside the house elf. "Dobby has brought Potions books for Harry Potter."
"Thanks Dobby." Harry said to him, "Do you think you could take my Herbology books upstairs and put them away?"
"As Master wishes." Dobby bowed low as Harry stooped to pick up his Potions books, replacing them with his Herbology texts, which were magically transported upstairs, while Ron and Hermione changed their books over in the same way.
************
"Professor Snape is still the Potions master, isn't he?" Tonks asked as they walked down to the Dungeons.
Ron nodded, eyeing Neville who was already pale, nervous at the thought of spending two hours in the dungeons with Snape.
In the hall Remus stopped to speak with Professor McGonagall, who was no doubt asking how the morning had been, checking that Harry was still safe, and closely monitored.
************
The brief conversation made Harry and the others late for class.
"Ten points from Gryffindor, each." Snape snapped as they walked in and sat down. Then he turned to Remus. "What are you doing here?"
Tonks smiled brightly. "Professor Dumbledore invited us."
Snape's gaze lingered on her for a moment, before falling back to Remus. "Observe another class then."
"I'm sorry Professor, but we have been summoned here as bodyguards for Harry." Tonks said quietly, taking a seat near Harry's along the wall. "We're not allowed to leave him."
Snape opened his mouth to say something, but Tonks spoke again, cutting him off. "If you ask Remus, or myself to leave, I will arrest you for recklessly endangering Harry's life."
"A word outside, now." Snape snarled, moving towards the door.
"Very well." Remus said politely.
"Remus, stay with Harry, I'll speak with Professor Snape." Tonks said quietly, moving to follow Snape out of the room.
**************
Several minutes later Professor Snape and Tonks re-entered the classroom, Tonks moving to stand beside Harry's table, before conjuring herself a chair.
"It would appear that we have several guests in our class this morning." Professor Snape began. "Most of you would remember Professor Lupin, your Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher from several years ago, as well as Ms.Tonks who is an Auror working for the Ministry."
With Remus' and Tonks' presence, the Potions class passed peacefully, with even Neville completing his potion to an acceptable standard.
The next morning Harry awoke to find Dobby standing beside his bed, tending a tray placed upon his dresser.
"Would Harry Potter like a cup of tea?" Dobby asked, picking up the teapot and a cup.
Harry fumbled for his glasses, then nodded.
"What about me?" Ron asked, sitting up in bed, his hair standing up on end.
"Dobby has brought cups for all. Is this well Master?" The house elf asked Harry.
"That's fine." Harry accepted the hot cup of tea gratefully, already feeling the chill in the morning air.
The other clamoured around Dobby, eager for a hot drink.
"I have to say Harry, employing a house elf was a mark of genius." Dean said, draining his cup.
"Boys of Gryffindor should be getting ready to go down to breakfast." Dobby said to Harry.
"Thanks Dobby." Harry replied, placing his teacup back on the tray.
************
As they sat down to breakfast, Hermione threw herself down beside Harry, slapping a copy of the Daily Prophet down on his plate. "You have to read this."
Harry looked at her, surprised at her pale face, and the breathlessness in her voice.
Lowering his eyes to the paper, taking in the headline. 'Our World in Danger.'
"I've just run all the way from the girl's dormitories." Hermione told him, beginning to catch her breath. "I put an express on my subscription for special editions."
Harry skimmed the article. Voldemort rising, Harry Potter, strange deaths, murders, the incident in the department of mysteries, people being in danger, Harry Potter, the Dark Mark being sighted all over England, Harry Potter.
Harry's faced paled as he looked up.
Already Professor McGonagall, flanked by Tonks and Remus was hurrying across the Great Hall towards him. "Potter, Potter I need to see you immediately." She said to him, motioning for Harry to follow her.
Obediently he stood from his place, without speaking and followerd her out of the Great Hall and into her office.
He declined Professor McGonagall's offer to sit, instead standing calmly, unmoving.
"Have you seen a copy of the Daily Prophet yet Harry?" Tonks asked.
Harry nodded. "Hermione's copy came express. I only got to read the front page."
"Professor Dumbledore has decided that you need constant protection, more than any one person here can give you. Therefore it has been decided that you will have at least one member of the Order with you at all times." Professor McGonagall told him.
Harry nodded slowly. "Even in my classes?"
"Even in your classes." Remus told him. "We'll make sure nothing happens to you."
"Thank you." Harry saind quietly.
"You can go now Potter." Professor McGonagall said gently. "Remus and Tonks will be your body guards today."
As Harry left the room, flanked by both Tonks and Lupin, Dobby met him just outside. "Dobby has been told that Master did not eat breakfast." The house elf said, pressing a plate of toast towards Harry.
"Thanks Dobby." Harry told the elf, taking a piece of toast. "This is Dobby." He said to Remus and Tonks. "He's my house elf."
"It's nice to meet you Dobby." Lupin said sincerely.
"Would great friends of Harry Potter like some breakfast as well." Dobby asked them.
"Thank you." Tonks and Lupin said to him as they both accepted pieces of toast from the plate.
"Dobby, can you tidy up my trunk, and find my Potions book for me while I'm in class?" Harry asked the house elf. "As Master wishes." Dobby bowed his head, and magically disappeared.
"That's new." Remus said as the three of them walked out the front doors and down towards the Greenhouses.
"Dobby only bound himself to me last night." Harry explained. "Dumbledore thought it was a good idea, extra protection."
"He's right." Remus agreed.
************
"Harry," Professor Sprout called, "There you are!"
"Sorry I'm late Professor." He apologized
"Is everything all right?" She asked, looking from Tonks to Remus.
"We're just here as a precaution." Tonks reassured her.
"How have you been Nymphadora?" Professor Sprout asked. "Top of my Herbology class in her NEWTS." She told the class.
"Curse my fool of a mother." Tonks muttered. "Well thank you Professor, and its just 'Tonks'."
"What's going on?" Hermione whispered in Harry's ear.
"Bodyguards. I'm supposed to have at least one member of the Order with me at all times." He whispered back as Professor Sprout began the class.
************
As Harry, with Hermione and Ron walked back up to the castle Tonks and Lupin followed closely behind, never more than several paces away from Harry.
At the doors they were met by Dobby, a large pile of books beside the house elf. "Dobby has brought Potions books for Harry Potter."
"Thanks Dobby." Harry said to him, "Do you think you could take my Herbology books upstairs and put them away?"
"As Master wishes." Dobby bowed low as Harry stooped to pick up his Potions books, replacing them with his Herbology texts, which were magically transported upstairs, while Ron and Hermione changed their books over in the same way.
************
"Professor Snape is still the Potions master, isn't he?" Tonks asked as they walked down to the Dungeons.
Ron nodded, eyeing Neville who was already pale, nervous at the thought of spending two hours in the dungeons with Snape.
In the hall Remus stopped to speak with Professor McGonagall, who was no doubt asking how the morning had been, checking that Harry was still safe, and closely monitored.
************
The brief conversation made Harry and the others late for class.
"Ten points from Gryffindor, each." Snape snapped as they walked in and sat down. Then he turned to Remus. "What are you doing here?"
Tonks smiled brightly. "Professor Dumbledore invited us."
Snape's gaze lingered on her for a moment, before falling back to Remus. "Observe another class then."
"I'm sorry Professor, but we have been summoned here as bodyguards for Harry." Tonks said quietly, taking a seat near Harry's along the wall. "We're not allowed to leave him."
Snape opened his mouth to say something, but Tonks spoke again, cutting him off. "If you ask Remus, or myself to leave, I will arrest you for recklessly endangering Harry's life."
"A word outside, now." Snape snarled, moving towards the door.
"Very well." Remus said politely.
"Remus, stay with Harry, I'll speak with Professor Snape." Tonks said quietly, moving to follow Snape out of the room.
**************
Several minutes later Professor Snape and Tonks re-entered the classroom, Tonks moving to stand beside Harry's table, before conjuring herself a chair.
"It would appear that we have several guests in our class this morning." Professor Snape began. "Most of you would remember Professor Lupin, your Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher from several years ago, as well as Ms.Tonks who is an Auror working for the Ministry."
With Remus' and Tonks' presence, the Potions class passed peacefully, with even Neville completing his potion to an acceptable standard.