Disclaimer: I still don't know anything except the plot.
Answer to a 'review':
My dear Your Story Suck! (shouldn't that be sucks? And what a nice name you have btw. Did you think of it by yourself?) let me tell you something:
First of all, flames, like stated in the first chapters will be used for heating my room. So thank you for my now very cosy room.
Secondly, I have nothing against 'constructive criticism', but what you do is just plain right stupid. I quote: 'They suck.' Oh wow! And please tell me what exactly sucks?
You don't like my style of writing, tell me what to improve.
You don't like my ideas, then I'm sorry because I like my plot and it's my story.
And now, thirdly, what I think is the most important of all, you flame me? Fine.
But it looks like you don't even have the guts to sign in for that and/or write your name or e-mail to it. Usually, I would write, take your flame and stick it up your . . . but that would be like your flame right?
Last but not least, I take the liberty to quote again: 'That's why you only have a handful of reviews'
Let me tell you something, it actually looks like (feel free to check my reviews) there are readers, who read my story, review it and return when I update and review again. I can name them if you want to. I don't look for hundred of reviews. I am happy with regular readers and I try to make them happy. I appreciate their reviews and comments and I honestly don't know what's your purpose with that statement.
Okay now that I took care of that, thank you to my reviewers:
Loopyloony: You are very welcome! Thank you for reviewing and enjoy the chapter. This one is extra long!
Syco: Well, one is right for sure! But let's see about the others...
SmacksKiller: Thank you very much and I am most certainly trying.
Lady Phoenix Slytherin: Thank you and there you go :)
Yana5: No, but you will see. There will be more Harry scenes in he future, I just need to get the basics up first.
Now, have fun with an extra long chapter and please don't forget to review!
Chapter 6
The old man was out of his seat in a flash. He hurried around the bed and knelt next to the badly shaking Harry, who had curled into a tight ball. A second later the rider joined him. The rider gestured with his hand and the glass repaired itself, the water vanished instantly.
Harry lay on the ground, pale and shaking like a leaf.
The young man stood frozen and confused in the middle of the room. He snapped out of it and hurried to the other end of the wing into an adjoining room when the old man said ', "Get Mylandra, quickly."
He hurried to the other end of the wing into an adjoining room.
An old Lady with dark blue healer robes rushed into the room. She took a short look at Harry before kneeling next to the old man and the rider, both of them trying to calm Harry down.
She stroked Harry's back for some time. Then she placed her wrinkled hand on Harry's forehead and muttered ''Defervesce'.
Harry stopped shaking a few seconds later. The old woman turned him slowly over.
Harry looked at her with unfocused eyes, before closing his eyes and falling asleep.
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"Child? Best would be if you keep watching him from now on again. I have to go to the court soon." said the old man to the rider, looking concerned at Harry, who was sleeping quietly in his bed.
"Alright. When will you return?" asked the rider, taking his blue cape and his black leather trench coat off and putting it over a chair.
"I think the hearing will last all morning, so it will be late afternoon. Should you receive the letter, you know what to do."
"Should it be urgent, we will have him out of there in a flash." replied the rider.
The old man took a hooded purple and golden travel cloak from the hanger near the door of the hospital wing.
"Very well. I will take a carriage. We have to make an impression after all." the old man's beard twitched at that thought.
"Shame it's only the half court. I would love to see his first case. Harry is more important at the moment."
"Do you want to go instead?" asked the old man.
"No. I will watch Harry. Just give him..." the rider took a piece of parchment and a quill out of his leather coat and wrote something on it, "...this..." he folded the parchment "...before the hearing."
"Very well. I better leave now."
The other young man entered the room, as the old man was making his way out.
"I will see you two later then."
"Bye"
"See you later." answered the other two.
When the door closed behind the old man, the man who just entered said, "We got a reply back."
"Already? What did it say?"
"Read for yourself." said the man and gave the rider the letter.
"I see." he replied after reading the parchment, "Can you get him on your own? Or do you want help?"
"I don't think going there alone would be too wise. Judging from this letter, I don't know what to expect there."
"True. Take Adam with you then."
"Alright. We will leave straight away. See you later and tell Harry I'm sorry for shocking him."
"Will do. See you later and be careful."
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"Did you talk to Fudge yesterday, Albus?" asked Minerva, when the headmaster entered the kitchen for breakfast.
"No. He was called on an emergency and Percival wasn't in as well."
"Will Percy be a great problem?" asked Molly Weasley, when she put some more toast on the table.
"Alastor and I talked about that. Everything is under control, I assume?" answered the old wizard, looking at the retired Auror.
"Yes. There will be Death Eaters present as well. We can't risk him asking anything about the members or what our plans are. We decided to put Percy under the Imperius before the hearing."
At that moment, George, Angelina and Alicia entered the kitchen, while talking about their plans for the day. When they saw the order members looking at them they stopped talking.
"Oh, sorry. We didn't think anyone would be up yet." said Alicia, turning to George and Angelina, "We better get a bite on the way."
"Yep," replied Angelina, looking at the members, "Sorry for interrupting."
They left the kitchen again. Before they were out of the door Mrs Weasley asked with a dangerous edge in her voice, "Where do you think are you going?"
"Diagon Alley and after that to the hearing," replied George.
"Certainly not!" screeched Mrs Weasley, "You are not going to Diagon Alley and most certainly NOT to the hearing. I told you before, if you need anything tell me and we will get it!"
"Well, that won't work," replied George calmly, "Now, if you excuse us. We need to go to work. Bye and see you at the hearing."
Mrs Weasley became redder and redder. As she was about to open her mouth and give them a piece of her mind, three 'pops' were heard.
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"That was close." said George, when the three of them apparated into the small backyard separating the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley.
"True, but we won't get around it this evening." said Alicia.
"Yeah, but I think we should hurry up. The Leaky Cauldron will be the first place for her to look." replied George
Angelina tapped the wall with her wand and the Alleyway opened.
"You think she will follow us?" asked Alicia.
"Without doubt," answered George as they walked under the archway into Diagon Alley.
"Where to, now?" asked Angelina, as they walked along the empty street.
"Let's apparate to the front of the shop and talk in there. Mum doesn't know about it." replied George.
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"How - How dare they!", exploded Mrs Weasley, "In all my life, I haven't seen anyone as irresponsible as these children! We will see if they go to Diagon Alley or not! And the hearing! How in heaven's name do they even dare to think about interfering in Order business. Arthur, we have to go after them!"
Arthur Weasley looked at his wife tiredly, "Molly, dear, they are of..."
"I think Molly is quite right, Arthur. We can't have them interfering with Order business. Alastor, Nymphadora..." Tonks flinched at the use of her first name "Kingsley, You have to stop them at all costs. They can't be seen at the hearing. Should they be associated to Arabella, Voldemort and Fudge could connect you to what we are - a secret underground group - and we can't let that happen." spoke up the aged Headmaster.
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"Did you hear what they were talking about?" whispered Angelina furiously, when the three of them were in a backroom of Diagon Alley number 93.
"Not really. I was talking to you if you remember." replied Alicia quietly.
"I didn't hear it either." said George lifting his eyebrows, "I am not meant for talking and listening to two conversations. What was it about?"
"They want to put Percy under the Imperius."
"WHAT?!" George burst out.
"Shhh." whispered Angelina. "It's not safe to talk too loud. Anyway, we have to warn Percy."
"But how?" whispered Alicia, "We can't just apparate on his doorstep. Most of all will he trust us?"
"I will write him and we just have to cross our fingers that he will believe us." said George.
"Better hurry up. The hearing is in two hours and the letter has to get to Percy at first." suggested Angelina.
"Alright. I will write right away." George conjured up a piece of parchment and pulled a tattered looking quill out of his robes.
He laid the paper on one dusty and scratched looking desk and started writing.
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Angelina and Alicia were putting unbreakable no-see-through charms on the large shop windows and the door, while George was taking the letter to the post office.
"That was close," whispered George as he apparated back into the store, " I saw Tonks walking up the Alley through the window in the post office. No doubt they are searching for us. Did you put the charms on the windows?"
"On the front windows and the door," replied Alicia, "but we should put way more security charms there. Probably around the whole house and the flats."
"That's it!" exclaimed Angelina suddenly.
"What?" asked the other two at the same time.
"No one knows about the two flats except the three of us, Lee, Katie and Ginny, right?"
"Well, the person who sold us the shop does and it's in the contract. Why?" replied George.
"Well, we could use some headquarters of our own, you know something unplottable." explained Angelina.
George narrowed his eyebrows and got the (as the three Gryffindor Chasers as well as Harry dubbed it) 'People-beware-the-Weasley-twins-are-scheming-Merlin-knows-what-is-going-to-happen-next' glint in his eyes. Angelina smiled sadly at the look on George's face, being reminded of the times in the Gryffindor common room, when Fred and George were planning pranks or revenge on certain Slytherin Quidditch players.
"That could actually work," muttered George, aloud he said "If we-" he paused for a moment, being used to hear his partner in crime complete his thoughts and sentences. He shook himself out of it, swallowed and closed his eyes briefly. Then he started again, "If we use the first floor and divide that flat with a few walls to two flats, enlarge one part with magic and use the other one as an office-" Georges head snapped up and his eyes widened when he was interrupted.
"-combine the office and the flat with a staircase and use the flat on the second floor as our headquarters." finished Angelina for him, looking down sadly, pain reflecting in her eyes. George crossed the distance between them with two strides and pulled the tall chaser into his arms, when her eyes filled with tears. Alicia was pulled into George's arms as well and together they tried to over come the grief for their loss, trying to give each other strength and raising their hope.
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"What do you have there?" he asked the owl and took the letter off its outstretched foot. He glanced at the writing on the front of the envelope and did a double take at the familiar writing. He gave the owl a piece of his toast. It hooted its thanks and flew off into the light blue morning sky. Abandoning his toast he slit the envelope open and started reading the letter.
Percy, it read, the writing looking sloppy, contrary to its usual almost neat style.
Percy,
You are in danger! I don't know if you believe, trust me or put any faith in me as your brother, but PLEASE read this letter!
We – that is Angelina, Alicia and I – overheard, well Angelina actually did, but anyway we walked –by accident – into an Order meeting in the kitchen of you-know-where, when you-know-who, scratch that I mean Moody said to the others that they are going to put the Imperius on you because you are a danger to them and they don't want you asking old Figg questions about the members and such. I don't know when or where they will do it but well 'duh definitely before the hearing!
Please, please, please trust me on this one!
I know we – Fred and I that is- never gave you reason to, but PLEASE do it just once and keep clear of Moody and/or Dumbledore!
I couldn't bear to lose another brother.
Love,
George
P.S. Can we meet somewhere in the next few days?
When Percy took in the words and saw the confused and befuddled way George wrote this letter - probably in a hurry, he mused - he couldn't help but smile at the concern of his little brother.
"Don't worry, George" he said aloud, "I have everything under control."
Taking his wand and summoning a quill and a piece of parchment, he started writing.
George,
Thank you for informing me. I'll keep your warning in mind.
Don't worry, I believe you!
Percy
P.S. When, where and with whom?
Percy whistled twice and Hermes came over nestling on his owner's shoulder. Percy stroked Hermes' head and tied the letter to his leg. He offered him the rest of his toast. Hermes gulped it down before looking at Percy and giving a questioning hoot.
"Take that to George, but make sure no one sees you" Hermes hooted in understanding, ruffled his feathers and flew off.
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The man sat up straighter and leaned over Harry, when he moved his head from side to side in an uneasy way.
"Harry?" the man questioned softly.
"Does anyone know how this works?" asked Alicia, looking between her boyfriend and her best friend.
"Uhhm not really," replied George, scratching his head in embarrassment "this is about Charms and you know that isn't my specialised area. I always counted on Fred with these. Never quite grabbed the concept with this swish and flick stuff. I barely passed my OWLs in that. Angie?" he asked hopefully.
"Nope," she shook her head, her tiny dreads whirling around her shoulders, "Like you said, George, Charms is Fred's area. I mean I passed my NEWTs in it, but I more or less learned it by heart and practiced. Since none of us, except-" she breathed in deeply "-Fred was any good at explaining or showing us what to do. Licia?"
"Well, I'm with you two in that, so I think we are up for a visit in Flourish and Blotts and get a book about building your own home or something. We need to find out what kind of spells there are and then we will try." The others looked a bit apprehensive, "Don't look at me like that. I'm not Hermione for Merlin's sake!"
"That's not it!" exclaimed Angelina and George at the same time. Smiling slightly at each other, George went on "It's more like how are we going to pull it off when we aren't good in Charms?"
"Well I remember someone ranting before our OWLs-"
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Flashback
"ARGH!" Lee glared at the pieces of porcelain that were a teacup half a minute ago, "Screw that bloody-"
"LEE! LANGUAGE!" snapped Alicia and Angelina at the same time.
"Ah well I'm terribly sorry but I'm blo-" Lee got hit with a silencing charm just before a sixth year prefect walked past and glared at him.
"What is all that racket about? Others are trying to do their homework!"
"Well, excuse us, Prewton. We are studying for OWLs and Lee's charm went wrong – "
"Sure Weasley. Give me one reason to believe you. You studying? HAH. Look there is a squadron of pigs flying by-" the prefect pointed to a window. Suddenly his eyes widened and about ten pigs were flying in triangle form, making a sudden dive to the ground, squealing in joy. The prefect opened and closed his mouth like a fish and George, Alicia, Angelina and Lee were staring at the pigs in amazement, who were coming out of their dive and prepared for a somersault. Then the pigs started zooming higher and higher and disappeared in the night sky over the forbidden forest.
Percy walked by then and asked in perfect head-boy mode, "Anything wrong Prewton? I heard you arguing."
Prewton just shook his head.
"Fine then. Why don't you leave George and the others to their studies? They look pretty busy to me."
Prewton just nodded in reply and Percy stalked of to send the other Gryffindors to bed. When Prewton managed to claim the brain functions for his mouth back he just stuttered. "Uh sorry...I...I...think I..better...go to...bed." with that he closed his mouth and walked stiff as a board and pale as a sheet of paper in the directions of the staircase leading to the dorms. The common room emptied and soon only the four of them were left, still staring at the window.
"O-kay." said George, snapping out of it and trying to realise what exactly he just saw "I think now I have seen everything." The other three nodded dumbly in reply. Lee didn't even realise that the silencing charm was taken off of him. Someone snorted behind them and the four turned in the direction of two people, sitting in the shadows with tears running down their faces from trying to suppress their laughter. Suddenly the two of them cracked up and started howling with laughter.
"Haha...the...the look on your faces. HAHA!" Katie grabbed Fred's arm and buried her face in his shoulder still shaking with mirth. Fred was far from being able to talk he was laughing too hard, holding his stomach with one hand.
Their four friends just stared at them.
A few minutes later when Fred and Katie sobered up enough to talk, Fred said, "You really should have seen the look on your faces. Hilarious. And Prewton...You made a picture right, Katie?"
"Of course! That was just brilliant, Fred!"
"Okay, okay, okay. Hoooooooooold on a moment." said Lee "What exactly did just happen?"
Fred grinned and replied, "Well you were starting to rant and Katie saw Prewton coming by and because we don't need another detention, because he wouldn't just give one to you, Katie hit you with a silencing charm and well when Prewton started with the pigs...let's just say that was a too good opportunity to pass."
"Soooo," said Angelina lifting her eyebrow, "You made the pigs fly?" Katie cracked up at that again.
"That weren't real pigs. It was an illusion charm, something useful I found in the library while searching something for my essay."
"So it wasn't real?" asked George, confused. Fred hit him upside the head, "George, you prat! Sometimes I wonder who got the brains. Of course it wasn't real. I did it to distract Prewton."
"Oh! O-kay. I didn't know something like that existed." The other three nodded at that. "I don't even know if it is possible to enlarge a damn cup."
"Now come on guys, with focus, maybe a little Latin, Greek or English and a bit of power, you can do nearly everything with your wand." When the others looked still very uncertain, Fred nearly exploded,
"Damn it guys, you are neither stupid nor incapable to use your bloody wands. You will manage an indication and swish and flick your wand the right way! If you manage to transfigure a bloody needle into a match, you sure as hell will manage to change the colour of a bloody teacup our levitate a freaking feather!. Be calm, set your mind on what you want to do and you will do just fine and pass."
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"-and if my memory serves me right, we passed that freaking practical OWL, just like Fred said. So I'll say we just do that and if it doesn't work we'll try again and again and again until it works and it will work sometime." said Alicia, determination showing in her brown eyes "After all, all of us passed that bloody OWL with Outstanding."
"Are you sure that we can do it?" asked George quietly, his head bowed and looking very uncertain.
Alicia strode over to George and turned his head that he was looking in her eyes, her hands on his cheeks, "Yes, George. We can do it and we will do it and if it is the last thing we do! We want to find Fred and Harry? Than this is the first step. We are Gryffindors and we won't fail because of a few bloody charms, you hear!"
George closed his eyes for a moment and nodded. Alicia gave him a short hug.
"All right. So, how are we getting the books from Flourish and Blotts? The others can't see us." asked George.
"I'll take care of that." replied Angelina "What kind of books do we need?" she asked taking out a piece of parchment and a quill. She started writing, "One for dividing and enlarging, then I'd say one for security, one for illusions. Anything else?"
"Maybe some kind of defence book." said George.
"All right." Angelina wrote it down. She folded the piece of parchment and put it in her pocket. "I'll be right back." With that she apparated away.
A few minutes after Angelina disappeared, Hermes fluttered in and landed on George's shoulder. George took the letter from Hermes and started reading. A few seconds later he sighed. "Percy believed me." he said to Alicia, "He wants to know about our meeting with him."
"How about on Friday? That gives us three days with the flats. He could come here after work."
George nodded and wrote a short reply. He secured it on Hermes' leg, who nipped his ear gently before flying off again.
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Harry woke up with a start, when he heard someone calling his name softly. He had another nightmare concerning his uncle and was glad to be awake. He turned in the direction of the voice and scrunched his eyes, trying to distinguish the person speaking. The voice and the outline of the person were very familiar to him. He saw the person shift and bring something closer to his face. Harry's sight cleared up suddenly and he looked into the concerned eyes of Fred Weasley.
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"Did you get everything?" asked George.
"Yes," she reached into the bag and got a few books out. She showed them to the others.
"I bought, 'How to Build Your Own Home in a Flash', 'How to Make Your Home Private', 'How to Make Your Home Seem Different from the Outside' and "How to Defend Yourself against Intruders, Attackers and Unwanted Guests' and then I bought another book about security charms. The Fidelius and things like that are in there. Now while I was shopping I thought about the hearing. You know that in an open hearing you are allowed to be hooded, right?" George nodded and Angelina reached into her bag again and took three hooded cloaks out. "Maybe Dumbledore and the others won't see us like that and think that we didn't go to the hearing."
"But what about Moody's eye?" asked Alicia.
"I thought about that as well and these cloaks are protected against invisibility charms and things like that. You can't see through them and it is against the law to break these charms and before you ask, you will know when the spell is broken."
"But they are not stupid. They will know when there are three persons, sitting next to each other with these cloaks. Even when we are not sitting next to each other-"
"Many people in the audience tend to wear these cloaks. Death Eaters for example or Order members. Mister Gladrags said that these cloaks were the bestsellers during the first war. So I imagine that many people have them."
"Okay, okay you convinced me. How about we go the hearing early? Maybe we will see Percy before it."
"Fred?" asked Harry in a hesitant voice.
"The one and only." replied Fred smiling slightly and sitting back in the chair.
"How do I know it's really you?" asked Harry quietly.
"Hmmm. Good question. Remember your third year? The Marauder's map? George and I gave it to you in an empty classroom next to the secret passage leading into Honeydukes on the last Hogsmeade trip before the end of term. Before Christmas that was. We showed you how to activate it with 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good'. Well George did it. He actually told you to clear it with 'Mischief managed' too. I told you that there are seven passages into Hogsmeade and that Filch knows four. One of the other three - the one behind the mirror on the fourth floor - is caved in, one is under the Whomping Willow and the other one behind the statue of the humpbacked, one-eyed witch. And well the password to move it is 'Dissendium'. What else do I have to offer, right! You gave George and I your Triwizard tournament winnings at the end of your fourth year in our compartment on the Hogwarts express. Do you know any other questions you could ask me to make sure?"
Harry looked thoughtful for a moment, then he asked "How did I get to the Burrow the summer before my second year?"
"By Dad's flying, turquoise Ford Angila."
"Who drove it?"
"I did."
"How did you get my stuff?"
"George picked the look of your room and we went to the cupboard under the stairs to get your things. You also told us that the bottom step creaks."
"Don't tell Mum, where we got it from and buy Ron dress robes and say they are from George and I."
"Who were you blackmailing?"
"Ludo Bagman."
"I think you convinced me," said Harry, leaning back against his pillow. Harry looked around the room for the first time. Across from his bed were two large mahogany doors. Next to the right door was a hat stand. The walls in the room were light sky blue with white fluffy clouds moving around. The room was brightly lit with the morning sun shining into the room from the high windows on the wall behind him. Each side of the room was lined with many perfectly made beds, all in a very deep blue colour. At the left end of the large room was another –this time open – mahogany door, leading probably to an office. Harry wondered where exactly he was and if the old man was a dream or not and -
His thoughts were interrupted with a smiling Fred answering, "Good. Now, you look like you have more questions, which I will answer all after you answered a few of mine. Deal?"
Harry asked "You promise you will answer everything?"
"Maybe not everything, but I will try."
"Okay then we have a deal."
"Okay. My first question, when was the last time you ate and are you hungry?"
"Breakfast at Hogwarts and I'm hungry but I feel like I'll get sick if I eat something now."
"Maybe some soup? That's nothing too heavy."
Harry nodded quietly in reply.
"What kind of?" asked Fred quietly.
"I don't know, but you don't have to-" Harry broke of when Fred lifted eyebrow. Harry just said "Maybe some chicken soup." Fred smiled in reply and got up. "I'll be back in a second." Fred crossed the wing and went into the open door. Harry heard some muffled voices and Fred emerged a few seconds later and returned to his seat on Harry's side.
"Okay, the soup will be here soon. So my other questions, how long were the Dursleys acting towards you like that?"
"They weren't very nice to me for as long as I can remember. When I was younger I got slapped a few times. Mostly when I talked back or did accidental magic. They mostly ignored me last summer, well until the Dementors attacked us – Dudley and me that is- they wanted to throw me out but my Aunt said I had to stay. Then at the beginning of this summer your dad, Moody, Remus and Tonks threatened them. They told them to be nice to me and if they didn't hear from me three days in a row they would send someone over. Vernon was really angry on the way to Privet Drive. The minute we entered he threw me onto the floor and started to kick me a few times all the while telling me how I was worthless and ungrateful and how I even dared to sick these 'freaks' on them. Then it went pretty much like this until that evening, when he threw me into the fireplace and someone blasted the door open." Fred scowled and Harry looked down at his hands, shaking slightly, wondering if he had to go back there again.
Fred got up and sat on the edge of Harry's bed, lightly touching his shoulder. "Don't worry about them. You won't have to go back to them ever again."
"I doubt that. Dumbledore will send me back there for protection." Harry spat out.
"No he won't." Harry looked up with a questioning expression on his face "I'll explain everything just answer my last questions. Did you tell anyone about the prophecy?"
"No. No I didn't. I just couldn't." Harry said, staring down at his hands again. "After...after Sirius, I...I was afraid that I would lose someone else. I just can't take it anymore. If I had known about that sooner, I wouldn't have fallen into his trap and-" Harry was close to hyperventilating. Tears were running down his eyes. Fred pulled Harry against his chest, hugging him.
"All of it is my fault. My parents, Cedric, then you and now Sirius. It's just getting too much. I can't...not anymore... I have to defeat him all alone. I need to stay alone. Everyone close to me will be hurt or killed." Harry started weeping and put his arms around Fred, burrowing his head in his chest. "My uncle is right. I am worthless and I deserve what I got."
Fred leaned back and pulled Harry's head gently up and meet his eyes. "That's not true you hear! You are far from worthless. You are one of the best damn wizards there are. The people close to you chose to be close to you. They want to help you. You are not alone. We won't let you fight alone. You are more of a little brother than a friend, Harry. You parents died for you, because they wanted you to live. You got a second chance, Harry, it may be combined with hardship and difficulties, but it is still there and whoever gave you that chance wanted you to live and I will be damned if you don't get a happy life."
"You really mean that?" asked Harry, staring in Fred's determined eyes.
"Yes, I do." replied Fred in a voice that left no doubts.
"Why?" asked Harry, leaning his head back against Fred's shoulder.
"Like I said, I consider you as a little brother. You went through so much until now and I know that it isn't all. You might wonder how I know about the Dementors, the prophecy or Sirius and I swear I will explain everything to you in the next few hours. There is so much you don't know and so much you have to learn and I think you deserve to know what is going on. Last year, I was keeping the tabs on Dumbledore and all the other stuff going on. It concerns you in most parts and I don't watch while Dumbledore takes your life apart."
"What do you mean?" asked Harry
"I'll explain everything, but I think we should start with the beginning. What do you remember about two nights ago?" asked Fred.
"Was I out that long?" asked Harry shocked. Fred just nodded in reply. "I remember Dudley tripping me and I think I burned my hands then. Vernon was screaming at me and then he grabbed me and threw me against the fireplace. Then I remember the door flying open and someone was shouting. After that I saw someone kneeling next to me and feeling my pulse and then I passed out. Do you know who that was?" asked Harry.
"That was me. We were watching you for some time. We didn't see you at all. I took most of the shifts and when I saw your uncle hitting you, something in me just snapped. If I had known about that you would have been out of that hellhole earlier."
"Thank you." said Harry, tightening his arms around Fred. "Why were you watching me?"
"We wanted to send you a letter, but it couldn't be delivered. So you just have to read it now." Fred turned around and grabbed his leather trench coat from the chair. He pulled out a envelope and handed it to Harry. Harry leaned back slightly and took the envelope with one hand, his other arm still around Fred. He looked at the loopy writing on the front.
'To Harry James Potter, No 4 Privet Drive'
On the back was a dark green wax seal, showing the sun rising over a forest. Harry broke the seal carefully, took the letter out and started reading
It has come to our attention that you have a newly acquired and exceptionally strong magical aura. You tapped into a power that we advise you to train.
We hereby offer you an apprenticeship under one member of the High War Mage council to train these powers in order to become a High War Mage yourself. We understand that the current times are very dangerous and dark, and we want to give you the choice to take an active role in the upcoming war against the dark forces.
Also as we don't have the wish to fight against you, spells are placed on this letter. You are not able to talk about the letter or its content and if you choose to decline our offer, a memory charm will be placed upon you in order to prevent you joining the dark forces.
Should you decide to join us, we are sorry to inform you that we have to take certain measures to guarantee the safety of you family and friends. We will undertake suitable actions in order to make your trip to our homeland safe and sound.
Of course you will be informed in advance about any activities we have in mind for you to give you the possibility to prepare for your journey.
Please sign this letter under your choice in the following 24 hours after opening this letter. If you have any questions feel free to owl us.
Sincerely yours,
The High War Mage Council
I, Harry James Potter, take the offer of an apprenticeship.
I, Harry James Potter, decline the offer of an apprenticeship.
"When you were in Dumbledore's office after the Department of Mysteries. You, literally tapped into raw magic and you certainly have some Elemental powers. Do you know about the different magical strengths?"
"Not really. What are High War Mages?" asked Harry, suddenly very interested.
"Well, you have to-" Fred was interrupted by a tray floating into the room from the open door "There is your soup. Why don't you eat and try to explain the basics." Fred put the tray on Harry's bed and handed him the goblet with the soup.
"First you have to consider that most people don't know or don't care about the different strings. They just see generally good and bad wizards and witches. But now, well magic isn't some kind of essence that swims around in your blood and thus makes you different from Muggles. Magic, you could say, is the ability to control magic, as in the supernatural force. A regular witch or wizard, lets take Professor Sinistra for example, needs a wand in order to direct that control. Without a wand she would be as desperate as a Muggle trying to overcome gravity. Then take witches or wizards with a stronger magic. These are mostly called Sorcerers. Snape would fall in that category. He has more magical strength and thus more control of his surroundings and more influence on the nature if you want to call it like that. He doesn't need a wand for everything. Snape is so intimidating, because he uses some kind of wandless magic. Like the door flying open when he enters the classroom or his robes billowing around him. It's like he pushes his aura outside of his body. A regular witch or wizard is capable of wandless magic in extreme cases, which is mostly combined with extreme feelings and is often called accidental magic, that's what you did with your aunt in your third year. Questions so far?"
"So Muggles don't have any magic at all and Squibs just don't have enough control." asked Harry after swallowing a bit of soup.
"Yep. Theoretically they could train to gain some control. Filch is trying that, but in practical sense a Squib must clear his mind and concentrate very much to reach a small part of that control. It would take very long to even try an simple charm like 'Wingardium Leviosa'. Okay, next are the Mages. Mages are even more powerful witches or wizards. They can control their surroundings and are capable of more wandless magic. McGonagall is an Animagus for example. If she couldn't control her surroundings without a wand, she couldn't become an Animagus, because she would need her wand for the actual transfiguration and thus make it an one way trip."
"That's because it's hard to use a wand while being a cat, right?" asked Harry "If she would transfigure herself into a cat with her wand, her clothes and her wand wouldn't transform with her, while transforming into an Animagus form her clothes and wand - as long as it's pocketed that is- would transform with her."
"Exactly. That's also why human transfiguration or becoming an Animagus is quite hard, even for Mages when you don't train to control your surroundings. The next two stages are actually the same in a magical level. They are called War Mages and High Mages. They are both capable of wandless magic to a certain point. Like summoning and banishing charms, other simple spells like 'Alohomora', turning yourself invisible and silent Apparation. Of course you can train to use more spells wandlessly. Now the difference between these two, War Mages use -like their name hints- weapons and their wands more for combat than anything else. They are capable of sword fighting, archery, the art of self-defence and fighting with a wooden staff. When they fight with a wand they most probably leave a track of destruction. Their spells are pretty powerful and when they are angry you can feel their magical aura. It's some kind of pressure on you. They can use it of course to intimidate someone or to show off. High Mages can do the wand fighting as well, but they are more passive and stick to the theory and learning of more skills or teaching. To become a real War or a High Mage - the real refers to the title - you have do an apprenticeshipand pass an exam. Written as well as practical, that is."
"In what category falls Dumbledore?" asked Harry, taking the goblet away from his lips.
"Well, as far as I know - and I checked the records - Dumbledore didn't take part in any ordeals. He wasn't an apprentice either. He has what it takes for an High Mage, though."
"And Riddle?" asked Harry, looking Fred in the eyes, trying to gain information. Fred looked at him with sympathy.
"You know, Harry, Riddle's not everything." Fred sighed, "Well, as sad as it is, it's like cause and effect. Action and reaction. Every light has a dark, every day has a night and every good has an evil. It's the same with magical strength. Every one of the different levels has a counterpart, but I won't explain that now. I will tell you about the last level and then we should talk about your letter and other..." Fred made a little pause,"...things you..."he breathed in "...saw."
Harry's eyes widened, when he realised what Fred was talking about.
"But that's for later. Now, the last level - and the most interesting I might add, but that could have some personal influence-" Fred grinned at that, "- the High War Mages." Fred rubbed his hands together, "All right, High War Mages are - again like the name suggest – "
"High and War Mages?" asked Harry, interrupting Fred, who smiled in reply.
"Exactly. High War Mages are, well not a mix, more like the amount of High and War Mages plus much more. There is of course the ability to fight, with and without weapon, archery, magical combat and much more. Wandless magic is one of the most interesting features. For short, High War Mages have total control and can do about anything without a wand. Then there are magical staffs. They are like a wand, but more primitive. You can channel your magic through it, to get more stable and stronger effects. A staff starts glowing when an High War Mage touches it. The stronger the Mage the brighter the glow. A staff is - like a wand - specified to it's owner. In case of a staff it's maker as every High War Mage crafts his own staff. If the owner touches it glows similar do casting 'Lumos'. The closer the person is to the maker – trust, love, friendship, respect, all of these feelings play a big role – the brighter is the glow. Then the High War Mages can of course use their wands, but it suffices them without it as well. Now here are a few advice you should always heed, never be disrespectful towards a High War Mage and never draw your wand on them as a challenge. A High War Mage with a wand is scary and if he draws his wand for battle, the only four words close to describing that are: hell is breaking lose."
"When will that happen? The wand drawing I mean." asked Harry after putting the empty goblet on the nightstand.
"Threat the persons the High War Mage swore to protect, his family or the people he loves. Or you could just straight down piss him off." Harry laughed at the last answer. Then he pointed at the letter, "So I have to chose now?"
"Not right now. You can ask whatever you want to know about training and such first." replied Fred.
"Where will that training take place? And uh where are we exactly?" asked Harry with a sheepish grin.
"We are in Dawnswood Castle." said Fred "Dawnswood is the, well you could say the homeland of the High War Mages. They live and train here."
"So it's not just a castle?"
"Not really. Dawnswood is a large area, with large forests, mountains and valleys. There are a few villages. You could say that the capital is Dawnsville it's located near the back of the Dawnsvalley. A bit behind that and hidden by the side of a mountain and a small forest is Dawnswood Castle. Around the Castle are two steep faces, so the only way to get to the castle is from the front. I will show you around the area in a few days if you want to."
"Sure. Who lives in the castle and the other villages?" asked Harry, getting interested.
"Most of the High War Mages life in the Castle or the villages. The villagers are a mix between everything. There life Muggles as well as Wizards and Squibs. Everyone knows of Magic and what else and it's the duty of the High War Mages to protect the people. In return, the people are in the armies or do farming, ironing and whatever. Also the War Mages teach their children."
"In a way, yes." replied Fred, " It belongs to Great Britain but not to the Magical part. Fudge could jump in a triangle with a bright pink ballerina dress and sing an off-key version 'Tragedy' and no one in Dawnswood gives a damn what he has to say."
"The letter is signed by the High War Mage Council..." asked Harry, glancing at the letter in his hand, "Who is that exactly?"
"The High War Mage Council is the leading force of out Order. It's the Council's duty to train heirs, to protect our army or better armies and to fight the dark. With being a High War Mage comes great responsibility. Like I said before every action has an reaction, so every High War Mage has an enemy." explained Fred.
"Voldemort in my case, then." answered Harry bitterly.
Fred just nodded and grabbed Harry's shoulders and stared into his eyes. "You are not alone in this. Always remember this. I will help you no matter what and others will as well. I don't know what you chose to do, but I will be there."
"So you will help me kick his ass?" asked Harry with a lopsided smile.
"That's the spirit." replied Fred grinning, "And I will be right behind you. Don't think you get all the fun."
"So when I join..." asked Harry, "...what about Dumbledore?"
Fred, who noted the 'when' looked Harry again deep into the eyes and said, "I told you before, Harry, you won't go back to the Dursleys against your free will. As you are still underage, you will get a guardian here and Dumbledore can't do a thing about it."
Harry smiled at that, "I have another question." Fred nodded, smiling slightly "Ask away."
"Who were the other persons-" Harry broke off looking a bit apprehensive
"You mean the old guy and the younger one?"
"Yes." said Harry, glad that he didn't have to bring the two up.
"You wonder if the young man was, who you think it was?"
"Yes," choked Harry out.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
A/N: Okay that's it. I had to stop otherwise I would have never finished.
Can you guess who the young man is? Congrats to those who got the kidnapper right.
I would appreciate a little comment, what you like or dislike or questions should you have any...
Oh and that is the longest chapter I ever wrote! à 7701
WHOHOOOOOOOO!!!
dances super duper happy dance
A special applause and thank you to my Betas and advisers, CosmicAngel, Cyropi and Polaris the Icequeen