A/N: There is now a Yahoo group for my works of Harry Potter fan fiction. The advantages to this- you can post a message and I'll post one back. Two way review thing. My chapters will be archived there. You'll get notification when I post a new chapter, in fact, if you so wish the chapter will appear in your in-box. There is only one disadvantage to this- if people start getting it delivered to their in-box they might stop reviewing. Refer to my last A/N: The very welfare of the story depends on your reviews because I sometimes get lacking in imagination. Refer to the address which will be posted in my profile for the group. More details will be posted there. Also, I might need a couple of moderators, apply to the e-mail address listed in the profile. Thank You.
Harry stared nervously at the envelope that lay on his desk. For nearly the tenth time he read the writing on it. 'Lord Harry Potter- Phoenix Manor- Orekylshire - England' Why had they written 'Lord' on it? He had never publicly declared himself a Lord of anything let alone High Lord of Phoenix. He sighed and reminded himself to look it up later. He was getting sick of finding out information about him that everyone else knew.
He picked up the letter, ripped it open and quickly scanned it. It was his NEWT results. They praised and commended him emptily in the first paragraph and then they finally got around to reporting the actual results. He had passed every single test perfectly. Harry smiled with some satisfaction. That meant that he would not have to have another class from Snape again!
Harry stood up and walked out the French doors that led onto the terrace to where Ginny was quietly studying a magical theory book. "Do you have any idea why this letter is addressed to 'Lord Harry Potter?'" Harry inquired. Ginny usually knew what he didn't know about himself.
Ginny looked up from the book and grinned impishly, "Oh, didn't I tell you?"
"Tell me what?" Harry asked unhappily.
"That whoever possesses the manor owns and is Lord of Orekylshire."
"Lord of what!"
"Orekylshire," Ginny explained in a very patronizing voice. "That's the name of the little town that lies somewhere that way." She proceeded to point. "It's a rather quaint magical village. Composed of both magical folk and Muggles. The Muggles of course know all about the magic, kind of hard to hide after all. That and the fact that they're all related to each other somehow. Come to think of it the Patil twins live there."
Harry sighed and rolled his eyes, "Joy, just absolute joy."
Ginny giggled, "I ran into Parvati when I stopped by the place last month. It seems that she has a summer job in the local ice cream shop. It also seems that everyone knows about you being the Lord of Orekylshire too. She told me all about your date in fourth-year. She can't wait until school starts again so that she can say hello to you."
Harry groaned and sat down opposite Ginny, "Don't tell me. She suddenly likes me again doesn't she?"
"You got it," Ginny said teasingly. "I of course neglected to mention that you're unavailable. Anyway, I talked to a few people about the village. Rather friendly folk, none of those Muggle haters or anything because they're all used to them. They seem to be rather excited that you've come to Phoenix Manor. They're all on the edge of their seats waiting for you to throw a grand ball to which you'll invite everyone single person in town to mingle with all of the other important guests from the Ministry and such."
Harry shook his head, "Why would they expect that?"
"Because that's what your grandparents were famous for!" Ginny explained. "They'd throw the grandest balls in the world and invite all of the locals to it. The Potters have always been on good grounds with the people of Orekylshire. I suggest that you do something towards the end of the summer. Nothing too big, but still, nice."
Harry smiled wryly, "Since you've probably already began to plan it what else can I say? Go ahead, let's throw a ball or some sort of social gathering. I might as well meet my subjects."
"There's a good man," Ginny said as she smiled and returned to her book.
Have you seen Ron or Hermione, or both? I have to explain to them about the Order's meeting tonight. Since we're not going I need to make sure that they know what they're supposed to do." Harry stood up and began to pace. "I wish I knew whether or not to reveal myself to the Order yet. It could change their perception of me for either bad or good."
"If it's not broken, don't fix it," Ginny advised. "They're in the basement with Fred and George. Apparently the twins managed to convince our dear friends to help them make some sort of complicated concoction."
"They're going to blow up my house," Harry muttered darkly as he walked into the manor and down to the deep basement. He strolled down the dark hallway towards the lab guided by periodic explosions and unidentifiable noises. He made his way through an open door into the broad lab. It seemed rather old-fashioned. All the instruments laying on the tables and counters were what Muggle considered antiques. Apparently it had not been used for some time before the twins arrived. Fred, George, Ron, and Hermione were gathered around a wooden table in the center of the room.
"I think that we have it!" George declared excitedly. He held up his wand, muttered a long and quiet incantation and cast the spell on a Bertie Bott's Jellybean. Everyone looked at the bean nervously expecting something or another. When nothing happened a collective sigh of relief was released by the experimenters."
"What sort of mischief are you going to release on the world this time?" Harry asked dryly as he stepped forward and surveyed the jellybean.
Fred stepped back from the table, cleared his throat, and in a pompous voice announced, "This is a private project commissioned by the Ministry of Magic. I'm afraid that everything connected to it is classified old boy, even from you. Department of Mysteries business to be specific."
Harry decided not to press the issue. He had his own ways of finding out. He had been wondering why Mr. Weasley had been spending so much time with the twins of late. "Well you do that then," Harry replied dryly. "I need to just talk to Ron and Hermione for a moment."
Harry led Ron and Hermione as they stepped just out of the room. "Remember what I told you about the meeting tonight," Harry re-emphasized. "Strongly show support for whatever Dumbledore supports and vice-versa. Carefully consider every single bit of information and make the right decision if there is one."
"We know my lord," Ron said in a mocking voice. He changed it to a normal one, "You've told us about a billion times already! We swear that you won't have anything to worry about at all."
"Good," Harry said in a relieved tone. "What are you folks working on in there?"
"It is classified," Hermione said. "Ministry business and all, I can say that it's for the fight against Voldemort though."
Harry leveled an authoritative glare at the pair. "What are you working on in there?"
"All right, all right, don't let anyone know that we blabbed though. They're disguised as sweets, but when you throw them at the target they explode with a pre-set curse or charm and hit everyone with in a certain radius." Ron explained quickly.
Harry smiled, "That sounds like a very worthwhile project. Continue on."
*
"This way sirs," the major of the British Auror Force directed.
The group followed the major into the base. Mr. Weasley had invited Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione to come on an inspection of the local defenses with him so that they could view what they could depend on. Harry had gladly accepted. Mr. Weasley however, did not know that Harry was actually the High Lord so the tour and explanations were directed mostly towards Ron and Hermione who were the Lieutenants.
"We're now passing through the main offices," the nervous major directed. It was not every day that the Minister of Magic came to personally inspect the base. Not to mention that Harry Potter had come along. "This is where all the administrative work is carried out. It also serves as a main base for communications. We of course have back ups in case this part of the base is neutralized."
Ron frowned, "Would it be easy to neutralize this part of the base?"
"Of course not," the major answered smoothly. "If you'll continue to follow me." He led them towards a magical lift and then downwards to the underground part of the base. "This is the most secure part of the base since it is underground. It would be virtually impossible to get into here."
Harry carefully observed every aspect of the base. He didn't ask very many questions. Ron and Hermione's were more than enough to suffice. From Hermione's technical questions and Ron's strategic ones, Harry learned nearly everything that he needed to know. If Voldemort was planning to pull of a full scale assault he wasn't the only person who needed to be prepared.
After the tour Mr. Weasley led them back out to Diagon Alley and treated them to ice cream sundaes at Florean Fortescue's. "So what do you two think of our defenses?" Mr. Weasley asked Ron and Hermione.
They glanced at Harry and Ginny before answering that they thought that everything was fine. They don't know how to keep a secret very well, Harry mused as he studied the chocolate fudge sundae before him. Ginny grinned at him as if sharing his thoughts.
Mr. Weasley then turned his attention to Harry, "So what did you think Harry? I hear that you want to become an auror yourself. What with your record you could become a Grand Master Auror within a few years."
Harry smiled, "What's after that?"
Mr. Weasley shrugged, "Most aurors retire before they reach that level. It requires intense training and time. The aurors have a very precise hierarchy. Promotions come with you records, accomplishments, and of course, seniority. Most just go into the Ministry doing one thing or another though. They retire quite early. You could get some rank quite easily. Sergeant at least upon entrance. After that? Who knows? You might even be Minister of Magic one day."
"Perhaps," Harry shrugged. "Do many get killed?"
Mr. Weasley shook his head, "Not in peacetime, unfortunately they have just about as much chance as anyone else right now, what with You-Know-Who. In fact we'll be posting a company of them around Hogwarts so that the students will be protected."
"Save them for something else," Ginny counseled. "Hogwarts has those who are more than capable enough to defend it." She glanced discreetly at Ron and Hermione who suddenly caught the cue.
"We'll be able to take care of everything at Hogwarts," Hermione jumped in quickly. "It would be best if the aurors were deployed where they would see some action and actually save some lives."
"Voldemort won't attack Hogwarts for awhile yet," Ron advised slowly. "If anything, that would be the final target after everything else." He ate the last spoonful of his sundae.
"That seems like the thing to do then," Mr. Weasley responded. "You two know best after all, not to mention Ginny here. Have you been teaching her some extra skills? She could become quite useful as well."
"We know some of the same stuff," Ginny answered carefully.
"You four have fun then," Mr. Weasley said as he stood up and glanced at his watch. "I need to be back at the office now for an important meeting with the French ambassador." He waved and Apparated back to the Ministry.
Ron cleared his throat nervously, "If you two don't mind Hermione and I were going to go and look at some of the shops while we're here."
Harry smiled knowingly, "Go ahead, we'll catch up to you two when we're ready to head back for the manor. One of Harry's limousines was parked outside Diagon Alley in London awaiting their return. The pair left and as soon as they were gone Harry spoke, "Off to another tea shop perhaps?"
"School supplies too," Ginny reminded Harry.
Harry fumbled in his pocket for his Hogwarts letter. This year he and Ginny had booklists that were quite a bit longer than Ron or Hermione's. This was because they were going to spend the year preparing to take certain qualification tests. Ginny had passed all of her NEWTS and the two were well on their way to further achievement. "We'll have to stop and pick up our books."
Ginny smiled coyly, "I don't know about you Harry, but I don't need a tea shop for romance. Ice cream does me just fine." She leaned forward towards Harry. "You've never been particularly romantic Harry, why not?"
Harry continued to stare at his half-finished sundae. "I don't know," he said in an extremely nervous voice. "I've just never. . ." He stopped unable to say what he meant.
"Been seriously loved?" Ginny finished softly. She reached forward and gently took Harry's hand. "I love you and this is something that we need to address or we'll have a potentially confusing honeymoon this Christmas."
Harry blushed bright red, "I never really thought about that."
"You might want to," Ginny advised, smiling mischievously. "Are you scared Harry?"
"A little bit," Harry replied quietly. "Maybe more than a little. What are we going to do once we're married? Have kids? Travel? Get time-consuming jobs?"
Ginny smiled, happy to see that Harry was considering all the important aspects of marriage. "I'd worry more about getting to the ceremony first Harry. You need to overcome your nervousness. Just because you love me doesn't mean that something will happen to me. I know that it has seemed that way in the past, your parents and Sirius. As for your question, once we beat Voldemort I think that you need to travel and rest. This battle has already taken its toll on you. After that we'll settle down and I want to have several children."
Harry smiled happily. "That would be absolutely wonderful!"
"That comes back to the romantic part Harry." Ginny pointed out in a compassionate tone. You need to let your love out, we need to add some romance to our relationship or we'll be missing out despite the fact that we're friends."
"I'll work on it," Harry answered faintly.
Ginny smiled in a cheerful manner and softly squeezed Harry's hand. "Don't be afraid Harry." She leaned forward as he did and their lips met as they shared a tender and passionate kiss.