2. Summer at Grimmauld Place
Several weeks had passed since his arrival at Grimmauld Place, and the absence of Kreacher and the scream of blood traitors hadn't occurred to Harry yet. He sat in the drawing room one day reading when he heard, "Harry!" Hermione said as she bounded into the drawing room and nearly knocking him over as she threw her arms around him. "Are you alright? Professor Dumbledore told me what happened at the Dursley's."
"I'm fine Mione; I'll be a little better once I'm able to breathe though." He said trying to stifle a laugh as she smiled sheepishly at him and loosened her hold on his neck. "How are you, how's your summer been?"
"Here, lets go and sit down." She said and walked over to the couch and sat down, he followed her and sat next to her. "It's been a bit boring. Mum and dad took me to Scotland and we stayed a week there. It rained the whole time we were there, and then when we came home I got your letter and asked my parents if it would be alright if I came and they said yes. I was so happy; I've been worried about you. How are you dealing with...you know?"
"I'm alright, I feel a little empty though. I was looking that picture you sent me of me, Sirius and Ron. It was a good game; is Ron here yet?"
"Not yet, he owled me the other day saying that he'd be joining us later this week. How did Voldemort get past the protections on the house?" Hermione asked.
"I have no idea, Dumbledore doesn't either. You know it might have to do with the fact that he used my blood to come back. He touched me after he got out of the cauldron and he didn't scream in pain. I'll have to ask Dumbledore about that, but right now it's so wonderful to see you." He said hugging her and giving her a small kiss on the cheek.
Hermione smiled and blushed a bit then said, "Have you gotten your O.W.L.S. yet?
"No, I've been waiting for them. How do you think you did?"
"Hopefully I got at least a few outstanding, but I'd be happy with excellent, as long as I didn't get any trolls I'll be happy."
"Hermione Granger, with a bad grade. That must be your worst nightmare." Harry said jokingly. She hit him playfully and he said, "Ouch, I'm sorry."
"You should be. So what should we do, we've got the whole day ahead of us." Hermione said.
Remus walked into the room and cleared his throat and said, "It's nice to see you Hermione."
She got up and walked over to give him a quick hug and said, "It's nice to see you too, Remus. How are you?"
"Better now that Harry is out of that bloody place, but let's not get into that. Harry, there is a meeting of the Order tonight and Albus wants all three of you there. The meeting starts at six, after dinner. Molly, Arthur, Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George are coming tonight. Albus owled them and told them about your unexpected company, and they said they'd be here right after Arthur came home from the Ministry."
"So, what you're saying is that Professor Dumbledore is going to make us members of the Order?" Harry asked with a bit elation in his voice.
Remus had a feeling this was coming and shook his head. "Not yet, it's just for this meeting. Unless he's changed his mind you're all still too young, maybe he'll let you join next year. Until tonight, he's allowed me, Tonks, and Mad Eye to teach both of you some defensive and offensive spells. They'll be difficult spells, hexes, and curses; I trust you'll both do your best to learn them as quick as possible."
"Yes we will." They said in unison. They Harry said, "What about Ron and Ginny will they be training with us?"
"How did I know you were going to say that? We'll fill them in after the meeting. Now go grab your wands and meet us in the kitchen." Remus said as he turned to leave.
Harry and Hermione ran up to their rooms and came back to the kitchen a few minutes later with wands in hand. They sat down at the table and waited for their trainers to come in. "Isn't this exciting, Harry. It's like having the D.A. assembled again in a way." Hermione said beaming at him. He flashed a smile back and nodded.
"Constant Vigilance!" a gravely voice barked from the door. They jumped and turned to see Mad Eye Moody clunking into the kitchen. "Is what you need to be a damn good Auror, and that's not all...you need sharp eyes too." He said and his magical eye whirled around to look at them. "I'm impressed though, Harry. You held the Disillusionment Charm longer than I thought you would. You've got guts, Harry; you'll make a fine Auror one of these days." He said walking over to them and sitting down.
Tonks and Remus walked in and looked at Harry, Hermione and Mad Eye, "Starting the party without us, are you?" Tonks said smiling. She walked over and gave Harry and Hermione a hug and said, "How are you Harry?"
"I'm fine, thank you for everything. I was worried that Voldemort was going to kill my aunt and then do God only knows what to me. I'm glad Dumbledore came when he did." Harry said.
"So am I." Hermione said, but barely audible. Remus looked at her and smiled. Then looked back at Harry and said, "Well shall we go out the back yard?" He walked over to the door and opened it and they paraded out. Hermione was the last to go out; Remus stopped her and said, "I'm glad he's alright too." He smiled at her and put his arm around her and they walked out together.
"Harry, you and Hermione sit down here and take some notes." Mad Eye said as he conjured a table with a few pieces of parchment and quills on it. "We're going to teach you more advance spells than the ones in your school books. We'll even teach you the Unforgivable Curses, if we have to. Here's hoping it doesn't come to that." He said as he lifted his hip flask and took a long pull at it.
"I doubt those will be necessary, Alastor." Remus said as he saw the worried look on Harry's face. "We will be teaching you more advanced spells, hexes, charms, and curses, but they'll only be defensive and offensive as I said before. I think we should start with a simple Shield Charm first. Tonks, would you care to help me demonstrate?"
"I'd be happy to." She said hopping off the table and walking over to him.
"Now the spell for this charm is..." Remus started and Hermione's hand shot up. "Hermione, this isn't an actual class, you needn't raise your hand, just call out the answer."
She blushed and said, "Ok, I'll try to remember that. Protego."
"Very good. I'm sure you went over this in the D.A. but it's an important spell nonetheless. Now, Tonks will cast the stunner on me and I'll deflect it with the Shield Charm. Ready," he said looking at Tonks.
She nodded and said, "Stupefy!" A jet of red light shot from her wand.
"Protego!" Remus shouted at the same time and the spell bounced off the shield. "Would you like to see it one more time?" He asked. Harry and Hermione shook their heads. "Good, now you give it a try. Remember to cast the charm the second your opponent cast the spell." He said.
Harry stood in front of Tonks and held his wand at the ready. "Stupefy!"
"Protego!" Harry shouted and the spell flew off the shield and hit the bushes near by.
"Good, Harry. Now it's your turn Hermione." Remus said.
Hermione stood up and walked over to Tonks, her wand at the ready she waited. "Stupefy!"
"Protego!" The jet of red light flew back towards Tonks and she ducked just in time.
"I think they've got the Shield Charm down, Remus. Why don't we try something else?" Tonks said as she brushed off her robes.
"How about the Disillusionment Charm?" Harry said looking at Hermione. Her eyes got wide and he smiled at her childlike wonder.
"Good idea, Harry." Moody growled. "I'll take this one, Tonks. Now, Hermione let Harry show you how it's done."
Harry stepped back and hit himself on the head with his wand and he started to blend in with the background. "That's amazing Harry." Hermione said. He hit himself again and became visible again.
"Your turn, Mione. Just tap yourself hard on the top of your head." Harry said. "Then you can try it on me."
She hit herself on the head and started the feel the cool oozing running down the sides of her face. She shuddered as it charm finally started to work. "Did it work, can you see me?" She asked.
"You're still a little bit visible, but it's ok. I've been practicing mine, to hide me from Dudley and his gang. I'll try it on you, ok?" She nodded. He tapped her with his wand and she vanished from sight.
"Well done, Harry. Now Hermione you try it on Harry, really concentrate on making him blend in with the verge." Moody said gruffly.
Hermione became visible again after Harry removed the charm and tried it on him. She tapped him with her wand and he started to fade from sight. The look on her face was one of utter concentration and finally he blended in with the background. "I did it, I actually did it!" She said happily.
"Was there ever a doubt?" Harry said. She tapped him again and he became visible.
"Alright, I think that's enough for today, unless there's anything else you two want to go over with them?" Remus asked.
Moody grumbled and said, "There is one thing." He looked hard at Harry and said, "You've done one of the Unforgivable Curses, haven't you boy?" His magic eye was leering at Harry, almost trying to read his mind.
Hermione looked at him with surprise and said, "You didn't, did you?" He looked at the ground and pushed a stone with his foot. "Harry James Potter, look at me." Hermione said angrily. Harry never could resist her for long, and this time he knew he shouldn't, the three name call was usually not a good thing. He looked up at her and nodded. "What?! How could you, you know they're not good. Who did you use it on and which one was it?" She asked, with her hands on her hips. She looked oddly like Mrs. Weasley in that stance.
"After you got hit with that spell that knocked you out, the rest of us ran into another room. There was an arch in the middle that had a veil on it. We started fighting with the Death Eaters and then the Order came to help. Sirius and Bellatrix were fighting near the arch and she stunned him, he fell through and I ran after her after she left the room. When we got to the Atrium I used the Cruciatus Curse on her, it didn't do much because she said I had to take pleasure in it. I wanted to kill her for what she did to Sirius, I wanted her to suffer, but it didn't work." His said, he looked worse than he felt. He could see that he'd disappointed Hermione because he used such a horrid curse.
"Sometimes Aurors have to use them, Hermione. It's the only thing that saves us sometimes." Tonks said remorsefully.
"She's right." Moody growled. "But Hermione is right too. I'm just as surprised as her that you used it."
"After I'd had time to think about it, I realized using it scared the hell out of me. I don't want to stoop to Voldemort's way of doing things. I want to learn how to defend myself the way Professor Dumbledore did, it was the single most amazing display of magic I've ever seen."
"Tom Riddle is just as powerful as I am, Harry. I will teach you what I can, but you must promise me that you will never use any the Unforgivable Curses again." Dumbledore said from the back door. "I've decided to join you in your training, and I've also come to ask the head of the D.A. if I could sit in on your meetings. Since of course it is named after me, and it does imply that I'm the one running it." He said warmly and smiled.
"I would be honored if you'd sit in on our meetings, sir. I guess this means you're going to let the D.A. stay?" Harry asked.
"I wouldn't dream of taking away something as important as this. The reason I've come is to make an announcement. We have a new member of the Order starting today and he will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year." He turned towards the door and said, "You may come out Dorian."
A man emerged from the house dressed in black robes with a silver trim. He walked with a bit of a limp and leaned on a cane with a unique handle that resembled the claw of a griffin surrounding a crystal ball. For a moment, Harry thought he was looking at Lucius Malfoy. The man's hair was jet black with streaks of gray on the sides and pulled back into a ponytail just at the nap of his neck. His eyes were the same green as Harry's and danced with life. He smiled at the assembly of people and said, "Hello, my name is Dorian Drake. I'm very pleased to meet you all, you most of all, Harry." He extended his hand to Harry who took his hand shook it.
"Dorian, it's nice to see you again." Remus said. "It's been far too long. I'm surprised you hadn't owled me to tell me you were coming back."
"I'm truly sorry, Remus. Albus insisted I keep this a secret. I'm also sorry we lost touch with each other. When I heard about Sirius I tried to come, but I wasn't able to get away, father wanted my help to decode an ancient text and he simply wouldn't let me leave."
"Shall we adjourn to the drawing room, where we can be a bit more comfortable?" Albus asked. He waved his hand and the table Alastor had conjured vanished. The parchments Harry and Hermione had barely written on vanished too. They walked into the house and to the drawing room. Everyone stopped at the door when they saw that it didn't look the same as when they'd arrived. "I did a bit of redecorating, while you were outside. What do you think?"
The room was beautiful, the floors shined, the fireplace crackled merrily and the whole room had completely changed. The old dusty couch had been replaced with a squishy red couch that looked like it had been taken from the Gryffindor Common Room. A beautiful rug now adorned the floor in front of the fireplace, which had a floral Victorian pattern to it. At the far end of the room, there was a small sitting area that resembled Albus' office at Hogwarts. There were two overstuffed arm chairs flanking a spindly table that had a wizard chess set resting on it. At the other end of the room was a card table that had pumpkin cakes, plates, and a pot of tea, cups and a pitcher pumpkin juice on it. Albus waved his hand and goblets appeared, "I knew I'd forgotten something. Tuck in everyone."
They walked over to the table and started filling goblets and cups with tea and juice, and filled their plates with cake. Taking seats around the room they stated talking to Dorian. "My father, Phineas Drake..."
"You're the son of the Phineas Drake. The world's foremost researcher of Defense Against the Dark Arts." Hermione said with an air astonishment.
"Mione, you'll catch flies if you keep your mouth open like that." Harry teased.
She hit him and said, "Stow it, Potter. I'm sorry Professor Drake; you'll have to excuse Harry. He has the tendency to misplace his tact sometimes."
Harry took a bite of cake and purposely looked up with a mouthful of cake and said, "I do not." Crumbs falling out of his mouth. Hermione gave an exasperated sigh and took a sip of juice.
Harry swallowed and said, "Professor Drake, did you go to Hogwarts? You seem to know Remus pretty well."
Dorian put his plate down and said, "I was a Marauder until the end of my fifth year at Hogwarts. Then my father and I moved to Sweden and I lost touch with them. Remus and I wrote back and forth over the years, and of course I heard about Voldemort's defeat when you were but a year old. Remus was right; you do look very much like your father, and from what Albus told me you are very much like him."
"So what's the old man up to, Talon?" Remus asked.
"Talon?" Harry said.
"That was my nickname, I helped you father and Sirius master their Animagus training. I was already a registered Animagus when I started at Hogwarts. My father believed in teaching magic at an early age. He always said that a wizard should have some skills when they started at school. I've heard that Miss. Granger is the cleverest witch of her time, I assume that you started your reading before you started at Hogwarts?"
"Yes, I find it all so very fascinating," Hermione said, her eyes alight with elation.
"Albus tells me that you and Harry's mother, Lily are not too different. You both share the same hunger for knowledge." She nodded vigorously. "You and I will have to talk sometime, Hermione. I think you'd find my notes very interesting," Dorian said.
"Dorian, I think we should let Hermione be for a while, if she blushes anymore she'll be able to act as the heating source in here instead of the fire," Albus said laughing a bit. Hermione blushed harder.
"My apologies, Miss Granger," Dorian said. "Now Harry, I hear you had a run in with Voldemort."
"Yes, he came to my aunt and uncle's house," Harry said taking a drink of pumpkin juice.
"I'm going to help Albus go over the protection on the house, to try and see where it went wrong. Harry, I'd like to talk to you after the meeting tonight," Dorian said taking a sip of his tea.
"I'd like that very much, sir," Harry said. Just then there was a clatter in the kitchen, Remus went to see what it was and came back moments later with the Weasleys. "Ron, good to see you mate," Harry said shaking his friend's hand. Hermione gave him a quick hug and smiled, and then she ran over to talk to Ginny.
"Arthur, Molly...this is Dorian Drake. He'll be filling the position as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year," Albus said.
"You do know that job is cursed right?" Ron asked without thinking. Hermione elbowed him in the ribs, "What?!"
"I've been told that no teacher lasts more than a year. I hope to break that cycle; I'd very much like to make Hogwarts my home again," He said cheerfully and clapped Ron on the back.
Harry looked up and realized that Kreacher wasn't around. "Remus," Harry said quietly. "Where's Kreacher. I've noticed he's not around that much,"
Remus pulled him aside and said, "We found him in Buckbeak's room, but it wasn't a pretty sight. I think Buckbeak got mad after he'd been injured and decided to go after Kreacher. The door was off the hinges and we saw Kreacher's body in a bloody heap on the floor in the corner,"
Harry couldn't help but smile, "I know it's not right, but I'm happy he's gone,"
"So am I Harry. I'm also glad the picture of Sirius's mother is gone too. We had to blast the wall apart to remove it, and Albus took down the tapestry too, see?" Remus said pointing to the wall. "It's so much quieter here without that infernal picture," he added smiling.
After they'd visited with Dorian Drake he left saying he'd be back the meeting, but wouldn't be able to attend dinner because he wanted to get some of his classroom supplies. Molly cooked dinner and they had a wonderful meal, roast beef, potatoes, carrots, and for dessert, a delicious lemon tort. After the dishes were cleared away they adjourned to the dinning room, where all the Order meetings were held. They had their dessert during the meeting along with tea and butterbeer and pumpkin juice.
"I would like to present a new member of the Order of the Phoenix, Dorian Drake," Albus said standing up with Dorian. "He has finally come back to England after a long time away and has decided to take the only open position at Hogwarts." There was a collective clap for Dorian and he bowed slightly to his new colleagues.
"I'm very happy to be inducted to the Order. I've been in contact with Albus and he told me about the opening in both places and I came as soon as I could get away," His face dropped a little as he saw crestfallen faces around the room and continued, "I would also like to make a toast, to Sirius Black. He was an old friend, and a damn good man. Cheers." He said raising his glass, everyone followed suit and he went on. "I will help as best as I can to see that Voldemort is stopped. No more innocent lives shall be lost because of him," his eyes were on Harry as he said this. He took his seat again and the meeting commenced.
Harry recanted the events of that night at Privet Drive and bits of what happened at the Ministry of Magic. He left out Dumbledore's telling of the Prophecy and what happened in the Atrium. It was nearing eleven o'clock and the meeting had just broken, Dorian having told them of his research into ancient magic and spells, potions and other things that he and his father had discovered. When the members of the Order left for the evening Albus took Harry aside and said, "Harry, I'm going against my better judgment in doing this, but I'm going to allow you, Miss. Granger and Mr. Weasley into the Order," Harry's eyes lit up. "That doesn't mean that you'll be attending every meeting, but you three will be privy to any and all information we have. And it will stay between the three of you, is that understood?" Harry nodded. "Alright then, go and tell Hermione and Ron," he said smiling at Harry. Harry ran to tell him friends their good news and to tell Ron about the continuation of the D.A.
The arrival of Dorian Drake was a great relief to some members of the Order, but to one it was more of a curiosity. Alastor Moody had his doubts, it seemed odd that just a few weeks ago Harry was nearly attacked by Voldemort and several Death Eaters in a potentially safe place, and here they have a new member of the Order and Hogwarts has a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. "Albus, how do you know we can trust Dorian? He's involved in Dark Arts research, we don't know that's he's not planning something with that git," Moody growled.
"Alastor, I trust Dorian as I trust Remus and Severus. He has showed his accolades as a good man and he will be a fine teacher. I will watch him very closely if you feel there is something odd about him," Albus said reassuringly.
Alastor said, "You'd do well to. I'm not an Auror and I'm still alive because my instincts have failed me, and this is one of those times," his eye whirled around to the back of his head and saw that Dorian was standing behind them.
"That's some eye you got there, Alastor," he said walking up next to him. Moody's eye never left him. "I have excellent hearing, and I'll reassure you that I'm not in league with Voldemort or the Death Eaters. My family may be pure blood but we don't share the same views as most pure blood families. Sirius had the misfortune of being present for muggle and half blood bashing, he told me how his parents used to carry on. I will do my best to watch over Harry and his friends, when Albus or any member of the Order for that matter can't. I'm as much as part of it as they are, and I've fought my share of Death Eaters," He said grimly patting his leg. "Twisted my knee the whole way around and broke my leg. Did it nine times before I could muster the strength to throw the bastard back. After that I had my wand built into my cane, not the way Lucius Malfoy has his but its inside,"
Alastor nodded in acknowledgement and said, "I'm sorry for not trusting you, but you've got to keep him safe. No telling what those bloody bastards would do if they got their hands on him,"
After everyone finally left, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were sitting in the drawing room with Remus and Tonks. Harry and Ron were playing chess by the window and Remus was watching. Tonks and Hermione were talking about the coming year and how exciting it would be study under such a decorated researcher of defensive magic. Ginny had gone to bed and twins were in the kitchen working on one of their joke candies. Molly and Arthur were outside talking about the events at Privet Drive and the rest of the house was quite.
"Checkmate," Ron said smiling as his queen battered Harry's king. "Good game, mate. You almost had me,"
"I would have had you if someone hadn't changed their strategy half way through the game," Harry said scathingly, with a joking tone.
Hermione and Tonks stood up and Tonks said, "Well I'm going home. I'll see you the day after tomorrow; we'll be training again then."
Remus walked over to her and said, "Are you sure, you don't want to resume training tomorrow?"
Tonks nodded and said, "Mad Eye wants to go on patrol tomorrow, all day. So we can try and find more Death Eaters and try to find out more about what You-Know-Who is up to. Well I'm off, good night all,"
"I'll walk you out," Remus said as he followed her to the entrance hall.
Ron yawned and stretched and said, "I think I'll turn in too, it's been a long day. Harry you coming up?"
"I'll be up in a bit Ron," Harry said as Ron left the room. He walked over and sat down next to Hermione and said, "What do you think about being made members of the Order?"
Hermione shrugged and said, "I think I saw it coming. Think about it, Harry. Dumbledore asked us to attend the meeting; I don't think it was because of what happened. I think he knows the mistake he made and wants to correct it. I know how you hated being in the dark last summer, I think he's trying to atone for it."
Harry smiled at her and put his arms around her and said, "Why are you so clever, Mione?"
She flashed a dazzling smile and said, "I guess it just comes naturally. I've always been this way, if you're not used to it by now too bad." She finished crossing her arms and putting in a hurt look.
They burst into fits of laughter. She hugged him and he said, "I could never tire of your cleverness, Miss Granger. It's gotten my hide saved more than once. But I felt defenseless when you got hit with that spell in the Department of Mysteries, and then Sirius fell and I...I felt alone. Ron had been turned into a blithering idiot by those brains. When I ran after Bellatrix, I didn't really have a plan. I would have used my bare hands but I knew that would have only gotten me killed. I wanted her to feel the same thing I felt, I wanted her to hurt as much as I did. That's why I used the Cruciatus Curse on her."
Hermione's eyes were shining with tears and she leaned into Harry and said, "I'm sorry, I should have been more on guard than I was."
"No, you don't have to be sorry. If I hadn't dragged you and the others there, none of this would have happened and Sirius would still be..." he said trailing off.
Hermione took his face in her hands and said, "Stop blaming yourself for that. It was us that went with you; you didn't force us to go. We're your friends Harry; we'll stick by you no matter what." She pulled him into a firm hug and kissed him lightly on the cheek, then ran her fingers through his hair. His stomach felt fluttery as she ran her fingers through his hair and held him close. "Never think that we'll abandon you. I'll always be here for you." She smiled at him and kissed him again. Then she stood up and said, "I think I'm going to turn in," She held out her hand and said, "Coming?"
He took her hand they made their way out of the drawing room. Hand in hand they mounted the stairs and walked up when they got to their rooms they had one last good night hug and went to bed.