Chapter 44. Requiescat En Pacem

"Look!" called Tonks' chipper voice from the drawing room.  "I'm walking!" 

"Look!" Harry said from behind the large silver tray as he turned from the hallway into the room.  "I've got a humongous tray—so don't walk into me!" 

"Oh!  Harry's a house elf today!" Tonks cried as she attempted to clear off the dining table to make room for the tray.  

"What is all that?" Harry asked curiously as he set the laden tray down and watched as Tonks scrambled to sweep parchment scrolls from the table and managing to knock several on the floor. 

"Here, let me," Remus said as he quickly helped her. 

Harry noted the scrolls, at least a dozen or so, all looked like the familiar size of those sent via the Order's cauldrons.  His eyes narrowed as he asked, "Did something happen?  What're all those about?"

"Nothing new," Remus said firmly.  "There's just a bunch of updates from Monday's activities and a few notes about when people plan to arrive." 

"Should I have a look?" Harry asked; but Remus was already shaking his head and tucking the scrolls away into the writing desk. 

Remus had been insisting that Harry concentrate on the Celebration the past few days and just let the Order business wait.  "There's nothing that needs immediate attending to," he said.  "However, I'm starving and that needs to be attended to."

"Me too!" Tonks said, as she pulled up the silver tray cover and narrowly missed clocking Remus in the head with it.  "Oops!  Sorry—been away from food for almost two days; I'm a bit feral." 

Remus wrested the tray cover from Tonks as she made a grab for toast and sausages.  Harry smiled at her enthusiasm and then looked up to see Hermione and her parents walk into the room.  Mr. Granger, still looking a bit unsteady, was grumbling about having to be escorted by Hermione and his wife at either side. 

"Philip," Mrs. Granger laughed.  "You stumbled out on your own just a day ago and Harry had to help you remain upright long enough to get you back to bed!"

Mr. Granger mumbled something incoherent as Harry pulled out a chair for him.   His eyes flicked up to Harry as he braced himself on the chair back before lowering himself to sit. "Thanks," he mumbled. 

"Shwhadimus?" Tonks asked with a mouthful of something.  She swallowed with a gulp, looked up and asked, "Where's mumsy?"

Mrs. Granger looked up then from her spot beside her husband and said, "Oh, she was feeling a bit peaked this morning and went back to have a lie in this morning.  Something from dinner last night mustn't have sat well with her.  I'm sure she'll be fine."

Tonks turned to Hermione who took a seat beside Harry, across from her parents.  "Oh, so how's the hall looking?  Ready for the big celebration?"

"Oh, wonderful," Hermione said beaming.  "Harry and I worked all day yesterday and it looks brilliant!"  She turned to her father then and said, "Now Dad, I'm not sure how much Mum has told you, but we're hosting a huge event here tonight.  It's called a Celebration."

This was the first meal Mr. Granger had attended since the infamous first dinner.  Mrs. Granger had found him awake the night before when she turned in and they'd rustled up a late night meal for him.  Hermione's mother had sent Hermione away and assured her that she would take care of her husband—both in helping him eat and in making sure he backed off about his daughter's life in general. 

Hermione had been expressing a fair bit of concern to her mother the past day or so about her dad possibly making trouble for her and Harry if he were awake at the Celebration.  Now, as Hermione and her mother began to explain the day's events in grand detail, Harry assumed it was as much to convince Mr. Granger to control his fatherly impulses, as it was to ensure he wouldn't have a chance to interject any words himself. 

"Oi, Harry," Tonks said, slurping her cream with coffee.  "You're going to save me a dance tonight, aren't you?"  Tonks screwed up her face, her short black hair growing into long blond tendrils and, as she opened her now stunningly pale blue eyes, she batted them flirtatiously at Harry. 

Harry just laughed. 

"What?  Not how you like a girl?" Tonks asked and then turned to stare intently at Hermione.  The shiny blond hair darkened into a multi-hued brown and grew in volume until it rivalled Hermione's bushy mane.  Tonks' narrow slim nose shortened to Hermione's and her skin tone went from pale ivory to a rosy cream.  She opened her eyes, now brown, and batted them at Harry.  "Better?"

Harry folded his hands beneath his chin and looked at the Hermione-look-alike with a soft smile.  "Lips—they're not full enough," he said.

Tonks looked narrow-eyed at Hermione for a second, checking if Harry was right and conceded with a nod before smacking her lips and making them morph. 

Harry smiled as Tonks puckered her lips at him.  "Your eyes need more… too dark.  They should be lighter—more gold."  Tonks changed again and Harry next corrected, "Eyelashes are longer."

Tonks rolled her eyes, lengthened her lashes and then stood up, sticking out her chest.  "Everything else a right match, Harry?" she asked salaciously, making Harry and Hermione both blush bright red.

Tiredly, Remus said, "Nymphadora, don't make me send you to your room."

Tonks scowled at Remus, her true form returning.  "Don't think you're not dancing with me, too, Lupin," she said threateningly as she snagged a rasher of bacon and stalked out the room. 

"Well," said Mrs. Granger politely, "I'm sure that makes for quite the party trick." 

"Mum, I'm going to go call the Weasleys and see if perhaps Bill or Mr. Weasley can't bring over a set of dress robes for dad to borrow," Hermione said as she folded her napkin and pushed her plate away.  "Don't forget, you've got to pick one out from Andy's wardrobe. 

"Dress robes?" Mr. Granger said with a wary look at his daughter.  "I have to wear a dress?" He laughed shortly then and shook his head, saying, "Oh no, no, no—I do not think so!"

"It's not a dress, Dad," Hermione said as she stood up and prepared to leave the drawing room.  "Besides, you wouldn't want to be the only one standing out like a sore thumb, now would you?"

Remus also stood now and looked to Harry as he said, "I'm going to sort through the rest of the post and send off a letter to Albus.  You're sure there's nothing else we need from him now?"

Harry just shook his head as Remus smiled and left the room.  Harry had been perfectly content eating his breakfast but suddenly, as he realized he was now alone in the room with both Mr. and Mrs. Granger, his stomach felt rather too queasy to accept food. 

Mrs. Granger smiled at Harry and he tried to remind himself that he knew he was safe as long as she was around.  "So, Harry, Hermione tells us you're a bit nervous about this event tonight?"

Harry swallowed.  When did his mouth get so dry?  "Not nervous so much really," he said.  "Just… I've never done it before.  I've never seen one of these before and well, I have to do the main part and I don't know what to expect.  So, yeah," he laughed, "I guess that means I am nervous."

"Oh, but everyone here goes on about how you're simply a brilliant wizard," she said beaming at him fondly.  "I'm sure you'll do splendidly.  I know I'm most excited to witness this ritual.  Hermione's told us that the spell you'll use tonight is one from which Christianity draws some of its liturgical roots.  It's absolutely fascinating the influences the Wizarding world has had on our common world.  Don't you think Philip?" she prompted her husband.

"Um, fascinating," he said dryly, sipping his coffee and narrowing his eyes at Harry.

Mrs. Granger laughed at her husband.  "Now, Dear…do you need another nap to improve your mood?"  Mr. Granger just glared at his wife.

Harry took advantage of having Mr. Granger's glare being directed away from him and spoke.  "I know Tonks was very sorry for causing you trouble, Mr. Granger.  She said it's how she's been used to dealing with some of her father's muggle relations."

Mr. Granger turned from his wife and gave Harry an unreadable look as he said, "Yes, well my own daughter must have thought it was the right way to go, too as she was the second person to try to control me."

"You know, Philip, I think there's a very plain lesson to be learned from all this," Mrs. Granger said pointedly.  He gave her a wary look and she went on.  "Hermione—all these people in this world—they can control us all they want and we would never know the difference."  She turned to Harry then, saying, "It's true, isn't it Harry?"

Harry, not really thinking this was the best thing to point out, paused and then had no choice but to nod along and mumble, "More or less, I suppose." 

Mrs. Granger set down her teacup and looked off towards the window ass she said, "It's one thing to have a headstrong child who you need to realize you just can't control anymore and that they're ready and willing to live their own life regardless of what their parents have to say about it.  But us, having a daughter who is a witch…" She looked back to the table now.  "She's always had an especially stubborn streak, but the fact is—if we tried to be just as stubborn and forbid her to live in this world or to live out her decisions, then she'd just make us forget everything that made us feel that way and there'd be nothing we could do."

Mr. Granger did not seem to be taking well to this 'reasoning' from his wife. "Now I hardly think—"

"No, Philip, there's nothing to think about it.  Hermione's told me.  Their world supports her.  If they believe someone 's family might cause a problem between our two worlds then their Ministry will take it as a serious matter and handle any 'threats'.  Even if she was still a student, the school and Ministry wouldn't believe it safe for a half-educated witch to be forcibly taken from this world where she'd be likely to perform all sorts of uncontrollable and possibly dangerous magic."

"It's true," Hermione said quietly, walking back into the room and sighing deeply before sitting back down.  She looked to her father pleadingly and said, "I'm a witch and always will be.  It would be incredibly dangerous for everyone involved if a magical person or child was never educated about their powers." 

Mr. Granger looked from Hermione, to his wife, to Harry and back to Hermione again.  He sighed heavily and plaintively said to her, "I always thought of this magic as your gift.  A gift you'd be able to go off and learn about and then come back and use it to help people somehow."

Hermione smiled and snuck a glance at Harry.  "It is, Dad," she said quietly.

"But it sounds like you're off to live in this world forever and that you want to distance yourself from us forever!"

Hermione bit her lip and looked down.  Mrs. Granger reached out to her daughter and squeezed her hand as she said, "Philip, we need to accept that this is her world." 

"You'll always be my mum and dad," Hermione said quietly as Harry studiously studied the tablecloth.  He was used to witnessing the Dursleys' undeserved bouts of pride in their 'Duddykins' and even used to seeing the smothering fussing of Mrs. Weasley over her family but he'd never witnessed a heartfelt and almost physically painfully emotional exchange such as this one now.  He wished he could just slip away unnoticed and unmissed but he knew his absence would be more obvious than his presence right now.  He forced his mind to mentally list the things he had to do today, trying to stop the lump in his throat from forcing its way up.  He was relieved when Hermione reached out to his hand and asked, "Are you going to shower this morning yet?"

He shook his wandering thoughts from his mind and said, "Oh, yes.  I should go do that." His eyes flickered up across the table.  "If you'll excuse me then," he said as Mrs. Granger smiled warmly.

He rose as Hermione suggested, "Perhaps you should try to nap, Dad, to make sure you're not likely to nod off this evening."  As Harry left the room, he heard all three Grangers exchanging more or less good-natured teasing all at the expense of Mr. Granger. 

Harry wrapped the towel tight around his waist and myopically felt around for his glasses on the sink.  He slid them on, scooped up his wand and his pile of clothes that he'd been wearing and flung open the door.  The jet of red light hit him before he even realized what it was.  

"H-Harry?" a quiet voice said as Harry felt someone kneel beside him. 

He cracked open his eyes and--"Neville?  What the—" Neville, looking mortified, was holding his wand and kneeling on one knee beside Harry and warily eyeing the prone and unmoving form of Moody. 

"I—he…he just Stunned you out of nowhere!" Neville said.  He looked back and began to help Harry up to his feet.  "Harry—he just stopped and waited and…and then he cursed you before you even had the door open.  So—so I Stunned him." 

Harry couldn't tell whether Neville was more stunned at what Moody had done or that he, Neville, had managed to catch unawares the legendary ex-Auror.  But there it was; Moody caught off his guard after trying to catch Harry off his.  Harry grinned, checked his towel and that he had his wand and pushed his glasses up his nose.  "Watch this," he said to Neville.  Harry pointed his wand at Moody and muttered, "Baton invertare pierna." 

He watched as Moody's wand, which had been clutched in his hand, switched places with his peg leg.  For whatever reason, that trick just amused Harry to no end.  Neville took a step back and Harry turned to him.  "Thanks for that, Neville.  He'd have had me if it weren't for you."

Neville just looked at Harry, trying to gauge why Harry wasn't taking this more seriously.  "But—is that—I mean isn't—"

"That Moody?" Harry asked, still grinning.  "Yeah, and he always tries to catch me off my guard."  Harry, leaning over to pick up his clothes from the floor, jerked his head towards Moody as he said, "But watch now as he wakes up."

Harry and Neville could see Moody's eyes snap open and then one arm whipped forward to point at them unerringly, his own peg-leg.  "Argh!  Damn you, Potter!" Moody growled as he jabbed his leg out towards Harry, setting off sparks. 

Harry dodged them easily by hopping.  "And you're supposed to be training me?" Harry said, laughing as Moody yanked his wand off of his leg. 

"Eh—don't go getting a swollen head, there, Potter.  I'd have had you there if it weren't for Longbottom."  Moody said as he reattached his wooden leg.  He looked up at Neville then and said, "Hell of a stunner there, Laddie, hell of a stunner.  Now give me a hand." 

Neville helped Moody up from the floor and stammered, "S-sorry about that, Professor Moody."

"Not a problem," Moody said as he dusted himself off.  "But you call me 'Professor' one more time, I'll test out your reflexes."  Moody's electric blue eye swivelled around in its socket then and he said, "Ah, I see Lupin in the library.  Later."

"Er, how about you give me a minute, Neville?" Harry said indicating his state of undress.  He nodded across the hall and said, "Check out in there.  Hermione and I did all that yesterday for the Celebration.  I'll be right back."

Harry unceremoniously dumped his dirty clothes in the corner and pulled open his wardrobe.  He quickly threw on a pair of black trousers and a white shirt.  He then grabbed a pair of socks and hurried out of his room, across the hallway and into the bedecked practice hall. Neville was standing near the center and looking about the hall. 

"What do you think?" Harry asked as he pulled out a chair and sat in order to pull on his socks. 

"Nice, Harry.  What is this room anyway?  A ballroom?"

"Nah," Harry said, switching to the other foot now.  "It used to be bedrooms—Sirius' mum and dad's if I recall.  He tore them up and gutted them.  He redid the whole house last year."  Harry stood up now and walked over to Neville, still surveying the room.  "The whole house used to be a real Slytherin-esque motif but, as you might have seen, it's swapped its silver and green for red and gold now."

"I noticed," Neville said with a small laugh. 

"Yeah, so this—" Harry gestured around the room, "—I can't recall if Sirius knew what he wanted to do with it or what but, well, he never finished this space off.   Hermione, Remus and Tonks went at it this summer so we'd have a place to train in here.  Have you met Tonks?"

"Er, I don't think so," Neville said.  As Harry looked at Neville, he was suddenly surprised to see that they were now of equal height.  Neville had always been the only boy in their year that had always been consistently shorter than Harry.  "Say, Harry, I wanted to thank you—for inviting me," Neville said earnestly.  "And Luna, too.  You didn't have to—"

"Course I did," Harry said matter-of-factly.  "You went with me—both of you did when I…when I set off to help Sirius."  Harry sighed deeply and added, "You guys didn't have to go.  You didn't have risk your own lives for someone who, for all you knew was a wanted mass murderer.  Thanks—thanks for that."

Neville looked down at the floor and nodded.  He was scuffing the bottom of his shoe across the polished wood floor and Harry noticed he had a rucksack over his shoulder. 

"So," Harry said as he gestured for Neville to follow him. "How was your trip with Moody?  I didn't know when you'd be arriving."  Harry led Neville across the hall and into his room. 

"Oh, it was alright.  He and Gran are old friends and they visited for a while before we left."

"Have a seat," Harry said.  "How'd you get here then?"

Neville looked about Harry's room and took one of the chairs by the fireplace.  "We took the Knight Bus."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, but the driver looked at me like I was mad when he asked my name.  Said he knew I wasn't who I said I was," Neville said frowning. 

Harry suppressed a guilty grin. "Odd," was all he said.  "So how was your Christmas?"  As soon as the words left his mouth, Harry wanted to drag them back in.  Neville and his Gran had always gone to visit Neville's parents in St. Mungo's on Christmas pasts.  However, this year would have been the first year they could not have done that as the Longbottoms had disappeared last Halloween with not a clue as to where they'd gone.  "Sorry," Harry said.  "Never mind."

Neville looked up quickly and said, "No—it's okay.  I mean, yeah it was…probably the worst holiday ever but…that's why I'm glad you invited me here.  It's depressing at home now.  I'm…I'm just glad to get out for a bit."  Neville shrugged and then asked excitedly, "So where are we?  This is the Headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix?  Do you live here?"

Harry laughed softly and dropped down his shoes as he sat across from Neville on the sofa.  "Unfortunately, I only can live here part of the time.  But yes, this is the headquarters and has been since the summer after our fourth year.  I suppose you and Luna will know that much at least.  She's supposed to be arriving with the Weasleys anytime now," Harry said as he checked the clock. 

"Who is all coming?" Neville asked. "The entire Order of the Phoenix?  Gran said my mum and dad joined less than a year out of school.  Are you in the Order if you're staying here?  Oh, and I already know Moody told me anything I learn here or about the Order is top secret."

Harry smiled slightly.  "Well, everyone who was in the old Order—when your parents were in it—will be here.  Everyone who's left, that is.  The Weasleys are newer members and they're all coming of course.  Tonks—she was too young to be in the old Order and she's also Sirius' cousin's daughter.  Her mum, Andromeda, is here too.  Her dad was a muggleborn who was just recently killed during the Halloween attacks.  Tonks is an Auror—you'll like her."  Harry stood up after tying his shoes and said, "Come on, I'll show you around.  Did you run into anyone else on your way upstairs?" 

"No."

"Okay, remember Professor Lupin?  He's here.  He lives here.  Oh—I suppose I should start with the house.  It was Sirius' house growing up but his family's mostly gone.  When the Order reconvened a year and half ago, he gave it over to Dumbledore to use for the Order.  It already had all sorts of enchantments and spells on it to keep it hidden so it was perfect.  Well, besides being a filthy pit, it was perfect.  No one had lived in it for over ten years." 

Harry led Neville around and gave the history of how Grimmauld Place became headquarters and became what it is today.   He paused a moment in the drawing room with his eye on the magnificent twinkling tree that blocked the view of the Black family tapestry—the only stubbornly remaining remnant of the House of Black.  He skipped over that detail in his tour. 

Tonks was busy trying out hairstyles for the night and her mum was holding up various dress robes for Mrs. Granger to select and borrow for the evening.  Hermione was helping her mother decide and her father was back to napping for the afternoon.  Harry was just leading Neville down the stairs from the second floor into the entry hall when a voice rang out from below.

"Oy!  Anybody here!" Ron's voice called out.  "Ow—Mum!  What'd you do that for?"

"Because you're loud and obnoxious," Ginny's smug voice announced. 

"Ron—hush!  Ginny—apologize."

"I'm sorry you're loud and obnoxious, Ron," Ginny said without a hint of remorse.

"In with you—all of you.  Come on--move it forward!" Mrs. Weasley said harshly. 

Harry couldn't help but grin as he jogged down the steps, towards the sound of arriving Weasleys.

"Everyone accounted for?" Mrs. Weasley asked as Mr. Weasley shut the door behind them.  "One, two, three—"

"I'm here," Luna said serenely as she stepped out from behind Ron, who was stomping snow off his feet, and looked up at Harry.  "Hello, Harry.  Thank you for inviting me," she said as Neville and Harry descended the stairs.  "Hello, Neville," she said with a beatific smile.   

"Hiya, Luna," Neville said as he quickly rushed to assist her as she Luna shrugged off her cloak and waited for him to take it.  "Oh, sorry," he said to her as he caught it just as it began to slip. 

"Ron—move it!" Ginny said, tugging the end of her cloak from beneath Ron's feet.  "You're on my cloak!"

"What's it doing down there?" Ron demanded. 

"Getting trampled by your clodhoppers, that's what!"

"Oh, you two!" Mrs. Weasley said frowning at them. 

Mr. Weasley was taking her cloak and smiled as he saw Harry.  "Hello Harry!  Everything going smoothly?  Where do you want our cloaks?" 

"Cloaks in here," Harry said gesturing into the dining room, through the archway that once used to be the wall holding up the infamous Mrs. Black's portrait.  "Through the Sirius Black Memorial Archway," he said with a smile. 

Ron laughed as he checked out the arch.  "Yeah, last time I saw this, the plaster was still falling in chunks, remember?"

Ginny turned to Neville and Luna and explained, "There used to be this portrait here of Mrs. Black—Sirius' mother—and she was a real ber—"

"Vir-ginia!" Mrs. Weasley rounded with an armful of cloaks.

"—er—piece of work," she said before she mouthed the word 'bitch' behind her mother.  "Anyway, the portrait was permanently stuck to the wall and for over a year, no one could remove the thing.  Every time someone would come in the house or make a peep she would screech filthy insults—"

Ron cut in with a shrill, high voice, saying, "Filth! Scum!  Blood-traitors!  Foul!"

Ginny nodded.  "Only worse.  And she hated Sirius—"

"Loathed," Harry offered.

"Right—she was wretched to him.   Anyway, she got away with being a bit—" Ginny eyed her mother, "—bit of a pain in the rear until Harry blasted the whole thing to bits—wall and all."  Ginny clasped her hands in front of her chest and mocked batting her eyelashes at Harry as she said, "Sirius would have been so proud." 

Harry just looked at her and smirked.  "You've been hanging around the twins too long."

Harry was then caught in a rib-crushing hug from Mrs. Weasley who said, "Oh, hello dear, now that my arms are free I can give you a proper greeting."  Harry wheezed and she finally let go.  "You're getting to be so tall now, Harry," she said misty-eyed and looking up at him.  "Where is everyone dear?"

"Oh, Tonks and her mum were working on lending Mrs. Granger a set of robes for the evening.  Hermione said she Floo'd you earlier to bring a set to lend to her dad?"

"Oh, yes," Mrs. Weasley said, brushing away a few ginger strands of cat hair from Harry's shirt.  "From the measurements she gave me, Bill seemed like the best fit and we brought one of his.  We can charm it to adjust to size if need be.  Come along now, let's see if we can't get this place ready."

Harry frowned as she marched past him and up the stairs.  They'd been working for nearly two straight days getting the house ready.   What else did she think there was to do?  He was glad Hermione and Remus weren't here to hear that comment or they'd all be grumbling. 

"Hey, mate, guess what?" Ron said, clapping Harry on the shoulder.  He was grinning slyly and making sure his mum was out of sight before he turned to Harry and said, "Fred and George said they'd sneak me some Firewhiskey in Butterbeer bottles tonight.  Whatdya say we do this thing right?" 

Harry did his best to look down his nose at the taller Ron.  "Hmm, let's see," Harry said, crossing his arms and pretending to think.  "Hermione's here, Hermione's parents are here, our Head of House will be here, Professor Dumbledore will be here, nearly the entire Order will be here and I've got a live connect to—well, I think I'd just as well keep my wits about me, thanks."

Ron just grumbled, "You're no fun."

"Where're Bill and Charlie?  And Fleur?"  Harry asked, laughing at Ron.

"Coming separately," Ginny said.  "As are the twins.  Harry—we all need to put on our dress robes and get ready yet, as do you, it looks.  Where should we go?"

"Same place we always go?" Ron said mockingly to his sister as if she were mad.

"No, mate," Harry said.  "Tonks and her mum are staying here as are the Grangers.  Let's go all the way up.  Ginny and Luna can use Hermione's room and we can go to mine." 

"We'd have been here sooner," Ron said as they trudged upstairs.  "But because Percy heard us all say we'd see you on Saturday, he came back to the house and was hanging around and asking where we're going.  He even asked to come along.  Can you imagine?  Percy coming to a Celebration for Sirius Black?"  Ron guffawed. 

"Ginny!  Luna!"  Hermione called excitedly as they came to the second floor. "You're here!  Oh dear, we've only got two hours to get ready," she bemoaned, looking at her wristwatch.  "Harry, take Ginny and Luna to my room to change.  I'll be there after I try and wake Dad and give him the robes Mrs. Weasley brought."

Ron was just shaking his head.  "Two hours?  What do you need two hours to get ready for?"

Ginny scoffed at him and led the way upstairs.  "Ron, just because you don't like to look good, doesn't mean the rest of us don't." 

The girls hurried off and sequestered themselves in Hermione's room with Ginny giggling the entire time. 

Ron and Neville went back with Harry to his room to lounge and mainly listen to Ron talk about Christmas at the Burrow.  He spent a fair amount of time describing the food he ate with fondness and then took great delight in telling Neville about his brother Percy. 

"Oh, we interrogated the prat after you got out of the fire, Harry.  Bill and Dad got in on asking him how he could do a non-public award for the honour; even it was only Third Class.  At first he said it was his idea to give it to you personally and not in some public thing because he said he knew you didn't like the attention."

"Order of Merlin," Neville whispered, still shaking his head and looking at Harry with awe.

"Yeah, and then, when Bill starts in on how the nomination got through without there being any press announcements, Percy slips and admits, 'oh, that's what I meant.  I'm awarding him the nomination for the honour.'  Can you believe that?"  Ron parroted Percy saying, "Once the Minister endorses a recommendation, it's but a technicality for the rest to endorse it."

Harry just shook his head.  "Whatever, I'd rather not have to see Percy at all if it's just the same."

"Order of Merlin," Neville breathed out again.  

"Yeah, and I think he just wanted to find out where the Order's headquarters are," Ron said darkly.  "Chess?" 

Neville, Ron and Harry remained hanging out in Harry's room as the girls could be heard making trips to and from the bathrooms from Hermione's room and shrieking and giggling an awful lot.  Ron refused to even face the open doorway of the room after he'd caught a glimpse of Ginny running past wearing only a bra and towel around her waist. 

The twins showed up about an hour later as Harry was figuring that he ought to throw on his dress robes.  Ron hadn't stopped nattering on since he'd arrived and was currently finding Neville to be as much of an easy chess victory as Harry. 

"Good evening, gentlemen!" George announced as he strode into Harry's room wearing a spectacularly bright lime green set of robes.  Fred, grinning, followed his twin in wearing robes that were equally as garish but in a shocking magenta that made Harry cringe as the two colors practically vibrated as the twins looped their arms around each other and grinned.  "Like our new duds?"

Ron just guffawed.  Neville looked mortified.  Harry snorted and asked, "Er, is that pink?"

"Pink!" Fred scoffed.  He tutted and said, "Harry, Harry, Harry—just because you may not feel man enough to wear a lively red like I—" He tutted again.  "You're simply jealous."

"It's pink," Harry stated unequivocally and looking at Fred with disbelief. 

George snickered and shoved Fred aside.  "Told him it was pink," he said merrily as he threw himself on Harry's bed. 

"The salesman said it was Flaming Fireball!" Fred protested.

Harry snorted again and bent over with laughter as George said, "It's flaming, all right!"

"Oi!" Fred shouted at his twin.  "You said it looked perfect when we left!"

George snickered again, rolled to the side and then off of the bed, ducking behind Harry, as he called out, "Yeah, because you looked like a perfect poof!" 

Ron cackled and hooted as he pointed at Fred with glee.  Even Neville was covering his mouth and shaking with laughter. 

"Why I ought to—" Fred pulled his wand and took a large stride towards Harry who was now serving as George's human shield.  "Stand aside, Harry," he growled.  "Or I'll take you down too."

"Like hell you will," George said and then cowered back, laughing, with his hands on Harry's shoulders. 

Fred sent out a spray of sparks aimed at George's head and Harry had to duck them, crying out, "Oi!"  When Fred aimed his wand again, Harry reached behind and dragged George out in front to serve as his shield and held him there as another set of sparks spattered George. 

"What's all the noise?" Luna said from the doorway, interrupting before Fred could get in another shot.  Harry was currently holding up George in front of his body in some sort of maneuver that looked like a sweeping dancing move. 

Harry took advantage of the distraction, dropped George to the floor with a muffled 'oof!' and then quickly disarmed Fred.  He plucked George's drawn wand from his hand while he was still down on the floor.  "Hello, Luna," Harry said calmly as he stepped over George and glared at Fred.  "I'll just be keeping your wands a bit, shall I?"  Fred gaped at him and Ron cackled again, smirking at the twins. 

Neville had risen and was currently complimenting Luna on how she looked and offering her a seat.  Luna was wearing long, pale lavender robes with a sheer silvery sheen to them.

Harry shrugged on his dress robes over his shirt and walked over to Neville and Luna.  "You two think you can manage these gits?"  He gestured over his shoulder to where Fred was flicking George off with his finger as Ron teased Fred.  Harry handed over the twins' wands and said, "I'm going to go down and see how everyone else is coming along."

Neville nodded and Luna smiled serenely saying, "Of course, Harry."  She watched him begin to button the front of his robes and remarked, "You know, most wizards don't wear other clothing beneath a robe."  She turned to Neville then and asked, "What do you wear beneath your robes?" as Harry shut his eyes and slipped past them, desperately trying to not envision what Neville wore beneath anything. 

Harry felt the too quiet of a silencing spell just as he knocked on the library door.  Whoever was in there, had warded it. The door swung open on its own moments later, revealing Moody, his wand pointed at the door, as the one who'd opened it. 

"Come in, Potter," He growled.  "And shut the door after ya."

Remus was leaning against the desk and Professor Dumbledore was seated at the small round library table. 

"Professor," Harry said in greeting to Dumbledore.  "I didn't realize you were here already."

Dumbledore smiled as Harry entered, Moody resealing the door behind him.  "I trust you are well, Harry?  I've heard that this house has been the host to much excitement over the past several days what with all its many and varied visitors and guests," he said with a twinkle.  

Harry exchanged a look with Remus and dryly replied, "You might say that."

"Anything suspicious from Voldemort, Potter?" Moody asked as he reclined back in a chair across from Dumbledore.  He gestured with his wand towards Harry's scar and said, "Heard he's been meaning to get inside your skull."

Harry patted down his fringe self-consciously and muttered, "Er, not too much really." 

All three men looked up with interest at this statement and Moody asked, "What's that supposed to mean?"

It had been a busy week and Harry had not mentioned to anyone how he'd been awakened from sleep early on Christmas morning with a few short and sharp bursts of pain in his scar.  As he mentioned it now, Moody exchanged a pointed looked with Dumbledore and then asked, "Christmas morning, eh?  'Round three in the morning or there 'bouts?"

Harry nodded.  "Yeah…" His eyes narrowed.  "Why?"

Moody shrugged unconvincingly as he said, "Oh, no reason."

Harry's eyes narrowed even more and he looked to Dumbledore.  "What?"  He knew Remus had been trying to make sure Harry wasn't busy worrying about the Order today when he was supposed to be preparing to celebrate Sirius' life, but if that meant they were going to be all evasive about whatever this is--then it'd drive Harry mad more than anything else. 

Dumbledore was no longer twinkling at all now and sighed remorsefully as he said, "It was not unexpected but a loss nonetheless--very early on Christmas morning Aurors were alerted to an attack at the Crofton family home.  It was called in anonymously and the first pair of responding Aurors appears to have been ambushed and died nearly on the spot.    A second team of three Aurors was dispatched when no one reported back a short time later--around 3:00 A.M. and only one returned.  He claims to have seen Voldemort himself there and that he managed to Apparate away as he saw Voldemort kill one of his fellow Aurors." 

Harry sunk into a chair between Moody and Dumbledore.  "Four Aurors were killed?"  No wonder Fudge wanted to churn them out like Chocolate Frogs. 

"Damn waste," Moody growled. "Should've sent the fool Patrollers if we'd have known it was lambs to slaughter."

"The whole family, gone," Harry said; it was more of a statement than a question really.  He knew the answer. 

Moody snorted as he said, "Hell, I'd vote we send old Cornelius to respond to the next call or two.  See if he can stay alive without having to slink off on a holiday in the middle of a war." 

"Is he back yet?" Remus asked.

Moody snorted again.  "Not a peep.  Maybe he sailed off to the Isle o' Drear," he said wistfully. 

"Harry," Dumbledore said, focusing back on the original conversation.  "Did you see anything at all when you said your scar awoke you?" 

"Oh, er..." Harry thought back and absently rubbed the offending scar as he tried to recall just what had awoken him that night.  It had reminded him of an old dream in a way--it had seemed somewhat…familiar.  "Green light, I think," he said. "The pains are what woke me up.  They were very brief--painful, but brief."  That was it--the green flash of a Killing Curse.  Harry had had similar indistinct dreams with green flashes of light all his life like that and after he'd seen the curse cast the first time, he'd known it was flashbacks to when his parents were murdered.  It was indeed, an all too familiar dream.

"Molly," Moody said. 

"What?" Harry was lost. 

There was a sharp rapping at the door then and Molly Weasley's voice called out, "Alastor?  Are you in there, Alastor?  Open up, I know you can see me!  Remus?  Are you in there, too?"

Harry saw Moody roll his magical eye in a very exasperated fashion (it was frightening to think Harry could now discern facial expressions on Mad-Eye by the way his eye rolled about).  Dumbledore waved his wand at the door to open it and called, "Come in, Molly." 

"Oh, Albus," she said breathlessly, her brow furrowed.  "I'm glad you're here, too.  Mundungus just arrived and he's lugging two crates of that Firewhiskey up the stairs right now!  Someone needs to put the strongest charm they can on that rot so the children don't get at it!  Oh, Harry dear--you're in here.  Hello."  She smiled sweetly at him as soon as she took the time to notice him and immediately started trying to pat down his untidy hair. 

"I hear congratulations are in order, Molly?" Dumbledore said with a smile.  "I've heard young Percy returned to the Burrow for the holidays and brought along a surprise?"

Mrs. Weasley's face brightened considerably at this and she thankfully stopped fussing with Harry's hair.  "Oh yes!  Two surprises, actually!  He's married, oh--it's wonderful news really!"  She dabbed at her eyes then and said, "He and Penelope--she's such a sweet dear--they've agreed that we can have a party for them in lieu of their wedding after the baby comes this summer.  And that's the second news!  Our very first grandchild is on the way!  They were married a few months ago it seems and weren't sure how to tell us all that it'd happened.  When she got the news of the baby, they decided it was just too much to keep from family.  Oh--isn't it wonderful?  I knew Percy was always such a good boy!" 

Harry fought the urge to roll his eyes and excused himself as Mrs. Weasley said, "Oh, Harry, you're such a gentleman," and then sat in his vacated seat. 

Harry nodded at Remus who was the only other one not at the table now hearing Mrs. Weasley gush on about Percy.  "Heading up," he mouthed to Remus who nodded back.  He waved to Dumbledore at the back of Moody's head (who could, after all, still see him) and left the library, shaking his head and glad to be out of earshot of the praise-Percy-a-thon.   

"Wotcher!" Tonks called as she jumped out into the hallway in front of Harry.  "Wanna dance?" she asked grinning.  She grabbed Harry's waist with one arm and took his hand in the other and twirled them about.  Unfortunately, she twirled them right into a potted plant and they both stumbled gracelessly, barely managing to remain on their feet.  "Ow," Tonks groaned.  "You've got two left feet, Harry!" she said cheekily and then stuck out her tongue. 

"I could say the same about…someone else," Harry said straightening out his robes. 

Tonks just grinned.  "Looking good," she said as she checked out his robes.  "But I can't stay and ogle you all day.  I gots to help Mumsy--she wants her hair pulled back."  Tonks then bounced away and into her mother's room, leaving Harry clear to finally pass by without the likelihood of a collision with Tonks the moving wrecking ball. 

"Hey, Harry!" George said as soon as Harry returned to his bedroom.  "Tell Ronnikins here about the prophecy!"  Harry felt like he'd been punched in the gut.

"Yeah," Fred said.  "He doesn't think you know about any of it but we told him the whole Order…"

Fred trailed off as George, turning a bit red at the ears, elbowed him sharply in the ribs.  Apparently the look on Harry's face had suddenly given them a reason to pause. 

Ron however, hadn't seen the look on Harry's face and was smugly laughing at the twins.  "I'm telling you--you're full of it.  Harry would know and if he knew, then I would know.  But I have been wondering--ow!  What the hell you'd do that for?" he snarled at George who had kicked him soundly in the shin.  Ron turned, scowling, towards Harry and gaped when he saw Harry's face. 

Whatever look was on his face; Harry imagined it must have been awful if their reactions were anything to judge by. 

Luna, the only one who seemed unfazed and capable of speech at the moment, said, "I think perhaps this isn't a topic with which Harry is comfortable." 

"Spot on, Luna," Harry said weakly.  He swallowed and then glared hard at the twins.  "But I'm even less comfortable with the way you two are throwing about things that are supposedly secrets!"

Fred and George scrambled from their spots on the floor to stand up now and placate Harry.  "Er, Harry, Harry, see everyone here already knows there was a prophecy--they were all at the Ministry with you, remember?"

"Yeah," Fred said, nodding.  "We've only heard about the fight you guys had from Gin and Ronnie."

"Yeah," George said, looking to the others for confirmation as he went on to say, "Neville and Luna were telling us all about what they saw and did."

"Brilliant fighting, mate--really," Fred said with a grin that disappeared after a mere second. 

"Er, yeah, but then Neville told us about how the prophecy that You-Know-Who was after broke.  No one heard it, they said." 

Harry could see Neville nodding vigorously behind the twins.  Ron had stood up now and, his mouth still open but his eyes narrowed, he walked closer to Harry and the twins. 

George smiled at Ron and said with a tense laugh, "And then Ron here was trying to guess what the prophecy could have said and he was being stupid--"

"--spouting utter rubbish!"

Fred and George both tried to smile charmingly but it wasn't working. 

"Er," Fred said in a high voice.  "We thought you'd have told him that it was at least, you know--er…" 

"Yes?" Harry prompted through clenched teeth. 

He could have sworn George meeped like a guinea pig.  "Er, about you?" Fred said in the tiniest voice. 

Ron then gave a very weak laugh and said, "But that's ridiculous Harry, right?  'Cuz…'cuz you'd have told me anything that big, right?" 

The hope in Ron's eyes was heartbreaking and Harry looked down as he shook his head.  "No Ron," he said, still bitter towards the twins.  "Sorry," he said as he looked back up to meet Ron's wide-eyed expression.  "But no--there are some things I just don't want anyone to know about."  He shot a look at the twins then who flinched at his glare.  "That's not just my secret--by the way, but the Order's secret!  The biggest bloody secret the Order even has!  What the HELL were you two thinking?!" he shouted at the twins, his anger flaring.

"We…we thought he knew!"

Harry's shoulders slumped.  "No. All right?  I can't believe you two…"

Fred and George both had the two most pathetic and sorry-looking faces that Harry had ever seen that he had to laugh.  "You two are pathetic," he said.  The twins nodded agreeably. 

"But, Harry?" Ron said, looking lost.  "You'd…  I mean…  Why wouldn't you--?"

"Don't," Harry said to stop him.  "Just don't.  Please, not now, not today and not until I'm ready.  Please--" he closed his eyes, "--not until I'm ready to tell you.  Okay?"  When Harry opened his eyes Ron looked like he had to bite his tongue to keep from asking a million questions. 

"We're sorry, Harry," Fred said as George nodded.  "Look--I'll make sure and keep these pink robes on tonight just for you if makes you laugh?"  He twirled in a not-so-graceful circle. 

Harry just shook his head again and sighed.  "Pathetic, you two--pathetic."

"Harry?" Hermione's voice called from out in the hallway.  Harry gave one last glare and eye roll to the twins and turned to go out and meet Hermione.  She was peaking out from her bedroom doorway and when she saw Harry, she asked, "Did we just hear yelling?  Ginny thought it might have been you." 

He sighed and looked up at the ceiling as he said, "It's a long story and I don't…"  The words rolled off his tongue and died, as did his ability for thought when he finally saw what Hermione was wearing. 

Red.  It was her new red dress robes.  Red.  The red robes laced up the entire front of the gown and skimmed very closely along Hermione's slender frame.  There was some voluminous and filmy white layer beneath all that red and the creamy white fabric was spilling out beyond the hem of the red robes.  The white was also just peaking through the gold-corded lacings all along the front of the red robes and the filmy fabric also fell just over and above the swell of her breasts.  The filmy white fabric that was almost see-through reminded Harry of whipped cream and he so wanted to just pull back on the drift of fabric that was covering up the tops of her pushed up breasts. 

"I think Harry likes it," Ginny said with a snicker from behind Hermione. 

"Oh, do you like Hermione's hair, Harry?" Mrs. Granger called from inside the bedroom.  The sound of Hermione's mother rattled something in Harry's brain and he smacked his mouth suddenly, wondering why it seemed so dry. 

Ginny just snickered and handed Hermione a handful of the same filmy cream-colored fabric, saying, "Here, I think you'll need this to sop up his drool." 

Hermione turned and smacked Ginny on the arm.  "Harry's doesn't drool," she said indignantly.  She turned back into her room, threw a coquettish look at Harry, and then drew on the filmy fabric to cover her shoulders and chest.  It was indeed transparent a gleeful voice in Harry's head noted. 

"God, you look beautiful," he said, finally finding his voice. 

"Oh, she does, doesn't she?" her mother said as she came over and fussed with the front bodice of her robes (the very same spot Harry had been thinking about getting a closer look at, she was now trying to conceal just a bit more). 

Harry noted that Ginny and Mrs. Granger were also done up and wearing flattering dress robes.  "You all look wonderful," he said but then couldn't help but turn back to Hermione.  "But…you, I mean…wow," was all he could manage. 

"It's about that time," Hermione said with a bright smile.  "Nervous?"

Harry nodded vaguely. 

"What was the yelling earlier?" she asked as she smoothed the front of his robe. 

"Doesn't matter," Harry said and then offered his arm to her, grinning.  "Shall we go then?"  Fred and George were in the hall and smiling brightly as Harry turned around with Hermione on his arm.  Vaguely, Harry recalled he had very recently been mad at them both, but right now, it was the furthest thing from his mind.   Of course as Mr. Granger showed up, grumbling about having to wear a dress as Mr. Weasley walked with him and expounded upon the benefits of wearing trousers, Harry's mind suddenly felt very conspicuous as to the thoughts it been entertaining about Hermione and those red robes.  They'd probably look wonderful lying in a heap on my bedroom floor, he mused. 

They were just waiting now for everyone to gather in the transformed practice hall to begin the Celebration.  Fred kept strutting around and sashaying in his pink robes and trying to wink at Harry.  Harry knew he was just trying to lighten his mood in an apology but it just wasn't helping Harry's nerves.  With a tight smile to Hermione who gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, he said, "I'm going to head on over then."  She smiled and despite her father watching them closely from just behind her, she leaned up and kissed Harry quickly on the mouth.  

 Dumbledore then caught Harry's eye and nodded as Mrs. Weasley finally entered the hall, brushing back Bill's ponytail and frowning as he tried to shoo her off.  Everyone they were expecting was now here.  Dumbledore cleared his throat, raised his wand and set off a bang! to get everyone's attention as he stepped forward towards the center of the hall. 

"Good evening," he said warmly.  "It is my pleasure to see us all gathered here tonight as we celebrate the life of one of our own and a dearly beloved friend.  Now, I'll not wax on with my waffle yet but I did wish to say a few words as to the nature of the ritual we shall witness in but a few moments.  It's tradition for any members whose life has been given in our service to be honoured with their own feather given by Fawkes—the very phoenix of the Order of the Phoenix.  Not for many years have we had to gather to pay tribute to one of our own but, alas, we are at war yet again."

As Dumbledore explained for those who'd never seen a Celebration in this tradition, Mrs. Weasley bustled up to Harry and whispered, "Who has the wand, dear?  Are you ready?  It can be a bit tricky using this spell for the first time but I'm sure you'll be fine.  It took me three times to try and cast it properly and set our ceremonial light when my mother passed on."  

Harry felt nervous enough without her suggesting he might not get it right on the first try.  His stomach was now doing flip-flops and his palms felt sweaty.  "I'm ready," he mumbled, trying to listen to Dumbledore. 

"Harry?" Dumbledore now said.  "If you would?"  He gestured to the tall brass stand in the center of the room and beckoned Harry forward as he, Dumbledore, stepped aside.

Mrs. Weasley fussed quickly with the collar of his robes and Harry pulled away to step forward as all the lights in the hall dimmed.  The only light in the room came from the two crackling fireplaces and their light sent dancing shadows across the room as all the guests formed a more even circle about Harry.  Harry could see the warm glow of firelight reflecting off the brass charger that rested on the top of the stand and as he took a deep breath, a sudden burst of scarlet and gold flame sprang up as Fawkes appeared, hovering.  Harry couldn't help but marvel at Fawkes' penchant for spectacular entrances and, as the phoenix trilled a string of Phoenix Song, it filled Harry's heart with warmth. 

Fawkes seemed to meet Harry's eyes for a moment as his notes faded away and then in another brilliant burst of flame, Fawkes streaked up into the air and left behind a single, long golden and scarlet-tipped feather that floated gently down upon the charger. 

Harry now took a deep breath, pulled his wand and took a step closer to the charger.  The metal of the brass charger seemed to be glowing and radiating a heat simply from the powerful feather resting upon it.  Pure joy and love for Sirius, for knowing him and his memory, must fuel the spell, Harry told himself as he tried to relax and forget about everyone watching and waiting.

Requiescat En Pacem, he reminded himself of the incantation.  Rest in Peace.  It was a spell first learned in Defense Against the Dark Arts class to be used to banish demonic poltergeists.  It sent them on to their proper realm and away from earth.  Here, in this setting the spell was fuelled by love and joy for the deceased and would light the Life Light, symbolic to the start of the Celebration and symbolic in representing a light to help guide the departed soul to their proper realm if they weren't already there. 

The last part had bothered Harry when he first read about it because he couldn't fathom where Sirius might physically be.  The whole mystery of the veil of his sudden disappearance, not just death, but actually vanishing through the veil, was still difficult to wrap his mind around.  Harry had been able to become accepting of the death, but still if he thought about it, he knew he couldn't entirely grasp the loss in a tangible sort of way. 

He fell through that veil…fighting, coming out of his own safety to come to my aid.  And why was I there in the first place?  Because I thought I was coming to his aid.  I thought he would die if I didn't help him.  The tragic irony of it was still a source of sadness to Harry and he believed it was likely to always be so.  I wish he were still here.  I wish I'd never lost him.  He was the first person who I just knew I could ask anything, who would do anything for me if I asked.  He didn't even have to know me; he just would because he was my godfather.  

Harry closed his eyes, his wand out towards the charger, as memories of Sirius now flitted through his mind. 

Laughing and believing Harry would go off the live with Sirius after the meeting in the Shrieking Shack…

Arriving at Flitwick's window on Buckbeak to snatch Sirius before the Dementors could get to him…

Receiving post from Sirius sent by brightly colored, tropical birds…

Knowing Harry could turn to Sirius with questions and concerns and that he would actually get some sort of answer…

Sirius coming to live in Hogsmeade to be near Harry if something happened and suffering to live off of rats to be there…

Sirius standing up for Harry when he first came to Grimmauld Place that last summer and insisting that Harry had a right to ask questions and get some answers…

Sirius talking about his father and how his grandparents had welcomed Sirius in when he'd ran away from home…

Snuffles gambolling about as he accompanied Harry to Kings Cross…

Sirius laughing and conjuring piles of magical snow at Christmastime…

Sirius standing up to Snape for Harry…

Sirius giving Harry the haphazardly wrapped mirror with the intent to make sure Harry had a way to contact him if he had trouble with Snape…  

Harry's hand was growing warm and he allowed his heart to feel an aching sadness and emptiness.  But it wasn't empty; not like it had first felt when the pain of loss had been acute and raw.  It ached and it was certainly not as full but that part of his heart where Sirius had claimed as his own still held all these memories.  Harry could still hear Sirius' voice, his laughter or see his face, see him transforming into Snuffles; he lived on in memory in Harry's heart. 

Harry was concentrating his entire mind and will on remembering every little thing that Sirius had ever done for him. 

Signing his permission slip so he could legally go into Hogsmeade…

Unwrapping the Firebolt racing broom at Christmas…

Spending months last spring remodelling Grimmauld Place to purge all memories of the House of Black…

Creating Harry's first and only room that was his and only his alone…

~

As Harry stepped forward, Hermione watched him closely and thought, he looked as nervous as I can ever recall seeing him.  He can't possibly doubt his ability to do this.  He loved Sirius more than probably anyone ever before in his life.  He can't possibly doubt his love is enough to light the fire.  I've read accounts of where mere acquaintances light the feathers for some poor souls who have no real family or close kin to speak of but who still had made a request to have a Celebration.  Surely it can't be that difficult if that's possible.   The love wouldn't even need to be very personal then …  Unless…unless Harry doubts…unless he just doesn't know how it would feel to love someone…   The thought hit Hermione like a ton of bricks. 

~

Harry's wand hovered out over the feather that was glowing with a golden light.  His eyes were closed as he continued to be determined to be thankful for everything Sirius had meant to him and done for him.  He didn't quite want to let go and say good-bye to Sirius; good-bye just seemed so… so forever.  The memories reminded Harry how much he missed Sirius but they also made him realize just how much he wished that wherever Sirius was, that Sirius might finally--finally now be at rest. 

Requiescat En Pacem.  The words flash through his mind and Harry's thoughts turned towards thinking of all the suffering Sirius endured in his short life. 

Being an outcast amongst his own family…losing his best friend in the world because of another friend's betrayal…being wrongly accused of murder and not even being able to care enough to fight it…spending twelve long years in a cell and surrounded by Dementors…finally escaping that torturous prison only to never truly be free again…

Harry knew all too well what it felt like to feel you're living a cursed life where nothing ever goes your way. It was exhausting.  There was never any peace in his life that wasn't but fleeting.  Rest in Peace.  Requiescat En Pacem. 

In his mind, Harry could imagine he was hearing the beckoning of the veil. It seemed so graceful and welcoming as he recalled how it fluttered as if kissed by a light breeze.  The voices had been so alluring, he recalled; like they held the promise of peace just beyond that fluttering and tattered veil.  Requiescat En Pacem.

Sirius is at peace now…he's free and no longer running from anyone…he can't be judged for crimes he never committed and all that peace and promise of the veil was now his.  Requiescat En Pacem. 

Harry wasn't aware he'd been mouthing the incantation under his breath until he slowly began to be aware of warmth radiating from the wood of his wand and the distant, beautiful, and unearthly sound of Phoenix Song.  The song was grower closer as the wood in his hand grew warmer still.  He cracked his eyes open and saw that, about a foot beyond the tip of his wand, the glowing golden feather was hovering just above the charger now and, unless it was a trick of his imagination, the tiniest of golden sparks were flickering about the feather. 

He closed his eyes again and heard the ethereal song even louder now.  Concentrate on Sirius, he reminded himself.  He couldn't bear the possibility of failing to do this…to do this to honour Sirius…he had to do this the first time. 

The song was building in his ears and he vaguely wondered if it was real or just in his mind.  Behind his closed eyelids, the gold sparks he'd thought he'd seen flying about the feather were dancing and growing brighter.  Requiescat En Pacem…rest in peace…Requiescat En Pacem.. I hope you've found peace at last, Sirius…Requiescat En Pacem…Requiescat En Pacem…

The Phoenix Song was glorious as it reached a crescendo.  The song played in harmony with voices; voices that were now rising to give heart and peace of mind, ensuring that Sirius was at rest.  There was a promise of rest…eventual rest and eventual peace.  When the words ghosted over Harry's lips this time, he wasn't sure whose peace he was wishing for more--his or Sirius'.  Requiescat En Pacem.

The warmth from the surrounding song felt heavy and molten about him and a burst of golden light behind his still-closed eyelids radiated both light and warmth.  Harry felt his wand grow as hot as it had ever been and it felt heavy and solid in his palm.  Harry opened his eyes slowly to see before him, the entire room filled with a dancing golden web of lights that twinkled and pulsed; each connecting to the vibrating feather before him.  The feather was almost now completely scarlet and only the sparks and web of lights about it were still golden.   His eyes wide and mesmerized by the dancing golden lights filling the hall, Harry reached out his wand---only to see a longer stretch of silver barely touch the feather and set off a burst of scarlet and gold flames that nearly licked all the way up to the ceiling. 

Harry had staggered back from the burst of flames and could only let out a weak laugh as he marvelled at the spectacular sight as all the interconnected lines of the webbed golden lights grew bright, pulsing, and then burst into a million more tiny little dancing points of golden light.  The web of interconnected lines was now gone but the golden points of light remained and danced all about the room. 

Harry blinked.  His hair felt windblown and he himself felt breathless.  I think the light is lit, he mused to himself in a small voice.  The sword…a small part of his mind remembered.  Harry looked down and his hand, which had fallen to his side and in it, he still held the warm, almost radiantly gleaming Sword of Gryffindor.   He raised his hand to look more closely at the sword that had yet again now for the second time, replaced his own wand.  As he thought on this, the center of the sword glinted with a faint amber glow, as if still cooling from just having been forged in flames.  And then, as Harry wondered briefly where his wand had gone, the sword was now his familiar handle of wood; his wand, warm and light, there in his grip before him. 

A gentle hand on Harry's shoulder made him look up into the twinkling and beaming eyes of Albus Dumbledore who then called out for all to hear, "I believe this Celebration has begun!" 

Harry couldn't help but grin he was so relieved he'd done it.  "Did I do okay?" he asked.

"Perfect, Harry," Dumbledore said, beaming as he looked up at the tiny golden lights still dancing about the hall. 

"I didn't know this would happen," Harry said a bit breathlessly, motioning around to the lights that made him feel like he was in and amongst the enchanted starry ceiling of the Hogwarts Great Hall.

"Neither did I," said Dumbledore with a wink.  At Harry's astonished reaction where he nearly dropped his wand still clutched in his hand, Dumbledore added, "Isn't magic wonderful?  May I?" he asked, gesturing to Harry's wand.  "It is after all the only holly wand we have here to use," he said with another wink. 

Harry handed over his wand to Dumbledore who closed his eyes a few moments, muttered, "Requiescat En Pacem," and touched the wand to the brass charger, which was the base of the foot-tall flame.  The flame surged as Dumbledore touched the wand to the charger and passed on his regards for Sirius' memory.  He returned the wand to Harry with a smile and then stepped aside to reveal a gathering queue, starting behind Remus.  Harry handed over his wand to Remus next who, taking several moments longer than Dumbledore, followed suit. 

One after another, Harry handed over his wand as Order members, friends of Sirius, stepped forward to send their fondest memories off in a tribute to him.  They each handed his wand back to him after they were finished, some with a nod of thanks, some a handshake and some waiting until he handed it off again and then embracing him warmly. 

Tonks came through with her mother at her side, each taking their turn and were then followed by Moody.  McGonagall was next and surprised Harry when she embraced him firmly, only briefly before sniffing once and then turning away.   The Weasleys all came through together as a grinning and barely-not-boisterous group of red heads.  Ginny was clinging to Ron's arm as she struggled to drag him down to her so she could whisper into his ear.  Ron looked slightly annoyed at her but was still grinning, his earlier frustrations now seemingly forgotten.  Hermione was with them, quieter and the only non-redhead of the bunch but as Harry saw her again, he thought that her stunning crimson robes, which would almost always seem striking, now almost seemed to blend in amongst the loudly coloured twins and all the red hair.  

Ron, beaming his toothy grin and shaking his head, took Harry's wand as Hermione moved to the next in line.  She bit her lip as she met Harry's eyes and before he knew it, her arms were flung around his neck and she was squeezing him nearly as tight as Mrs. Weasley just had.  "You were brilliant!" she rushed out as she held onto him for dear life.  "It was brilliant!  Beautiful!  Oh, Harry!"  She had a death grip on him and didn't seem to want to let go.  He wasn't really complaining. 

"You're messing up the system, here, Hermione," Ron muttered as he nudged Harry's arm a few moments later.

Hermione pulled away sheepishly, her eyes shinning at Harry as Ron handed the wand back to him.  But before Harry could hand Hermione the wand, she was reaching up to fiercely hug a very shocked looking Ron.  She swiped at her tears and hugged Harry once more before kissing him on the cheek and finally taking his wand.  Harry watched her have to take a deep breath to settle herself before she concentrated on the task at hand.  Beside him, Ron laughed at her and nudged Harry as he mouthed, "Barmy!" before he grinned and headed back around the queue.

The burst of light from Hermione's spell brought Harry's attention back to her and she waited now, albeit with much fidgeting, until he'd passed on the wand to Ginny.  Hermione hugged him again and she whispered, "You are so beautiful."

Harry laughed and said, "I think that's my line."

Hermione just smiled, pulled his ear down to her mouth and whispered, "No--you are beautiful.  I love you."

He was still dazed after several other people had moved through the line and finally, Harry saw the end of the queue and barely stifled a wary smirk.  The twins had doubled back around and were now at the rear of the line, grinning and attempting to look innocent--something far beyond their capabilities.  It was enough to strike fear into Harry's heart.

"Didn't you already come through here once," Harry asked with his eyes narrowed as he took his wand back from the last person. 

The twins just stood there grinning. 

"We've prepared an honorary Wheeze for tonight," Fred said.  (His robes that awful flaming 'magenta'.)

"It's part of our Marauder line," George offered, turning to Fred.  "Open up, dear brother."  He held out a small square chocolate and said, "Behold!  Padfoot Petite Fours!"  He dropped the confection into Fred's mouth and with a pop! Fred turned into a large bear-like black dog. 

"Woof!" the dog barked, trying to jump up onto Harry who was laughing and trying to keep from getting knocked over.  A few moments later and another pop! returned Fred.  Fred was sprawled out upon the floor as the transfigurative hex wore off and shook his head wildly, batted at an ear once with his hand, and then crawled off to the side of the hall to the sound of uproarious laughter. 

"Er, needs a wee bit of tweaking," George said with his forefinger and thump pinched together.  He slapped Harry on the back then and said, "Ah, looks like Dumbledore brought his very own band!" 

Dumbledore, off in one corner, was unpacking a variety of full sized musical instruments from a small shoebox much to the amazement of the Grangers who were beside him.  A piano was now out of the box and three violins were set on the floor in succession before they each stood up and walked themselves over to the piano and began warming up.  A small flock of flutes flew out of the box and began piping short scales as they too warmed up.  Mrs. Granger was laughing as Dumbledore now pulled out an enormous bass, which then waddled over and took its place.  Dumbledore had indeed brought his very own chamber orchestra. 

"Not bad, Misters Weasley," Professor McGonagall said as she tucked away her wand and Fred looked gratefully at her to be rid of his canine twitch. 

"Thanks, Professor," Fred said.  His eyes lit then across the room at the buffet table were guests were lining up and he said, "Wow--I could go for a drumstick!" and then loped off. 

McGonagall frowned but George just laughed.  "Don't worry Professor, I double charmed his Wheeze to keep coming back with all these little tricks.  He doesn't know about that."  He held out his hand to Harry then.  "Petite Four?" 

"Pass," Harry said resolutely. 

George frowned. "Aw come on, I promise it only lasts a half-minute!"  Harry snapped his mouth shut tight and shook his head.  George then caught sight of someone else and called out, "Oi! Neville!" and set off in search of new test product prey. 

"You've got to admit they're rather talented when they care," said Charlie who sauntered up now to Harry and McGonagall.  "Right, Professor?" 

McGonagall, with a pride in her eyes, said, "With those two it was never a question of talent but of dedication to the assigned work.  If I had given them credit for every clever bit of magic they'd done, well, that's another story."  She sighed exasperatedly and excused herself.

"Well," Charlie said shaking his head as he watched the twins try.  "Transfiguration certainly has its place beyond what I ever imagined when I was in her classes, eh, Harry?"  He nodded as Fleur approached and came up to give Harry a hug.

"These lights are magnificent, 'Arry!" she said gesturing towards the ceiling which still twinkled and sparkled with glimmering golden points of light.  "Zey are simply beautiful!" she said as she tossed her long, silvery hair back over her shoulder.  "Do you not think, Charlie?" she said beaming. 

Charlie laughed.  "It was spectacular," he said nodding.  "I thought Mum would keel over from the excitement."  Fleur threw back her head and laughed her tinkling laugh as she rested one hand on Harry's arm and one on Charlie's.  Her robes were a vibrant forest green with white and gold trimmings and had a neckline that plunged so deep that Harry felt he had to make an excuse for looking in the general direction.

"That's a beautiful necklace, Fleur," he said gesturing to a sparkling green gem on a delicate gold chain. 

"This?" she said, fingering the jewel at her throat fondly.  "It was a Christmas gift from Bill," she said beaming again.  She began to rattle off the properties of the stone and how wonderful Bill simply was when the man himself showed up with two glasses of punch.

"Talking about me, I presume," Bill said as he handed one glass to Fleur. 

"Yes," she said kissing him on the cheek.  "'Arry was asking about this wonderful pendant you gave moi." 

Bill grinned at her.  "Moi is very happy you like it."

Charlie faked a gag and then had to make a show of clearing his throat as Fleur frowned at him.  "A-hem!  Er, yes, so, Fleur--how is your friend, er, Bernadette, was it?"  He looked to Harry and explained.  "Fleur has a friend who works with a friend of mine who was in dragon keeper training with me.  The bloke fell for a muggle girl--French, of course," he said with an overly deferential nod to Fleur and Bill.  Left the camps to become a zookeeper.  But I suppose, he does still get to work with animals and it's common enough that wizards branch off into that field, pretending to just be muggles with a certain, er, gift for animals.  How are our little ferrets doing then, any word?" he asked Fleur with a grin. 

"I saw Bernadette when I went home for zee holidays," Fleur said sipping her punch delicately.  "She says they are unruly at times but nothing she cannot control." 

Bill and Charlie exchanged amused glances and sniggered.  Charlie nodded over to Harry and said, "What'd I say?  Is transfiguration handy or what?  Who needs a prison when--" 

"Charlie!" Bill hissed. 

"What?" he said, shrugging.  "I think Harry probably knows more than we do."  Harry didn't yet but he was trying very hard to put this odd conversation together quickly.

"Bill groaned and scowled at Charlie.  "No you dolt!  Don't you remember that we were told--we should each only know so much?  Fleur didn't know what you basically just spelled out to her!"

Fleur patted Bill's chest consolingly.  "Darling, I shall forget what I have heard," she said as she winked at Harry. 

Harry then felt an arm then snake possessively around his own and he saw that Hermione, with a glass of punch in one hand, had now latched onto him.  She kissed his cheek before she saying in an overly bright voice, "How wonderful to see you again, Fleur!"

Fleur nodded graciously and said, "It is a pleasure to see you, too, 'Ermione.  So, 'Arry, Bill was telling me earlier that the sword you used to light your Life Light was one that you were given the night of your induction into the Order, yes?" 

A loud crash behind Harry made them all jump and spin around.  A full plate of food and a bottle of butterbeer had crashed to the floor and Ron, eyes wide and mouth agape, could only sputter, "WHAT?"

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NOTE: As usual, I will remind you that there is a Yahoo group for this fic.  The group name is HP_AoF and a link to the site can be found on my bio page.  ~~~Cheers~~~