Chapter 5: Dumbledore's Request
In the evening Dumbledore showed up at the Black Manor and joined them all for dinner. Mr. Weasley. Remus Lupin, and Tonks had returned earlier, and Dumbledore had said that Snape and a few others might drop in as well, after dinner. Harry wondered if there was going to be a meeting of the Order and whether he should do something to make sure the Dursleys returned to their room before it started. But when dinner was cleared, Dumbledore stood and invited them all, Dursleys and Grangers included, into the drawing room. When everyone was seated, they looked up at Dumbledore expectantly. "As soon as Professors Snape, McGonagall and Hagrid have arrived we will be able to begin," he said, looking mainly at Harry's quizzical face.
"Hagrid is coming?" Harry asked cheerfully, "What's going on Professor?"
"We have some business to attend to, Harry. It is really quite fortunate that your relatives are here tonight, since it saves us the effort of bringing this meeting to their home."
Harry wondered what sort of Order meeting would need to be held at the Dursleys' house. He noticed his Uncle Vernon looked equally perplexed at the prospect of a meeting of wizards under his own roof. Dumbledore winked, and Harry wondered if the old professor wasn't having a spot of fun at Uncle Vernon's expense. Uncle Vernon seemed about to voice a protest of some kind, but he was cut off when the door to the drawing room opened and Hagrid stepped in. Having remembered Hagrid from before Harry's first year, Uncle Vernon spat out a vehement, "You!" and was promptly cut off again as the door once again opened to reveal Professors Snape and McGonagall. Aunt Petunia looked terrified as she eyed the dark Potions Professor and huddled closer to her husband as though she hoped to disappear behind him. What was most curious, though, was the way Snape seemed to think he was seeing a ghost when he looked at Petunia. Harry mused that his mother and her sister must bare some resemblance that caused Snape to see her that way. Still, Harry wondered if there was more to it than that. 'But how could there be," he thought, 'they've surely never met before.'
Dumbledore brought the meeting to order at that point and everyone fell silent as they waited for him to speak.
"I have brought all of you here tonight to take care of some most unpleasant business and to share some interesting news," he began. "As you all have already learned, the Dursleys' home," Dumbledore motioned toward Uncle Vernon and the cowering Aunt Petunia, "was invaded by Death Eaters two days ago. While Harry was able to successfully remove his family from any danger, there is still the question of how they were able to enter in the first place, and what we can do to prevent the same from occurring again, especially at a time when they are all at home and cannot as easily escape. We need to either strengthen the wards surrounding their current home, or if necessary, find them a new place to live and a secret keeper to prevent a similar occurrence. Professor Snape, I believe you had a word or two to share with us on this matter?"
"I have learned," the Dark Professor began, "that the Death Eaters were able to pass by the wards because they used polyjuice potion to transform young Mr. Malfoy into a replica of Potter, who in turn invited the others in. Malfoy meant it as a vengeance against Potter for having revealed his father as a Death Eater. Therefore, I do not believe that strengthening the wards will suffice. It is my opinion that the Dursleys should be moved to a new and undisclosed location and that even I not be told where that place is. There should be a secret keeper of Potter's choosing for the home and another for Mr. Dursley's place of work. It may also be advisable to place an invisible guard at their son's school to keep him and any innocent by-standers safe from harm."
Harry let out a low whistle. The fury he felt at Malfoy for this bit of revenge paled in comparison to the oddness that surrounded the idea of putting the Dursleys into hiding in such a manner. Harry wondered if Uncle Vernon would ever be able to return to work.
"Very well, Severus, it shall be as you request, but I must ask you why you prefer not to know their whereabouts." Dumbledore responded.
"The less I know, the less can be extracted from me," was Snape's cryptic reply. Harry thought he knew what that was about. Snape was a superb occlumens, but no one was a better legilimens than Voldemort. With Snape working as spy, he couldn't afford to be given too much sensitive information. This seemed straight forward to Harry, but Dumbledore seemed concerned.
"We shall have to discuss that after this meeting is over," he told Snape. "Harry, I shall expect a decision as to your secret keeper in the morning, and Hermione, I would like you to choose one for your parents as well. In the meantime, we have a bit of interesting news to share with you, Harry. And it concerns your relatives some as well. It seems that your Godfather left a will, dated around Christmastime last year. I have a copy of it here for you to review." Dumbledore held a short stack of parchment out toward Harry, and Harry reluctantly took it from him.
"Do you mean to say that his murderous Godfather is dead and has left the boy something?" Uncle Vernon seemed outraged that he had not been told about Sirius's death.
"Precisely, Mr. Dursley," Dumbledore dismissed Uncle Vernon, "Harry, do you need any assistance with the legal language of that?"
"Um…well, I'm not sure, but I think it says here that this house is mine, now," Harry began, feeling bemused.
"That is correct, Harry. You will find there is also the mention of two vaults at Gringott's Wizard Bank and all of the belongings within the house. There is a small stipulation that you allow me, and a few others that you know of," Harry knew Dumbledore meant the Order, "access to the house. As you are yet underage, you will require a caretaker, or guardian of some sort, to stay here with you. I will allow you, Harry, to choose whom you would like as your new guardian."
"Well, I guess, either the Weasleys, or Professor Lupin," Harry responded thoughtfully.
"We'd be honored, Harry," said Mrs. Weasley, "but we might have a time jumping back and forth between here and the Burrow."
"Yeah, I suppose so, well, Professor Lupin, then. Can that be arranged?" Harry asked tentatively. He wasn't sure how Lupin felt toward him now that he'd gone and lured Sirius to his death.
"Of course it can, Harry," Lupin said, and Harry was relieved to note there was no trace of malice in the werewolf's voice. "I'll have to return to my place when the moon is full, but I can be here all the rest of the time. I'm honored that you would choose me, Harry. And please, call me Remus, since I am no longer your professor."
Harry smiled, but felt strange about these odd events. It just didn't seem right for Sirius to be gone. He wished for the thousandth time that he could go back and start the month of June over again from the beginning. He wished he had not been so stupid and led his friends and Sirius into so much trouble. Exposing Malfoy's Dad, even revealing Voldemort's return to the wizarding world, just wasn't worth what it had cost him.
"Very well, then. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, you are hereby released from your obligations as Harry's caregiver and Remus, that duty is now yours. Just one bit of business to finish up with, then," Dumbledore's words pulled Harry's mind back to the situation at hand. "An owl arrived this morning at each of your homes, and I have had some people retrieve the letters for you three," he looked at Harry, Ron, and Hermione each in turn. "These are your OWL results. Your start of term letters should be arriving as well in about three weeks. Not to worry, the letters will be retrieved for you then as well." Harry wondered why the owls did not seem to be able to find them at Grimmauld Place, and thought briefly that there must be some protective reason for that.
"Unless anyone else has anything to add, then, I believe this concludes our business here tonight." Dumbledore finished.
"Just one thing," Uncle Vernon began, "Just where do you intend for us to live, and do we get any say in this?"
"You will continue on here until we find a suitable residence for you, Mr. Dursley, and yes, your approval will be sought before finalizing any plans. You will also continue to own the house on Privet Drive, as a diversionary tactic. We will make it appear to the neighbors as though you are still there and nothing out of the ordinary has happened. There will be a guard posted at the door as well, who will inform us immediately if any dark wizards should return to the place. Will that suffice, Mr. Dursley?" Dumbledore explained all of this with the patience of a Kindergarten teacher with an exceptionally unruly five year old.
Uncle Vernon, who seemed to have lost his newly reacquired vehemence, nodded quietly.
"I have arranged for a portkey to transport you to and from work once you have moved into your new home. Hagrid, here, will escort you to ensure your safe arrival. I believe you have met Rubeus Hagrid once before?" Dumbledore went on.
"You can't mean him?" Uncle Vernon gestured disgustedly toward the half-giant across the room from him.
"Not teh worry, Dursley," Hagrid reassured the old walrus, "I won' let nothin' harm yeh. You'll be righ' safe with me."
"Mr. and Mrs. Granger," Dumbledore directed his attention to the other side of the room. "We shall be arranging a portkey for your transportation as well. You should be able to return to your dental office in the morning and continue on that way until the summer ends and you are at home again."
"Thank you, Dumbledore," Mr. Granger responded politely. Harry couldn't help wishing his relatives would take a page out of their book.
"Well, then," Dumbledore smiled at Hagrid pleasantly, "this meeting is adjourned. Harry, I have somewhat more to discuss with the others, but I would appreciate a word with you in private later, if you don't mind waiting up for me for a little while."
"Sure, Professor," Harry said.
Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, and Hagrid left the room first and went into the adjacent study. Lupin nodded to Harry before taking Tonks by the arm and following after them. Mrs. Weasley turned to Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny and said quietly, "This is an Order meeting, now, please keep everyone else out for a few hours," and then she went through the same door. The Dursleys and Grangers were talking quietly with one another on one of the couches in the drawing room. Harry thought he knew how to get at least his relatives to leave the room.
"Anyone for desert?" He asked, hoping he'd be able to find something tasty in the pantry, "or some butterbeer?"
Dudley arose immediately and headed for the kitchen, his parents following close behind. Soon everyone was sitting at the table again enjoying a fruit salad and butterbeers and discussing what had transpired in the meeting.
Harry and his friends remained in the kitchen long after the Dursleys and the Grangers retired to their rooms. They discussed their OWL results and Ginny's upcoming OWL tests while waiting for the Order meeting to end so that Ron could show his parents his results, and Harry could have his talk with Dumbledore.
"Your Mum and Dad seemed quite pleased with your results," Harry said to Hermione, a hint of a chuckle in his voice.
Hermione blushed a bit. She had gotten straight O's in every subject, as expected, and now clearly had the highest grade average of anyone in the school. "Yes, I suppose they were," she said modestly.
"Are you kidding?" Ron exclaimed, "They promised you a cruise next summer! Do you think they'll let you bring a few friends along?"
"Oh Ron," Hermione blushed furiously now. "I'm sure your parents will be just as pleased with your results. I'll bet you got more OWLs than Percy."
"No, thank goodness, I didn't, but I got more than Fred and George," Ron looked rather pleased with himself. "Still, don't spread that around."
"Of course, mate, it's our secret," Harry promised.
"I dunno," teased Ginny, "a secret like that might cost you something, Ron."
Ron looked abashed. "Cost me what, Ginny?" he asked his sister warily.
"Oh, I dunno, some time with you all to help me study for my own OWLs coming up end of this year?" she asked, sounding hopeful.
"Of course, Ginny," Hermione responded quickly when Ron hesitated. "We'd be happy to help you, wouldn't we?"
"Uh…sure, Gin," Ron said slowly.
"Our pleasure," Harry said, a little too honestly. Ginny cocked an eyebrow at him. "I mean, it's the least we can do for you to not go getting Ron in trouble with the kings of pranks," he joked, and they all laughed and talked about the incident at Hogwarts last term that had come to be known as Fred and George's Last Laugh.
"Well, it seems you finally took my advice and studied for once," Hermione said when the subject had come back around to grades again.
"Actually, I just took your notes and studied, 'Mione," Ron teased. "As long as you keep going to class, I'll pass my NEWTs just fine, won't I?"
Hermione looked cross, "Oh, so you think you can skim through by virtue of being my friend do you," she scolded, and Harry smiled inwardly when Ron turned to him then and winked. "Well, maybe I won't let you see my notes anymore."
"Oh come on, 'Mione," Ron whined, "you can't honestly expect me to pay attention to those boring teachers when reading your notes is so much more interesting," he said, attempting a little flattery.
"You mean, when reading my notes gets you out of thinking for yourself. No, my mind is made up, no more sharing notes. If you want to pass your NEWTs you will simply have to do your own work from now on."
"You don't really mean that, do you Hermione?" Ron was looking slightly desperate.
"Yes, I do," she assured him. "Same goes for you, Harry."
"Me?" he asked, suddenly finding their argument less humorous, "What did I do?"
But Harry and Ron could both tell the subject was closed. Harry wondered how long her resolve would last this time. He noticed Ginny giggling at them as they argued and suddenly realized just how ridiculous the whole thing had really been. He smiled warmly at Ginny as they seemed to share that thought.
They all fell silent, Hermione looking firmly away from a scowling Ron and Harry and Ginny looking on in amusement. In the quiet of that moment they heard the click, clunk of a door opening and closing and the sound of footsteps in the hallway. Several voices were bidding farewell to one another as they heard the front door open and close. Ron suddenly looked nervous, and Harry knew he was wondering what his parents would say about his grades. A few moments later Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came into the kitchen followed closely by Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore, whom Harry assumed would being using the kitchen fire to floo back to Hogwarts.
"So, children, how about those tests?" Mr. Weasley began. Ron, Harry and Hermione each passed them their OWL result sheets and Ginny looked on, waiting to see what her parents would say when they saw Ron's exceptional grades.
"Oh my goodness," Mrs. Weasley exclaimed looking over Ron's results. "Seven OWLs Ron, that's wonderful. This is incredible! How'd you manage it Ron?" Mrs. Weasley's joy seemed to take on a curious tone.
"It's all Hermione's fault," Ron answered, obviously trying a bit more flattery on her, "She helped us both study a bunch."
"Well, I can see you've rubbed off on them a bit, Hermione. I hope that trend will continue until they've taken their NEWTs." Mr. Weasley commented, and Hermione blushed again. Harry knew it wouldn't be long now before she gave up her resolve not to let them use her notes.
"My goodness, Hermione, all O's" Mrs. Weasley announced, looking over her parchment. That's terrific. What will you take this year then, since it seems you'll have your pick?"
"Well, I intend to continue all my studies. I couldn't imagine which one I wouldn't need in a career someday."
"Well, you'll certainly be busy, then, won't you," Mr. Weasley noted with one eyebrow raised.
"And Harry dear, seven Owls for you as well, then. That's terrific. I'd say a celebration is in order, wouldn't you dear?" Mrs. Weasley said, turning to her husband.
"Absolutely. We'll have a bash, invite the whole Order. What do you say, Albus?" Mr. Weasley addressed the aged Professor.
"Perfectly right," he responded cheerfully. He and Professor McGonagall smiled broadly at them.
"Well done, all of you," Professor McGonagall supplied.
"Harry," Professor Dumbledore addressed him. "May I have a moment?"
"Sure Professor," Harry replied and eyed his friends nervously.
"We'll be waiting for you upstairs, Harry." Hermione said, taking the two youngest Weasleys each by the arm and leading them out the kitchen door.
"I will be in my office, Professor Dumbledore, if you should need me," said Professor McGonagall as she stepped into the fire and promptly vanished.
"Harry," Professor Dumbledore began once they were alone, "I need to discuss something of great importance with you."
"O.K," Harry looked up into the lined face of the old Professor, but was pleased to see the familiar twinkle in his eye.
"Dumbledore's Army, Harry," said the Professor, and Harry's face suddenly fell.
"I'm sorry about that, Professor, I didn't mean to cause so much trouble," Harry began his apology, but Dumbledore cut him off.
"You misunderstand me, Harry. That was the greatest honor any student has ever given me. I was both pleased and amazed that you had taken matters into your own hands so efficiently and expertly. Every student who was in your group scored an O in their Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL."
"They did?" Harry was amazed.
"It was the best bit of defense instruction that has occurred within the walls of Hogwarts since your first year, Harry."
"Really," Harry was stunned at this revelation.
"Really," Professor Dumbledore assured him. "And so I wondered if I could ask you to take on a heavier burden than I have asked of any student since I began as Headmaster of Hogwarts."
Harry fell silent as Dumbledore surveyed his pleased but curious expression. "I wondered, Harry, if you would continue the D.A. as a club that is available to all students, in all houses. We have selected a new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, and she will be able to assist you in anyway she can, but I daresay, you know as much as she does on the subject, if not more. I would also like you to help our new Professor with some of the younger students. The second, third and fourth years are dreadfully behind in their studies, and I'm not sure how much any one teacher can do to bring them up to the level they should have achieved by now. I had hoped that if you and the defense professor worked together, we might be able to pull off some more favorable results. What do you say, Harry?"
Harry was shocked. He had no idea what to say. Instead he asked, "Who's the new professor, sir?" If he were going to work with someone, he hoped it wouldn't be an old hag like Umbridge.
"You must promise me you will not reveal her identity to the other students before start of term," Professor Dumbledore's eyes seemed to twinkle more brightly just then.
"I promise," Harry said, somewhat reluctantly. He knew it would be a hard secret to keep from his friends.
"Should you accept my proposal, Harry, you will be working alongside Professor Nymphadora Tonks." Dumbledore supplied.
"Tonks?!" Harry exclaimed in amazement. "That's terrific, Professor!"
"I thought you would be pleased," Professor Dumbledore replied, "Does that mean you accept the job of assistant teacher and Club President of Dumbledore's Army?"
"Wow, that sounds so official," Harry said, suddenly realizing the weight of the assignment he was being given. "Yeah, I suppose so. Can we still use the Room of Requirement, sir? It seemed to suit us quite well before."
"That will be fine, Harry, as long as your group fits in there. You may find that opening the club to the rest of the school will undoubtedly increase the size of your group. There are quite a few students who are anxious to be able to protect themselves and their loved ones, now that they are aware of Voldemort's return. You may eventually find the Great Hall is a more suitable place to hold meetings."
"What if I were to separate the D.A. according to ability levels into two or three groups, sir? Could that be arranged?"
"Certainly, Harry, I think that is a wonderful idea. I believe the sorting hat may prove to be useful to you as an impartial judge of who to place where. You might also consider appointing one or two assistants for each group who are as advanced, or nearly so, as you. Good luck, Harry. I'm glad to have you on board as both student and staff this year." Dumbledore smiled broadly.
"Staff, sir?" Harry queried him.
"Yes, Harry, the students in the classes you help teach will need to respect you sufficiently to learn from you. I will therefore award you powers equal to those of a prefect so that you can give and take away house points and administer detentions as needed. I will, however, ask you to restrict your point giving and detentions to those students who are in the classes you are teaching. I wouldn't want you settling old rivalries with these privileges."
"Yes, sir," Harry understood that Dumbledore was referring to Malfoy and his cronies. "Thank you for trusting me with this, sir."
"Even old men sometimes learn from their mistakes, Harry. If I had only entrusted you more last year, things might have been very different for you." The old professor looked suddenly very sad. Harry knew he was thinking about Sirius and the Department of Mysteries. Harry resolved, at that moment, that he would do anything the Professor asked of him this year. If only he had done that before. Sirius might still be here, now.
"Your parents and Sirius would be very proud of you if they could see you now, Harry." Dumbledore commented as he moved toward the fire. "I'll see you soon, Harry." And with that, the old man turned, stepped into the fire and was gone again. Harry sat for a long time at the kitchen table contemplating what he had just agreed to. He suddenly wondered if there were any extendable ears outside the kitchen door. He arose and walked quickly to the door and wrenched it open. Three skin colored strings seemed to roll themselves up and away from him as he followed them down the hall and up the stairs to Ginny and Hermione's room. They slid under the girls' door just as he reached it and knocked. He heard Ron curse under his breath and someone scrambling around hurriedly before Hermione opened the door, smiling a little too sweetly.
"Harry, how'd it go?" she asked, as if she did not already know.
"Fine, fine," he responded, trying hard not to laugh. "But since you all know that already, I shall simply have to best you all at another pillow fight!" he added, picking up Ginny's pillow and tossing it at Ron. They enjoyed a raucously good time as they tossed pillows, tickled, and pounced on one another. It was only when Ron ended up pinning Hermione to her bed, her face flushed and eyes wide that they all stopped. Ron stood up slowly, apologizing quietly to Hermione, who didn't seem to be as upset as Ron seemed to think she'd be. She tossed one last pillow at him, and then turned to Harry.
"So, you're teaching are you?" she asked, smiling still, her eyes darting back to Ron a few times to see if he'd toss the pillow back at her.
"Yeah, I guess I am, just second, third and fourth years, though. And we're having the D.A. again, though I suppose you heard that, too. It occurred to him then that they may also have overheard the name of their new professor. "Did you hear about the Defense teacher?"
"Yeah," said Ginny, "That's gonna be great. But we won't tell, will we guys?"
"Course not, Harry," Ron agreed. "We wouldn't want to get you in trouble spreading that around."
"Thanks guys, I appreciate it. Besides, who knows who might have it in for Tonks if they found out before it was announced at Hogwarts?" Harry added.
"You mean Snape," Ron said.
"Yeah, but who knows who else. I mean, the last thing a Death Eater wants taught to Dumbledore's students is Defense Against the Dark Arts, right? Who knows how many undiscovered Death Eaters there are out there still." Harry warned them.
"Good point, Harry, maybe we shouldn't have listened at all, then. Like Snape said, the less we know…." Hermione trailed off, not wanting to fully contemplate the idea of a Death Eater trying to extract information from their brains against their will.
"Well," Harry tried to sooth them, "They don't know that we know about it, do they? So I suppose we're safe enough so long as we don't discuss it at all, right? So we'll just put it out of our minds, then, until start of term."
"Right, no matter how tempting it is to rub it in Malfoy's nose that we know something he doesn't" Ron agreed, smiling wistfully.
"O.K," agreed Ginny, "So, who do you think will join the D.A, now that it's open to the school?" she asked them.
"I hope Malfoy doesn't get any funny ideas about coming." Ron said, making a face like he'd just smelled something rotten.
"I doubt he'll want anything to do with a club that has a muggle-born for a secretary," Hermione answered him.
"You're probably right," said Harry, "but just to be sure, maybe we could put a spell on the notices so that only pure-intentioned persons will be able to read them."
"Good idea, Harry. Do you know how to do that?" asked Ginny.
"No," he said, looking at Hermione pointedly.
"Neither do I," said Hermione, "but I would bet we could find something if we study up on it. There is probably a way. I'll look into it for us.
"Thanks, 'Mione," Ron said, using his new nickname for her again. Harry noticed Ron was doing that a lot lately. He wondered how Hermione felt about it. He studied her face a moment as she gazed at Ron and decided she must not mind it much as she wasn't telling him off or looking put out at all.
"Well," said Harry, "I suppose Ron and I ought to be getting to bed soon."
"Yeah…" said Ron, not really listening to Harry, but just admiring Hermione still.
"OK, then," Harry said, "Let's go, Ron."
"What? Oh, OK, Harry, I'm coming," Ron replied, getting up slowly from Ginny's bed, where he had been sitting. Harry suppressed a chuckle as he and Ron exited the room and went into their own.
"So, Ron, had any luck with Hermione yet?" Harry teased.
"Oh, Harry," Ron blushed, "I don't know what to think. One minute I think she hates me, and the next I think I might just have a chance. What am I going to do?"
"You might try telling her how you feel," Harry suggested.
"But what if she doesn't feel that way and starts to feel all awkward around me?" Ron worried, "It could ruin our friendship. I'd rather have her friendship than nothing, Harry. By the way, did you ask her about Krum, yet?"
"Yeah, I did. Nothing to worry about there mate. I really don't think she fancies him. She asked me if you were mad at her, said something about you not talking to her anymore."
"She's not wrong, Harry. I never know what to say anymore. It used to be so fun to rile her up, but now I'm scared I'll make her too mad and she won't forgive me one of these times."
"You did fine at it in the kitchen, tonight," Harry said.
"I suppose," Ron said, looking a bit guilty, "But I held my tongue so many times I thought I'd bite it right off if I didn't say something soon."
"Bit of advice, Ron," Harry said, "just be yourself. You want her to like you for who you really are, not for someone you're just trying to be for her sake. She hasn't given up on your friendship in all this time. I don't know why she would want you to change now."
"Yeah, I suppose," Ron said again. "Well, what else can I do but be myself? Still, I get all tongue tied when she looks at me."
"I know what you mean," Harry said, "That used to happen to me whenever Cho showed up. Funny, I didn't feel that way anymore when I saw her last on the train."
"Does that mean you're over her?" Ron asked.
"I think it does," Harry said, "Besides, I think there's someone else better than her, ya know?"
"Who, Harry? Have you got a crush on someone?"
"I'm not saying, Ron," because you'd kill me if you knew, Harry thought to himself.
"Oh, come on, Harry, I told you about mine." Ron complained.
"Later," Harry reassured him, "I'm just not ready yet."
"All right, mate, but you will tell me before you ask her out, won't you?"
"Absolutely," Harry said. He knew he'd have to not only tell Ron, but get his blessing as well, if he were ever to ask Ginny Weasley out. Both boys fell asleep contemplating the girls in the other room.