DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

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MandaEvelyn: If I told you now, wouldn't it make the rest of the story pointless? I will tell you though my interpretation of the prophecy was my inspiration for the story.

Chapter 25

Post Storm

Remus and Mikhail had Harry back away. Remus checked a letter for anything suspicious. Finding nothing he opened it carefully and immediately dropped it. Nothing happened. He left it lying on the ground while he read it. He gasped.

"What is it?" Harry and Mikhail asked simultaneously.

All of a sudden, Remus laughed heartily.

"Well?" Harry asked annoyed.

Gasping for breath, "It's a, erm, right, well, it's a marriage proposal. She's quite fetching I must say."

Remus held up a picture of a very well put together witch, with curves in all the right places, wearing nothing but the long blond hair that covered her private areas, barely. The witch giggled and blew him a kiss. Harry blushed so deep he was almost scarlet. "Remus, what is this about?"

Remus stifled his laughter as best he could. "Right, well, Harry, It seems you are once again in the apple of the public's eye. I know you hate the attention, but, right, well, it seems that the Daily Prophet has been praising your name and Dumbledore's since Voldemort's return was made public. Knight in shining robe kind of thing. I guess I should have expected this, but well, bloody hell, I had no idea something like this would happen."

Remus and Mikhail spent most of the afternoon checking each piece of mail for spells, hexes, jinxes, portkeys, and anything else they could think of. After they had finished roughly half of them, they burned 18 letters which had various jinxes, but nothing to serious. They also disregarded one filled with bubotuber pus. They left the remaining letters for the next day, but agreed not to keep them in the cabin just to be safe.

Most of the jinxed letters were from women who were annoyed that he had been linked apparently with Hermione, Ginny, Luna and even Daphne Greengrass depending on which periodical they had read. There were two that couldn't be dehexed safely enough to see who they were from. After Remus and Mikhail cleared the letters, Harry was allowed to see them. There were 29 marriage proposals, 8 rather explicit photos of women, and another 33 that were deemed acceptable. Harry lost count of the propositions. There were a few letters from DA members thanking Harry for their OWL and even NEWT scores. However, there was one letter that touched Harry deeply.

Dear Mr. Potter,

My sister, Kalisandra is seven years old. She has a severe case of dragonpox and is not getting any better. I know you must be busy, but if you have a moment and could stop by St. Mungo's to see her. I know it would make her day. She is your biggest fan.

Thanks,

Kiley Kramer

"Moony, what's Dragonpox?"

"Dragonpox?"

"Yeah."

"Well, it's a disease that is quite rare now a days. It can be fatal depending on when it's caught. It's quite resistant to treatment."

"Oh." He handed Remus the letter.

Remus sighed. "Oh, Harry. I'm sorry. I never thought..." he trailed off.

"S'all right, Moony. Do you think I could ... I feel like I need to see her."

Remus was quiet a moment. "Right, well Cub, it's your call, but it could compromise our secrecy. If Dumbledore, or Merlin forbid, someone else finds out, you could be found out ..."

Harry considered his options for a moment. "I have to go ... I not sure why ... I just feel like, erm, my fame's never done anything but bring me grief, if, if it could help this little girl, even if she just feels better for a little while ... I want to go, Moony."

Remus looked down, sorry to have brought yet another heartache to Harry. He had no idea people would respond this way. "Okay Cub. We'll go tomorrow, or the day after, I promise. Just give Mikhail and me some time to put a plan in place. We don't know exactly what happened at the Owlery remember. Okay?"


Professor Dumbledore strode into Order headquarters determined to find out just what was going on. George Shunpike was more confused then he had ever been in his life. One minute he was tending to the counter in the Owlery the next he seemed caught mid air between two houses. He could see ghostly images of people and a far off room, kitchen maybe, but nothing seemed defined. He closed his eyes but it did not disappear. He blinked twice more, but nothing happened. He pinched himself convinced he was dreaming, but besides causing himself a bit of pain nothing else occurred. He tried to move but he could not.

Just as he was giving into the terror that was slowly beginning to build, Professor Dumbledore stepped out into the thin air where he seemed to be hanging. "Ah, Mr. Shunpike gives us a moment will you?"

George simply nodded.

Dumbledore mumbled a lengthy incantation then whispered to him. "Think about the address number 12 Grimmauld Place. This is where you are."

Abruptly, the ghostly room solidified. It was indeed a kitchen. George heaved a heavy sigh of relief. "Thanks, Professor."

Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling, motioned for the young man to sit down. "So Mr. Shunpike, care to enlighten me on how you got here?"

"I reckon, I'm not so sure myself, Professor."

"I see. Could you elaborate?"

"Right then, I was helping the gentleman picking up young Mr. Potter's post. I bent down to pick up a letter and when I looked up I was hanging in midair."

"I see. You're working at the Little Whinging Owlery then?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Ah, I see."

"Allow me to escort you back to your place of employment and I shall explain."

He escorted him to the floo and followed him through to the Owlery. As soon as they stepped through Albus turned to the young man. "Is there anyone else here, a supervisor perhaps that need explanation as well?"

"Er, no, Sir. I am the only one here. Not much business, ya know. Supervisor comes by this and a few other offices occasionally to check on us."

Dumbledore smiled affably. "I see. Well then ... Obiviate"

George shook his head slightly and looked at his old headmaster standing before him. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled brightly. "I do apologize, it seems you must have been caught in a prank of the Weasley Twins making. Sit down a moment, Mr. Shunpike. You should be fine in a moment."

"Uh, thank you Professor."

"Are you well?"

"Yes. Yes, I think so. Thank you again, sir."

"Certainly my boy. Now if you will excuse me I have a few matters to which I need to attend."

"Of course, sir."

Dumbledore apparated back to headquarters quickly.