Chapter 5: Extraordinary Girl.

This was the strangest sensation Harry ever had. He had never traveled this way before and it was a completely different experience. Although fire was fiercely burning all around him, Harry felt very cold. Also, it felt as if his molecules had melted and became liquid. Harry could no longer feel his grip on the long golden phoenix tail feather; it felt as if his and Fawkes's molecules blended together and were inseparable.

The trip only took seconds, but the feeling of being liquid lasted for some time. When they arrived, it took them a while to recollect their molecules together. When Harry felt the hard floor under his feet, it came as a surprise that he was standing. He expected to be a paddle on the floor.

"That was something!" Harry heard from somewhere to his left. Ron was standing a few feet away and looking at himself as thought checking that he was whole and solid again.

"Very unusual, wasn't it? All around us was fire but we felt like cold water." said Hermione who, like Ron, was making sure she was solid. "I wonder why we are here, out of all places!" She added after finishing her self-inspection.

Harry looked around the room. He was nowhere he had ever been before. They were in an expensive-looking girl's room. The walls were painted a soft lavender that matched the bed covering and drapes on the two widows. A flat screen television hung on the wall opposite the bed. There were bookshelves all around the room full of a mixture of Muggle and magic books, and about a dozen teddy bears sat on the bed.

"Where are we? D'you reckon we're supposed to be meeting someone from the Order here?" said Ron after having walked by the television three times and looking at it as if it was lethal.

"I bet we are meeting Mad-Eye," said Harry, "he was the one that sent the note, wasn't he? And he's decided to meet here for some reason."

"It's a very peculiar place to meet someone from the Order here, isn't i—"

"Why would we meet in Muggle home? Do you think it's a kind of distraction?" Ron interrupted Harry.

"That's not why it's peculiar—" Hermione began, but Ron had cut her off again.

"I've never seen this place before, why would Fawkes bring us here? I have a funny feeling about this." And he continued his search around the room, looking at the wardrobe full of wizard robes and Muggle clothes.

"This is a girl's room isn't it? I mean, look at these," said Ron with a revolted look as he pointed at the lavender walls, "and these!" His expression was of absolute disgust as he pointed to the stuffed bears on the bed.

He walked over to the bed, picked up one of the bears and read: "To the loveliest flower of the bouquet—" He gave Harry a you-must-be-kidding-me look before continuing. "From he who shall be yours Vik—tor..." Ron turned around to look at Hermione so fast that Harry heard his neck crack.

Hermione, who was really pink in the face, tried to look anywhere but at Ron.

"Is this—" Said Ron, "—Your room, Hermione!"

"Well, yes, that's what I was trying to say..." Hermione was so pink now that her lips seemed whiter than her skin.

"And this bear, is—is it from Viktor Krum?" Ron demanded his ears red.

"Yes it is," said Hermione, "What's wrong with that! It's my life isn't it? Why do you even care anymore, Ron!" Her voice shook slightly, but she still kept a straight face.

Ron on the other hand looked incredulously at her.

"He who shall be yours?" Ron read from the card. "What, has he asked you to marry him or something!"

"Look, Ronald, I've had enough of rowing with you about Viktor! It's not for you to decide if I marry him or not—"

"So you are marrying him!"

"Did I say that? Did I! Ron, just drop it, okay?" snapped Hermione.

"Right," said Ron, his ears now an embarrassed shade of pink. Apparently, he was looking for a change of subject; he had just realized Harry was in the room and listening to them. "Right then—er—so—er, so this is your room, eh? Explains all the books." He said with a shaky laugh.

Harry didn't know what to say, He knew it really bothered Ron that Hermione had spent the holiday with Krum, but thinking that she was going to marry him was another thing. Harry didn't how he would feel if Hermione showed up one day saying she was marrying Viktor Krum.

"So this is your room Hermione?" Harry repeated for no reason other than to talk, and he regretted this immediately as his voice was awkwardly high pitched. "I wonder why we're here. D'you think your parents are here?"

"Oh no!" Hermione said clapping a hand to her mouth, "maybe there's something wrong with my parents!" And without another word she ran the distance to the door, wrenched it open, and hurried down the hallway with Harry and Ron on her tail. They hurried down the stairs (Harry missed the last one and almost fell) and into the living room. There they found a number of familiar people.

Mad-Eye Moody was sitting on a black leather couch accompanied by Mr. Granger. Remus Lupin, Nimphadora Tonks and Kingsley Shaklebolt were in deep conversation with Mrs. Granger by a stunning crème-colored piano that matched the carped down to the complicated black patterns on it. Mr. Weasley was walking about the room looking at the many, many Muggle books on the black bookshelves covering the walls.

"Ah," said Lupin, smiling warmly "I see our guests of honor have arrived."

Everyone turned around to look at who had arrived.

Kingsley beamed happily at them while Mad-Eye growled a hello. Lupin, Tonks and Mr. Weasley hurried forward and hugged each one in turn, while Hermione's parents waved timidly at them.

"Had a nice trip?" Asked Moody and without waiting for an answer he said: "You must be wondering why we're here."

"Actually, we were" said Harry.

"Well," said Lupin, "Fawkes couldn't take you directly to headquarters, could he?"

"Why not?" asked Ron.

"Too risky, you might've been followed—"

"How can we be followed if we travel by phoenix?" Ron asked.

"Voldemort has his ways." Lupin answered making Ron wince at the mention of Voldemort's name.

"Right," said Harry "but then, why come here?"

"Because we needed a place close to headquarters." said Kingsley.

"And Mr. and Mrs. Granger here were nice enough to accept Dumbledore's request of bringing you all here."

"So where are we exactly?" asked Ron.

"London." Answered Hermione, who had gone and sat beside her mother.

"London!" exclaimed Ron. "You never told us you lived in London!"

"You never asked" Hermione said simply.

"Hem hem..." said Harry so Umbridge-like that he scared himself. "Anyway, why did we have to come two days earlier? Why the change of plans?"

"Order business," Growled Moody, his electric blue magical eye spinning wildly, looking in every direction then resting at a spot on the back of Moody's own head. "Very secret, couldn't tell you even if we wanted."

There was finality in his tone and Harry knew not to press on the subject.

"So, how're we getting to headquarters?" asked Harry, "Are we flying? Walking?"

"Driving." Said Mr. Weasley, finally getting away from the electrical plugs around the room. "It's not very far; I've got a Ministry car ready outside for us. We were expecting you would take more time actually. Er—Harry, where's your trunk?"

"Oh, it's in the tent," Harry said pointing to the bag-like tent Ron was carrying. "Ron said it would be lighter..."

"Good, good..." said Mr. Weasley vaguely, He was too busy checking his watch. "Well, we'd best be off. Thanks for having us." He added shaking hands excitedly with Hermione's parents.

The car ride to headquarters was really quiet. Everyone in the magically enlarged insides of the car kept mostly to themselves. Every now and then, though, someone would turn around, look at Harry sadly and then turn back.

Harry knew why they were acting this way; today would be the first time Harry would go to Sirius's house since his death. Harry dreaded the moment he would have to enter that house again. The house that forced Sirius to leave in the first place, the house where Sirius had spent his last Christmas, his last Easter, his last night. The house where Sirius had his last meal, not knowing that he was going to die so soon...

Harry could not bear to think about it anymore, so when they arrived at Grimmauld Place, he walked on the patch of unkempt grass in front of number eleven wishing that he could be anywhere but there. As the door of number twelve appeared out of thin air in between numbers eleven and thirteen, Harry remembered the first time he had ever seen the house. Sirius was inside at the time...he thought miserably...alive, and waiting for me to arrive...

A tear trickled down Harry's cheek, but he wiped it very fast with his sleeve so that the others couldn't see.

Lupin went up to the door, tapped it with his wand, and entered very quietly. The others followed suit. As soon as he was inside, Harry had the feeling of being trapped, it was as if someone had hold of his heart and was squeezing it firmly. He could not bear to see the place where his godfather was, mere hours before his death. Fighting very hard to suppress his tears, Harry walked on. They were heading down to the basement kitchen. His saddened feeling didn't improve as he descended the hard stone steps, his misery was taken a step higher each time he went a step lower.

A remarkable hug greeted Harry as he entered the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley wouldn't release him for a long while, then holding him at arm's length she said, trying to act cheerful: "My, you've grown!"

"I—er—yeah—er—thanks—" Harry croaked, he could not bring himself to say a whole sentence. It felt as if his heart was released and was now in his throat, blocking his ability to speak.

"Hello, Harry," said a deep familiar voice behind Mrs. Weasley.

Albus Dumbledore stood there, his long silver hair and beard trailing down a couple of feet. He was wearing robes of a light purple and an expression of deep concern.

"Hello, Professor," mumbled Harry.

"I trust you had a pleasant trip," said Dumbledore surveying them all through his half-moon spectacles. Then, indicating to the chairs around the long table, he added, "Please, sit down."

Harry sat in between Lupin and Ron, looking sadly at the table where, he knew, Sirius had his last meal. He sensed Dumbledore looking at him from behind and he felt very uncomfortable.

"With only weeks left before term starts, I decided that it was time we'd gotten you out of Privet Drive," Dumbledore said to the room in general. "Though it might be hard, and very painful for most, I must require you all to stay here in Grimmauld Place.

"Now Harry, Sirius has placed you as his heir, and wanted all his possessions to go to you. All, except this house which he has kindly given the Order." Dumbledore, who walked around the table and was now facing Harry, took off his glasses, wiped them slowly on his robes then put them back on his long crooked nose. "We will discuss what Sirius has left you later. For now there are more pressing matters we must discuss."

A long silence followed his words. No one except Dumbledore, who sank into a chair opposite Harry, moved. Dumbledore was looking at Harry but Harry couldn't bring himself to raise his head. With a great effort, he succeeded in raising his eyes to meet Dumbledore's

The sight of Dumbledore's twinkling blue eyes gave Harry a more powerful urge to cry. Something about Dumbledore's calm old face saddened Harry even more, and he didn't know why. It felt as if he knew only one thing: that was that his was willowing in a deep pit of misery.

"I believe," Dumbledore finally continued, "that you might have many questions concerning what has been happening since last June. Feel free to ask as many questions as you please. I have decided that keeping you informed is better than keeping you in the dark with your imaginations running wild." He paused then looking at Harry, Ron and Hermione in turn he added, "Please, ask away."

"Wha—what's—how did the Order change since Fudge announced about Voldemort? Do you now go around the Ministry of Magic recruiting people or do you still work in secret?" Hermione asked timidly.

"Well, it's true the Order grew immensely since last June, but we still work as we worked before. Now though, more people are keen to join since they know what we've been saying was true." Explained Lupin.

"Is Fudge in it?" Ron asked.

"No, he's not so trustworthy—" Mr. Weasley answered.

"Git more like," Ron muttered under his breath so that only Harry could hear him.

"—Most of the people we have recruited during this last month were Foreigners. Some of them actually moved here to England to make relations easier, so you'll probably see foreign students at Hogwarts this year." Mr. Weasley continued.

"Hogwarts students? I thought you didn't accept anyone until they're out of school." Said Ron, frowning.

"Their parents are part of the Order, dear." Said Mrs. Weasley, making Ron's ears turn a light shade of pink.

"Er—what do you know about Voldemort?" said Harry, talking to a point over Hermione's shoulder. The people around the table tensed up and there was a collective wince at the mention of Voldemort's name. "What's he up to? I still didn't hear or read anythi—"

"That's because he's laying low like last year—" said Kingsley.

"—But we've no idea why this time," said Lupin grimly, "he's got us completely in the dark."

"Do you know any of his plans?" said Harry, now apparently interested in his fingernails.

"Some yes, some no, but that," said Dumbledore "is a matter that will be kept for some time." He paused for a moment then continued, "I think that we have discussed enough for one day. It is almost time for the next Order meeting, you three better run off." Sure enough, a wizard in black robes and two witches, one in dark red robes and another, that looked no older than Harry, in blue robes, came into the kitchen.

"Ah," said Dumbledore "welcome to London!"

Everyone turned to look at the three people that just came in.

"These are the Mathers-Grints," said Dumbledore to the Order, Harry Ron and Hermione. "They've been in the order since I called it together, and on my request, moved here for a job I need them to do. This is Daniel," The wizard nodded at them, "this is Helen," the older witch uttered a small "hi", "and this is young Assia." The young witch in blue robes smiled at them.

"They will be staying here in Grimmauld place for a while, and Miss Mathers-Grint will be going to Hogwarts, I know we'll all make them feel welcome. Now, the meeting will start in a few minutes, so I think you four best be off. Oh, and Miss Granger, Miss Mathers-Grint will be staying in your room. I'm sure you and Miss Weasley won't mind."

"Not at all," said Hermione, smiling kindly at Assia.

The four of them got up and left the kitchen. Harry was thinking about what Lupin had said 'He's got us completely in the dark.' Harry didn't like the sound of that. He liked it better when the Order was ahead of Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Suddenly, Harry had a thought on how he could find out what Voldemort was up to, but he thought he should discuss it with Ron and Hermione first.

As soon as they were out of the kitchen, Hermione turned to Assia and said, "I'm Hermione Granger; this is Ronald Weasley and That's Harry Potter." Assia shook hands with each in turn as Hermione said their names.

"I'm—er—Assia Mathers-Grint," said Assia shyly.

"Yeah, we heard." Said Ron. "Where did you come from?"

"I'm American."

"Really!" said Hermione, delightedly. "What school did you go to?"

"Sortumos School of Witchcraft," said Assia proudly, as they ascended the steps into the landing. "It's an all witch school, no wizar—" She had to stop talking because Hermione has signaled her to.

"We can't talk here," whispered Hermione, "we'll wake the portraits and they're not very—er—friendly."

They crept quietly up the steps and past the stuffed elf heads. When they arrived at Harry and Ron's room they all entered and were greeted by Ginny.

"Hi!" She said brightly "I'm so glad you guys are here! I've been here by myself for two days and it's really boring! I wish Fred and George were here, too bad they've got so much work at the shop!"

"Missed you too." Said Ron sitting down on the bed.

Harry sat down next to him and Ginny and Hermione took seats on the opposite bed. Only Assia was left standing, looking as though she didn't know weather to sit or stand.

"Oh, this is Assia Mathers-Grint. She moved here from America because her parents have a job to do for the Order. She'll be going to Hogwarts." Hermione said to Ginny, and then turning to Assia she said, "This is Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister."

"Pleased to meet you," said Ginny as Assia finally took a seat next to Ginny.

"So you went to Sortumos?" asked Hermione. "I've read about it, it's really hard to get in... they only take the best of the best, don't they?"

"Yeah," said Assia, "but it's no big deal."

"What year are you in?" Hermione asked.

"I'll be going to sixth year at Hogwarts this year. I can't wait!"

"So you took O.W.L's last year?"

"Yeah."

"What were your scores?"

Assia looked hesitant, as if she didn't want to say her O.W.L scores. Harry didn't know why, if she went to Sortumos then she must have been really smart, her O.W.L scores wouldn't be so bad.

"What did you get?" She asked Hermione.

"I got nine 'Outstanding' and one 'Exceeds Expectation'. That's 10 O.W.L's. So what did you get?"

Assia still looked uncomfortable answering the question. Maybe it was because Hermione's high scores intimidated her, and if that was the case, Harry didn't blame her.

"I don't like to say," said Assia

"Oh, go on," said Ron "don't feel bad, no one can beat Hermione's score, it's not your fault—"

"It's not that," said Assia, "it's just that—"

"Just say it," said Ginny, "it's not like we'll laugh at you or anything."

"Fine," said Assia, "I got tev o sand O.W.L's." she said very so that none of them understood what she said.

"What!" said Ron, trying to understand what he had just heard

"Twelve 'Outstanding' O.W.L's." said Assia slowly, but in a voice that was barely audible.

"WHAT!" said Harry and Ron together. Hermione's face was alight with amazement, and Ginny stood up, looking down on Assia.

Assia's face turned pink and she looked down at the floor. "That's why I don't like to say." she mumbled

"Oh—er—wow, twelve 'Outstanding' O.W.L's—wow." said Harry incredulously.

"Well, you beat me." Said Ron

"It even beat Hermione," said Ginny as though that was the most amazing achievement ever. "You must be like, A GENIUS!"

"No, I'm not," said Assia as though Ginny had just insulted her, "I just study hard that's all..."

"Twelve—'Outstanding'—" said Hermione finally gaining consciousness. "But that's like—wow—and I read Sortumos' O.W.L's are the hardest in the world!"

"It's nothing..." Assia said with a sigh.

Harry could see that she didn't like it when people were amazed at her grades and he somewhat understood. He didn't like it when people stared at his scar, thinking he was great just because of it.

"So why are you staying here again?" Harry asked politely.

"Cause we still haven't found a house here yet, but my parents are still looking. I don't think they'll find one before the end of the vacation though, but by the time I'm back from Hogwarts, I'm sure they will." She said in a relieved tone, glad that they had finally changed the subject

At that moment the door opened and Tonks came in.

"Wotcher!" she said, "Meeting's over, Molly says to come down to dinner."

She walked over to the wardrobe and opened the door to look at herself on the mirror that hung on the door. Her hair, which was knee length and jet black today, turned short, spiky, and bright blue as she screwed up her eyes. She turned to face them all and asked, "Better?"

"Yeah, but I've always liked your hair in pink—yeah like that, now it's perfect." Said Ginny, smiling.

"This is Nymphadora Tonks," Hermione said to Assia, "She's a Metamorphmagus."

"Just call me Tonks, Nymphadora is—well—just call me Tonks...what my mother was thinking, I don't know..." She said disapprovingly, shaking her head.

"I'm Assia Mathers-Grint," said Assia "I'm a Metamorphmagus too, I never met another Metamorphmagus before!" She added excitedly.

"You're a Metamorphmagus?" Asked Harry in amazement

Assia seemed prouder of this then she was her grades. With a slight nod, she screwed up her eyes. Her curly black hair shortened into untidy short black hair exactly like Harry's, and when she opened her eyes for them to see, her dark brown eyes had turned brilliant green. Slowly, a lightning bolt scar crept up her forehead. One by one, her facial features changed only to be the exact replicas of Harry's.

They all burst into laughter as she got up and sat down next to Harry. They looked identical from the neck up. Harry looked sideways and was amazed; it was as if he was looking into a mirror.

"That's bloody brilliant!" said Ron laughing.

"Yes it is!" said Tonks "I can't do mimic Metamorphmagi like that, I can only do freeform. That's really good! Can you do your whole body?"

"Yeah, I can. Er—Harry can you stand up please, I need to see how tall you are."

A minute later, it was as if Harry had an identical twin. Assia was his exact replica. It felt bizarre standing there in front of himself, as if looking into a three dimensional mirror. He looked closer at her then burst out into laughter. "That's wicked cool!" He said.

She smiled at him, "Thanks," she said, and then screwing up her eyes again, she changed herself back. Shoulder length curly black hair, brown eyes, and a small rounded nose, as tall as Ron and built like half of Dudley.

"Tonks, I sent you to get them ages ago. What's taking you so long?" Mrs. Weasley was at the door.

"We were just coming down mum," said Ginny.

"Well come on then, we won't wait forever." Snapped Mrs. Weasley and they all followed her out of the room.

Down in the kitchen, Harry found that much of the Order had stayed for dinner. Kingsley was helping Bill Weasley set the table and Charlie Weasley was helping his father prepare the dinner. Mundungus Fletcher sat by himself at the far end of the table looking at something under his lumpy cloak. Tonks walked forward to help Lupin and Moody, who were binning empty wine bottles that littered the table, but Mrs. Weasley stopped her.

"I think they can handle it by themselves," said Mrs. Weasley kindly, "why don't you go help Professor Snape?"

Harry felt an upsurge of hate by just hearing Snape's name. He turned around and saw the greasy hair and prominent nose of his potion's teacher, sitting at the end of the table, reading the Daily Prophet.

"What's he doing here?" said Harry to Mrs. Weasley in a whisper that he knew would carry out across the room. "Shouldn't he be doing something else, like, oh I don't know," said Harry sarcastically, "maybe planning a wedding!" Harry's fury awoke once more.

"Well, well," said Snape in a bored voice, looking up from the paper, "looks like Potter knows more than he should." He paused for a minute then continued in the coldest of voices. "It is none of your business what I do or," he smiled, "who I marry."

"Why are you here? I thought you didn't like it here!" Spat Harry in a voice just as cold as Snape's

"I do not want to be here, although," he added, an evil grin spreading across his face, "being here has improved since a certain scum has left it."

Harry didn't know how he got hold of his wand, or how he was so close to Snape so fast. Pointing his wand to Snape's chest, he said "How dare you! HOW DARE YOU! NEVER TALK ABOUT SIRIUS LIKE THAT, D'YOU HEAR ME! NEVER!"

Harry ignored everyone else in the room who dropped what they were doing and were now telling him to stop, to drop his wand and to not be stupid. All he cared about was hurting Snape as much as he could.

"I can talk about whoever I want, however I want," said Snape in (unlike Harry) a calm voice.

"Stup—!" Harry began, but Lupin had already yelled "Expelliarmus!"

Harry's wand flew out of his hand and landed with a loud clank on the table.

"Harry! What were you thinking?" Yelled Mrs. Weasley.

But Harry didn't answer; he picked up his wand, wheeled around and strode across the room. Fuming, he wrenched open the door and slammed it behind him with a very loud BANG that woke up all the portraits, but he didn't care.

When he reached the second landing, he opened the door to his and Ron's room, entered and closed the door behind him, muffling the screams of "MUDBLOODS, HALF-BLOODS, HALF-BREEDS, BLOOD TRAITORS SCUM, SOILING MY—." That's when he saw him. A man with long black hair was sitting on his bed.

"Sirius!" Harry said breathlessly, excitement rushing through his blood.