Talking
Courtney found an opportunity to use her new invisibility cloak two days later. She had spent all evening working on homework for her other classes and had had no time to look at the books Professor Black had recommended. She wanted to look at them in private so no one would ask awkward questions. The next day was Saturday so she could sleep in, but it was past curfew. She slipped on the invisibility cloak and waited a few minutes by the opening. She knew at least two students would be returning from detentions soon. Sure enough five minutes later the portrait opened as a third year she couldn't quite remember the name of entered. She hurriedly climbed out of the common room before the girl could close the portrait behind her. From there, she walked quietly to the library.
Entering the silent room she proceeded to a back corner where she lit a candle on the wall. Then she lit her wand and took the list out of her pocket.
"The History of the Order of Merlin, that would be in the history section. Family Legacies, History again. Wizengamot Memberships: 2010-2015, same. And Modern Defensive Tactics and Theories, Defense section."
She first went to the History section and collected those books. Setting them on her table she went back over to the Defense section to find the last book, to her disappointment it was not there. She figured it was either checked out or in the Restricted section. Either way she had plenty else to look at for the time being.
She opened The History of the Order of Merlin first and turned to the table of contents. It contained a History and explanation for what the Order was and then had lists. Assuming that was what she wanted to look at she flipped to the lists and made her way to the 'P's.
"Ponder, Pondor, Pooket, Poole, Porsir, Porsimmon, Porsnippet, Porslin, Pos, Pose, Posarem, Posaret, Post, Postuvamu, Posumama, what weird names…, Potack, Potluck, Pott, Pottalamer, Potter, finally!" She moved her finger to the entry to read what it said.
"'Potter, James awarded Order of Merlin Second Class awarded posthumously 1981, for services rendered during the First Dark War'. Huh? Oh! Wrong one." She moved her finger down to the next entry.
"Potter, Harry awarded Order of Merlin First Class in absentia 2005 for the defeat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and saving Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and her Headmaster and consequently the entire Wizarding World. Potter did not attend award ceremony. It was recommended that Potter receive the award of Merlin's Staff. Decision pending. For more information on Merlin's Staff, please refer to page 673."
Her curiosity at why 'James' was before 'Harry' in a listing that was supposed to be alphabetic flew out of her head as she reread the entry.
"For the defeat of Voldemort? For saving the school, the headmaster and all of Wizarding Society? Well that is certainly not what Professor Granger said!"
She then turned to page 673 to find out what Merlin's Staff was.
The distinction of Merlin's Staff actually originated before Merlin's time. It was called raajaadhiraaja meaning "overking of kings" in Sanskrit. It is the highest distinction possible in the Wizarding World. It originated in Ancient Egypt about 8000 BC (the original Egyptian title has been lost) and has been awarded only six times, the most recent being nine hundred years ago. It became known as Merlin's Staff when Merlin himself (a recipient of the recognition) presented his staff to the next recipient of the recognition. (This is the only time that two recipients have ever been within each others' life time.) Modernly, anyone named to the title is also the official leader of the International Confederation of Wizards.
In order for Merlin's Staff to be awarded all wizarding governments throughout the entire world must unanimously agree to the appointment. In agreeing to the appointment, they also agree to recognize the individual as the supreme authority in all wizarding affairs. He (or she-though a woman has never been awarded the distinction) supercedes the authority of whatever governments currently exist and whatever laws are standing. Most important, once the appointment is made (meaning as soon as a government approves it) it cannot be revoked. There are three ways in which Merlin's Staff may be removed-through death, through a self-declared act revoking his own appointment, or by a new person appointed to the position.
Each wizarding body must examine the set criteria and if they find the nominated individual meets the criteria they must go through with the appointment.
Albus Dumbledore was considered for the award but was disqualified on the grounds that Grindlewald did not threaten the entire world. His appointment fell short by ten approvals.
Currently under review is the nomination of Harry Potter. So far, 183 governments have agreed to the appointment. The rest of the appointments are expected by the end of next year.
The first individual to hold the title….
Courtney's eyes widened. She hurriedly looked for the publication date. 2010.
Could Harry Potter hold the title Merlin's Staff and not know it?
Courtney shook herself and closed that book. She couldn't even comprehend someone being given that much power. She opened the Wizengamot book and scanned through the index until she found "Potter, Harry." Quickly turning to the page she read the entry.
Appointed Chief Wizard of the Wizengamot in 2012. However, Mr. Potter has never been present at a Wizengamot convening. While he is in absentia, Albus Dumbledore has been filling the position….
The article went on, giving no indication whether or not Harry had received the title.
She stuffed all the books in her bag and ducked back under her invisibility cloak and left the library. She'd read enough for one night.
~~**~~
Nervously chewing on the end of her quill, Courtney tried to figure out the best way to tell Mr. Potter that Sirius knew of their.
She was having a considerably hard time. Especially since she had not been able to find out whether or not Harry had received all the nominations for Merlin's Staff. She was in the library again and it was Saturday afternoon.
"What are you working on so hard, Miss Barnes?" a voice said behind her.
Courtney jumped and turned to face her History teacher. "N-nothing. Just a letter."
Hermione raised her eyebrow and replied in a humorous tone, "In the library surrounded by history books?" Courtney again had the books she had taken the night before spread out on a table.
Courtney squirmed. "Can I do anything for you professor?" she asked.
"Actually I did want to talk to you about your project. I'm a little worried about that you seem to have trouble finding the information."
"Professor, the information you gave us in class is all the information given in any of the biographical sketches-in the Restricted Section or not. I checked the catalog. How am I supposed to find any information when it is as closely guarded as national security issues?"
Hermione sighed, every single student who did Harry Potter ran into this problem. The only reason she allowed Harry Potter projects at all was that she knew the students would mutiny if it were forbidden. Of course that always made her wonder why they were so obsessed with him when they concealed as much information as possible. She shook those thoughts from her head and addressed Courtney.
"Have you been able to find any information outside of what I told you?"
Courtney thought for a moment then nodded, she could share the information she had learned from the library books-but nothing from Professor Black or Harry himself.
"I found a reference indicating that while Harry Potter was in Azkaban, Dementors rather than Aurors guarded it. I also found that Harry was awarded the Order of Merlin First Class for the defeat of Voldemort-not just helping Dumbledore like you said-and saving Hogwarts, the Headmaster and the entire wizarding world. I found out that he was nominated for the title Merlin's Staff, but I haven't been able to find out if he was appointed. Do you know?."
Hermione's jaw dropped. None of her pervious students had managed to unearth that information.
"Y-you've really done your research." And then the professor fairly ran out of the library.
Courtney giggled a little bit at the reaction, scowled that she still did not know about the appointment, and then started packing up her books in order to visit Professor Black's office and look at his newspapers.
~~**~~
Tuesday afternoon David opened the latest letter from Courtney in anticipation. All previous hesitation had long since disappeared.
Dear Mr. PotterFirst, I have a confession to make. I was reading your last letter in class and the teacher caught me. He took the letter and was going to keep it until the end of term. I ended up having to tell him about it to get it back. It was Professor Black. He knows we are in correspondence. However, he has promised me that he will tell no one. He has also offered to let me look at his old newspapers having to do with you.
He recommended some books to me that had some information about you. Did you know that you were awarded the Order of Merlin First Class? You are also currently the Chief Wizard of the Wizengamot. You were nominated for Merlin's Staff, but I can't find if you were ever appointed or not.
In another book called Family Legacies I found out that your mother was not technically a Muggle-born. She was the first witch after four generations of squibs on her father's side.
There is a book that mentions you, but I need to get into the restricted section to read that. Even with the invisibility cloak I am nervous about doing that.
Halloween is coming up and the entire school is allowed to visit Hogsmeade. I can't wait!
Courtney BarnesDavid sat back thinking about what Courtney had said. Then he sighed and took out his latest letter (detailing the happenings of the TriWizard Tournament, which had been tremendously difficult to write) for Courtney and gave it to the owl (which was one of the school owls). As it flew away, he put the letter he had just received in his pocket and left the park to drive home.
Upon arriving he found that Courtney had evidently sent two letters at the same time: one to her family and one to Harry.
Kathryn was reading it to Michael. David simply ignored it as best he could and took of his tie. An uneasy peace had settled over the house over the past two or three weeks. Kathryn stopped confronting David about his reaction to anything magical and in turn David stopped reacting so harshly. He still didn't read the letters himself (at least publicly), nor did he contribute any type of reply, but he didn't leave the room anymore.
Dinner that night was filled with Michael's chatter about school and Kathryn talking about the class she had taught that day (she worked as a substitute teacher). After tucking Michael into bed Kathryn came down stairs and found her husband reading the evening paper. She sat down beside him on the couch and took the paper out of his hand, "I need to talk to you," she said by way of explanation.
David nodded, smiling slightly.
"I got a letter today from the mother of one of Courtney's friends. She asked if we could get together sometime. I'd like to invite her over and get to know her better. She does not have any powers, but her husband does and so do her three children. Her youngest is Caleb is in Courtney's house. Her name is Megan Weasley. I want to meet her and become friends with her. I just want you to know I will be inviting her over to the house and doing things with her." Kathryn looked very closely for her husband's reaction.
He closed his eyes and then, without opening them, answered, "I will not stop you from encouraging Courtney or becoming more involved in the path she has chosen. I am not going to make decisions for you. I will be courteous to anyone you invite here Kathryn, but please do not ask me to accept it all. I am doing what I can."
Kathryn felt relief inside. It wasn't anywhere near what she wanted but it was more than she could have hoped for two months ago.
She kissed her husband and then announced that she was going to bed.
~~**~~
The next morning Kathryn called the telephone number Megan Weasley had given her.
"Hello?"
"Megan? This is Kathryn. You wrote me a letter about getting together sometime. I 'd really like that. I need to involve myself more in wizarding society."
"Are you free today?" came the answer.
"Yes, I am."
"Well then, would you like to come to Diagon Alley for the day? Fred, that's my husband, is working there today, his Joke Shop gets a lot of business around Halloween, and I like to visit sometimes."
"That sounds wonderful. I'd just have to be back by three to pick up my son after school."
"Give me your address and we'll be there in ten minutes."
Kathryn did and then hung up.
True to her word, ten minutes later the doorbell rang. Kathryn opened it revealing a tall man with red hair and a multitude of freckles followed by a tall woman with brown hair. After quick introductions the three of them set off down the street.
"Where exactly are we going?" Kathryn asked.
"We're using the nearest public floo. There's one in the underground," Fred explained, "From there we will floo to Diagon Alley."
"Floo…that's traveling by fire, right?" Kathryn said remembering Courtney's first letter.
"Yes. It might be a little bit disorienting at first but it gets you there fast." Megan said.
Entering the underground Fred led them to a turnstile far to the right of all the others that nobody else seemed to be using even though it was morning rush hour.
"It's enchanted," Fred explained quietly, "you can only see it because I am with you." He fished around in his pocket and pulled out three silver coins he handed one each to Megan and Kathryn and then put his own coin in the slot. The turnstile moved and out of the chute where a token would normally come out there came a small bag. Fred picked it up and then calmly waited for the other two.
"You go ahead," Megan said.
Kathryn moved to put her coin in the slot and promptly dropped it. Retrieving it, blushing all the while, she put it in correctly and pushed through the turnstile. She picked up the bag that came out and then looked around and gasped.
She could no longer see the rest of the underground station but instead found herself in a room with a big fireplace that she had not seen from the other side of the turnstile. Megan came into the room a moment later and the three walked straight to the fireplace.
"Megan, would you go first to show Kathryn?" Fred said.
Megan nodded and stepped into the fireplace. Opening the little bag she poured its contents to her feet. Kathryn's eyes widened as she saw the green flames. "Diagon Alley!" Megan disappeared.
Kathryn stared apprehensively at the fireplace as Fred gave her a nudge.
"Don't get nervous, just do what she did." Fred encouraged.
Kathryn stepped into the stone structure and fumbled with the knot on the bag. Pouring it to her feet she was amazed at the feeling of the green flames tickling her legs. "Diagon Alley!" she enunciated clearly.
Suddenly she was spinning and spinning and spinning…and she really didn't like it. When she started slowing down and finally stopped she fell right out of the fireplace and promptly threw up in the floor.
Mortified, but still feeling queasy as Megan helped her up, Kathryn tried to get the vomit taste out of her mouth.
Fred came through right then and promptly cleaned up the mess.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah," Kathryn answered weakly, "I am just a klutz and I get motion sickness easily-evidently not a good combination for the floo."
Kathryn took a deep breath and felt a little better, especially after Fred conjured a glass of water for her to clean her mouth with. She looked around and discovered they were in a room consisting only of a fireplace and a few benches lining the walls. There was one door straight across from the fireplace.
They walked out the door and Kathryn found herself in a whole different world.
~~**~~
Fred chuckled to himself as he watched his oldest child, Amanda age 21, walk out of the shop with Megan and Kathryn. The three were going to have a ball and he knew it. Megan loved the magical world and Kathryn seemed just as eager to see it as Megan had first been.
"Brian!" he called through the shop. His nineteen-year-old son was supposed to be here already.
"Yeah, Dad?" His son's voice came from the back room.
"You checked the mail yet?"
"Yes, two letters. I put them on the shelf under the cash register."
Fred retrieved the letters and sat on the counter to open them. The first one was a business opportunity to open a branch in South Africa. He smiled. George would be happy. His twin had been trying to get a foothold in Africa (the only place without a WWW Branch-which was unfortunate because the continent had a higher magical population per square mile than anywhere else) for the longest time but the people always seemed to like Witch Doctor Inc. a joke shop that had flourished for over one hundred years.
Too bad George was on duty today. They had an arrangement with the Ministry of Magic and Department of Mysteries-they would switch off days. Fred had worked his MoM duty the day before so today he got to run the shop. Normally the Ministry wouldn't allow it, but being the top two Unspeakables in the place had its perks.
He set the first letter aside to show George later and opened the second.
~~**~~
Brian whistled aimlessly to himself, thinking of the date he was going on that night with his girlfriend. He had a very special night planned.
He sighed and turned back to the inventory list They needed to get more Canary Creams from the factory, they were running low and they had a lot of Owl Orders coming in.
As he turned to check their stock of Skiving Snackboxes he heard an indistinct yell from the main store room and popped his head out, "Dad?"
"You've got the front end!" his Dad yelled as he ran out the front door of the store leaving behind a very confused son.
~~**~~
Fred panted as he jogged from his apparation point in Hogsmeade up to Hogwarts. His mind reeled. This was unthinkable!
He opened the doors of the school and hurriedly walked in. No one was in the entrance hall and so he started a brisk walk to the Headmaster's office. He didn't really know why he was here, but he was falling back on habit created during the war. When in doubt-go to Dumbledore.
He took out his wand and tapped it on the gargoyle's left hand pinky fingernail. The gargoyle hopped aside revealing the staircase. He didn't have time to guess the password and he knew the trigger taught to them by Dumbledore years before would still work.
He heard voices from within and raised his hand and knocked. The voices subsided and Albus' voice said, "Come in."
He opened the door to find the headmaster with Sirius and Hermione.
"Fred, good to see you!" Albus grinned merrily. Fred had never figured out how he always knew which twin was which when their own mother had never gotten it down perfect.
"Albus, Sirius, Hermione," Fred nodded to them. Then he broke off, unable to even tell them what had happened.
"Is there anything I can do?" Albus said after a moment of silence.
"I don't know! I…I am just very confused. Megan and Amanda are playing tour guide for Kathryn Barnes today. I was at the shop when I received a letter." Fred broke off again.
Sirius perked up, he knew that this had to somehow involve Courtney's correspondence with Harry.
"And?" Hermione said impatiently.
"The letter said…it was about…he wants me to…!" Fred stood and started pacing.
"Who was it from?" Albus asked, clearly puzzled as to why Fred reacted like this.
"Harry!" Fred burst out in a tone that clearly said pinch me to make sure I am not dreaming or hallucinating.
"Harry?" Hermione said confused.
"Harry Potter! It was a letter from Harry Potter!" Fred yelled.
Hermione froze staring at Fred. Albus went as white as his beard. Sirius didn't react nearly as strongly and, as such, was the only one able to articulate another question.
"What did it say?"
"He…he wants all of his ownership (including all the rights and privileges originally granted him) and earnings from the company to be immediately transferred to the ownership of Courtney Barnes and he wants it presented to her, in private, on Halloween when she is in Hogsmeade."
Sirius' eyes widened in shock and he gripped the arms of his chair tightly. Even with the prior knowledge of the friendship between Courtney and Harry he had still never expected this!
"Harry still owned a share?" Hermione said faintly.
Fred nodded, "One third of the company, one third of the earnings, guaranteed lifetime supply of any inventory desired. And though he never used it, equal say to George and I in all company affairs." Fred said this all in a very mechanical manner.
Albus, somehow, had managed to overcome his shock and said in a wondering tone, "How did he know she was going to be in Hogsmeade on Halloween? How does he know her at all?"
Hermione shook her head dumbly as Fred looked on, wondering what would happen next.
Sirius buried his head in his hands and groaned.
"Sirius?" Hermione asked.
Not lifting his head he answered, "Courtney has been in correspondence with Harry since the second week of September. He has been telling her everything."
Hermione, quite unexpectedly, started crying.
"How do you know this?" Albus asked Sirius in a faltering tone that none of them had heard for years.
"I caught her reading a letter in class two weeks ago, I confiscated it. After class, she asked for it back. Eventually she had to tell me what it was for me to give it back to her. From what I saw of it he was telling her all about his second year.
Through her tears Hermione mumbled, "She received a letter at breakfast this morning, thick, a lot of parchment."
Silence reigned in the office as the four occupants gathered-or attempted to gather-their thoughts. Then Albus sighed and addressed Fred who was now sitting limply in a chair.
"I assume you came to me seeking advice?" Fred nodded mutely.
"I suggest you simply do as he asks. Don't tell anyone and do not attempt to contact Harry, unless he has asked for confirmation of the transaction?" Fred shook his head.
"Don't attempt to contact him!" Hermione squealed shrilly, "But this could mean he wants to return!"
Albus shook his head sadly, "I was informed immediately after breakfast that Mr. Charlie Longbottom was admitted to the hospital wing after an encounter with one of Harry's infamous replies. I cannot begin to understand why Harry has chosen to bring Courtney Barnes into his life, but we will leave him to it and not interfere. That much we can do for him after being helpless for so many years."
After a few minutes, there were nods from the other three. Then they all sat in silence for a good ten minutes until a knock on the door interrupted their reveries. Hermione jumped and Sirius yelped. Fred shot up looking like he was ready to sprint away at the first sign of trouble. Albus (unruffled-of course) allowed them a moment to calm themselves and then invited the guest in. It was revealed to be Severus, who scowled when he saw the office's occupants.
"Did I not get the time right Albus? You said you wanted to meet with me at 11:30, did you not?"
"Oh, we were just leaving!" Hermione said hastily and Sirius nodded. Fred mumbled something about, "…inform George." And hurried to squeeze past the Potions Master and proceed to stumble down the stairs.
Hermione and Sirius vacated themselves just as quickly from the premises, with a very puzzled Snape staring after them