A/N Just a quick chapter to get things started. Will have more up later tonight or tomorrow with proper thanks for all who have reviewed.
Meanwhile just to clear up a few terms I have been using. I never defined them before because they are all common psychic terms usually found in most dictionaries or easily researched on-line.
Telekinesis Is the ability to move objects with your mind. Also commonly referred to as Psychokinesis.
Knowingness is the ability to get information without knowing where it came from.
Psychometry is the ability to touch an object and get info on it, its owner, its creator, or its history. Psychometric would be one who has this ability.
Claireolofactor is an extraordinary sense of smell. Usual examples are smelling flowers before they bloom, trouble before it occurs, death before it happens.
Just a little bit more justice to dispense before we move into the past so stay with me for another 2 chapters before flashbacks begin to explain everything. And then cause more confusion.
************************
The journey back to Grimmauld Place was much more relaxed, at least for the children. Moody refused to allow any of the adults to let down their guard or celebrate. Kingsley Shackleton flanked Harry on one side and Moody took the other side, his magical eye doing 360's the whole trip. Free of all the stress of the past few days, Harry found Moody's behavior and his eye mildly amusing up until the point when Moody called Malone McGonagall forward.
It wasn't the awkwardness of seeing the young man again after the things he said, though that didn't help. Malone seemed to have put the incident entirely out of his mind and returned to his earlier aloof behavior. He merely nodded at Harry in greeting. It was what Moody told them to do that really bothered Malone and Harry.
"Everything okay, Malone?"
Malone nodded. "All clear that I can see."
"How far ahead can you see?"
"Usually about two - three minutes." replied Malone.
"That's not very far." was Moody's concerned response.
Malone shrugged in return. "What did you expect bringing me here? I'm not even supposed to be psychic."
Moody frowned. "Try holding hands with Potter. Touch sometimes helps."
Harry could see Malone was getting annoyed.
"I'm not a psychometrist. I can't 'read' objects I touch. I just see events a few minutes before they happen."
"Can't hurt to try. Just take his hand." Moody growled.
Harry had no intentions of offering his hand and thankfully Malone had no intentions of taking it.
"No offense, Harry, but you really aren't my type."
Moody was getting aggravated now.
"Damn it, Malone. Just try it."
"Moody, its bad enough you followed me around for a week asking me to come help you defeat some stupid dark lord. You threatened to hex all of my friends and you obliviated all of my business clients. You told me some ridiculous story about locking yourself in a trunk for ten months and you droned on and on to me about family and honor and family honor.
When I was at Hogwarts, it took you six years of trying, but you got me to see the truth about my aunt. I gave you my wand and I left. Exactly what you are trying to accomplish now, I have no idea."
Harry had no idea what Malone was talking about, well the trunk part was familiar, but from the look on Moody's face, this wasn't going well.
"But before I take the wand you held on to for twenty years and shove it up what is left of your nose, I suggest you listen to me when I say, I am not going to hold anyone's hand here, particularly not some fifteen year old boy's. I don't read items. I just experience things a few minutes before they happen."
Trying to diffuse the situation, Harry attempted to change the topic.
"That's an interesting ability. Almost like a time turner."
Malone frowned. "What's a time turner?"
Moody gave Harry an odd look. "I thought you never paid attention in History of Magic class? Where did you hear about those?"
It was Harry's turn to look uncomfortable. Well, his attempt to change the topic had certainly worked. "Well, Hermione had one third year. She signed up for a lot of classes and used one to get to all the ones that overlapped."
Shacklebolt seemed absolutely shocked. "Time turners don't exist anymore, Harry. They were all destroyed centuries ago. Do you know what the filling is in those? It takes serious dark magic to make those. Hermione was just pranking you. A muggle born witch couldn't possibly have one of those. I mean where would she get one?"
"Professor McGonagall gave it to Hermione. She had to write all kinds of letters promising the Ministry Hermione would only use it for school work. She returned it to Professor McGonagall at the end of the year."
Harry was confused. He didn't mention that Hermione had in fact used it for something else.
Shacklebolt spoke uncertainly. "Yes, McGonagall would be the only one capable of making one of those, but…" He turned to Moody.
Moody spoke in a low voice, so no one else would join the conversation. "Don't mention time turners to anyone else, Harry. Use your head boy. Think about how dangerous one of those could be. Do you really think the Ministry would pass those out to anyone? Never mind underage witches wanting to take extra classes?"
Harry kept quiet after that. Hermione had told him that Professor McGonagall told her never to tell anyone about the time turner, but he had never really thought about it before. Certainly Dumbledore had known about it, so it wasn't like Professor McGonagall was really hiding anything.
Harry was relieved when they arrived at 12 Grimmauld Place.
Most of the aurors and hit wizards left without entering the house, but Shacklebolt, Moody, and Malone made certain Harry was safely inside the house. Before he left, Shacklebolt gave Harry and Moody another odd look, but said nothing more.
As soon as they were all inside, Hermione and Ginny took off to go do whatever it was girls did together. Harry gave Ginny a grateful look when Ginny made Luna go with them. Neville was still fuming about Luna's comments of a few days ago.
Neville was given something else to worry about as Mr. Ollivander approached.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
When Mr. Ollivander clucked his tongue and pierced them in turn with his gaze, Ron and Neville turned red. The wand owner's eyes paused disdainfully on Harry for a moment before moving on to Malone and Moody for more clucks.
Harry was surprised to see Moody blushed as well. Malone was the only one who didn't look embarrassed.
"Quite the little group we have going on here, don't we? So far, Harry has only managed to drop his wand, but as for the rest of you…" More clucking could be heard.
Moody frowned. "Ollivander, wands snap. The average auror can expect to go through half a dozen in the course of a career. Dark wizards have no respect for craftsmanship."
Ron took courage from Moody's words. "Yeah, you should be grateful to us, for the repeat business."
Ron flushed again and dropped his eyes as the piercing gaze focused on him. Mr. Ollivander just stared at Ron for a long minute, shaming him. When it became difficult to tell where Ron's hair ended and his face started, Ollivander turned back to Moody.
"Certain aurors would do well to remember basic wand safety. If you take care of your wand, your wand will take care of you. Mr. Potter understands that lesson. Don't you, Mr. Potter?"
Ollivander didn't wait for Harry's nod before continuing sharply.
"The average auror who expects to go through half a dozen wands may find his wand is not the only thing to get snapped by Dark wizards."
Seeing Moody looking appropriately contrite, Ollivander moved his eyes along. Neville, his face down, already looked contrite enough. Apparently, Neville was willing to face Death Eaters and the Wizengot, but not the wand shop proprietor. Ollivander only offered another cluck of the tongue before moving onto Malone.
"What's your excuse?"
Malone looked puzzled. "For?"
"Come, come." said Ollivander irritated. "Astound me with your reasoning and logic. You didn't even have the decency to go with your aunt to get your second wand made."
Malone still looked puzzled. "What second wand? I'm still on my first. When I left the Wizarding world, I gave my wand to Moody. He brought it back to me."
Ollivander was seething slowly. "Don't lie to me boy. I know you broke your wand. Five years ago, she came to me and had a new wand constructed. You are as careless and undeserving as the rest."
Moody looked started by this revelation, but Malone just eyed Ollivander in return. Harry would guess Malone had been a Gryffindor.
"You are as creepy as all get out. Do you know that?"
Malone held out his wand for Mr. Ollivander to inspect.
Ollivander turned the wand over in his hands and frowned. "This is the first wand I made. What did you do with the second one?"
Ollivander turned around to look at Professor McGonagall's back talking to Hagrid and Snape. His voice was soft now. "She never actually said it was for you, but then she never corrected me either."
He turned to Moody concerned. "What did she do with the second wand?"
Moody returned the concerned look. "It won't work will it? If she doesn't want it to work for a person."
Harry found it so odd to see Mad-Eye Moody blush. "I tried that wand once, just to see and nothing happened."
Ollivander nodded. "That's why I say the wand chooses the wizard. And you should never let another wizard use your wand, because your wand may like them better. And where would that leave you? No, if Minerva doesn't want a person to use her power, a wand made from her hair won't cast."
Everyone was staring at Professor McGonagall now. Seeing her standing there, talking to Snape, Harry couldn't help but think of what Snape had started to reveal the other night. It was so odd that she would be there, just talking like that with him. Harry had heard the two Hogwarts head of houses spar many times the past few years over such comparatively unimportant things like Quidditch, house points, and student detentions. It seemed so awful, so wrong that at the Head Table, Snape sat beside her for evening meals.
Harry didn't care what Snape had supposedly done for the Order of the Phoenix in the past. It was just foul to make her endure Snape's presence day after day.
His thoughts were interrupted by Ollivander's voice.
"Well, regardless, I have a new wand for her. I would give it to her myself, but she still hisses at me whenever I get close. If she doesn't like the color find out what kind of wood she wants."
When Malone made no attempt to take the outstretched box, Moody took it.
Ron asked the question Harry was wondering. "She didn't need to come pick it out for herself? You know, find a wand that chooses her?"
Ron's head went down again when Ollivander looked at him.
"Mr. Weasley, what wand wouldn't want her?"
"You mean because she is a pure-blood?"
Mr. Ollivander looked Ron up and down appraisingly before replying. "I disagree. I would tell you why, but you would never believe me."
"I'll make sure she gets it, Ollivander." said Moody, ending the awkward moment.
Harry's gaze drifted back to Professor McGonagall as the adults began their own conversation. Snape had wandered away now, so he could actually focus on her. She was facing towards them now.
Looking at her attempt at muggle clothing, Harry couldn't help but be surprised. It wasn't a bad attempt, nothing like what he had seen at the Quidditch World Cup. But still he found it hard to believe she had been raised by muggles. There was just something off about what she was wearing, but he couldn't place it. Her dress was an appropriate dark blue with a tiny red and white floral pattern. The dress reached almost to her ankles. The neckline was conservative and the sleeves were ¾ length. Her shoes matched each other and her dress. Her hair was in its usual bun. Still something just wasn't right.
When the girls returned, Harry asked them.
Hermione needed only a glance to figure it out. "The stilettos. Heels that high aren't practical."
Ron peered at Professor McGonagall's feet. "I like them."
Hermione snorted. "Well, I know what to get you for Christmas then Ron."
Ron frowned. "You should get some for you, Hermione. You would look good in them."
Hermione just glared at Ron in reply.
Neville frowned. "They look painful. If she stepped on you, I mean. To wear too I imagine, but I'm not going to try." Neville looked fearfully at the others, lest they get the wrong idea.
"She accessorizes wrong. Look at her necklace." added Ginny.
"It's an emerald and diamonds." said Ron importantly.
"I noticed that pendant yesterday too." said Harry. "It looks nice."
"But it doesn't match the dress." corrected Hermione. "And it didn't match her outfit yesterday either."
"I think it matches." commented Luna.
Ron ignored Luna. "She wears green robes usually. Maybe she just likes green. I mean you would think she was a Slytherin if you looked at the way she usually dresses."
"Maybe the necklace is of sentimental importance." said Neville quietly.
Remembering the way Professor McGonagall had fingered the pendant when she was upset the other day, Harry nodded. "Yeah, maybe."
"Nah." said Ron. "It's probably just the only muggle necklace she owns. I mean, I've never seen her wear it in her regular clothes. She usually wears that emerald pin thing."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "It's called a brooch. And yeah, muggle necklaces are so much different than wizard necklaces."
Ron shot out a hand to swat Ginny, but she easily dodged him.
"I think I'll get you a necklace for Christmas to go with the new shoes Hermione is getting you."
This time when Ginny tried to dodge Ron's hand, she bumped into newly arrived Professor Dumbledore.
"Oh, sorry, Professor Dumbledore."
"Quite alright, Miss Weasley."
Professor Dumbledore wasn't really looking at her. His eyes were traveling the room, looking for something. He appeared to have found it because his eyes began to twinkle and he smiled.
Following the direction of Professor Dumbledore's gaze, Harry saw Professor McGonagall, as if sensing Dumbledore's arrival, look up from her discussion with Mrs. Weasley. She met Dumbledore's eyes for a moment and a smile flickered across her face before she resumed her conversation.
Now that he knew to look for it, Harry was amazed at all the little signs he had missed before.
Satisfied just by the small glance, Dumbledore turned his attention to the children.
"I wanted to take a moment to congratulate all of you on a job well done today."
When Moody moved closer, Dumbledore spoke to him.
"Ah, I wished to congratulate you as well, Alastor. The lack of screeching on my last few visits has been marvelous. How ever did you manage to get rid of Mrs. Black? Last year, Sirius and Molly Weasley tried everything they could think of and nothing worked."
"Afraid I can't take credit for that one, Albus." Moody smirked. "Peeves took care of her for us. Apparently, its okay for him to disturb an entire castle, but he didn't appreciate Mrs. Black calling him a freeloader."
"Peeves did it? How?" Questioned Dumbledore quietly.
Moody positively grinned. "He went invisible and snuck up on her. Drew a mustache on her face. Now she keeps quiet in exchange for us keeping the curtains closed so no one can see her."
Seeing Dumbledore's bothered expression, Moody continued more solemnly. "Minerva gave him hell for it. I'm sure he won't do anything like that to the castle portraits. No one here minded though. Lupin and a couple of others, myself included, practically cheered when he did it. Serves the old bitty right-"
Dumbledore still had that bothered expression on his face. Harry saw Moody's expression change again, this time to a look of dark wonder. "That wasn't the how you meant, was it?"
Dumbledore tried to hide his expression, but it was too late.
"You never invited Peeves in, did you? He showed up trailing after Minerva last week. The rest of us didn't think anything of it, we just assumed you invited him."
Moody's voice was beginning to rise. "You're damned right this place isn't secure anymore if the Fidelius Charm has been so completely violated."
Professor Dumbledore gave Moody a sharp look. "Lower your voice, Alastor. You know as well as I do, Peeves is an exception."
Dumbledore frowned. Harry had never really seen Dumbledore unsure before, but he thought it probably looked something like this.
"Peeves probably just grabbed on to Minerva when she entered. You said yourself, he came in with her. If she willingly let him enter with her, with no outside coercion, than it wouldn't really be a violation of the Fidelius Charm. It's not like he turned up alone afterwards and could still find the location."
The way Dumbledore looked at Moody, Harry thought he was waiting for Moody to say Peeves had shown up later by himself.
Moody frowned, but before he could find something specific to comment on, the door to the street opened.
One of the earlier aurors, whose name Harry had never bothered to learn, came bursting in. "There has been an attack! Dolores Umbridge is dead."
Meanwhile just to clear up a few terms I have been using. I never defined them before because they are all common psychic terms usually found in most dictionaries or easily researched on-line.
Telekinesis Is the ability to move objects with your mind. Also commonly referred to as Psychokinesis.
Knowingness is the ability to get information without knowing where it came from.
Psychometry is the ability to touch an object and get info on it, its owner, its creator, or its history. Psychometric would be one who has this ability.
Claireolofactor is an extraordinary sense of smell. Usual examples are smelling flowers before they bloom, trouble before it occurs, death before it happens.
Just a little bit more justice to dispense before we move into the past so stay with me for another 2 chapters before flashbacks begin to explain everything. And then cause more confusion.
************************
The journey back to Grimmauld Place was much more relaxed, at least for the children. Moody refused to allow any of the adults to let down their guard or celebrate. Kingsley Shackleton flanked Harry on one side and Moody took the other side, his magical eye doing 360's the whole trip. Free of all the stress of the past few days, Harry found Moody's behavior and his eye mildly amusing up until the point when Moody called Malone McGonagall forward.
It wasn't the awkwardness of seeing the young man again after the things he said, though that didn't help. Malone seemed to have put the incident entirely out of his mind and returned to his earlier aloof behavior. He merely nodded at Harry in greeting. It was what Moody told them to do that really bothered Malone and Harry.
"Everything okay, Malone?"
Malone nodded. "All clear that I can see."
"How far ahead can you see?"
"Usually about two - three minutes." replied Malone.
"That's not very far." was Moody's concerned response.
Malone shrugged in return. "What did you expect bringing me here? I'm not even supposed to be psychic."
Moody frowned. "Try holding hands with Potter. Touch sometimes helps."
Harry could see Malone was getting annoyed.
"I'm not a psychometrist. I can't 'read' objects I touch. I just see events a few minutes before they happen."
"Can't hurt to try. Just take his hand." Moody growled.
Harry had no intentions of offering his hand and thankfully Malone had no intentions of taking it.
"No offense, Harry, but you really aren't my type."
Moody was getting aggravated now.
"Damn it, Malone. Just try it."
"Moody, its bad enough you followed me around for a week asking me to come help you defeat some stupid dark lord. You threatened to hex all of my friends and you obliviated all of my business clients. You told me some ridiculous story about locking yourself in a trunk for ten months and you droned on and on to me about family and honor and family honor.
When I was at Hogwarts, it took you six years of trying, but you got me to see the truth about my aunt. I gave you my wand and I left. Exactly what you are trying to accomplish now, I have no idea."
Harry had no idea what Malone was talking about, well the trunk part was familiar, but from the look on Moody's face, this wasn't going well.
"But before I take the wand you held on to for twenty years and shove it up what is left of your nose, I suggest you listen to me when I say, I am not going to hold anyone's hand here, particularly not some fifteen year old boy's. I don't read items. I just experience things a few minutes before they happen."
Trying to diffuse the situation, Harry attempted to change the topic.
"That's an interesting ability. Almost like a time turner."
Malone frowned. "What's a time turner?"
Moody gave Harry an odd look. "I thought you never paid attention in History of Magic class? Where did you hear about those?"
It was Harry's turn to look uncomfortable. Well, his attempt to change the topic had certainly worked. "Well, Hermione had one third year. She signed up for a lot of classes and used one to get to all the ones that overlapped."
Shacklebolt seemed absolutely shocked. "Time turners don't exist anymore, Harry. They were all destroyed centuries ago. Do you know what the filling is in those? It takes serious dark magic to make those. Hermione was just pranking you. A muggle born witch couldn't possibly have one of those. I mean where would she get one?"
"Professor McGonagall gave it to Hermione. She had to write all kinds of letters promising the Ministry Hermione would only use it for school work. She returned it to Professor McGonagall at the end of the year."
Harry was confused. He didn't mention that Hermione had in fact used it for something else.
Shacklebolt spoke uncertainly. "Yes, McGonagall would be the only one capable of making one of those, but…" He turned to Moody.
Moody spoke in a low voice, so no one else would join the conversation. "Don't mention time turners to anyone else, Harry. Use your head boy. Think about how dangerous one of those could be. Do you really think the Ministry would pass those out to anyone? Never mind underage witches wanting to take extra classes?"
Harry kept quiet after that. Hermione had told him that Professor McGonagall told her never to tell anyone about the time turner, but he had never really thought about it before. Certainly Dumbledore had known about it, so it wasn't like Professor McGonagall was really hiding anything.
Harry was relieved when they arrived at 12 Grimmauld Place.
Most of the aurors and hit wizards left without entering the house, but Shacklebolt, Moody, and Malone made certain Harry was safely inside the house. Before he left, Shacklebolt gave Harry and Moody another odd look, but said nothing more.
As soon as they were all inside, Hermione and Ginny took off to go do whatever it was girls did together. Harry gave Ginny a grateful look when Ginny made Luna go with them. Neville was still fuming about Luna's comments of a few days ago.
Neville was given something else to worry about as Mr. Ollivander approached.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
When Mr. Ollivander clucked his tongue and pierced them in turn with his gaze, Ron and Neville turned red. The wand owner's eyes paused disdainfully on Harry for a moment before moving on to Malone and Moody for more clucks.
Harry was surprised to see Moody blushed as well. Malone was the only one who didn't look embarrassed.
"Quite the little group we have going on here, don't we? So far, Harry has only managed to drop his wand, but as for the rest of you…" More clucking could be heard.
Moody frowned. "Ollivander, wands snap. The average auror can expect to go through half a dozen in the course of a career. Dark wizards have no respect for craftsmanship."
Ron took courage from Moody's words. "Yeah, you should be grateful to us, for the repeat business."
Ron flushed again and dropped his eyes as the piercing gaze focused on him. Mr. Ollivander just stared at Ron for a long minute, shaming him. When it became difficult to tell where Ron's hair ended and his face started, Ollivander turned back to Moody.
"Certain aurors would do well to remember basic wand safety. If you take care of your wand, your wand will take care of you. Mr. Potter understands that lesson. Don't you, Mr. Potter?"
Ollivander didn't wait for Harry's nod before continuing sharply.
"The average auror who expects to go through half a dozen wands may find his wand is not the only thing to get snapped by Dark wizards."
Seeing Moody looking appropriately contrite, Ollivander moved his eyes along. Neville, his face down, already looked contrite enough. Apparently, Neville was willing to face Death Eaters and the Wizengot, but not the wand shop proprietor. Ollivander only offered another cluck of the tongue before moving onto Malone.
"What's your excuse?"
Malone looked puzzled. "For?"
"Come, come." said Ollivander irritated. "Astound me with your reasoning and logic. You didn't even have the decency to go with your aunt to get your second wand made."
Malone still looked puzzled. "What second wand? I'm still on my first. When I left the Wizarding world, I gave my wand to Moody. He brought it back to me."
Ollivander was seething slowly. "Don't lie to me boy. I know you broke your wand. Five years ago, she came to me and had a new wand constructed. You are as careless and undeserving as the rest."
Moody looked started by this revelation, but Malone just eyed Ollivander in return. Harry would guess Malone had been a Gryffindor.
"You are as creepy as all get out. Do you know that?"
Malone held out his wand for Mr. Ollivander to inspect.
Ollivander turned the wand over in his hands and frowned. "This is the first wand I made. What did you do with the second one?"
Ollivander turned around to look at Professor McGonagall's back talking to Hagrid and Snape. His voice was soft now. "She never actually said it was for you, but then she never corrected me either."
He turned to Moody concerned. "What did she do with the second wand?"
Moody returned the concerned look. "It won't work will it? If she doesn't want it to work for a person."
Harry found it so odd to see Mad-Eye Moody blush. "I tried that wand once, just to see and nothing happened."
Ollivander nodded. "That's why I say the wand chooses the wizard. And you should never let another wizard use your wand, because your wand may like them better. And where would that leave you? No, if Minerva doesn't want a person to use her power, a wand made from her hair won't cast."
Everyone was staring at Professor McGonagall now. Seeing her standing there, talking to Snape, Harry couldn't help but think of what Snape had started to reveal the other night. It was so odd that she would be there, just talking like that with him. Harry had heard the two Hogwarts head of houses spar many times the past few years over such comparatively unimportant things like Quidditch, house points, and student detentions. It seemed so awful, so wrong that at the Head Table, Snape sat beside her for evening meals.
Harry didn't care what Snape had supposedly done for the Order of the Phoenix in the past. It was just foul to make her endure Snape's presence day after day.
His thoughts were interrupted by Ollivander's voice.
"Well, regardless, I have a new wand for her. I would give it to her myself, but she still hisses at me whenever I get close. If she doesn't like the color find out what kind of wood she wants."
When Malone made no attempt to take the outstretched box, Moody took it.
Ron asked the question Harry was wondering. "She didn't need to come pick it out for herself? You know, find a wand that chooses her?"
Ron's head went down again when Ollivander looked at him.
"Mr. Weasley, what wand wouldn't want her?"
"You mean because she is a pure-blood?"
Mr. Ollivander looked Ron up and down appraisingly before replying. "I disagree. I would tell you why, but you would never believe me."
"I'll make sure she gets it, Ollivander." said Moody, ending the awkward moment.
Harry's gaze drifted back to Professor McGonagall as the adults began their own conversation. Snape had wandered away now, so he could actually focus on her. She was facing towards them now.
Looking at her attempt at muggle clothing, Harry couldn't help but be surprised. It wasn't a bad attempt, nothing like what he had seen at the Quidditch World Cup. But still he found it hard to believe she had been raised by muggles. There was just something off about what she was wearing, but he couldn't place it. Her dress was an appropriate dark blue with a tiny red and white floral pattern. The dress reached almost to her ankles. The neckline was conservative and the sleeves were ¾ length. Her shoes matched each other and her dress. Her hair was in its usual bun. Still something just wasn't right.
When the girls returned, Harry asked them.
Hermione needed only a glance to figure it out. "The stilettos. Heels that high aren't practical."
Ron peered at Professor McGonagall's feet. "I like them."
Hermione snorted. "Well, I know what to get you for Christmas then Ron."
Ron frowned. "You should get some for you, Hermione. You would look good in them."
Hermione just glared at Ron in reply.
Neville frowned. "They look painful. If she stepped on you, I mean. To wear too I imagine, but I'm not going to try." Neville looked fearfully at the others, lest they get the wrong idea.
"She accessorizes wrong. Look at her necklace." added Ginny.
"It's an emerald and diamonds." said Ron importantly.
"I noticed that pendant yesterday too." said Harry. "It looks nice."
"But it doesn't match the dress." corrected Hermione. "And it didn't match her outfit yesterday either."
"I think it matches." commented Luna.
Ron ignored Luna. "She wears green robes usually. Maybe she just likes green. I mean you would think she was a Slytherin if you looked at the way she usually dresses."
"Maybe the necklace is of sentimental importance." said Neville quietly.
Remembering the way Professor McGonagall had fingered the pendant when she was upset the other day, Harry nodded. "Yeah, maybe."
"Nah." said Ron. "It's probably just the only muggle necklace she owns. I mean, I've never seen her wear it in her regular clothes. She usually wears that emerald pin thing."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "It's called a brooch. And yeah, muggle necklaces are so much different than wizard necklaces."
Ron shot out a hand to swat Ginny, but she easily dodged him.
"I think I'll get you a necklace for Christmas to go with the new shoes Hermione is getting you."
This time when Ginny tried to dodge Ron's hand, she bumped into newly arrived Professor Dumbledore.
"Oh, sorry, Professor Dumbledore."
"Quite alright, Miss Weasley."
Professor Dumbledore wasn't really looking at her. His eyes were traveling the room, looking for something. He appeared to have found it because his eyes began to twinkle and he smiled.
Following the direction of Professor Dumbledore's gaze, Harry saw Professor McGonagall, as if sensing Dumbledore's arrival, look up from her discussion with Mrs. Weasley. She met Dumbledore's eyes for a moment and a smile flickered across her face before she resumed her conversation.
Now that he knew to look for it, Harry was amazed at all the little signs he had missed before.
Satisfied just by the small glance, Dumbledore turned his attention to the children.
"I wanted to take a moment to congratulate all of you on a job well done today."
When Moody moved closer, Dumbledore spoke to him.
"Ah, I wished to congratulate you as well, Alastor. The lack of screeching on my last few visits has been marvelous. How ever did you manage to get rid of Mrs. Black? Last year, Sirius and Molly Weasley tried everything they could think of and nothing worked."
"Afraid I can't take credit for that one, Albus." Moody smirked. "Peeves took care of her for us. Apparently, its okay for him to disturb an entire castle, but he didn't appreciate Mrs. Black calling him a freeloader."
"Peeves did it? How?" Questioned Dumbledore quietly.
Moody positively grinned. "He went invisible and snuck up on her. Drew a mustache on her face. Now she keeps quiet in exchange for us keeping the curtains closed so no one can see her."
Seeing Dumbledore's bothered expression, Moody continued more solemnly. "Minerva gave him hell for it. I'm sure he won't do anything like that to the castle portraits. No one here minded though. Lupin and a couple of others, myself included, practically cheered when he did it. Serves the old bitty right-"
Dumbledore still had that bothered expression on his face. Harry saw Moody's expression change again, this time to a look of dark wonder. "That wasn't the how you meant, was it?"
Dumbledore tried to hide his expression, but it was too late.
"You never invited Peeves in, did you? He showed up trailing after Minerva last week. The rest of us didn't think anything of it, we just assumed you invited him."
Moody's voice was beginning to rise. "You're damned right this place isn't secure anymore if the Fidelius Charm has been so completely violated."
Professor Dumbledore gave Moody a sharp look. "Lower your voice, Alastor. You know as well as I do, Peeves is an exception."
Dumbledore frowned. Harry had never really seen Dumbledore unsure before, but he thought it probably looked something like this.
"Peeves probably just grabbed on to Minerva when she entered. You said yourself, he came in with her. If she willingly let him enter with her, with no outside coercion, than it wouldn't really be a violation of the Fidelius Charm. It's not like he turned up alone afterwards and could still find the location."
The way Dumbledore looked at Moody, Harry thought he was waiting for Moody to say Peeves had shown up later by himself.
Moody frowned, but before he could find something specific to comment on, the door to the street opened.
One of the earlier aurors, whose name Harry had never bothered to learn, came bursting in. "There has been an attack! Dolores Umbridge is dead."