A/N: Thank you for the reviews!
Chapter 2: The Arrival
The day came when the Order of the Phoenix arrived to escort Missy back to England and none too soon as far as she was concerned. She loved her grandparents and had learned to get on in the muggle world quite well but longed to be amongst those who were like her. She wanted to do magic openly, not in secret like she had been for the last six years. She was also very curious about who was now in the Order. She knew quite a few members died during Voldemort's last reign of terror. She was pleased when she saw Mad Eye Moody as she opened the door. "Leave it to Dumbledore to send the most barmy man alive to escort me back!" she laughed while holding out her hand.
"You know very well I won't take that hand til I'm sure it's really you, drink this," he said gruffly, handing her a flask.
"And you know I'm smarter than that, Mad Eye! You prove it's really you first."
"Knew you'd say that! Lupin you know what to do," he said all this before taking a swig from the flask. Lupin had not changed much besides going quite gray, but he had started while still very young.
"It's Vieratiserum, Missy, you can check it if you'd like" he said, she did as Lupin addressed Moody, "Who are you?"
"Mad Eye Moody."
"Why are you here?"
"To bring Missy Potter to The Burrow safely."
"That's enough, Lupin. I could have figured it out if you were lying. My Parents didn't teach me Legilimencey for nothing. Give me the flask."
"Right then," he said while handing it to Missy. She took three drops worth. He then interrogated her.
"What's your name? Who are your parents? Who killed your parents? Who gave you the scar on your left arm and how?"
She answered "Artemis Maryanne Potter. John and Maryanne Potter. Mcnair. You, Uncle James and Sirius did while trying to teach me to deflect jinxes in Gran and Pa's back yard."
"It's her; she told everyone she fell so we wouldn't get a beating from Maryanne. No one else would know the answer to that one," he confirmed
"Did he really scar you for life?" Asked a strange young witch with bright blue dreadlocks, looking very amused.
"Yes. They tried to get me to reflect jinxes from all three of them at the same time and it threw me twelve feet back and I cut my arm on the fence."
"Okay no more questions. Here, both of you drink this. It's the counter potion." Lupin said slightly embarrassed by the recollection of his immature behavior as a young man. He went along with quite a few stupid stunts with his best friends. The ones that involved picking on Missy were some of the worst. In His youth she had been something like a little sister, twelve years there junior. John was the Potter's oldest son and they had James much later. As a result James never treated Missy like a niece, more like a pesky little sister. They had picked on her mercilessly when she was little but had always liked her. They had done much worse to Snape, a schoolmate of theirs who was now a professor and a member of the Order, but never felt much guilt afterward, unlike with Missy. He had not seen her much after James and Lily died. Sirius being thrown in prison, Peter Pettigrew supposedly dead, it all put a strain on everyone. His being a werewolf without his friends to keep him in check made him uneasy around people as well. With John and Maryanne murdered and Missy sent away for safety made it impossible for him to keep in touch, although He was the one who had delivered her to her relatives. He knew where she had been and knew she was safe, which was a consolation.
Missy noticed the distant look on Lupin's face and wondered what he was mulling over. "I don't suppose you are going to make the introductions?" She asked in a frisky manner.
"Guess we better introduce ourselves," said Moody. "You already know me kid, this is Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt and of course you know Remus."
Missy shook hands with them all and thought she might get on with Tonks, the witch with blue dreads, quite well. "Well, my stuff is packed, but I haven't got a broom."
"I'll hitch it all to my broom." Tonks informed as she went to it.
"You'll ride with Lupin, and then we will portkey to The Burrow from Dublin," Moody barked.
Moody pulled out his wand and did disillusionment charms on everyone. They were off. It was a rush for Missy to be on a broom again. All the Potters took to it like naturals and it was much like a bicycle, you never really forget how to ride them. She couldn't wait to get her hands on one of her own. This kept her distracted from who she might meet at their destination. They arrived at the secluded alley where the portkey was to be used and waited for the moment of transport. It came and went in an instant, the tug on her navel and the rush. Missy found herself standing in the middle of a very cluttered lounge full of freckled faces with flaming red hair. She recognized them immediately. She had attended school with Bill and Charlie Weasley. Here she found herself looking at all the Weasleys as well as Dumbledore, a young girl with long, somewhat unruly, light brown hair, a boy with auburn hair and green eyes that resembled her Aunt Lily's and Harry, her cousin. There was no doubt it was he, definitely Lily's eyes staring back at her but otherwise it could have been her uncle at sixteen.
At the same moment Missy's guard arrived…
Harry had been counting down the days until he would join everyone. The more he thought about meeting his cousin the more questions he had. How old was she? What did she know about him? What was she like? What would she be doing for the Order? This meant that he had another aunt and uncle, who were they? Why had he not met them before? They were all swirling around in his head like silver strands in a pensive. Another odd thing was bugging him, the mode in which the information had been delivered. Dumbledore had been so secretive last year, why had he just sent an owl to him for anyone to catch? The letter did not have information he thought should have been intercepted by anyone. He resolved himself to the fact that Dumbledore knew what he was doing and went back to packing up his stuff.
Ginny had never informed him of any meetings so he took it in good faith that there were none or that it was too risky to let him know. He would just have to wait to get any information once he got there. The Weasleys would be coming for him and his cousin soon and he wanted to be out of the Dursley's home as quick as possible. As he put the last book into his trunk he heard the sound of someone apparating into the sitting room downstairs. He ventured down to see who it was. Usually the Weasleys didn't just suddenly appear because Harry was still too young to travel that way. In the lounge Dumbledore was sitting comfortably on the couch sipping tea he had conjured for himself. He looked at Harry with a smiling face.
"Harry, good to see you, I thought it best for me to escort you back to The Burrow everyone else is…err… occupied at the moment. Mrs. Dursley you have a very beautiful home." He said with a slight twinkle in his eye as he looked around.
"Well thank you, and who exactly might you be?" She asked apprehensively as her husband Vernon and son Dudley cowered in a corner.
"Oh, pardon me. I am Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts."
"I see." She replied curtly.
"I'll get your things." Dumbledore said. With a flick of his wand and the spell the trunk and broom were on the floor in the middle of the room. "We can use floo powder to get to our next location." Dumbledore turned to see an electric fireplace. "Never mind."
"It's not far, we can walk," said Harry.
"All right but let me change first." With the flick of his wand Dumbledore was wearing a pair of old trousers and a shabby cardigan so as to look more like a muggle. The extensively long beard and hair made him look quite odd in Muggle clothes, kind of like a hippie, Harry thought. Harry stuck his broom in his trunk and dragged it all the way to Eric's house. Dumbledore introduced himself to William and June Martin and told them a little of Hogwarts' history and what Eric would be studying his first year. They were thrilled and told Eric they would meet him at Kings Cross Station when he was to catch the train to School.
"I have a portkey; we can reach The Burrow that way. I thought floo powder might be a little too much for Eric just yet," said Dumbledore, when it was time to leave. "Hold on."
Harry, Eric and Dumbledore were sucked in within seconds and landed in the middle of Mrs. Weasley's kitchen. Harry wondered if he would ever get used to traveling by way of portkey or floo powder for that matter. He didn't even want to think how apparating must feel. It was deserted for only a moment. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny rushed down the stairs.
"Hiya Harry!" Ron said shaking his hand.
"Hiya Ron, Hermione, Ginny. This is Eric Martin; he's one of the kids from my neighborhood. Where is everyone?" Harry said as everyone shook Eric's hand.
"Dad's at the ministry and mum had to go to Diagon Alley. She'll be back soon. Let's take your stuff up to my room."
Harry and Ron dragged Harry's trunk to Ron's bedroom, Eric followed with his, which was much smaller. Hermione and Ginny went out to catch Crookshanks with Dumbledore joining them for the fresh air and exercise.
"So Harry, what's all this about you having an older cousin?"
"I don't know anything about it really, just that I have one and she might be joining the Order. Any interesting meetings to eavesdrop on?"
"What? No. In fact they have all been out on missions mostly. We think there might be one tonight, everyone is coming back with this cousin of yours."
"Sounds like she has joined then."
"Yup, and everyone seemed bloody pleased, especially my brother Charlie. Guess they went to school together, same year and everything."
"What…did everyone know I had a cousin and just forget to tell me? Lupin and Sirius had to have known. Why didn't they ever mention it?" Harry questioned angrily.
"Hey don't bite my head off mate, I didn't know about it!"
Eric looked confused so Harry explained the little he knew about Missy. At that there was a knock at the door. Ron opened it and in stepped Hermione and Ginny.
"I got some dirt on this cousin of yours from Bill," informed Ginny. "I guess Charlie used to be head over heals for her and used to practically swoon, if guys actually can swoon, whenever he would talk to Bill about her."
"So that's why he had that stupid, dreamy look on his face for two days after we got word she would be joining the Order," said Ron, with a look of enlightenment on his face.
"Are you really that thick?" Asked Ginny. "It was so obvious that he's keen on her!"
They all sat talking in Ron's room a bit more before Mrs. Weasley showed up with a new supply of floo powder and several different colored balls of yarn Harry guessed was for every ones Christmas sweaters. He noticed there was no maroon and wondered if someone filled her in on how much Ron hated the color. He would have to ask him later. She recruited everyone to help with dinner as they arrived. Charlie, however, had a hard time doing much of anything due to his nervous jitters. There were so many people that the table stretched into the sitting room.
"When will Moody get here, dinner is almost ready and it will be cold if they don't hurry." Harry heard Mrs. Weasley mutter under her breath. Not long after, they all sat down to the table a rag tag group of witches and wizards appeared. Harry could tell right away who his cousin was, not only because he knew all the others but also because they looked quite similar. She had the same black hair that was pretty tame in comparison to his, but still a bit untidy. She wore glasses but had deep blue eyes instead of emerald green like Harry's. He stood up to greet them as everyone else did. Dumbledore made the introductions.
"Missy, these are the Weasley's, you remember Bill and Charlie, this is Mr. Arthur Weasley, Mrs. Molly Weasley, Percey: who is visiting from London, Fred and George in from Diagon Alley, Ron: Harry's best friend and Ginny, as well as Miss Hermione Granger Harry's other best friend and his neighbor Eric Martin, who is starting his first year at Hogwarts."
"Nice to meet you all," she said after shaking their hands.
"Well dears you must all be starving! Sit, sit, eat before it gets cold," said Mrs. Weasley.
"Well we have quite a few friends here who are familiar with Muggles!"
"For goodness sake, Arthur, give them a chance to catch their breath before you start bombarding them with questions." Mrs. Weasley reprimanded her husband while giving Harry, Missy and Eric a compassionate look.
"Right…sorry 'bout that. It's just that I am so fascinated by the muggle world; they get on so well without magic. Ingenious I must say," explained Arthur.
"Oh I don't mind answering questions Mrs. Weasley." Missy injected, Eric agreeing with her.
"How've you got on, you know, making a living Missy?"
"I worked in the post office just under my flat"
"Oh fantastic, the post office, I've always been intrigued by the postal service."
"How was your trip from Galbally, Missy, no difficulty I hope?" Inquired Dumbledore.
"Fine, it was excellent being on a broom again. I really must get my hands on one of my own as soon as possible. I miss flying more than anything."
"I'll say you should. You belong on a broom," added Charlie with an absurd look of astonishment and admiration.
"Yeah, you gave them a run for their money when it came to choosing Quidditch captains," joked Bill.
"Well the best man got the job. I could never come up with plays like Charlie. He knew how to blow the other teams out of the water every time."
"You played Quidditch? What position did you play?" Asked Fred and George, who had stopped talking to Tonks about the grand opening of their joke shop.
"She was a beater, damn good one too. I'd say she was the best I had on my team," Charlie boasted making Missy turn a light shade of pink.
"What exactly is Quidditch?" Asked Eric with a quizzical look on his face.
"Why don't we all go out after dinner and show him?" Asked Ginny.
"You better not stay out to long tonight. If Missy wants to get a broom and you all need to get your supplies we should do it tomorrow. We've got to get Ginny her Prefect gift and this will be good for Eric, being unfamiliar with the magical world," instructed Molly.
Harry was glad to be on his broom again. Sometimes he felt like it was the only thing he could do really well. He had taken to a broom like he was born on one. His flying was so impressive it landed him the seeker position on the Gryffindor Quidditch team in his first year. He was the youngest seeker in a century that year. It had been too long since he'd been on his Firebolt. He had been banned from playing last year by Professor Umbridge, the Ministry appointed Headmistress of Hogwarts, for fighting. She had locked his broom up in the dungeon after Fred and George summoned theirs from her office. Fred and George had been in the fight against Malfoy and his friend along with Harry and had been banned as well. They had gotten so fed up with Umbridge they skived out on the rest of their year at Hogwarts. Ginny had taken Harry's place and had done well but wasn't as interested in position of seeker, she was more interested in being a chaser. Harry missed the final game last year and hadn't seen her play much. He was looking forward to actually playing with her and to see if Ron had improved much over the summer. He had never played with Bill and Charlie so this would be fantastic. They drew straws to see who would play first team and who played second. Charlie played seeker, Ron was keeper, Fred and Missy were beaters, Hermione actually decided to play and was chaser with Tonks. The second team consisted of Bill as keeper, Percey, who agreed to stay a while and play as a beater as well as Eric, who was very good at American baseball and took to flying a broom like a natural, Harry as seeker, Ginny and Kingsley Shacklebolt, who said he wanted to brush up on his Quidditch skills, as chasers. They decided to play with only two chasers as there weren't enough players but everyone pitched in to try and score goals. This wasn't very convenient for explaining the rules to Eric but they all made due.
The game was neck and neck for quite some time. Eric had caught on quickly and Ginny was brilliant. Harry was also surprised at how well Kingsley did. He kept insisting it had been years since he played but Harry had a hard time believing him. Hermione did pretty well for someone who had never shown an interest before and Tonks was practically falling off her broom every five minutes it seemed. Charlie had almost caught the snitch twice but lost track of it. Then suddenly Harry saw it, trying not to alarm Charlie he glided closer to it as if he were just looking out for it. His gut told him if he didn't move soon he'd loose it so he lunged so quick it took Charlie a good fifteen seconds to figure out what had happened but it was too late. Just as he was turning about Harry's fingers grasped the snitch tightly and the game was over at 40 to 190. They all glided to the paddock floor and congratulated each other on a great game. Percey said he had to hurry off to London for work the next day and made his way back to the house ahead of the rest while Charlie, Bill, Tonks, and Kingsley accompanied Missy back. Fred and George sauntered along behind them whispering about something while the rest made up the rear.
"So Percey's back?" Inquired Harry stiffly. He had never favored Percey much and after he had estranged himself from the Weasley's last year as well as slandered him he had liked him even less.
"Sort of, he's been acting as if nothing ever happened. He's such a bloody git. The way he treated us and now he just expects us to forget about it all," Ron said with disgust as Ginny nodded in agreement.
"How have your mum and dad taken it?" Asked Harry
"Well you know mum, she couldn't bear to have him mad at them so she was all for letting him back in the house. Dad wasn't so quick to let it go. Turns out the row they got in was a lot worse than he let on to any of us but he's coming around," answered Ginny.
They made it back to the house and Mrs. Weasley insisted they all make their way up to the rooms for bed. They went but very reluctantly. Harry and Eric rolled out beds on Ron's bedroom floor and tucked themselves under the covers. Harry didn't realize how tired he was until his head hit the pillow and from the looks of Ron and Eric they felt the same way. They were out before they knew it. Across the hall Hermione was getting the beds ready for her and Missy while Ginny fiddled with a listening end of an extendable ear that had been hanging over her head board.
"What are you doing, Ginny?"
"I'm setting up the bugging network."
"The what?"
"Bugging network, you're muggle born you should know what that is."
"I know what it is. How did you get one in this house?"
"Fred and George."
"When I first met you Ginny I certainly didn't take you for someone who could pass as the third Weasley twin," Hermione said with a look of half amusement and half disapproval.
"Never judge a book by its cover, Hermione! If I were the third we'd be triplets not twins. I thought you were smart," Ginny responded sniggering. "Oooh pipe down everyone is coming to bed." Ginny tucked the listening bit gingerly into her ear and lay down on that same side as to hide it from view.
"You girls out with that light," Molly called from the other side of the door.
"Right mum," Ginny called back.
"You are a prefect now though, Ginny. You can't go around doing stuff like that at school you'll get in trouble," whispered Hermione
"It's not what you do Hermione, it's whether or not you get caught. No one would ever suspect me. I have the perfect cover. I look like the sweet, innocent, little sister of all the Weasley boys. I could get away with just about anything and no one would be the wiser."
"I would be."
"You're not going to rat on me."
Hermione didn't answer and Ginny had a sneaking suspicion that Hermione would if she did anything too horrible. They waited for Missy to come up but she didn't.
"What's she waiting for?" Asked Hermione.
"She's talking to Lupin."
"Ginny you really shouldn't be eavesdropping like this, besides we have to get up early."
"Early my eye, and what do you care I don't see you anxious to turn the light out. I'm getting Harry."
"What are you thinking, someone will hear you!"
"Don't get your knickers in a twist! He's got a two way mirror."
She called his name.
"Harry, Harry, are you awake?"
He opened his eyes and wondered if he was starting to have dreams again like last year. He glanced at Ron who snorted and turned in his bed obviously asleep. Eric's breathing was slow and steady. There was enough moonlight in the room to see that there was no one else in the room but them.
"Harry, it's me, Ginny. If you're awake I'm in the mirror.
He pulled it out of his jacket pocket that was lying next to his head. He had made a habit of keeping it close.
"Yeah, what is it?" He asked groggily.
"Come in here, you got to hear this."
"Hear what?"
"Just get in here!"
She disappeared and Harry slipped out from his covers, quietly tiptoed down to the third landing and slid into her room. He was a bit shocked. He had never seen her room and it was definitely girly. She had posters of Unicorns and the Weird Sisters all over the walls. There was an autographed poster of Gilderoy Lockhart on her wall but it had horns and a goofy looking handlebar mustache scratched on his head with ink. He looked quite perturbed about it and Harry decided he could appreciate the artistic license Ginny had taken.
"Dididi Singuli," Ginny said. Harry recognized the end of an extendable ear that suddenly split into two with the incantation and a flick of her wand.
"What is it a meeting? Should I get Ron?" This is when Harry noticed the disapproving look on Hermione's face.
"Well it is a meeting of sorts but Ron doesn't need to hear. It's Missy and Lupin."
She handed him an extension of the listening apparatus and he stuck it in his ear as he sat next to her on her bed.
Missy sat in front of the fire with that look as if the flames were hypnotizing her. Lupin came and sat in the chair next to her.
"Missy I'm sorry I haven't made more of an effort to keep in touch with you I was afraid it might draw attention to your location…and you know certain times of the month I am in no condition to be around anyone." She just nodded reassuringly. Lupin had been bitten by a werewolf as a young boy and had suffered the curse of it since. Missy had been eavesdropping on her uncle and his friends one day as they were discussing ways they could help him. They had found her out but not before they decided on secretly becoming anamagi. She was sworn to secrecy and had never uttered a word of it to anyone. To most young girls this would have been mortifyingly scary but Missy felt the opposite. For some reason she knew that she could trust him all the more, he would not always be a danger but someday be a great protector.
"How are you holding up? Last time you visited this place was not so pleasant."
"I'm fine, I just feel so awkward. That letter I gave Charlie was so abrupt and I've always regretted the fact that I couldn't stay longer to explain in person."
"But the time, surely he would have understood."
"I know, I know. We were in a rush to get me to safety but I still think about the could've beens."
"Not too often I hope."
Missy didn't respond. There had not been a day when she had no thought about the Auror training she had been forced to cut short, or the relationship, possibly the family. Now it was all in front of her, so close she could almost touch it.
"Do you think I could re-enter Auror training after all this time?" Missy asked after a long pause.
"Anything is possible, you know that. Listen, Missy, I have some news that I don't think you are going to like much."
Missy looked at him. "What?"
"It's about Sirius." Lupin hesitated.
"What?" Missy asked more urgently this time.
"He…He died, earlier this summer."
Wha…how, It wasn't the Dementors was it?" She asked with tears welling up and her chin slightly shuddering.
"No Missy, he did not kill all those people. He knew who did and when he found out where the killer was he escaped and came after him. This was a few years ago now. Harry found out the truth and helped him escape from Fudge and having him kissed. Last year the Order was reinstated and he became part of it. His name was not cleared so he was in hiding but when Voldemort and his Death Eaters tried to kill Harry he came along with us to fight. They had become very close, Harry and Sirius. Anyways, it was Bellatrix Lastrange. She stunned him and he fell through the Veil of the Dead in the Department of Mysteries."
Missy was sobbing, her face in her hands. Lupin reached out and caressed her back in a fatherly way and just let her cry. He did start to leave at one point and asked her if she would be okay, he had some business to tend to for the Order. She nodded through her sobs and he made his way to the door.
"Whoa, she is really taking this hard," Ginny commented. She looked at Harry who was looking more then a little peaked from Lupin retelling the events that took place earlier that summer. Then they heard a door down the hall creak and footsteps walk past them and down the stairs. The footsteps reached the landing and they heard the rugged, masculine voice of Charlie. At this point Hermione could no longer curb her curiosity and Ginny split her listening end once again.
"Missy, are you okay? I thought I heard the front door so I came down to see what was going on."
"I'm…I'll be fine. I just got some bad news that's all," replied Missy between sobs.
"What was it?"
"Sirius."
"Oh, you knew him well didn't you? I remember you saying you didn't believe he did it when they sent him to Azkaban. He was a good man, Missy; Bill told me what he knew about him when I came back."
Charlie, occupied the chair Lupin had been sitting in, moved it closer and reached out to her. She took his hand and he pulled her into a big bear hug. She sobbed for a while longer. As the crying subsided she looked up at him.
"I'm sorry, I just… It was just too much. All I have left is Lupin and Harry, and I don't even know Harry. They were in hiding when he was born and I never met him before Dumbledore carted him off to those Muggle relatives of his."
"Missy you have me, and the rest of the Order. You are not nearly alone as you may feel right now." She swallowed hard and a small smile crept across her face.
"I am sorry that I didn't have more time to talk to you before I left. I wish I had told you where I was going."
"It was for the best. You are safe now and that is what counts," he reached down and kissed her on the forehead. "It's late you need your sleep if you are going broom shopping tomorrow. Dumbledore will bring your Vault key in the morning and knowing him it will be early."
They rose and started toward the stair case. Missy stopped. "Is there any chance…never mind," she said looking from his clear blue eyes to the floor.
"What?"
"It's nothing, never mind."
"I better get back," Harry said, "and you need to get this light out before they suspect anything." He got up and reached his bed just in time. Ron was sitting up in his looking confused. "Where were you? I was getting worried."
"Ginny wanted me to hear something."
"Hear something?"
"She was spying on Lupin and Missy," Harry explained everything that had transpired to Ron. It was as if a weight lifted from his shoulders while talking to Ron, He figured it wasn't that bad talking to him about it because Ron didn't act awkward, he just listened. He didn't try to give advice, as Hermione would have done. He had not injured their friendship by acting out as he had the year before and he was relieved.
"Wow sounds like she isn't doing too well. So Charlie went down there? I wonder if they kissed."
"Ron, come on!"
"Sorry I just think it'd be cool if they did."
"Why so you could live vicariously through Charlie?" Harry asked, throwing his pillow at Ron.
"I'll get mine, just you wait!" he said throwing it back.
"Oh Ronnykins has a crush, who is it, come on I told you all about Cho last year didn't I."
"Oh no you don't! Don't lie. You liked Cho for a long time before you ever said a word to me. I'm going to make you squirm for a while."
"Fine," Harry said defiantly, feeling a little light heartened after his talk with Ron and vowing to find out whom Ron liked even if he had to ask Hermione.
"Fine," said Ron. At that they snuggled between their covers and went back to sleep.
"Hermione, Ginny, you awake?" Missy asked, voice still quivering slightly. They did not answer. But she could sense something was not entirely legitimate. She slipped under the covers Hermione laid out for her and tried to clear her mind but the thought of one person just would not let her succeed. She couldn't let this happen again. She had been weak and now she'd have to guard herself. She had had no intention of trying to get together with Charlie again when she got there but after spending time with him she couldn't help it. The temptation was very strong…too strong.