A/N: Well here is chapter 4 and there is more to come! If anyone is so inspired feel free to check out my yahoo group, link is in my profile. And calling all artisits I'd love to see any renditions of the characters in this fic either JKR's or my Missy. Lots of love to my beta for this and all my fics, Brett. Hope you all enjoy :).
Chapter 4: The House of Gildas Gryffindor
Missy grabbed the small parcel she had retrieved from her vault as well as the large Papyrus envelope and tiptoed up to Charlie's door and gave it a rap.
"Charlie, you awake?"
"Yeah, come in."
Missy slipped in. He offered her a seat on the side of his bed and she took it.
"We will need to take the Knight Bus, the house was taken off the floo network years ago and my dad rigged it so you couldn't apparate into it. You do have muggle clothes don't you? We will be in a muggle neighborhood."
"Yeah I've got some from the World Cup but you'll have to let me know if they'll do," he said pulling out an old pair of jeans and a sweatshirt.
"That will work. I'll go, you get changed."
Missy slipped out and traversed the rest of the stairs quietly as not to wake anyone. Within moments Charlie joined her and they went out to signal the bus. It appeared within seconds and they boarded it. It took a good bit of time before they reached the outskirts of Missy's old neighborhood. The sun was just rising and everyone was still quiet in bed. The bus stopped in front of a large gate and Missy tapped it several times wither wand and it opened then led Charlie to a large well-kept mansion. She pulled the parcel out of her jacket pocket and unwrapped it. It was an ancient looking key with a lion engraved on the top that she forced into the keyhole and turned. The sound of twelve different locks being unengaged followed. They stepped over the threshold and were greeted by a little house elf who had large pointy ears that wiggled when she talked, she had one little ringlet of red hair that was tied atop her head with a yellow bow, and a small bulb like nose. She was wearing a little kitchen apron over a large bathroom towel that was tied around her like a roman toga that trailed slightly behind her.
"Ooooh dear! The Miss Potter has returned! Why has Sir Dumbledore not told me my Missus is coming back? Ooooh Lulla is so happy to see her Missus!"
"Hullo Lulla. He did not know I would come home today. We will be having quite a few guests and I came to check things over. It's going to be a bit like things were before Harry defeated Voldemort, Lulla, and the Order of the Phoenix will be using the house now."
"Ooooh, Lulla has heard the rumors; things are getting bad Lulla has heard." She said with a mixture of fear and caution.
"Yes they are but they will get better, don't you worry," Missy answered patting her on the head. "This is Charlie, he came to help me go through things today and get ready."
"The house is still the same as when you left it Missus. I tried hard to keep it just as you left it, Sir Dumbledore said you would be coming back someday and I wanted to give you a treat."
"Thank you Lulla. We are going to the library can you get us some tea and if you have something to eat, that too?"
"Ooooh, yes Missus Lulla will make you some breakfast," she called while scurrying toward the kitchen.
"Come on lets take inventory."
They made there way to the library. It was a great room with shelves full of old leather bound books. It smelt of old musty paper. There were cases of Dark Magic Detectors behind a grand willow desk. Two rich leather chairs and a teacart sat before the fire that had lit itself the moment they entered the room, and large elaborately woven dragon mane rug lie on the floor in the middle of the room. Missy crossed over to the desk and opened the top middle drawer. She fiddled with the back of it until it gave way. Then she pulled out a silk handkerchief and unfolded it, it was another key almost identical to the one she used to open the front door. She pocketed both and slipped the large envelope into the drawer. Just then a plate of sausages and toast appeared on the teacart along with a hot pot of tea, two cups and saucers, milk and a bowl of sugar. They sat themselves in the leather chairs and started eating.
"I should have sent and owl to Dumbledore and asked him how many would be housed here so I could ready the bedrooms. I think I'll see if Lulla can go to Hogwarts to check."
"Never mind sending Lulla, I have a two way mirror, I can have dad send a note with Errol before he goes to work." Charlie pulled his mirror out and contacted Arthur Weasley with the request. "Okay he has it taken care of so what should we do in the meantime?"
"I guess check out the rooms and grounds. It's been a long time since I've been here."
They both finished their tea and went about exploring each room. Lulla was right, not a thing had changed. The sitting room was still full of overstuffed furniture and a large, red and gold leaf family crest with a lion engraved in the middle crossed with two ruby encrusted swards over the grand mantelpiece. Near the window there was a very technical looking brass telescope. The dinning room housed a gigantic oak table with chairs lining each side and one at each end. The kitchen looked out to a large garden with a small green house in the north corner. They then checked all the additional rooms, everything seeming in order so they made their way back to the library.
"It's a wonder, seems like only yesterday I was here," Missy commented looking
around at all the books.
They were silent for a while and Missy was starting to get uneasy. Suddenly
Charlie spoke.
"Why did you want me to come with you?"
"I don't know…I guess I just needed someone I could trust to come with me. Last time I was here I saw my parents die and I didn't trust myself to keep my head."
"Oh."
Charlie hesitated then leaned in and at that very moment the door of the library opened.
"Pardon me. I had no idea, I'll just go. I'd hate to interrupt two lovers such as yourselves. "
The moment was spent. "Stay, Professor Dumbledore. It's all right."
"If you insist, and Missy dear, call me Albus, well not after school has started, but while we are meeting on Order business we can dispense with the formalities.
"What ever you say… Albus."
"Charlie I received your father's owl and thought I would join you two. I don't know that we will need to house many on a regular basis excepting perhaps Lupin; he wants to be closer to the rest of us in the Order and was getting tired of Grimmauld Place. The sight of Kreacher was starting to get to him I'm afraid and if we had, by chance, missed administering his monthly dose of Wolfsbane Potion He probably would have done him in. Lulla will be more attentive during those trying times; I dare say Lupin will be pampered."
"He's familiar enough with the house. He'd probably feel right at home. Everything is safe, just as my parents left it," Missy said, suddenly changing the subject.
"Good, good. With the Dementors on the loose near Hogwarts we may need all the help we can get. Your grandfather put a permanent disillusionment charm on the grounds, did he not? The neighbors will see nothing unusual if they have view of them will they?"
"Yes he did, it is also impossible to apparate here as you know."
"Ah yes, that will keep things a bit perplexing for the Ministry. They won't be able to track our movements as easily if we don't use magic to arrive. I will also make myself secret keeper of these headquarters so that is added security also."
"The Ministry is still a problem?"
"Only a few within it, but better safe than sorry. I will call a meeting for this evening if that is acceptable to you."
"Yes, I'd say we better. We can go back to the Burrow and let everyone know. Let's plan for eight o'clock then. "
With that Dumbledore was up and retreating toward the door, Missy and Charlie in his wake. They walked back to where they had disembarked the Knight Bus and signaled it once again. The ride to the Burrow didn't seem nearly as long and they reached the house just as lunch was being cleared.
"Oh dears you're back! I'm sorry I thought you would be much longer. I'll whip you something up, just be a moment."
"Thank you Mrs. Weasley."
"Molly dear, call me Molly."
"Mum, we've got a meeting tonight at eight, at the new headquarters," Charlie whispered to her.
"We might as well take the whole lot with us Molly. There is enough room for everyone. It is much closer to London and we can go to the Grand Opening of the joke shop by Knight Bus."
"Well, if you don't mind. It will give everyone a change of scenery," Molly said looking around her kitchen. Missy got the distinct impression that Molly was thinking of a change more for herself than anyone else. "Kids get your things packed up we're going to stay at Missy's for a bit. Make it quick!"
Within the hour everyone was packed and standing out waiting for the bus. Ron was not to keen on the idea of taking it but was told to stop whining as it was the only way to get there. The second trip seemed even longer with the bus needing to take more stops. Eventually they made it. As they got off the bus Missy instructed them to go a few at a time so they didn't attract the neighbor's attention and each group needed to wait a bit before setting off. Before she set off she told them the house address. Eventually they all made it and were safe inside without having attracted any undue attention. Missy showed them to the upstairs rooms. Harry, Ron and Eric shared a room next to Missy, Hermione and Ginny. Bill and Charlie bunked together and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley took a room for themselves. They saved another for Lupin and a few others for any stray Order members that might need to stay. After dropping their stuff they went down to the sitting room to wait for the others to show up. Harry was intrigued by the family crest on the wall and asked what it was for.
"This is the crest of Gildas Gryffindor, Harry. We are the last of his descendants."
"Gildas Gryffindor?"
"Yes, didn't you know we are the descendants of Godric Gryffindor, his father was Gildas. He was a great Auror. He developed the most challenging criteria for Auror training. The Ministry had to ease up a bit because they didn't have any new recruits for a hundred years."
"So your saying that we are Gryffindors, by blood?"
"Yes Harry," Missy answered with a mixture of amusement and wonder at his reaction.
"So I do belong in Gryffindor!"
"It's not who you descend from Harry, it's who you are that puts you in a certain house. I have told you this before," interrupted the voice of Dumbledore from behind him. "You chose Gryffindor even though you were promised greatness in another house, which is what put you there."
Harry smiled at the remembrance of the conversation he had with Dumbledore after the defeat of Tom Riddle in his second year.
"Our friends will be showing up momentarily, Missy will you come help me get them situated?"
"Of course." She said, getting up.
As they made their way to the hall Mungdungus Fletcher was pushing a large crate the size of a horse with Lupin and Moody's help. Once in they unhinged one end and a disgruntled Hippogriff ventured out.
"What on earth?"
"He was a fugitive along with Sirius; we couldn't leave him with Kreacher. It's okay Missy he will stay in my room, he is quite used to being indoors by now."
"If you're sure. The grounds in back are disillusioned so he would be safe there too," Missy said hesitantly.
"That is even better. Through the kitchen right?"
"That would be the most direct route."
Missy had not let her eyes stray for one minute thinking if she did she would have just been seeing a mirage. Slowly all the members who could make it to the meeting trickled in. Finally eight o'clock rolled around and Dumbledore started the meeting, not before the teenagers were shooed up to the rooms, however. Ginny went into action activating her two way mirror, connecting with Fred and Gorge. They all gathered in the boys' room and listened.
"Thank you all for coming. We have decided to use Gryffindor mansion as headquarters. As you all know Grimmauld Place was compromised and Missy Potter has been gracious enough to…"
"What the…get out of my way!" They heard someone growl behind the door. Missy got up to check. She found herself facing a very foul looking Severus Snape.
"Who, pray tell do you think you are addressing my house elf in such a manner?" She greeted him defiantly.
"That pathetic excuse of a house elf, and who are you supposed to be?" He retorted glowering at her, his eyes roaming up and down her form.
"I am Mistress of this house and I would advise you to treat the inhabitants of this household with respect or you will have me to answer to," she spat.
"Artemis Potter, I should have known. Arrogant just like the rest of your family!"
"You will check yourself sir or you will have a situation on your hands you will regret!" Missy had her wand pointed dangerously close to Snape's sallow face. The Order members were slowly migrating toward the scene, Fred and George at the very front when Dumbledore glided to the two of them.
"Please, friends, calm yourselves."
"I apologize sir."
"As you should, this is neither your home nor your house elf to mistreat. Please join us in the sitting room I will call on you to give us an update on the activities in Hogsmead later."
"Yes sir," Snape capitulated, reluctantly taking his gaze off of Missy and following them back to the meeting.
"Bloody hell, she just about took his head off from the sound of it. Remind me not to get on her bad side Harry!" Said Ron.
Everyone in the room had a smirk on their faces. No one had ever thought Snape could be cut down to size.
"He's always talking about the Potters being arrogant, if you ask me it's he who is arrogant, the way he treated sweet little Lulla."
"Hermione you aren't thinking we need to free Lulla now are you?"
"No Ron! Honestly you could be a little supportive though. House elves deserve equal treatment too."
"You just don't get it do…"
"Hush! They're starting again," Ginny barked.
"Severus what news have you got from Hogsmead?"
"They are planning something but I can't seem to find out what, we have to be on guard. It would not be advisable to let the students off grounds until we have this situation under control."
"That is obvious, but there is also the risk that the Dementors will try and get onto the grounds. They have before and now they have even more motivation to do so. We have to find a way to stop them before they go too far. I fear a constant guard will not be enough."
"Is there any risk of Voldemort trying to read Harry's mind?" Asked Missy.
"Yes, there is always that risk since he knows the connection exists. I dare say he will be careful not to take advantage of it in the near future though, he knows we know about it so he will wait until he thinks we are least on guard. That being so I will find a replacement to teach Harry Occlumency this year since his lessons were cut short," Dumbledore said this glancing ever so quickly to Snape.
"Harry, have you been practicing at all this summer?" Asked Hermione.
"Yeah, a bit. I think it's working. I haven't had any nightmares and my scar doesn't hurt as often. Which means one of two things, Voldemort isn't feeling any strong emotions or I'm actually shutting him out."
"Maybe you could teach the DA this year, you know, what ever Dumbledore's replacement shows you."
"Ron he has to know Legilimencey to teach Occlumency so that would be pretty much impossible."
"It was just a thought."
"Maybe he'll ask Missy to teach me."
"What, she's a Legilimens? I'm in trouble!" Ginny exclaimed waving the two-way mirror in the air.
"She can't read your mind if you don't look her in the eye."
"So what am I supposed to do look at my feet every time she walks into the room? That won't look suspicious or anything!"
"Well Ginny if you didn't go around spying on everyone, putting yourself in precarious positions like you have been you wouldn't have a reason to be worried."
"Oh stop it Hermione, you know just as well as I do that this is the only way we're going to get any information," her eyes flashing at Harry, making a new wave of guilt wash over him for not being honest with her the night before.
"I just think there are probably less risky, less incriminating ways to get information."
"Lay off Hermione, Ginny knows what she's doing."
"Stay out of this Ron!"
"All of you quit bickering, NOW!" They stopped, stunned by Harry's outburst.
"Ginny, I can't teach you everything but you can try clearing your mind so that there is nothing to tip her off. She can't read your mind if there is nothing to read."
"Harry I don't think it's as simple as reading minds, there is more to it than that. It's much more complex."
"Hermione you are starting to sound like Snape."
"It's just…"
"They're changing subjects, quite down."
"Is there any chance of there being any other weapons he might go after, or was the prophesy the only one?"
"Tonks there are many weapons he might try to use but he has been prevented from getting his hands on the most powerful one. The prophesy being destroyed was for the best."
"What exactly was the big deal, didn't he already know what it was?"
"Not entirely, there was more to it than he was made aware of, it is not knowing the entire prophesy that keeps him fearful of me and that is what we need until Harry is ready to face him."
"Ready? Hasn't he already done so a few times" Injected Charlie. "I'd say he's more ready than any of us will ever be."
"He is still young, and full of himself. He needs quite a bit of knocking down to size before he is capable of understanding his roll in this war," hissed Snape.
"You underestimate him Severus. He is much more capable than you have ever given him credit for. I would have stopped you from treating him the way you do long ago had it not been a risk to do so. You need to remember he is not James. He has been through a great deal more pain than his father ever would have wanted for him and has come out of it remarkably well. You would do well to remember that."
Harry felt pride well up inside of him for a moment at hearing Dumbledore defend his character to Snape but it vanished the moment he realized all that was said would make for a great deal of explaining to his friends who were all staring at him. He still had not told them everything and he could see it catching up to him. If he did not tell them now it would be much harder to do so later. He cleared his throat.
"I guess now's the time to tell you..."
"There is more to the prophesy mate, why haven't you told us?" asked Ron.
"That would be nice seeing as how we're you friends!" Said Hermione at the same time Ron spoke.
"Don't get mad Hermione, Harry's been through enough."
"It's okay Ron. She has a right to be upset, I would be too if I thought any of you were keeping things from me." Harry said sheepishly, remembering how he had acted last summer when he arrived at 12 Grimmauld Place. "Here it is, I am the only one who can kill Voldemort and he's the only one who can kill me. I was chosen by him as his equal and therefore one of us will have to destroy the other. We can't exist together; one can't exist while the other is still alive. So…that's it."
They all looked at him, stunned, scarcely able to take in what they had just heard. Harry Potter, their friend, fellow Hogwarts student was the only one who could defeat Lord Voldemort.
A/N: I'd love to hear what you think so please review.