Chapter 19
Lessons to Learn
Normal POV
-- OotP HQ --
The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix was currently in a state of pandemonium, disorder, chaos, mayhem, confusion and disarray.
The Order members that had been in the HQ in the morning had been startled awake by the screams of one Molly Weasley. She was yelling; "They're gone!" over and over again.
Now everyone was running around like headless Dragons chasing Doxys. In the middle of all the chaos Severus Snape was leaning against the wall, smirking.
'Well, you were right' he thought, thinking about the four teenagers who created the mess with fondness.
At that moment Albus Dumbledore entered the room.
"Will everyone please settle down!" he said.
Everyone stopped dead in their tracks and turned towards Dumbledore.
"Now, what is going on?" he asked.
Molly stepped forward.
"It's the children, they've disappeared!" she said.
"How did this happen?" Dumbledore asked his eyes narrowing.
"I don't know and oh they're wanted, the entire ministry is looking for them. Oh poor children, maybe the DeathEaters have them and they don't..." Molly rattled.
Arthur put an arm around her shoulders to calm her down.
"Well, we must go look for them" Dumbledore said finally.
"Yeah they could be in trouble. They don't know how to handle themselves." an Order member said.
It was then that Severus decided to step in.
"Would you just listen to yourselves!" he sneered crossing his arms before him, glaring at them down his nose.
"What do you mean Severus?" Dumbledore asked calmly as several people shrank down as Severus gaze went over them.
"Hmm... lets see there are several points. The way you see them is one. The way you treat them is another, and that is the exact reason why they left." Severus said.
"They left?" Molly asked with saucer like eyes.
"Yes" he said "they left and they won't come back until everyone gets their head out of their ass" Severus said.
"What do you mean?" Arthur asked puzzled.
"Why don't you, and with that I mean ALL of you," he swept his icy shill-killing gaze over them again "think about how you think of Harry, Audrey, Ron and Hermione" Severus said.
"What are you babbling about? They're just children and..." someone started though faltered to a slowdown as they reached 'babbled'. Severus gave the man a bone chilling dagger glare that the people around could see was taking just that affect.
"That is my point, they're NOT JUST children" Severus said and left with a swish of his robes like the great big bat he was.
Everyone started to talk against each other, all looking confused. In the middle of all the whispers and arguments Dumbledore quietly stood with a pensive look.
The Mages Apartment
(a/n: the apartment will be referred to as Sanctuary from now on)
Audrey woke up with a secure feeling of warmth at her back and an arm over her waist. She opened her eyes and snuggled back against Harry. They were lying in Harry's bed even though they had each started out in their own beds. Audrey couldn't sleep the previous night and so she decided to sneak into Harry's room. They did that at Hogwarts as well. Harry was also unable to sleep and had invited Audrey into the bed to sleep. Now Audrey stretched carefully as to not wake up Harry, who just tightened his grip on her. She tried to get up but Harry wouldn't let her go, so she turned around in his embrace and grabbed a lock of her long loose hair and tickled under Harry's nose. Scrunching up his nose and opening his eyes he blinked against the bright sunlight streaming through the window finally to slide to the left to settle at a grinning Audrey.
"Whawathaor?" he asked sleepily.
"Well, someone likes to cuddle" Audrey replied.
She smiled mischievously and gave Harry a quick kiss on the lips. Harry loosened his grip a little and Audrey jumped out of the bed.
"Are you leaving me here?" Harry asked miserably.
"Yep" Audrey said as she bolted out of the door.
Harry stretched and smiled; he got out of the bed and walked to the second bathroom. He wouldn't mind waking up like that every morning. At Hogwarts one of them always had to leave silently and early.
-----
Half an hour later Harry and Audrey had taken a shower and had made breakfast. Harry went to wake up Ron and Hermione and soon the four of them were sitting, eating their breakfast.
"So, do you think that they found out that we're gone yet?" Ron asked as he munched away on some cereal.
"Probably" Harry said and took a bite of his toast.
"And Severus probably gave them our message as well" Audrey added smiling.
"I wonder how long it will take them to figure out what it means" Hermione said, looking thoughtfully at her scrambled eggs.
"Don't know" Audrey shrugged.
"So what are we going to do today?" she asked.
"I'm gonna be a cereal killer today." Ron said gaping whide and looking at his cereals, stopping short when he saw their stares.
"Hullo!? Jokefactor among us!" he waved with his spoon before their faces before happily sticking it in his mouth crunching away.
"Oh haha very funny" Audrey said sticking her tongue out.
"Gimme that!" Harry said grabbing her mouth with his own getting stares from Ron and Hermione instead.
After about two minuets there was a cough, which made them both hurriedly broke apart.
"Well after arranging our stuff I was thinking we could rebuild part of the library" Hermione said.
"Sure, for what?" Audrey asked out of breath.
"For training, the library is very big. We could easily transform part of it into a training area and even hang the weapons" Hermione said.
"Good idea, we'll place the mats and put of some bags" Audrey nodded her approval.
"Well that's settled, but who's gonna buy food and stuff? We're running low." Harry looked at the empty open fridge where a miserable bit of tomato still stood hard against the mould.
They all quickly turned away twitching their hands and arms as getting rid of something yucky on them.
"Well, two of us can disguise themselves and head for Gringotts to exchange galleons for pounds" Ron said.
After a few rounds of rock-paper-scissors Harry and Audrey were the ones to do the shopping, while Ron and Hermione worked on rearranging the library.
-- Teachers Lounge --
No one in the Order was happy with Severus.
DUH! What's new?
But it wasn't as if he cared anyway. Two days had past since the four mages had left. Severus leant back in his fauteuil as he heard rapping on the window. He looked up and saw Ico. He went to the window and opened it. Ico flew in, landed on the desk and held out a letter to Severus. Severus took the letter and gave Ico some food. He opened the letter and recognized Audrey and Hermione's joined writing, whereas Audrey quoted and Hermione wrote.
Letter
Dear Greasy Git,
How's everything going? It's been two days since our escape and we're doing absolutely fabulous, though we do miss Hogwarts. But anyway thanks for your help, you're great. We...
"Should we inform everyone at Hogwarts to evacuate after the ego growth you're going to have after that last statement?"
Severus smiled at Ron's added note.
Get lost Ron! Now as we were saying, we know that you understand that we can't tell you where we are. But we're safe and have a roof over our heads and so on.
About them, have they figured it out yet? We bet not, we're sure that you gave them a verbal whipping without them getting it. Be sure to send back telling how it went with the reactions.
Don't worry about this letter being read by anyone, it's spelled so you're the only one who can read it. Ico should be waiting for you to send a reply. Don't worry about anyone seeing her either; she's got a spell on her as well.
Greets,
The, now outlawed, twerps.
End Letter
Severus smile at the letter. It said a lot to him but even if anyone else would read it, it would mean nothing to him or her. They never forgot safety protocol, something Moody had drilled into them very well. Moody would probably curse half the Order for thinking so lowly of his students, but he was in Romania on a mission.
'They know what they got themselves into, probably better than a large part of the adult Order members' Severus thought grimly.
He grabbed ink, parchment and a quill and wrote a short reply.
Letter
Dear, now outlawed, twerps,
I'm doing well, though they're a bit pissed at me right now, though it's not as if I care. It is good to know that you're safe. And no, they haven't got a clue yet, though Albus and Tonks seem close to solving it.
You'd better write Remus a note Audrey, and to Molly as well Ron. Tell them that you're all safe. Nothing more is necessary.
Let's hope they figure it out, sooner rather than later.
The Greasy Git
End Letter
Severus sealed the letter and cast some spells on it. He then gave it to Ico who gave a hoot and flew off.
-- The Mages --
The four mages were walking through London after buying some things for Sanctuary and themselves. They walked by two talking women who suddenly looked at them with big scared eyes and started to whisper.
Say Snitch, what do you pick up on them? Audrey asked looking at the women in the glass of an on sale shop.
Harry concentrated.
They think that it's abnormal to be so young and dedicated to Voldy and that they'd better tell the ministry so we can get help Harry replied.
Mhm, not good Hermione commented casually looking at a pair of shoes.
Indeed not, so Snitch do we erase it? Ron said.
Yep Prowl, we erase it Harry replied and muttered something as they walked on.
The two women looked slightly dazed and did nothing as Audrey waved at them.
"Well, so much for walking around without disguises" Ron said.
"Let's just apparate to Sanctuary, that's faster" Hermione suggested.
"Good idea" Harry said.
"That alley looks empty" Audrey said, pointing.
The four walked into the alley, it had a dead end. The looked around but saw no one and so they disapparated. No one noticed the four teenagers walk into the alley and never coming out again.
-----
When they got home Ico was already waiting on the coffee table.
"She must have Sev's reply" Audrey said and took the letter.
As they read it through they nodded once or twice to what was being said.
"Well, we'd better write the letters to mum and Remus, we wouldn't want a nervous breakdown on our minds" Ron said.
They wrote the letters and sent them off with Ico and Hedwig as they didn't trust Pig with such letters yet.
DUH! O-o Zosa
-- Dumbledore's Office (that Afternoon) --
Minerva, Remus and Dumbledore were talking about the reason for the teenagers' departure.
"What did Severus mean?" Minerva wondered absently.
"I think that our young fighters had enough of being treated like ignorant children" Dumbledore said.
"I'll be the first to admit that they're not if needs be. They've handled much more in their 16 years of life than most do in an entire lifetime." Remus said.
At that moment Ico flew through the open window, dropped a letter in Remus' lap and flew out again.
"What's this?" Remus wondered and picked up the letter. He saw "Remus Lupin, Somewhere at Hogwarts (Probably Dumbledore's Office)" written in Audrey's handwriting. He opened the letter and read.
Letter
Dear Moony,
I'm sending you this letter so you won't worry. Molly should get hers from Ron any moment as well. We're safe and have a roof over our heads.
I apologize if we gave you a scare by leaving; you were not one of those who led to our departure. As for that, we had had enough of being chased after and not taken seriously, we already have the M.O.M. and Him for that, and we don't need the same shit from the Order. We'll return when we deem the time is right.
Anyway if you're in dire need for help you can send a message by owl or any other mail bird. They'll be able to find me, whereas humans cannot and following the birds is useless as well.
I'm sorry that things had to go this way. I'll be in touch.
Love,
Audrey
End Letter
Remus looked at the letter surprised.
"Who's it from Remus?" Albus asked.
"From Audrey, she's saying that I shouldn't worry and that they are safe." Remus replied as he handed Dumbledore the letter to see.
Dumbledore read the letter.
"I see. I think that we should stop the search for them. They'll be alright and as Audrey says in the letter any bird can find her, so Fawkes can look after them." Dumbledore said, partly to Fawkes. He scribbled a quick note and gave it to Fawkes.
Fawkes tilted his head, accepted the note and disappeared in a whoosh of flames.
"What do we do now?" Minerva asked.
"We wait and hope that the rest of the Order realizes what foolishness has been going on" Dumbledore replied.
His two companions nodded.
----- Sanctuary -----
Hermione and Audrey were preparing a simple lunch while the boys set the table. Ron sat down at the finished table and Harry walked over to Audrey and put his arms around her from behind.
"So can we nearly eat?" he asked her.
"Patience, Snitch" Audrey replied.
Then she suddenly looked startled looking out of the window but she seemed to be looking at something far away. Her eyes had turned to sapphire blue with stormy blue hues.
"What's wrong, Nova?" Hermione asked.
"Something's approaching through the wards" Audrey said. Harry tensed still holding her.
"What is it?" Ron asked.
Audrey visibly relaxed.
"It's only Fawkes" she said. They all moved to sit at the table, Audrey and Hermione bringing the bread, sausages, eggs and more.
The group sighed in relief. A minute later Fawkes flew through the open window and landed on Harry's shoulder. Harry took the note from Fawkes and read it.
"What's it say?" Ron asked.
"It say that Dumbledore understand why we left and agrees with us, though he would've preferred something less drastic than leaving. If we need anything we can ask him and he says that we should be careful" Harry replied.
"Well that's good news" Hermione said.
"Yep, I do hope that Draco and the others will be alright at school and in the Order" Audrey said.
"I'm sure they don't treat Draco and the others as they do us, at least they aren't in active combat" Ron said.
The others nodded and they started to eat.
That was this chap, not much action I know,
Well, anyway
R&R
And thou shall have my eternal gratitude.
Chapter 20 – Back in Action
Until next time
Nova