Disclaimer: No money is being made by this. It is JK Rowlings world that our imagination just played in.
Chapter 3 Into the trunk
The next morning, Harry slept late and he regretted it when he woke. He had a terrible headache. Maybe trying the Firewhiskey hadn't been a good idea. Harry thought he would stick with Butterbeer from now on. Harry wanted to get to the medicine cabinet and find some aspirin, but he needed to know where the Dursleys were first. He could hear some doors slamming downstairs, then a car door. He pulled himself up and dragged himself over to the window, the bright morning sunlight painful in his eyes. He watched the garage. He heard another car door slam and saw the car backing out of the garage. All three Dursleys were in it. Harry gave a sigh of relief.
He slowly made his way to his door and started to pick the lock. He was getting quite good at it if he did say so himself. He soon heard the telling click and pushed open the door. He made his way to the loo and rummaged around until he found the aspirin. He swallowed a couple and closed his eyes, leaning back against the wall. He stayed still for a few moments as a feeling of nausea passed. Harry got another glass of water and drank it down. It made him feel a bit better. Harry washed his face and combed his hair. When he finished he headed back to his room.
Harry looked at his repaired clock. It was 10:30. A sudden noise drew his attention to his new trunk. The lid was opening. Harry pulled out his wand and stared as a hand was lifting his trunk lid from the inside.
Harry stood in shock as a red head rose out of the trunk and into his room. Ron climbed out followed by Ginny.
"Where have you been, Harry? We've been waiting for you for half an hour!" Harry blinked rapidly.
"What?"
Ginny elbowed her brother. "He obviously hasn't read the note yet. What's the matter Harry? Sleep in? Got a bit of a headache? Fred and George told me what they did. Serves you right if you do." She smirked at him.
"Ah, yeah. Anyway. How did you two get here?" Harry still didn't understand how two of his friends could be in his bedroom.
"This trunk! When Ginny and I got them we discovered that they were more than just a trunk. There's a room down there and not just that. This room can be accessed by either trunk. Come and see!"
While Ron was talking to Harry, Ginny was looking around at Harry's room. Harry was glad it was picked up since he had packed everything hoping to leave the Dursleys so it was somewhat neat. Ginny walked over to the door and gave a tug, finding it locked. She got a grim look on her face which turned even darker as she saw tins of soup open on the floor where they had been shoved under the cat flap.
She stalked over to the trunk and climbed back inside. Ron motioned for Harry to follow and Ron came in behind him. As soon as Ginny hit the bottom she moved over to a ladder parallel to the one they came down and climbed up that one, opened a door at the top and climbed out. Harry watched mystified.
After the door closed Harry looked around. They were down in a pretty large room. The ceiling was about 15 feet high. It had a hard floor and not much in decorations. There were two empty picture frames on either side of the room, one between the two ladders and one on the wall opposite amid many cupboard doors. If the ladder wall was east, then the west wall with the other picture was all cupboards. There was a small room with a door indenting into the room in the northwest corner. In the northeast was what looked like a small counter with stools running parallel about 4 feet from the north wall about 8 feet in length. You could walk behind the counter but there wasn't much room there. There were more cupboards behind the counter. The south wall was completely blank. There were two comfortable looking chairs situated near the south wall. Harry wanted a closer look at the counter.
Ron saw where Harry was looking. "We had to clean all the stuff out of that. All the food was no good anymore. There is a cupboard with some sort of cooling charm on it, though, so we could keep food in there. There's a small stove you can use, too. You just need to lift this section of the counter." Ron showed Harry the single burner on one end of the counter. The counter top was hinged to swing up to show a bottom layer with the burner. "There's a tiny oven, too." Ron pointed at a small box at the other end of the counter against the wall. Harry looked it over and thought it looked like a toaster over.
At this time the ceiling door that Ginny had gone through opened up and she came back down the ladder. She had a bundle that she carried down the ladder. At the bottom she went over to the kitchen area and set the bundle on the counter. She started unloading different types of food. Meat pies, eggs, bacon, bread, cheese, various fruits and other fixings. She started putting them away in the cupboards.
Ron was looking at his sister as if she was crazy. "What are you doing, Ginny? Mum'll notice if all that food goes missing."
Ginny had a determined look on her face. "Harry needs to eat and not that stuff his relatives are pushing on him. No wonder you always look so thin when you come back to school!"
Harry felt quite uncomfortable. He didn't like to bring up his life with the Dursley's.
"Anyway, I'll just tell Mum that I packed it all up yesterday morning and snuck it to Harry then. She won't mind." She probably had a point there. Mrs. Weasley never begrudged anyone food. She took a banana and handed it to Harry. "Eat!" Harry thought he heard a soft snicker from the portrait between the stairs, then an "Oomf" as if someone was jabbed in the ribs. He looked at the portrait, but it was still empty.
Harry took the banana and started eating it, shaking his head slightly. She wasn't the shy girl she had been around him before and she seemed to have inherited some of Mrs. Weasley's traits for feeding people.
Ron cleared his throat. "She's right, you know. You could basically live here until you can leave the muggles. I hadn't thought of that. To get back on track, though, let's finish the tour." Ron pointed at the wall of cupboards. "In those are work-out equipment, shrunken furniture, books and all sorts of other things. Through the door here," pointing to the door in the northwest, "is the bathroom. You've got to see it!" He pulled Harry to the door and opened it. Inside was a large bathtub with four spouts as well as a stool and several towels with "G" or "F" on them.
"Is this like the prefects bathroom? With different foams and stuff?"
"Yeah! It's great!" Ron was grinning widely. They headed back to the main room.
Ginny looked at Harry suspiciously. "You're not a prefect. How do you know what that bathroom is like?"
Harry told her about Cedric giving him the password for the second task of the Triwizard Tournament. "I about died of shock when Myrtle came out of the faucet in there, though."
"WHAT?" Ron's face was shocked. "Moaning Myrtle? She goes in there?"
"Yeah. She said she often watched the boys in there." Harry started grinning. Prefect Ron's face was turning red going all the way back to his ears.
"Well, you could have said something about that before, mate!" Ginny was now doubled over laughing at Ron. Harry definitely heard a noise coming from the empty portrait now. He looked over at it suspiciously.
Ron carried a stool over to the two comfortable chairs and perched himself on it. Harry and Ginny took the two chairs.
Harry looked around again. "So what is this place? How is it possible that you guys can get to both the Burrow and Privet Drive from here?"
Ginny took over the telling. "We think it's a Dimensional Trunk. My uncles were twins and had these matching trunks. They must have been made so they could each access this room from wherever they were. They were twins, like Fred and George, and I could see Fred and George having something like this. They do everything together."
"Were they identical twins? Mad-Eye showed me a picture of the old Order and Gideon was on it, but not Fabian."
There was whispering over from the empty portrait between the ladders again and all three turned to look at it. Two figures appeared in it. They were young men with a stocky build similar to Fred and George. Their hair was dark, but there was a hint of red reflecting off when they moved their heads.
"All right. Who are you?" The first twin was glaring down at them.
"We've figured that you two must be Molly's youngest…" the second twin continued.
"…but who are you and how do you know about the Order?" the first twin continued glaring at Harry.
"They ARE like Fred and George." Ginny said with her mouth hanging open.
"I'm Gideon and this is Fabian Prewett." Introduced the twin on the left. Harry noticed a small scar high on his cheek.
Harry crossed the room to stand in front of the portrait. "I'm Harry Potter."
Fabian elbowed Gideon and said, "He's got to be James son. Look at that hair!"
"But that doesn't explain how any of them know about the Order…what was that you said about the OLD order? Did it get disbanded?"
"Gideon's got a point. I would like to know as well." With that, the two men sat down at the bottom of the painting, cross-legged, and stared at Harry, waiting for him to explain.
"What's the last you know of the first war against Voldemort?" Harry wasn't sure where to start.
"Hey, the kid said his name!"
"First war?"
The twins jaws were hanging open now and their eyes wide.
Ginny said, "Well, I guess that tells you how much they know of recent events."
Harry closed his eyes, not really wanting to have to rehash the history which greatly involved him.
Ginny saw the look on his face and took over. "In 1981, You-Know-Who went to the Potters. He killed Harry's parents then tried to kill Harry. For some reason the curse rebounded and destroyed You-Know-Who's body. Harry was left with his scar."
The twins were looking curiously at Harry. Harry lifted his fringe and showed the scar.
"That IS a curse scar…"
"I've never seen one before."
Ginny continued. "The first war was over. The Order was disbanded. Harry went to live with his awful muggle relatives…"
Fabian broke in. "I'm surprised at you. One of Arthur's children disliking muggles? From what I remember, he was almost obsessed with them."
"I don't hate muggles. Just Harry's relatives. Them being muggles has nothing to do with it. ANYWAY. Harry and Ron started Hogwarts and became friends. They have a third friend, Hermione Granger, a muggle-born who is really clever. At the end of Harry's fourth year, You-Know-Who kidnapped Harry and was able to bring his body back. Harry was able to escape and tell Dumbledore who then reassembled the Order. You-Know-Who stayed quiet most of last year and it's only been the past month or so that people have accepted that he's back. Nobody would believe Harry and Professor Dumbledore."
"You saw Lord Voldemort face to face and was able to escape him?" One twin was looking impressed, the other slightly skeptical.
Ron jumped in. "He's seen him more times than that! If you count when he was a baby he's faced him seven times!"
"Ron, how do you come up with seven?" Harry was trying to figure out how Ron came up with that number.
"First when you were a baby, second in First year when you were flying on your broom and he was trying to make you fall, third when you saw him in the Forest drinking blood, fourth at the end of first year with the Stone, fifth when you fought the memory he put in that enchanted Diary when you saved Ginny," Ginny gave a shudder. "sixth in fourth year when you dueled after he got his body back and then seventh last month in the Ministry."
"I don't think you can count the broom incident. That wasn't face to face and I'm not sure what the memory one would have done. So I'm not sure that one counts either."
"Well, I say they count." Ron said firmly.
"You were able to beat him that many times?" The two in the pictures were looking a little awed.
"No! I've never beaten him. I've always had help to get away. That's all I ever did, get away, while others paid the price!"
Ginny took his hand. "That's not true, Harry. When you were a baby…"
"My mother's love is what Dumbledore thinks cause the curse to rebound. Nothing to do with me. My parents died. The Sorcerer's Stone was the same. I was protected because of their deaths. Firenze saved me in the Forest and now he's been banned from his herd. YOU almost died in the second year. He brought you down in the Chamber of Secrets because he wanted to lure ME there. You almost died because of me. Cedric Diggory died the fourth year and Sirius died last month and you all got hurt. How is that not me getting away while others pay the price?" Harry was beginning to get angry and was yelling.
"You almost died yourself in your first year. I've heard that it was touch and go for quite a while. You SAVED me in the Chamber of Secrets. I was the one who told him about you and what you had done. My big mouth caused the trouble. Not you. Cedric died, yes, but it was all a trap. You couldn't have done anything about it. The same goes for last year. It was a trap. You went to rescue Sirius then he did the same and came to rescue you. Don't you dare diminish what he did by trying to blame yourself. Sirius' name was dragged down enough in his life. Don't you do it now in his death!" Ginny was breathing hard and her eyes were flashing.
"You sure are Molly's daughter. So I take it you guys are in the Order now." One of the twins was laughing.
"No. We're 'too young'." Ginny had a disgusted look on her face.
Both twins look on with surprise.
"Ginny, you are not to blame for what happened in your first year. He possessed you." Harry said quietly.
"If him tricking you is your fault, then him tricking me is my fault."
"So how do you kids know so much about the Order?"
"Both of our parents are in it," Ginny replied nodding at Ron.
"Molly's in the Order? I never would have thought that would happen."
"And as I'm Voldie's favorite target, the Order constantly posts a guard somewhere nearby. Target! Hey, Ron. You'll never guess what I found in an old box of stuff of my dad's that Sirius had. A Spellseye." Harry started to get excited.
"I've heard of those." Ron said, eyes lighting up. "Does it still work?"
"I don't know. I put it away so I wouldn't be tempted to find out since we still can't use magic."
The twins in the portrait looked at each other; seeming to have some sort of silent conversation. Then both nodded. The twins started taking turns speaking.
"We'll let you in on a few of the secrets of this trunk of ours. You were right..."
"…it is a Dimensional Trunk. What you don't seem to know about Dimensional trunks is…"
"…you can do magic inside of this trunk. It can't be monitored from the outside."
"We used this trunk to keep up on our training…"
"…as well as a few other uses it had." The twins shared a smirk.
Ron's eyes grew wide. "We can use magic in here? Harry, go get the Spellseye."
Ginny looked at her watch. "Ron, we can't stay. Mum'll have kneazles if she can't find us. Lunch is in 15 minutes."
Ron fidgeted from foot to foot. "Magic, Ginny. We've got to at least do a little."
"I'll show you magic; my bat bogey, if you don't get a move on!"
"Aw, come on, Ginny. Just one spell?"
"All right. Move the stool back over to the counter."
Ron grinned and grabbed his wand from his back pocket. He turned to the stool and cried, "Wingardium Leviosa!" The stool rose in the air and Ron directed across the room back to the counter. He grinned and put his wand back into his back pocket. "That felt good."
Ron turned to Harry. "We've got to go, mate. Mum's got us doing chores this afternoon and Percy's coming over tonight. The whole family is getting together."
"What's happening with Percy?" Harry wondered if the Ministry admitting to the return of Voldemort made any change in Percy's attitude. Percy had warned Ron against beings friends with Harry and told his family that siding with Dumbledore was a mistake.
"Don't know yet. He hasn't been around since school got out. Well, see ya." Ron turned towards the ladders.
Ginny walked over to Harry and gave him a hug. "There's plenty of food down here. Eat something. We'll see you later." She also turned and left up the ladder.
Harry went to the cooling cupboard and took out a meat pie. He put it in the 'toaster oven' and tapped it with his wand, as he'd seen Mrs. Weasley do. The oven started to glow for a minute then the glow died down. Harry opened the oven. He realized he needed something to protect his hands. He started opening cupboards and drawers until he found some dish towels. He used a towel to remove his food, found some silverware and sat down to eat.
A thought came to Harry as he was eating. He looked to the portraits. "Gideon, Fabian, why didn't you show yourselves to Ron and Ginny?"
Gideon answered. "We were curious. We've been down here for years and we wanted to see who it was who came down. They seemed quite excited when they found this compartment and kept talking of how this would be 'perfect for Harry'. We figured they were ok as they were relatives, but we wanted to know who 'Harry' was and why this would be perfect."
"You guys have been down here for years. Were you aware of time passing while you were down here?" Harry thought they must have been extremely bored if that was the case.
"No. Portraits aren't the same as people. Portraits retain some aspects of the people's character and even some memory, but we can, to use a muggle term, go into 'sleep mode' when not needed or no one is around. We can also be invisible when people are around if we want. I think you heard my irrepressible brother laughing before."
Fabian broke in. "Hey, I resemble that remark!"
Gideon shook his head sadly. "Yes. You do."
Harry chuckled. "Well, I think I will go get my Spellseye." Harry got up and climbed up his ladder.
Harry climbed out of the trunk, closed the lid and looked around. He saw some old bread and a slice of cheese on a paper plate had been shoved under the cat flap. He walked over to it and dumped it in his waste basket. He then went to get his father's box out of his other trunk. He finally found it and pulled it out. He saw the Wizard Wireless next to it and pulled that out as well. He turned back to the Prewett's trunk. He opened it back up and saw an empty compartment with a letter at the bottom.
Harry panicked. It hadn't been a dream, had it? What happened to the room? He closed it and opened it again. Same thing. His eyes rapidly scanned all the corners and he knocked at the bottom. Nothing. Harry told himself to calm down.
Think! Ron and Ginny came in this morning acting like he should have already been down there. What was it Ginny had said? "He obviously hasn't read the note yet." Of course. The note. How stupid. Ron had asked him to read it right away last night. He opened the trunk again and took out the note.
Harry,
Mate, you're probably thinking we're mental giving you this trunk but you wouldn't believe what we found. Ginny figured it out. If you trace the rune shaped like an "X" with your wand and then open the trunk you'll find a room! Better, we can get in that room, too. Meet us there at 10:00 Sunday morning.
See you soon--,
Ron
Harry took his wand and traced the rune he had thought was just part of the design on the front of the trunk. He opened the trunk again and found the ladder heading down to the room. He put the Wireless on top of the box and carefully started down the ladder with his burden. The lid closed above him.
Back in the trunk Harry set the box on the counter. He saw the portraits were both blank again. He turned the wireless on to the muggle oldies station. He decided to look around. He went to the cupboards across the room and opened a pair. There were miniature silk cushions, bedrolls and tables shrunk to about one quarter size. He opened a cupboard above it and found a Foe-Glass, Secrecy Sensors, sneakoscopes and other items he didn't recognize but thought they must have something to do with detecting Dark Arts or enemies. Another cupboard had games; Gobstones, a Wizard Chess set, several decks of self-shuffling cards, an exploding snap deck and dice. Harry moved to another set on the lowest level. Here was equipment of some sorts. Some reminded him of free-weights or other types of weight lifting equipment. The free-weights didn't seem too heavy. Only 10 pounds or so. He picked up a small belt and put it around his waist wondering what it did. The belt fastened itself and suddenly Harry found it harder to move. He had to make more of an effort to lift his hand or feet. "What the…!"
He heard a laugh from the picture on the wall he was near. Fabian was looking down at him, laughing. "Haven't you ever seen fitness equipment?"
"I've been raised as a muggle. I still don't know much about the wizarding world or it's traditions. I like the idea of getting fit, though." Fabian's eyes lit up.
"Oh, no. You had to say that." Gideon was back in his picture by the ladders. He was shaking his head. "You don't know what you've done! Fabian, here, is a fitness fanatic!"
Harry turned back to Fabian. "Would you be able to explain to me what some of this stuff is?"
"I'd be glad to! What you are wearing now is an Ingravo Belt. It increases the gravity. What that means is that every part of your body must work that much harder to do anything; breathe, walk, carry anything. It will increase your muscle mass and endurance. Do you see the slide on the side? For every notch you move it over, the gravity increases by one force. If you've never done this before, I would recommend you not wear it for more than 20 minutes. You should do some stretches before you get started. To release the belt, put your hand on it anywhere and say 'solvo'. Using the free-weights with it magnifies the effect. You should be able to increase the time and force gradually."
Harry removed the belt and started doing some of the stretches he did before Quidditch. Fabian showed him a few others he should do for muscles Harry didn't usually use. After 10 minutes of stretching, Harry put the belt back on and grabbed the free weights. He slowly increased the gravity just to see what the weights would feel like, then moved it back to the first step. Fabian advised him to start slowly. After the free-weights, Harry removed another machine. It was a shrunken bicycle. He saw a treadmill towards the back as well.
Harry took his wand, pointed it the bicycle and made the correct movement. "Engorgio." Harry even seemed to need to concentrate that much harder to perform the spell. Slowly the bicycle grew.
"Harry! Are you listening to me? Obviously not." Fabian was sounding a bit peeved. Harry turned towards him. "As I was saying, it is recommended that you enlarge the items before you use the belt. It is much easier that way as you no doubt just found out!"
Harry didn't know. It was definitely harder to do the spell, but he wondered if practicing wand movements would be just as beneficial as the other exercises. The increase in concentration shouldn't hurt either.
Harry spent just a few minutes on the bike and had to stop. He was dripping with sweat. He removed the belt and started his cool down routine. Fabian watched and made comments on what else he thought Harry should do to cool down. Harry was beginning to see why Gideon thought Fabian was a fanatic. Fabian continued to talk as Harry collapsed on a chair. "Now that you've had a bit of fun today trying most of this out, I'll make up a routine for you to follow so you can get the most out of your workout." Harry just nodded and closed his eyes. "I would recommend you taking a whirlpool bath right now to relax your muscles."
Harry's eyes opened. He had forgotten about the bathroom. He rose out of his chair and made his way over to it. He got the tub ready and got in, adding some dark green foam from one of the spouts. It had a nice scent. It reminded Harry of the outdoors after a spring rain. The warm water felt heavenly on Harry's sore muscles. He pulled the lever that would start rotating the water. The water started moving at intervals like waves in the ocean. He pulled the lever farther down and it changed to a Jacuzzi-style movement. He let the water pound his body until he felt his muscles loosen. He then switched to the ocean style. Both were relaxing in their own way. Harry's mind started to drift. Maybe this would work for his occlumency.
When Harry finally left the tub he felt much better. He hadn't brought other clothes down and really didn't want to put his sweaty clothes back on. He wrapped a towel around his waist and walked out of the bathroom. He headed for his ladder when he heard a small choking sound. He turned and saw Ginny standing by the counter with a quill in her hands. She had been writing on a parchment.
"H…Harry." Her eyes were large as she stared at him.
Harry's face flamed. "Sorry, Ginny. I didn't know you were there. I had done some exercising, took a bath and decided I needed other clothes. Um…What's up?" Harry really wanted to get to his clothes, but there was no way he was going to climb a ladder in only a towel with Ginny down below.
Ginny's face flamed as she realized she was staring. "Oh! Well…I was just going to leave you a note that Luna was coming to the Burrow tomorrow. I wondered if you thought it would be ok for her to come down here, too."
"Er…yeah. No problem. It's your trunk. Invite who you want." Harry felt a bit uncomfortable. It really was Ginny's trunk and here he was in it in just a towel.
"It's yours, too. We want you to be comfortable in it. I'll just get going now. I need to get back to the garden. Luna said she'd be here in the morning. She's spending the day. Bye, Harry." Ginny turned and almost ran to the ladder.
Harry watched her go. After the trunk lid closed he moved to his own ladder. He quickly climbed it and got a few different changes of clothes. He wasn't planning to live down there as such but he didn't want to be caught without again. He brought down the clothes he had already worn that he had packed in his trunk. He could cast a cleaning charm on them until they could be washed properly.
Harry went back down in the trunk. He decided it was time to try out his dad's Spellseye. He went over to the box and pulled it out. Harry looked at it closer. There was more explanation in smaller letters on the back.
The first time the Spellseye is used it will work from the beginner level. To save your game, hold your wand against one of the numbers (1 – 10) on the back and state your name. The next time you wish to continue your game tap your name twice with your wand.
To pass each level you need 10 consecutive hits. If you should have 5 consecutive misses you will be dropped down a level. Each level will increase the movement of the Spellseye.
Harry looked at the bottom. There were some saved games.
Prongs – Level 11; Padfoot – Level 11; Moony – Level 9; Wormtail – Level 5; No. 5; No 6; No. 7; No. 8; No. 9; No. 10.
Harry really hoped this still worked. He would love to have some idea of how good his dad and his friends were at this. He had always heard that his dad and Sirius were very good at magic and it came quite easily to them. Harry held his wand against No. 5 and said, "Harry". He watched No. 5 change to read 'Harry – Level 1'.
It said it needed to be placed against a wall. The logical wall was the big blank wall. Harry walked over to it and placed the Spellseye against it. He felt a vibration travel through it and he slowly let go. It stayed there. Harry took a few steps back. The Spellseye started to move at a meandering crawl. Harry aimed his wand and quickly cast 10 "Subsistos" at it.
It dinged twice and two puffs of smoke erupted from it. Harry felt a lurch in his stomach thinking that he broke it. Then the smoke formed the number two and "Average 6.8" and it moved at the pace of a fast walk. He still easily made 10 consecutive hits. It dinged three times and more puffs of smoke formed the number three and "Average 6.7". This was kind of fun. The average number must be the power put into the spell.
Harry proceeded through the levels. It started making abrupt changes of directions with level 5, the level Wormtail stalled at. Harry was extremely happy that he was able to get 10 consecutive hits after only a few misses and proceed to level 6. Harry seemed to plateau at level 8. His power average had dropped to 6.2. He was pleased with that. This was going to come in handy for practice. He figured his father probably received this for his 17th birthday, sometime during his 6th year or right after and, like Fred and George, had been able to do magic during the summer. All of the stuff from the box seemed to come from his school days.
A voice spoke from behind him. "Very good start. This was your first time using that?" Gideon was in his frame.
"Yeah. Quite a lot of fun." Harry turned to face Gideon.
"You're interested in spells and defensive magic?"
"DADA is my favorite subject, if not my favorite class." Gideon's eyes lit up, very similar to how Fabian's eyes had lit up before.
"Why not your favorite class?"
"For the five years I've been at Hogwarts, we've had five teachers; two were Death Eaters, one was just totally incompetent and one was a Ministry mole who never let us practice magic – theory only and bad theory at that." Harry grimaced thinking of Umbridge.
"Who was the fifth teacher?"
"Remus Lupin taught in my third year. He was great, but they wouldn't let him come back."
"Why not? I remember Remus. He seemed the type to make a good teacher."
"Because he's a werewolf." Harry saw Gideon's eyes pop wide open.
"He's a WHAT?"
Harry sighed. "Remus Lupin is a very good man who happens to get hairy once a month. He's a very good friend of mine as he was of my father's. He's the one who taught me the Patronus Charm when they stationed Dementors around Hogwarts in third year."
"You can do the Patronus Charm? Is it corporeal?"
Harry just grinned and pointed his wand. He thought of his friends and the chance to do magic over the summer. "Expecto Patronum!" His silver stag leapt out of his wand and cantered around the room. It trotted back to Harry. "Hey, Prongs." Harry said softly before it vanished.
Gideon looked impressed. He also looked curious. "You named your Patronus?"
"I didn't name it. That's who it is. My father and his friends became animagi to help Remus on the full moons. My father was 'Prongs', Sirius was 'Padfoot' – he looked like a grim, and the traitor was 'Wormtail'."
"The traitor?"
"If you don't mind, could you get the story from Ron?" Harry didn't want to spend the whole time re-living his history. He looked around for another subject.
"Gideon, why did you two leave that wall blank? You said you trained down here. What all did you do?" Harry was curious.
"Fabian kept us up on the physical training. I preferred the magical training. I would search out new spells and shields for us to practice. We could have used that Spellseye you have there. I have a few of my books over in the left cupboards across the room. As for the wall, it is spelled to absorb stray curses instead of reflecting them. We also didn't leave it blank all the time, only in training. We would create a fireplace by using 'illusio caminus' or an outdoor scene by 'illusio rus'."
Harry walked over by the two chairs and pointed his wand at the wall. "Illusio caminus." A picture of a hearth with a roaring fire in it appeared on the wall. "That is much better. Thanks." Harry continued over to the cupboards on the left. He opened them to see several books lined up. He glanced through the titles. He recognized several from the Room of Requirement. Jinxes for the Jinxed…The Dark Arts Outsmarted…Self-Defensive Spellwork and several other titles. He also noticed some new ones; Fighting Together: Strategies for fighting in pairs or small groups; Something from Nothing: An Advanced Conjuror's Guide and Short Spells for Tight Spots.
Harry took the Short Spells book and decided to make himself some dinner. He supposed he should then return to the Dursley's in case they should decide to investigate the total lack of noise from his room. He made some food and ate it at the counter. He switched the station on the Wireless and heard of another attack on a muggle town. He cleared his mess, used the bathroom, canceled the fireplace illusion, found his dad's journal and took that and the Short Spells book back up the ladder to his room.
Harry had been reading in his room for about ten minutes when some food was shoved through the cat flap and the door was unlocked. He heard the Dursley's heading downstairs for their dinner. He took the tin of soggy vegetable soup and his other dried-out food and flushed them down the toilet in the bathroom across the hall. He dumped the tins and paper plates in the bathroom trash and returned to his room. Harry opened the Prewett trunk normally and heaved his trunk inside of it and shoved it back where his trunk had been. Now if the Dursleys would look in his room, they would only see one trunk and not question why he suddenly had two.
Eventually Harry heard one of the Dursley's on the stairs again and his lock clicked. Harry turned his attention back to his father's journal. He wanted to know if the instructions for becoming a animagus could be found in this journal. It was amusing to hear of the pranks pulled by his father and his friends as well.
Harry smiled. Finally Harry decided to call it a night and put the journal aside. He tried clear his mind by focusing on how he had felt in the tub, to let his thoughts go, and Harry fell asleep.
Harry woke the next morning in a happier mood than he had been in a long time. He heard the lock click and two pieces of toast were shoved through the flap. Footsteps moved off down the hall. Harry got dressed and went across to the bathroom. When he returned to his room he figured he would stay there until they locked his door again. Then he should be safe to go back down in the trunk. The clock showed that it was just a bit after 7:30 AM. Harry started looking at his dad's journal again.
Harry was glad he stayed in his room when he heard footsteps approaching his door and then the door handle started to turn. Uncle Vernon came into Harry's room. He kept looking behind as if he didn't want to be found talking to his nephew.
"Boy, your aunt is being adamant that you stay in this room. But, you notice you have a full dinner hour to use the loo in the evenings. You also have all those new clothes. You'll tell those frea…fri-ends of yours that, won't you?" Uncle Vernon was obviously grasping at straws if he thought that under normal situations getting a few outfits for the first time in his life and being kept in a room for 23 hours per day would ever be considered good treatment.
"Don't worry, Uncle Vernon. I'm not planning to tell them about this. If I had been, you would've already've known." Harry only wanted to put Uncle Vernon at ease enough so he wouldn't come back into his room.
"What will they do when they don't get a note from you with that bloody owl?" Even nervous, Uncle Vernon couldn't be polite.
"We don't need Hedwig to communicate. I've been in contact with them all along."
Uncle Vernon looked a bit nervous. "How?"
"Are you sure you want me to answer that? I know how you feel about my…talents." Harry smiled inwardly when he saw Uncle Vernon's face start to look panicky.
"No. No, that's all right. I'll just be on my way then…" and he backed out of the room. Harry heard the door close and the lock click into place.
Harry heard his footsteps leave rather quickly and the smile broke through to his face. His relatives were somewhat predictable. Uncle Vernon was anxious enough that he would probably even go against Aunt Petunia to get Harry more freedom if it meant that the Order wouldn't be coming for a visit. But since Harry now had access to the trunk, he didn't care about getting more freedom from Uncle Vernon. Privet Drive had nothing Harry wanted.
Harry made his was back down into the trunk. Fabian walked into his picture frame across from the ladders. "Are you ready for your first real workout?"
"I thought I'd eat breakfast first." Harry's stomach was growling.
"Go get a drink of water, but exercise before eating." Fabian had a fire lit in his eyes.
Harry sighed, got himself a glass of water and headed to the bathroom to change into a pair of shorts to exercise in. When he returned, Fabian was pacing back and forth in his frame.
"Now my understanding of your situation is that you are dragged into messes quite often and have to defend yourself. Correct? And during this summer you are basically trapped with nothing to do. Correct? Therefore…"
A voice broke through from the other side of the room. "…you might as well prepare yourself for next time, because there is always a next time. And we can help you there. Fabian can help you with physical readiness and…"
"…Gideon will help you with the spells. A perfect solution!"
Harry thought about it. A whole summer of exercise didn't sound great, but learning new spells was always fun. Besides, it really wasn't as if he had anything better to do.
"OK. But if something comes up with my friends, I can take some time off."
"Agreed!" Both twins answered at the same time.
Fabian took over. "All right. Open the bottom cupboard and take out the treadmill. Enlarge it, then start your warm up."
Harry didn't want to stare at a blank wall so he first cast "Illusio Rus" to get a countryside scene. He concentrated hard on making it a good scene. It did turn out pretty good. There was a path that led through some hills and trees and birds were in the air softly singing. He then turned the Wizarding Wireless on softly to the muggle oldies station.
Harry bent down to crawl partially in the cupboard to remove the treadmill. As he was pulling it backwards he heard a noise behind him.
"Oi…Harry! Whatcha doin' mate?" Ron was coming down the ladder. Worse, Ginny and Luna were peering down into the room as well with grins on their faces. Well, Ginny's was a grin, Luna just looked faintly amused. Harry thought the timing couldn't have been worse. Here he was sitting with his bum in the air. His face flushed red which caused the grins on the other faces to widen.
"Fabian and Gideon are going to help me train a bit this summer. I'm going to exercise a bit on the treadmill."
Ginny was at the bottom of the ladder now and she turned to the normally blank wall. "Ooh, Harry! What did you do? This looks great!"
"The twins said they only had the wall blank when they were training. Otherwise they would have some sort of scene on it." Harry looked over to Luna. "Hello, Luna. Good to see you again. Are you having a good summer so far?"
Luna looked at him with her unblinking eyes and said, "It has been a fine summer so far. Daddy's starting to plan what we will need for our trip to Sweden in August. I must say, when Ginny invited me over I never thought that I'd find you live in her trunk. But it is nice to see you."
Harry flushed red again. She made it sound like he was Ginny's pet.
Ginny broke in. "Luna, he doesn't live in my trunk. Ron and I got these trunks and found that they were Dimensional Trunks and had a shared room. Ron gave his trunk to Harry so we could all see each other over the summer."
"So now it's like a his and hers matching trunk set! How cute!"
Ginny opened her mouth again, paused, and finally just shook her head.
Harry had to give a small laugh. He had to admit that it might look a little strange going on the Hogwarts Express with matching trunks, but luckily, since they could shrink them, no one should notice.
Fabian cleared his throat. Harry looked over and nodded. "Ron, you want to exercise, too? It's geared mostly for speed and endurance."
Ron looked reluctant. "I'll try it out a bit later, but what I'd like to do it give a go at the Spellseye. You mind?"
"Go ahead. I'll show you how to set it up." Harry went over to help Ron with the Spellseye.
"Harry, would you mind if I exercised, too? I want to be in decent shape when I try out for Chaser this year." Ginny was looking in the cupboard at the different pieces of equipment. Luna wandered over to the books. Besides training there were also a few fiction books, plant books and a few myth vs. reality books. She took one off the shelf and settled in a comfortable chair and started to read.
Ginny had taken out the bicycle and enlarged it. Harry had seen that there was a second Ingravo Belt and offered it to Ginny. She tried it on but decided she didn't like it, at least this first time. Harry and Ginny started a few stretches.
Everyone was busy doing their thing. Harry had changed the view so it only took half the wall and Ron could use the other half with his target practice. After a bit, Ginny sighed and asked Harry, "What was that spell you used to create the countryside illusion?"
"Illusio Rus." Harry answered.
"Please don't be offended, but do you mind if I jazz it up a bit?"
"No. Go ahead." Harry was curious on what she planned to do.
"Illusio Rus Tractus!" Ginny aimed her wand at the illusion and it started moving as if they were walking or riding down the path in the scene.
"Cool!"
It was much more interesting with the scenery moving. Every so often a small squirrel would skitter across the path in front of them.
After a while, Harry looked over to Ginny and asked, "So how did dinner go last night?"
Ginny gave a hiss and her foot slipped off the pedal. Her eyes flashed. "Percy is still being a stupid git. He's willing to concede that You-Know-Who may be back, but he's still criticizing Mum and Dad for standing by Dumbledore and..." She stopped abruptly and gave him a sideways glance, not saying another word.
Harry gave a grimace. "Let me guess. He still thinks Ron should have nothing to do with me, too."
Ginny's eyes seemed to burn. "He is just so stupid. He may have gotten 12 OWLs but he's still stupid. He doesn't think you're crazy anymore, but he thinks we should all stay away from you, 'just in case.' Mum got right in his face and said that we would stand by you and Dumbledore 'til the end. She was great. She said you were as much a part of our family as any of us and that Percy would have to learn to accept that. He just started puffing up and started ranting about how dangerous things always happens around you and brought up how Ron and I were hurt last month and Ron's been hurt in previous years."
Harry felt like he'd received a slap in the face. "He's got a point, you know." Ginny's eyes flashed again and she seemed about to speak, but Harry stopped her. "Maybe he's just worried about all of you and doesn't know how to show it. Maybe he thinks that if you stay away from Voldemort's main targets you'll be safe from him."
"But that's stupid. This is everyone's war, not just yours and Dumbledore's! Everyone will suffer if no one does anything."
"I know. I'm just saying that that view doesn't seem to be that uncommon among wizards. Most of them seem to hope that if they close their eyes, it will all go away. He probably just doesn't know how to show that he's concerned for you." Harry thought the words sounded right, but the hurt feeling of betrayal that had started last year was still there as was the frustration. Ginny seemed to sense how Harry felt and backed off a bit.
"Well, anyway, he was definitely the minority voice last night. He left, all mad, and Mum burst into tears again. Needless to say, no one finished the dinner with much of an appetite."
They finished their exercises and started their cool down. Harry looked over and saw Ron was talking with both Gideon and Fabian who were both in Gideon's portrait. Every so often they would glance over at Harry. He guessed that Ron was filling them in on Harry's history. He was just glad he didn't have to do it. Some of it was enough living through once. He didn't want to do it again. Luna was still in her chair reading through one of the books.
Harry finished up and told Ginny he was going to have a quick wash up and then fix himself some breakfast. Ginny's eyes widened and Harry hastily assured her he had clothes down here this time. Ginny laughed. Harry was glad that she didn't seem uncomfortable with what happened anymore.
As he stepped into the bathroom he decided he didn't want to take the time for a full bath and took a closer look at the tub. He saw there was a shower nozzle up high. He turned on the water and adjusted the temperature then turned the knob on the shower head. Glass walls started coming up around the tub. As soon as the wall was almost to the ceiling, the water came out of the shower head. Harry stepped back and saw that one panel had a handle and he stepped into the shower.
Harry completed his shower and quickly got dressed. When he stepped back into the main room he was surprised to see Ginny frying some eggs and bacon in the kitchen area. She looked up and smiled at him. "I thought I would get you started. We already ate but I'm sure Ron will have some more, too."
Harry smiled at her. "Thanks. I didn't expect you to do this."
"I know. If you were expecting this of me, I wouldn't have done it!"
Harry laughed. He thought that was probably a true statement. Ginny wouldn't let herself be taken for granted or used anymore.
Harry took over making the breakfast. Once it was done he asked if anyone wanted some. Luna and Ginny declined, but Ron hurried over. Harry and Ron ate the eggs, bacon and toast. While they were eating, Harry asked about Hedwig.
"She's ok, mate. She had some ruffled feathers and a slight wound on her side, but she's almost recovered by now." Ron said this through a mouth full of food.
"Would you be able to bring her down so I can see her?" Harry missed his snowy friend.
"Sure! I bet she'd love that. In fact, I'll go get her now." Ron finished swallowing his mouthful and bolted for the stairs.
He returned shortly with an owl perched on his shoulder starting down the stairs. Apparently, Hedwig was a bit hesitant about flying into a school trunk. As soon as Hedwig was far enough into the trunk to see around, she flew over to Harry. She perched on his shoulder and started preening his hair. Harry, too, was trying to look over Hedwig to make sure she was all right.
"Hello, girl. I've missed you. I'm sorry I sent you out with that note. I didn't mean for you to get hurt." Harry told his owl.
Hedwig clicked her beak at him several times as if chiding him for thinking he was to blame at all. She then stopped and nipped lightly at his ear, letting him know she was happy to see him.
Luna wandered over in her dazed way and gazed at Hedwig. "She's adopted you. I've never seen the avis ad-optare behavior before though I have heard about it. Soon you may be able to understand what she says in actual owl words and you may start sprouting downy white feathers." She peered at him closely as though looking for signs of feathers.
Harry looked at Luna. "Right. Can't wait." Ron and Ginny had come close enough to hear the last bit and both were trying to hide their snickers. Trying to change the subject he noticed the book in her hand. "What have you been reading, Luna?"
"It's a book on Wandless Magic. May I borrow it for a while? It discusses how any spell done with a wand can be done without a wand. It argues that since a wand is mainly used as a focus, if the wizard can hone his own focus, the wand wouldn't be needed."
"No way!" Ron wouldn't believe that someone could do as much without a wand as well as with a wand any more than he would believe Harry was going to start sprouting feather down and speaking owl language.
"No, she may have a point. And of course, you can borrow it, Luna." Harry was thinking about it. "I had a talk with Remus about this subject when I accidentally blew Snape across my back yard without a wand and he said that some wizards may have a talent for that sort of thing. I've seen Dumbledore and Snape do Wandless Magic before. Snape cleans out cauldrons by just waving his hand."
"What do you mean 'you blew Snape across your back yard'? When did this happen?" Ron's eyes were large. Ginny's eyes were focused hard on Harry as well. Luna was still flipping through her book.
"Remus came to see me shortly after I returned to Privet Drive and Snape came to get him because he had to leave on a mission early. Snape made some way over the top comments about the Marauders or lack thereof and I lost it. I never touched my wand, but he was thrown across the yard about 25 feet and stunned. I about freaked out then, but I didn't get any Ministry owl and Remus must have talked Snape out of killing me somehow. I think he said he was going to tell him that he stunned him, himself. That's why my aunt lost it. She witnessed the whole thing. Since then I've been stuck back in the bedroom."
Luna evidently was paying attention because she said, "Of course there would be no Ministry owl. How could they send you a letter about your wand use when you had used no wand?"
"I thought they measured the magic somehow." Harry really didn't know how it worked.
"Oh, no. Daddy says the Ministry requires that each wand sold needs to be registered. They can then track the use of each group of wands. Of course, they turn the monitors off when school starts and turn them back on at the beginning of summer. The monitors are guarded by a Cerberus."
The others looked at her blankly. "You know, Cerberus, a three-headed dog?"
"Oh. Like Fluffy!" Ron grinned.
Luna looked at him, confused. "Fluffy?" Then she smiled. "Oh, Ronald! You are so funny. A three-headed dog named Fluffy!" Luna burst into laughter.
"No. Fluffy was the name of Hagrid's pet. A three-headed dog. We met him in our first year. Didn't we Harry? I wonder whatever happened to him."
"He's probably living in the Forbidden Forest with Grawp and Aragog." Harry replied and Ron shuddered.
Harry turned to Luna. "May I read that book when you are finished?"
Luna smiled at him. "Of course, Harry." She drifted back off to her chair.
The friends spent their morning catching up and relaxing.
At lunch time, the Weasley's and Luna left the trunk and Harry made some lunch for himself. Before they left, Ginny had made her way over to Harry. She had apologized if Luna had made him uncomfortable with her remarks. Harry had told her that she never needed to apologize for anything Luna would say. Luna was a nice girl who, while he didn't agree with all of her views, did sometimes have a new way of looking at something that he appreciated. Luna seemingly heard them for she walked over to them and said, "I like you, too, Harry." Then she kissed Harry's cheek.
Harry wasn't sure how to react so he just smiled and gave her a one-armed hug. He had never received physical affection growing up and was still unsure how to handle it. Apparently, it was enough and Luna smiled at him then turned very serious. She looked him straight in the eye and said, "I will always be your friend, Harry, and stand by your side."
Harry knew Mrs. Weasley would shoo them all outside for the afternoon since she thought they had spent all morning in Ginny's room. She always wanted them to keep active and get some sunshine while they could. He wished he could join them, but as he couldn't he thought he may as well get some target practice in. While he set up the Spellseye, he noticed Ron had reached Level 6. He set up the Spellseye and worked on his Level 8.
After he'd been at it for a while, Gideon called him over. "What do you know about silent incantations?"
Harry furrowed his brow. "I've never thought about it before. I suppose I've seen it done, but I haven't learned it yet."
"Sometimes I forget that you still have two years of schooling to go. Silent incants are useful in a fighting situation because your opponent doesn't know what spell you will be sending. The trade-off is the spells generally lose some of their power. The words focus your mind and clarify your intent for the spell."
Harry thought back to the Ministry battle. There had been a lot of fighting where there were only flashes of the wands and no incantations used. Also the spell that hit Hermione had reduced effects according to Madam Pomfrey because the incantation hadn't been said aloud.
Gideon continued. "I've always been interested in the Wordless and Wandless magics and if you don't mind, I would like to go over what you were talking about with your friends a bit earlier about the Wandless ability. But for now, let's start with the silent incants. Let's start with something basic. Pull out your wand."
Harry pulled his wand out of his back pocket and held it ready in front of him.
"Try the Lumos Spell."
Harry said, "Lumos." and the wand tip lit up.
Gideon chuckled and said, "I did believe you could do the Lumos Spell. Now try it without saying the words."
Harry thought 'Lumos' in his mind, but nothing happened. He looked back to Gideon.
Gideon didn't seem surprised. "It takes some getting used to. Let's try it another way. Say 'Lumos' but say it quieter, but make sure the tip is as bright as full volume. Then progressively get softer in volume until you can do it silently with a fully lit tip."
This was a lot harder than he thought it would be, but Harry kept at it. After an hour had passed, he finally got a weak light at the tip without an incantation being used. Gideon told him to take a break for a while, but to keep practicing until he could do it all the way. Then they would start on other spells.
Harry asked Gideon if all spells could work silently. Gideon told him that in theory they could, but in practice, some spells just needed too much focus in order to work, such as the Unforgivables. They needed so much focused power, he'd never heard of a successful one being done without incantation.
Harry decided to use his break to look through some more of his father's journal. After reading for about 15 minutes he came to an interesting entry.
06-May-75
We finally were able to figure something out on the animagus transformation. By piecing together bits from Sirius' book and my book we've come up with the following:
Wizards have an animal inside of them they can access with the right know-how.
If a wizard has enough power he can somewhat influence what animal it will be. You can't pick an animal but can influence what traits it will have. Personality traits will have a stronger influence.
In order for the transformation to occur, the wizard has to be proficient in both Wandless and Wordless magic (at least for this one spell!)
A wizard must first 'meet' their animal in a trance before they can successfully transform (Most accidents in transformations are because wizards skip this step and transform to what they think they will be but actually aren't. Messy pictures. Believe me, you don't want to see.)
I know it doesn't sound like much, but we know the incantation, we just have to get ourselves to the level where we can use it. We've decided to tell Remus we want to study Wordless and Wandless magic to aide us in our pranks; and it's true to a certain extent. We might as well have fun while learning! Think of how much easier it would be to hex Snivellus if there were no words to be heard. We wouldn't get so many detentions for being caught! Ah…the possibilities…
But, back to the animagus thing. Peter, Sirius and I have talked about what kind of animal traits we would like to have. We all would need to be big. Remus gets quite large as a werewolf so we would need to be able to control him. I would like to be something impressive or majestic. Maybe a lion. King of the forest. Yeah. That's me. Maybe that would be a little showy. I'd probably never hear the end of it from Lily Evans if she ever found out. She always says that I'm too conceited now.
Sirius says he wants to be something shocking. That would fit him right. He always pushes things to the edge. I think he should be a hyena.
Then there's Peter. He says he wants to be something large, too, but the best I can picture for him is a cow or something. Just kidding. He says he wants to be the most powerful. He said a dragon, so he would have the strength and power to crush other animals. Something about the way he says that puts me off a bit. He just gets this look in his eye…
The entry stopped there. But that was enough for Harry. He placed a marker at this entry so he could keep referring back to it. Just like his father before him, Harry now wanted to become proficient at both Wordless and Wandless magic, even more so than before.
What would he want his animal to have as traits? He would have to think about it. Harry got out a piece of parchment and decided to make a list of the traits he wanted. He would keep it nearby to be able to add to it as he thought of them.
Harry decided his break was over and went back to work on the Wordless magic with a renewed determination.
Harry's days settled into somewhat of a routine. He would get up at 7:30 when the Dursley's unlocked his door; use the bathroom and flush the sorry looking bread they gave him for breakfast; go into the trunk and do the exercises Fabian directed with Ginny while Ron would use the Spellseye (he was up to level 7 now); spend the morning talking with them or playing games; then after they left at lunch he would work with Gideon on Wordless spells for most of the afternoon; and eat supper then return to the Dursley's to read his father's journal or books on spells at night. He still tried to practice clearing his mind by imagining how he felt relaxing in the tub. He even refreshed his memory a time or two by using the tub at night, but he was uncertain of the results. He occasionally still had prickles in his scar when he awoke in the morning but he hadn't had any visions.
On Wednesday afternoon, Remus had called him on the mirror. The full moon had just passed and he looked terrible. Harry could tell that even speaking was draining him.
"Harry, how are you doing? Do you need me to contact anybody?"
"I'm fine, but how are you? Do you need someone there to help you?" Harry didn't know if Remus always looked this bad after a transformation or if being alone exaggerated the problem.
"I'll be fine. I always am. I'm more worried about you. Are you ok?" Remus stared hard at Harry.
"I'm fine. I won't say no when the time comes to leave, but until then I'm fine. Remus, why don't you ask Professor Dumbledore if you can borrow Dobby to take care of you for a while. I'm sure it's not that busy during the summer for the house elves and he could at least cook for you."
"I don't need someone to take care of me. I will do fine by…" Remus broke off and stared off in the distance.
"Remus? What's wrong?" Harry wondered what was wrong with his friend and started thinking of how maybe he could get Ron or Ginny to get help for him.
Remus shook himself slightly and came back to focus on Harry again. "Sorry. I'm fine, but I just had a thought. It might take a bit of arranging, but…" Again, Remus trailed off. "If you're all right, I'll let you go now. I'll talk to you again. See you, cub. Out."
Harry signed off as well. A little worried for his friend, Harry turned back to his practice.
The week passed swiftly and finally Saturday morning arrived. Harry was having breakfast down in the trunk with Ron and Ginny snitching pieces of bacon when he got a call from Remus.
"Harry Potter." Remus sounded happy. Ron and Ginny looked over at Harry curiously. He had told them about the mirror but this was the first they saw how it worked.
"Hey, Remus. What's up?"
"Good news, Harry. You're getting out of there today. I'll be coming to get you at noon. All right?"
Harry broke out in a wide grin. "That's great! Will I be staying with you?"
"Yes and no." Remus replied.
"Do you think you can get any more confusing than that?" Harry wasn't sure what exactly would be going on.
Remus' grin got wider. "Something you said on Wednesday stuck in my head and we came up with this solution. I'll explain later. Just be ready to go, all right?"
"You've got it!" They signed off and Harry grinned at his friends. "I'm not sure if anything will change down here. I'll have to figure what the schedule is at Headquarters. I want to be able to meet with you down here, but I don't want the Order to throw a fit if they can't find me. And I'd rather they didn't know too much about these trunks if I can help it. I guess I'd better head up and start packing." Harry stood up and started for the ladder.
"See ya, mate." Ron called after him. Ginny waved, too.
Harry was waiting in his room at noon, reading the short-spell book. These spells weren't all that powerful but could be fired in rapid succession. The spells had only one or two syllables and complementary wand movements. They wouldn't totally incapacitate the opponents but hopefully buy some time. The effects of these spells generally lasted less than a minute. Finally he heard the doorbell.
The Dursley's had gone out on Uncle Vernon's company golf outing. Uncle Vernon had given Dudley a full set of golf clubs for his birthday. Harry wondered idly how Uncle Vernon would react when he saw that some of them were already bent. Harry had heard Dudley muttering across the hall trying to get them to fit back into the bag. It seemed that Dudley had decided they made a good tool for denting neighbors garbage tins and the play sets at the park.
Harry had already unlocked his bedroom door and went downstairs to let Remus in.
"Hey, Remus. What do I use to send my letters?"
"A mirror. Hello, Harry. Are you ready to go?" Remus smiled at Harry.
"Yeah. Just let me put this note on the table for the Dursley's. I already have my trunk." Harry patted his pocket.
"What about Hedwig's cage?"
Harry had put the cage in the trunk room because Hedwig visited every morning. This way she had a resting perch and refreshments while she patiently watched them or gently napped. "This trunk is bigger than my old one, so I was able to fit it inside of it." That was the truth after all.
Remus looked at him with fond suspicion. "I'm still interested in the story behind that trunk. But you look well. Better than I'd hoped. In fact, you look suspiciously well. But if what you've got cooked up between you and the Weasley kids is helping you, then I'm for it. Just remember if you need someone to talk to, I'm here."
"I know that, Remus, and I appreciate it. I am feeling good. Even better to be leaving here." Harry paused and looked around. "I don't see an escort…How are we getting where we are going? A…a portkey?" Harry hoped not, but he didn't see any other mode of transportation close at hand that they would let him use without a full guard.
Remus got a big grin on his face. "No. No portkeys today. In fact, transportation is being provided by the same means as how you will be able to stay where you will without me present all the time. I do have to go on a mission again, now that I'm recovered."
Harry's confusion showed plainly on his face. "What transportation?"
Remus lifted his head and called, "Dobby!"
A loud crack and Harry's middle was hit hard by a small house-elf. "Harry Potter, sir! Dobby is so glad to be here again." Dobby's voice was a muffled squeal as his face was mushed into Harry's shirt.
Remus looked at Harry and mouthed 'again?' Harry just waved him off and tried to pry Dobby's arms from around his waist. The house elf was stronger than he looked.
"Dobby, it's great to see you. Why're you here?" Harry was looking between Remus and Dobby, waiting for an explanation.
Remus started to explain. "When we spoke last Wednesday, you mentioned that I should ask to borrow a house elf to take care of me. That got me thinking that maybe if we could borrow a house elf, you would have someone who could get help if something went wrong. When the house elves were asked if anyone was willing to volunteer…"
"Oh, Harry Potter! Dobby was the very first to volunteer. The other house elves is very jealous that I get this honor of extra work, but they also knows that Dobby is a friend to Harry Potter!" Dobby stepped back. His tennis-ball-sized eyes brimming with tears of happiness. He had a look of adoration on his face.
Harry looked at Remus. "So…how will this work?"
Remus replied, "Dobby can transport you directly where we are going and I'll follow."
"Is you ready, sir? Dobby can take you if you is ready!"
Harry smiled at the excitable elf. "I'm ready, Dobby. Just tell me what you need me to do."
"Oh, you need to do nothing, Harry Potter. I will just hold onto your hand and we…" He snapped his fingers and Harry heard a loud crack.
Dobby let go and started jumping up and down. "Here we is! Here we is!"
Harry smiled at Dobby and looked around. They were in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place.
"Dobby, that was a good way to travel. I wasn't looking forward to a portkey. Thanks."
"Oh, you is very welcome, Harry Potter, sir! Dobby was most pleased to be able to help the great wizard Harry Potter." Dobby looked delighted that Harry Potter thanked him for something.
Remus entered the kitchen. "Welcome to your other home, Harry. Why don't you get settled in then we'll have some lunch together."
"Dobby can unpack for you, Harry Potter. Dobby would be honored to. Then Dobby can try to make the lunch."
"I'd be glad of the company, Dobby." Together they started towards the stairs to Harry's room. Dobby's eyes were wide, looking at everything he could possibly see. The house still looked as dingy and dark as he remembered.
"This…this is Harry Potter's house? It is not what Dobby was expecting." Dobby sounded a bit hesitant.
Harry explained. "This house had belonged to my godfather who died recently. He left the house to Remus Lupin and me. He was a good man, but…some of his relatives were not so good. One of his cousins was Mrs. Malfoy."
Dobby's eyes grew wider still. "Dobby is understanding, sir."
"Dobby, maybe you can help with something." They were coming to the house elf heads. "One of my godfather's ancestors started a tradition of hanging their elves heads on the wall. To me, that doesn't seem like a very good tradition." Dobby shuddered. "In your opinion, what should be done?"
"That is a very bad tradition. When a house elf dies, their body vanishes. This frees their spirit and magic. If they is not allowed to vanish, their spirit and magic is grounded to the house. They will never be free and their magic is to obey the will of their last owners forever." They were now even with the house elf heads. Dobby's eyes looked sorrowfully at them.
"How can we free them, Dobby. What must be done?"
"The current master must summon the magic of the elves from the house then command the vanishment of the remaining heads and the release of their spirits. It takes great Wizard power to do, but Dobby knows the words that must be said."
"Since Remus and I are both masters, would we both have to do this or could just one of us?" Harry knew he couldn't do magic outside of school so he hoped it could just be one master.
"Oh, only one master would be needed, Harry Potter."
Harry got a wide smile on his face. "Then what are we waiting for? Remus would gladly do it. Let's go get him and he could do it now!" Harry started to turn to head back to the kitchen.
"Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby was calling after him. Harry turned and saw Dobby twisting his ears. "It cannot be done now, sir. It must be done under a full moon."
Harry's heart dropped to his feet. Remus could never do it under a full moon and Harry wasn't allowed. "Is there any other way?"
"Is this a problem, sir? Could not your Remy wait until the next full moon and try?" Dobby sounded hopeful.
"Remus is a werewolf." Harry felt sick. Dobby's eyes dimmed with disappointment.
"Then he…he will never be able to free the elves?" Dobby asked hesitantly. He seemed very downhearted.
"No. He never will be able to." It just wasn't fair. There must be some way that he, Harry, could perform the spell. "Listen, Dobby, I will find a way to free the elves. I promise."
Dobby's eyes lit up and started watering again. "The great wizard Harry Potter is so noble and kind, brave and generous…"
"It's ok, Dobby." Harry wanted to stop Dobby from going on and on. "I haven't figured how to do it yet, but somehow I will."
After Dobby and Harry returned from unpacking, they met Remus down in the kitchen. Dobby got to work starting the meal. When he set it on the table, Harry was rather surprised that it didn't really taste any better than what he could have done himself, just some sandwiches with a butterbeer for Remus and Harry and a small glass of water for Dobby. He wouldn't say anything about it to Dobby, of course, but the small elf brought it up himself. He was sitting at the table with them at Harry and Remus' insistence.
"Dobby is apologizing for the quality of the food. Dobby has always been more of a house carer rather than a cooker." Dobby's bat-wing ears drooped.
"It doesn't matter, Dobby. We can both do the cooking. I'm just happy for your company." Harry wanted to cheer the elf up. Harry tried to get his mind off of it and searched for a new subject. "So, Dobby, how has Winky been doing?"
Wrong subject. Dobby's ears drooped lower still. "Winky is still getting drunk on butterbeer, Harry Potter. She is not happy being free and Dobby is not knowing how to help her. And now she is at the castle alone. The other elves will not help her."
Harry looked at Dobby and asked, "You've always helped take care of her, haven't you?"
Dobby nodded.
"Remus, do you think Winky could come here, too? That way Dobby can still keep watch over her." Dobby's head and ears lifted up. He looked at Remus with hope in his eyes.
"I'll be seeing Professor Dumbledore later this afternoon. I'll ask him then."
Dobby jumped out of his chair and ran to Remus. He threw his arms around him and started sobbing loudly. "Dobby didn't know that Harry's Remy would be as good and kind as the great Harry Potter!" Remus' eyes widened in surprise and he patted the small elf awkwardly on the head. Dobby calmed down some and stepped back. Remus lifted an eyebrow at Harry and Harry grinned at him. Dobby returned to his seat. He sat on his knees to be able to see above the table.
They continued to eat their lunch. Harry kept asking Dobby how life was going for the free elf and Dobby was excitedly telling about all that he did. He pointed out that Winky was better in the kitchen than he was.
"Dobby, I've seen you working in the kitchens before," Harry wondered why he had seen Dobby there if he didn't help make the food.
"Dobby helps lighting the fireplaces and stoves. Also the kitchens is where most house elves come and gets their orders for the day." Dobby kept the conversation up throughout the meal.
After the meal, Remus stood and looked to Harry. "I'm sorry I can't stay longer, but I need to meet with Dumbledore and will be leaving early in the morning. I'm afraid it may get a lonely here at times. There is the library. Be careful what you pull to read. Most of the darkest books have been destroyed, but there may be a few that were missed. You know how to contact me and I think you and I should keep in touch at least twice a week. How about Wednesday's and Saturday's for the minimum contact. More often if you need someone to talk to. Order members will often pop by at night to drop something off for Dumbledore or another member. Let me show you how we have this set up." Remus guided Harry to the Drawing Room. There was a box on the mantel above the fireplace next to the floo powder. "The members leave their reports in this box." Remus gave a sidelong glance to Harry who was looking at the box interestedly. "It's charmed so only Dumbledore can open it, so don't even try. You would get a nasty shock."
Harry shrugged. "It was a thought." He grinned at Remus.
Remus rubbed his knuckles through Harry's hair, making it stick out worse than ever. "There's nothing you can do for now, Harry. Just leave the Order business to the Order."
"Is there anything you can tell me of what's going on? Or what Voldemort is doing? I do have a bit of vested interest as I am one of his constant targets."
Remus sighed and said, "We know he has something else in the works but he's keeping it close to his chest. Most of what's going on now are exercises for his Death Eaters. Of course, these 'exercises' also help promote fear and panic in the wizarding world."
"What is the Ministry doing about it?" Now that they'd stopped denying what was happening, Harry wondered what steps could be taken.
"Fudge has started taking advice from Dumbledore again. They've boosted the Auror training program and have started putting some safety measures in several public places to alert aurors in case of trouble. Several stores in Diagon Alley have a direct communication floo connection to the Auror Division Offices, including Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes and Gringotts The Knight Bus also has a new direct connection to the Aurors."
"But what would happen if Death Eaters found that connection? Couldn't they wipe out the Auror Headquarters?"
"It's for communication only, no travel allowed. Their Headquarters is also an unplottable location which very few people know. It should be safe."
Harry and Remus talked of a few other things for a while until Harry had another thought. "Remus, could we change a few things here? Get rid of some of these decorations?"
"I'm afraid we've tried. Even Sirius couldn't remove some of the decorations here. I've never seen anything like this before. It's like the house won't let them go. Like the troll leg umbrella stand or Mrs. Black's portrait. I know it has a permanent sticking charm on it, but there are counters that could be done, but none of them are working." Remus was shaking his head.
Harry thought of what Dobby had said. If he could remove the house elf heads, maybe the rest of the stuff could finally be changed or removed.
Eventually Remus had to go meet with Dumbledore. He gave Harry a one-armed hug and told him he should be back within the hour.
"Dobby and I will be fine, Remus. Go on." Harry told him and shooed him out of the house.
After Remus left, Harry sat down to think. He wasn't sure what to do now. It looked like he would still be alone a lot and he wondered if he could keep to the same schedule as he had before for the most part. A lot would depend on Dobby.
"Dobby?" The little elf popped in front of him.
"You called Master Harry?" Dobby squeaked at him.
"Dobby, you definitely don't need to call me 'master'. But am I a sort of temporary 'master' or just a 'charge'?"
"What is Harry Potter meaning?" asked Dobby confused.
"Will you be reporting to someone on what I do or could you keep some of my secrets?"
Dobby's eyes opened wide. "Dobby is not reporting to anyone on Harry Potter. Dobby would be most honored to keep Harry Potter's secrets."
"You could keep my secrets and not have to tell anybody later?"
"Dobby would never tell Harry Potter's secrets! As Dobby is a free elf, Dobby can choose who to treat as a Master. A house elf may never betray a Masters secrets. Even now, Dobby can not tell the secrets Dobby has been forbidden to tell of the bad wizards he served before Harry Potter freed Dobby."
"That's good enough for me, Dobby. Come up to my room with me."
Harry took Dobby to his room and showed him the trunk. Dobby's eye grew wide as he looked around the trunk. "Your Weezy gave you this trunk. This is good of your Weezy."
"Dobby, let me introduce you to some people. Gideon, Fabian?" The twins both stepped into Gideon's portrait. "Hello. I'd like to introduce you to my friend, Dobby." They each had a bit of a strange look on their face, looking between Harry and the little elf. Dobby was shifting back and forth a little nervously.
Suddenly Fabian had a look of comprehension. "Dobby? You are the one who helped Harry in the past? Ron's told us about you!"
"And he's helping me again, by making life a little easier for me outside of this trunk. Dobby, will you be able to tell if someone is looking for me out there? I've been learning a lot of new things in here, but I don't want to worry anyone if they can't find me."
"Oh, Harry Potter is so kind and considerate of others; so…"
"Enough, Dobby." Harry tried to shush him. "Will you be able to tell?"
Harry heard Fabian tell Gideon, "Ron did say he was a bit of a nutter."
"Oh, yes, Harry Potter, sir. Dobby will be able to hear and warn Harry Potter when someone wants him." Dobby was bouncing on his feet to know a secret of Harry's and be able to help him with it.
"That's great, Dobby. You will be welcome to join us down here if you want. My friends are quite often here in the morning, but they usually leave at noon." Harry felt he should offer it to Dobby.
"Begging your pardon, but Dobby would rather spend the time cleaning Harry Potter's new house. Dobby has had a look around and has seen a lot that Dobby can do."
"Whatever you want, Dobby." Harry was a bit glad that Dobby didn't want to spend all his time down in the trunk, but he was glad Dobby would know where he was in case anyone would go looking for Harry.
At that moment, the door to the Weasley's opened and Ginny shouted down, "Harry?"
Harry was surprised, but shouted back, "What, Ginny?"
"Oh, you are there! I've been shouting down every half hour to see if you were around. Can I come down?"
"Of course you can, Ginny."
Ginny climbed down the ladder. "I can only stay a minute…Oh!" She seemed surprised when she saw Dobby.
"Ginny, have you ever met Dobby?" Harry didn't think she had.
"No. Though I've heard a lot about him." She turned to Dobby and held out her hand to him. "How do you do, Dobby?"
Dobby looked at Harry. "This is Ginny Weasley, Ron's sister. She owns the matching trunk to the one I use."
Dobby took Ginny's hand in both of his and started to jumping up and down. "Dobby is most pleased to be meeting Harry Potter's Weezy's sister. Such an honor it is to meet you."
Ginny blinked a few times, then smiled at him. "Thank you, Dobby. Harry, we were wondering what was going to happen now. Do you know yet?" Ginny had turned to Harry with a questioning look on her face.
"It looks like Dobby and I are going to be pretty much on our own at Grimmauld Place; possibly Winky will be coming, too." Ginny looked confused. "Winky's another house elf. Ron will explain." Harry glanced over to where Dobby was now exploring the kitchen cupboards. He didn't want to go into Winky's history in front of him. "Anyway, I think I'll be able to pretty much keep the same schedule as before and be able to meet you guys in the morning as usual. Dobby said he'd warn me if anyone comes looking for me."
Ginny smiled. "Great! Mum would get suspicious if we suddenly changed how we did things. We would do it, but it sure would be easier if we didn't have to."
Dobby's ears suddenly perked up. "Harry Potter, sir! Your Remy has just returned. He is wanting to see you." Dobby then snapped his fingers and disappeared with a loud crack.
Harry's eyes widened and he started heading to the ladder. "Gotta go, Gin. See ya, tomorrow!" and he quickly climbed out of the trunk.
Remus greeted Harry with a smile. He told Harry that Winky would be joining him tomorrow. They then spent the rest of the day and well into the night talking.