Loonygrl90: You'll kick yourself when you find the answer to the cliffhanger(: "I should have known!" sorta thing going on.
Chapter 4
The large hulking figure moved forward into the doorway, instinctively Harry moved backwards and away from the oncoming being. A burglar? No.. burglars didn't normally ring doorbells. Then, suddenly from behind this large looming stranger, Harry heard a voice call, "Come on, Harry! The midges are really starting to bite! Let us in!"
Harry recognised that voice at once! And he didn't need the sudden glint of wild pink hair to help him, "Tonks?" he said incredulously, jumping back as the large figure moved in and the light revealed it to be Moody.
"What were you waiting for?" growled Moody as he rubbed under his large blue eye, "Half of the street could have seen us."
"You were kind of scary.." murmured Harry as he stood back to let a small group from the Order file into the clean Dursley hallway.
"Told you, you should have let me ring the doorbell," said Lupin pleasantly as he pulled his large tattered cloak off his shoulders and hung it neatly on the collection of the Mactor's jackets on the coat stand beside the staircase. Harry smiled at the group in turn, who had all now taken to greeting him. Arthur Weasley was last, whose eyes strayed slowly upon the telephone with longing to go and experiment with it. Harry noticed his face looked a little gaunt and he seemed a lot more tired than usual.
Moody seemed to have spotted the desire for he quickly said, "Come on, we're not here for a visit."
Harry seemed to have just realised the problem of there being three wizards and a witch from the Order in the hallway when the Dursleys were entertaining the newcomers from across the street. "Er.. this is a bad time.." said Harry quietly, "We have guests over."
"That's nice," said Moody quietly, striding towards the dining room door. Harry's eyes widened.
Before Moody's gnarled hand could meet the doorknob, the door was wrenched open by Vernon Dursley who had come to see who the visitors were. His smiling face instantly drained of colour when he stared into the scarred face of Moody. He spluttered madly for a moment, "What are you doing here in my house?" he snarled, face turning from scarlet to a deep purple.
"Is it such a crime to come and see Harry?" asked Tonks as she picked up an ornament off the telephone table and studied it idly. She interestedly peered at the face of the female statue before suddenly, the arm broke off by her tight hold, "Oops.." she quickly put it down, staring at the back of Lupin's head innocently.
Vernon didn't seemed to have noticed, he was concentrating on trying not to let slip to their friendly neighbours that the house currently held a bunch of freaks. Moody walked closer to Vernon, who shuffled back instantly with a cower. Moody held a smirk for a moment before he walked round the muggle and stepped into the dining room, the rest of the Order and Harry following.
Aunt Petunia was calmly sipping from a wine glass before she froze and stared wide eyed at the entry. The glass was slammed down as she gave a panicked breath, "What – you – what!" she gasped. Dudley looked up belatedly from his third helping of cheesecake to stare at the group. He made a faint squeak before pushing his chair back and backing away, trying to sneak quietly and insignificantly away. Something he simply could not do. When he discovered the wizards blocked his way out be made a little moan and sat down on the post to keep his behind safe from any possible spells.
Harry felt rather sick in his stomach as he saw the Mactors watch the entry. However, to his surprise, Tonks suddenly waved cheerily to Hazel who grinned and gave her a thumbs-up. Aunt Petunia seemed to have noticed this too, for she shot back from the table like it was contaminated.
"That's right," growled Moody, "You have just been playing host to two witches and a wizard."
Harry suddenly felt a wash of relief settle over him. That explained why their car had changed. But it did not explain why they had moved onto Privet Drive, or why they knew the Order.
Vernon stumbled into the dining room, breathing heavily as he stared at the Mactors, "How dare you blasted freaks enter my damn house!" he bellowed. Hazel's face went white.
Ella stood up in an instant and she flashed her eyes dangerously at Vernon, "Don't speak like that around my daughter." Harry was distinctly reminded of Dumbledore at the way her authority filled the room.
Vernon mouthed wordlessly for a moment before he snarled and clenched his fists.
"Why did you move-in this morning?" he asked Ella, turning to her slowly.
Ella still kept her burning eyes on Vernon, "We were asked by Dumbledore to stay on the scene before the rest of the Order arrived - to make sure You-Know-Who wasn't going to sabotage the arrival"
Harry blinked a little, "You're part of the Order?" he asked her.
"We both are, Gregory and myself. We often did a lot of spy work, but I insisted it to be stopped after this date. It is becoming too dangerous for Hazel." She turned her eyes upon Harry, "I've taken up a job at Hogwarts whilst Gregory will be working closer to the Headquarters." She smiled fondly at him, "I heard you're a dab hand at Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"You're out new Defence teacher?" Harry asked with a surprised look up at her, normally their DADA teachers were.. strange.. to say the least.
Ella smiled, "I am, I shall be joining this new term. As will Hazel, she begins her first year in September."
Uncle Vernon was stood shaking with rage. He hadn't probably heard so many magic relating words in one night. Even Aunt Petunia had closed her eyes painfully as if she was being to subjected to foul swearing.
Tonks however gave a cheerful chuckle, "No need for Dumbledore's Army anymore Harry you'll have a competent teacher at last."
"Excuse me?" said Lupin with a small smile.
"Oh.. sorry Remus," mumbled Tonks with a blush.
"Anyway, no time for chatting," said Gregory pleasantly as he stood to his feet, "Wonderful food, Petunia." Petunia shuddered and covered her eyes as he had just combusted in front of her.
"Come on Arthur," said Tonks cheerfully as she grabbed him by the back of his robes as he began heading over to the DVD player, eyes shining as he spotted a glinting DVD left on top of the silver box bearing the title, "Lord of the Rings."
Harry watched them move out of the dining room and followed them slowly, "Am I coming with you?"
"No, we're leaving you behind," said Tonks sarcastically, "Of course you're coming with us, Harry!"
"Who said Potter was a bright boy?" Moody chortled roughly as he walked to the front door.
"Go and grab everything you need for school Harry," said Lupin politely. Harry nodded his head and quickly hurried upstairs.
He was joined by another pair of light footsteps and turned his head to watch Hazel run up behind, "I'll help you," she said with a smile, following him into his bedroom. She looked around the room slowly, obviously expecting something a lot grander from the Boy-Who-Lived. His bed covers were unmade and he had his nightwear untidily scattered on top of the creased duvet. Hedwig was sat on the desk hooting in an irritated manner whilst her cage sat smelling of droppings, flies buzzing around it. Hazel wrinkled her nose slowly.
Harry said nothing in response to her expression and merely kneeled down on the floor to drag out his truck. He wrenched it open and began to shove in his books and other items. Hazel hovered over the room and interestedly studied his collection of ballpoint pens, pulling off the lid of one and staring dubiously at the nib. She shrugged, placed it back down on his desk before she picked up some of the schoolbooks on his desk and carried them over to his trunk.
Harry joined the Order downstairs, pulling his trunk heavily down the stairs as he did so. Hazel followed behind, carrying Hedwig in her cage. In the hall, the Order still stood watching the Dursleys, who stared back just as dubiously. Dudley hid behind his mother, as best as he possibly could for his size.
"Ah, Harry," said Arthur as he saw the younger wizard arrive down the stairs, "I'll take that for you," he took the trunk from Harry and turned to the front door to open it.
"Have a nice evening," said Lupin pleasantly to the Dursleys as he reached to take his cloak from the coat stand.
Uncle Vernon bristled fiercely.
"Dumbledore may be keeping in closer touch," said Ella seriously as she turned to watch Aunt Petunia, "Don't ignore his post, Petunia."
Aunt Petunia harshly sniffed and said nothing.
"Well, I can't say it was a pleasure to meet you again," said Tonks with a smirk, "But, you know, ta ta."
The group began to shuffle out of the door, stepping into the warm evening air. Harry exited last, looking over his shoulder at the Dursleys. He focused upon Aunt Petunia when he said his words, "Bye, then." No one said anything in response. Vernon acted as if nothing had been said. Aunt Petunia managed a very stiff nod.
"I hope we don't have to see them again," Tonks sighed as she walked down the driveway, "They really get on my nerves.. now, where did we park our brooms?" She raised her wand, "Accio brooms!" and a small collection of brooms arrived from behind the bushes to hover beside them.
"Well, we can't fly back.." said Lupin quietly, looking pointedly at Hazel.
Hazel folded her arms indignantly, "I can fly a broom!"
"That was Dewster's Safe-Plus Toy Broom, Hazel," said Gregory with a faint smile, "I don't think you're quite ready for the real thing."
"There's always the Knight Bus I suppose.." murmured Arthur quietly whilst Moody gave a disapproved grunt.
"Don't worry, Alastor," said Lupin gently, "With six members of the Order together we'll be fine." He then looked around slowly as the group gathered on the pavement whilst the Dursleys watched suspiciously out of their living room window, "Somebody stick out their wand arm!"
Tonks complied, her right arm being jutted out into the road as she held her long wand tightly. A deafening BANG echoed around Privet Drive as the Knight Bus whirled around the corner of Magnolia Crescent with a flash of blinding light and hurtled down Privet Drive (a lamppost jerked back to let it pass as it mounted the pavement) to abruptly stop with screeching tyres beside the group. Smoke rose slowly from the large wheels as it stopped in wait. The purple triple-decker bus glinted in the surrounding streetlamps, the golden lettering shining its name proudly. The doors clattered open and a familiar pimple-faced young man jumped out. "Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your – "
"Yes, yes, we know," said Moody roughly, pushing himself up the steps.
Stan stared at Moody looking affronted, "My name's Stan Shunpike.." he murmured quietly, squinting angrily before rolling his eyes at the back of Moody's head who growled a low;
"Saw that."
Stan blinked stupidly for a moment before he wheeled his head round to see Harry struggling with his trunk up the steps, "Eh! Look 'ere Ernie, it's 'Arry Potter!"
Tonks turned her wand upon Stan in an instant, "You say his name one more time and I'm trying out the Bat Bogey Hex on you!" she hissed violently before stomping up the steps with a huff. Stan gulped before turning and helping Harry carry his trunk on board.
The bus was full of brass bedsteads again which all looked like they had slid down the bus a few feet since the stop at Privet Drive. Red curtains lined the windows, some shut. Lights twinkled as chandeliers still swayed from the bus's erratic movements.
Harry lowered himself safely to a bed at the back of the bus, wanting to sit down before the bus started racing away. He watched quietly as Lupin dealt with the payment. That reminded him.. he needed to get some money out of Gringotts. He watched as the other wizards and witches pulling money from their pockets.
Harry thought Tonks seemed a little tense since she had suddenly raised her voice to screech a strained, "NO, FOR THE LAST TIME, I DO NOT WANT A TOOTHBRUSH!" at Stan before she stormed off to the back of the bus to sit down on Harry's bed with a terrified expression at her outburst.
"Er.." said Harry carefully, "Are you alright Tonks?"
Tonks nodded stiffly, "I'm fine.. I'm fine. It's just Stan, he knows how to wind me up. God, he keeps saying your name so loudly I wouldn't be surprised if we had Death Eaters invading the bus in a minute."
Harry sincerely hoped she was joking.
The rest of the Order and Hazel came down the centre of the bus and past a sleeping wizard, whose feet stuck out the end of his bed. Arthur didn't have time to sit down on a bed before the bus shot off and cries filled the air as the beds lurched back and Harry found himself getting pinned by a pale-faced Tonks as the Knight Bus made a BANG and lurched along the motorway madly.
Harry was regretting the large and lavish spread of Petunia's now..
This was a quick update! Review if you read, please!