BabesBunny: Glad you liked it, thanks!
Loonygrl90: Told you! Hehe. But yup, it's good old Moody.
Chapter 5The Knight Bus speedily hurtled through a dark countryside whilst Arthur Weasley leant against the window of the bus, looking a little delicate. The beds shifted sharply to one side as a corner was raced around. Arthur made a faint little noise. Harry looked round slowly to Moody, who looked completely unaffected by the hurtling corners. He just took a calm drink from his hip flash, blue eye lolling madly from side to side.
"Why did you decide to come and pick me up?" asked Harry quietly, eyes deciding not to focus on the mad rolling eye.
Moody turned his normal eye down upon Harry whilst his blue one rolled to the side to watch a groaning Arthur precariously. "We said at Kings Cross that we would be along soon." He then made a faint sigh that almost sounded like a snarl in Moody's rough tones, "Plus, we thought it would be best for Molly if you were around. Make her happier." He watched Harry carefully with his normal eye.
Harry nodded his head gently, "I'll do anything I can," he said softly, looking down across the bus to watch Stan as he leant on one of the beds at the front of the bus, reading the Daily Prophet, "Is Ron alright?"
"He's coping," grunted Moody, "Hermione came over yesterday after Ron found out. I think he owled her."
Harry felt a curious sensation burn in his chest for a moment, "Ron asked for Hermione? Yesterday?"
Moody turned both eyes upon Harry, "The Weasleys found out yesterday. I don't think Ron wanted to give you any more bad news. Plus, Hermione was easier to bring to number 12."
It did not stop Harry feeling slightly cut off from his friends, as though he wasn't needed. "Yeah, I need a hoard of bodyguards wherever I move," muttered Harry grouchily, turning his eyes to look out of the window as the bus bounced across a seaside town. "Why did you need the Mactors anyway?"
"Like Ella said, we needed to be sure You-Know-Who had not caught on that you were to be leaving the Dursleys. It would have been prime time for him to attack you. She was to place a lot of shield charms around the street that day and Gregory and herself were to keep a vigilant watch."
"And we did," interjected Ella with a slight smile, "And as you can see, operation successful."
Harry turned to her slowly, moving a little too far as the bus span around a corner, "But if you needed to be at the Dursleys.. how did you know you would be invited?"
However Gregory had a little grin on his face as he leant forward to look past Ella and to Harry, "I placed a transfiguration charm on our car." A slight smile arrived on Harry's face. "I had heard that those muggles are attracted to expensive looking items."
"Well, it worked," said Ella with a slight shrug, smiling to Harry, "We were then able to keep an eye on you all night."
Just then, the Knight Bus screeched to an ungraceful halt, the beds sliding forward noisily. Hazel stumbled slightly at the abrupt halt and only missed hitting the floor as Lupin grabbed her by her hand.
Stan called from the front of the bus, "King's Cross!"
"Come on Harry," said Tonks quietly, standing to her feet and picking up her broom. Harry tugged on his trunk whilst Hazel carried Hedwig and the group walked towards the opened doors where Stan still stared at Harry transfixed.
Tonks hurried Harry off the Knight bus, the group quietly stepping out onto the pavement. The doors of the Knight Bus slammed shut noisily before with an echoing BANG and a flash of light, it disappeared from view. Slowly, Harry looked around the dark street. Night had since fallen and the moon shone down a soft glow from the reddened sky that was free of any obscuring clouds. Harry turned as he saw Lupin begin to stride along the pavement, leading the small group down the faintly lit road. The group walked in silence, the only sounds being the soft hooting of Hedwig and the faint clatter of Harry's trunk wheels on the pavement.
Number 12 Grimmauld Place squeezed in-between the two houses without a sound as the Order lined up on the pavement. Harry had experienced this last year, all you had to do to make it appear was to remember what it was. Those who knew where it was had to be divulged the location by the Secret-Keeper, Dumbledore himself, since he had placed a Fidelius charm on the house.
The black battered door stood tall at the top of the steps, the silver doorknocker glinting mysteriously in the moonlight. The windows however, did not shine, for they were covered in filth. However, Harry knew that the inside had been cleaned last year; the inside would not be the same as the exterior. However, an odd thing about this scratched door was that it did not have a keyhole or a letterbox. Moody strode up to the front door, wand outstretched before he ran it gently down the centre of the door. Locks clicked from within.
"The Defitactus charm," said Ella quietly from behind Harry, "It is wisely used at Gringotts and here. Here it means that anyone who is not a member of the Order, or has not been acknowledged by the Secret-Keeper, will be declined access.. with the addition of the Full Body-Bind, Stupefying Charm.. and what else?"
"Silencing Charm," inputted Arthur quietly as he glanced to them.
The door to number 12 opened quietly, "I'll be damned if anyone ever got in here without an Order member," growled Moody, "The door charm alone would sort them out."
"Has anyone ever tried to get in?" asked Harry quietly as they stepped into the dark hallway.
"No," said Ella quietly.
Lupin gave a slow smile, "But Kreacher tested it for Sirius. And it worked."
"Those were the days when Kreacher wasn't quite so disobeying," murmured Tonks quietly as she pulled her cloak off and shut the door behind everyone.
Harry dropped his trunk down, being careful as to not be too noisy. Waking Sirius's mother up would be bedlam upon the house. "Where's Kreacher now?" asked Harry in a low voice, looking around the familiar hallway.
"Oh, he's back here," said Lupin, and Harry was surprised to see him smiling, "He got into a bit of bad business with the Malfoy's and returned back here."
"You actually LET him back?" hissed Harry with furious boil of anger inside him.
"Do not blame Kreacher for dark wizard tyranny," said Arthur sagely, "Kreacher is actually quite the reformed character now. And he needs to be fully told to never pass a word on to anyone outside the Order."
"Who's going to tell him?" asked Harry lowly, "He doesn't have a master anymo – "
"Oh, he does," said Lupin, he was smiling too.
"Well, who?"
"Harry Potter!" came a hoarse voice. Harry spun round to watch in a rather horrified manner as Kreacher lumbered towards him, no longer muttering curses under his breath, but staring avidly at Harry.
Harry subconsciously backed away, finding a hand being rested on his shoulder as Lupin lowered his head, "It's alright."
"Harry Potter!" said Kreacher again, clasping his knobbly hands together. He shuffled forward a little more, "Welcome back!" he bowed lowly, his squashed nose brushing the floor whilst his large bat-like ears flopped gently.
Harry looked completely baffled. This was not the Kreacher he remembered. Before Kreacher would rarely obey orders, unless they were directly from Sirius, and he would always prowl around the large house talking to himself and insulting those that resided here, thinking he could not be heard. It seemed whatever 'bad business' that had occurred at the Malfoys had quickly sorted Kreacher out. Harry knew all too well from his house-elf friend Dobby, that house-elves loved their job, and it appeared Kreacher was not quite ready to leave the home of the Blacks to join a cruel life with the Malfoys. One that Harry had rescued Dobby from years ago.
"Don't forget what he needs to be told.." Harry heard a voice whisper from behind him.
Harry blinked unsurely before tilting his head at Kreacher who stared up at him expectantly. "Er.. Kreacher?" Kreacher's ears perked slowly, the white tufts from within standing out. "You are not to.. er.. pass on any information that is mentioned at 12 Grimmauld Place to anyone outside the Order or who are not allowed Dumbledore's Secret Keeper influence." He thought quickly, not wanting a loophole. He summed it up with a quick, "Keep it to yourself."
Kreacher bowed again, his already squashed nose being pressed down to the floor. "Yes, Harry Potter!" he said with his eyes watching him enthusiastically, "Kreacher will obey his new master!"
"Ok.." said Harry uncomfortably, "That's it then.. you can go."
Kreacher backed away as he bowed before running back into the living room where Harry could hear him chattering excitedly as he began casting spells to clean the carpet.
"Me the master?" said Harry, still sounding shocked.
"After Sirius, there is only you who he values as a son," explained Tonks, "Anyway, I already have a home."
There was a dawning expression on Harry's face, "You mean.. ?"
"Yes, Harry. Grimmauld Place is yours," answered Lupin, smiling gently at Harry, "A wise choice, I think. Of course, you'll have to stay with the Dursleys until you are ready to leave Hogwarts."
If Harry was going to respond to this news, he didn't get chance, for a body had just ran down the staircase and covered itself around Harry in a tight hug whilst a voice cried, "Harry!" Then Harry, being blinded by large quantities of hair managed a muffled;
"Eyah Ermonny."
Hermione prised herself back off Harry, staring at him with an avid expression like Kreacher's, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Harry lied. Of course nothing was fine. It was rarely fine in Harry's world, "But what about Ron?"
"He's upstairs," said Hermione, smile falling off her lips, "He heard you come in but didn't come down when I asked him to. But go and see him Harry."
"I've got to take my trunk up anyway," muttered Harry with a sigh, turning and beginning to pull it up the staircases.
"No!" said Arthur in a strained voice before the trunk collided on the bottom stair as it was dragged up with a loud thunk.
"Half-breeds! Filth! Begone from the house of Black! Mudbloods! Cretins!"
"Shut up! SHUT UP!" shrieked a voice, and Mrs. Weasley came hurtling out of the meeting room with a wild look on her face. Harry noticed he had never seen Mrs. Weasley look so tired, or weary. Her eyes were blood shot and red, her face was drained of their usual crimson flush and her usual soft curls of hair was straggled and limp. She span to the portrait of Sirius's mother and began yanking back the flying curtains with desperate pants of breath. Gregory obligingly stepped in to help, and together the curtains were drawn to over the portrait and the banshee-like wailing ceased.
Slowly, Mrs. Weasley turned to Harry, lips forming a tight smile to him, "Harry, dear.." Her face tried to keep straight; eyes watering but held determinedly open, not wanting to let her tears fall. But within a few seconds, the eyes closed and tears trickled from her eyelids as she burst into soft sobs on the spot. Harry felt his heart wrench at seeing her like this. It was like seeing his mother cry, that's how much it hurt him. Mrs. Weasley slowly stepped towards Harry and pulled him into a tight hug whilst the Order stood and watched solemnly.
After a few moments, Harry felt himself be released, and he looked up slowly to Mrs. Weasley, "The Daily Prophet.. yesterday.." Mrs. Weasley nodded her head in understanding and began to unnecessarily straighten his collar. Harry made no objections.
"Go and see, Ron, dear," said Mrs. Weasley slowly, "He needs to see you."
"Alright," said Harry quietly as he stepped back from her and carefully picked up his trunk, proceeding to carry it up the stairs without banging it and waking up the formidable Mrs. Black.
Slowly, the door was pushed back by Hermione who held it open for Harry to pull in his trunk. Harry saw Ron sat on his bed in silence; he stared at the opposite wall and had a lost expression on his face. When the door shut to, Ron looked up slowly. A slow grin formed on his face, it looked at though he wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. He just managed a grin, a weak one at that, "Hey Harry."
Harry quietly walked into the dark room, eyes glancing for a moment up at the high ceiling. Harry lowered Hedwig's cage to the floor and knocked back the latch, Hedwig flew out to go and sit on the top of a chair next to Pigwidgeon. "Hey," said Harry softly, straightening up and walking slowly to where his friend sat.
Ron and Hermione were Harry's closest friends and had been since the first year of Hogwarts. Neither Ron nor Hermione had suffered the loss Harry had last year with Sirius or the trauma he had.. Except now, for Ron was experiencing the pain.
"How are you doing?" asked Harry after a pause, moving to sit down on the bed beside Ron. Hermione followed over and sat on the next bed, watching them from afar.
A low sigh emitted from Ron before he nodded, "I'm fine," he said softly, "It's not me you need to worry about. It's Mum and Dad. It's like the days when You-Know-Who was at large. People died daily, it wasn't a surprise to hear about group massacres."
Hermione slowly looked to Harry, "Apparently this is how it started before. You-Know-Who creeping into power, killing those who got in his way, and then before long, he was in supreme power."
"Well, he's not going to get that far this time," said Harry in a determined voice, "I've fought him and come back alive six times, including him as a memory. One day.. I will beat him.. I promise."
Hermione looked like she was going to burst into tears whilst Ron nodded once at Harry with a gritty expression. Harry held back on telling them about the Prophecy. It felt too drastic to say that soon one of them would have to die.
It felt too drastic to say that he would have to battle to the death.
But it wasn't too drastic to say that Voldemort could win, and kill Harry like he had killed many wizards before him..
Thanks for reading! Please review!
New Spell!
Defitactus -Defigo (latin; secure.) Tactus (latin; touch.)
Diffi - tac - tus