Disclaimer; As always, don't own it.
A/N I know, I know. In Harry Potter and the SS it says Hagrid removed Harry from the rubble of the Potter's house. But I am taking it as he removed Harry from the rubble of Harry's room. The rubble of the house didn't work for my story line so I'm sorry if it's not exactly cannon. Happy reading and don't forget to review!
p.s. For all of you who read my new story 'Beautiful' and reviewed- THANK YOU SO MUCH! Almost 50 reviews for one chapter! You guys rock! Thank you again and again.
The Potter's House
The ancient wood of the porch creaked under the trio's feet. The other order members followed one at a time up the path, waiting patiently at the foot of the steps. Harry grasped the brass doorknob firmly and turned it. It was unlocked. As soon as Harry entered the house a musty smell entered his nose. Dust rose from every footstep as they made their way into the living room. Furniture was covered in layer upon layer of dust and grime and heavy cobwebs hung from every surface. Hermione sneezes several times breaking the silence of the house.
"Sorry." she whispered. The spacious living room emptied into a long hallway. The house was dark from all the dust.
"Lumos!" Harry said and everyone else followed suit lighting the old house very brightly. The hallway had several doors. The first one on the right was a small bathroom. The next on the left was a closet and the last was the kitchen. The trio entered the kitchen leaving footprints in the grimy black and white tile. Harry took a look around and imagined his mum cooking dinner for him in that very room. He could almost hear her humming sweetly as she stirred the pot with her wand. He quickly shook it off and cleared his head.
"In the mirror the cup was in the nursery. Behind my broken crib." he said firmly.
"Upstairs." Hagrid said pointing up the steps that were at the end of the hall. The wooden spiral staircase led them upwards, every step creaking under the massive weight of Hagrid. It seemed to take ages to climb up, wallpaper fragments peeling and hitting random order members on the head as they walked. Harry, Hermione and Ron got to the top first and were met with pieces of broken furniture and debris. They stepped over them carefully making their way past the first door. It was open and it was another bathroom. Harry opened the next door and found it to be his parent's old bedroom. The bed was still made perfectly, albeit covered in dust. Dead flowers in a vase still sat on the dresser against the wall. Harry retreated quickly visibly upset. The last door, the half broken door. The door with the most broken furniture against it. The door that blew back and forth in the breeze coming from that bedroom.
"That's it." Harry said quietly. "I'll go in alone."
"No!" Hermione said. "Ron and I swore we would be with you every step of the way. We aren't going to back down now."
"Yeah mate. It's the three of us."
"Fine." Harry said pushing the broken door open and walking in his former nursery. The wall at the far end had a huge hole in it leading to outside. The edges of the hole were blackened and mold from the years of rain was growing up the remainder of the wall. Harry could just make out the wallpaper. Blue with tiny yellow stars. The constant sunlight had faded it so that it was just barely visible. Cobwebs invaded this room as well, along with leaves and broken tree branches from the tree outside the window. A wind blew through the crack whipping leaves across the room. Harry's footsteps echoed across the hardwood floor as he walked towards the remnants of his crib. White washed wooden crib slats lay broken across the far end of the room near the break in the wall. He kneeled down in front of the crib, his hand grazing a singed area of the wooden planks directly in front of his crib.
"I guess this is where…" he said breaking off slightly. The rest of the group stared, sympathetic looks upon their faces. Hermione knelt down as well, putting her arm around his shoulders.
"Harry…do you want Ron or I to look?" she asked in a soothing voice.
"No. I just…I just wanted to catch a feeling. You know…of my mum. The cup should be over there." he said standing up and walking towards the pile of broken crib slats. Harry tossed them out of the way. Hermione walked over to Draco and gripped his hand. He turned and smiled at her.
"I'm so glad you are here." she whispered to him.
"Me too…" he started.
"I'VE GOT IT!" Harry yelled standing up quickly with a silver goblet in his hand. A roar erupted from the crowd. Hugs were exchanged between all and Ginny ran up to kiss Harry on the lips. He responded, for a moment forgetting about Mr. & Mrs. Weasley standing there. Ron made a coughing noise to bring Harry back to reality.
"Are you sure that is it?" Hermione asked him. "No one replaced it with a fake goblet." she smirked.
"This is it. I'm sure of it." he said turning the cup over and examining the badger engraving on the opposite side.
"Well?" Ron asked.
"Well what?" Harry asked.
"Well what are you waiting for?" Ron said.
"Erm…nothing I guess." Harry replied coming back to reality. He took a deep breath and muttered something as he grasped the goblet by the stem. A blinding light filled the room before the goblet disappeared into a billion pieces that seemed to evaporate as they settled on the dusty floor.
"Good gods, lets go." Ron said. "I'm starving." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Tactless." she replied. "Do you want a minute alone Harry?"
"No, I'm coming now. Orchideous!" he said pointing his wand and making pink, red and white roses erupt from the end. He placed them on the singed area of the hardwood floor.
"I love you mum." he said quietly.
A soft breeze blew across his forehead whipping his hair around his face.
"Ok. Let's go."
The order marched down the steps and down the hall. Something caught Hermione's eye. A wand. It was made of willow and about 10 inches long. It was lying at the base of a china cabinet that was in the far end of the living room.
"Harry!" she called out holding it up.
"By the gods 'Arry, It's your mum's wand!" Hagrid said shocked.
Harry walked over to where Hermione was standing and took the swishy willow wand out of her hand. He put it to his nose and inhaled trying to grasp his mother's scent. A faint smell of lavender filled his nose.
"It is hers." he said. "She's here, somehow, her spirit anyway." a smile played across his face.
"Thank you 'Mione." Harry said grabbing her for a big hug.
"You're welcome!" she smiled.
"Now I know we will succeed. I know we will defeat him. My parents are looking out for us." he said as he walked out the front door.
The sun had made a full appearance in the tiny village now. Stray leaves blew down the dirt road that lead back to the town. They had decided to get a bite to eat at the Inn and maybe rest so that they would be in full form when they went hunting for Nagini. The group entered the town square and found the inn quickly. Remus went in first and walked up to the front desk.
A small dark haired woman walked up to the counter and eyed the strange group up and down.
"Can I help you?" she asked suspiciously.
"Uh, yes. We reserved six rooms for two nights. It may be longer." he said slightly nervous "Under the name of Lupin."
The little woman looked through a book, licking her finger as she turned the pages. Her eyes scanned the tiny writing until she found the names.
"Ah yes, six rooms. Here are the keys." she said handing Remus six rusty looking keys. "Rooms five through ten. Up the stairs and to the right. Everything you need should be there. Bathroom is at the end of the hall." she said. "How will you be paying, cash, check or charge?"
"Cash." Harry piped up handing the woman several bills of muggle money. "Thank you." he said smiling, although the woman's eyes were following Hagrid's every move. Obviously wondering if he would even fit up the narrow steps. He had to go sideways but he made it.
"Is there anywhere to eat here?" Ron asked the woman.
"Kitchen is open until 8." the woman said. "Down the hall over here." she motioned.
"Great, I'm starved." Ron said rubbing his stomach. "We've been walking for hours."
"What brings you to Godric's hollow?" she asked curiously.
"Nature hike." Hermione said quickly. "And we have a full day of it tomorrow over in the woods on the edge of town."
"I would stay away from there." the woman warned. "Lots of strange things happen by those woods. That mist and the strangest calls and howls. I would not go into those woods." she said sternly.
"Oh, it's okay. We are experienced hikers. We won't have any trouble." she giggled as she walked up the steps.
Remus had booked six rooms for them. One for him and Tonks, one for Mr. & Mrs. Weasley, one for professor McGonagall, one for Hagrid, one for the boys, and one for the girls. Neville, Ron, Harry and Draco in one room and Hermione, Luna and Ginny in the last. None of the younger members were happy about this except maybe Neville. Harry of course wanted to be with Ginny, and Draco desperately wanted to sleep next to Hermione. So Draco went up to Harry to try to work out a deal.
"Potter." he whispered. "Oi, Potter come here."
Harry turned around.
"Hmmm? What Malfoy?"
"What about you and Ginny and me and Hermione sharing and sticking everyone else in the last room?" he whispered.
"Ron isn't going to go for that."
"But he could get to know that blonde girl better, and I'm sure Longbottom won't mind."
"Everyone get settled." Remus called, "then go down for dinner."
"So?" Draco asked Harry raising his eyebrows in an expectant manner.
"Fine, I will tell them. Did you clear this with Hermione?" Harry asked.
"She won't mind." he replied.
Harry walked over to the others and told them of the plan while Draco told Hermione.
"I've got it worked out so we can at least share a room. We are going to bunk with Potter and the red head." he said to her.
"How ever did you manage that?" she asked curiously.
"Never you mind." he smirked. She wrinkled her nose slightly making a face at him before following him into their newly assigned room.
Ginny was inside waiting for Harry.
"Hi roomies." she joked. "I'm glad you thought of this." She said looking at Draco.
"I did not want to spend another night with your brother and Longbottom. No offense."
"None taken." Ginny grinned. "I lived with him for years. He is a slob and he snores."
The three of the giggled loudly before Harry entered the room.
"Your brother is in a right state." Harry told Ginny. "He doesn't see why he has to bunk with Neville."
"He'll get over it." Ginny said coolly.
"Yeah, but not anytime soon."
"I will talk to him. Tell him it is the perfect way to get to know Luna better." Hermione said.
"Are we going to dinner now?" Ginny asked Harry as she kissed him sweetly on the cheek.
"Yeah, Remus wants everyone downstairs. Now let's not mention our living quarters to others, like the Weasleys, okay?" Everyone nodded and left the room. Hermione spotted Ron walking out of their room.
"Ronald, can I talk to you for a sec?"
"You sure you don't want to push me off on Neville or something?" he said sarcastically.
"Ronald, listen. Harry just wants to spend time with your sister and he wouldn't be comfortable with you in the same room. Look at it this way, you and Luna can talk privately after Neville falls asleep. No one could hear you over that racket." she told him.
"I suppose." he grumbled. "Do you always have to be right?"
"Yes, I do." she said in a sing-song voice as she skipped down the steps towards the kitchen.
Soon the voices of her fellow order members filled her ears as she entered the pleasant dining area. Everyone was seated at a long wooden table that ran nearly the length of the room. The thirteen order members were the only ones staying at the out of the way inn. Hermione took a seat next to Ginny and Draco and Ron sat down a moment later next to Harry and across from Luna. After a few minutes bowls and platters of food were brought to the table by the kitchen staff. Roast chickens, potatoes, beans, sausages, noodles and gravy were set down in front of the hungry order members. Everyone dove into the food quickly, not having eaten since early that morning. After filling their bellies with everything on the table the kitchen staff brought out dessert. Puddings and cakes were soon devoured. Pleasant conversation filled the table. Ron looked around at the order members and chuckled.
"Thirteen." he said to himself. Then doing quite a good impression of Professor Trelawnry he said;
"When thirteen dine the first to rise is the first to die."
The rest of the table stopped and stared at him.
"Good job Ron." Ginny said throwing a bean at him.
"What?" he asked grinning.
"Now is not the time to bring up death you moron." she told him.
"I was just kidding, you know Trelawnry…she's a mad old bat." Ron said shrugging. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"It's not a big deal Ginny. You know she is quite mad." she said pushing her plate away.
"Still, not very tactful." Ginny said sticking her tongue out at her brother.
"Ginny dear, stop teasing Ronnie." Mrs. Weasley said.
"What time do we have to get up?" Hermione asked Harry.
"Not as early. I want it to be light out before we go looking for Nagini. Those woods will be dark enough in the daytime to make it difficult for us."
"Either way I am tired." she yawned. "I'm ready for bed."
"It's only six in the evening." Ron said. "Who goes to bed that early?"
"Me." she said stretching.
"Me too." Draco said standing and holding out his hand for Hermione. She took it and they walked up the steps together towards their room.