A/N: WOOOO!! Now this is an exciting chapter! FINALLY! This is the VERY LAST chapter I wrote before stopping... so now I'm sorta gonna have to step up when I start on the next chapter, which I haven't. Haven't started that is...

UPDATE: I cut this chapter in half, so this and the next chapter used to be one...

CHAPTER THREE

A NEW HOME

It was decided that no party time to be wasted on opening presents, so Neville, and Harry separated their gifts into two piles to take with them at the end of the party.

It was not until late afternoon, when most guests had Disapparated or used Floo powder to leave, that Harry had a feeling other than cheerfulness: wonder.

"Where am I going to now?" He asked Hermione and Ron. Neville, Luna, Ena, and Ginny listened for the answer as well. They were students left. Tonks was with Dumbledore and Mad-Eye Moody, who were still near their corner.

"So I guess I'll see ya around Headmaster, Mad-Eye!" Tonks said.

"Unless you would like me to start addressing you as Nymphadora, I suggest you call me Minister from now on," growled Moody.

"What?" She burst into laughter, holding her stomach with one hand and slapping her thigh with her other. She backed up and accidentally tipped over a chair. "Ha ha. . . heh — oh, you were serious. . ." she said, returning to a straight face, as Moody hadn't laughed, let alone smiled. "Okay then. G'bye Dumbledore, and Minister," she said and with a mock serious face and salute, she Disapparated.

"We're going to Grimmauld Place," Hermione answered finally, "That's where your school things are, isn't it?"

"Yes, but why?" Harry said. He would rather stay at the New Burrow he heard Mr. and Mrs. Weasley talking about.

"Because it's your new home," Hermione said matter-of-factly, "We're all going to stay there. Ron and I'll explain when we get there, — and please don't be upset that we made plans without you again," she added hastily.

"We're all going to stay where? Including me?" said Neville and he turned and began looking around the nearly deserted Party House. "Where's my gran?"

"She said it was fine for you to spend the rest of the summer with your friends," Ron said, "Don't you remember?"

"Mister Longbottom," Dumbledore had come up from behind them, and looked back around as to make sure no one would be able to overhear him, "Harry's new home and the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, do you understand?" Neville nodded perplexedly. Dumbledore smiled, "You lot should go in pairs, then. Come along."

Harry paired off with Neville to go first through the fireplace. He took a handful of glittering powder from a vase atop a stool and threw it into the fire.

"See you on the other side — number twelve, Grimmauld Place!" Harry shouted and stepped into the green fire with Neville, each heaving a sack of presents at their side. The familiar Floo traveling sensations weren't pleasant. The view of the Party House from inside the fireplace spun in and out of view through whirls of green. Harry could feel Neville's elbow and shoulder clashing with his own. Soon enough, they landed face down in the cold basement kitchen of Grimmauld Place, a cavernous room with rough stone walls. Heavy iron pots and pans were hanging from the dark ceiling. The atmosphere felt less gloomy than Harry's previous visits. Perhaps this was because the only sources of light were no longer just the fire and one guttering candle, but a series of lit torches along the upper walls. Now, it felt more like a dungeon.

"Phew!" Harry said getting to his feet, and pulling Neville up. They both were patting off the soot that covered them. Harry dragged his gift-filled bag away from the fireplace and next to the wooden table that stood in the middle of the room.

"We'd better get out of the way," Harry told Neville, who followed suit, "Hermione and Ena should be coming at any moment — there they are." Hermione and Ena appeared through the fireplace with a wisp of green and fell onto the floor at Harry and Neville's feet. Harry and Neville helped them up.

"I hate that," muttered Hermione, shaking her head causing dust trapped in her bushy hair to puff out.

"That was fun," Ena said sounding only half sarcastic. She shook her head aggressively from side to side, making her hair flail.

Ginny and Luna stumbled out of the fire, but didn't fall over. Ginny nearly dropped a vast basin. It was filled over the rim with contents covered by a square cloth. Harry knew the Weasleys were perfectly accustomed to using Floo powder, and guessed Luna was too.

"Moody suggested we bring left overs from the party," Luna said pulling off the cover of the basin. There was silence as Ginny strode over and dropped it carelessly onto the table. They turned back to the fireplace and waited for Ron, who was sure to appear at any moment. There was a sudden splat. Harry whirled around and instantly had his wand forward. A stack of Cauldron Cakes had toppled off the top of the pile of food and onto the table's uncleaned surface. Ena laughed.

"False alarm, I guess?" she asked. She was the only one who hadn't turned around startled.

"Something sounding off when its all quiet," Harry said, embarrassed, "it gets

me started. . ." Ena gave him a quizzical look then smiled.

"Don't be ashamed of it," said Ena, "That's a good thing. Shows that you have good instincts and a sharp mind. I bet that came in handy lots of times."

"That's a waste," said Ron's voice. He was tiptoeing to look over there heads "But that's alright, I've got loads more!" he said happily, holding forth two big, closed baskets. He walked past them and put the baskets on the table beside the basin and began to brush off soot from himself forcefully.

"Hiya, kids! Wotcher, Harry!" Tonks had just come in from the other side of the room smiling cheerfully. The color of her hair was changed to bubble-gum pink. She walked quickly alongside the long table towards them, tripping over her own two feet before coming to a halt.

"Hi, Tonks," said Hermione, "What are you doing here?"

"Here to look after you!" Tonks said reaching them, "Can't have a bunch of kids running around our headquarters, can we? — it's just as much the Order's as it is Harry's, of course," she added. But before Harry could question her, she spoke again, "Tsk, tsk. You all have already made a mess. Nothing that I can't fix — Scourgify!" The heap of Cauldron Cakes on the table vanished. Tonks smiled proudly.

"This place is way less gloomy. Thanks to these three and me!" She pointed out Hermione, Ron, and Ginny. "You're gonna like it here, Harry!"

"Why are we staying here?" Harry finally asked.

"Sirius left everything he owned to you," answered Tonks. "Didn't anyone tell you yet?" She looked at Hermione.

"I was just about to," Hermione said innocently. She looked at Harry apologetically, but Harry wasn't mad. In fact, he was feeling quite the opposite.

"This means I never have to go back to the Dursleys? Ever again?" Harry asked anxiously.

"Yes sir!" Tonks said with a smile. Harry was filled with happiness. He would never have to see his uncle's purple face, his aunts horsey face, or Dudley's downright ugly face ever again. He only wished Sirius was with him to share the joy, and so he could thank him.

There was a distant crashing sound from above.

"That darn elf!" yelled Tonks, "He hasn't got anyone left to take orders from. He's supposed to obey me because my mother was a Black! Sirius said he doesn't because I'm not on some stupid tapestry."

"He's becoming a psycho." Ron told Harry, " 'Accidentally' knocking over things wherever he goes."

"He knows too much about the Order, so he's got to stay." Hermione said as Tonks ran out of the room in search of Kreacher. "His presence is menacing. It's a miracle that didn't wake Mrs. Black's portrait."

"Do any of you know where this tapestry is?" Ena said, "The one that's a sort of family tree?" Everyone gave her a quizzical look.

"I do," Harry found himself saying, "it's in the drawing room, first floor. Let's go." Harry was surprised of the others having not looked at it still. He knew what Ena was thinking. Her mother was born Bellatrix Black.

On the way to the drawing room, Harry was fascinated at how much better the entire place looked. The wallpaper was no longer peeling, the threadbare carpet was replaced, there was a new candelabra and chandelier that weren't cobweb-covered nor shaped as serpents. Best of all, the sweetish, rotting stench and the odd feeling of foreboding was gone. Although black portraits still hung crooked on the walls. Neville and Luna looked around in awe as Ena looked around only mildly impressed.

Entering the long, high-ceilinged drawing room, Harry noticed that nothing had changed from when they had de-doxied it the previous summer. The walls were olive-green and covered in dirty tapestries. Harry looked down to the carpet and tapped his foot on it. It did not exhale little clouds of dust.

"I cleaned up the carpet," said Hermione, watching Harry. "None of us have been in here since then. So, what's this tapestry about?" She looked around at the walls.

Harry pointed across the room at the immensely old looking tapestry hung the length of the wall.

"I'd forgotten about that. . ." Hermione trailed off.

"Me too," said Ron.

Ena and Harry made their way to the sprawling family tree. Looking near the bottom, Harry found that something was different. The name of Ena's father and his brother, Rabastan Lestrange, had recent dates of death that followed their dates of birth. Ena smiled and pointed to the names Rodolphus Lestrange and Bellatrix Black. A double line of gold embroidery linked them together. Ena's name, however, was nowhere to be found.

"Your father and uncle died?" Harry asked.

"They were killed, actually," Ena answered casually. She took out her wand, which was a shade of the blackest black Harry had ever seen.

"Ena no!" Hermione suddenly said, "We're not allowed to use magic!"

Ena grinned. "Grimmauld Place is unplottable." She said shortly. Ron gasped.

"That's right!" He exclaimed, "Why didn't I think of that?"

"What are you talking about?" Ginny questioned.

"Mum and Dad," said Ron glaring into space, "They probably knew perfectly well that we could use magic here. I'll bet no one told us because they think we're irresponsible." A smirk was creeping it's way onto Ginny's face. Hermione shot Ena a look, giving Harry the feeling that she knew and was hiding it as well.

"Sorry, Hermione," Ena said, "Didn't know it was a secret." Hermione opened her mouth to argue, then closed it without a word. Ron gaped at her.

"You knew?" Hermione said nothing. "And you didn't tell us?"

"Of course I knew! Honestly, I was surprised you two didn't figure it out yourselves!" She snapped, "And why should I have told you? You would probably magic anything and everything you could get your hands on like Fred and George! Ginny would be tumbling down two flights of stairs all over again!" Neville and Luna, who had been ever so quiet, backed away from Hermione and Ron, who were both reddening. Ginny crossed her arms and remained silent.

"Do you really think I would act that stupid?"

"What if I do?"

"Besides, I'm not like Fred and George; that's Ginny. And they were never prefects."

"At least Ginny has self control!"

"And I don't?"

Ginny rolled her eyes and walked over to Harry and Ena as Hermione and Ron continued their bickering.

"Don't worry, they're always like this," she told Ena. "So, what's up with this?" Ginny leaned in for a closer look. Ena took her wand and tapped the tapestry twice under her parents' names.

At once, a single vertical gold line from their names leading to the name Ena Lestrange appeared. It was so sudden, as if it was invisibly stamped the second Ena last tapped it.

"Why couldn't Tonks do that?" asked Harry.

"Because only purebloods of Black ancestry can." Ginny clapped a hand over her mouth and pointed at Draco's name. Then she traced it up to Narcissa Black and Lucius Malfoy to Adromeda's burn mark to Bellatrix and down to Ena.

"Yup," Ena said, "Draco Malfoy is my cousin. Tonks is my cousin, too, you know. That's where her mum's name's supposed to be." She pointed to the burn mark.

"FINE! I WON'T USE MAGIC!" Ron shouted.

"GOOD!" Hermione screamed back. "But I doubt you will keep your word." They both spun around and stomped away from each other to stare angrily at opposite walls.

"Has it been like this all summer?" Harry asked Ginny.

"Yeah," she replied with a sigh. "It's always about silly things. They start off talking. They disagree. They start arguing, and their voices rise and rise until their yelling at the top of their lungs as you just witnessed. When it's over, Hermione always wins, they just can't stand to look at each other." Neville and Luna came over to listen in. "Ron always tries to apologize, but, like I said, their arguing always starts with them talking. I'm so glad you three were able to stay over, too. I would have gone crazy soon. Having my brother and one of my best friends for company, and all they do is fight."

"So, me and Luna got to come because you wanted us to?" Neville asked.

"Maybe," said Ginny, going into deep thought, "but I always got the feeling that there's another reason. Something that the Order is keeping from us. . . again." Neville's face filled with fear at the tone of Ginny's voice, while Luna continued onward with a dreamy gaze. Harry could have laughed. The way that Neville and Luna's expressions were constantly different always struck him as funny.

"KREACHER!" Ena yelled suddenly, making everyone turn to her. "Sorry, what were you gonna say, Ginny?"

"I think they wanted Luna and Neville here because it's safer. Maybe Voldemort wants revenge for what we all got away with. . ." Harry looked at her incredulously. She had just said Voldemort's name without a second thought and he wondered when she got started on that. Before Ginny's theory could completely sink in for Harry, Ron objected.

"Ginny!" Ron scolded, "I told you to not say his name!"

"When will you get over yourself, Ron?" Hermione said rolling her eyes.

"Voldemort?" Ena said. Ron winced and Neville covered his face with a sudden jolt of fear. Ron eyed her as though she had just done something terribly wrong. Ena laughed. "Just like them. . ." she stated, more to herself.

Just then, Kreacher edged into the room. Harry noticed that he was wearing the same filthy loincloth around his middle and felt a pang of anger at the sight of the elf that lied about Sirius's whereabouts causing him to lead his friends to danger. He got the same feeling as when he saw Snape all over again.

"Who is it that summons Kreacher? Kreacher knows it was not the voice of the Mudblood or the red headed blood traitors. Kreacher sees there is more scum that befriend the brats that messed up my Mistress's house. Oh my poor Mistress. If she knew what inhabits her house. The filthy Mudblood even found a way for the werewolf half breed to seal the curtains over her portrait. How dare she. Kreacher sees the Potter boy has returned, and her. Kreacher knows that eye. Is it? Could it be she escaped?" He shook his head in disbelief and began his way to the door.

"Accio ugly elf!" Hermione clapped her hands over her mouth as Kreacher zoomed the length of the room to Ena's side. Everyone but Hermione laughed.

"Look at the tapestry," Ena commanded and pointed to her name. Kreacher glared at her before reluctantly looking. He gave a very unconvincing start of surprise and suddenly bowed at Ena's feet. His bow was so quick and low Harry thought he might have broken his nose on the floor.

"Seems you're going to be obeying someone in here after all," she said as Kreacher straightened and began muttering under his breath.

"Kreacher remembers. When the old Master told Kreacher to get out, Kreacher obeyed." He laughed to himself. "She was there doing the work of house elves. Kreacher's better Mistress and Master were so proud, they even allowed Kreacher to give her a command. Inferior, she was, even to a house elf. Kreacher remembers how she screamed when being tortured — "

"I forbid you to speak until I say otherwise!" Ena shouted suddenly. Kreacher seized his talking as not to dare disobey a direct order.

"He lied," Ena announced in a growl, glowering at Kreacher. She then inclined her head, closed her eyes, and raised her brows, "I never did scream when they tortured me," she finished. Harry would have laughed just then if the joke wasn't about such a serious matter. Ginny, however, let a out a small giggle.

"Ooo, what a rebellious stare," Ena teased Kreacher, "Okay. You may speak, but you still may not speak of anything involving the Order of the Phoenix. Now leave, as in leave the room, not this house." Kreacher began muttering just under Harry's hearing range and made his way out.

"Dumbledore must have told you to keep your orders very clear," said Harry.

"I can't believe you used magic!" Hermione said sternly. "Taking advantage of when we are left unsupervised is wrong! We should show how responsibil-"

"Since when were we unsupervised?" Ginny asked out of turn. Hermione bit her lip and Luna responded.

"I heard the elf say something about a 'half blood disgrace' disappearing."

"Tonks must have disapparated!" Ginny said, "I feel like dueling! Anybody?"

"Ginny! You are too much like Fred and George, but I never knew you would go so far as breaking laws!" Hermione babbled.

"Well, I haven't broken as many school rules as you," Ginny contradicted, "You've taken a book from the restricted section — "

"I had gotten a teacher's permission slip!"

"You broke into and stole items from a school teacher's office —"

"It was for the —"

"Illegal potion?"

"Polyjuice potion." Hermione said through gritted teeth. With one look at her face, anyone could tell she had reached a breaking point. "And it was for a good cause! All the things you are saying are from my second year when Harry, Ron, and me were trying to find out more about the Heir of Slytherin so we could put a stop to what was happening! And what were you doing that year, Ginny? Writing to Tom —?"

"Hermione!" Ron yelled. Hermione snapped out of her frustrated state and opened her mouth to most likely apologize, but Ginny interrupted.

"Save it," she said, "I made you mad, I should be sorry. I'm over what happened that year, so would you all stop acting like I will go sensitive if you talk about it?" She looked at each person in the room. "Ena, want to duel? Since you're the only one who doesn't mind these silly rules against underage sorcery."

"You wouldn't want to duel me," said Ena.

"Please!" Ginny insisted

"You wouldn't win. It'll be a waste of time," Ena said to Ginny's distaste.

"Or," Ginny started sneakily, "maybe you're just scared." This seemed to have touched a nerve in Ena because she drew her wand.

"No!" Hermione yelped, "I will not allow this!" She stood in the middle of Ena and Ginny. Neville, Luna, Harry, and Ron backed to the wall, which apparently angered Hermione.

"Hermione," Ena sighed, "you might as well get out of the way. You will just delay this and we could get caught and then we'll all be in trouble. Don't worry, I'll end this quick." She smirked, reminding Harry of Malfoy. Hermione walked over to stand beside Harry and Neville, flushed. Ena and Ginny took a couple of paces backwards and pointed their wands at each other.

"Your move, little one," said Ena.

"Bad choice, Expelliarmus!" Ena's wand flew out of her hand straight towards Harry's head. When it was about to hit, the wand suddenly froze in mid-air right in front of Harry's face. He unfocused his eyes from the blackness in front of him and focused on Ena, who had her hand extended in his direction. Without warning, the wand shot back towards Ena, and not a second passed from when the wand hit Ena's palm that a dozen long, thin swords appeared surrounding her, floating in the air, and pointing to Ginny. Ginny looked like she was in shock as she backed against the wall.

Ena lazily pointed her wand at Ginny and the swords soared in her direction. The sound of eleven blades coming in contact with the wall at the same time was deafening. All, but one, swords were attached to the wall, each was just a centimeter from touching Ginny. One of the swords had halted with its point extremely close to Ginny's nose. Ena waved her wand and each sword vanished in its own little puff of black smoke. She then slipped her wand in her pocket, while Ginny remained against the wall.

"I told you I'd win. The world would be a better place if people just listened to me the first time around," said Ena, but Harry wasn't sure if she was being sarcastic or not. "Are you okay, Ginny?" Ginny was still against the wall with her eyes wide open in shock. "Someone speak, please," Ena said looking at the awestruck onlookers.

"How," Ginny said shakily, finally moving again, "did you do that? Making your wand come back to you, and - and the swords?"

"Ena," Hermione said in an unsure voice, "do you know how. . . unknown it is for a wizard or witch to be able to control their ability to perform wandless magic? And at your age? That's unheard of!" Ena shrugged.

"I know Harry's done 'wandless magic' before," she said.

"I know I have, but," Harry began, "I was never able to control it. Plus, it only happened a few times when I was really really angry."

"Well," Ena said, making an expression of deep thought, "it took a whole lifetime to teach myself to control it, but maybe I can teach you a bit. I don't think anybody else in here has accidentally used magic without a wand. Am I right?" Everyone nodded. "Have you ever performed wandless magic when you were in danger, or was it just when you're angry?"

Harry thought for a moment, "Just when I'm angry."

"I see. Can I borrow your wand for a moment?" Harry handed Ena his wand, which she examined, then took her wand into her right hand and thought for a while. She looked up at Harry and grinned. She lifted her left hand, palm facing Harry as though to give him a high five, and Harry was thrown by an unknown force to hit his back against the opposite wall. Harry was completely taken by surprise, and when he tried to move, he couldn't. Hermione took out her wand.

"Wha - what are you doing?" Hermione stammered.

"Carrying out orders, of course."

"From who?" Ron asked brandishing his wand towards her as well.

"Who else?" Ena laughed, "The Dark Lord Voldemort." She waved her wand and Hermione and Ron's wands flew into her left hand to join Harry's. "This is too easy." Neville was fumbling to take out his wand, but his, Luna's, and Ginny's wand flew to Ena's possession. Was she really about to betray them? She conjured five swords which blades now at the neck of each of Harry's friends. Harry fought to move, when he was released as Ena looked at him.

"What are you doing Ena?" Harry asked forcefully glaring into her eyes.

"You will do as I say or your friends will die in front of you."