Chapter 9: Under A Laughing Spell
A/N: Enjoy and review:-)
Alastor (Mad-Eye) Moody, Remus Lupin, and Nymphadora Tonks awaited for them at the train station. "I hope they're early, we don't want anyone here to follow us," Mad-Eye said, magical eye whizzing crazily in its socket.
"Alastor, no one is here to follow us," Lupin said, calmly.
"How do you know that?"
"We don't," Lupin answered, matter-of-factly. "And Tonks, shouldn't you have something less...noticeable?"
Tonks was a Metamorphmagus, which is a witch or wizard that could change their appearance at will. This time she had a vivid lime-green mohawk that looked terribly strange with her fuchsia-colored eyes. "What's wrong with this?" She said, indignantly. Turning her head, she spotted who they were looking for. "Wotcher, there they are!"
Hermione was first to step out of the barrier, she stepped aside and waited for the others. Once they came, she asked, "Who are we supposed to be looking for?"
Ron shrugged. "I dunno, but they should be the ones looking for us, right?"
"I don't think it'll be too hard to find them," Ginny replied, staring at someone in the crowd of people bustling about.
Hermione looked to where Ginny was looking, and laughed. "No, I don't think it's hard at all."
Harry and Ron turned. It was definitely who they were looking for, and the most noticeable of the bunch was Tonks, who had had this time a bright green mohawk with wild, pink-purplish eyes. Standing next to her was Lupin, with that same reassuring smile, and Moody, with his look of paranoia and his magical enlarged eye moving in all directions.
They made their way over to the strange looking bunch, to be greeted by Lupin. "Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny! It's great to see you after so long."
"You sure it's them?" Moody asked, suspicious. "Hmmm, if it isn't they sure do have good charms around them, I can't see anything with my eye..."
Lupin sighed. "Harry, what broom do you have?"
"Firebolt," Harry answered. He knew that Moody thought everyone he saw was an imposter.
"Good, now Hermione..." Lupin kept asking the four of them questions until he was satisfied.
"Remus, shouldn't we be interrogating them for a bit longer?"
"No, I don't think so, it's them, Alastor. Let's go now, we were supposed to be leaving so no one could follow us, remember?" When Moody turned the other way, Lupin looked at the others and winked.
"You know I saw that!" The ex-Auror growled.
Tonks, who was keeping quiet, finally lost her patience. "Look, can we just go! Mad-Eye, I'm an Auror- and you are too, but retired. So if they try to do anything, we can override them, I trust in our strengths. Also, Lupin is a skilled wizard, he is as competent as everyone else here is! And lastly, they're the real kids, we're only here to escort them to the-"
"SILENCIO!" Mad-Eye cried, causing Tonk's voice to become unable to make sound. Though she was confused for a moment, she then realized what she could have said. She mouthed something like, "Whoops, I am always so clumsy."
People around them stopped what they were doing, curious expressions on their faces, wondering what was going on. "Freezenx!" Lupin spelled onto them, causing the people to totally freeze. Then he said, "Obliviate!"
"Idiot! That is why I am so paranoid, especially when I have someone such as foolish as you about! You're stupid enough to tell the whole world where our headquarters is!" Mad-Eye spat out angrily.
Lupin muttered the counterspell to the Silencing Charm cast upon Tonks, who thanked him gratefully.
"Thanks, yes, I know, I'm much too clumsy for my own good, and yet I still managed somehow to become an Auror! But honestly, what evidence is there that these four are not the real ones? You've got to lighten up!"
"I think we should just go," Lupin said quickly, just before Moody had a chance to say anything back. Moody instead shot Tonks a look that a teacher would give to either a slow or disobedient student. But in the meantime, Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron said nothing, but gave each other looks that meant that they thought the whole ordeal was funny.
"Right," Moody said finally, while withdrawing a Port-Key from his trench coat. The Port-Key happened to simply be an old-style brass key. "I wonder if that key was ever used to unlock, or used to lock something up," Harry thought. While he was thinking of this, Moody was saying, "-so touch this, we will unfreeze these people, and then Apparate back. The only thing is, it will bring you to be outside of Grimmauld Place, and there is still a kind of password in order to get inside. So, all of you must read this paper at once," Moody finished, giving them a piece of paper. Harry looked at the paper, which read:
Grimmauld Place, Number Twelve, where Christmas will be held for the year. Also the location for the Order of the Pheonix.
Next thing Harry knew, someone had placed his hand onto the Port-Key, sucking him into the blackness. He felt like he was falling through, but could still somehow feel his body and his friends next to him. Although he'd experienced it before, he had the feeling he even liked the Floo network better. Finally Harry landed roughly on his feet, colors swirling around him. A moment later, he could see his friends and the houses around them, Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place nowhere to be seen.
It took Harry awhile to get back on balance again, but then remembered that there was a paper in his hand. Knowing the drill, he read what was written on the paper aloud, to have Number Twelve appear out of nowhere, in-between numbers ten and eleven. Harry slowly opened the door, the door barely letting off a creaking sound, while he tiptoed into the hallway and beyond. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny followed suit. Unfortunately, this was when Lupin, Moody, and Tonks arrived, just inside the hallway with a loud CRACK! Curtains that should have been covering a window spread out, showing a portrait of a not-so-beautiful old woman. This portrait was in particular Sirius's mum, and judging from the portrait, she was not all that kindly in life.
"YOU FILTHY BLOODY WIZARDS AND WITCHES! NONE OF YOU ARE FIT TO LIVE THE NAME OF A PROPER WIZARD! NONE OF YOU HAVE ANY RIGHT OF COMING INSIDE! I HAVE HAD SHAME COME TO THIS HOUSE, A SHAME UNIMAGINABLE! GET OUT! OUT OF MY HOUSE YOU LOWLY, COWARDLY MU-" whatever else she had to say was not heard, as Moody closed the curtains while Lupin stunned the awakened screeching portraits that were alongside the old hag-of-a-witch. Still a bit shocked afterwards, Harry was suddenly squeezed in a tight grip, losing all his breath.
"Mrs. Weasley!" Harry gasped, indicating that she should let go. When she did, she smiled at him fondly then hugged the other three tighter than ever. There were cries of "Mum, I need to breathe" and "I think my ribs are crushing!" After the whole hugging ritual, everyone brought their suitcases and whatnot up the stairs to their rooms, leaving behind the troll leg and the disturbing yet exotic heads of house-elves on their plaques. Hermione looked at them with a look of pure and utter disgust, probably thinking of the injustice house-elves had. "I just can't think of her wasting a job and setting up campaigns for house-elves! She's so much smarter than that, but perhaps she isn't," Harry thought, sighing. She'd only be wasting her time.
Reaching the door, Harry opened it- to see what was once a dark, musty room now full of bright, vibrant colors with sweet smells. It stunned him, having not been there for nearly a year. Ron, who pushed Harry aside and went in with his luggage, stopped once he saw what Harry saw. The room was a maroon color, the color Ron would get for wool on his sweaters (he still did receive those sweaters, while Harry got the colorful ones), while the beds had matching maroon bedspreads with fluffy, white pillows. There was tinsel and even a small Christmas tree, for decoration for the holidays. It was all a nice change from what the room used to be, but a bit too...maroon.
"So, what d'you think, Ron?" Harry asked, still letting it all sink in.
"Not much to think, but it could use a different color other than maroon!" Ron groaned. "I knew they were starting to remodel the rooms in the house, but, it's all just a bit too much mate!"
Seeing the terror on Ron's face, Harry laughed hysterically. The maroon sweater Ron wore completed the whole scene. He laughed until there was no reason to laugh, then abruptly stopped.
"Are you..okay?"
"Er, yes, just a laughing spell, that's all," Harry answered, panting slightly.
"But there was no spell," Ron said, blankly.
Harry sighed. There was just so much Ron didn't know about the Muggle world. "I didn't actually mean a spell, it's just a saying."
"Right.."
"You need to take a class on Muggle perspectives!" Harry joked.
"I do not! Why would I want to learn about Muggles and their weird ways anyway? They're so dull and boring compared to the lives we have!"
"So, liking your room? I'm pretty sure you're destined to this color, Ronald." It was Ginny speaking, who had just come in their room after putting away her stuff.
"Shut up, Gin. Besides, I'm sure there's a spell that can change this color, and don't call me Ronald! You know I hate that," Ron replied, fuming.
"Of course there is," Hermione answered, matter-of-factly. She had also just entered the room. "But why change this color? I think it suits you quite well." With this Hermione ran up to Ron and put her arms around him, kissing him passionately. Ron was very surprised, but then kissed her back. Harry and Ginny looked away, uneasily.
When they stopped, Ron said weakly, "Hermione, what happened to you? Has someone put you under a Love Potion?"
"What, you don't like this?"
"Why, of course I do!" Ron replied, quickly. "I should start wearing maroon more often."
"Ugh, go get a room," Ginny said, disgusted. Not quite something she wanted to see, especially when it was Ron and Hermione.
"Fine then, we will," Hermione replied, shortly. Then she locked her arm with Ron's, departing the room to who knows where. This left Ginny and Harry standing alone, awkwardly.
After a minute, Ginny said, "Well, I've had a bit too much excitement for the day. I think I'll go and finish unpacking."
"Same here," Harry said, and with this Ginny left and Harry returned to unpacking.
Dinner on the night of Christmas Eve was spectacular. The long wooden tables were groaning under the tremendous masses of food. Many people were there as well, such as Kingsley Shacklebolt, Bill and Charlie (Ron's two oldest brothers), Fred and George (in quite expensive clothes, their joke shop had been very successful), Lee Jordan (who became apart of the Order along with Fred and George), Mundungus Fletcher (who Mrs. Weasley would never get along with), and other members of the Order. Even Percy had shown up, now that the Ministry was on the Order's side, and after he had given a somewhat small apology- as Percy wasn't used to being wronged, and apparently not good with apologies either. But the Weasley's had welcomed him back warmly, but with some teasing from Fred and George here and there.
It was a wonderful feast, full of hams and turkeys, custards and pies, treacle tarts, mountains of potatoes, bountiful with- there was just too much there that Harry could describe. Suffice to say, it was excellent, Molly had done a wonderful job with her cooking. "In fact," he overheard Mrs. Weasley saying to Bill, "This dinner took about half a day to make, with magic and people helping! But it turned out well, don't you think?"
Much talking and eating went on, making it a homely and peaceful scene. Harry filled his stomach to his heart's content, wondering how he had eaten as much as he did later on. With this wondering came the thought of where Kreacher was, noticing then that he hadn't seen him for the time he'd been there.
Nudging Bill sitting next to him, he asked, "Where's Kreacher? I haven't seen him at all during the holidays."
"Oh, Dumbledore confined Kreacher to a room somewhere in the attic, and placed a spell so no one could get in or out. Wise choice, we don't want Kreacher following orders from more Death Eaters, or something bad like that," Bill answered darkly. Harry nodded in agreement. "Not that I didn't like Kreacher, which I didn't and still don't- but I'm glad he's locked up. I don't think I'd be able to handle just seeing the little wretch, how could he have done something like that to his own master? Sirius, it was Sirius!" This was when a burst of laughter came from the other end of the table.
"Harharharr, I dun know why- the ol' fool, he bought the whole lot of tha' junk I had along wid me, and here was I, taking it to the dump! I'd better sell me trash more often," Mundungus laughed.
"You're very good with your business dealings, I didn't know you were persuasive enough to even sell that!"
"I'm quite impressed!"
"Haven't I told you once before that we aren't to be discussing business dealings at the table!" Mrs. Weasley said, voice dangerously shaking.
Their laughing ceased, as they didn't want to get into an argument. They knew they'd never win against her.
All of the food and merriment was great, and the thought of Christmas and presents in the morning was greater yet. When everything was said and done, everyone helped clean the table off and then hiked up to bed or left to whatever secret duty they had to do. Harry still fervently wished he could be part of the Order, he should be apart of the Order after all of the ordeals he had been through with Voldemort. But he knew that he wouldn't be allowed in, not until he was out of school. But would Voldemort be finished before then? He hoped so. Thoughts such as this and more occurred inside his head, until he slowly drifted off into a deep winter sleep.
"Oi! Harry, it's Christmas! Wake up!"
With a groan Harry slowly got up, rubbing his eyes. He looked around and saw Ron, who had already started to open up his presents, as was usual. He saw a stack of presents at the foot of his bed, a smaller one than Ron's, but he didn't really mind. The first one he opened was a long, thin package.
"Harry...you got a broom! Wow, it's the latest- a Torpedo, isn't that what the professional Quidditch players use nowadays? But no surprise there, with your money and all.." Ron said this with a look of longing in his eyes.
"I'm surprised, wasn't exactly expecting this," Harry said, in awe. "I wonder who it's from?" He looked in the wrappings and found a note- but it only said: Merry Christmas, enjoy! And enjoy it he would! It was a slender broom, and if Harry thought the Firebolt was impressive- he was wrong. The wood was beautiful, a maple, blackened toward the handle. In smooth letters was engraved Torpedo, with what number it was, as they had only been out for a limited time with a limited quantity.
The rest of his presents included candy, another knitted sweater (and guess what color Ron got for his), and a few Quidditch books. But the broom stood out amongst them all. Downstairs, Harry found Mrs. Weasley and asked her if she knew who gave her the broom.
"I don't know if I would tell you.." Mrs. Weasley said, thoughtfully. "But I suppose I will. It was really supposed to be your birthday present, from Sirius. But, as he...well, I just thought it'd be better if you got it later than then, since he had moved on."
"Thanks," Harry said, meaningfully. "I'm glad you did tell me who it was from, and you gave it to me now."
Of course, the holidays didn't last, bringing Harry back to reality and remembering he still had his homework to do. But the holidays did cheer Harry considerably up, especially after the last present he would ever receive from Sirius. Now to Hogwarts they would go, back to life- its troubles and happiness, its hate and love. And this time, Harry was ready for any of life's twists and turns, never to unprepared again.