Harry Potter and the Emerald Raindrop
AkashaWinters
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the Harry Potter world. JK Rowling owns the Harry Potterverse anyone who doesn't know that should be exiled to Mars, I make exceptions only for poor penniless people in remote corners of third world countries, who cannot read and don't have the money to buy the overly priced one – thousand paged books. I make no money from my poor attempt at fanfiction. A necklace of raindrops was written by Joan Aiken, I do not own any of the rights etc.
AN: YAY! Got a Beta at last...Big thanks goes out to Korogi-chan!
Chapter 23
Visions, preparations and an Order Meeting
"Hello Harry, I've been waiting for you!"
"Why am I here?"
"You know why you're here…to help me find Laura!"
"Laura…you mean Lauretta, the mage's grandchild. I remember now…"
"Our Granddad?"
"You're one of his Grandchildren too?"
"Yes, my name's Divino Boreas and I'm five!"
"Boreas…is that you're family name?"
"Yes, but never mind that, what about Laura…have you found her yet?"
"Sorry, I haven't, but I'm getting closer. I know something that might help me find her…"
"What is it, I'll do anything! I miss her…"
"Did your grandfather give you and Laura a necklace?"
"Yes, we all got one, mine's purple!"
"What does it do?"
"I don't know…"
"What about Laura's, do you know what her's does?"
"No…but her's is emerald."
Harry woke to something cool and wet against his forehead. He had barely made it two paces from Snape's quarters before being hit fall-force with a vision. Opening his eyes he found he was yet again on Snape's coach, with Snape looking right at him.
"Dare I ask what happened this time?"
"Another vision."
"I assumed as much." Snape gave him an annoyed look, "Would youcareto elaborate?"
Harry thought for moment; telling Snape about his vision would reveal what Hermione had found out and the fact they had yet to go to Dumbledore with the new information. He wasn't sure quite how far to trust Snape, they may be on first name terms, but Severus had been on first name terms with Dumbledore for much longer. "You know, the usual."
Snape gave him a cool, but slightly amused look, "Something you would like me to withhold from the headmaster and order members?" He suggested.
Harry grinned, "Well, Hermione found out some more information…" Snape conjured up tea and sandwiches and Harry explained about the folklore, mages, the North Wind, and the necklaces. He paused to let the information sink in and contemplate telling Severus the final piece of information. Severus was looking deeply into his eyes, he felt like he could drown in those onyx ones; it was like looking deep into a pitch-black ocean. Finally he made a decision and told him about Grandma Thyme's belief that he and Megan were descendants because of their visions.
"This is all very interesting indeed. So we know that the mages existed and there are ten direct descendants who each hold great potential when wearing these necklaces, and we of course already know who two of the ten are." Severus closed his eyes for a moment and lent back into the sofa Slytherin green coach. Harry couldn't help staring at the pale flesh of his long elegant neck as he tilted his head back, it was almost like china, so smooth, no flaws at all, with the exception of a small slither-thin scar that ran around the top of his neck on the right hand side. It wouldn't have been noticeable were it not for the fact that Harry was looking so closely. Severus' eyes flew open and connected with Harry's for a split second a bolt of electricity seemed to fill him before he wrenched his eyes away from Snape's.
"Do you know of a crystal necklace in your family?" He asked Harry; seemingly unaware of the feelings he'd sparked in the younger man.
Harry took a deep breath before replying as calmly as he could; "My aunt has lots of expensive necklaces, it could be any of those."
"Unlikely, I would think it would be fairly obvious. A simple chain I imagine – gold or silver - holding a single crystal, possibly in a tear shape if the muggle story has and true origins. I imagine it would look quite outstanding being so old and being created by such a powerful person." Snape replied thoughtfully.
Harry shook his head. "No, I don't think so, Aunt Petunia always wears jewellery with lots of diamonds fordecoration."
"As I suspected. I wouldn't have thought Lily would have given it to her sister, not if she suspected it had magical origins, which I have no doubt she did." He nodded his head as if in conclusion. "Your family vault then."
Harry let out a breath and decided to let Severus in on their own suspicions, "Actually…we think Dumbledore might have it."
"The Headmaster?" Severus frowned, "That's very illogical, Potter."
"Harry. And it's quite the opposite, it quite logical. If my mum had given it to me when I was a baby and I was wearing it when Voldemort attacked, then it was probably what stopped him killing me and when I was taken to Dumbledore, he was probably found the intrigue irresistible and would have taken it to find out what magic it held." Harry finished, almost out of breath in his hurry to defend himself.
Snape looked at him severely, "For once, I believe you may have come up with a reasonable theory." Harry mock-scowled, then burst into a grin as the edges of Severus' mouth twitched. "What have you decided to do about it?"
"Nothing yet, I couldn't very well confront him, and while I'm not above…" Harry coughed guilty, "…stealing…well I don't think I'm likely to pull that off in Dumbledore's office with out him knowing. I was just thinking of waiting for the right occasion to arise."
"I knew it!" Snape snarled, "It was you who stole those ingredients out of my potions store in your second and forth year!"
"It was for a good cause, we only stole the stuff in second year to make a Polyjuice Potion to sneak into the Slytherin common room and find out who the heir of Slytherin was!" Harry defended.
"As it turned out you were wrong, it wasn't any of the Slytherin's and you broke four or five school rules!" Snape hissed, although Harry could tell from his eyes he was really quite impressed.
"And anyway it wasn't me who took the gillyweed from your stores in forth year, that was Dobby." Harry sulked.
"Who is Dobby?" Snape inquired, arching an eyebrow, "And there's no need to pout."
Harry flushed, but replied. "House elf, the death eater pretending to be Mad Eye Moody told Dobby to give it to me to stop me failing the contest."
"You do seem to get around don't you? Death Eaters, House Elf's, Werewolves, Animagus Godfathers, Gypsies…" Severus joked.
"Giant Spiders, Centaurs, Hippogriffs, Dementors, not to mention all the creatures in the Triwizard Tournament." Harry smiled back.
"Giant Spiders?" Severus arched an eyebrow, "Actually, I don't want to know."
Harry laughed and sprawled back on the coach and then flushed as he noticed Severus giving him an appreciative look. Severus for his own part wrenched his eyes away from the young man's well muscled body and tried to steer the conversation back to safe ground. "Well that rules out your necklace for now…what about Megan, does she have one?"
Harry sat up. "I forgot to ask, I can't remember her wearing a crystal one."
"Well finding out's probably you're best coarse of action. Now I think you'd better be going, it's very late." Severus concluded magicing away their teacups and the plate of sandwiches. "By the way, there's an Order meeting tomorrow at 8pm at Headquarters and you didn't hear it from me."
Harry grinned and turned to leave when Severus called out; "And that'll be a detention Monday evening for stealing from my private stores. Seven pm don't be late."
Harry groaned and Severus…Chuckled!
"You collapsed again! That's the second time you've had a vision while doing Occulemency with Snape." Hermione observed, spreading butter over her toast.
"Maybe he just likes spending time with him…" Jay grinned innocently. Harry hit him. Hard.
"Ewww! Jay! That is so wrong!" Ron cringed. Harry flushed.
"Okay, so he's never going to compare up to my personal sex slave, but he's not THAT bad…" Jay replied.
"Not THAT bad!" Ron choked on his fried bacon; it was Harry's turn to cringe this time. "He's the cruellest, greasiest, slimiest, murderous git!"
"He is a REFORMED Death Eater Ron and we don't know that he actually killed anyone." Hermione reproached him.
"And his hair's probably only greasy from all that potion making." Harry defended.
"Well, I guess it hasn't looked so greasy recently," Ron replied reasonably, then sniggered, "I bet Dumbledore bought him shampoo or something for his birthday! Or better yet, he's got himself a girlfriend!"
Now Ron was laughing out right and not even Hermione could contain her grin. While Harry was concerned about his friend's behaviour, he knew there was nothing he could do about it, and besides if it weren't for the fact he liked Severus (he couldn't deny it now), well he would be laughing right along with them. "That reminds, there's an Order Meeting tonight at 8pm. We're going."
"How do you know?" Hermione asked.
"I've got my sources." Harry replied, indifferently.
Ron pulled Neville, Ginny and Luna over from the other end of the Gryffindor table to talk to them. "There's an Order Meeting tonight at eight, we're going to gate-crash."
"Gate crash?" Neville asked confused.
"They've deliberately been keeping us out of it. We're Order members, we've done more than most of them have, we deserve to know what's going on." Harry decided. They had let the other three in on their own investigations so far, Luna had in fact been the most helpful with suggestions as to where the other necklaces were, she seemed to know a lot about other cultures and countries.
"Okay, I'm in." Ginny replied. Luna just nodded.
"Okay, me too." Neville asked him. "Are you going to confront him about you're necklace?"
"Actually I've had an idea about that," Hermione butted in. All six turned to look at her. "Well, if it is rightfully yours and you and the necklace are as powerful as we suspect, then you should be able to summon it."
"Summon it? Through a big oak door and stone gargoyle?" Ron shook his head.
"Not like 'accio', more like…apparition." Hermione explained.
"But you can't…"
"Apparate within Hogwarts grounds, I know. But that's only aimed at Wizarding magic, if somehow Harry could do it using natural magic, that might work." Hermione replied patiently. But Jacob was shaking his head.
"No, I don't think that can be done." He said a thoughtful expression on his face. "You'd have to take it apart atom by atom and then reconstruct it, while keeping its magic in-tacked, that would take up way too much energy and power, not even Harry could do that I don't think." Hermione looked disheartened, she was not used to her plans failing.
"Wait, what if two people summoned it?" Harry asked excited at the prospect of getting his family heirloom back.
"No," Hermione shook her head dejectedly, "It's probably keyed not to respond to any magic other than the descendants. Otherwise Professor Dumbledore probably would have found a way of using it."
"Then use two descendants." Luna put in, writing something onto the sole of her shoe.
"Wait…that might actually work, if you and Megan were to do it!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Okay, I have Quidditch practice in ten minutes, then me and Jay are preparing for the hallowe'en festival. We'll do it this afternoon, before we go to the Order Meeting." Harry concluded.
"Oh, Dumbledore is going to hate you if you turn up with it round your neck!" Ron exclaimed.
"That's the whole point." Harry grinned.
"Um guys? Can anyone come to these Order meetings?" Jay asked suddenly, they all looked at him uncertainly.
"Well, I heard Mr. Petasus is coming to represent the Oldmoore Gypsies, if we talked to him and got him on board, then I'm sure Dumbledore couldn't say no to him. Not if he wants the Gypsies to fight in the war for the light side." Ginny replied logically.
Well then, Hermione, Neville, Luna, Jay – that's you're mission while we're at Quidditch practice." Harry settled it.
"Okay see you guys later!" The four left and Harry, Ron and Ginny grabbed a few last slices of toast before rushing off for the Quidditch Pitch.
It was not long after breakfast on Saturday morning and Snape was watching the Gryffindor team practicing their moves over the Quidditch pitch. In particular a long black-hair Quidditch captain, when the there was a knock at the staffroom door. Professor Sprout opened it, cup of tea in her hand.
"Hello, Professor Sprout, sorry to disturb you, but is Professor Petasus there?" The granger girl asked, probably something about homework – wait Longbottom, the Ferox boy and that Loony girl were with her – he lent forward over the coach to listen in to what they were saying.
"It's Mr. Petasus, Miss Granger, I am not a wizard." He reminded, but smiled warmly, "What can I do for you?"
"Right sorry, I was wondering if we could have a private word with you?" Granger asked in that annoyingly polite voice.
"Of course, perhaps we should go to my office?" He suggested calmly and grabbed his walking cane. Damn it! I'm going to loose them! 'So follow them.' That would be eavesdropping. 'So, you already know they're probably up to no good.'
Severus followed them discreetly as they trekked over to Mr. Petasus' office, talking about mundane issue such as homework and the latest development into the properties of theastral blood. Finally when they entered his office, he waited round the corner then crept up to the door, much to his pleasure, there was no anti-eavesdropping spell on the door.
"Now then. What can I help you three with?"
"We know you know about the Order."
"Indeed I do. But I'd like to know how you three learnt about it."
"We're Order members; me, Luna, Neville, Harry, Ron and Ginny are. We have been for two years and have known about it for several more." That sounded like Granger.
"Well then, I'm surprised you missed the recent Order meetings, they were quite important." Mr. Petasus seemed surprised.
"We've been busy." Granger dismissed, "Getting settled into school and homework."
"Naturally." He replied, although did not sound convinced.
"We understand that you were invited to represent the Oldmoore Gypsy group within the Order." A boy's voice said, it sounded like Longbottom, only stronger, without his normal stuttering fear.
"Yes, that's right."
"Well, we thought that since the gypsies are such a large group and there are several families who wish to be represented and who like to do their bit for the war, you could recommend Jay and bring him along tonight."
"You would like to be included Jacob?" He sounded surprised.
"Of course! After what those murderers have done to so many of our group not to mention those left behind, poor Megan…and Grandma Thyme's in a bad way too. I feel its only right to stand up for them and put myself forward. We need to show the wizarding community that we can be trusted and can fight with them." Jacob explained seriously.
"I see. Do you understand this could be very dangerous for you?" Mr. Petasus questioned concerned.
"Yes, I understand and I'm prepared for that. I really want to do this." Replied Jacob firmly.
"Okay, have you spoken to Professor Dumbledore? He is the leader of the Order of the Phoenix." He asked logically.
"No, I don't believe he trusts me, or at least he thinks less of me because of my age. He doesn't seem to view me as his equal, more his inferior. I believe he would turn me down with little thought were I to ask him directly." Jacob explained.
"I believe that is a Wizarding fault Jacob and cannot be rectified easily. The elders in their community treat the younger as inferior and do not accept young adults as their equals until they are much over twenty and because of this the young witches and wizards do not give the elders the respect they deserve. Even the Headmaster I believe falls victim to this way of thinking." Mr. Petasus replied thoughtfully.
"You see us as your equals?" Granger asked surprised.
"Of course, Miss Granger, I see you as my equal, if not my superior." He explained. "You have done much greater things in your lifetime than I will ever do in mine and you have a very admirable brain. I see you all as my equals for we do not see age as a means of inequality; we are all equal until we prove otherwise."
"So you decide by how talented and clever people are?" Neville asked miserably.
"Not at all, it is on what you do with the strengths you have and how well you chose to live you're life." He concluded.
"So you will speak with Dumbledore and persuade him to let me come to the meeting tonight." Jay asked excitedly.
"Professor Dumbledore, Jacob, and of course I will. You may meet me here at 7.50pm tonight and floo with me to the meeting tonight." He got up and opened the door, "Now out you all go and get some fresh air, I'll see you all tonight."
Snape snuck away to contemplate what he'd heard… what were they planning? A surprise, that much was certain. But what? Either way, he was sure he would find out this evening.
The four were waiting for Harry, Ron and Ginny as they emerged from the Quidditch changing rooms after practice. They were all grinning cheek to cheek.
"It went well then?" Ron asked.
"Yup, we got him on the case. He swallowed it hook, line and sinker!" Neville beamed.
"What did you say?" Asked Ginny, hugging her boyfriend affectionately.
"Did the whole inequality speech about how Dumbledore wouldn't take me seriously because he's an old fart who's up himself and wanting to do my bit." Jay laughed.
"Turns out he's really into equal rights and not treating the younger generation as inferior." Hermione smiled.
"Well he is very liberal…" Luna put in all dreamy eyed.
"Huh?"
"Anyway… he said he'd convince Dumbledore to let me come tonight, so I can see his face when you get one over on him!" Jay grabbed Harry round the waist and swung him around.
"Hey! Get off! PUT ME DOWN!" Harry batted at him, while the rest were choking with laughter.
"I thought you liked flying," Jay said mournfully and grinned when Harry whacked him. Harry and Jacob departed for the camp, promising to meet up with the others in the room of requirement at two.
There was only a week to go until Halloween and since it was the biggest festival of the pagan year, there were plenty of preparations to be doing. Garlands, flags and costumes were being made, the horses were being trained and the dancers practicing to put on the biggest festival of their memories. The festival was to be held in the grounds. During the day there was to be live entertainment and competitions and stalls for the students to look at, as the sunset there was to be a ceremony and then the Halloween feast in the great hall, which the gypsies would also attend.
First Harry would be performing in the horse-dancing display, which included dressage riding in time to music while performing a magic display. Then he'd go on to perform in the tricks display (Making Taz do tricks from the ground such as jumping in the air), he would then have a break for lunch and before competing in the great race. This was undertaken by all the gypsies (except for those to old to manage it), even the young children rode on small ponies or with sisters and brothers. It was a long course of relatively small jumps that wove across the ground round the edge of the lake and threw the edge of the forbidden forest. It was a free for all, with no real rules except for sticking to the coarse and was renowned for being very chaotic and a lot of fun.
At present Harry was practicing his horse-dancing routine to some muggle music Jay had picked out; 'The way you move' by Outkast. It defiantly wasn't the traditional music, but the rap-like music was lively with a strong beat and worked well with Taz's moves. After his practice was over he went to help Megan with her pony Penny, whose leg had healed up some time ago. He held Penny on a long white rope, making her canter round him in a slow circle while Megan practiced her vaulting on her back. She was nearly as good as Jay, Harry laughed as Meg stuck her tongue out at him from an upside down position.
Finally he Jay and Meg finished up and enjoyed leisurely lunch on the steps of their wagon, before heading to the castle for a quick meeting with Cassandra.
"Hello my dears how are you?" Came a weak voice as they entered the hospital wing.
"Grandma!" Meg ran over to the bed to give a big hug.
"We had something we wanted to ask you about." Harry began but was cut off.
"Megan's necklace?" He nodded, "I wondered when you'd be back." She motioned to a bag on the bed stand next to her. Harry passed it to her and joined the other two sitting on the edge of her bed while she went through it. Finally she pulled out a small square bundle of tissue paper and handed it to Megan. "Happy birthday Megan, I'm sorry its late, dear, old brain like mine, I had difficulty remembering where I put it."
Meg squealed as she ripped off the paper to expose perfectly clear crystal raindrop hanging from a very old, but beautifully delicate chain. Harry could feel the magic extending out of it, but not only from the necklace, Megan now radiated power too. It was as if the necklace was calling to her and her magic was calling back. "Here," Harry said taking in from her and undoing the chain, then placing it delicately around her neck. "Now don't take it off, you don't want to loose it do you?" he smiled at her as she solemnly shook her head.
"What's it made of?" Jacob asked, entranced by the relatively plain, yet most undoubtedly beautiful object.
"Clear Quartz, I believe." Grandma Thyme replied smiling proudly at her excited granddaughter. "Do you know what this means, Meg?" Meg shook her head, no. "It means you're a very special person and you will do very special things. One day, my dear, not too long from now, you will be one of the greatest people in our world and there will be many people who will need your help."
Megan looked at he earnestly, "All by myself?" She asked, fearfully.
Grandma Thyme, shook her head by smiled, "No, my dear, there will always be people there for you. We wouldn't ask a child to save the world all by themselves!"
Harry smiled at the irony of that, the wizarding world had done it before. But Grandma Thyme was right, this time there would be more than one special person and suddenly Harry felt a great weight ease a little; he didn't feel that the whole of the wizarding worlds future depended on him, just most of it. But still, even that was a little less. He smiled.
"Besides, there are other special people too!" Jay laughed at Megan, voicing Harry's voice. "Harry's a special person."
"Really? What about you and Grandma?" Megan asked slightly happier.
"Na, we're just mere mortals!" He laughed.
Meg laughed with him, then stopped and asked Harry; "Do you have a necklace too?"
"Yes, but mines been taken and I need your help to get it back." Harry told her co-spiritually.
Megan puffed herself up proudly, "I'll do anything!" Harry grinned: time to get one back on Dumbledore.
"Right now, I think it's best if you both look at Megan's necklace and try and memorise what it looks like, try not to think of the colour of the crystal since it won't be that colour and we don't know what colour it will be." Megan held the necklace out in front of her so she and Harry could take a good long look at it. They were in the room of requirement, sitting in a circle on beanbags. Joining Harry, Megan and Hermione was Ron, Neville, Ginny, Luna and Jay and surprising the twins, who had pounced on them in the corridor, apparently to tell them there was an order meeting tonight and to put a business proposition forward to Professor Sprout (she was the only person with a decent sized crop of Herringpods in the country, an ingredient they needed for their latest product.)
In truth, Harry was starting to get slightly concerned; the group of people who now knew about mage descendants numbered ten, twelve if you included Cassandra and Severus. He was nervous about what a leak could mean. The wizarding world was already overly nervous of natural magic in the gypsy community, if they learnt of the descendants of a powerful mage with magic a hundred times their own… the wizarding world could be cruel. Harry knew that from experience. It was something he would just have to live with for now, but he'd mention it to Hermione; see if there was a way to ensure secrecy. I wasn't that he didn't trust any of his friends; they had proved their worth ten fold, but it would be very easy for any of them to make a slip up.
"Okay, now hold hands." Hermione instructed. Harry and Meg sat in the centre of the circle face to face. They reached out and held hands, Megan looked at him nervously, and he smiled and squeezed her hands reassuringly. "Now close you're eyes and picture the necklace and imagine it to be Harry's. Got a good picture?" They both nodded, looks of intense concentration across their faces. "When you're ready Harry reached out with your magic and try to feel or sense it, try and let you're magic guide you to it. Megan I want you to take all that magic and energy in you and slowly let some of it flow into Harry to help him search, okay?" Again nods.
Several minutes passed in silence as Harry let tendrils of invisible magic seep out of him and spread, searching with his mind as well. Slowly he began to feel Megan's magic flowing into his hands and threw his veins to curse round his body. Still nothing. "Anything?" Ron asked impatiently.
"No, nothing…" Harry let threw his and Megan's magic out further and sighed as he hit a blank wall. The suddenly, he felt a pull, it quickly became a wrenching tug as a powerful, but friendly magic source pulled him inwards. "Wait I think I've got it…" The group leaned forward in anticipation.
"Try and grasp its shape and feel, then…dissolve it." Hermione tried to explain, unsure. "But you must keep its picture in you're mind and make sure you grasp hold of the magic and don't let go or it'll dissipate!"
Harry nodded and concentrated hard. This was the curtail stage, if he dissolved the necklace and let the magic go or couldn't remember what it felt and looked like he wouldn't be able to reassemble it. Slowly he reached out for its magic core and once he felt he had it he let it flow into him and held onto it tight. Next he felt the object; it's shape, it's texture, its sound. Once he had a very clear picture in his mind he began to pull the object apart gently bit by bit. What seemed like hours later, he let the last piece dissipate. Then brought his magic inwards again and brought his focus back to the present. He concentrated hard on a space in the air in front of him where he planned to reassemble the necklace. He transferred his picture onto it, still with his eyes closed and began to draw atoms to it as he recreated it piece by piece. The process was painstakingly slow and was draining him of energy and Megan was beginning to loose concentration. She was doing extremely well considering she had only just turned six, if fact Harry was surprised she had lasted this long.
Finally he felt he had the last atom in place and the necklace felt right. Megan was beginning to loose concentration rapidly now and her magic supply was cutting off, something Harry really needed for this last part. He delved into his magic quickly and carefully drew out the necklace's magic that had been safely stored away and began to transfer it back as quickly as possible. It seamed ten times as hard as it had been to draw it out, but Harry suspected it was probably due to the lack of energy he now had and the lack of Magic, since Megan's magic was now almost completely cut off and he could only draw magic from his surrounds so fast while trying not to loose his concentration. Just as his energy was failing and he felt he could do no more, the last of the magic slipped in and he let at a sigh of relief.
Slowly he opened his eyes and gasped in surprise. Hanging in the air in front of him was a beautiful and ancient necklace with a finely carved and heavy silver chain with flawless green stone hanging from it, the exact colour of his eyes. "Emerald," he breathed remembering what Divino had told him; Laura's necklace had been emerald. He had at last found 'Laura', in a weird way, or at least he had found her descendant line and he was Laura's youngest descendant.
"Wow…it's beautiful." Ginny murmured.
Harry held at his hand hesitantly and smiled as the necklace fell into his hand and he felt a sudden whirl of power spread through him as though he'd just swallowed some kind of drug. It felt good.
Hermione held her hand out for it and Harry reluctantly relinquished it. She held it up in front of him, "It matches you're eyes perfectly Harry, its so bright." Harry blushed.
"At least we know who Lauretta's descendant is now." Jay said, voicing Harry's earlier thoughts.
"Yes, that's yet another piece of useful information we can add to the list." Hermione nodded thoughtfully, then helped Harry hang it around his neck, "I suggest you tuck it into you're school robes for now and when Dumbledore asks you where you go it tonight, because he will, just say that you saw you're mum wearing it in your photo album and wished you had it…"
"He's not going to believe it just 'appeared' in Harry's hand!" Ron scoffed.
"Of course he will; Harry doesn't do 'normal' things, its perfectly believable." Fred grinned. Harry huffed, but had to admit he had a fair point, it would just add to his already growing list of unbelievable stunts.
"Okay, here's the plan, Jay, you go to meet Mr. Petasus at 7.50 and floo with him to the meeting and let Dumbledore get used to that idea. Fred and George you should arrive before us so that Dumbledore doesn't have any excuse to suppose you've been helping us. The meeting starts at eight, but it always starts a little late and of course we want to make a dramatic entrance, just to be annoying. So we'll get there for 8.10pm. Okay, all sound good?" Harry asked; there was a general consensus.
"Hang on," Ron stopped, "Are we just going to walk in there as if nothing happened? No confrontation about the order meetings or the necklace?"
Harry grinned, "Yep, that's exactly what we're going to do…we're going act as though we haven't a care in the world. Trust me…it'll annoy Dumbledore far more…"
"And," Hermione added. "If we don't mention anything, he'll have no way of bringing up the issue of not letting us into order meeting, since we won't have done anything wrong."
"And he can't accuse Harry of stealing his necklace, since it was Harry's in the first place and he'd have to admit to not telling Harry about it for seventeen years. I mean there's only so long he can keep up the 'you were too young to know about it' excuse," Fred and George agreed, obviously they too had been on the receiving end of that line before.
"Okay we have a couple of hours, lets go and get something to eat and then Jay will go his way and the rest of us will use the fireplace in this room."
Severus grabbed him cloaked and pulled it on, drowning himself in yet another layer of black clothe and surveyed him self in the mirror. His hair had grown a bit recently, it fell jus below his shoulder, which he found more convenient since h could now clip it back at the nape when potion-making. He found it helped prevent his hair from getting quite as greasy, his hair was in fact silky clean today; he had just washed it using a potion grease busting shampoo. The shop assistant, an ex-student of his had fort hard to keep back a grin, he lost miserably in the end and Severus had sneered at him and stormed out. He let his hair hang lose, it looked at lot better he thought pleased that he for once, looked respectable.
Severus took a hand full of floo powder and stepped into the fire throwing down the powder shouted; "12 Grimmauld Place".
Stepping neatly out of the kitchen fireplace and dusting himself down, he hung his cloak on the endless cloak stand and lent against the far wall, watching people arriving and meeting other members. Molly Weasley was levitating plates piled high with food on the table; Arthur Weasley was conversing with Tonks and Shaklebolt; Hagrid was exchanging unusual substances with the Weasley twins; Dumbledore was offering Arabella Figg lemon drops; Moody was talking animatedly to Charlie Weasley and Bill Weasley with his wife Fleur, were sitting with McGonagall. Others were scattered about the place exchanging gossip, offing help and generally being sociable, Severus Sneered.
"Severus." He turned his head to look at his disturber, Remus lent against the wall next to him. "Dumbledore told me the new Defence against the Dark Arts Professor will joining the order tonight…"
"He is not a Professor." Snape replied evenly.
Remus laughed, "Now Severus, I'm sure you not still begrudged that you didn't get the job, after all you are superb at Potion's, why would you want to take the DA job?"
"His incompetence was not what I was referring to." Severus snapped aggravated.
"Really? Is he any good then?" Remus asked amused.
"He is lacking in many areas, but overall he doesn't seem as incompetent as the rest of the Defence teachers for the last decade." Severus replied coolly.
Remus smiled, "I guess that's as good a compliment as a DA teacher is going to get at Hogwarts, although it would have been hard to better Professor Cardiné's teaching ability" Remus chucked at the memory of last year's nutcase and Severus rolled his eyes, that year had been a disaster.
"Since Mr. Petasus is not a wizard, he cannot be referred to as a professor." Severus informed the werewolf.
"Ah, I see. Not a vampire is he?" He teased, everyone knew of the rumours involving vampires and Snape.
Severus didn't bother to dignify that question with an answer, "He is a Gypsy."
"AH! Welcome, Welcome!" Albus Dumbledore boomed across the room as two a figure stumbled out of the floo, shortly followed by another, Severus observed that the headmaster seemed to falter at this, but re-schooled his face quickly and strode over to the pair.
"Oliver! Good to see you came, and young Mr. Ferox too!" Dumbledore smiled, eyes twinkling.
"Thank you for inviting us, Albus. Jacob was extremely pleased when he heard you had agreed to allow a second Oldmoore represent our people." He smiled calmly, his dark blue eyes matching Dumbledore's twinkling ones all the way. Finally Dumbledore looked away and gesturing to the group around.
"This is the Order of the Phoenix, you may recognise some of the teaching staff, and we have witches and wizards from all walks of life. You are welcome to ask questions during the meeting and if you and Mr. Ferox believe joining the Order would be beneficial to your people then I will happily invite you back again and make it a permanent arrangement." Albus offered accepting the situation.
"That sounds marvellous, Albus." Oliver replied warmly.
"Right then let's get to business, would everyone like to take a seat?" Albus called as he sat down on a sofa and the others followed his lead. "First I think a few introductions…joining us today we have Mr. Oliver Woden Petasus, who is currently our Defence teacher and Mr. Jacob Susuro Ferox, one of our seventh year students, they are both part of the Oldmoore group of Gypsies staying at Hogwarts for the time being." Albus paused, then continued, "I won't introduce you to everyone since we are limited for time, but any red heads you may see are the Weasley family who have students who attend Hogwarts and Mr. Weasley works at the Ministry along side Tonks, Moody, Shaklebolt, Hestia Jones and Sturgis Pudmore…" Pleasantries were exchanged. "Arabella Figg, who is Squib, is our Harry-monitor, she lives only a few doors away from Mr. Potter and finally Remus Lupin, who is one of our ex-defence teachers, we do seem to get a through a lot."
Soon the meeting had begun and reports we being given out by the ministry employees about the movements of certain dark creatures and possible Voldemort plots that were being looked at. Suddenly the fire turned green and figure stepped out, followed by another, and another, then three more. The room was in complete silence and Moody and several others had their wands out. The group however seemed unconcerned as they helped each other brush off and get their bearings.
Severus had to work hard not to smirk when Potter strode over to the cloak stand, hung up his cloak and then plonked himself down on the sofa between himself and Remus, only then looking up at Albus, "Sorry we're late." Harry apologised, seemingly oblivious to the looks he was getting from those who had known Dumbledore's intentions. The others joined him sitting and Remus gave Harry a reassuring smile.
"Not at all, "Albus replied lightly after a long pause, Severus however noticed he was looking not at Harry's face but is chest, looking down he noticed the ancient pendant hanging for Harry's neck. It was quite beautiful, matching Harry's eyes perfectly. So Harry had somehow got the necklace from Dumbledore without his knowing, interesting…
"Where did you get that enchanting pendant my dear boy?" He asked Blue eyes drilling into Harry, Harry looked away at Jacob, to avoid eye contact, clever man, thought Severus, he had learnt well after all. But how was Harry going to explain this…
"I was looking at my photo album and I noticed Lily was wearing it, I was just wishing I had it and suddenly there it was in my hand. I was quite shocked really. It feels good to know I have a belonging from each parent, the cloak from dad and the pendant from mum…" He trailed off quietly. Hmm…he was definitely getting smoother, Severus thought, he'd have to watch out. Although, Harry did look genuinely sad…Remus gave Harry's arm a squeeze reassuringly and Harry smiled. Severus wished it could have been him comforting Harry…but ruthlessly squashed that thought as quickly as it formed.
Chapter 24…Very Liberal. We see more of Remus during the final preparations for Halloween and Harry's Court case, which looms ever nearer and maybe a little more of Mr. Petasus too? Any guesses as to what I have intended for Mr. Petasus, person who gets it right might get something dedicated to them…or possibly first pick on plot decisions…
Many thanks to…
Kyaku-kun – again, Thanks for sticking with me!
Lady Foxy Roxy – all in good time, trust me there will be lots of smuttiness later…
hittocerebattosai – Sorry it was so long since I updated!
TonksFan693 – I will, never fear!
Lady Lily3 – still with me than? Thanks so much!
CERIS –Hehehe, just you wait…
Sakura-Inc – thanks for the love!
lady sakura cosmos – Thanks, come again!
And a Huge Special thanks goes to Korogi-chan who is now bet'aing for me! YAY! THANKS SO MUCH! Please throw cookies their way!