Disclaimer: All rights to the characters of HP belong to J.K. Rowling and the book companies.
Chapter Three: Apartment 310
Harry wakes up the next morning to the gentle shaking of him by Tonks. "Good morning Harry, I have to go to work for a little while and see if anyone has noticed you are no longer living at your relatives house," explains Tonks. "You will need to stay inside, but you can do anything you want here including magic."
Harry sits up and immediately winces in pain from the simple action. "Are you okay Harry?" asks Tonks with much concern in her voice.
"I will be alright; I am just a little sore from last night. I don't think anything is broken, probably mostly bumps and bruises."
"I know what you mean, I am a little stiff after your whale of a cousin decided to do a belly flop on me," replies Tonks as she moves gingerly towards the door. "I think Fred and George sent you something," informs Tonks as she points at the small chest before exiting the apartment.
Harry slowly gets up and moves over to the miniature chest thinking this was how he felt after his first ever Quidditch practice with the entire team. Harry thought what he would not do right now for one of Madam Pomfrey's elixirs. Harry opens the chest and withdraws a slightly thick piece of parchment, breaking the emblazoned Weasley Wizard Wheezes seal he begins to read the letter.
Dear Harry,
First and foremost Fred and I would like to congratulate you on finally leaving those dreadful muggles with a fantastic escape with our help and never having to return. Also we would like to point out your terrific luck on being able to crash with a very young and attractive female Auror. Wink, wink. Now down to business, since we graciously took our leave from Hogwarts and that old pathetic toad-like professor Dolores Umbridge we have joined The Order of the Phoenix. We have come to understand that at the bequest of Sirius, mom was supposed to ask Ron and Hermione to keep an eye on you and help you with anything you may get tangled up with. We say supposed because mum chose to recruit Ron and Hermione into convincing you to date Ginny instead even against our own father's protests. We understand that Hermione flat out told mum no, but Ronald was all for it. We only know this because we overheard mum and dad arguing about it since mum has now convinced Ginny into trying to make you her boyfriend this year to keep better tabs on you for mum. Mum said as she considers you one of her sons it was about time you were put on the right path before you ended up being as irresponsible as Sirius. Other than dad no one within the Order has any idea what she is up to. Dumbledore has been arguing with Fudge about whether the students who infiltrated the ministry in June should be brought forth to stand trial. Dumbledore says it was hard to convince him to keep it to a simple hearing in front of the Wizengamot with Umbridge perpetually whispering in his ear. We think she has it in for you Harry old chap but the hearing has been scheduled for July the 12th. Your notice should be sent out later today, we can not wait for the owl to look back at Fudge without taking off since only Tonks knows where you truly are.
Sincerely, Fred and George.
Harry lowers the letter feeling the rage of the animal inside him swell up once more since the death of Sirius. How could Mrs. Weasley say such a thing about Sirius thinks Harry as he crumples the letter in his right hand. Why does everyone always want to make my decisions about life for me? At least Hermione is on my side for making my own decisions but Ron's bigotry and jealousy will destroy our friendship. I guess the ending of our friendship was always inevitable thinks Harry as he remembers the only reason they still are friends is because Ron was the first friend he ever made. Harry glances back down at the letter thinking the time of Fudge is about to come to an end but he would need to find a good replacement before challenging him. Maybe Tonks could assist him with that.
At the thought of Tonks, Harry's mind wanders back to the conversation of the night before. Snuggled within the warm caring arms of Tonks as she told him about the Marauder's and how his parents got together in their seventh year. Harry already knew Sirius and his father loved to be in the limelight at school since his visit into Snape's memory through the Pensieve right before summer term. The Marauder's probably broke every school rule that was ever put into place and some which were later made because of their actions. Sirius, James, and Remus were the true Marauder's; Peter was only included to keep him from squealing on them for sneaking out late at night since the four of them shared a dorm room together. It was in the seventh year after James had nearly lost a Quidditch match because he was a little too busy showing off that his head finally deflated. This was when Lily started to show more interest in James and the fact he had helped her out of a jam with Snape and his buddies from The Slug Club which she had continued to adamantly refuse joining. Sirius had told Tonks it was a win-win situation for James since the Marauder's had never liked anyone who was part of that ridiculous group anyway.
Harry began to realize the Marauder's had never truly left Hogwarts, the torch had just been passed along to Fred and George for all the mischief they caused. And they had passed it along to Harry to continue the tradition of breaking school rules and upsetting the old maniac caretaker, Argus Filch. Harry then realizes he had already made his decision to return to Hogwarts this year to carry on the tradition of his father and godfather. He knows he is going to go back to make sure mischief is managed and to get rid of all the Death Eaters currently attending Hogwart's. Harry places the crumpled letter down next to the chest and begins looking around at the mess in Tonks's apartment deciding to help her out and clean up the place since he does not have anything else to do with his free time. As Harry cleans he finds a treadmill and some free weights stashed away in a corner of the apartment along with some books on a man named Bruce Lee and his style of fighting called Jeet Kune Do.
Tonks sits at her desk at work looking over paperwork she needs to review but has been reading the same line for the last fifteen minutes. Her thoughts keep wandering back to this morning when she woke up and found her hand groping Harry's butt. Harry did not seem to mind as he was still asleep and using her breasts as a pillow. She shakes her head to try to clear it for the third time already this morning at work. Tonks looks back down at her paperwork to attempt to get through it when she hears a loud yell for Madam Bones coming from the elevator. Tonks sticks her head outside her cubicle just in time to see Cornelius Fudge scurrying past with Percy Weasley on his heels. Fudge skids to a halt as Bones comes out of her office to find out what all the bleeding ruckus is about.
"Is there something I can help you with Minister?" inquires Madam Bones in a calm voice.
"Yes there is, I tried to send this letter to one Harry James Potter but the ruddy owl refuses to deliver it," wheezes Fudge as he attempts to regain his breath.
"I suppose it would mean Mr. Potter is either dead or he is currently in a place where no owl will be able to find him," instructs Madam Bones.
"Damn you Dumbledore," curses Fudge. "He has meddled in the Ministries affairs for the very last time. Come on Weasley, we are going to pay a little visit to the Headmaster of Hogwarts," commands Fudge as he turns to leave with Percy following closely on his heels.
"I feel obliged to warn you Cornelius to be very careful of what you accuse Albus of," warns Madam Bones.
"And I would recommend for you in the future to mind your own business Amelia if you care to keep your job," says Fudge scornfully before leaving. Madam Bones notices Tonks's head sticking out of her office cubicle and advances towards the young promising Auror.
"You seem to be awfully curious about what is happening around here this morning Auror Tonks? You would not by chance happen to know where Mr. Harry James Potter is currently residing at right now, would you?" inquires Madam Bones.
Tonks frowns at the head of her department knowing she did not feel any mind probes, but wondering if it was just written all over her face the whereabouts of Harry. "You see ma' am I."
"Never mind Tonks, I do not really want to know," cuts off Madam Bones. "But if you do know where Mr. Potter is, could you tell him if he ever needs an ally against Cornelius Fudge I will help him in any way that I can." Madam Bones turns around and walks back into her office closing the door behind her leaving Tonks standing there wondering exactly what her department head had meant by her statement of assisting Harry.
Dumbledore sits in his Headmaster's office contemplating the documents strewn across his desk about suspected Death Eater movements. No matter how much he tries to keep his concentration on his work, his mind continues to wander to the letter he had received for one Harry James Potter from the wizarding bank Gringotts with a note attached to it. The note instructed him to have the letter delivered to Mr. Potter since they were currently unable to locate Harry at this moment in time. As Dumbledore is about to pick up the letter again for the third time already this morning Cornelius Fudge and Percy Weasley came barging through his office door.
"Ah Cornelius so good to see you, but might I ask why you have chosen to barge through my door without showing me the courtesy of knocking first?" inquires Dumbledore with the utmost calm reflected in his voice.
"Now see here Dumbledore, I am fed up with you meddling in Ministry affairs. I want to know right now where you have hidden Mr. Harry Potter," commands Fudge in a testy voice.
"That appears to be the question of the day," answers Dumbledore with a slight chuckle as he raises his hand to prevent the protest about to come out of Fudge's mouth. "I am sorry Cornelius but I do not know where Harry Potter is and as I feel I should point out neither does Gringotts. They delivered this letter to me this morning wishing for me to be able to deliver it to Harry."
"Then why did they deliver it to you if you do not know where he is," retorts Fudge hotly.
"As I have pointed this out to you many times in the past Cornelius it would seem you need to be reminded again. Harry Potter has no magical relatives alive and goblins do not have items delivered to muggle relatives on sheer principle. As he is a student here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the goblins unable to deliver it to Harry would deliver it to the school's current headmaster instead, me." Dumbledore's reply is calm and calculated as he knows the short fuse Fudge has had with his temper going to tantrums of rage as of late.
"Could Harry Potter possibly be dead?" asks a bewildered Percy.
"Mr. Weasley, I am surprised you do not already know the answer to your question since your brother Bill works for Gringotts," answers Dumbledore pausing a moment for his words to sink in before speaking again. "The goblins would not have issued this letter if Harry was dead since the goblins have always been the first to know when someone passes away, who has an account with them."
"Well then I should thank you for your lesson," responds Fudge snottily. Tossing the ministries letter on the desk, "Would you be so kind and make sure Mr. Potter receives that because if he does not attend I will personally make sure he is expelled from this school."
"I believe the power of expulsion still rests primarily with the headmaster Cornelius. I will not allow what happened last year here to be done again because you choose to fight against us instead of with us," says Dumbledore with firm resolve in his voice.
"We shall see about what you will allow if Mr. Potter does not show up with his little friends to the hearing. If I was you I would make sure they arrive on time this year too," spits Fudge venomously before leaving Dumbledore's office with Percy Weasley looking warily between the two prior to following his boss and closing the door.
Dumbledore turns to Fawkes and gives him instructions to make sure every Order of the Phoenix member knows there is to be a meeting tonight at six o'clock at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. Fawkes disappears in a blink of light and phoenix song as Dumbledore turns and gathers the letters. Placing them securely in his robes he advances to the fireplace and floos over to the The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black to prepare for the upcoming meeting.
As six o'clock rolls around and more and more members arrive at, Grimmauld Place, Moody and Lupin stand conversing in the corner about the reasons why an emergency meeting has been called. "There is definitely something wrong for Dumbledore to call this meeting. Don't you think Alastor?" confides Remus as he sees the six members of the Weasley family who are in the order walk into the kitchen.
"No arguments from me Remus. I just hope this has got nothing to do with Harry and leaving him with those wretched Dursleys for another week, instead of getting him out of there," answers Mad-eye as his magical eye spins around the room landing on Severus Snape standing by himself off in the opposite corner as him. "And I am getting tired of the lack of Death Eater movement reports we have been receiving from Severus."
"I know what you mean there Alastor something is not quite right with him not being able to get any information since he is definitely now within the inner circle of Voldemort's followers. I would not be surprised if we find out that Snivellus is actually a spy for Voldemort. I just wish I knew why Dumbledore trusts him so much?" divulges Remus.
"That is a question I think we would all like to know Remus my boy," answers Moody as Tonks walks into the room bringing up the rear of the last group of members to show up.
Dumbledore sets down the papers he is reviewing and slowly rises from the table to bring silence to the room so the meeting can begin. "I know you are all probably curious why I suddenly called this meeting without any prior warning and labeled it urgent and mandatory for you all to show up. I fear we have a problem which needs to be remedied quickly if we are to return to the battle against Voldemort," pronounces Dumbledore as a number of members shudder at the name of the Dark Lord. "It has come to my attention and a number of Ministry and Gringotts official that Harry Potter is currently missing and unable to be contacted."
Uproar dashes across the room as a number of members are trying to be heard at the same time. Moody and Lupin turn to look at each other in utter shock as Molly lets out a cry of fear and horror held up only by Arthur. McGonagall faints into the nearest chair at the thought of one of her favorite students missing. Flitwick lets out a small oh before collapsing into his own chair. The only members not affected by the news are Tonks and the Weasley Twins. Snape's lips curl into a smile as he thinks Potter has finally got what has been coming to him.
"So Potter has taken it upon himself to run off again, I told you Dumbledore he would be of no help to the cause just as Sirius was not," spats Snape.
"If Dumbledore did not trust you Snivellus we would be dueling right now," challenges Remus.
"Don't let such a trifle matter stop you Moony," dares Snape as he begins to remove his wand from his robes."
"Such a matter would not trifle me if you choose to say any more terrible things about either Harry or Sirius. I still do not trust you even if you say you turned tail-coat against Voldemort. In my mind you still are a Death Eater," declares Moody with his wand held ready in his hand for Snape to make the first move.
"Enough," thunders Dumbledore. "The matter at hand is finding Harry not squabbling amongst ourselves. What we need to be doing is organizing a search party to go out and look for Harry. Does anyone want to lead this operation?" inquires Dumbledore as he sweeps his gaze across the members in the room and notices Tonks seems to be trying to hide something as she stares at the ground. "Tonks is there something you would like to share with us?"
Tonks jumps slightly at the mention of her name as she has never been good at hiding things from people who are not her enemy. She is contemplating what to say when she is saved by one of the Weasley Twins standing up from the table drawing the attention off of her.
"I am sure Tonks just would like to express how deeply shocked she is to find out Harry is missing and would like to lead the search party. But I am afraid it will not be necessary to go searching for Harry since he is not lost," explains Fred as he holds up his hand to avoid the onslaught of questions that are sure to come. "Harry is safe and in hiding where only Harry knows his current location so no one can pry it from someone else. We have given Harry a box which is how he will get his post through us since we hold the other one." George produces the box from within his robes and places it on the center of the table.
"Might I ask how this works for Harry to receive his post," queries Dumbledore as he looks at them from over his half moon spectacles.
"You remember the vanishing closet at school don't you? We took the idea and made it into the form of a box to make it possible for students to pass notes to each other if they are in separate classes. Harry is using the prototype model since we have not decided if we want to mass produce these items yet for sale," answers George nonchalantly.
"Brilliant idea boys, we should have thought this idea up ages ago," commends Arthur even under the piercing gaze of Molly.
"The only thing we ask is for you not to ask Harry where he is residing since we have told him to stay in hiding for at least a week and not to tell anyone where he is at. Anyone can write to Harry and drop it in the box; we are handling any replies Harry may give out. Oh and mother, Harry is quite aware of your scheme to hook him up with our lovely sister and the attempted recruitment last year of Ron and Hermione to assist you with this," declares George without flinching at the piercing gaze she gives him that no longer resembles a saber-toothed tiger after seeing Harry's draconic look.
"How dare you boys tell him about things you do not understand! Arthur back me up on this," yells Molly as she puffs herself up for the upcoming battle.
"No Molly, the twins are right. Harry has been manipulated enough in this lifetime without you trying to arrange his love life for him," says Arthur in a firm tone denying any chance of swaying his decision.
"I am more concerned with why you chose to use Sirius's request to have his friends watch Harry to your own advantages Molly," thunders Remus indignantly. Molly deflates very quickly under the piercing gaze of so many people's disappointed looks of her actions.
"I believe Molly did what we have all been trying to do to Harry since he has entered the wizarding world," says Dumbledore in a soft voice. "Make him happy, but as we now know where Harry is I will leave these letters in your care and call this meeting to an end," pronounces Dumbledore as he hands the letters to the twins who place them in the box. A number of other letters make it into the box from Remus, Moody, Molly, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Dumbledore's own personal letter.