And here is the sequel to The Elemental Guardians and Fifteen Years (Part 1 and Part 1 ½).
Disclaimer for whole fic: The world of Harry Potter is not mine. Kathryn, the Elemental Guardians/Warriors, Radella, Alura, Damion, Selene, Orion and everyone else are mine. I have a lot of OCs in this, I'll try to avoid making them unbelievable.
Summary: Harry's summer after fifth-year starts off strangely when a mysterious woman demands a 'box' from Petunia. A break-in to the Department of Mysteries and a pensieve of memories declaring Sirius' innocence are just the latest things in a string of mysterious occurrences as some of the casualties of the previous war start to disappear and a house thought lost returns to deliver people thought long dead… And who is the woman revealed as Harry's godmother? AU in timeline, pre-Half Blood Prince.
Notes: I started this before finishing The Elemental Guardians because I wanted to get the first chapter written before Half Blood Prince came out to avoid taking too much influence from it. However, there are definitely going to be certain elements from it – news articles, nicknames, and such. Possibly characters, but not many considering that it will comply with The Elemental Guardians, not the new canon presented in Half-Blood Prince. And as for the death…
For my views on Half-Blood Prince, see the end of Chapter 14 of Teasing, Teaching and Time Travel. I'm working on Chapter 15.
I hope everyone enjoys.
Pairings are as in the previous story, and there were definite clues left as to who would get together with whom out of the 'kids'.
Enjoy!
Without further ado, I present to you…
Harry Potter and the Elemental WarriorsBy Tanydwr
Chapter 1: A Mysterious Visitor5th July 2003:
Harry Potter, young wizard and 'delinquent nephew' of Vernon and Petunia Dursley, lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling intensely. There was nothing about the ceiling that was particularly interesting – it was plain and white with a single light fitting – but it was a good thing to stare at when you were bored out of your skull.
He'd tried not to be, but to no avail.
After reading through his schoolbooks (almost all of them, but for those written by Gilderoy Lockhart), he had concluded that he should have done so when he was doing the original learning. He'd been disgusted to discover that he'd made Transfiguration that much harder on himself by not reading the opening chapters of each of the books. Furthermore, he'd had no idea of the fluctuations in a wizard or witch's power as they progressed through puberty because he'd skipped over the introductions to each volume of The Standard Book of Spells.
In light of this, he had written to Hermione, requesting she send a catalogue from Flourish and Blotts so he could see what books he wanted or needed. A day later, Hedwig had arrived with it. Just this morning, he had given Tonks a letter to take to Flourish and Blotts, with orders to remove the money from his vault directly (he enclosed a letter for the goblins).
However, since he'd read nearly all his books (particularly the Defence ones), he was bored, and it was only seven o'clock in the evening. Idly, he decided that he'd go through his books and find spells he needed. Maybe he could use them for the DA.
He sighed again, and then a slow smile spread across his face. It was time for dinner.
XXXXX
Three hours later:
Harry was sure what he had done was unethical, but it sure as hell was fun. He flung himself on his bed, sniggering. All he'd done was cook dinner for the Dursleys…
It wasn't his fault they took offence to his wild grin as he served them.
Harry wasn't sure if it was the effect of having Voldemort dive through his head or just his Marauder genes kicking in when he had served dinner. All the same, it had been fun. They were too worried about what he might have done to the food to enjoy it. And they were too worried about Harry's reaction in telling the Order if they refused to eat it.
'As if I'd poison them,' Harry snorted mentally. 'Too obvious. Who else would be able to?' He'd get caught. Although, if he could do food poisoning…
'No more evil thoughts.' He told himself firmly. It was fun, but occasionally worrying, the thoughts that crept into his head.
His mind wandered to some advice Moody had given him last Christmas.
"An Auror uses every advantage, Potter. You need to be swift and cool. Keep your body in top condition."
Idly, Harry wondered how Moody could tell him to keep his body in top condition without being a hypocrite, but the man was old, and used the wooden leg to freak others out as much as anything else. He could quite easily get a magical version that practised the same way as a real leg.
All the same, it was this advice he took now. Getting up from his bed, he settled himself on the floor, clearing space. Resting his weight on his arms and feet, hands shoulder-width apart on the floor, legs out-stretched, he began to do press-ups.
He didn't see the light of crimson eyes watching through the window with a satisfied gleam.
XXXXX
13th July 2003:
Practising the stretch again, Harry concluded that he had done enough physical exertion for the day. Even though his main exercises were simple ones – press-ups, sit-ups, jumps, pull-ups (he was permitted one hour outside Privet Drive a day where he practised in the park on the bars), running and other similar things – they still did him good. He ached afterwards, but if it meant a night he could sleep through, he was quite happy to continue.
He had received the books he wanted soon after giving Tonks the letter. She'd added one or two she thought he'd find interesting – a book on defending against Dark Magic only Aurors were permitted to purchase (it contained descriptions so they knew what they were fighting against) and a book called Professor Virilus' Guide for Young Wizards. She informed him that the Weasley twins had recommended it as a good buy for those wanting 'to understand the changes a pubescent wizard goes through and how to handle them, and other situations'. After a few cursory glances, he concluded that the book mainly discussed dealing with the opposite sex and appropriate charms and potions to use. However, it did have some good advice, and a couple of chapters on changing magics. It also seemed to have something of a mind of it's own.
He settled down to read Clearing the Mind: A Beginner's Guide to Mind Magics. It wasn't a step-by-step guide to Occlumency, more along the lines of discovering and ordering one's mind so that he'd be able to later utilise magics like Occlumency effectively. It also suggested that powers such as telekinesis, telepathy, empathy, teleportation, mind-shielding, memory-manipulation and wandless magic could be discovered by a correct ordering of one's mind. Some had such powers and were incapable of discovering them because they could not find them in a disorganised mind.
So Harry was working to organise his own. He had started with some of the basic meditation techniques where he focussed on identifying his mind and clearing away outside interference. His next step would be to erect some sort of structure to protect his mind, before organising it. He couldn't afford to leave his mind unprotected for long.
After a great deal of thinking, Harry based his mind's structure on Hogwarts. Storing every memory, every piece of himself inside the structure, he built the castle, brick by brick, then mirrored the wards around it. He was doing this repeatedly each day, until such a time as the structure stayed there, completely. Only then could he move onto the next level of organising his thoughts.
His wards he had fuelled with varying emotions. He had realised that it was his love for Sirius that had forced Voldemort out of his mind in the Ministry. Therefore, it was only fitting that his most powerful shield was based on love. Something like a Patronus mixed with a shield charm, Harry had used the memory of all those who had loved him to fuel it. There were other wards, ones based on Anti-Apparition and Anti-portkey wards, and even one or two traps fuelled by a certain amount of vindictiveness. He could only hope Snape attempted to get into his mind. It would be fun to flip a switch and trap him.
Harry's Hogwarts had also had exceptionally thick stone walls, with reinforced, magical wooden gates – holly, the tree of his birth-month and his wand, good for conducting magic. Furthermore, the gates only opened with his handprint and retina-scan. A line of switches sat by it – he'd have to turn each one off in turn to allow anyone through.
He hoped it would work against Voldemort the next time he attacked him.
He was determined that he would not be fooled again. His dreams would not lead anyone into danger a second time.
He would not let someone else he loved die.
Sirius' death had taken a dreadful toll on him, but he was slowly coming to terms with it. His talk with Luna at the end of the year had helped, and with time, he was able to focus on the good things as much as the bad.
And then there was Sirius himself.
Harry had been able to sense in Sirius unhappiness that had not been quelled by meeting him. Something made Sirius unhappy down to his core, and even his freedom wasn't helping him get over it. Harry had always wondered what it was that made Sirius' eyes go dull when he looked at the students. It could be something so simple. Hermione's smug look as she corrected someone, Harry's sarcastic comments, Ron's Quidditch mania or Ginny's laughter. Even something as simple as Molly's comment that the twins 'could burn a salad' was enough to bring that dull look to his eyes.
Harry had never told anyone about the time he'd seen Sirius and Remus before the fire in the drawing room one night. Sirius was drinking – not a good thing by any psychologist's report – and his face had been contorted in anger.
"Where is she, Moony?" He had said, his voice cracked and broken. "Why did she leave?"
Remus had been quiet in his response. "I don't know, Sirius. I've kept my ears and eyes open for anything – everything – that could give me a clue. I don't know where she is. I've barely had contact with Alura and Damion."
Sirius, rather than get angry, had tears streaming down his face. "She knew, Moony, she knew. How is this better?"
"Harry had a chance to grow up." Remus had replied, but his face was dark.
"If I find her again, how can I ever forgive her for leaving? For taking her with her?" Sirius asked. "I lost my reason when she disappeared."
"Let's just hope it was for the best." Remus stated. "She said she'd return."
Sirius nodded. "She promised she'd change it. She promised."
It had been a long time since Harry had thought about that night and that conversation. He had never admitted to Sirius that he had overheard. He didn't know what to think? Who was she? Sirius' girlfriend? Lover? Wife? He had wondered about Sirius over the past year, wondered if he had been married, had a child. It seemed unlikely – after all, wouldn't she have been his godmother and taken him in?
Besides, what was this other factor? 'Change it'? 'She knew'? What had she known? What was she supposed to change? Who was she? And who was the other 'her' Sirius had referred to? Harry didn't know.
He thought of Sirius and sighed. It was for Sirius he would beat Voldemort. It was for Sirius he would be strong. It was for Sirius he would fulfil prophecy in his favour.
The prophecy. That was what he was doing his training and reading for. That was what he had to fulfil.
And he would.
No more would die for him.
XXXXX
"There's news." Remus Lupin entered the office of Albus Dumbledore.
"What news?"
"The symbol of Fire Star has appeared once more." He explained.
"Where?"
"Australia. Apparently, there were a group of foreign Death Eaters indulging in some Muggle torture. They are now in Azkaban, but none of them look too good."
"What happened?"
"No one knows. It appears that the Muggles were being tortured, a whole family, while others were held prisoner. Before the Muggles had their memories modified, they spoke of a woman bathed in crimson light, with wings, shooting fire from her hands. They also said that none were killed, maybe burned, harmed, but none killed. They were all left unconscious, with extremely strong spells around them, ones to prevent Apparation, Animagus transformation, and any sort of escape. Best of all, they were British ones, learned by Aurors in the 1980s." Remus sighed, collapsing into a chair.
"So she has revealed herself."
"Do you think she knows of his death?"
"Of course she does. They are soulmates, and the curse… I can't help feeling that the Curse of Kali may be broken soon."
"Really?"
"I hope so. Why do you think she has revealed herself so publicly?"
"I don't know. But she always said that after Harry's fifth-year…"
"She would change that future. I wonder how?"
"I don't know. I do know that the crimson pentacle was, once again, repelling the Dark Mark. Also, one of the Muggles gave her only words."
"They were?"
"'The Moon and the Army Commander shall meet and at sixteen, their magic shall truly reveal itself.'"
"Anything else?"
"Yes, but to the Death Eaters. She said what she has always said."
A pause.
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
"She said…"
"'A pentacle may repel you. The lightning bolt shall destroy you.'" Remus nodded. "She says it to anyone who bears the Dark Mark, not to mention Voldemort himself. She must be talking about Voldemort's habits of leaving scars on those left alive."
"She is the pentacle. She has always managed to repel Voldemort when he has attacked her. The lightning bolt must refer to Harry. She has always known of his fate." Dumbledore mused.
"Harry's… fate?"
"Did I not tell you? I should have. Remus, Harry is the only one with the power to destroy Voldemort. And ultimately, they must meet in battle. Sybill Trelawney gave the prediction. One of her few genuine ones. She gave Harry another the afternoon before you discovered Peter two years ago. Unfortunately, neither Harry nor Voldemort can live while the other survives. That is why Voldemort tried to kill Harry as a child. And that marked him as his equal."
"Wait a minute! Harry… and Selene. They are nearing their sixteenth birthdays, aren't they?"
"Yes. Just as their parents did, they shall gain control of their other magic. The Heirs of the Elemental Guardians."
"The Moon and the Army Commander." Remus frowned. "I didn't know that's what 'Harry' meant."
"Harry was named for his grandfather, Harold. His parents shortened it, but it is from that stem. Selene, of course, means the Moon and always has done."
"What does this all mean?" Remus wanted to know.
"It means that Kathryn Black is still alive. And she's starting to make this future a better place."
"I hope so."
XXXXX
It was ten o'clock at night when Harry heard the bell ring. Frowning, he wondered who could be visiting so late in the day. It wasn't a Death Eater; the wards prevented Death Eaters getting in, and they wouldn't know a doorbell from a telephone when confronted with one.
Quietly, he padded out onto the landing, and, using a new Weasley invention they had sent called an Extendable Eye (they were attempting to make a series, but they seemed more suited as spying tools than pranks), he spied on the door as Vernon, huffily, plodded over to open it, complaining about the late hour.
When Vernon opened it, he prepared to see a salesman, or something similar. He was not prepared for the blonde woman there to smirk.
"Hi Vernon." She stated, her voice faint and musical.
Harry moved the Eye, but he could not see her past Vernon's bulk.
Neither Harry nor Vernon were prepared for the fist that came Vernon's way and sent him thudding onto the floor.
The woman smirked again. "I thought it was time I repaid the favour."
Vernon's face began turning several different colours all at once before settling on it's beloved purple.
"You… You… You…"
"Me what? You planning on getting that sentence out any time soon?" She asked, her voice snarky. Harry suppressed a grin. Whoever she was, he didn't sense any danger, and he couldn't help but appreciate her humour.
"You're one of them, aren't you?" He snarled.
"Which 'them' are we talking about?" She asked, closing the door. "'Them' wizards and witches, 'them' Order people, or 'them' Death Eaters?"
"Death Eaters." Vernon snarled, his eyes angry.
Harry knew at once that that had been about the stupidest thing Vernon could say.
"Oh yes, I did seem like a Death Eater that week I stayed at Lily's, didn't I?" The woman growled.
"You!" Petunia shrieked, having come to see what the commotion was.
"Good evening, Petunia. Your husband seems to think I'm allied with the people who killed your sister."
Petunia's expression darkened. "You…"
"I will also tell you that the same people left me in a coma for five years, killed my parents, betrayed and killed my best friends, your sister and brother-in-law, left one of my best friends a werewolf, driven to insanity to the point where she, like my brother, is in the ward she used to work on, and drove two of my colleagues and friends insane. That's not to mention the fact that I've been on the run for fifteen years with two children, my husband's life was destroyed by them and he's also now dead, and both my godsons have been permanently scarred by it." The woman's voice was bitter and savage.
Harry felt a stab of fear and pity. For though this woman only looked about twenty-five, it was clear she had lived through the first war with Voldemort. To have lost so many people… Then it clicked. She had known his parents, been best friends with them!
This revelation instantly begged the question: who was she?
The woman stood like a warrior, a tiger preparing to pounce and savage it's prey. She was nothing like anything else that had been on Privet Drive. While she could only be a few years younger than Petunia, she dressed like she genuinely was in her twenties, not approaching her fortieth birthday. Black, low-slung jeans, heeled black boots, a sleeveless crimson blouse and long black leather coat – surprising, really, considering that it was still very warm.
"So," the woman challenged, "do you think I'm a Death Eater?"
Petunia gave a sharp, shrill laugh. "Of course you're not a Death Eater! Oh, you were so dedicated to stopping evil wizards, Orenda, but did you stop your pranks on us poor Muggles?"
Harry rolled his eyes. Only Petunia would see a few harmless pranks as 'evil'.
The woman – Orenda? – obviously felt the same way.
"Dear God, Petunia, if you'd kept your hands off mine and Lily's stuff, you wouldn't have suffered a prank. Besides, the itching powder was perfectly Muggle. I mean, I hexed my things as a matter of course. Alura got so mad this one time after she borrowed my shampoo…"
Perhaps because Harry had been thinking about it before, but the name Alura was familiar. Hadn't Remus mentioned it to Sirius?
"What do you want?" Petunia finally snapped.
"Harry, but he's not mine to have. That privilege shall go to the people who have been unable to rest peacefully." The woman responded ambiguously. "No, Petunia, all I want is the box."
"That box you left a few days after the brat was dumped here?" Petunia asked.
"Of course." The woman made a show of examining her nails.
Harry was astounded. What did she mean, she wanted him? That he wasn't hers to have? Who else could he belong to? How could he belong to her? He frowned. Idly, he wondered if she was his godmother. Could she be? He dismissed it. Surely she would have come for him earlier than this!
"It's in the living room." Petunia growled.
"Why, Petunia, you put it on display! I'm flattered!" Orenda stated with over happiness, clapping her hands together playfully. "Not that I'm surprised. It is a beautiful box. But then magic can sometimes create beauteous things."
Petunia looked scandalised. "It's magical?"
"Not the box in of itself. Has magic inside – very powerful. But I won't describe it. I would not want prying ears to hear, and you wouldn't understand it anyway."
Petunia's eyes narrowed. "Why didn't the boy's guard stop you?"
The woman snatched the box from Petunia, her hands roaming over it as if to check it for damage. "Oh, you mean Nymphadora outside?" She had a mischievous smile. "She didn't see me."
"What?"
"I'm exceptionally skilled at self-transfiguration, illusions and glamours. I could stage a Death Eater coup, and not one of those wizards could tell the difference from the real thing. So, stopping her from seeing anything amiss? Piece of cake." The woman smiled savagely, showing a number of white teeth.
Harry stored this information for later use. More areas of magic.
"Self-transfiguration?" Vernon snorted. "What is this nonsense?"
The woman gave a smirk. "I wonder if your son has ever watched Charmed. It's about three sister witches – following a different code, of course. You may have heard of Wicca?"
Petunia snorted. "That nonsense with gods and goddesses and dancing around fires naked on Hallowe'en?"
She nodded. "Something like that. I daresay my husband would have been thrilled to institute a ceremony where we danced around a fire naked. However… many of the people who gather at Stonehenge on the Midsummer Solstice practise Wicca. It's based on the pagan or druidic religion of the Celts. I daresay that druids still exist, somewhere, maybe even in my society.
"In any case, on that particular TV programme, there are evil warlocks and demons with a power known as shape-shifting." She pursed her lips. "Actually, there are good people with that ability as well. In any case, they can change their form. Their face, their body, anything. They can change into wolves, bats, and other such wonderful things. My form of self-transfiguration is just that, considering I don't even need a wand." She gave a feral grin.
"What would a witch be doing watching a Muggle television programme?" Petunia sniffed, haughtily.
"My daughter's a fan." She smirked. "Actually, my son is too, but I think he's more interested in the girls' assets than the magic. I quite like it myself. Besides, I spent sixteen years in this time as a Muggle, I should."
"What?"
"Nothing you need to know about, Petunia." The woman sighed. "Suffice to say, I'm powerful. And think about your nephew. You recall he inflated your sister-in-law?"
Petunia shuddered.
"That was 'accidental' magic. Harry is approaching his sixteenth birthday. And with his parentage, he should be powerful indeed. He may even find himself able to perform magic wandlessly and controllably. Do you really want to piss off a teenage wizard with the world on his shoulders? You've seen your sister's eyes bore into you, Petunia, what do you imagine Harry's will be like if he had Muggle laser surgery to correct his myopia?"
Harry was startled. How the hell did this woman know all this?
Petunia gave a visible shudder.
"Harry will be out of here in a few days, Petunia. Try and be nice to him until then. Maybe let him watch Charmed with your son." The woman smirked.
"Very well, Orenda. I'll put up with him." Petunia suddenly looked at Vernon, who was still prone on the floor, looking fearful. "What have you done to Vernon!"
"Oh, I just punched him. Figured I get him back for the time he got me." Orenda shrugged.
"Vernon would never hurt anyone!"
"Yeah, about that. The only reason Harry wasn't dead before Hogwarts is because of a spell I placed on him. Every abusive blow he dishes out? Revisited upon him. So, as you can see, he isn't inclined to hurt anyone. Actually, I'd better renew the spell. It wore off about three years ago." She commented. "Maledicens repercuti!" A flash of black light hit Vernon from her wand, sinking into his skin.
"What did you do!" Petunia shrieked.
"Reapplied the spell. Don't worry, Petunia, it only hurts him when he hurts others." The woman snarled, her eyes narrow.
"You…"
"Now, now, Petunia, don't want the whole neighbourhood to hear you swear, now, do we?" The woman smirked. "Now, I have to go. I have things to do. People to help, lives to put back together and godsons to apologise to. Hopefully they can wait a little while until I have their apology there. A little gift that they lost many years ago."
"Orenda, you…"
"Oh, and it's not Orenda anymore, Petunia. I'm married. You may remember my husband." She gave a smirk.
Harry didn't know what she whispered to Petunia, but the blood drained from the woman's face.
"Him, you…"
"Yep. Same day as Lils and Prongs. But then you didn't even attend your own sister's wedding." Her eyes darkened. She turned on her heel, and yanked open the door.
"Think about this, Petunia. If your nephew doesn't stop this evil, it will destroy the entire Muggle world. Do you want to be known as the woman who cruelly neglected our saviour?"
Then the woman seemed to fade from view and the door closed.
Petunia was just stood there, staring, gasping. Vernon was looking strangely dazed. And Harry…
Harry put the Extendable Eye away, remembering to send a note about its effectiveness to the Weasleys. Who was that woman? What had the box contained? Who was her husband?
And as he wrote a letter to the Order reporting the incident, he couldn't help but wonder what Charmed was as well.
XXXXX
14th July 2003:
"Lupin, you'll want to read this." Moody informed the werewolf gruffly as he entered the hall.
Ginny, on the stairs, ducked out of sight, hoping to catch some information.
"It's just Harry's letter." Remus frowned, wondering what was so important.
"Read it, Lupin. It seems Potter had a visitor last night."
Ginny watched as Remus' expression became a frown, amusement, wonder, before settling on confusion.
"A box? Wait a minute, the box? The one that they used…"
"Looks like it."
"Why on Earth would she leave that with Harry and Petunia?"
"Perfect sense, really. No one would think she'd leave something so important with the most obvious person there is. She could have kept it. But I suspect it provided some sort of protection for Potter that's going to become void soon."
"His birthday." Remus breathed. He looked back at the letter. "She told Petunia about all this. Merlin, did she know Harry was listening?"
"It's possible. She wasn't the kind of person to make a slip like that."
"Yes, but it's equally possible that she wants to be mysterious and dramatic. Which explains the quick changes of topic when she began speaking too in-depth. And what's this about apologies to godsons?"
"Potter and Longbottom. But I don't understand what 'gifts' she could give that would make adequate apologies. Or why it should take so long." Moody frowned.
Remus shook his head. "What lives is she putting back together? How? That's what I'm worried about."
"Well, Fire Star reappeared in Australia forty-eight hours ago. It makes sense she'd come back here. At least we know her daughter's safe with her." Moody looked almost wistful. "Tiny little thing she was. I saw her a few days after she was born."
Remus chuckled. "I know. They've still got the photo of you, Harold and Olden in the Headquarters. Tonks told me."
Moody growled.
Remus frowned again. "What I don't understand is the son. How on Earth has she got a son? And a teenager too, from the suggestion."
"She'd never betray him." Moody frowned. "Unless…"
"She was pregnant at the time. She might not even have known." Remus shook his head. "It's a wonder the stress didn't make her miscarry."
"Powerful magic from both families. Protect the unborn from the moment of conception." Moody nodded.
Ginny frowned. Who on Earth were they talking about?
"There's only one Orenda we know who has two godsons and had to change her name." Remus sighed.
"Orenda?" Another voice spoke. "The girl who saved my life and then Molly and Ron's?"
Ginny's eyes widened. Her dad knew this mystery woman as well?
"The same. Seems Harry's had a visit from her."
"Isn't she Bl–?" Arthur began.
"Hush!" Remus cried. "Don't say the surname. The bitch on the wall's sensitive enough to it as it is."
Arthur nodded. "Kathryn? Who saved my Molly's life and then got yelled at by Olden for fighting whilst pregnant?"
Remus nodded. "God, but he was nothing compared to her husband. James and I spent ages coaching and scolding him. He had been so worried and furious with her."
Arthur nodded. "When they attacked, I was surprised Molly didn't go into early labour."
"Of course, it all went out the window when he got back. He just sat and held her. I'm surprised they didn't end up shagging."
Moody winced. "Remus, the girl was practically my niece!"
"Yes, you adopted her and Lily, didn't you?" Remus grinned. "Even gave Lily away… You should have told Harry that. He hungers for anything about his parents. Last time I spoke to him before Sirius' death… God, he'd just seen after the DADA OWL in fifth-year. He didn't understand anything about it – how his father was such a git, why his mum hated him so much. Of course, Kat was still in her coma then. Woke up about a month later." He gave a smirk. "First thing she did, apparently, was flirt with Sirius. James was sure she hadn't recovered properly."
Ginny started at this. A woman and Sirius? Moody gave Lily away?
"You know, I think Harry could do with a laugh." Tonks stated, coming into the conversation. "I say we show him the photo of Moody, his grandfather and Mr Orenda holding him, Neville and Lenie. Or the one just with Moody holding him. I never saw him so shell-shocked."
"Tonks, you want to keep your limbs in the right places?" Moody asked.
"Look, I'm sorry I didn't see her last night, but says in the letter. Illusions. She used to babysit me. She was bloody well powerful, and we'd play changing."
"Play changing?" Arthur asked.
"Yeah, she could shape-shift. So she'd help me learn to control my gift by making it a game. We'd both change the same thing." Tonks shrugged. "And when Lenie was born, I remember demanding seeing the 'pwetty baby'. Of course, I know I could pronounce Rs when I was seven, but Mum said I couldn't. Our game helped her get over her parents' death."
Moody nodded. "She nearly broke after that. She was the one who found them. And of course, Magic's Haven disappeared. Actually, that was around the time Caradoc Dearborn disappeared as well…"
"So, what are we going to do?" Remus brought the conversation back on track.
"Have a look out for her. I'll alert those we can trust in the Ministry. Kingsley'll want to know as well. He worshipped the lot of them, for all he was only training for a couple of months before the shit hit the fan." Moody growled.
Tonks nodded. "He followed their careers while he was in school. Knew Paul as well."
"Where is Orenda?"
Ginny felt more confident now. After the shocking revelations, it was comforting to hear them talk about her eldest brother's best friend.
She skipped down the stairs at that point, pretending to have only heard the last sentence. "Paul had to go. He got a call from his sister." She explained truthfully.
They stiffened, thus proving her case that this Kathryn was Paul's sister too.
"Which one?"
"Adalia, I think. He mentioned her getting married." Ginny gave a smile. "It's nice, that people can still find happiness."
"Yes, yes." Moody said distractedly.
"Who's she marrying?" Tonks asked.
Ginny shrugged. "He didn't say. Just rushed out of here like hellhounds were chasing him. I don't know if he wanted to congratulate her or punch her fiancé."
Arthur chuckled. "If he wants to get the fiancé, he has twin brothers to help."
Remus gave a growl. "He should have another one."
Moody shot the werewolf a look.
"Okay, then. So, what's for dinner?" Arthur asked.
XXXXX
16th July 2003:
Harry was doing press-ups when his door opened. Instantly he rolled over, pulling his wand out to cover the intruders.
Tonks whistled appreciatively. "Nice reflexes."
Moody nodded. "Good to see you're taking my advice and exercising, Potter."
Harry shrugged. "It keeps me occupied, and I'm tired enough to sleep properly." Standing up, he pulled a shirt over his t-shirt. "So, what's the occasion?"
"We've had a tip-off about a problem with the blood wards and Voldemort looking for a way through." Remus explained. "We're taking you to Headquarters."
Harry nodded. The idea of going to Sirius' house without Sirius in it was painful, but he pushed it down.
"Moony, what do I hear when I get close to a Dementor?" Harry asked, remembering to check.
Remus paled, but answered. "Your parents' death."
Harry nodded, and looked at Tonks. "Why did Moody tell me not to keep my wand in my back pocket last year and how did you respond?"
Tonks grinned. "He said you could lose a buttock and I asked if he knew anyone who'd lost one."
Harry looked at Moody last. "What did you ask for when you arrived last year and why?"
"A glass of water to clean my eye." Moody nodded. "Good, Potter, good to see you're learning. Pack up the rest of your stuff, we're leaving."
Shoving things surprisingly haphazardly into his trunk, Harry turned around a moment later. "I'll let Hedwig fly in. I'm done."
Remus' surprise must have shown on his face, because Harry grinned and replied, "I enlarged my trunk's inside before I left. Lucky, considering the books I have in there."
"Enjoy the Weasleys' suggestion Harry?" Tonks asked slyly.
"Very much so." Harry grinned wickedly.
Tonks nodded. "It's him."
Moody glared at her. "Asking only one question? What was the name of the woman who visited a couple of nights ago, Potter?"
"Orenda, I think. Moody, who was…"
"Not now, Potter." Moody stated. "Grab your things, and hold onto this."
It was an old-fashioned key ring. Harry put a hand on it.
With an "Order of the Char-grilled Chicken" from Remus, the portkey activated.
Harry felt a jerk behind his navel and was travelling to Grimmauld Place.
XXXXX
A/N:
Well, what do you think?
Not many cookies go out to people – only a few got that the thud was Vernon hitting the ground (as well as being hit). Anyone who gets where Kat's greeting is from (it's a bit easier now) gets one of the chocolate cakes I baked on Wednesday (real and virtual).
Anyone guess how much I like Charmed?
Anyway, my sister demanded I put this up. I'm going to try and keep the updates to at least one per month, and try and get plenty pre-written – I'm in my final A-level year, so I don't have as much time as I'd like, and I spend too much time on fanfiction anyway! (At least according to my parents.) I'm also trying to re-write my novel, and I'm only starting Chapter 9 of 19, plus epilogue, and I started in January.
Anyway, tell me what you think!
And the films Domino and Nanny MacPhee (yes, childish I know, but a good kids' film) are great.
Lol, Tanydwr