Okay, one of my friends poked me into submission to post this up. So I don't want to end up on her bad side.
Enjoy!
Chapter 2: Strange Discoveries
16th July 2003:
Harry landed in Grimmauld Place with an incredulous look at Remus.
"Order of the Char-grilled Chicken? Did you let the twins decide on the password?" He asked with a laugh.
"I believe Dumbledore thought their nickname for the Order was amusing." Remus commented dryly.
Harry rolled his eyes. "He would."
"Harry!" Several voices cried in happiness.
Harry found himself falling to the floor once more with his arms filled with a female redhead.
"Nice to see you too, Ginny." He replied as she hugged him firmly and then stood up from her tackle.
"Hi Harry." She grinned mischievously.
Feeling equally mischievous and somewhat evil (again, he thought his Marauder side was coming through), he struck a dramatic pose as he stood. "Thank the Fates I have seen thee! Thy face is balm to my wounds in knowing that thou art safe, whilst I languished in cursed captivity!"
Remus laughed. "You sound like Sirius and James after they'd been on the Firewhiskey."
Harry gave him a grin. A remark like that was surprisingly soothing, despite everyone else's silent worry.
"It'll be interesting to see what I'm like on Firewhiskey if I sound like this sober, then, won't it?"
Remus laughed and ruffled his hair. "That it will, cub."
Ginny now looked at Harry, a brow arched, though slight colour staining her cheeks. "What wounds are my face 'balming' then?"
"Do you really want to know?" Harry gave her an extremely wicked grin.
Secretly delighted by the fact Harry was teasing her (and rather risqué teasing at that), Ginny shook her head magnificently. "I suppose not."
Harry's face fell comically. "Aww, shucks!"
"Harry Potter, are you flirting with my sister?" Ron Weasley demanded.
"And if I was?" Harry asked, raising a brow.
"Have you any idea how intimidating it is to be given 'hurt her and I break your neck' by five or six older brothers?" Ron asked him.
"Nope, but I think I'd be more scared of Ginny, if I was flirting with her, and if I hurt her." Harry smirked. "Besides, I was under the impression she'd 'chosen' Dean." He gave Ginny a wink.
Ron rolled his eyes. "I know Ginny only said that to rile me up."
"Bummer."
"Exactly."
Harry grinned as he and Ron exchanged swift 'manly' hugs.
"So, you here to stay?"
"Looks like it." Harry gave a sigh. "Out of the Dursleys in less than three weeks. How shall I cope?"
"Party?" Ron suggested.
"Sounds good." Harry grinned, and looked at the other 'student'. "Hey, Neville."
"Hi Harry." Neville gave him a smile. "Apparently I'm now under suspicion from Voldemort."
Harry nodded. "Well, you've finally shown us the real Neville Longbottom, haven't you? Swift with a wand, and casting spells with a broken nose!" Harry gave a grand wave, pleased to hear Neville laugh. Clearly, the boy had gained a lot of confidence.
"We took my dad's wand to Ollivander. He's fixing it up for us, but said the wand wasn't compatible with me. From the looks of things, that's part of the problem I had."
Harry nodded. "I thought it might be. Have you got a new one?"
Neville nodded, brandishing a long, finely polished wand of pale wood. "Apple and hippocampus hair, twelve and a half inches. Ollivander rarely uses it, but this wand's only a few years old. He made some ambiguous comment about the animal balancing the water in me, and the apple suiting my love for growing things."
Harry nodded. "Well, I don't know about water, but apple… That's a very unusual wood, Neville, but extremely good. I bet it smells nice."
Neville rolled his eyes. "It would, the polish is apple-scented."
"See!"
"Neville's working with Mum to order the greenhouse." Ginny explained. "I swear, it's like he can talk to plants!"
"This place has a greenhouse?" Harry asked.
"Yep. Took us ages to find it. There's a garden too, but Merlin only knows what the Blacks have roaming around in that." Ron shuddered.
Harry could see the scars on his friend's arms. They were pink and glossy, still healing.
"How are you?" He asked, gesturing to the scars.
"I'm fine. I have some weird memories at times – I cast a spell I didn't even know this morning – but I'm fine otherwise. It's not like I go into trances or something." Ron shrugged. "We're all fine, Harry. I swear."
Harry nodded. "It's just hard, y'know? I led you into that danger, I was supposed to be leading you responsibly, and instead I got you all injured, Sirius killed and half the Department of Mysteries is destroyed."
"Don't worry about that, Harry." Tonks informed him. "It gave them a wake-up call if kids could get in…"
Moody shook his head. "The Death Eaters managed to by-pass the security systems with the information they had from Rookwood. Why they didn't change them after discovering he was a spy, I don't know…"
"What were they?" Harry asked.
"Vocal recognition and retinal scans." Moody informed her. "One of my Aurors was part-Unspeakable because of her Sight and suggested them."
Harry looked surprised. "That's really advanced…"
"She had seen a lot of the future. Adapted the ideas of future Muggle technology to be used as magical technology." Moody explained.
"Sight?" Ron asked. "Genuinely?"
"Yes, she had extremely reliable Sight. However, she could not control them. Sometimes they'd come when she needed them, other times they would not. There were also issues of whether she was to prevent the vision or preserve it."
"Why?"
Moody sighed. "The Sight is tricky. Her family line has had it for centuries – some claimed she had the blood of Pythea. Despite this, the line it came from was her Muggle-born mother's – first-born daughter every time. Some visions she was sent in order to preserve them – she knew something of this future and it pained her to preserve it, since she knew Voldemort had to be defeated for thirteen years, though she would not answer why. Others she had to prevent. Arthur Weasley's death many years ago was one thing she stopped from happening. Molly and Ron's death the same."
Ginny's ears perked up at this. Moody was referring to the woman who visited Harry!
Ron frowned. "I don't remember any woman saving my life."
"I was pregnant with you at the time." Mrs Weasley stated absently as she walked in. "She was pregnant herself. Her father cried blue murder at her when he arrived. She was past three months. Still, she saved my life and the life of my children."
"And mine, considering I wasn't even thought about yet." Ginny gave a smirk.
"You too." Molly sighed. "Lovely girl, Kathryn."
"Where is she now?" Harry asked.
The adults exchanged dark looks.
"She disappeared about the time your parents were killed." Moody stated.
Harry looked at him blankly.
Molly took charge. She walked over and hugged Harry firmly. "Welcome back, Harry. Ron, Neville, why don't you help Harry with his trunk upstairs?"
Ron grinned and levitated the trunk. Harry gasped in shock.
"What?"
"Magic can't be traced in here. That's Fidelius Charm and the Black family's magic on it anyway." Ron grinned.
Harry nodded, smiling. "It's great to see everyone, but I'll go and unpack." He followed Ron and Neville out of the kitchen and gasped in shock.
Ginny grinned. "Different, isn't it? They moved the kitchen upstairs and converted the basement into a training room. According to Remus, it's so Sirius didn't go stir-crazy." She looked sober. "He also managed to get a lot more cleaning and redecorating done after Christmas. Wanted this place to actually look like the Headquarters of an organisation fighting for good."
Harry nodded, taking in the cream walls and dark, handsome wood panelling. He noted the curtains still covering the portrait, but at least they were much cleaner and a glorious Gryffindor red. The elf heads were, mercifully, gone. Mrs Black appeared to be residing behind much thicker, more attractive curtains that, if Harry wasn't mistaken, were sewn together.
"Looks good." Harry approved. "Are we in the same room?" He asked Ron.
"Yep, and even that's been redecorated. Neville's in there with us, because Mrs Longbottom's working for the Order." Ron stated.
"Great. It'll be like being at Hogwarts, minus Seamus and Dean." Harry grinned.
"So no dirty magazines on the floor." Neville commented dryly. "That'll be a change."
Ginny choked and began spluttering.
The boys laughed, and Harry felt like he was genuinely 'home'.
XXXXX
Later that day:
"So the woman I saw is Kathryn Orenda?" Harry asked.
Ginny nodded. "We can make a list of what we know if you like. Her younger brother's in the Order. That's Paul. He's one of Bill's best friends, another curse-breaker. He's got twin older brothers who're also curse-breakers. Mum blames them for putting the idea in Paul and Bill's heads." She gave a grin, then frowned. "Remus said something that suggested there's another brother…"
Neville nodded. "Janyd, or Jack, Orenda. He's in the same ward – and condition – as my parents. Been like that since about a year before I was born."
The others looked sober. Neville's parents were in the closed ward at St Mungo's Hospital, their minds destroyed by Cruciatus.
"And the godsons she referred to." Ginny stated. "They're you and Neville, Harry."
The two boys looked startled.
"I thought only Sirius…" Harry frowned.
"Gran's always said my godmother died when I was small. I just have Uncle Algie." Neville groaned, thinking of the man who had spent so much time trying to 'scare' some magic out of him.
Ron frowned. "So this woman is Harry's godmother – and Neville's – knew Lily Potter, knew Moody, is possibly an Auror, babysat Tonks, was in a coma for an uncertain amount of time, has the Sight, flirted with Sirius, had her name changed through marriage, saved both my parents and me…" His mind was going into overdrive. "Not to mention a skill with illusions and something similar to a Metamorphmagus ability."
Harry nodded. "Definitely suspicious. If she's my godmother, why didn't she come sooner?"
Ginny's eyes lit up. "Harry, remember what Moody said. About her visions? Maybe she was forced to preserve this future and she saw it without her in it."
"Yes, but why preserve it? Why did I have to grow up without parents?"
"Thirteen years of peace whilst Voldemort is incorporeal." Ron stated, his voice slightly odd. "She preserved Voldemort's defeat. Gave us a chance to grow up."
Harry's eyes widened. "The prophecy." He whispered barely.
"What?" Ginny's head shot round to look at him.
Harry gave a sigh. "You've read the Daily Prophet, right? All the nonsense about a prophecy involving me and Voldemort?"
Ron nodded. "We knew that – we saw the names." He pointed out.
"They're calling me the 'Chosen One'." Harry sighed. "And in a way I am. However, I'm not sure how safe it is to reveal the truth about it to you."
"Does it say you have to fight V – V – Tom?" Ginny asked.
Harry, surprised, gave a nod.
"Then the whole world knows!" She cried. "That's what the stories are saying."
"Oh."
"Yeah, 'oh'."
"They're right. The prophecy… named me as Voldemort's 'equal'. Or rather," he narrowed his eyes in a calculating look, "Voldemort believed I was the threat and thus fulfilled the prophecy to mark me as equal. The gist of it is that I have to kill him before he kills me."
Ron shrugged. "Not much different to what I expected then." He stretched out his long arms. "Always knew it would come down to you and him."
Harry looked surprised, but didn't respond. He just sighed, leaning back on the bed.
XXXXX
17th July 2003:
Harry was in Sirius' room. Buckbeak had been returned to Hagrid – rechristened 'Witherwings' – but the Ministry was in such uproar that no one would identify him as the hippogriff they once sentenced to death. After all, with Fudge kicked out and a new Minister to be selected in a few days…
Leaflets had been sent to everyone. They outlined various 'protective' strategies. Passwords, questions, and other such things were advised. Some of the 'protections' Harry found – quite frankly – useless.
Lupin had suggested that Harry take the time to look through Sirius' things, and maybe tidy his room. The subject of his will had been breached, but it seemed that without a body, nothing could be done. Harry had taken the opportunity to ask about his parents' will or wills. Lupin had frowned, stating that the estate had been frozen until Harry's seventeenth birthday, but for the vault he was using. This had startled Harry, who had thought the small fortune in his vault was it – and there was more than enough of that. He didn't need nor want more wealth.
Currently, Harry was placing items in boxes – each was labelled. None of the items looked extremely personal, and all seemed to be from the time since Sirius escaped. Why was nothing older included?
The boy sighed, and tugged a sheaf of papers out of the bottom of Sirius' wardrobe. Most appeared to be spell notes, or even just Sirius' thoughts scribed on paper. Harry separated these out. However, the last few were sheets of music. Song music.
Harry's heart leapt. A secret desire, a secret passion, the one thing his aunt and uncle had never seen fit to take from him.
Music.
Vernon had said it was for 'nancy-boys', and Petunia had just looked down her nose. Neither cared that Harry stayed after school later, talking to the music teacher, learning from her.
In fact, two of the songs had his name scrawled across the top.
The Impossible Dream and Close Every Door both had Harry's name written at the top of the first page, the former with 'he'll like this' written beside it, the latter with 'Very appropriate' as the comment.
Silently, Harry wondered if the house had a piano.
XXXXX
Later that day:
One of the few things Molly Weasley appreciated about her husband's fondness for all things Muggle was his collection of music. While he owned some 'CDs' and 'tapes' that he had charmed to play similarly to magical albums, he had a whole cupboard full of sheet music and music books.
There were two simple reasons for Molly's love of music. One was her family's traditions and her own singing voice. The second was the fact that on one of their 'dates' when Charlie and Bill were about five and seven, Arthur had taken her to Jamatic Alley – the artist and theatre street of the wizarding world – to see a Muggle musical. It had been called Les Misérables, and she had instantly fallen in love with the entire genre.
She was humming Any Dream Will Do, from one of her children's favourites, when she heard something odd from the drawing room.
The room had been cleared thoroughly by this point. All of them had been startled by the revelation of the Blacks' grand piano – though Sirius had informed them it had been mainly for show. Apparently he used to hide under it as a child, and even began teaching himself with a book from the Orenda family.
Molly gave a sad smile of remembrance of the Orendas, thinking fondly of both Kathryn and Elise – after all, Elise had had as many children as she, only in different genders.
The noise persisted from the drawing room. It sounded like a thin reed through the door, strains through a failing Silencing Charm.
She frowned, wondering what the noise was.
And then…
BOOM!
The sound of several harshly struck notes on the piano hit her ears as the charm failed completely.
The noise dropped off sharply, and began picking out a soft, haunting melody, both hopeful and hopeless. As the player continued, a harmony was picked up, defiant and strong.
Molly recognised the tune. Close Every Door.
'Who's playing?' She wondered.
She knew Hermione didn't play, though the girl had been heard to sing quite well when she thought no one was listening. It was a 'frivolous' thing that no one would equate with the 'know it all'. Of her sons, only Bill and Percy had had the patience to learn to play the piano. Percy had not yet forgiven them for being right, and Bill was still at work. Remus had not sung anything except sad, harrowing melodies in years, and did not play the piano. Ginny was in the kitchen baking biscuits, so couldn't be the player. Neville only sang soft lullabies to his plants (he suffered from a lot of teasing for it, but it seemed to help). She did not know of anyone else who it could be.
"Harry." A voice whispered in her ear.
But when had Harry shown any musical talent? The only thing she'd heard of him singing was the school song, once. Since then… Nothing. But then the boy was so secretive, even with his best friends, even more so with her, when all she wanted to do was mother him.
Still, whoever was playing clearly had practise at the song, and power behind it.
"Mum?" Ginny murmured.
Molly started, then turned and hushed her daughter.
"Who is it, Mum?" Ginny asked, wonderingly as the person played several scales, soft mutterings in the room saying such things as 'remember them', 'know this' and 'how did he know?'
Molly shook her head. "I don't know. Sounds male, but… Whoever he is, he's got talent."
"Lord, I haven't done this for a year." The voice muttered a little louder, and began playing the introduction to Close Every Door.
A clear voice that seemed to be able to sing tenor and bass started the song softly.
"Close every door to me,
Hide all the world from me…"
However, as he got nearer the chorus, the voice managed the higher notes flawlessly, and began to get stronger, spiteful. He had the bitterness and anger of the character down perfectly.
"If my life were important,
I would ask, will I live or die?
But I know the answers lie far from this world!"
Those words were sung with anger and vengeance, as if someone was finally speaking their feelings.
"I do not matter,
I'm only one person.
Destroy me completely!
Then throw me away!"
Here the defiant harmony struck out, some phrases higher or lower than the tune, often sung later, more quickly. It was a song that truly needed a backing chorus.
"For we know we shall find
Our own peace of mind
For we have been promised
A land… of… OUR… OWN!"
Then there was a muttered, "Zeus, I hope the Silencing Charm worked. Stupid Ron, nicking my wand…"
Molly blinked. If Harry put up the charm – wandlessly – then there was no surprise it had not succeeded.
Ginny looked at her mother. "That's Harry!" She cried. "Who knew he had such a wonderful voice? Or he could play?"
"No one, I'm sure." Molly nodded. "Silencio." She murmured, her wand out. "We'll leave him be, for now. There's a reason he hasn't shared this, and he's using the music to vent."
Ginny nodded. "Good way. I always sing when I'm angry or scared."
"Or you play that harp. Not to mention the piano yourself." Molly gave a smile
Ginny nodded. "You told me it was a tradition for your side of the family. Besides, it's fun."
XXXXX
18th July 2003:
"POTTER!"
Harry tripped over his feet coming down the stairs as the voice roared his name, only to be joined by the screams of Sirius' insane mother's portrait.
"What?" He groaned, rubbing a shin as he entered the hall, glaring at Moody.
"We're going to do a little training session."
Harry's eyes widened. "Training? W-with you? But, Professor…"
"I was never your professor, boy. I'm Moody, or Mad-Eye. And I do train some people, you know." His eyes were fierce. "The best people. Trained your da."
Harry's eyes widened. "Really?"
Moody nodded. "I was head of his group. Gave them the news of acceptance myself. 'Course none of them could keep their hormones in check…"
Harry didn't want to know and followed the man down into the training room that had been set up in the basement.
"You still exercising?" Moody asked him.
Harry gave a nod. "Press-ups, sit-ups, crunches and pull-ups every morning and evening. No chance of doing any flying or running in here though."
Moody gave a feral grin that looked odd on his scarred face. "Not just the Muggles with exercise equipment, boy, oh no."
Harry looked at him oddly. "What am I training in then?"
"Fencing for one. Old pureblood tradition, but your da would've taught you. He liked the exercise. Handy for strengthening the body as well. I'll also be improving your aim, dodging, blocking and tactics in duelling. We'll also be helping you learn how to cope in battle situations with several opponents and you may learn one or two new spells along the way." Moody informed him.
"What about the others?"
"They've got their own training, Potter, don't you worry. Miss Granger's being taught healing spells by Madam Pomfrey. Weasley and Longbottom will be joining us in a few days."
"Ginny?"
Moody raised an eyebrow but answered with a grunt. "She's learning some things from Tonks and her mother."
Harry didn't dare add to that.
"Smart girl, that one." Moody continued. "Pretty little voice."
"Voice?" Harry asked, startled.
"Girl sings. Like some of my old recruits. Reminds me of another pretty redhead who sang." Moody gave a grin again. "Your mother had a good voice."
"M-my mother?"
"Oh, yes, Potter. Now we're here though…" Moody looked around the basement. "Twenty laps around the perimeter. Go!"
Glad he'd worn casual clothes and trainers, Harry obeyed the gnarled Auror, pacing himself carefully for the heavy workload he knew was to come.
XXXXX
22nd July 2003:
"What are the Deadly Curses? Potter?" Moody demanded as the three boys in front of him did press-ups into the hundreds.
"Seven curses thought to be based on the Seven Deadly Sins." Harry responded swiftly. They were used to the pattern by now. "The permanent curses are Lust, Bestial and Pride of Vanity, a derivative of the Pride Curse. The non-permanent are Pride, Sloth, Greed, Envy and Gluttony. Seth, a wizard responsible for many evil curses and potions today, created them in Egyptian times. They cannot be blocked, cannot be defeated, though on occasion the non-permanent ones can be overcome by intense strength of mind."
"Good. Weasley, what's a Lanydadd?"
"Welsh demon, long, nasty claws, evil. Weak point is the horn on its head – if sliced off, the demon dies, melting into water. However, very strong and long reach is hard to escape."
"Right. Longbottom, why is korrehn dangerous?"
Neville took a deep breath before replying, "It is a usually illegal, magical plant with destructive properties. It is a key ingredient in the Unforgivable Potions. About a quarter of the magical population is allergic to it. It can be dried and placed in a sphere with an explosive, creating an allergy-activating smoke as it burns. Favoured by Death Eaters in the last war, and used in the large attack on Diagon Alley, Hallowe'en 1984."
Moody smiled grimly. The boys were getting it.
XXXXX
30th July 2003:
Harry flung his head back, hearing the crack of his captor's nose on the contact. A sharp elbow to the ribs and heel into the instep loosened the grip further, before he grabbed his assailant's left arm and flung him over his hip. Even as he landed, Harry twisted his arm behind his back, while pulling out a knife to hold to his opponent's throat.
"Time!" Moody's voice rang out.
Harry let go and helped his 'opponent' up.
"Bluddy 'ell, 'Arry." Ron spoke thickly. "You bwoke by bose."
Hermione rolled her eyes, and cast a spell that first cleared away the blood and stopped the bleeding, then fixed the break itself.
Harry grinned. "Well, next time, don't get me like that. I'm short enough that the top of the back of my head contacts quite solidly with your nose if I do a head-butt."
Moody gave a nod. "Very good Potter. You're improving. Your speed is incredible." Moody praised him, surprisingly.
It was no wonder. Harry Potter had taken to physical fighting like he had to flying. The boy had perfect body memory. His speed was another attribute, one of the ones that had been worked upon ever since he was a small child trying to outrun Dudley and his gang of thugs.
"Thanks." Harry looked surprised.
"All right, tomorrow you're only having a light workout in the morning, it being Potter's birthday, you get some time off. But no slacking. You'll be up at normal times." Moody warned them.
"Aye, aye, Cap'n." Harry saluted jauntily, then sniffed his armpit, wrinkling his nose. "Ugh, I stink. Permission to take shower, sir!"
"Granted." Moody rolled his eyes (real and magical), giving a very disconcerting look. "All of you, training's over for today. Granger, you might want to work on your own speed and suchlike. Healing's not all done away from the battlefield."
Hermione nodded, following Harry out of the basement.
As they passed the Drawing Room, there were a few strains of music.
"Come on and cry me a river
Cry me a river
I cried a river over you…"
"What are they training Ginny in?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Someone dropped a theory about the power of her voice." Hermione replied.
"She can sing high enough to shatter windows?" Harry suggested.
"Nah, she's got some ability with it." Ron explained from behind him. "You know how she can make you admit things you don't want to, or shut you up with a word?"
Harry gave a nod. "They think that's magic?"
Ron nodded. "Power of Voice. Very rare. The singing's to help her learn to control it. Might as well be a Siren."
Harry began sniggering.
"What's so funny?" Hermione asked.
"Can you imagine her reaction to being called a Siren?"
"About the same to you being called a Hunter." Ron smirked.
Harry turned round, eyes wide. "What?"
"According to Moody, you're 'built for huntin' Death Eaters'." Ron informed him, with a passable impression of the grizzled Auror.
Harry shrugged. "Good genes, that's all."
Ron and Hermione gave him side-along glances, before Neville shook his head and chuckled.
"Might as well be magic, Harry." Neville told him cheerfully. "Actually, I can imagine you and Ginny as a team – she stuns everyone with some singing and you take them all out." As he said this, he rolled a shoulder and heard a satisfying click as it moved. "Ah, that's better."
Hermione wrinkled her nose. "That's disgusting."
Harry cracked his neck in answer. "But it feels so good after training. Anyway, I'll see you in a minute, I need a shower."
He ran up the stairs so swiftly that the others began to wonder if Moody and Neville's assessments of Harry's abilities weren't true.
XXXXX
31st July 2003:
Harry woke up on his sixteenth birthday feeling more content than he had in a long time. For the first time since starting Hogwarts he had not needed to be up at midnight to receive his birthday presents. No, they would be waiting for him somewhere in this house. Whether he'd receive them at breakfast or later, he didn't know. The idea of presents was, as yet, still novelty.
Slowly he opened his eyes before stretching luxuriously. He had grown at least two inches in the past month. Unsurprising, really, considering his age and previous non-growth. Though he didn't realise it, he was slowly turning into a young man that would have near every girl at school salivating – and possibly one or two of the boys as well.
He looked over at his friends. Ron was snoring, but Neville was awake. Moody, who had not forgotten the boy's birthday, merely left their day off to Harry's, had helped set up the party that had awaited them when Harry and the others finished washing. The birthday boy had been thrilled with everyone – including his grandmother – celebrating, not to mention the fact that they'd successfully hidden it from him.
"Morning, Neville." Harry yawned.
"Mornin', Harry." Neville replied. "You know, I feel really odd."
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Odd how?"
Neville shrugged as he sat up. "I dunno. Never mind."
"Always work that out later." Harry agreed.
"C'mon, we'd best get up."
Harry nodded. "Moody's only giving us some time off. Besides, slacking one day now is about the most harmful time in the regime. When we've finished the initial training and got to full fitness, only then will we be able to slack off for a day."
Neville gave a grin as he swung his feet onto the floor. "You're taking the lessons to heart, aren't you?"
"Why not?" Harry asked as he half-stumbled out of bed. "Got to remember these things."
"Harry, if I didn't know better, I'd swear you had Amazons in your family tree."
Harry stared at him blankly. "What, like the Greek ones?"
Neville grinned. "Magical beings from which the myths originate. Mostly female, legendary warriors, strong ties to magical creatures. Tend to live in mountainous regions. Most live in Europe. I think the only ones that have been seen in Britain have been wives. However, Britain has the highest nymph population in the world."
Harry gave a smirk – it was new 'habit' of reminding or teaching each other at random moments. "Which is because Britain has the highest number of nature's and magic's sinkholes in Europe. Despite the number of forests that have been cleared, we still have a great deal of hidden ones."
"And even more lakes and such with reservoirs which the water nymphs love." Neville finished.
There was a groan from Ron's bed. "It is too early in the morning to hear you two recite lessons."
The boys smirked. "C'mon, Ron." Harry cried childishly. "It my birfday!"
"And it'll be your deathday as well if you aren't downstairs soon enough." A voice spoke from the door.
"Morning Tonks." Harry grinned as he straightened his covers and began searching for some clothes.
"You too, birthday boy. Now get down there. Moody still wants to lecture you and do a bit of training."
The boys nodded as the young Auror left, yawning and dressing quickly.
"Aurora bless the new day and what it holds." Harry prayed cheerfully.
XXXXX
The three boys entered the kitchen after their morning of training to see the girls, Remus and Mrs Weasley all preparing lunch.
"Good morning?" Remus asked from behind his newspaper.
The boys all nodded.
"Just a 'light workout' as Moody puts it." Harry grinned, still dripping with sweat.
"You three ought to shower before coming to table." Mrs Weasley looked disapproving.
"Refrigerere." Harry incanted, pointing his wand towards himself. Instantly he looked – and smelt – refreshed and clean.
"Where did you learn that?" Hermione asked, surprised.
"Moody." Ron stated after he did the same thing. "He reckons it's an important one to know. Not as severe as Scourgify, but enough to clean you. Good for cleaning after Flooing as well."
"Not as good as a shower, but it does the job." Neville grinned at her, before following his two friends.
"Learn anything else useful?" Hermione asked, envious.
"Mainly about dark spells and such." Harry replied. "Moody wants us to know as much as possible about them in order to protect ourselves from them. Though why we should need to know about how to protect against miscarriage spells I don't know…" He frowned. "Those can only be cast by the father or mother anyway."
The glass Mrs Weasley was holding fell to the ground, shattering.
"Mum!" Ron leapt up. "Are you okay?"
"Th-there are protection spells?" She asked.
Harry nodded. "One or two. Or ways to avert them. One's very rare, but strong, if you're strong enough. Why?"
"I – I…"
Mr Weasley looked at his wife as she struggled for words. She nodded. "Molly had a miscarriage in the fifth month due to a spell from a Death Eater. It was about two years after we had Charlie. She –"
"I wasn't keen on the idea of more kids after that." Molly answered. She then gave a wry smile. "As you can see, that didn't last for long."
Harry felt guilty for bringing the subject up. "I'm sorry, Mrs Weasley, I didn't know –"
"How could you have?" Molly replied tartly. "We've barely told anyone in the family. I don't think even the twins know."
Ron and Ginny nodded.
"That's how Death Eaters work, though, isn't it?" Neville sneered at the thought. "Why kill you when they can mentally torment you for years on end?"
There was a silence. Neville had been damaged by the attack on his parents almost as much as they had.
"Well then, as charming as this topic is, why don't we torment the birthday boys instead?" Ginny asked brightly.
"Boy." Neville pointed out. "My birthday was yesterday."
"Pish tush." Ginny flapped a hand. "We only had the party yesterday – teasing's today. So I can torment you as much as I want."
It is odd how the word torment can mean something akin to torture from an enemy and relentless teasing and suchlike from friends.
"Are you sure it isn't Harry who you're intending on tormenting, Miss Weasley?" Neville asked, surprising all of them by the insinuation.
Ginny went red.
"Neville Longbottom!" Tonks cried – she knew the boy well by now. "Of all the people! I never expected that of you!"
Neville shrugged. "What can I say? People change."
"Were you embarrassed, sweet Siren?" Harry teased the young redhead.
"Siren?" Ginny asked.
"Well, you have a wonderful voice. The Sirens led men to their deaths with a seductive song…" Harry smirked.
"Harry Potter!" Tonks exclaimed again, getting into character. "What has gotten into you all today?"
"Hormones, Nymphadora. And I've suffered more've them than you know." Moody grumbled as he clumped in.
"Oh?" Tonks asked, raising a brow.
"After Potter's parents returned, we had three young couples in Headquarters. I don't think there was a single Auror that hadn't walked in on at least one lot snogging."
"What do you mean after my parents returned?" Harry asked.
Moody looked surprised. "No one told you? Your parents both left shortly into their Auror courses after being compelled and emotionally blackmailed by a disguised Bellatrix Lestrange. Two years before we found them again. At least they were qualified."
Harry blinked. "You know, Bellatrix Lestrange is really starting to get on my nerves, the more I hear."
Neville gave a bitter laugh. "You think?"
"Yep." Harry clapped his friend on the back in a friendly way. "How about we get her, Neville? I wouldn't want to use her curse, but Chinese water torture might be adequate."
"Bastinado, I think."
"Or maybe use some Muggle devices since she hates them so much. Cattle prods probably give a similar feel to a localised Cruciatus…"
The others stared.
"If I didn't know who you were talking about, I'd be extremely scared right now." Ginny told them.
"Why? Maybe you could help." Harry had an insane grin. "She's one of Tom's favourites, and I've heard women have crueller minds than men."
"You do not want me to use my Voice on you." Ginny replied.
"I fall under your spell with no magical voice, fair Ginevra." Harry mock-swooned.
Ginny's eyes narrowed. "Who told you my full name?"
"Twins."
"Excuse me."
She left, and soon there were some spells and yells that sounded like a Howler being made.
XXXXX
The party that evening had been hilarious, particularly as Fred and George arrived, sprouting identical blue hair with red skin and yellow spots. It seemed Ginny had had her revenge.
Harry appreciated his presents all the more for seeing his friends as he opened them. Dragon-hide wand, dagger and sword sheaths were gifts from his tutors. Moody gave him a book entitled Constant Vigilance. The author, surprisingly enough, turned out to be Moody himself. Various trinkets were gifted to him from his friends and the others. The Weasleys, oddly enough, gave him several music books – centring on Muggle musicals. He knew at that moment that some of his playing on the piano had been heard as he stammered his thanks.
"So, are we going to hear any of this magical Voice we've been hearing about?" Ron teased his sister.
"No. I can't risk setting a spell. I'm learning not to put any power into it. It's weird, it started exactly a month before my birthday, and such things shouldn't happen until I turn sixteen, not fifteen…" She frowned.
"Ginny, you will be fine with singing. Even if you sang a love song with Harry, he's powerful enough to break through it." Tonks informed her – she knew a lot about unusual magics, being a Metamorphmagus. "Unless Harry wants it to work."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm sure the prettiest of the Weasleys will excuse me if I do not fall under a true spell."
"Are you saying I'm not pretty, Harry?" Molly smiled teasingly.
Harry grinned in response. "'No, good mother, here's metal more attractive.'"
Both Molly and Ginny blushed at the compliment and Hermione looked impressed.
"Hamlet, Harry?" She asked, surprised.
"I had to read something to stop myself from going stir-crazy at the Dursleys' last year. Why do you think all Dudley's books are in 'my' room? I'm the only one who reads them."
Hermione nodded.
Ron grinned. "Read Romeo and Juliet?"
"Yes, why?" Harry looked suspicious.
"Guess which of Shakespeare's stories has its roots in wizarding legend?"
Harry frowned for a moment, then his eyes widened. "The Draught of Living Death."
Hermione looked even more impressed.
"I can't believe it!"
"Get round a cauldron, and start chanting 'Double, double, toil and trouble' if you really don't." Harry responded cheekily.
Hermione threw the large book she had gifted him (Wand Care for Wizards (and their Witches), which she had actually received the advice from the twins on, feeling especially wicked) at his head.
XXXXX
1st August 2003:
The next morning the group was greeted with sober faces.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
He was passed the morning's copy of The Daily Prophet.
Across the front ran three blaring headlines.
POTTER GRAVES DESECRATED!
BREAK IN INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF MYSTERIES: HAVE THE UNSPEAKABLES LOST THE PLOT?
SIRIUS BLACK INNOCENT? FUDGE'S CAREER IN RUINS!
XXXXX
A/N:
Cliffhanger!
Ha ha! You didn't think you could get away from them this early, did you?
Nice long chapter, this is – 19 pages! Hope you appreciate me.
And you've got to admire FanFiction's new stuff – authors can reply now! That's great! And the new Support feature. I've already posted up suggestions.
Like adding a 'world' feature to the Harry Potter fics. And the Star Wars ones.
I don't get to see Goblet of Fire until tomorrow. Boohoo. Still, tomorrow's good.
So far I have chapters 1-4 completed, and I'm part way through chapter 5. You will get the next chapter before Christmas, but I'm trying to build up a reserve. I'm in my A-level year, so I have loads of work to do. Real Life and my future take precedence I'm afraid.
On the bright side, I've had four offers from universities. On the not so bright side, none of them are my top one. Only one of my top three.
Oh well.
Hope you liked, please review, and stay warm – we're in an extremely cold spell!
Lol, Tanydwr