Funerals
"Dumbledore, I am glad to see you are awake." The High Lord of Elvendom said as he entered the headmaster's hospital room.
"All thanks to your wonderful and talented healers," Dumbledore said without looking up from the Daily Prophet.
The High Lord smiled, "As rebellious as ever, Albus."
This time Dumbledore looked up. "You can thank yourself for that."
"I did my best, but you always preferred to be disobedient whenever possible."
"I tend to think I grew out of that stage just like every other teenager." Dumbledore retorted with a smile on his face. "I believe you have more important business to attend to here than just checking up on an old son."
The High Lord offered a small smile. "Correct. My great grandmother made this potion for you. She still had a vial fill from when you were ten and picked a fight with a rather mean nightstalker."
Dumbledore took the vial filled with blood red potion from the High Lord. "Does it ever go off?"
The elf laughed. "Yes but not in any amount of time that would concern a mortal. You should know that, Albus."
Dumbledore stared, revolted at the aged potion before puling the stopper out of the vial and swallowing it in one gulp. "As disgusting as ever." He said as purple and orange steam streamed out of his ears.
"Well that means it worked so I best be off."
"Uurande-tur, wait." Dumbledore said urgently as the High Lord disappeared out the door.
He reentered the room. "What is it, Albus?"
"Since that attack at the Ministry I have been stuck in bed and could not carry on my search for you-know-whats. I would be forever grateful if you sent an elven scout or two to carry on looking for any information on them." Dumbledore said sitting up straight in the bed.
"I already have them on it, Albus." Uurande-tur smiled at Dumbledore's face. "We were the ones who discovered the possibility that He could be using those things. I will send them directly to you should they find anything." Uurande-tur looked curiously at the old headmaster. "This really must be important."
"Yes, it is. My protections on Harry will vanish on his birthday and I am no closer than when you told me about His secret on finding them." Albus said leaning back on his pillow. "Harry has not been this vulnerable since before I suggested the Potters go into hiding." He High Lord nodded and disappeared in a gush of wind. Dumbledore pulled out his wand from the desk next to his bed and summoned a mediwitch. The mediwitch arrived moments later with what looked like a Muggle metal detector, which was actually a magical signature scanner. It would tell the mediwitch if anything was still seriously wrong with her patient. She flicked her wand and set it off to scan Dumbledore while she used charms to find any minor problems. Once she was satisfied that nothing was wrong she pocketed her wand and set the scanner neatly on the table.
"How are you feeling, Mr. Dumbledore?" the witch asked.
Dumbledore looked at the witch for a moment. "I feel perfectly fine, Galena."
The witch's face betrayed her surprise at Dumbledore knowing her name but did not allow it to overwhelm her. "Good then. Once the Muggle doctor has spoken to you, you may leave." The witch picked up the scanner and walked out the door as the doctor walked in followed by Draco.
"You better leave, young man," the doctor said when he spotted the young Slytherin.
Draco looked at Dumbledore; "He may stay, Dr. Muad." The doctor just continued on reading the charts the nurse had left.
"Well, Dumbledore, you are one lucky man." Muad said still skimming the charts. "Besides the crushed trachea, you suffered a heart attack and both of your lungs were punctured. One of these injuries alone would usually kill a man of your considerable age. But if you continue taking the antibiotics and heart medication you will make a full recovery."
"Thank you, Doctor." Dumbledore said politely. The doctor nodded and left without another word.
Draco almost fell out of his chair with laughter. "A Muggle doctor. Dumbledore, I knew you were insane but this is beyond anything I would have imagined."
"Muggles are extremely excellent doctors and the hospital assigned the doctor to me before anyone could explain the unique situation." Dumbledore said waving his wand so that he now had a purple suit on. "We best vacate the room before the staff chase us out, Draco."
Draco followed Dumbledore out of the hospital and continued up the street. The sky was clear for the first time since Draco had entered the United States and everything seemed so normal and calm. "Something troubling you, Draco?"
They climbed into a taxi Dumbledore had hailed out. "It is just weird to think that on the other side of the world, most people are fearing for their lives."
This caused Dumbledore to chuckle. "I guess it is. Where would you like to go?" Draco frowned so Dumbledore chose to explain, "We have some time before I must meet Minerva and Severus and I have not had a decent meal in ages."
Draco looked at Dumbledore helplessly. "I have not been out of the hospital. Hell! I barely left Harry's room."
Dumbledore's eyes dimmed. "I am truly sad to hear that, though not surprised. However you best not tell Mr. Potter that, he might just hex you for your, ahem, stupidity." Draco's eyes flashed but it did make sense. Harry would hex him or rather himself for stopping Draco from having fun and preparing. "But it does not matter, I know this perfect little café just two blocks up."
The rest of the drive occurred in silence besides for the faint sound of music coming from the radio.
I'm giving up, I am giving up slowly, I'm blending in so you won't even know me…
Draco looked out the window watching all the people strolling along idly without a care in the world…
And this life sentence that I'm serving that I admit that I'm every bit deserving but the beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair…
Draco spotted the famed Washington Monument, which to him just looked like a very tall, bland pillar…
All I'm asking is for you to do what you can with me but I can't ask you to give what you already gave…
They turned a corner and came to a stop outside a tiny pub called Ameth'Aran. Draco noticed that most of the people around them did not notice the pub but a few strangely dressed men wandered in. Dumbledore paid the taxi driver with a hundred dollar bill told the man to keep the change and turned to face Draco.
"It is a wizard only pub. One of the few places in America left besides for the schools." Dumbledore said as he entered the pub by walking straight through the front door.
Draco followed the headmaster into the pub and was taken aback by the piles upon piles of caged animals. There were numerous brightly colored parrots, half of which were sitting on top of their cage. Plenty of cats some seemed to be there one second and in a different cage the next. Closer to the seating area there were glass cages filled with snakes and other reptiles. One reptile that caught his eye was a blue lizard with an orange and blue-banded tail, webbed green feet, and red wings with yellow spots. The ears were extremely large for its body and kept twitching.
"Sir, what is that?" Draco asked as he moved closer to the cage.
A tall wizard answered his question. "That is a vampire dragon. It is an adult, so they don't grow any bigger but are just as tough and vicious as any of its larger kin." The vampire dragon twitched its tail and reappeared on top of its cage staring at Draco. The wizard smiled and Draco noticed that one of his ears was missing. "I think it likes you." The dragon hissed and spewed fire out at the wizard who whipped out his wand and conjured up a shield of water.
"Is it the reason why you are missing an ear, Darter?" Dumbledore asked politely.
"Yes it is, Dumbledore. That thing tries to cook anyone within range. I have been debating whether or not to get rid of it." Darter said pointing his wand at the dragon and muttering a spell, which hit the reptile and sent it back into the cage.
The dragon hissed angrily and reappeared on Draco's shoulder. The dragon opened its mouth and tried to bite Darter with its two fangs that seemed to haven grown three inches in two seconds. The wizard moved quickly enough to dodge the dragon and the dragon seemed satisfied that its warning was understood. It settled itself comfortably around Draco's neck. Draco smiled and stoked the dragon.
"Well! That is truly a first. These things never take to a human, just vampires. Are you a vampire?" Darter said quickly as he showed them to their seats.
"Darter, you know that Hogwarts does not allow vampires into the castle because of the wards placed by Slytherin and Gryffindor." Albus said sternly. "I'll have some elf wine from Rosmerta if possible." Darter nodded and wrote down the headmaster's order.
"And for the student?"
Draco smiled as the dragon hissed causing Darter to move behind Dumbledore for protection. "I'll have a butterbeer and some stuff for this dragon."
Darter nodded, "So I have elf wine, butterbeer, and some pig's blood. Anything to eat today, Dumbledore?"
"Yes, I'll have the trout. And Draco will have the same." Dumbledore said and motioned for Darter to leave them. "No offense to the owner, but nothing else is edible on
the menu. Now, that creature certainly has taken a liking to you; I wonder if Darter would be willing to part with it."
Dumbledore ate his trout in silence while Draco told Dumbledore about their rescue from Hogwarts. Dumbledore paid close attention to every detail Draco told him especially when it concerned Harry. He told Dumbledore that doctors had give Harry a potion and that Harry seemed to be recovering slowly but Harry's heart had suffered greatly because of the two heart attacks. The doctors healed the best they could but they believed any heavy usage of magic in a short amount of time could cause the heart to short-circuit again.
"That could be a problem, but it may not." Dumbledore said and waved Darter to hand him the bill. "Here you are, Darter." Dumbledore gave Darter the required money. "How much for the Vampire Dragon?"
"Hundred galleons, sir. But from the looks of it that thing is not about to stay here with me when, young Draco leaves." Darter said. "I'll take ten galleons as long as I have Draco's promise that he will look after it with great care and only buy blood through me or my shop in Hogsmeade."
Draco nodded. "I agree to those conditions. I always wanted to own the animal I'm named after."
Dumbledore handed Darter the money before Draco could argue. "I insist, Draco. You don't have the money to buy the dragon anyway."
Darter took the money and left to get the dragon's cage when two men approached Dumbledore. Dumbledore smiled at the men politely.
"Can I help you, gentlemen?"
The taller of the two looked at Draco and the reptile wrapped around his neck. "Is he trustworthy, Dumbledore?"
Dumbledore looked at Draco. "He is."
"We have found him, hiding in an old Muggle's home." The man said. "There still has been little evidence on where they are being kept but we are still looking."
Dumbledore's eyes shined with delight. "I'll go visit him then. Thank you." The two men nodded and walked straight out of the door again.
"Sir what were they going on about?" Draco asked.
Dumbledore chuckled. "That, unfortunately, is Order business. Molly would have my head if I told you." Darter came back and handed Draco a silver necklace saying it was the dragon's cage. He also gave them a book on Vampire Dragons. They left soon afterwards and hailed a taxi. "Draco, I will drop you off at the hospital and then I will be off to go meet my friend. Tell Minerva and Severus that I got word of important information and it had to be collected immediately. They will be furious, but they will have to deal with it." Dumbledore said as they got into the car.
The taxi dropped them off in front of the hospital. Dumbledore bid Draco good luck before disappearing into the crowd. Draco rushed inside and headed straight for Harry's room.
"Sir, you will have to leave your reptile outside." A male nurse told Draco. Draco had magically turned the dragon's wings invisible.
Draco came to a stop. "I have permission to bring this lizard in."
"From who?"
"Doctor Thiessen, Harry Potter's doctor." Draco answered without missing a beat. This was semi-true, as the doctor had told him that he could allow Hedwig to sit in Harry's room.
"Alright. Just keep it in your sight." The nurse said before heading off in the opposite direction.
Draco took his usual seat next to Harry's bed. "Well, Potter meet my new friend Dracola."
Wyatt sat quietly in his sister's room as his mother laid his sister down in the crib. He followed Piper out of the room carrying the baby monitor. "It is just weird. I mean, dad can't sense anything wrong with her or Patricia and the Avatars just gave them back."
Piper nodded. "I know that it is fishy, Wyatt. But I'm just happy that they did."
"But why did they take them in the first place?" Wyatt asked himself more than anyone else.
"Perhaps it was to get your attention, Wy." Chris said as he walked through the door that led to Magic School. The door disappeared once he shut it.
"I guess so, but why did they need to get my attention?" Wyatt countered.
"To turn you evil," Chris replied quickly. The blonde haired boy shuddered.
"That is not funny, Chris." Piper reprimanded her dark haired son.
"Aw," Chris said with a smile, "But I like terrorizing my older brother." Wyatt's blue eyes shot a cold glare at his younger brother. Chris's brown eyes shined with glee. "See."
Piper shook her head and left her sons to deal with it themselves. "I'm heading to the club. Anyone want to help me?"
Wyatt and Chris shook their heads. "I have to finish my essay on The Lord of the Rings." Chris said quickly.
"I promised Ginny that I would take her out for a late lunch." Wyatt voiced his excuse.
"Ok, but I have Switchfoot coming to set up for tonight." Piper said and laughed when both boys were in the kitchen next to her in a second.
"I'll go," Chris said. "That essay can wait until later."
Wyatt smiled sadly. "I wish I could come."
"Maybe, you and your sweetheart could stop by." Chris teased. Wyatt shook his head.
"Ginny doesn't like Switchfoot." Wyatt answered simply when his mom gave him a quizzical look.
When Wyatt pulled up to the mansion that belonged to Albus Dumbledore he noticed a rental blue BMW parked in front of the mansion. He got out of his mom's old jeep and headed up the driveway to meet the blonde haired woman watering the roses outside the front door. He felt the familiar tug of wanting to impress the female but he kept himself under control.
"Is Ginny home, Fleur?"
"Ginevra is in the kitchen, Wyatt." Fleur answered the blonde boy's question.
"Your English is perfect." Wyatt said before he could stop himself.
Fleur smiled. "Yes, Bill decided to pay for speech therapy as a wedding present. I must say, I did not think that Muggles could help me but the doctor did an excellent job."
Wyatt nodded and opened the front door allowing Fleur to enter before he followed her.
"I see even the famed twice-blessed can't resist the pull of a Veela." Ginny whispered in his ear. Wyatt almost jumped in shock.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Wyatt asked teasingly.
Ginny smiled and gave her boyfriend a kiss. "Good, you're still your normal self. Hermione had to hex Ron yesterday to snap him out of his stupor."
Wyatt noticed that the youngest Weasley had her wand out. "Well I'm glad to see you have so much trust in me."
Ginny brandished her wand. "Just a precaution. I'm not going to lose my boyfriend to her." Ginny led Wyatt to the kitchen where everyone was sitting down to a hearty lunch.
"Wyatt!" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley. "Ginny did not say you were joining us for lunch."
"We aren't," Ginny said evenly, "Wyatt and I are going into town for some lunch."
Mrs. Weasley nodded. "Yes, now I remember. Sorry, Wyatt. It is just I'm a bit rushed lately with half the Order popping in for a meal. And then I had to go fetch Hermione's parents from the airport, which was no hassle." She added hastily. Wyatt noticed the two strange grown-ups at the table.
The woman with Hermione's bushy brown hair and aqua green eyes introduced herself, "Candace Granger."
Wyatt shook Candace's hand while the male with short black hair and brown eyes introduced himself, "Luke Granger." Wyatt shook Luke's hand before returning to Ginny's side.
"I am Wyatt Halliwell." Wyatt said awkwardly.
Candace smiled. "So this is the young boy my daughter has told me so much about. Well I must say you made quite an impression on her."
"Thank you, Mrs. Granger." Wyatt said staring at Hermione who was explaining herself to an irate Ron.
Ginny waved her hand. "We better leave Wyatt, or we will be caught in the rush hour traffic." Wyatt nodded and saying good-bye to everyone, followed the redhead out the house and into his mother's car.
"Why was Hermione talking to her mom about me?" Wyatt asked Ginny once they were on the freeway.
Ginny giggled. "Since you haven't noticed, I will tell you. You are kind of a very sexy guy and the topic of many a talk amongst the opposite sex."
Wyatt's cheeks went red. "I'm a dead man walking." he muttered.
Ginny nodded. "Don't worry; I'll protect you from my jealous big brother. My Bat-Bogey Hex will make him think twice before he harms any of my boyfriends."
Wyatt smiled. "And how many boyfriends do you have?" Ginny punched him softly.
"Three if you must know. You, Harry, and Draco."
"So there will be two students missing from Hogwarts this year." Wyatt said without thinking. Ginny let out a small sob and Wyatt quietly reprimanded himself. "Dumbledore will reopen the school no matter what, Ginny."
"If he wakes up." Ginny said glumly, but her eyes brightened. "But that is not why we are together today. Lets not talk about school yet and—" Wyatt dodged the car by mere millimeters. "—Watch where you're driving!" Ginny screamed.
"It's ok, Ginny, we missed them." Wyatt said as he took the off ramp.
"Yes, but you should not have had to. Those jerks should have stayed in their own lane that is why there are those white lines on the road." Ginny ranted and continued to until they arrived at the tiny café.
Wyatt parked the car and gave Ginny a kiss, which effectively shut her up. "Forget about it, Ginny. No use crying over spilled milk."
The afternoon was passed by walking along the nearby beach. Wyatt told Ginny about adventures he had had on the beach and Ginny told Wyatt about her first time on the beach.
"…I scared my parents half to death when they spotted me on the surf board." Ginny said as she rested her head against Wyatt's chest.
"Yes well you seemed to have made it out ok." Wyatt commented.
"I survived the ocean easily enough but my mom almost throttled me when I came back in."
"Well nothing can beat the last time we were on the beach," Wyatt said, "With the demonic sharks."
"Yeah, you almost electrocuted all of us." Ginny taunted.
"Well, you freezing the water around you did not help things."
Ginny sat up abruptly. "Well that was the first time I used that power."
Wyatt nodded solemnly. "Doesn't change the fact that Harry was two seconds away from being shark chum because of it." His voice showed he was only kidding.
Ginny's eyes flashed. 'Don't remind me." Wyatt tried to hug her but she stepped back. "Lets just go home, Wyatt. It's getting late and I promised Hermione I would help her get ready for her date with my brother." Wyatt agreed sadly and picked up the blanket, which Ginny had transfigured from his jacket. Ginny waved her wand wordlessly and the blanket turned back into the dragon skin jacket she had given Wyatt for his birthday with some help from Harry. They endured the ride back to Dumbledore's mansion in silence.
"I'll see you, Wyatt." Ginny mumbled when she got out of the car. She shut the door and ran up the drive away before Wyatt could even unbuckle his seat belt.
"Damn it," Wyatt hissed as he pulled off. He turned onto the main street and started his way to the Manor when the police siren caught his attention. He checked his speedometer and cursed himself. 60 in a 45 zone! He pulled over and got out his license and registration as the policeman walked up to his window.
"License and registration." The policeman said. Wyatt gave the two forms to the man. "Do you know how fast you were going, Mr. Halliwell."
"Yes, officer and I'm terribly sorry." Could this day get any worse?
"Are you the son of Piper Halliwell?" The officer asked.
Wyatt wrinkled his brow in confusion."Yes."
"You are to follow me. You will get your ticket in the mail in one to two weeks." The man said quickly and formally.
Wyatt nodded and followed the police car to P3. "Now what happened?" Piper came running up to the car.
"Oh thank goodness your alright." Piper kissed her oldest now embarrassed son. "We had a bit of an accident and another death." Piper explained.
"And you sent an officer to come fetch me?" Wyatt asked.
"No we just asked Morris to ask the officers to keep a look out for you. Why did this officer spot you?" Piper asked as the body of the dead person was pushed past them.
"Oh. Well, I was…I was speeding," Wyatt answered honestly…
The week passed uneventfully for those in San Francisco. Wyatt's license was revoked by his mother the day after the speeding incident so he saw very little of the Weasley-Granger group. They all had dinner together one night because McGonagall called a meeting of the Resistance. The night pasted quickly but in forced contentment for the teens, as they wanted to know why a meeting had been called. None of them dared ask though. And the night was particularly uncomfortable for Ginny and Wyatt as neither had spoke or even seen the other since the night on the beach. The only information the teens got from the adults was from an anxious Draco.
He told them that Dumbledore had been released from hospital but had disappeared soon after. He told them about the lunch he and the headmaster had together and about the strange men that had spoken to Dumbledore. He told them he got a pet but neglected to say that it was a dragon. Draco knew that Hermione would lecture him to death about the rules and regulations placed on the keeping of dragons and Wyatt would become very angry. He did not know why, except that Wyatt had had a nasty incident with a dragon early in his life.
"…I left it with Harry back in DC." Draco said. Everyone around them went quiet.
Hermione asked the question everyone wanted to know. "How is Harry?"
Draco sighed. "Still unconscious but the doctors gave him a potion that blocks Voldemort's connection to him so he is doing better. At least he has not suffered any more heart attacks. When we left he just came out of the magical heart surgery to fix as much of his heart as they could risk. All the doctors told me was that he was stable but back in critical condition."
Ginny and Hermione were crying but sobered up when the head of Gryffindor spoke.
"Harry is a tough young man and the doctors say he will pull through this, especially now without He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named not interfering." Everyone nodded although Draco doubted anyone was truly was comforted by it. "Now I must ask those not part of the Order to please vacate the dining room. Mr. and Mrs. Granger may stay but we will have to place security spells on you." The teens got up and left and Draco noticed that Fred and George did not follow them.
"I guess that Mrs. Weasley finally allowed the twins to join." Draco half stated, half asked.
"Yeah, they became members just last week. We had to endure Snape's presence for a whole day because of them." Ron declared.
"I wondered where Professor Snape went." Draco stated. "Oh, and I heard that the funeral is set for this Friday."
"Who told you?" Wyatt questioned.
Draco looked at the boy. "Well, if you haven't noticed I practically live at the headquarters. McGonagall and Snape were discussing it with Dumbledore one day when I passed the door before he was released."
Wyatt nodded. "I guess it was bound to happen."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Ginny snapped. "Of course there was going to be a funeral!"
Wyatt grimaced slightly at Ginny's tone but chose to ignore it. "I was just thinking that if Prue and Patricia were alive all this time what is to say that they aren't."
Hermione frowned. "Hogwarts is, remember." Everyone's mood saddened. It was true there would be no miracle return for their two friends.
That weekend of the meeting the Grangers left to begin their new practice in Oak Park. Hermione joined them on their trip home and she would spend the rest of the summer with the Weasleys after the funeral. Ron kept mostly to himself during the remainder of the time before the funeral. Draco returned to DC along with the Order members who stayed near the headquarters; Ginny went with him and returned the next night. Wyatt was extremely annoyed by that fact but Ginny refused to speak to him. All this over the fact the she froze some water.
The Thursday before the funeral was a stressful time for all involved. Dumbledore had appeared on the doorstep of the Manor with a groggy Draco. He had greeted the sleepy teen as he walked through the door and had made himself comfortable in the living room. He did not talk or even acknowledge Wyatt but simply sat there and twiddled his thumbs. Draco had fallen asleep the second he sat down and was rudely awakened by Paige bursting out of Magic School.
"The nerve of that slimy, greasy, horrid man." Paige muttered to herself.
"I did not know Professor Snape worked at Magic School." Dumbledore commented. Paige orbed out and in.
"Damn! Dumbledore, you scared me." Paige exclaimed.
"I noticed." Dumbledore said apologetically. "I dropped in to make sure Draco arrived safely and to talk with you and your wonderful sisters."
"Are you coming to the funeral?" Wyatt inquired.
"Yes, I will be there but only for a short while." Dumbledore replied blandly.
"Phoebe, Piper, company!" shouted Paige up the stairs. She took a seat next to an annoyed Draco. "You did not get much sleep either?"
Draco grunted. Wyatt smiled although not totally out of understanding. "Why not go catch up on your sleep in my room?" Draco nodded and blindly followed Wyatt up the stairs. "Paige could you orb Draco's stuff into my room?"
Paige waved her hand and Draco's suitcase disappeared through the roof in a mass of glowing blue orbs. When Wyatt came back down stairs his mother and both aunts were sitting in the living room conversing in low voices with Dumbledore. Wyatt made it down the stairs but was pulled into the kitchen by a waiting Leo.
"Dad, stop." Wyatt yelled.
"It is not polite to eavesdrop." Leo said evenly.
Wyatt noticed Chris staring at the coffee pot. "He got you too." Chris nodded glumly.
"I was just coming down stairs to start the coffee pot when Dad grabs me and hauls me into the kitchen." Chris stated as he waved his hand absentmindedly at their father. The elder burst into orbs. "And then I did that."
Wyatt smiled. "Thanks."
Leo reformed. "Your mother told you to stop doing that Chris. And that is another weeks grounding." He looked at his two sons. "Listen out for Prue and do not leave this room unless she wakes up or I call you." They both mumbled a yes. Leo, satisfied they knew the rules, left to join the adults.
The Halliwell family was going to be the guards for the funeral, the only members of the Order going to the funeral. The Weasleys were being assigned to the protection of Harry Potter for the weekend. The rest of the Order had important missions to do and could not be bothered with the funeral. At least that is what Wyatt thought; even Dumbledore could only be there for a short period. Everyone going to the funeral got an air ticket from Dumbledore to LAX. Dumbledore said through Leo and Piper that everything was sorted out and they only had to be at the airport at ten o'clock. They would be using magical transportation to get back to San Francisco on the Sunday but Dumbledore believed it best for them to arrive normally.
The group of ten arrived at the airport without any luggage, which made over half the group feel rather awkward. Wyatt, Chris, Draco, Ginny, and Ron were sitting in the same row near the end of the plane. They were the last to board the plane as the adults and Prue had already boarded with the prior group. The teenagers found their seats easily enough and were relieved to not have anyone sitting with them in the row. They listened politely to safety instructions and remained silent all through takeoff except for Wyatt and Chris's sniggers at their three unfortunate friends who had never flown in a plane. Ginny hid her nervousness easily enough but Ron and Draco were gripping their armrests, their knuckles white.
"The worst is over now." Chris said. "Draco, can you do that thing with your stick?"
Draco smiled. "Chris, I told you: not in the presence of a lady." Chris went bright red and muttered curses directed at Draco. Draco pulled out his wand from its hiding place and cast a charm that allowed them to talk without being overheard. "So what do you think is so important that Dumbledore keeps it a secret from everyone?" He had told them earlier about the conversation between Snape and McGonagall he had overheard. They had been arguing over how to convince the headmaster, who had showed up just for breakfast, to tell them what he was up to.
"I'm betting it has something to do with Voldemort." Ron said.
All the teens said in unison, "No kidding, genius." Ron scowled.
"Ok, we agree it is about Voldemort, but what?" Wyatt interrupted Ron's retort.
"Something that the elves know about." Draco answered. "He told me that the men that spoke with him were elves." Which explains why Dracola did not attack them.
"Not necessarily." Ginny chimed in. "He could just be using them to help find information. They after all, have a better chance of slipping in and out of England unnoticed than we humans do."
"I wish Hermione and Harry were here." Ron uttered his thought aloud. "They're the ones who figure these things out."
"I think that our parents know. Well, at least some of it." Chris said into the silence that had descended on the group. "Why else would Dumbledore have had them fetch the Book of Shadows?" Chris had used his recently acquired power to make the kitchen door disappear. He then conjured an illusion so the adults would not to find out; all in a blink of an eye.
"Yes, but he sounded disappointed. That means whatever he is looking for was not in the Book." Wyatt added to his brother's comment.
"Okay, so we have found out that our esteemed headmaster is looking for something or things. It is not Wiccan in nature, has something to do with Voldemort, and elves may or may not know about it or them." Ginny summed up their discussion.
"Is there anything else we know?" Chris asked. When no one spoke up he continued, "Good. Draco, take down the ward. Who wants to play Egyptian Rat Screw?"
Ron and Ginny nodded their head so Draco traded spots with Chris who pulled out a deck of Muggle cards from his jacket pocket. Wyatt shook his head and smiled. "He never leaves on a trip without that ruddy set of cards." Wyatt pulled out his CD player and checked what CD was in it. "Chris, stop using my stuff."
Chris shrugged. "Nothing you can do about it now. Why not try listening to them?"
"Besides the fact that I cannot stand them." Wyatt hissed. Chris smiled and stuck out his tongue. Wyatt took a breath. "Do you want to listen to it?" He offered the open CD player to Draco.
"Sure?" Draco looked hesitant. "Umm, how do I use it?"
People around them who had been listening into to their conversation since the row became so noisy after being completely dead goggled at the white haired Slytherin. Wyatt just glared at the people rude enough to try and look at Draco. "You just shut the lid and press that button. Oh and put the headphones," he pointed at the headphones, "on your head so that they cover your ears." Wyatt kept his voice low.
Draco placed the headphones on before pressing the play button and almost yelled because of how loud the music was turned up. Chris sniggered and tapped his finger against his knee. The volume grew softer and Draco enjoyed the music not understanding why Wyatt did not like the band. "Why don't you like this?"
Wyatt shrugged. "They are too up beat and sing about nonsense."
Draco nodded to show he heard. "Who are they?"
"Relient K." Chris answered. "Ow! Ginny you could have waited until I was paying attention."
Ginny smiled. "No, I couldn't…"
The flight was fairly short and before they knew it, they landed in Los Angles. The teens waited until the people around them got their baggage before getting up and exiting the plane. Piper and Leo were waiting for them just outside the exit. Piper looked ready to blow something up.
"Something the matter, Mom?" asked Chris.
Leo grabbed his wife's hands. "Your Mom is just a bit annoyed with some of the people here."
"A bit! Dad she almost blew me up." Chris exclaimed.
Piper shoved Leo's hands off her own. "Those idiots kept asking me for my autograph! They thought I was Holly Combs."
"And you find that insulting, why?" Wyatt asked.
Piper glared in her oldest son's direction. "It is too late, early…whatever for your comments, Wyatt." Wyatt smiled but kept behind his mom the rest of the way outside. Phoebe and Paige were waiting just inside for them with Prue who was in peaceful slumber land. They were hailed discretely by a driver who directed them to a black limo.
"I didn't know Dumbledore had this much money." Paige said as she climbed into the limo.
The limo ride was quiet with the exception of Ron's snores and Ginny's continuous "huff" every time Wyatt came into her line of sight. Draco and Chris were in a similar silence bubble used on the plane as they discussed Relient K's CD. Wyatt stared out the window doing his best to ignore Ginny. The rest had fallen asleep but abruptly brought out of sleep when the driver announced over the very loud intercom they had arrived at the Grangers residence.
The Granger house was a magnificent house in which looked remarkably like a stretched-out version of Monticello. The Grangers were waiting outside on the porch for their visitors.
"Welcome to our home." Mr. Granger said cheerily. The teen boys all looked ready to kill the man. He simply did not notice or ignored it. "The grand tour will have to wait as I'm sure you are all tired. Professor Dumbledore arrived an hour ago and asked that the adults please meet him in the kitchen. I believe he just wants a quick word about security tomorrow. The rest of you men follow me. Ginny, you will be rooming with Hermione." The group dispersed into the massive mansion. The adults following Mrs. Granger, the boys Mr. Granger, and Ginny followed Hermione.
The house was not huge; it was gigantic. The grounds covered enough area for an Olympic sized pool to be put in plus still have space to keep a few horses comfortably. The house consisted of ten guest rooms each with their own bathroom and then the two main bedrooms with the bathrooms containing spas. The kitchen took up the space of a small apartment. The dining room and living rooms were spacious and decorated by some famed French interior decorator.
Each bedroom was decorated in the fashion of a different country. Draco's looked like a walk-in Amazon Rainforest, while Wyatt's was a modern apartment in downtown New York. Chris chose the African safari room complete with a book on the Kruger National Park and a male lion's head hung from the wall. Ron's room took its inspiration from Victorian England. The rest of the house was decorated in the style of any normal British home.
"This is a beautiful house, Mrs. Granger," commented Wyatt as he ate an early breakfast.
"It isn't finished yet. The decorators still have to redo the remainder of the bedrooms. I'm sure you noticed they are rather clashing in styles." Hermione's mom stated in between slipping her coffee.
"I did notice that there are a lot of different styles in the rooms, yes." Wyatt said evenly. "May I ask how…?"
Mrs. Granger laughed. "How we paid for all of this and got the decorating do so quickly? My father was an extremely rich man, so that is where the money is coming from. Although, we got this house for a great deal, only ten million dollars. The decorating is being done by two young witches the Order sent as compensation for having to move out here." Wyatt nodded. "Enough about the house. Tell me something about yourself. Hermione just raves about you in her letters."
"She does?" Wyatt asked. "Well, that is news to me. Hermione and Ron are usually too busy noticing each other to notice anyone else. Not that it is a problem, they are great friends; it's just a shock that she—"
"Would tell her mom about you," completed Mrs. Granger.
"Well, yes." Wyatt agreed lamely.
"So tell me about yourself." Mrs. Granger pressed when Wyatt just sat there.
"I'm sixteen years old, was an extremely powerful witch—although at the moment, powerless, except for my blue shield. I have a great little brother and a cute baby sister. I used to have a girlfriend, but we seemed to have broken up. I live in San Francisco and attended Hogwarts for a year." Wyatt declared softly. "My family and I protect innocents from demons, warlocks, and any other type of supernatural evil which is extremely disruptive."
"Good morning." Hermione entered the kitchen and immediately sat down next to Wyatt. "I need to talk to you." She turned to her mother. "Alone if possible?"
"Use the family room. I'll make sure no one disturbs you."
They left the brilliantly lit kitchen into the warmly lit passage between the kitchen and the living room. They entered the living room and took a seat on the brown leather sofa facing the unlit fireplace. Above the fireplace sat pictures of the Grangers wedding, Hermione growing up, and a picture of Hermione and her two best friends.
Hermione noticed Wyatt staring at the picture. "I charmed it so that they don't move."
"I know. That wasn't what I was thinking about." Wyatt said simply as he turned to face the clever witch.
"What were you thinking about then?"
Wyatt gestured at the picture. "He just looks like a normal teenager. All of you do."
Hermione's face saddened. "That was taken just before the Third Task. When the wizarding world still seemed to be capable of dealing with a Dark Lord without placing the responsibility on a fourteen-year-old boy's shoulders."
"This year will be different." Wyatt stated confidently. "We will be finished with this Dark Lord business."
Hermione smiled. "Now don't say that; you'll jinx it. And I came here to talk to you about Ginny."
It was Wyatt's turn to have his face fall. "I'm not talking to her."
"Why not!" Hermione almost screamed. "I see it in both of your eyes; I know that she still loves you. She wants to be with you. And from what I can see you feel the same way about her."
Wyatt sat up straight. "She called it off all because I brought up Harry." Wyatt's voice rising.
"I know." Hermione said calmingly, although it did not work.
"She doesn't love me!" Wyatt yelled. "She loves Harry!"
Hermione nodded. "Of course she loves Harry."
Wyatt looked flabbergasted.
"As a brother," the witch explained. "That would have been the second time that she would have been the reason for Harry's death. And that is just too much of an unbearable thought for her. She had a crush on Harry, yes, but it was before she knew him. Before she realized that she was in love with the fantasy."
"So now she is in love wit the fantasy of the Twice Blessed." Wyatt snapped.
Hermione stared at the boy. "Are listening to yourself? Ginny is not stupid and neither are you. You knew of her crush and would you have asked her out if you believed she still had the same dilemma?"
Wyatt stopped midway into his first word. "No, I wouldn't have. I've had enough of those type of girls."
"Exactly," Hermione beamed. "You two are meant for each other. Ron has told me many a time that he has never seen Ginny this happy. And I've overheard your conversations with Harry and Chris."
Wyatt nodded. "It was not my idea to break up."
"But you never made a move to stop her either." Hermione slapped Wyatt softly when he rolled his eyes. "Ok, you tried to talk to her…once. And when she did not accept you back immediately you slammed the door behind you before she could stop you."
"So what should I do?"
"Well…"
The funeral was held in the chapel on Pepperdine's Malibu campus. The chapel sat on the lower hill of the campus overlooking the blue Pacific Ocean. The weather seemed to be mocking them as it was bright, sunny, and happy which, according to those from the area, was seldom. None of this mattered once they entered the chapel. The chapel was small with seating for a hundred although Wyatt believed it was with magical help. The side of the chapel facing the ocean was a beautiful stained glass window that took up the entire wall. The two families of the dead boys were sitting right up front with the exception of Jack, Brendin's dad, was standing in front talking to who Wyatt believed the minister. On the stage stood two giant photos, one of Brendin Will with his hair still short the other of Ethan Long with his boyish grin that caused all the girls around him to swoon. Wyatt took a deep breath as he took his seat right behind Daelan, Casey, and Kyle.
"Hello," Wyatt whispered into Kyle's ear.
Kyle's head turned around so fast Wyatt's eyes barely registered the motion. "We thought you got held up."
Wyatt shook his head. "We got held back at the Grangers house. Dumbledore was running late."
"We expect a full explanation after the service ends." Daelan stated. He did not turn around but he placed a comforting hand on Caleb's shoulder. The younger boy smiled gratefully at Daelan with tears running freely out of his red eyes.
The minister cleared his throat and all eyes fell on him. "We are ready to begin…"
Brendin paced around the office. His short blonde hair lying flat as he did not have access to gel. "Us, wizards? Are you sure?"
Dumbledore chuckled, "Yes. I realize this is a huge shock for you and under different circumstances the wizarding world would have left you in the dark, for lack of a better expression. But since Voldemort has chosen you five to be his number one targets, even placing a higher priority on your deaths than Mr. Potter and myself, certain members of the wizarding world saw fit to in form you of your gifts. I, being the headmaster of this school, enrolled you for your own and others' protection. Here you will…"
Kyle, gray eyes constantly alert, stood up and rudely interrupted the headmaster, "I read that magical potential reaches it climax at age eleven disappears once the child has fully entered puberty."
The headmaster nodded his head. "While that is true, some experts believe that some people will never lose their magic and it is activated when they are in a stressful situation. Now I won't deny this hypothesis has been disproved numerous times, but the Unspeakables only tested wizards restricted to the use of a wand. You and another handful of wizards possess the ability of a magical power; an example would be telepathy or molecular combustion. This form of magic is believed to have died out around the time of the Salem Witch Trials."
Casey and Ethan sat in dead silence; they were taking this magic thing hard. Daelan, too, was taking magic being real hard, but unlike his two friends took out his frustration on Kyle. He refused to acknowledge Kyle even existed. Kyle slipped into this new society very quickly; he was brought up with the belief that magic does exist or at least his parent never denied its existence. Brendin and Daelan both were from families who refused to even read fairytales to them when they were young. Casey and Ethan had less strict parents but nonetheless believed that stuff like this could never even exist never mind happen to them.
Brendin stopped his pacing. While he still could not believe this was happening, it seemed that he had very little choice in the matter. "When do we get to meet the rest of the school?" The others stared at him; they believed that like the rest of them he would be opposed to this idea. "Well, there is no use denying the obvious. We have all seen magic being done," he smiled sheepishly, "and talking to old headmasters gets…well…old."
Dumbledore smiled at the comment. "For that I am truly sorry, but there was another crisis and introducing you was the last thing my visitors needed…"
Casey's brown eyes glistened with tears as the memory came to an end. That was the day that Brendin had sealed his and Ethan's fate; the day he decided to join the world that would end up killing him less than a year later. He returned his attention to the minister…
"You are to wait here until the Headmaster is ready to hear you," sneered Draco.
"We can tell and what are you doing here?" spat Ron.
"I was just passing by and was told by Professor Snape to tell you to wait here." The Slytherin moved to leave but stopped. " I never got your name." He pointed at Wyatt.
"I'm Wyatt." Wyatt answered calmly and as casually as he could muster. Draco noticed the boy's mood changed when his eyes fell on five teens descending down the Marble Staircase. "Hello Brendin, I see Dumbledore decided to allow you out of his office." Draco silently slipped away but remained close enough to hear and see what was going on.
"Yip, he said that we are going to become part of the DA and we had to give a statement before the Order." Said the dirty blonde, spike-haired boy with hazel eyes and lightly tanned skin. All of the boys wore simple dark blue jeans and black t-shirts. His statement looked like it shocked Harry, but the Boy-Who-Lived let it slide.
"Hi, I'm Daelan." An older boy with the same blonde hair as Draco and similar skin complexion, except the stranger had color in his face. He also had blue eyes instead of Draco's gray ones.
"My name isCasey." This boy was tan and had some Latin blood in him. His almost black hair was cut neatly and his brown eyes were almost as intense as Dumbledore's blue ones.
"Ethan." The owner of the voice stood somewhat separate from the first three but it could have been that he was waiting for the fifth one to come closer. The boy who spoke, Ethan, had hazel eyes and light brown hair which was long and constantly being brushed out the his eyes.
"Kyle at your service." This boy had a phoenix, Dumbledore's phoenix perched on his shoulder, but the phoenix flew and landed on Harry's shoulder after a few moments. This boy reminded Draco a lot of his school rival with the same pitch black, wild hair. But he lacked the emerald green eyes, he had gray ones, and was more filled out than the lanky Gryffindor hero. Draco watched the group until the doors to the Hall opened…
Draco snapped out of his thoughts when a smiling Ginny poked him in the ribs. He guessed that the young woman thought he had fallen asleep…
"Right now we should worry about that," said Brendin. He pointed at the advancing floating cloaks.
"What are they?" asked a fearful Casey. The group huddled closer together, the two adults trying to see what the kids were scared of. They all jumped at a loud crack. An exhausted Kyle and frightened Ashley, Brendin's younger sister, stood where the sound originated.
"I wish Harry gave me that last ring, apparating is tiring. And why is it so darn cold?" Kyle looked up and saw the creatures moving in. "Oh!" Kyle moved up front and spoke directly at the cloaks. "Go away!" Everyone looked curiously at the black haired boy.
To their surprise the cloak answered in a ghostly hissing whisper. "And who are you to command us what to do?"
"I am owner of this property and you are trespassing!" Kyle shouted but he was starting to sweat; everyone was also starting to feel the effects of the creatures.
"Trespassing is of no concern of ours." The creature laughed, a cold emotionless laugh. "You lied, though; this manor and the grounds surrounding it belong to the oldest heir of the Potter line."
Casey tapped Kyle on the shoulder, "What are these things?"
Kyle was really struggling to stay conscious. "They are Dementors." With that said, Kyle collapsed. A nearby Dementor made a move to grab him, but suddenly exploded.
"Now, now my pets," hissed a wizard. "You are meant to be at Stonehenge." The Dementors all disappeared, which in turn welcomed back the moonlight. Kyle also awoke and upon seeing the wizard scrambled back to join the group. "My name is Lord Voldemort, and you five have caused me a lot of problems." Voldemort brandished his wand and pointed at Kyle.
"You will never get near them," shouted Jack running toward the Dark Lord, placing himself directly in front of him.
"My dear Muggle, I don't need to be near them to kill them and you are not much of a shield. Now stand aside I don't want to hurt you, but it is your choice." Clouds covered the full moon so that the only light was coming from Voldemort's wand.
Jack stumbled at theses words. "Why wouldn't you kill me?"
"Because I want Harry Potter to know that I personally killed this group of wizards. Wouldn't want him to think that a bunch of my weak followers outmatched him. Now, MOVE." Without thinking or knowing what he was doing Jack stepped aside. Voldemort smiled and faced the group of teens. "Now I will be gracious and give you the same option I gave Harry. Join me and rule the world and I will leave your families alone or you can die here and now."
Casey stood up, "Voldemort, you are the most pathetic liar I have ever seen. Now I'll give you a choice: leave, before you suffer another defeat, or stay and find out just how good of a wizard Harry truly is." Although his voice was strong, Casey was shaking with fear.
"You dare mock me!" Voldemort pointed his wand at Casey and cast the spell before anyone could move. They watched as the Killing Curse flew toward their friend.
"No," shouted Daelan. The spell changed direction hitting and killing the tree in its way.
"What? How the hell did you do that?" demanded Voldemort staring at the dead tree.
"They are more powerful than you could ever imagine, Voldemort. In fact you should be grateful that is all he did." Harry came out of the house and stood in front of Voldemort, placing himself between Voldemort and the group. His voice was firm but Harry knew he stood no chance against Voldemort. "I would take Casey's very gracious option before you embarrass yourself anymore."
"They may be able to deflect one curse, but what about fireballs." Voldemort formed a ball of fire in his hand and threw it at Brendin. Brendin flicked his hands in fright and the ball froze in midair. Harry conjured up some water and doused the fire, which disappeared. This simple spell caused him to break out in sweat, but thanks to the lack of light Voldemort did not notice it.
"Leave now," said Harry dangerously; he pointed his wand directly at the Dark Lord's heart and Voldemort visibly shuddered. "You will not win this fight. Leave."
"You will pay, dearly for this Potter." Shouted a furious Dark Lord, but he disappeared.
Kyle shuddered slightly at the memory of his first encounter with the wizard that had destroyed and ruined so many lives including his own. The wizard responsible for Brendin and Ethan's deaths. If he had not broken into the Ministry they would never have died because Harry and Wyatt would have been able to protect them…
Dracola lay slumped against the far wall in Harry's hospital room. His dinner, pig's blood, sitting in a pool around him. The door was charred by the fire that had blasted out of the tiny dragon when it sensed a strange presence. The presence turned out to be a man in his mid fifties with short gray/white hair. He glanced around the room with his demonic black eyes, searching for any danger. Once he felt the coast was clear he walked over to Harry's bed and waved his hand over the Gryffindor's face.
"The fear that lies within, awaken and do my bidding." He whispered. His hand glowed a pale red and demonic lettering appeared on his palm. "So you're afraid of that, Harry. Lets make it real, shall we?" The demon smiled as he clapped his hands together causing Harry to sweat. "I smell fear…"
They landed on the Astronomy Tower, under the glowing Dark Mark floating in the stormy night sky. Dumbledore dismounted his broom and headed toward the door that led to the spiral staircase. Harry remained on his broom taking in the fact that somebody had died in the castle. It could be anyone including one of his friends and it would be his fault. The ramparts were deserted. The door remained shut. There was no sign of a struggle, of a fight to the death, of a body.
"What does it mean?" Harry asked Dumbledore, looking up at the green skull with its serpent's tongue glittering evilly above them. "Is it the real Mark? Has somebody really been – Professor?"
In the dim green glow cast by the floating image, Harry saw Dumbledore clenching at his chest with his wand hand.
"Go and wake Severus," said Dumbledore faintly but clearly. "Tell him what has happened and bring him to me. Do nothing else, speak to nobody else, and do not remove that cloak of yours. I shall wait here."
"But –"
"You swore to obey me, Harry – go!"
Harry hurried to the door dropping his broom along the way. He opened the door only to be hit by a Total Body Bind shot by a wizard chasing another wizard with a black billowing cloak. Harry toppled backwards unable to move but he saw the flash of green and a body crumpled to the floor. The body could be heard rolling down the stairs; Harry cringed at the sound. Another friend dead.
Dumbledore had backed away from the door when Harry had opened it. He was now doing his best to remain standing, leaning against the wall. The murderer aimed his wand at the old headmaster and bellowed 'Expelliarmus.' Dumbledore's already useless wand flew out of his old hand and down to the grounds below.
Very white in the face, Dumbledore still showed no signs of panic or betrayal. He merely looked at his disarmer and said, "Good Evening, Severus."
"Where is Potter, Dumbledore?" The Potion Master looked worse for wear. He was sporting a cut lip and his left arm was bleeding profusely.
"I should be asking you the questions, what is going on here?" Dumbledore replied politely.
"He is up here in that damn cloak of his idiotic father's." The Slytherin spat.
The headmaster slid down slightly. "I told Harry to go through the front entrance and warn the staff about there being Death Eaters in the castle."
"Oh, that was pointless. Potter's little gang of students bumped into the blundering simpletons the Dark Lord sent to aid me and warned your Order." Snape said evenly. His tiny, merciless black eyes surveying the second broom. "So why is there a second broom?"
Dumbledore slid to the floor and now had to look up. "I brought Harry's broom up with me. The wards would stop him from being able to return the broom to Rosemerta." The powerless man answered flawlessly and calmly.
The Head of Slytherin seemed to accept the explanation. "I have waited a long time for this, Dumbledore."
"Oh, and what exactly is it you have been waiting for?" inquired Dumbledore.
"Killing you, taking my rightful place as Voldemort's second-in-charge instead of the incompetent witch, Lestrange." The greasy-haired wizard aimed his wand at the only wizard that had given him a chance.
"Before you kill me, I have a favor to ask." Dumbledore waited for the younger wizard to nod. "Who was chasing you?"
"That werewolf!" Snape spat in disgust.Harry's heart leapt. "But he ducked under my spell. No matter, Greyback will kill him. Tonight will be the last for the Marauders…and it is your last."
Harry felt sick at what he heard next. Dumbledore actually begged. "Severus, please…you know I can pro…"
"NO!" Snape shouted. "It is over, Dumbledore. I never joined you and never will." The dark wizard looked down his hooked nose at the crumpled wizard that used to be the renowned Albus Dumbledore. His eyes showed nothing but abhorrence. The wind howled as Severus Snape cast the spell, "Avada Kedavra."
Harry watched the green light hit the old wizard. The force of the spell picked up the dead body and threw it over the ramparts. Harry imagined the body falling down the Tower until it finally reached the ground with bone snapping abruptness. The spell that Lupin had placed Harry under accidentally disappeared but Harry could not move because of a worse reason. The war had claimed Harry's last parental figure, Albus Dumbledore…
AN: I meant to call the dragon Dracola (Draco dragon and Dracula a famous vampire)
As I'm sure you noticed I used a big section from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JKR. I give her all the credit with coming up with the scene; I just tweaked it to my liking.
The song in the taxi is Be My Escape by Relient K.
Next chapter – Talking, Harry wakes up, and a day at Malibu beach.
PS: sorry for the boring chapter but I needed to introduce you all to the characters and explain their relationships.