It was the morning of the 31 of July and Armand Malfoy arrived in his painting at the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, eager to share some news, around 9 in the morning.
Draco and his mother were taking their breakfast with a member of the Order who had come back a few minutes ago from a spying mission and stopped by to drop a report. Narcissa had offered her breakfast and so the tired woman accepted happily. She'd go home later. They were all sitting around the table silently when Armand appeared.
"Young Master Malfoy, you should call Albus Dumbledore, I have important news. I think he'll want to know right away. He'll need to organize his allies quickly." Armand declared and Draco nodded while his mother went to use the Chimney to contact the Headmaster who arrived less than 5 minutes later, still wearing what seemed to be his sleep wear.
She had been told what to do if someone needed to be contacted quickly. If it wasn't urgent, she'd call Sirius or Andromeda. If it was urgent, she called Albus in his Chimney at Hogwarts.
"Armand Malfoy, I trust this is important if you asked for me." Albus smiled at the portrait.
The headmaster didn't seem bothered by the fact that he was being seen in his sleepwear.
"It is. There has been a lot of agitation at Malfoy Manor since yesterday afternoon. First of all, the Dark Lord came back, along with his snake, with a mystery guest. I think it's a man, but the face was hidden so I can't be sure. This person is either old or sick, or both. None of the Death Eaters know who it is, nor are they allowed to go near him, but they are very curious. The Dark Lord has insisted that they had to stay away from the room he placed him in, only the house elves are allowed near him and they have been forbidden to look at him so they can't know who he is either. He has been placed in young Master Draco's bedroom, which, as you know, holds no paintings for me to go in, so I can't know more, especially since apparently, the identity of this person has to remain secret." Armand declared.
"Is this new mystery guest a prisoner?" Albus asked with a frown.
"No, apparently it's an important and valued guest. The Dark Lord calls him his new valuable ally. I think it wasn't planned. The Dark Lord had apparently another plan when he left, another quest, but he didn't find what he was looking for. He did say that this new guest would make up for his own failure to solve his problem, whatever it was." Armand informed him.
"This is intriguing..." Albus shook his head, wondering who this could be.
"There is more. The Dark Lord has called a lot of his followers and they are planning something big for today. Apparently they've all received their instructions previously, they didn't speak of anything specific, just times, a few people were reassigned to a new team, things like that. It's definitely going to be a big attack. It's going to start between 6 and 8pm. I didn't manage to hear more, I'll go back and warn you if I do but I had to let you know now, this could be important." Armand Malfoy declared.
"Thank you, this helps." Albus nodded.
"You don't think he could be planning to attack the Marauder's Lair, do you?" Narcissa asked the headmaster quietly once the portrait was empty once more.
"No, he can't know where it is... We didn't think he'd attack today, because he did so last year and I thought he'd want to surprise us with an attack later but... Obviously I was wrong." Albus shook his head.
"What should we do?" Draco asked.
"The two of you go to the Marauder's Lair for the birthday party, as planned. Prepare to spend the night there, just in case. We'll start warning Order members to be on their guards for tonight." Albus decided.
"Will I fight too?" Narcissa asked in a small voice, afraid of facing her old friends but determined to do whatever she had to in order to protect her son.
"We can't ask you this, no. You'll stay behind with the kids, make sure none of them try to leave to fight." Albus replied before he left, asking the other member who was present to start contacting the others.
Dumbledore wondered what Voldemort would attack tonight. Surely he wouldn't do like last year and attack Godric's Hollow as a distraction to break his followers out of Azkaban, would he? Azkaban had so many different protections, he wouldn't be able to take it like he did last year... Would he even be able to get past the Goblin Elite Guards?
Albus went quickly back to the Castle so he could get dressed before he went to the Ministry of Magic and asked for a meeting with Cornelius Fudge and the head of the auror department so they could organize their defenses. They would send protections, Aurors, to patrol Godric's Hollow, Diagon Alley and other important or significant places. The Minister was sure that Azkaban was secure, but he still asked the Goblins to send more guards to the prison, just in case. Albus would have his Order members at the ready. Some of them would be at Sirius' for the birthday party, the others would patrol along with Ministry people and be ready to warn the others.
.
"Well, looks like Voldemort wants to celebrate your birthday with a bang once more." Sirius declared after Narcissa arrives and explained what news they had gotten that morning.
"He's planning another attack?" Rose asked.
While his mother was speaking with Sirius, Draco had been introduced to Dudley. Draco had been taught not to like muggles, his father had even implied that they had a different smell, but he had to admit that it wasn't the case. When you looked at Harry and Rose's muggle cousin, there was nothing that made him significantly different from the others.
"Yes, but we don't know where." Narcissa replied.
"He can't be planning to attack Azkaban once more, could he? That's what he did last year and he has a lot of followers there at the moment, some important ones." Harry suggested.
"We have no idea but we're considering it. We'll have to be ready. Now why don't you kids go about your day. Don't worry, we're protected, especially here. I'll start contacting people with Narcissa." Sirius told the kids who nodded.
"Why are people afraid to say his name? Voldemort I mean?" Dudley asked once they were outside, enjoying the warm weather.
"I think he wants it this way." Draco replied, getting used to people saying the name around him now but still surprised that a muggle said it.
He had tried to say the name, practiced in front of the mirror even, but he couldn't get the name out yet. He was determined to try though. He could be just as brave as any Gryffindor.
"The fear of a name amplifies the fear of the thing itself. And he's done so many terrible things... Even what he didn't do himself, what his followers did in his name... People think that not saying the name protects them a bit." Rose explained.
"That's stupid, they should just say the name." Harry shook his head.
"Maybe you should find him another nickname, one that's not as scary as his name, that lets people know who you're speaking about and that kind of makes fun of his name." Dudley suggested.
"His original name was Tom Riddle. I use this name when I speak with him. Dumbledore does too. It drives him mad with anger every time." Harry declared.
"I like the nickname suggestion." Draco smiled.
"We should speak about this to Fred and George when they arrive, I'm sure they'll come up with something good quickly." Rose decided and they nodded.
"Moldypoop instead of Voldemort." Harry suggested with a wicked smile that would have made his father proud.
"Moldypoop... I like it!" Draco smiled widely.
"Me too." Rose nodded.
"The beginning of the name is close enough that people will know who you're talking about, but they won't be afraid to say the name." Dudley nodded.
"We have to spread this new nickname! As soon as the other arrive, we're telling them. Fred and George might even make a poster in their shop for this!" Rose exclaimed.
It was barely 11 am when the Wealsey arrived. Nobody was scheduled to arrive before 3pm and so Harry and Rose were surprised, though both Potter twins happily went to kiss and hug their significant other. Then Dudley was introduced to everyone. He knew that his cousin's friend didn't like him much because of the past but he happily learned that they could give second chances too. They treated him as though they didn't know anything about him, like he hadn't been the one to torture and make fun of Harry all these years. They were good people, he had to admit it.
He had the Pygmy Puffs with them and Ginny immediately went to play with them.
"Not that I'm complaining, but why are you here so early?" Harry asked Ginny.
"Dad's working until 4 and mom has to help organize the Order for tonight's potential attack. I think more people will come early. Sirius just kind of became the Order's babysitter for the day." Ginny replied.
"I'm not sure I like that term much... George and I are adults now! We don't need babysitters!" Fred complained.
"Mom warned Mister Lovegood, he's joined the Order recently and I think Luna will come here early too. She'll probably spend the night at either your place or ours." George informed them.
"I'm guessing we should be expecting Neville as well then." Rose guessed.
"Do you think Hermione will still come?" Draco asked.
"I don't know. We also invited Dean, Seamus, the Patil's and Lavender, but we don't know if they'll come or not. Sirius and Dumbledore are probably organizing this." Rose replied.
"I think our best birthday will be the one after Voldemort is killed. I swear, we'll organize the party of the century then." Harry declared, a frown on his face.
"Well, you're safe and with your friends, and I'm not trying to ruin the day for you so you've definitely had worst birthdays." Dudley reminded him.
"That's so true." Harry chuckled.
Remus and Tonks arrived early for lunch and while Tonks had to leave early to patrol along with her colleagues, Remus stayed behind for the time being, to help organize the party. Kreacher was present for the day and the creature had intrigued Dudley a lot especially after he was explained what he was.
"Hi guys!" Hermione exclaimed as she joined them in the garden about 30 minutes after the Weasley had arrived.
"Hermione!" Rose exclaimed, rushing to hug her friend.
"When did you arrive?" Harry asked her.
"Just now. We were supposed to drive here but this morning Dumbledore came over, said he'd take me here himself with a portkey for my security because of an attack planned today. I already placed my bag in your bedroom Rose, I hope you don't mind." Hermione explained.
"Of course not. Looks like we'll have a giant pyjamas party tonight." Rose smiled.
"True, mom made us pack a small bag too. They're expecting the fight to last long. Our bags are already upstairs too. Fred tried to place his in Rose's bedroom but Sirius caught him and gave him a kick in the butt." Ginny nodded.
"It was very funny." Ron nodded.
"I just wanted to see if he'd noticed!" Fred defended himself with a wink to his girlfriend.
Ginny was barely done speaking when Neville and Luna arrived.
"Hi guys!" They exclaimed.
They still had their overnight bags with them, so Rose and Harry guided them upstairs so they could put their bags away for now. Apparently, Neville's grandmother was organizing things with the Order as well and she was planning on fighting until the risk was over.
They all ate lunch, cooked by Kreacher, and managed to keep the mood light. Kreacher had outdone himself, especially considering the number of unexpected guests. Sirius couldn't believe how much his old house elf had changed since knowing they were doing what Regulus had done.
After lunch they went back outside and divided in many various activities. Dudley was teaching the boys how to play soccer. He had watched them play Quidditch for a bit and since he couldn't join in, Harry suggested the others learned soccer so they could all join. It intrigued Neville a lot, especially since he wasn't comfortable on a broom.
Rose and Fred spent most of their time together, refusing to be appart when they could be together. They went in the swimming pool for a while, along with Luna and Hermione. After a while, Fred joined the others and the three girls stayed alone in the pool. Ginny was with the boys since she loved sports.
Dudley was getting along pretty well with everyone and Rose noticed that he spent a lot of his time speaking with Luna. He seemed very interested in what she had to say.
At lunch, Luna had been seated between Dudley and Draco and they had both paid her a lot of attention. Draco was amused by her stories, not really believing that these animals existed and Dudley was lost, but decided that as long as she believed in it, it must be true. After all, his cousin was a wizard and a few years ago, he believed magic didn't exist. He decided that as long as someone believed in something, it could exist somewhere. He had showed Luna the Pygmy Puffs he had gotten the previous day and Luna informed him that they were known for singing on boxing day. Dudley decided that if they sang during the next boxing day, then everything else she talked about was true.
Hagrid arrived at 3pm, with a handmade wallet for each of the twins. It was a special wallet made of a special skin that prevented anyone that wasn't the true owner from opening it.
Dudley had been a bit scared of facing Hagrid at first, remembering their first, and only, encounter when he had informed Harry of the fact that he was a wizard and had given Dudley a pig tail, but he had been surprised to see that the half giant was acting like it had never happened. For such a scary looking man, Hagrid was very kind, a true teddy bear, Dudley noted. Harry had confided in him about the man, explained how Hagrid had looked over him since the first year. He was a true friend, almost family. I was obvious to the muggle teenager that Harry loved Hagrid dearly and one look was enough to understand that the affection was reciprocated.
They had invited their dorm friends Lavender, Parvati and her sister, Dean and Seamus as well for the party but they ended up not being able to come. Dumbledore and Sirius had warned their parents about the possible attack and they had decided to keep their children with them for the day, not to take any risks. They knew that the Marauder's lair was safe, but they didn't know where the attack would take place and how long it would last, so they decided to keep their children with them.
Review please
Who do you think will happen next chapter?
By the way, MOLDYPOOP, you like it or not?
Lorelei Candice Black