"While we're at school, we'll be cadets, if there's a major emergency we can be called out. But at school all it really means, is that the Unit pays for our schooling and we have extra training classes a couple of times a week." Harry said. "But… I want the entire thing off the books until Riddle is gone, then we can present it to Fudge and Madam Bones."
"Let me approach Bones." Moody said. "But I think I can sell her on it."
"Do you think you can find Colin and Dennis, Hedwig?" Harry asked, only for his beautiful owl to nip at his fingers sharply, giving an indignant hoot. "Well, I'm sorry. It's just that I don't have an address and Hagrid did tell me that I shouldn't send you on a first delivery without one." The owl hooted and snatched the letter from Harry's hand and took off, smacking her wing feathers against his head in a clearly chiding move. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry…" He called to the quickly departing bird.
"It's disconcerting to watch you with her." Sirius said. "Owls aren't supposed to respond like that."
Harry smiled fondly. "Yeah, she's one of a kind."
"How long do you think it will take her to get there?" Bucky asked.
"I have no idea, but I'd doubt it'll take much more than an hour before we hear back. I know that they live somewhere in London, just not the exact address." Harry said. "The Creevey boys are… they're like puppies, eager and excitable." He said as they reached the park gate opposite the Black house on Grimmauld Place.
"Well, let's go in, the Order meeting should be starting soon." Sirius reminded them.
"What do we tell them about you and Bucky?" Harry asked as they entered the dreary townhouse.
"I'm the new Lord Black and Bucky's my husband." Sirius said. "They don't need to know anything else. If they push, I suppose I can tell them that my father was Alphard and Walburga tried to disown him for supporting Sirius."
Harry caught a glimpse of a dark figure entering number twelve Grimmauld Place behind them and knew that for all his nonchalant manner, Snape had seen them and was listening closely. A raised brow to Sirius and Bucky had both of them giving eye-nods, indicating that they'd seen the potions Master.
"Do you think the Headmaster will let me stay for the Order's meeting?" Harry asked.
"I doubt it, you heard him say no-one underage." Sirius-as-Cyril said.
"Do I have to go upstairs or can I stay in the lounge?" Harry sighed.
"Upstairs, Potter." Snape said, finally deciding to enter the conversation.
"Yes, Professor." Harry sighed. "Oh, you haven't met, have you?" He gestured between the three adults.
"Not yet." Bucky said easily.
"This is potions Master Snape, he teaches as Hogwarts." Harry indicated to Snape, who raised a brow at the neutral phrasing. "Professor, this is Cyril Black and his husband, Buchannan Black. Cyril is the new Lord Black, he's… S-Sirius was his cousin." He made sure to stumble over Sirius' name. The four walked towards the stairs that went down to the kitchen and paused there.
"I wasn't aware that Black had any male cousins." A new voice said. "Dedalus Diggle." The wizard introduced himself.
"Ah, that would be because of Walburga." Sirius-as-Cyril said. "She may have blasted father off of her copy of the family tapestry but as Arcturus was still alive, she didn't have the authority to do more than throw a tantrum. I'll grant that Cousin Sirius was cast out of her branch of the family, but again she didn't have the authority to cast him from mainbranch. He was still Arcturus's only grandson."
"So how did the Head of House come to you?" Diggle asked.
"Arcturus had two siblings, neither of them had sons." Sirius-as-Cyril replied. "From there the Family Magic went looking through his cousins and while some of them had sons and grandsons, for one reason or another, the Family Magics declared them unsuitable. I do know that at least one is a convicted criminal and as for the others? Some are already heirs to other titles, the Black title will not accept someone who already holds outside rankings."
"No, I dare say it wouldn't." Snape nodded. "Potter, I suggest you head upstairs, now." He nodded towards the set of stairs further down the hall.
"Yes, Professor…" Harry sighed but went where he was ordered. "I'll be in the library, when you finish."
He climbed the stairs and entered the library, quickly crossing to the window and opening it. He didn't want Hedwig to wait, when she returned. Sitting at the massive desk he pulled out parchment, quill and ink and began to make notes.
Less than twenty minutes after Harry opened the window, Hedwig landed on the owl stand beside the desk and held out a leg to Harry.
"Oh, thank you, Hedwig. Would like a mouse?" Harry laid his hands on two boxes, one of mice and the other of treats. "Or a biscuit?" Hedwig dipped her beak in the direction of the biscuits. "You got it, girl." He pulled out a biscuit and held it up for her to take. "You rest there while I deal with this."
He opened the letter and quickly read Colin's reply.
"Great." He grinned and made a few more notes. A few minutes passed as he wrote his ideas down.
"Hey." Bucky entered the library with Sirius on his heels.
"Hey, how'd it go?" Harry asked.
"Albus is the Master at telling people one thing but meaning something different." Sirius laughed. "He told them about Pettigrew and what the DMLE had found. About what Bill, Charlie and the twins were going to do, including the adoptions and Bill taking the Prewett Headship. Snape was the only one to ask after what the twins would be doing. He mentioned that, when they were angry, their pranks tended to cross the line from fun to nasty."
"I warned you." Harry held out a hand and Sirius sighed and dropped a ʛalleon into it.
"You did." Sirius went on. "Bill said the twins were going to concentrate on keeping you occupied this summer and work with a healer to try and limit any lasting damage done by the rat."
"Well that's completely true." Harry nodded.
"But only a fraction of the truth." Bucky agreed.
"Snape also said he would send along some Sleep-Eze and some calming draughts, as well as a few books." Sirius continued. "He seemed to think that some meditation techniques would help. He was most surprised when Albus said that the Horcrux had been removed from Harry."
"He wanted to know how and listened closely to Bill's explanation." Bucky told Harry. "He nodded at times and said that if we were going to let the twins loose with you then having some additional doses of the Systemic Purification Draught on hand would be wise."
"He also said that, as you being a horcrux is no longer an issue, you should find occlumency much easier to learn and will send along a selection of books." Sirius sat down on the edge of the desk. "He has asked if Albus would be able to forward a letter to you, that there are things that he would like to tell you about your mother, now that your mind is no longer accessible by Riddle."
"Other than that, the meeting was mostly about the Weasleys and what's going to happen to them." Bucky stepped up alongside Sirius and slung an arm around the smaller man's shoulders, pulling him close against his side. The warm look exchanged between them, always brought a smile to Harry's face.
"Have the Creevey boys replied?" Sirius asked and received an offended hoot from Hedwig. "My apologies, Madam, I wasn't sure if he would reply now, or need to speak to parents first." Hedwig huffed a hoot and turned her back to him. "I think I offended her. Sorry." He grimaced.
"Yes, I think you did." Harry reached out and ran a finger down Hedwig's wing, causing her to turn her head to him and nibble on his finger. "And yes, Colin replied. He even contacted the other muggle-raised kids in Dennis' year. Natalie, Euan and Nigel. All of them are interested and their families want to know more. Natalie's father is going to pick up the Creevey's and bring them to number Eleven, at seven o'clock. Nigel lives here in Islington, just a few minutes' walk away on Highbury Place. Euan lives about the same distance away in Clissold."
"And they're bring parents?" Sirius asked.
"Natalie's mother and father, Melissa and John are coming. Plus, their other two children, who are twins and have already received their Hogwarts letters." Harry looked to his notes. "Colin's father, Malcolm is coming. Euan's father is away for work so his Uncle Robert, who he lives with, is bringing him. The Uncle has authority to act on Euan's behalf, noted by Gringotts and the Ministry. Nigel's father is a soldier and is deployed overseas, his mother, Annette will be coming. They'll be bringing Nigel's younger brother, Eugene, he's only ten, but he got hold of Nigel's wand last week and turned their cat blue. The Ministry suggested that Mrs Wolpert get a wand box to lock Nigel's wand in during the holidays and fined them ʛ5."
"Hi, Harry!" Colin chirped brightly, when Morita brought the two families into the lounge of number Eleven, two hours later. The Howling Commando nodded to Harry and left, immediately.
"Hi Colin. Hi Dennis. Hi Natalie." He gave each of the students a smile and turned to their families. "Hi. If you haven't worked it out from Colin's greeting, I'm Harry Potter. Thanks for coming."
"Of course, Mr Potter." Malcolm laughed. "Colin's got hundreds of pictures of you and the other Gryffindors, hung up on his walls. All carefully labelled, so we'd know everyone's names."
Morita returned with the other two families, before Harry could comment further. Introductions were made and after a few minutes, the under-Hogwarts-age children were happily ensconced watching a movie with Peggy and Tonks, while the parents and students filled the dining room.
"Alright, I think we're due an explanation." John McDonald looked from Harry to Bucky. "I know who you are, but that's not possible."
"Ah…" Bucky winced. "Me being here is… complicated."
"Bucky comes into this story, much later." Harry said. "This starts back in 1925. In a tiny little hamlet called Little Hangleton lived a pureblood wizarding family, called Gaunt…" Harry explained the life and history of Tom Riddle and how he came to be the Dark Lord that was causing so much trouble for British wizarding world.
"But what has that got to do with us and our kids?" Melissa asked.
"We're planning on forming an Anti-Terrorism Unit." Harry said. "And I'm cherry picking from the D.A."
"But our boys are underage." Malcolm objected.
"They are." Harry nodded. "But they won't always be. Mind you, Riddle doesn't care how old they are, as far as he's concerned, they're muggleborns and should die. He'll order his people to kill them on sight, along with you and the rest of the family. To them, muggleborns are a blight on magic. Something they have to remove."
"Oh, Lord help us…" Melissa whispered.
"Like I said... We plan to form an Anti-Terrorism Unit." Harry said. "Not all of those I pick, will be trained as field personnel. A lot will be behind the scenes. R&D, admin, planning, supplies, transport, etc. But we need to deal with Riddle before we can really get into the finer details. If we don't? He'll have destroyed the wizarding world, to the point that the Unit will be worthless."
"That makes sense." Robert nodded, approvingly.
"Yeah," Harry shrugged. "So, I'm picking those that I think could be fighters or protectors. Colin and Natalie will be a part of the protection squad, while Dennis and Euan will start off in the same squad but will eventually move to a frontline team. Nigel could go either way, it will depend on how much effort he puts into his training."
"And the other children?" Malcolm asked.
"The other D.A. members or your other children?" Harry asked.
"Ours. To start with." Malcolm replied.
"The Unit will take over paying their school costs." Harry explained. "While they're at school, they'll participate in extracurricular training and if an emergency occurs, they'll work with the protection squads. Once they complete their schooling, they'll work for the Unit for two years, still in the protection squads. At the end of that time, they'll be given the chance to leave or to join the Unit permanently. If they join the Unit, they'll be reassessed on their skills and between them and us, we'll work out where they'll be best suited and train them accordingly."
"They'll be paid while they're with us." Sirius added. "It might only be a small stipend while at school but that will increase each year. Once they leave Hogwarts, they'll receive wages commensurate with their skills and tasks. Gringotts will be the ones to witness the contracts and oaths, so you'll know that they're as fair as they can be. "
"I don't suppose you'd be interested in a pensioned-off communications officer?" Robert asked hesitantly.
Harry and Sirius exchanged questioning look and both nodded.
"We would, sir." Harry said.
"Hold on." John held up a hand. 'That's the long term, what about the short term and dealing with the current menace?"
"Ah, well…" Harry grimaced. "We're hoping that your kids can join us for some time over the summer. We'll see that they get extra training in both the muggle and magical fields, custom wands, protective clothing and any weapons that they need. We're going to take down Riddle, hopefully before school starts in September."
"How?" Annette asked. "That's only a few weeks away. How are the children going to learn enough to be able to protect themselves, let alone take down a psychopath and his army?"
"We have access to a property with a time dilation field." Harry said. "One day outside the field equals ten days inside it."
"And you've enough space for the five of them?" Melissa asked.
Sirius barked a laugh. "We've enough space for a hundred of them."
"Are you interested, Euan?" Robert asked.
"Yes, I am." Euan nodded, eagerly. "I learnt so much more from Harry than we did in class, not just DADA but other things. How to hold my wand properly. How to clean my wand. How to pulse my magic. How to not put everything into one cast."
"Right." Robert shook his head, magic was beyond him, but if Euan was happy, that was good enough for him. "I'll sigh for Euan. But… instead of Euan being forced to work for the Unit for two years, before he gets extra training, I'll work for you."
"Oh, no." Harry waved him off. "Extra training can start immediately if they want it, it'll just be no transfer from the protection squad for two years. But we'd be happy to have you as well as Euan, sir."
"Ah, that's different." Robert smiled. "We're in. We'll agree to negotiate a contract."
"Boys?" Malcolm asked and smiled as Colin and Dennis rapidly nodded. "I'm only a milkman, now, but I've done my National Service, I know my way around basic military weapons and equipment. If you can find a use for me, I'll join you, too."
"I can't speak for Rachel and Lucas, but Natalie has permission." John said. "I'd like to give the twins a year or two before we make them choose."
"What if we were to allow them to join us, until the start of third year, just the extra training?" Harry said. "That would give them an idea of what's involved, they can help out with the prep-work behind the scenes, but not actually be required to act."
"That, I'd okay." John nodded. "But Natalie is fine to join if she wants."
"Yes, please." Natalie said quietly.
"Please, mum?" Nigel asked.
"I'll agree to the same conditions as John and Melissa." Annette hugged her son.
"Excellent." Harry beamed. "In that case, would you like to join us for the rest of the summer? You're all welcome, we've lots of room and plenty to keep everyone occupied."
"Dennis and Colin can join you, tomorrow, but it will take me a fortnight to hand in and work out my notice." Malcolm said.
"Euan and I can join you tomorrow." Robert said. "We just have to pack and empty the fridge."
"Same for us." Annette said.
"I have a two-week trip starting on Monday." Melissa said. "But after that, I'm free for the summer. John and the kids can meet you here whenever you're ready."
"Brilliant." Harry grinned. "Make it Friday. I still have another dozen, or so, people to meet with. And if it's okay, we'll come to you for pick up. Save you having to cart things all over London." He slid a notepad across the table. "Just write down your address and what time is best for you and we'll see to the rest."
Morita tapped on the door. "Moody's here, grinning like a loon."
"Send him in." Harry waved at a chair off to the side.
"Potter. Black. Black." Moody stomped his way in and nodded to Harry, Sirius and Bucky.
"Well?"
"Bones was in, instantly." Moody replied. "Fudge had to read through the entire submission, but he agreed." Moody laid a heavy scroll on the desk. "Ministerial approval, you have to present the Unit's Charter and financial resource statement, to the Wizengamot on the 6th of September, at the first meeting of the new financial year."
"We got it?" Harry gasped.
"You got it." Moody nodded. "Transfers, included."
"Yes!" Harry leapt to his feet and bounced around the room, his arms waving in excitement.
"Good new, then?" John asked.
"Ministerial Approval." Moody nodded. "It's official. We're good to go."