Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong

Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.


Harry was just enjoying his breakfast sitting between the twins at the Slytherin table, feeding Lucy bits and pieces from his fruit salad, when a Patronus in form of a raccoon appeared in front of Ginny, who was sitting opposite of him.

"This is Unspeakable Mento. Your mother has just been added back into the Prewitt family and asks me to add you as well. Is that what you wish? Or would you rather remain a Weasley?"

Ginny stared at her twin brothers in apparent shock.

"Fred," George addressed his brother around Harry, "do you remember?"

"The raccoon? Of course…"

"… So that means…"

"… that at least one of them is alive."

"Our new hero," they finished their tirade, causing Harry to glance from one side to the other in confusion, which was apparently shared by Ginny.

"What?" she asked, impatiently.

"You know… Fabian and Gideon…"

"… were twins like us…"

"… so, we did some thorough research on them…"

"… and their Patronus was a raccoon."

"What?" This time, her voice was laced with apparent excitement. "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

HP

From her mother, she had heard much about Fabian and Gideon, her famous twin uncles; however, she had never met them, as they had been killed, before she had even been born.

'Hello Unspeakable Mento. No, I do not wish to become a member of the Prewitt family. I am a Weasley. Now, tell me though, are you Fabian or Gideon? My twin brothers are certain that you're one of them, and all three of us want to get to know you.'

"I asked him." She grinned at the twins.

'Dear Miss Weasley, an Unspeakable never gives his real name to anyone. The three of you seem to be exceptionally bright from all I heard about you. I agree to meet with the three of you in hindsight of a possible working relationship. I believe that you might be talented to become Unspeakables.'

'I'd love that.'

'Do you know any spot, where we can meet, secretly? Do you know the Room of Requirement?'

"Where could we meet with him in private?" she whispered.

"Meet him in the founders' quarters."

She cast Harry a grateful look. 'We could meet in the founders' quarters.'

'The founders' quarters?' The Unspeakable sounded confused.

'We're friends with Harry Prince. He's the owner of Hogwarts.'

'Oh, all right. As I am not going to give out my identity, I don't mind if you bring him as well. I am only going to meet the four of you though. Don't tell anyone else about it. What do I need to do to be able to get into the founders' quarters?'

'Let me ask Harry.'

Ginny telepathically informed her friend, who was exchanging curious looks with her twin brothers, probably wondering why she was suddenly grinning broadly.

'I will open the fireplace for him. It's 'Founders' quarters, Hogwarts'.'

Ginny repeated the address for the Unspeakable, and they agreed to meet on Sunday morning at nine o'clock.

"Sunday morning, nine o'clock it is." She grinned at her brothers and Harry. "Oh, I can't wait to meet him."

"Ginnykins…"

"… if he doesn't want to give away his identity…"

"… we won't get to know who he is…"

"… even if we meet him."

Ginny's grin intensified. "Remember, we have Harry with us. He'll at least be able to sense if he's related to us, won't you, Harry?"

Harry smirked. "I can't promise anything, but I can try."

HP

On Sunday morning, Harry, Ginny and the twins had an early breakfast in the Great Hall, before they made themselves comfortable in the founders' quarters and excitedly waited for Mento to arrive.

Ginny cast her brothers a stern look that would have made her mother proud. "Remember to not directly ask him about his identity."

"Yes, Mum…"

"… we know that…"

"… but we still want…"

"… to find out…"

"… who he is…"

"… from twin to twin."

Ginny rolled her eyes, causing Harry to laugh.

"I hope he won't mind that I brought Lucy. Oh well, if he does, I can just take her home."

"He won't." Ginny shrugged. "Everyone likes the cutie." She gently caressed the canine's fluffy ears, receiving a thorough face wash in return.

Punctually at nine o'clock, the Unspeakable arrived and stepped out of the fireplace.

"Unspeakable Mento, welcome to Hogwarts." Harry was the first to greet him, right before Lucy dashed over and thoroughly sniffed the man. Apparently, she decided to like him, as she gently licked his hand.

"Miss Weasley, Mr. Prince, Messrs. Weasley."

Harry smirked. "Please call us by our given names, sir, considering that you're a relative of these three."

"Is he really?" Ginny grinned in obvious happiness.

"And why do you believe that to be true?" While they could not see his face, Mento clearly sounded surprised.

"I can sense magic, and your magic has very similar traits to those of the twins and Ginny."

Mento shook his head, while he automatically caressed Lucy's fur. "Now, I will lower my hood, but I warn you now. I do not look like my real self. Now, will you tell me something about yourselves, please? I have heard unusual things about all four of you, and we, that is the Unspeakables, are always looking for young wizards and witches who might be valuable additions to the team."

"Shall we sit down?" Harry suggested and called Lisa. "Please bring us some refreshments."

An instant later, tea, pumpkin juice and an assortment of Harry's favourite biscuits popped up on the table.

"Ginny, will you begin?" Harry nodded at the sole girl.

"I haven't done anything special yet. I am a second-year, because I left my Mum and came to live at Hogwarts with my brother Charlie a little more than a year ago. As I had nothing else to do, they allowed me to attend classes together with the first-years." She grinned, broadly. "I am in Slytherin together with my favourite brothers here."

"I've never heard of anyone being allowed to attend Hogwarts as a ten-year-old."

Ginny chuckled. "You must know that Harry here is the owner of Hogwarts, and he can override any of the headmaster's decisions. That's why it was fairly easy in my case."

Harry smirked, but nodded.

"Now, twins?"

The twins grinned, broadly.

"Hello, fellow twin…"

"… one of our heroes…"

"… We're the so-called…"

"… twins of hell…"

"… Slytherin third-years…"

"… and hopefully soon Potions masters…"

"… what else do we have to tell?"

They exchanged a look and shrugged.

Harry scoffed. "They're brilliant. They developed a potion, which they used in a ritual together with Lord Gaunt to cure me from the Epiales disease. I owe it to them that I am able to see. They also received the Order of Albion from the Queen together with my father and me for curing the remaining werewolves in the muggle world."

"Ah, isn't he chatty…"

"… our Harrykins…"

They interrupted their tirade, when Felix came running through the connecting door. "Hawwy!"

Now, everything happened very quickly. While Lucy ran over to greet the little boy, Felix noticed Mento, an unknown person, who was completely covered by grey robes with only parts of his face showing. He began to cry and hurried over to Harry only to stumble over Lucy and fall face first onto the floor.

"Felix." Harry rolled his eyes in exasperation. "What are you doing?"

"Was looketing fow Hawwy."

"Please excuse me for a moment, while I take Felix home."

Two minutes later, Harry returned to the founders' quarters, where the twins were just taking turns telling the Unspeakables everything about him.

"You're a multiple Animagus?"

Harry shrugged and transformed successively into his canine form and into a majaroo. "I am still practising the transformation into a phoenix, but I haven't succeeded yet. Oh well, I probably didn't try hard enough," he admitted, more to himself than to the others. "Fred and George, have you shown him your forms?"

Grinning, the twins transformed into two identical monkeys, causing the Unspeakable to chuckle.

"Ginny, what about you?"

Ginny shook her head. "I haven't begun practising yet, although I'd like to become an Animagus."

"Would the four of you be interested in becoming Mini Unspeakables?"

While Ginny nodded in obvious enthusiasm, Harry and the twins exchanged a look of pure exasperation.

"First of all…"

"… we need to ask an essential question."

Seeing everyone look at them with interest, they continued together. "Is your twin still alive as well?"

"Let me tell you one thing. The only way to get to know an Unspeakable's identity is to be a fellow Unspeakable in the same team."

"All right." The twins grinned at each other.

"So, please do tell us…"

"… how do we become Mini Unspeakables…"

"… in your team?"

Harry shook his head at the twins' antics, while Ginny rolled her eyes for the same reason.

Mento remained pensive for a moment. "It should not be a problem to add all four of you to our team. Usually, a team consists of five members, but each of the members have other jobs in addition. Our team is special though, as we have four members, who are all supposed to be dead outside of the Unspeakables' Office. Therefore, we work full time in our office and would have time enough to train each of you. We have one problem though."

Harry quirked an eyebrow in silent question, exchanging a look of pure exasperation with Ginny, when her brothers could not remain quiet.

"And what might that be…"

"… our esteemed hero?"

"Oh Merlin, the two of you are worse than we ever were." Mento shook his head in apparent amusement. "The four of you are not of age yet. Therefore, we need to receive your parents' permission to employ you at the Unspeakables' Office."

"Dad is probably visiting with Narcissa Black. They often spend the weekends together here at Hogwarts. Wait."

She remained quiet for a moment. "I don't know if he's here, but I asked him to come to Harry's parents' rooms."

Harry nodded, grinning. "I'll go and fetch everyone then."

HP

He returned home through the connecting door, inwardly grinning. 'So, Mr. Weasley and Narcissa Black are a couple?' he thought, incredulously. 'I didn't see that coming.'

He quickly informed his parents about Mento's offer for him and his friends to become Mini Unspeakables. "He needs your approval though, because I'm not of age."

His parents exchanged a look that showed Harry that they were not happy with the idea.

"Harry, are you not doing too much already? Taking second-year classes, studying for the Potions Mastery, taking lessons with Misty and Poppy, overseeing the Office for Elf Affairs, Healing people here and there and playing Quidditch?"

"As happy as we are that you have so many opportunities to learn various things, we're worried that you overdo it. You need time for yourself, to just rest and, for example, play music." Regina cast him a concerned look.

Harry shrugged. "But the others are students, too, Fred, George and Ginny."

Just then, Arthur Weasley showed up. "I am sorry for intruding, but my daughter instructed me, telepathically, to come here?"

Harry nodded. "Hello Mr. Weasley, thank you for coming so quickly. Mum, Dad, can we go to the founders' quarters, so that you can join in the discussion with Mento please?"

HP

While the adults conferred with Mento, Harry and Ginny kept quiet. Only the twins had to contribute one or the other comment to the conversation. In the end, Mento agreed with Regina, Severus and Arthur to introduce the four children to the Unspeakables' Office during the Christmas holidays. It was still two months ahead, but during the holidays, the children would have more time to intensely practise with the team and decide if they wished to actively join the Unspeakables.

HP

When Harry returned home on Sunday evening, he looked around in surprise. Marvolo, Minerva, Poppy, Remus, Miranda, Sirius, Amelia, Alice and Frank were visiting his parents. The adults were so engrossed in their conversation that they did not even notice him, before Lucy ran around the room giving everyone a wet greeting.

Regina invitingly tapped the spot on the sofa next to her. "Come Harry, sit here."

Harry hesitantly followed the invitation, smiling, when Lucy climbed up onto his lap and lay down spread over his and Regina's laps.

Severus cast Harry a stern look. "This conversation must remain strictly confidential."

Harry nodded. "Of course."

Severus let out a deep sigh. "Thank you all for coming. Regina and I wish to speak with you about the upcoming election."

His colleagues nodded, and Harry realised that they had to have talked about the matter beforehand.

"Now, Amelia and Marvolo, we really need one of you to put your name onto the list of candidates. We can't have Albus Dumbledore as the Minister of Magic, let alone Lucius Malfoy."

Marvolo was the first to react. "Amelia please. I am sorry, but I really need some more time. There are still too many people who don't trust me. You're doing a brilliant job as the Interim Minister. I am sure that no one would have a chance against you."

Amelia let out a snort. "Have you not read the shitstorm about me in the Daily Prophet, when we announced that the Ministry of Magic will from now on only employ free elves?"

Marvolo shrugged. "Do you care about the shitstorm? I have the impression as if you were proficient at dealing with such things and idiots."

A grin spread over the witch's face. "Thank you, Marvolo. Sirius, what about you?"

Her husband shook his head. "No, I don't want to become the Minister, but I promise that I'll take your job as the Head of Magical Law Enforcement and I'll return it to you once you give up the minister's position again."

"Amelia, now, you have to admit that this sounds like a good plan." Minerva smiled at the younger witch.

Amelia let out a deep sigh. "Is there really no one else? Frank, what about you?"

Frank shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. Alice and I are missing way too many things to take up such a position. I believe that you're our best choice anyway."

"Don't make it my fault then if Dumbledore or Malfoy win, because people don't like my elves' policy." Amelia glared at each of them.

"If that happens, I promise that I'll try the next time," Marvolo spoke up. "I'll speak with each of my friends beforehand. They already supported you during the last Wizengamot meeting."

"That's true, and I appreciate it very much. Oh well, we'll see what is going to happen on the first of December."

"Thank you, Amelia." Regina smiled at her friend.

"One point though." Severus let out a small sigh. "Please make sure that the election is confidential. Albus must not know that we're all against him."

Amelia nodded in confirmation. "Of course. I'll see to it."

'She'll make a good Minister of Magic,' Harry thought, grinning broadly, as he said good night and returned to his room with Lucy.

HP

It was during the meeting of the Order of the Phoenix on November 18 that Albus stood in front of the members wearing a grave expression. He nodded, gratefully, at Molly Prewitt, who handed out large plates with sandwiches. "Today, I went to the ministry to get some insight into the list of candidates for the election."

"And?" Molly was the first to react.

'Why can't she just be quiet and listen for once?' Arthur thought in annoyance at his former wife. 'I should really just tell Albus that I'm going to leave the Order. If I have to decide to follow either him or Marvolo, it's going to be Marvolo, considering that not only Ginny and the twins, but also most of Narcissa's colleagues are on his side.'

"As could be expected, apart from myself, Lucius Malfoy is on the list and, as unexpected as it is, Amelia Black Bones has decided to run for the position as well. While a possible election of Lucius Malfoy would be a disaster, we must not underestimate the Lady Black-Bones, considering that her husband left the Order and kicked us out of his house. I don't believe that they support Voldemort; however, one can never be too certain. Therefore, the main task for the Order during the next two weeks should be to gain as many votes for our case as possible."

'Good luck with that,' Arthur thought in amusement, knowing that most of Albus' own colleagues were not going to give him their vote.

In the following, Albus questioned Severus Prince if he had any news from Voldemort. Arthur rolled his eyes at the fact how Albus still called the man Voldemort, even if even the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement had officially acknowledged that he was kind of a different person from the former You-Know-Who.

Severus rose from his chair. "No sir, I don't have any news. Lord Gaunt seems to be keeping a low profile."

"Do you believe that he has many followers left who will support Malfoy for the election?"

"No, I don't think so. I don't even believe that he will vote for Malfoy either. I only met him once a few weeks ago, and he was fairly contented with the Lady Black-Bones' decision towards freeing the elves."

"Severus, do you really believe that? As far as I know, all the purebloods wish to keep elves as slaves. Even if he himself is not a pureblood."

Severus smirked. "I know for a fact that he is employing two free elves."

"Are you sure, my boy? Some things might look differently from what they are."

Severus shrugged, however, did not contradict anymore – something that Arthur could understand all too well.

"Does anyone else have any news?" The headmaster looked around the group, smiling, when Molly rose from her chair.

"I am a member of the Prewitt family now. Your advice to go to Gringotts proved right. Their account manager called an Unspeakable, and he added me back to the family."

"Ah. Do you have any information about his identity? I believed the Prewitt family to be extinct except for you and your children."

"Me too, and I have no idea who he is and if he really is a Prewitt. He was wearing a ring, which at least looked like the Prewitt family ring."

"Very mysterious. However, I have heard before that there are people who feigned their own death and took on Unspeakable positions to get away from Voldemort. Perhaps, one of your family members did so."

"But they should tell me. They're family after all."

"Molly." Arthur let out a deep sigh. "It doesn't work that way."

His former wife merely glared at him, before she returned her attention back to Albus. "He offered me a position as a cook in the Unspeakables' canteen. Would it help our case if I took the position?"

"It won't hurt in any case, and it might do you some good to get out of the house once in a while." Albus smiled, benevolently.

"All right, then I will contact Mento."

"Mento?" Arthur could not help himself asking.

"What does it concern you?" Molly hissed.

"I have met Mento the other day, when he offered three of my children to become Mini Unspeakbles."

"He what?" Molly's eyes narrowed in apparent anger.

"Now, now." Albus' voice was soothing and managed to calm Molly, so that she at least kept quiet, even if she continued shooting him glares during the rest of the meeting.

'She really is unbearable,' Arthur thought, realising that her behaviour was the last straw for him to decide leaving the Order of the Phoenix for good.

Once the meeting was adjourned, he informed Albus. "I am sorry, Albus, but I am unable to work together with Molly anymore. Therefore, as of today, I will quit the Order of the Phoenix."

Albus let out a deep sigh and tried to convince him otherwise, however, in vain. 'Such a manipulating, old coot,' he thought, when he returned home to Grimmauld Place, glad to be able to speak with Amelia, Sirius and Bella about the matter.

'Each of them is more level-headed than Molly,' he realised. 'How could I ever marry her?'

HP

At the same time, Harry finished the potion he was brewing together with the twins and after a quick detour home to fetch Lucy, who had been asleep in the living room, joined his classmates in the second-year study room. He was still wrapped up in his thoughts about the concoction he had just finished and was startled, when Draco suddenly approached him.

"Harry, may I speak with you in private for a moment?"

"Sure," Harry replied, smiling, before he ushered his friend out of the room. "Let's go out to the lake. This everlasting rain has finally stopped."

Draco nodded and followed him outside, with Lucy running ahead in apparent eagerness.

"Did something happen?" Harry cast his friend a concerned look.

Draco nodded, grimly. "I received a letter from my father. He told me that he wants me to return home to Malfoy Manor over Christmas. Otherwise, he will disinherit me."

Harry let out a snort. "He can't easily disinherit you, especially as he doesn't have any other heir. Don't you think that he's only bluffing?"

Draco cast him a thoughtful look. "I really don't know."

"Have you spoken to your mother about it?"

Draco shook his head. "No, I really don't want to bother her about my father. She efficiently endured him and his antics for more than a decade after all. I really hate him."

Harry nodded in understanding. "He's not one of the nicest people, that's true. On the other hand, what if he disowns you?"

"I would lose my heritage." Draco stared at him, stating the obvious.

"Considering that your father is not really old and wizards can live up to two hundred years, you should consider if your heritage is worth suffering under him for a long time to come." Harry shrugged. "I know that I'd rather spend my years poor but happy with my family."

Draco's eyes widened. "You're right. That's true. I'm going to tell him off, although he might try to somehow force me."

Harry sighed. "Draco, remember that Dobby knows the manor well enough to possibly help you, and I can also pop myself to you wherever you are. You should try to learn telepathy though."