Chapter 17
Preparation
I was running out of time. It flew by as fast as the seasons change. Girls finished school; Savi passed all her N.E.W.T.s with Os – Outstanding. Nessie's grades were almost as perfect. Something I couldn't say about her detention records. Once again, I couldn't help myself but think that Nessie was a copy of my husband, while Savi was a copy of me.
After that, the time started moving as fast as a hungry vampire trying to catch its prey. One moment and it was already June 1995, and I felt my heartbreak when Edward died at the Triwizard Tournament. I have only felt that much pain once in this new life when I was hit by a killing curse during my Grim times. It was strange, but I felt it the moment it happened.
In a blink of an eye, another year has passed, and it was 1996 already. I grieved my dad again, this time saying goodbye to him forever. The girls and Edward were my shelters and I found peace with their support. There was nothing I could do to save my dad, if I tried that could mean the future would change and my girls wouldn't exist anymore, and neither would Edward for that matter. My human death brought him back.
We resided in France for the last few years, having left the idea to move back to the States for now and instead explore the world and check out some colleges for Ness and Savi. It was the middle of July 1996 now. We were planning to move back to our house in the UK, it was secluded enough to hide in there until it was our time to help Harry. My daughters and I were fighting almost every day now. I was still certain and fixed on my decision that they will stay at the house and take no part in this war. They were, of course, coming up with new arguments each day about why they should be helping instead of hiding away.
"Both of them got their stubbornness from you." Edward would tell me after.
I had called Kreacher over a few days after my 'death' and told him to follow Harry and the other Order members around and then tell me everything about their plans. He agreed to do it before sending a few not-so-wonderful words in my direction. The Daily Prophet, which I still received every day was now filled with headings 'You-Know-Who is back', 'Black family line ends', and 'You-Know-Who strikes again'. I signed up for the Quibbler as well, even though most of it contained incredibly unbelievable information, its owner and the first editor, Xeno Lovegood, didn't try to change the news in order for people to not freak out as much. Xenophilius Lovegood only wrote the truth about politics and new murders.
We moved back to our house in the UK in late spring. It gave us a few months to prepare before Harry would turn 17. Kreacher has given me a lot of good information about the Order and Harry's life. It was hard for me to hear how my and my father's death upset him. It was even harder to not say 'screw it' to the perfect plan and just reveal myself to him. But the voice of reason spoke louder, and I waited patiently for July to come.
Kreacher was happy that I told him he doesn't have to move to our house and could stay at the Grimmauld Place and keep it nice and tidy. He would come to me every few days and tell me every piece of information that he gathered.
The very beginning of July, specifically the first day of the month, came with the saddest news. That morning, just like any other one, I received my Daily Prophet newspaper and couldn't believe my eyes when I looked at the front page. I had to wait for the Quibbler to come. I didn't believe such a thing could happen. But the second newspaper had the exact same news for me.
"Edward!" I called, my voice shaky from the mixture of sadness and panic.
"What is it, love?" He spoke from behind me.
Without saying anything, I handed him two newspapers.
"No…" I looked up at my husband to see him shake his head frantically. "This can't be right."
"What is it?" I heard my siblings walking downstairs to us.
"Albus Dumbledore died yesterday," Edward spoke.
"What? How?" Alice took the paper from Edward's hand. "I didn't see anything…"
"You can't predict everything, darlin'." Jasper patted her shoulders.
"But this was important, his death will affect everything, I can feel it…And so close to Harry's birthday." My sister spoke again. "How are you guys feeling? I know he was an important part of your life."
"I can't believe he's gone. I've got to see him only once. I don't know, I always thought he would be nearby when I come back to Harry's life." I started sobbing and felt strong hands wrap around my back, lifting me up a little. I was so grateful for Edward. He knew exactly how important Dumbledore was and how much we had relied on his wisdom to guide us through this war.
"I'm so sorry for your loss, dears." Esme came up to hug both of us as well. "There will be a funeral in a couple of days, would you like to go?"
I shook my head yes. Even if we had to hide away in the Dark Forest, I would have wanted to be there to pay my respects.
"How are we going to tell the girls?" I asked Edward.
"I'll talk to them." Rose patted my shoulder and took the newspapers from Alice's hands.
In a couple of days, Edward, and I apparated to Hogsmeade with the rest of the family. We had to hurry into the forested area, surrounding the village to not be seen by anyone, but it looked like no one was paying any attention anyway. Jasper had teary eyes, so much grief, and sadness. I felt really bad for letting him come. We were mostly covered by the black robes, all ten of us. Savi and Nessie were holding hands, supporting each other, as we walked through the forest.
"We are just passing through to the castle for Albus Dumbledore's funeral!" Edward spoke suddenly. My head instinctively turned to my husband for an explanation. "Centaurs. I can read their thoughts. They will let us pass."
With that, we continued walking further until we reached the end of the forest line. The funeral was held right next to the lake, still far away from the treeline. The sun that was shining very bright in the sky was preventing all of us, except for the girls, to come closer. I let them go to join the rest of the magical community that was saying goodbye to Dumbledore.
I climbed one of the taller trees, so I could witness every detail of the ceremony. The vampire sight let me see so many familiar faces, there was Madam Malkin from the Diagon Alley and Tom the bartender from the Leaky Cauldron, Madam Maxim was comforting Hagrid as he cried in his handkerchief which was the size of a tablecloth, all members of the Order of the Phoenix were there as well.
I saw my girls go to stand at the very last rows, their hoods covering their faces. I hated that I couldn't be closer to everyone, saying my goodbyes to one of the greatest men the world has ever seen.
"I know, love. I wish we were down there too." Edward spoke.
I looked to my right to see my husband sitting on the same tree branch. Strange, I didn't even notice him jumping up here. I rested my head on his shoulder and took a deep breath. The smell of the forest and Edward's scent filled my lungs and it seemed to calm me down a little or maybe it was Jasper's empathic abilities. I didn't know and didn't really care to know.
The ceremony was beautiful, I heard people whisper their goodbyes to Dumbledore and did the same thing. I jumped to the ground, followed by Edward a second later.
"It was beautiful." Esme and Carlisle spoke at the same time. I hugged both.
"Thank you all for coming with us." Edward put his hand on my shoulder, pulling me closer.
Savi and Nessie returned a few moments later. I hugged both of them and kissed their foreheads, rubbing the tears away from their cheeks. I hoped this was the only death they will see this month.
"Ready to go home?" Esme asked carefully.
It was the middle of July already and I started getting a little anxious that the Order still hasn't come up with a plan on how or where to transport Harry on his birthday. Savi was calming me down, all the fighting between me and the girls went to the minimum. It took some time, but I finally understood that no matter what I do or say, they will still come with us, and it was better if they knew what our plan was.
I came back from hunting with a strange, good feeling. And when I saw Kreacher standing in the living room, that feeling grew.
"Do they have a plan?" I asked, trying to not give away the hope that I felt at the moment.
"They just finalized it." He spoke. "Freaky Alastor Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Nymphadora Tonks are leading this joke of a transportation."
"What exactly is their plan?" I heard Edward come into the house behind me.
"Wait. Let's wait for everyone to come back." I stopped him. "Kreacher, do you want anything to eat?"
I always asked him that question whenever he visited, hoping he would warm up to me, but every single time his answer was no.
"Kreacher isn't hungry." He spoke. "Kreacher won't eat anything in the vampire nest." He whispered grumpily.
I sighed and both Edward and I went into the living room to await the return of the rest of our family members from our hunting trip. Ness and Savi apparated into the living room in a minute, it took others a few more to get back.
"Tell us the Order's plan," I asked the elf.
"Kreacher heard Alastor Moody say they will use Polyjuice Potion to disguise six people like Harry Potter. With each Harry Potter, an Order Member would travel to seven different locations. In these locations, they will put portkeys that would lead to a safe house."
"Where is the safe house?" Edward asked.
"I'll give you one better, what is a safe house?" Emmett looked at him.
"A house that is protected with so many spells that no dark soul can enter it," Edward explained with as much simplicity as he could.
"You won't be able to find it anyway."
"Not unless we have been in it before," I noted.
"Blood traitors, all of you." Kreacher whispered. "Alastor Moody never said the name of the owners, but they called it the Burrow."
"We know exactly whose house it is." I smiled. It was no wonder the Weasleys were ready to put themselves in so much danger. "Who is coming to this transportation besides Moody, Kingsley, and Tonks?"
"Arthur, Ronald, William, Fred, and George Weasleys, Remus Lupin, Hermione Granger, Fleur Delacour, Rubeus Hagrid that half-blood hybrid scum." Kreacher added the last part and shrugged when a growl escaped my throat. "And Mundungus Fletcher."
"Mundungus?!" I exclaimed. "But he's a criminal, he can't be trusted!"
"That's what Kreacher heard."
"I believe you; I don't believe that they would trust him to participate in something so important!"
"Take his place," Jasper spoke.
"What?" I asked surprised.
"You don't trust him, they are already planning to use Polyjuice Potion and it works on vampires, whoever travels with you will be safer since your skin can repel the spells." He explained his plan. "I think I can steal a piece of his hair without him noticing, just point me in his direction."
"This might work," I spoke and looked at Alice for confirmation. "Can you see it?"
"There are still too many variables for me to see anything." She shook her head.
"The rest of us will take our brooms and split." Edward joined the conversation. "Each one will stay near the designated house that Order Members will go to. Kreacher, do you know whose houses they will visit?"
"Yes."
Kreacher went on telling us each house's owners.
"Bella will go with the Order disguised as Mundungus Fletcher. Rose will go to Muriel Prewett's house, Esme and Savi to Xeno Lovegood's, Jasper to my father's…" Edward was speaking again.
"I'll make sure nothing happens to him," Jasper assured my husband.
"Thanks, Jazz." Edward continued. "Carlisle and Nessie to Shacklebolt's manor, Emmett to Moody's house, Alice to Bill and Fleur's cottage, and I will be waiting at the Tonks'."
"Sounds good. Are they all flying on brooms?" Emmett asked.
"Two thestrals and Sirius Black's flying motorcycle are involved too." Kreacher spoke again.
"Well, one thing is good about all of us seeing someone die," Rose spoke with sarcasm. "We'll get to see the flying horses from hell."
"Rose!" Carlisle shook his head.
"I'm just trying to lighten up the mood."
"Kreacher, do you know where Mundungus is right now?" I asked.
"Mundungus Fletcher, the bastard thief, spends most of his time in the Diagon Alley."
"I'm going there right now. Do you need any ingredients for the potion?" Jasper asked.
"I brewed some a few months ago actually…You know to be prepared in case we needed them." I spoke.
Jasper nodded and took some Floo Powder from a stand next to the fireplace. He stepped into the fireplace and said: "Diagon Alley." A moment later Jasper was gone, and everyone switched their eyes back to Kreacher.
"Are they transporting Harry on his birthday?" Edward asked.
"On the 27th, Alastor Moody thinks he can fool the Dark Lord."
"We'll be ready by then. Kreacher, you can go now. But remember, you're forbidden to tell anyone about us being involved in all of this." I spoke.
"Yes, Mistress." The elf glared at me and disappeared.
In the next few days, I made sure to bring everyone to their assigned houses and show everyone where the Burrow was located. Jasper got a couple of hairs from Mundungus, and they were now safely stored in the rucksack I was planning to grab with me to Moody's house.
Kreacher would come whenever he got any new information, I was practicing spells with Savi and Nessie, training them to react faster and more effectively. Jasper was once again teaching the rest of the family to fight, just like he did when he and Alice just joined us. My family's support helped me get my nerves under control and I was sure everything was going to be fine. It had to be.
I know this chapter is super short, but I'll post the next one very soon and it will finally intertwine the two stories and two worlds together completely!
Please review!
