Of course I have some left please come here " she said as she reached into the green flames and helped the Headmaster thru
"Well now Albus what can I do for you?" Professor McGonagall asked
"We have a rather interesting development now Minerva" Dumbledore said as he stepped thru the flames. "Oh what is …umm 'what was it young mister Potter had
Called him in his letter?' Ah yes she thought' Moldieshorts up to know and where is the Order needed Albus? Professor McGonagall asked the Headmaster
"Actually Minerva this is more to do with young Mister Potter than Voldemort, he is discovering the Power he knows not from the prophecy he has discovered love and I owe you twenty galleons my dear seeing as you called it right once more you'd have thought I would know better than to bet you on these matters "he said chuckling as he placed the coins on her desk
"Ah I see Professor young Harry and Miss Granger hmm… this will prove to be a rather interesting year I assume then?"
"Yes a rather interesting one I am certain of that but the most dangerous to him I am afraid."
Suddenly the suddenly the two teachers heard Moodys' voice calling from the fireplace
"Dumbledore are you available to talk? Mad eye said in his gruff manner
"Alastor? Yes I am; I take it young Mister Potter has sent you some mail." Dumbledore said
"You know damn well the boy wrote me as your flaming pigeon delivered it" Moody growled
At this comment the headmaster chuckled" yes Alastor I am aware that Fawkes was doing Harry a favour. Why are you troubled by something he wrote?"
Professor McGonagall raised her eye brow at this comment "Albus what do you mean why would Harry be writing to members of the Order this makes no sense?"
"Well Minerva you see you need to look at things from young Harry's' point of view I am afraid; He has lost everyone he has ever loved and now that he and Miss Granger have made their respective feelings known to one another, … He feels he must do what ever it takes to end Voldemort' reign of terror and prevent those he loves from harm." the aged headmaster suddenly looking his age as the spark seemed to leave his eye
"Albus do you know what young Potter wrote asking me for? " Moody said
"Hmm I would imagine he asked if you would train him for battle; I assume I am correct in this?" Dumbledore said
"Oh you could say that he asked me to teach him alright as you well know; but do you know the kind of training he has asked for?" Moody said with a mix of pride and sadness in his voice
"What do you mean by that last comment Alastor? " Prof. McGonagall asked not liking the tone Moody had in his voice
"Well Min, young Potter asked me once how I lost my leg you see and I told him what I was before I became a regular Auror, ok I became a Captain in the ranks but he wasn't aware that there was a very elite branch of the Aurors' till I told him, Albus that's the training he asked me to give him." Moody said with an odd far away look in his normal eye
"Alastor … you can't be serious he wouldn't ask for that kind of training "Prof.Dumbledore said softly
"Albus can I come thru? I will let you read his letter to me and you can see for yourself what he said to me." Moody said tersely
"Please do I would like to see this letter "the Headmaster said, as Mad eye Moody came thru the floo and clumped over to a seat?
"Here is his letter to me Albus he was rather plain spoken and direct in it "Moody said as he handed the letter to the Headmaster of Hogwarts.
"Hmmm "said Dumbledore as he read it then he handed it to The Griffindor head of House and asked her to read it
"" "
Dear Professor Moody,
(Yes I know you didn't' do much teaching but I prefer calling you that)
I am not writing to you for pleasure, but rather for business. I have decided that I have no alternative any longer but to take the battle to that bastard Riddle. Do you remember the conversation we had the summer before my fifth year when Sirius was still alive when I asked how you lost your leg?
Do you remember telling me of the unit you belonged to the "Gargoyles "?
Well recently I have come to the understanding that a certain young lady and myself have mutual feelings for each other, and well to be honest with you sir that bastard Riddle has hurt and killed everyone one I have ever loved and cared for
I say this ends on my terms; I will understand if you aren't allowed to train me, as this IS a ministry branch we are talking of but I would prefer to learn form you and others
YOU can recommend as in this matter I trust you. I understand that Prof. Dumbledore would rather I stay safe but I cannot not anymore
To be blunt sir … THIS SHIT STOPS NOW AND HE GOES DOWN BY MY CHOICE
Thank you for your time and please consider my request as if you cant I will learn it on my own
HP
"Alastor? Who are the Gargoyles and what do they do if I might ask? "Minerva said
"Well simply put they are the most elite of the Auror's and well you know what a Hit Wizard is right? " at her nod he continued " well one Gargoyle is like fifty of them rolled into one person. There are only twenty in the whole of Britain and the training is incredibly intense and is usually from the age of 10 or so these people don't go to Hogwarts generally but a few me included have been inducted after schooling." Moody said with a sigh
"But I don't understand why he worded the letter this way Albus?" He said looking at the aged wizard sitting to the right of him
"Well Alastor I believe I know why would both of you please come to my office I have something a student once gave me and I believe it may shed light on this " Dumbledore said as he stood and moved out of the room heading to his office
As this was happening Harry was in his room at Privet Drive studying harder than ever before when the telephone rang he half heard it as he turned the page, he heard his Aunt calling up the stairs to him " Boy it's for you! " Petunia called up the stairs to him
'The phone for me who would call me?' he thought as he headed down the stairs to the phone
" H-hello? " he said, what he heard was like phoenix song to his weary soul
" Harry it's me, Hermione " she said
"I know that I I just wasn't expecting a call from anyone is all, umm did you get my letter? I got yours," he said
"Yes I did Harry I did it's why I am calling in fact she said as his heart fell thinking she was calling to say that she had changed her mind
As he fell silent she realized he was terrified she was calling to say that she wasn't interested in him that way but was going to accept it and be there if she would have him
"Harry before your mind goes and says I am calling to say I don…"
"Mione it's ok really I was flattered you could think of me that way but if you don't its ok "he said fast cutting her off
"HARRY JAMES POTTER! Oh I swear let me finish please I DO LOVE YOU I HAVE SINCE FIRST YEAR! "She screamed into the phone
He blinked a few times to comprehend the information
"You do really?" he asked softly "I love you too love "he said even softer
"You do! "Hermione squeaked
"Yah I have since second year I guess and just figured it out after that kiss on the platform "Harry said
"Oh, well I have been trying all year to get the nerve up to talk to you but well this was a rather hard one on you "she said
"Umm "Mione? Can I uh er ask you something? "He said softly
'Oh oh what is he going to ask me ooooh he would ask me to marry him not yet 'she thought, "umm sure Harry you can ask me anything." she said
"Umm ah ok um thing is Hermionegrangerwouldyoubemygirlfreind?" he said quickly before he lost the nerve to say it
"Harry could you repeat that for me slower this time so I can understand you "she said
"Umm ok Hermione Jane Granger would you consent to becoming my girlfriend?" Harry asked her formally
"Umm Harry would you like to come over to dinner tonight and ask me in person?"
She asked him softly "mum wants you to come and meet my dad and her "she said in a more normal voice
"Umm ok I'll take the knight bus there and then back ok 'Mione?" he said
"Ok that's great dinners at six that gives you plenty of time to get here "she said
"Ok I'll leave now ok and 'Mione? I love you "he said
"Harry I love you too "she said adding "I'll see you soon "
"Ok till then love " he said as he was hanging up the phone
Harry turned and ran up to his room and tried to find clothes that would look good enough for her parents, finding none he decided he would need to stop by a muggle store and get some; so he checked his money bag in his trunk and saw he had perhaps £ 150 pounds so he grabbed his money bag and wallet and headed down stairs and was out the door before any of the Dursleys were able to say one word to him. He headed for the corner of the street and put up his wand concealed in his sleeve and hand and the Knight bus as usual was there instantly
" Welcome to the Knight Bus Tran." was all Stan the conductor got out
" Hello Stan I am in a hurry and yes I am Harry Potter now I need to get to London and then to The Granger residence in Manchester so I need to know how long form here to London? And how long to Manchester form London?
"Well seeing as you are the only one on board, hmm 'bout ten minutes to London and when you're done there if it's the same and you are the only one on board about thirty from London to Manchester that ok?" Stan said
" Yeah that's fine now can we go? " Harry asked
" Ok let's go Ernie " Stan called to the driver
TEN MINUTES LATER.
Harry stood in front a large store selling men's clothes and thought ' well here goes nothing ' as he entered. He went to the counter and asked for help explaining he was meeting his girlfriends parents for the first time and wanted to look his best but not look too good if it was possible the woman behind the counter must have seen the look of desperation and the way his clothes fit and saw the young man before her had not much else to wear and was about to ask him to leave when Harry leaned in conspiratorially
" Ma'am? Look I know I look shabby but I have over a hundred pounds on me and I need to look my best I live with my Aunt and Uncle and these are the clothes they buy me would you please help me I will beg if I need to " Harry said quietly
" Oh you poor dear ok and let's see if we can keep those clothes here to be burned ok, " she said as she winked at Harry
One hour later
Harry had soon found out the woman wasn't kidding about the fact she wasn't letting him leave in his old clothes, So as he left she made him change into the new clothes and shoes he had purchased. As he walked out of the store he saw a woman with a flower cart selling roses and other arrangements of flowers inspired by the he went and got a single white rose for Hermione with bluebells rather than babies breathe and a nice arrangement of mixed ones for her mum. Looking around carefully to make sure he was alone he did as before and raised his hand and wand as inconspicuously as he could and in the next second the familiar purple triple decker bus was there and he was hoping on board and on his way to Manchester to see the woman he loved
'The woman I love ' he thought 'defiantly a new thing for me' he thought with a smile
As Harry was heading toward Hermione's house the three order of the Phoenix members were in Dumbledore's office and he was looking in his file cabinet for a file when he said "Ah here it is " as he walked to his desk and sat down and opened the file and smiled " And I was worried I wouldn't find it; here Minerva and Alastor look at this and tell me who these two people are." Albus said turning the file which was a sketch of two people holding one another close but looking out at the person that had drawn it one was a petite bushy haired woman and the other was a taller version of Harry, but it was the eyes that always gave him away but Minerva saw that the woman was Hermione. Moody was more interested in the uniform that Harry was wearing as it was one like it that he himself had worn in his youth a uniform of black dragon hide armour but what both saw was that his hair itself wasn't wild but rather very long and pulled back in a pony tail he was alternating from looking out at the viewer and looking down with a look of both fierce pride in the woman next to him and of fierce protectiveness over her
"Albus is this. It can't be they were all destroyed in the blast that levelled the house " Minerva said shakily
" I assure you it is Minerva ' he looked to Moody ' Lily Potter was not only a Seer but was also an artist she preferred to draw her visions out on paper and she left this on with me when they went into hiding " he said
"Albus that armour is the Gargoyle uniform but the insignia is wrong for it." Moody said
"I know Alastor it most certainly is not … hmm a closer look perhaps?" Dumbledore said grabbing a magnifying glass
"Hmm most unusual " he said without looking up he asked McGonagall " Minerva? Would you hand me that large book on the bottom shelf? "
"Albus which one there are many here?" Minerva said
Dumbledore looked up for a moment " The very old one dear." he said as he went back to work looking at the design on the picture Harry's chest
"Albus why do you want a book on the founders and their battle standards? " Moody asked helping McGonagall to get the book to the desk
" If I am not mistaken that insignia isn't new but very old indeed " Dumbledore said absently flipping thru to the section on Godric Griffindor "hmm as I thought " he said walking to the fire tossing a pinch of floo powder in as the flames went emerald he called "Remus are you there?" "
"Yes Albus I am, what can I do for you?" Remus asked
"Do you know if the Potter family tapestry is in the Potter family vault?" Dumbledore asked
" I believe it is why?' he asked not wanting to hear the next part " He can't be can he Albus?" Remus said incredulously
" I believe so my friend the blood line is Godric' so he might be but I need to release the vault to him and with out Sirius it may not open "Albus said
" Umm there is another way to open it Albus to release it to him I mean."Remus said
"You know of the other godparent I gather " Albus said
"Yes and in fact you can ask her yourself hang on " as he popped out of the flame to be replaced by none other than Nymphadora Tonks
"Wotcher Professor umm Sirius asked me to become Harry's Godmum if anything happened to him after Christmas last year and I said I loved to, I mean it's more like god sister in my case but I loved Sirius like a brother more than a cousin anyway "the apparently green haired witch said " why do you need me to tell him?" she added
" Well actually I do we need you to give him full access to the Potter family vault in any case as after this summer it is his right now "Dumbledore said