Chapter 17

"Harry," his grandfather said at breakfast the next morning. "What would you think about starting occlumency lessons again?"

Harry groaned. "Please don't tell me you're going to ask Snape to start teaching me again."

"No, I was thinking about teaching you myself."

Harry looked intrigued. "Okay. I can handle that."

"How about starting first thing after breakfast? Have you made any other plans today?"

"Not really. After breakfast will be fine."

"Good, let's meet in the original Room of Requirement." He turned to look at the other two men at the table. "Unless you have plans to use it this morning."

Sirius shook his head. "No, I was going to help Moony make medallions for the Order members this morning."

"All right, then. We shouldn't be long, so it'll be free later if you change your mind."

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A white marble gazebo with a domed room and large marble columns stood on a small hill overlooking the ocean. On the floor of this structure, Harry Potter sat cross-legged on a thick red and gray paisley-decorated pillow, enjoying the view. Behind him, on a separate pillow, sat his grandfather.

"What color is the ocean, Harry?" his grandfather asked.

"Blue."

"Do you see the waves; the white caps; the gentle ripples beyond?"

Harry nodded.

"Take a good look at it, Harry, and remember it. Then close your eyes and picture it in your mind."

Harry let his eyes roam over the perfect view for a moment, then closed them.

"What do you hear, Harry, besides my voice?"

"The waves; sea gulls."

"Listen to the waves, and picture the ocean in your mind." He waited for a moment to give Harry time to adjust to the sounds. "Now, describe what you feel."

After a moment's pause, Harry said, "A breeze against my skin; a soft, cool, gentle breeze, and it seems to be carrying some of the ocean's spray. It feels moist."

"Continue to feel that cool, moist breeze while you listen to the waves and picture the ocean in your mind." He waited for about 30 seconds for Harry to experience the feeling. "Describe what you smell."

Harry took a deep breath in through his nose, and then let it out. "A tangy smell like – seaweed and salt."

"Breathe in the smells, Harry, and feel the breeze. Listen to the waves as you see the ocean in your mind."

Charles stayed silent for a full minute before speaking again. "I'm going to say some words, Harry. When you hear the one you like, tell me to stop."

Harry nodded, and Charles began: "Blue…. calm…. solitude…. peace…. love—"

"Stop," Harry said.

"Alright, take the word you liked, and as you see the ocean in your mind, hear the waves, feel the breeze, and smell the air, add that word to the sound of the waves; allow the waves to whisper that word over and over again."

Very slowly and quietly, Charles got up and left Harry alone.

He walked a few paces away from the gazebo, then conjured a bench and sat down. He looked at his watch thinking that, since it was his first time, Harry wouldn't last more than a minute or two, but if he could make it to five on the first day, he would be happy. He hoped to eventually work up to 15 minutes of meditation every morning before the occlumency lesson.

After 5 minutes had passed and Harry had not moved, Charles was impressed. After 10 minutes, he started to be a bit concerned. When 15 minutes passed, Charles got up and walked to the gazebo. "Harry?" he called softly. "Harry?" When he didn't get an answer, he knelt in front of his grandson and said, "Harry, you can stop now." Harry didn't move, so Charles reached out and touched his shoulder. The boy's eyes flew open and he looked at Charles as if surprised to see him there.

"Where were you, Harry?" Charles asked.

He smiled. "I was out there," he said, nodded toward the sea. "It was like—I was part of it. I was the water and the air and the salt. It—it's hard to explain."

Charles smiled. "You don't have to. Did you enjoy it?"

"Oh, yeah. It was—it was great!"

"Do you think you could do it again tomorrow?"

"Sure!"

He chuckled. "I want you to meditate like this for 15 minutes every morning after breakfast, and after your meditation, we'll start the lessons. But we'll start those tomorrow. All right?"

"Yeah, great. I can't wait."

Charles helped him up and they left the room of requirement.

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"Bella!" Voldemort shouted, and the door flew open. The dark-haired witch threw herself to the floor and kissed the hem of his robe. "Yes, my Lord?"

"Did you get the list from that Edgecomb woman?"

"Yes, Master."

"Then prepare for tonight's meeting. Assign each name to two of my followers. I want every person on that list dead before morning, along with their families."

"Yes, Master," Bella said, getting up and hurrying out of the room.

"We'll see if Dumbledore can protect all of his little army at once," he said.

"Bloody hell," Sirius said, staring at the screen. "Dumbledore's Army. He's going after the kids."

"Dobby!" called Remus, and the elf popped in. "Please find Charley and Harry and have them come to the control room right away. Tell them it's an emergency. And then, if you would, find Dumbledore and tell him the same thing. Tell them we need them right now."

"Yes, Remus Lupin, Sir." He popped out of the room.

"How are we going to rescue that many people in one night?" Sirius asked.

"I have no idea," Remus said. "Let's just hope that Charley does."

"What's wrong?" Charles asked, rushing into the room. Harry followed a moment later.

"Voldemort's going after the entire DA tonight," Remus said. "Harry, do you have a list of the members?"

"No, but Hermione does."

"We need Hermione's list right now," Charles said. "And Hermione and her family need to use their transport keys and go to the Safe Haven immediately."

"Do you want me to go get the list?" Harry asked.

Remus, Charles, and Sirius looked at each other. "Let's move the trunk there," Charles said. "That way, if anything happens, you'll both be safe."

He sat down at the control panel and moved the trunk to Granger's living room. "All right, Harry. You can transport out of the trunk now, but get back here immediately after you've gotten the list, and tell Hermione and her parents to use the key."

"Yes, Sir," he said, and transported out of the trunk.

Dumbledore arrived just as Harry left. "What's the emergency?"

"Voldemort's going after the entire DA tonight," Remus said. "Harry's gone to get the list of members. Can you give us the addresses?"

"Yes, but I'll need a copy of the list. Are the keys made for the Order?"

"Yes," Sirius said. "We finished them this morning."

"Good. Remus, we need to inform the Order. Will you transport to Grimmauld Place, give Molly a fire call, and have her start contacting members? Tell her to have them meet at Grimmauld Place as soon as possible."

"All right. I'll take the keys over and help Molly contact the members." He transported out of the trunk.

Harry popped back in. "Here's the list. Hermione's calling her parents at their office, and then she's transporting in."

Albus took the list from Harry, made a copy, and then gave it back. "I'll get the addresses and get right back to you," he said, then transported out.

"What about Ron and Ginny?" Harry said. "They don't have transport keys."

"Well, while we're waiting for addresses, we'll go to their house and make them some," Charles said. "What's the address?"

"It's the Burrow in Ottery St. Catchpole."

In a moment, they were in the living room of the Burrow. Ginny and Ron were playing chess by the window. Harry transported into their living room. "Hey, Ron, Ginny," he said.

They looked up at him in surprise. "Harry!"

"Look, I don't have much time. I need a hair from each of your heads."

"What?"

"Just give it, Ron. We're going to make you a transport key. Ginny, tell your Mum that you and Ron are coming to the Safe Haven with me."

"All right," she handed him a long auburn hair, then ran into the kitchen.

"I'll be right back," he said, after Ron had given him one of his.

In the control room, Charles took the two hairs and made two transport keys, then Harry transported back to the Burrow.

"Here," he said, giving each of them the appropriate medallions. "You're going to transport to a place of safety. When you get there, Malfoy and his mum and Crabbe and Goyle and their sisters and mums are there. They're hiding from Voldemort. Please just stay away from them and don't cause any trouble. Pick out a tent for your family. The ones that are already taken have flags on top. Your parents will be there soon. Oh, to get to the place, just think the word Safe Haven."

He watched as Ginny and Ron disappeared.

"Mrs. Weasley," he said, going into the kitchen.

"Just a moment please," she said, her head sticking into the fireplace. After a moment, she stood up and hugged Harry.

"Ginny and Ron are already at the Safe Haven, so you don't have to worry about them," he said. "I've got to go, now, but I'll see you later."

"All right, Harry. Take care."

"I will, Mrs. Weasley. Bye." He transported back to the control room.

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"Sirius," Charles said, handing him a copy of the DA list. "In a few minutes, I'm going to be busy for the rest of the night, so I need for you to organize this mess. When Albus gets back, make a copy of the addresses of the DA. As the Order members arrive, give each of them a name and address of one of the children. Have them go there and inform the family that they're about to be transported into a safe area. Tell them to get their family together immediately. If a family member is not at home, have them try to get a message to that person and tell them to stay away from the house tonight. When the Order member gets back, send Harry, Dobby, or Winky up to give me a list of the ones who have been informed, and I'll start transporting people up. Then send that Order member out to another family. Assign someone else to talk to the people as they arrive to find out if we missed anyone."

"All right," Sirius said, and left to go to the Safe Haven.

"God, it's going to be a long night," Charles said.