Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been busy with work--yuck! Hope you enjoy!
Harry Potter and the Guards of Gryffindor
The following morning was quiet as the family went back to work and routine. Fred, George, and Aurther left for work as Charlie and Percy began preparing their curriculems and class rooms. Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny all sat quietly in the living room as they worked on their last bits of homework. Harry was even more pale and withdrawn than he had been the previous day. His dark circles were thick and his head felt muddled. He tried to read and write his Potions essay, but the words would not come.
As the children worked on their summer schoolwork, Molly scampered through the kitchen. It was a week before school was to start and she and Aurther had agreed to leave for home. They hadn't told the children, only Minerva and Remus were aware. Molly would have prefered to stay, but Aurther insisted that they needed to return to the Burrow.
As the group worked in the Tower, a small group of Aurors were lead into Hogwarts. Kingsley, Moody, and Tonks lead four Aurors into the main hall, where Remus and Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were waiting.
"Welcome!" Minerva said kindly as the small party settled around her.
"Wotcher!" Tonks beamed as she walked across the room.
"Thank you for your cooperation Professor," Kingsley Shacklebolt said firmly.
"These are the Aurors who will be stationed here at Hogwarts," Moody spat as he eyed the three other Aurors.
"I see, well for those of you who did not attend our school, I am Minerva McGonagall, the Headmistress of Hogwarts and this is Fillius Flitwick, my deputy and professor of charms and this is Remus Lupin who will teach Defense Against the Dark Arts," the aging women explained.
"This is Fergus Finnagin, Alejandro Casanuevo, and Zerelda Hays," Tonks said excitedly as she stood next to Remus. "They're some of the best Aurors at the Ministry."
"My name is Gus," Fergus said with a thick Irish accent and a toss of his mousy brown hair. The short wizard wore immaculate robes and kept his wand firmly at his side.
"Right oh, chap! Excuse my mistake!" Tonks grinned. "Anyway, Zee is to be Ron's Medi-Guard..."
Minerva blanched. "I beg your pardon, but Zerelda? Do you think that is wise?" she asked Kingsley with worry.
Kingsley shrugged and the woman in question glowered. She was very tall and far too thin. Her dingy blond hair was cropped and flung forward into her cole lined eyes. She wore ripped jeans and a tight black top, utterly Muggle and unrefined. She appeared like a tough tart, not an Auror.
"She's one of the best Minerva and with Ron's perpensity for dissappearing acts, I figured he could use someone with a firm hand," Kingsley offered.
"Yes... but..." Minerva stammored.
"She's good Professor..." Moody offered with a rare smile of pride.
"Plus she requested assignment to the school," Kingsley added.
"You what?" McGonagall asked with shock at the wafish Auror.
"I made a bargan with Augusta," Zerelda said nonchalantly. "She agreed to allow Neville to return to Hogwarts if I was here to watch over him." Minerva sighed and Tonks turned a quizical glance to the blonde Auror.
"Neville? As in Longbottom?" Tonks asked with mild curiosity.
Zerelda smirked. "Yes, he's my nephew."
"She is Alice Longbottom's sister..." Remus supplied.
"Blimey..." Tonks whistled. "I can't believe it..."
"Yes, well it is true," Professor McGonagall said flatly. "But I cannot believe you'd dare set foot in this school..."
Zerelda fumed. "Why? Because I..."
She was interrupted by the Mexican man next to her. "Icierra el pico," Alejandro shouted. "Enough! We are here for a job, let us do the job!"
"I concur," Professor Flitwick said greatfully. "We are all here for the same reason, we want to keep the children and the school safe. So let us forget our differences of opinion and get down to work."
Zerelda and Minerva shot each other glares, but neither said anything. Remus removed himself from the circle and brought Filius the Sorting Hat and set it upon a stool before McGonagall.
"Since we have so few Aurors assigned here," Kingsley began, "Professor McGonagall and I decided that we'd post one Auror to each house. Gryffindor will have two Aurors of course because Zee's charge, Ronald Weasley resides there, but the rest of you will be sourted into the appropriate houses. You will have rooms that attach to the common rooms of each House and will be allowed complete access to the building."
"Can't I just stay in Ravenclaw?" the Metamorphagus asked. "I was already sorted there once..."
Minerva sighed. "I'd like to make sure I have the right Auror watching over the right house, Nymphadora. So I'd prefer that you were re-sorted."
"Sorted?" Fergus asked nervously.
"Yes Mr. Finnagin," Flitwick smiled. "Sorted. It is a Hogwarts tradition running from our founders. The Hat of Godrick Gryffindor is placed upon each first year student's head and it sorts the student into the appropriate house."
Tonks shrugged and plopped onto the stool as Remus lifted the Sorting Hat and placed it on her head. "Here, I'll show you," she grinned as she sat patiently.
"Ravenclaw!" The Sorting Hat shouted after pondering it's occupant.
"Brilliant!" Tonks beamed.
"Welcome back," Professor Flitwick smiled.
"It'll be good to be back!" She hopped off the stool as Fergus cautiously walked over and took the seat.
"Hufflepuff!" the Hat spat as the man grinned.
"Ah, Professor Sprout will be very proud to have you Mr. Finaginn," Professor McGonagall assured him as he stood and Moody took to the stool.
The Sorting Hat was placed upon his head, but the Hat did not judge. "Let me sit upon the other's head before I declare him," the Hat directed.
"Most unusual," Professor Flitwick sighed as Remus removed the hat and Alejandro sat upon the stool.
"He is a Gryffindor!" The Sorting Hat shouted after much deliberation. "Therefore Alastor is meant for Slytherin."
"Excellent!" Minerva clapped as Remus removed the Sorting Hat, but the Hat was not finished.
"Beware of your ambition, care for our students dear, or else you risk Hogwarts ending so many years of cheer. We will loose or culture and learning, along with loss of life. Do not let our candle burning, go out with miserable strife. For the Founders thought to teach and share their rule. Do not let our wars encreach and destroy our school."
The group was silent until Minerva coughed nervously.
"Well, then, let us help you to your houses and assignments," she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Yes, I must return to the Ministry," Kingsley added as he handed each person in the room a packet of paper. "Here is your brief. You can find a castle and grounds map in each pack as well as the patrol schedule I've set up. Hays is to take young Ron to St. Mungos three times a week, which is reflected in the schedule. There will always be one Auror in each wing and one patrolling the grounds."
"Yes, yes. Tonight we shall let you get settled and tomorrow we shall add a few more protective charms and shields to the school. I will not have another attack on this property!" McGonagall said firmly.
"You are all welcome to dinner in what we affectionately call the Weasley Tower," Remus grinned. "Molly Weasley's cooked enough food to feed an army..."
"Thank you," Fergus smiled greatfully. "Can someone show me to my room?"
"Of course," Flitwick beamed. "And I'll introduce you to Pamona Sprout, the Head of Hufflepuff." The man nodded his appreciation and the duo walked towards the Hufflepuff common room.
Remus and Tonks escorted Moody to the Slytherine dungeons while Profesor McGonagall lead Zee and Alejandro to Gryffindor tower.
As McGonagall lead the Aurors up the stairs she chatted nervously. "Ronald currently resides in the Weasley Tower with his family, but on the 1st of September, he will return to Gryffindor. He is the Head Boy and is infatuated with Miss Hermione Granger who is are Head Girl. They are best friends with Harry Potter."
"Of this, we are aware, Professor," Alejandro said softly. "We've been given a briefing on Potter and his friends and know of thier escapades this summer."
McGonagall stopped climbing the stairs and turned to face the two Aurors. "But of course."
"Shall I bunk in the Weasley Tower then?" Zerelda asked easily.
"No," Professor McGonagall shook her head. "You'll do good to stay out of sight. I don't want Molly or Aurther upset..."
"Professor, I'm about to spend a great deal of time with their youngest son. Don't you think it would be appropriate for you to tell them about this?" Zerelda asked with strain. "I know how I am viewed by you, but I have always been friendly with the Weasleys. I was in school with Bill, Charlie, and Percy..."
"Yes, but all of that was before..." McGonagall shuttered.
"Before?" Zerelda questioned. "You mean before Professor Dumbledore's death?"
"No, before Severus killed him!" Minerva said with unrepressed anger. "You were in a relationship with the man, Zerelda! You're tainted by association!"
"Good God woman!" Zee fumed, "I'm not associated with him! I haven't seen Severus Snape in nearly seven years!"
"So you say," McGonagall bristled, "But I know how fond you are of bending the truth to suit your needs..."
"What does that mean?" The tall Auror screached.
"YOU know perfectly well..." Minerva began, but was cut off.
"Stop!" Alejandro shouted. "Un burro sabe mas que tu!"
Professor McGonagall blanched. "I beg your pardon?"
"He said that an ass knows more than you do," Zerelda translated with a smirk. "And he's right. I broke up with Snape six years ago, Professor. I truley had nothing to do with Dumbledore's death!"
"But you were intamate with his killer!" McGonagall spat.
"When I was seventeen!" Zerelda rolled her eyes. "Things have changed! I'm a bloody Auror for Christ's sake and Severus was a spy! I don't know what happened or why Severus killed Professor Dumbledore, but I do know that he had to have had a reason. Severus was never rash or irresponsible. He was a Slytherin, through and through. Besides he loved the professor, he was his family. He did not kill him in cold blood. The move was calculated and rashionalized. He had to have known what he was doing. It was a part of some scheme on their part. I don't believe that Severus is capable of such an act of malace!"
"You were not here Miss Hays. You did not see the fight that occured. Snape had been fighting with Albus for weeks before his murder. They were on bad terms. Severus betrayed us and killed the Headmaster! Ask Potter, he witnessed the whole thing!" Professor McGonagall shouted.
"Enough!" Alejandro pleaded. "Agree to disagree. You will never see eye to eye and you are doing nothing but shouting at each other. No good will come of this."
McGonagall shut her mouth and quickly turned and walked up the stairs. She gave the portraight of the fat lady the password, "Sorrow," and lead the duo into the common room. "Your quarters are located here," she said as she walked to two sets of doors at the bottom of the boys stairs. "Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger's rooms are between the boy and girl's staircases. Dinner is at seven." With that, the angry professor quit the room with flourish.
"Oye!" Zee cried as she flung herself onto a sofa.
Alejandro plopped down beside her. "She's grieving for a man she loved..."
"No me importa dos cajones! (I don't give a damn) " Zerelda cried. "He was my first love... I... I refuse to believe he would do such a thing..." Alejandro sighed and put his arm around her and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Several hours later an excited Tonks entered the Gryffindor common room. "Wotcher!" the purple haired Auror exclaimed. T he room was cluttered with strewen belongings and the smell of spices wafted through the air.
"Hola Nymphadora!" Alejandro greeted Tonks as he handed Zerelda up from a pile of clothes.
"Hey Alejandro! I thought we agreed we'd never usea each other's first names!" Tonks whined.
"Ahhh, well, I forgot..." Alejandro smiled with a wink.
"Whatever!" Tonks laughed as she looked around at the messy common area. "I like what you've done with the place!"
"Ha, Ha... Tonks!" Zee smirked. "We're just unpacking our rooms..."
"Yeah, speaking of which, are you sleeping in different rooms these days?" Tonks asked.
Zerelda rolled her eyes. "What do you think?"
Tonks looked from Zee to Alejandro and back again. "Sharing?" she ventured a guess.
"Always," Alejandro chuckled as he lifted Zerelda's hand to reveal a plain gold band. "She's Señora Hayes-Casanuevo now, but she insists on just being called Hayes. It's confusing for my family at times, but we're still adjusting."
"Congradulations," Tonks beamed as she hugged her friends.
"Thanks, Tonks," Zee smiled shyly as she cast a spell and the piles of clothes, books, toiletries, pictures, and various belongings sorted themselves into the two rooms designated for the Gryffindor Guards. When finished, the beds filled one room with a dresser and two trunks. The room was covered in colorful sheer curtains. The second bedroom contained a table and desk as well as a small couch. The rooms were filled with trinkets and pictures showing the couple in their various adventures. Tonks nodded her approval.
"Ahh, me casa..." Zerelda grinned.
"So, are we telling Professor McGonagall?" Tonks asked smartly.
"Nope," Zee shook her head. "It's none of her business and besides she would never believe it if we told her..."
"Well then, I'll have to keep my trap shut, won't I," Tonks beamed as she held open the portrait door.
"That would be a good thing," Zerelda shrugged as the duo followed the clumsy Auror through the stairs to the Weasley tower for dinner.