Chapter 130: New Year New Relations

"Jeez, need to get back in another twenty minutes." Lily groaned as she leaned against the back of the chair. The eight of them had managed to synchronize their schedules so that they could share a New Year Day lunch together in Potter's Manor.

"Don't remind me." Sirius mumbled, slouching in the chair. "I had barely enough rest with all the false alarms." For the past twenty four hours, there had been many commotions at various magically villages. Moody had insisted that they had to be on foot all day round to ensure the people's safety and avoid another incident like the one on Boxing Day.

"At least you guys are going to have your off days after all these festive days." Arabella reminded them. "While I'll get back to work with those brats after that." She took another slice of Tiramisu from the tray.

"Belle, you can't complain!" Sirius exclaimed. "You had practically ten days off in a row while we can only have that in our dreams."

"Padfoot, calm down." Remus tried to stabilize Sirius on his seat. "I'll be having my transformation three days after New Year, how good does that sound?" Stefanie squeezed his hand from under the table.

"Sorry." Sirius apologized. All of them turned to see Harry's and Ginny's reaction towards Remus' comment.

"We know," Harry admitted. "That Remus is a werewolf. And both of you are unregistered animagi along with that-" He stopped in mid-sentence, not wanting to be reminded of Pettigrew.

"What can we do with Wormtail now?" James asked. "Knowing that he is the culprit who betrays us all."

"Kill him." Sirius muttered in anger.

"We can't. We've no prove." Lily added. "Shall we warn Dumbledore about it?"

"I don't mean to criticize Dumbledore or what. But he had trusted Snape in the future, who turned out to be a double agent but supporting Voldemort all the while. How can we be sure Dumbledore believe what we say?" Harry asked.

"You've got a point there. Meanwhile I think we definitely need to do something about Wormtail." James commented. "How about we keep this just within the eight of us, not even Dumbledore?"

"I don't know. But this just doesn't seem right." Stefanie spoke up. "There might be a lot of other details we're not aware of."

"Stef got a point there. So far, other than Mrs. Potter, we don't know if anyone else remembers her." Remus reminded them. "And there are a lot of unsolved riddles for all this. It's like we really need to come together for a brainstorm session one of these days soon."

"Let's make it the coming weekend when everything is more toned down." Sirius suggested. "Besides, the faster we get these things settled, the better it is for everyone."

"It sounds alright. I guess I better apply for leave later." Lily nodded in agreement.

"Arh.." James groaned when he felt his wand vibrating in his pocket. "We've got to go now." He told Sirius and Remus who gave the same dreading expression. "Take care. See you tomorrow." James bent down and kissed Lily on her lips, not knowing that Harry was sitting right across and looking straight at their exchange of affection, and feeling quite embarassed. At the other side of the table, Remus was giving Stefanie a goodbye kiss before leaving with James and Sirius.

"You take care too." Lily's hand lingered a while longer on James' hand before he left the hall. "I supposed I'll need to go in another few minutes time." She gave a loud sigh. "You know I'm so jealous of all of you right now."

"Don't be." Stefanie said sadly. "I don't even know if I'm supposed to be in existence from the way Remus told me about it. No one else seems to remember me other than you guys."

"Isn't that enough?" Lily laughed. "We're all that you need. Or should I rephrase to – Remus is all that you ever need?"

"Hey!" Stefanie tickled Lily's side and she screamed while trying to defense herself.

"Aahh!" Lily practically went underneath the dining table while trying to duck from Stefanie.

"So can you imagine your mum like this?" Arabella asked in a low voice, knowing that Lily was probably too distracted to hear her.

"Not really." Harry grinned. It was another interesting meal with the six of them for both Harry and Ginny.

"You probably should go back to their schooldays to see what they have been doing in school." Arabella shook her head. "Lily, you can come out now." She knocked the table to inform Lily who was still hiding underneath the table.

"Ouch." Lily's voice could be heard from under the table after a soft bang. "Sorry." She looked at her watch which had been charmed to move automatically in a magical environment. "Oops, I'm running late." She grabbed her duffel bag by the armchair and with a quick 'Bye, guys!' she left the dining hall in a flash.

"So what do you think of your parents?" Stefanie asked while the four of them were the only ones remaining after their lunch.

"Interesting." Harry laughed slightly, "not at all like the way I imagined them to be." Ginny just smiled silently beside Harry.

"What's your date of birth?" Arabella asked suddenly.

"31st July 1980." Harry told them.

"That's like next year." Arabella gushed while doing some mental calculations. "And this means that that two have to do – it - by November this year!"

"Oh, that's like exactly eleven months to go." Stefanie laughed. "Lily isn't going to like the thought of that."

"I think that might also mean that we only have eleven months here to defeat Voldemort." Harry stated grimly.

"Harry, I think you're right. We really need to do something within this short time frame." Stefanie said apprehensively. "We don't know what will happen if James and Lily didn't-"

"Let's not talk about the uncertainties." Ginny said after a moment of silence when Stefanie did not complete her sentence.

"We rarely can have all the food to ourselves, let's not waste it." Arabella said in a happier tone of voice. "Leave the serious discussion till this weekend."

"Do eat more." Stefanie scooped some pasta and sausages for Harry and Ginny. "I think you two rarely see such a spread outside Hogwarts."

"Thanks." Harry helped himself to the food gratefully. "Can you tell us who – or what exactly are you?"

"And what happened after you vanished without a trace last month?" Arabella asked out of curiosity.

"Talk about that, it's really strange." Stefanie started telling her version of story. "I fell into this deep dreamless sleep and then when I woke up, I was at this foreign place. I supposed it's on a high ground like mountain top or something; all I can see are just greenery, trees, rocks, etc. Then there was this voice from nowhere, or perhaps from heavens above, giving me instructions."

"What sort of instructions?" Arabella asked.

"The voice told me to protect Harry Potter, son of Lily and James." Stefanie said simply.

"And then?" Harry asked when Stefanie finished her sentence.

"What else?" Arabella asked at the same time.

"That's all. Then the next thing I remembered I was in Diagon Alley Eeylops Owl Emporium, as an owl. I've no idea how and why but I was just there. Take it as I was trap in an owl's body or something."

"But Hedwig never exactly protect me or anything of that sort." Harry said.

"I've to fulfill my duty as your owl, but I know that I'm supposed to be protecting you in ways that's beyond the magic we know. Before you enter Hogwarts, there's the blood of your aunt protecting you, but in Hogwarts, you need a protection charm as strong as your aunt. Of course you had faced more dangers than anyone else, but all I can ensure was that you will not die before returning back here." Stefanie told them. "I don't know why I was chosen to do so, but I'm really glad you are fine and reunite with your parents."

"Thanks for your company all these years. It could have been worse without you at the Dursleys." Harry said appreciatively.

"It's not too bad being an owl actually. Seen lots of places from a bird's eye view." Stefanie joked. "What's matter most is that we're all back together."

"Harry, just wondering if I'm in any part of your future?" Arabella asked as if she just thought of the question.

"Erm.. what's your surname?" Harry asked. They only had a first name introduction two nights before.

"Figg."

"I do know of a Mrs. Figg. But you don't look like her at all." Harry thought of his baby-sitter who was actually Dumbledore's Order member. "She's much older. In fact even after twenty years, you should be only in your thirties, but she looked like as if in her fifties."

"That's strange." Arabella questioned. "But are you sure she's Arabella Figg?"

"I'm quite sure, I supposed. That's what D-Dumbledore said." Arabella was sure that Harry was not lying to her. "And she loves cats."

"If she's Mrs. Figg, that would be mum, but why is it Arabella?" Arabella mumbled.

"Could Arabella be your mum's middle name or something?" Stefanie asked. "We never really know her name other than Sarah Figgs, and Sarah could just be an abbreviated name for Arabella."

"That's true. But she's a squib." Harry said. "Is Mrs. Figg-?"

"Nope. She's our DADA teacher." Stefanie answered and turned to her friend. "But Arabella – she.."

"I lost my powers several years ago." Arabella did not want to let Harry know about the truth, at least not for the time being. "It could jolly well be me. Perhaps when everyone is gone, I age faster?" She continued in a light-hearted manner. "Let's just hope that won't happen."

"It won't." Harry said in determination.

"Thanks for the vote of confident." Arabella said gratefully as she patted Harry's shoulder. "I want you to know that we will forever be grateful that you are willing to come back here to help us." She turned to Ginny. "And you too. You're truly a Gryffindor. Who are your parents by the way?"

"Arthur and Molly Weasley." Ginny replied with pride as she spoke of her parents.

"Ooh!" Arabella exclaimed. "They were Head Girl and Head Boy when I was in my first year. Such wonderful people that I remember. I do think you have an older brother Charlie or something. Heard that they had a son several years ago."

"Yes, in fact I've six brothers." Ginny told them. Arabella was the only one who looked surprised.

"I can imagine them having a bunch of children. That's so wonderful. We must really take you to meet them one of these days. And do you know your uncles? Fabian and Gideon are aurors too." Arabella asked.

"They died before I was born. I've never met them." Ginny said in a low voice.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Arabella apologized. "I didn't-"

"It's not your fault." Ginny said quickly. "But I would love to meet them if I've the chance. Heard mum and dad mentioned about them several times before."

"Sure. That can be arranged." Arabella turned to Stefanie who nodded in agreement. "Perhaps we should take you out there to see how the world in the seventies seems like. Shall we go to Diagon Alley to take a look? Then you two can tell us how different it looks twenty years from now."

"Sure." Harry and Ginny were excited to see how things were like in their parents' era.

"But I'm afraid we need to floo there. I'm non-magical and can't apparate." Arabella told them.

"It's okay, I miss flooing too." Stefanie put her arm around Arabella's shoulder.

"Thanks."

"What are we waiting for? Let's go." They went back to their rooms to grab their belongings before flooing over to Diagon Alley for the afternoon.

X

"Harry?" James turned back and called out the person whom he walked past at Hogsmeade. "What are you doing here?" He asked Harry out of concern.

"Arabella and Stefanie brought us here. The girls went into the robes shop." Harry told him. They had brought them to Diagon Alley earlier and moving on to the next destination at Hogsmeade to continue their shopping trip. At this moment, Arabella and Stefanie brought Ginny to check out their latest fashion while Harry had chosen to wait outside the shop.

"Oh – alright. Let me introduce, this is Harry." James told Edgar. "And this is Edgar Bones, a very respectable auror."

"Hello." Edgar shook Harry's hand firmly. "From Hogwarts too?" He nodded. "I didn't know you have a brother." He turned to James in surprised.

"Oh, he's my cousin." James said quickly. It would be difficult to explain his true identity to Edgar anyway.

"You two look very much alike." Edgar laughed. "I can easily mistake both of you as twins."

"That's what everyone says." James chuckled a little uncomfortably. "We better get going." He told Edgar. "You guys enjoy yourselves." He nodded to Harry.

"We will." Harry nodded. "It's nice meeting you, Edgar."

"Take care and keep your wand handy." Edgar advised. "And not forgetting, Happy New Year."

"You two have a good day at work too." Harry gave a lopsided grin very much similar to James'. "Bye."

"Never knew you had a cousin who looked so much like you." Edgar commented the moment he turned away from Harry and continued his patrol with James.

"He doesn't come over often. That's why." James was hoping that Edgar would forget about his meeting with Harry soon. It would be worse if the others know about it. After all, Harry, and Ginny were not supposed to exist in this era.

"I see." Edgar took no notice of James' uncomfortable expression. "Let's go over to Knockturn Alley." He said grimly. Going to that part of Diagon Alley had never been a good thing; they found Frank and Alice there, half dead, just a couple of weeks go.

"Not that we have a choice anyway." James muttered. He pulled his cloak closer and felt his wand which was safety tucked in his back pocket.

X

"Wow, looks like you all went on a shopping spree." Lily knocked on the Ginny's bedroom door. The floor was filled with bags of clothes and shoes. "Can I come in?"

"Sure." Ginny said happily, practically bouncing like a little girl. "Stef and Bell bought all these for me."

"Sounds brilliant." Lily agreed, smiling away despite a long day of work on a public holiday.

"Ginny definitely needs more clothes than what she brought along with her." Stefanie commented, eyeing the backpack she carried two nights ago. "And it has been such a long time since we last went shopping. It's a pity you can't be there with us." She took out some tee-shirts and blouses, and magicked them into the large wardrobe.

"It's okay. Most importantly you like them." Lily said. "It sure looks a little different from the clothes you have been wearing."

"It's a new style for me actually. But I supposed cloaks are the fashion items in every era." Ginny told them. "They look similar to those in the future."

"All magical folks wear them, can't go out of fashion." Arabella joked.

"These are pretty useful when there's dueling too." Ginny took out some jeans and denim jackets, which was charmed to provide extra cushion protection to break falls.

"We got one for you too." Stefanie fished out the bag full of denim jackets. "We got one for each of us."

"Wow. Thanks. This will come in handy." Lily put on the jacket and looked at her reflection in the three-sided full length mirror. "Let me personalize it." She muttered a quick charm, a small red and gold calligraphic letter 'L' slowly emerged on the right breast pocket flap.

"Cool." Ginny said enthusiastically. "Can you teach me the charm for it?"

"Sure." Lily taught Ginny the simple incantation to embroider a red and gold alphabet 'G'. "Can be used on any fabric material, at least that's what Witch Weekly quoted. I haven't practice enough to support that comment."

"Brilliant." Ginny added the embroidered 'G' magically on her right breast pocket flap as well. "Seems like those muggle brand logos."

"That's what I felt too." Lily agreed. "We used this charm on our tops when we were still in school."

"That was like in – fourth year?" Stefanie reflected. It had been a longer lapse for her as compared the rest. She had lived through seven years longer than all of them but had not age a single day since her departure a month ago.

"Yeah, that was so much fun." Lily reminisced. "We were so young and carefree back then." They laughed at the recollection. "Not that we're not young or carefree now, but Hogwarts days were just brilliant."

"They are indeed." Arabella nodded in agreement. Though unable to complete the seven years of magical education, she had wonderful memories of the school life.

"It's a pity that I didn't get to enjoy my final year yet." Ginny said wistfully. "But Hogwarts is a lot of dangerous now than before. There're like so many ways for outsiders to enter the school these days. I still remember Harry and Ron, my brother, flew to Hogwarts in our flying Ford Anglia in their second year because they claimed that they missed the train."

"Oh my gosh!" Lily and Arabella gasped in surprise.

"That was my worse car ride in my whole life." Stefanie shook her head. "It's nightmarish. Trust me; you won't want to try it." She muttered incoherently.

"It sounds exciting." Lily shrieked. "I've never traveled in a flying car before!"

"And Ron got a Howler from my mum the next day." Ginny laughed at the thought. "I've never seen the car again. Besides Ron was only twelve and he's the driver, can you imagine?"

"Now that's a little scary sounding." Arabella commented. "But I like the whole flying car thing."

"Sirius owned a flying motorbike anyway." Ginny added. "It looks much better than our old car."

"I don't know about Sirius' skills but I must absolutely try riding a flying bike." Lily gushed. "It sounds so thrilling at the thought of it."

"He mentioned a couple of times over the years, didn't know he was serious about getting it." Stefanie commented. "But that's the truth, let's just wait and see when he's buying one."

"With that auror's pay, he'll have no problem owning a few flying motorbikes." Arabella said, "The aurors are holding the highest pay in today's time."

"But you must admit that it's a dangerous job." Stefanie's voice was a little serious. "They risk their life for our safety."

"That's true." Lily muttered and her voice switched almost instantly. "Well, let me see what else did you babes bought." She picked up another paper bag from the floor.

"Oh, I bought this absolutely brilliant pair of jeans that have charmed pockets." Arabella looked through a couple of paper bags before picking up a blue-colored one.

X

Harry opened his room door and had wanted to talk to Ginny when he heard the exciting chattering in her room. Girls' talk. The four girls were talking and laughing very loudly about clothes and shopping when suddenly he heard his name mentioned.

"I still remember Harry and Ron, my brother, flew to Hogwarts in our flying Ford Anglia in their second year because they claimed that they missed the train."

"Oh my gosh!"

"That was my worse car ride in my whole life."

That was mine too. Harry chuckled at the thought of being a passenger in Ron's car. I'm glad I made it to Hogwarts in one piece. It was a funny thought now that everything was over. But it had been a terrifying experience there and then. I guess I better not disturb them for awhile. He closed his room door.

Although he had bought some clothes and shoes today, since it was a female-dominated shopping trip, he practically had no say in what he wanted. Then again, it was a fully paid for shopping trip by Stefanie and he was very grateful with her generosity. She said that it was just a thank-you gift for treating her owl self so well back in the future and this was just to repay him. Sigh, it's going to be a long year ahead. He laid in his bed as his major life's event flashed through his head.