A/N: Thank you for all the faves follows and reviews. This chapter is a sort of Meanwhile... chapter and covers the same time period as the first two but with other people. I hope you enjoy more of my minds madness. Oh and JKR owns Harry and co not me.
Albus Dumbledore was a very busy wizard. His sherbet lemon stash was taking a very large hit as he worked himself almost every hour of every day. The very same night that Harry had returned with Mister Diggoys lifeless body, at the end of the final Tri Wizard task, he had reconvened his Order. There in the hospital wing of Hogwarts he had handed out the first tasks he would need to commence. The rest he had time to think more on what he needed to accomplish and would begin dealing them out once the school was out for the summer. After all it was only a few more days, nothing major would happen before he had time to act.
One thing that kept playing I his mind however, was that for the whole school year just finishing, he had been fooled by someone thought to be dead after first been incarcerated in Azkaban. The junior Crouch had been very convincing in his role as one of his closest friends. How had he not caught this deception? Sure his teaching methods had been questioned by student and professor alike, but that was just Moody. After years of service in the Aurors, all of which earned results, he was sure to have a slightly 'different' teaching style.
Then there were his spectacles. Most suspected but only a few knew, he could see through all disguises be they glamour or enchantment or any other spell work. They could also see through all invisibility cloaks. 'Well almost all' he thought with a slight chuckle to himself. He could even see certain magics with them, such as wards. But the one thing they could not reveal was someone using polyjuice potion. After all, that particular tipple physically changed the body not just merely uses magic to visually change ones appearance.
After a few minuets of sighing and trying to work out if he could have noticed something he returned to making his plans for the summer to come. Despite the seriousness of what had just happened, he couldn't help but find himself a little miffed. Sure Voldermorts return was expected, it was even needed. But it had happened sooner than he would have liked. It meant that he would not only have to draw new plans up to counter the movements of the resurrected Riddle, but he now had to alter his plans for Harry. Not too much though, it would still end the way he knew it would, it just meant he would need to accelerator certain parts and all would still work out well. The Greater Good required it to. With that thought in mind he planned and plotted his way through till the end of term.
No sooner had the Hogwarts Express departed the station just outside of Hogsmede the Hogwarts castle was ready for summer lockdown. All professors had the first month of summer off and were 'encouraged' to leave the grounds and live a little before beginning the educational cycle once more. This summer was no different; apart from the fact Dumbledore had had the professors be ready for the train to leave instead of the usual day normally given.
As all the adults disapparated away once they reached the school gate, and edge of the wards, Albus used a final spell to lockdown the grounds of unwanted visitors. Then with a slight twist and 'pop' he too was gone.
Arriving at his destination he found a mad house. He had managed to commandeer the use of the Black Family town house, it was one of the few ways he was able to convince Sirius that he was indeed helping out. There were wizards and witches running around from room to room passing messages between each other. There were heated conversations and there were a few smatterings of light hearted conversing. All those here were the members of his Order of the Phoenix, a vigilante group set up by himself to help with the first war.
Since then unfortunately many of the original group were no longer among the living,. But during the time of peace he had made many connections and had scouted new members, after all he knew what was to come. Now he had them all here, all waiting to hear his command for them. He also knew that this place would get even busier soon. A certain red headed family would be having the pleasure of living here this summer.
It was a stroke of genius on his part. It would mean there would always be someone around to make sure Sirius stayed put when told to. It also meant when it came time to remove Harry from the Dursleys that he would have company here that wasn't just his godfather. It was also for the safety of the Weasleys themselves if he thought hard about it.
As the days of July flew by 12 Grimmauld Place, the new Headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix was a constant hive of activity. With so much going on and so many people coming ad going, meetings been held, plans been made and plenty of meals served up curtsey of the matronly Molly Weasleys, no one was keeping track of the date. Not even Albus knew himself unless there was a necessary reason to know it.
Albus had held several meetings within Headquarters; he had also attended several in the ministry. When he could he also travelled in order to drum up more Order members and if that failed temporary alliances. Often he was successful but there were some who wouldn't budge, especially since the smear campaign against him had been started. The Daily Prophet was running drivel about Harry and him almost daily. Everyone who could read between the printed lines could tell that the warnings and messages were coming from the Ministry, or more specifically the Minister himself, Cornelius Fudge.
He was also glad to note that after the first few days most had given up their protests and questioning about young Harry. The Order members had accepted that Albus would have him brought here later in the summer. Firstly he had told them there was a protection there that needed his presence and secondly he told them that he would need some time alone to regroup his thoughts after the events of the school years end. Molly had taken a little longer to become agreeable, however with all the mouths to feed she soon become too busy to question any more.
The youngest of the Weasley clan accepted almost instantly, they had seen with their own eyes how Harry was on the train ride home. They figured some time alone with his thoughts would do him good and he would be his happy go lucky self once he arrived to stay here.
The one person within the walls of Grimmauld Place who almost never gave up was Sirius, Harrys godfather. Albus knew he would be the trickiest to convince it was the right thing to do as well as necessary. Finally the much needed distraction both he and Sirius needed fell in to place. Another two of the red headed family, and identical to each other in everyway, Fred and George, or as they were often known as Gred and Forge. It was through a mutual love of pranks and pranking that both parties spent many a moment regaling stories of Hogwarts pranking past and pranking present.
It was just another morning at Order HQ, people coming, people going, breakfast been eaten and ideas been discussed. So it came as a surprise to those currently in the kitchen when a scruffy looking wizard came rushing out, in a flash of green flame, from the floo connection.
"'Eadmaster, 'eadmaster. 'Arry and 'is family just been an' gon' through the Cauldron to the Alley. Jus' come straight 'ere to tell you." He scrambled out as fast as he could.
Silence descended around the kitchen that soon carried throughout the house. They all wondered if they had heard 'Dung' right. Quickly shaking his head free of thoughts Albus spoke up.
"Thank you Mr Fletcher for your haste with this information." The leader of the Order began. "Are you sure that it was definitely young Harry and his relatives that you spotted?" At 'Dungs' nod Albus began thinking, faster than he had the whole month.
Why in Merlins name would Harry go to the Diagon Alley? And with his relatives too. Albus knew of the dislike the Dursleys had towards anything and everything magical, including their nephew. No…especially Harry. He would have to send someone there to intercept them and have them return home immediately. That he couldn't work out why they would all suddenly visit had him baffled.
'Unless…Wait what was the date.' He quickly thought, but out loud he spoke. "Could somebody please remind an old mind of todays date?"
A recently arrived copy of The Daily Prophet held the answer and was provided by a new member who had been half way through their breakfast. "July Thirty-First, Headmaster."
A genial nod of his head accompanied with his grandfatherly smile and twinkly eyes was given in thanks. Back inside his mind he was thinking even more furiously than all summer. 'Damn. Today is his birthday, his fifteenth birthday. Surely he hadn't found out about…No of course he hadn't…But why was he in the Alley…There's no way he could have found out…I best get someone over there to make sure he isn't going to the bank…Someone who can convince him to return back to Privet Drive…Maybe with force if necessary…Someone who knows them…Who knows all of them…Yes that would work well.'
Coming back out of his thoughts after only a couple of moments and with a plan made he called for Severus. Who promptly, albeit a tad grouchily arrived in the kitchen seconds later.
"Thank you Severus." Albus began and received a curt nod from the potions master. "I have a small job I require your assistance with. We have just learned that young Harry and his relatives have…" He was cut off by the drawling of the man he was speaking with.
"I heard Fletchers observation. But I see how I can be of any help. If the arrogant brat chooses to wander around with muggles in the Alley with what he knows then let him."
Several people were angrily murmuring with each other at the way Snape spoke ill of Harry but none would speak out. Luckily for the greasy haired wizard Sirius was having a long lay in this morning.
Now with a slight frown that lasted only seconds Albus begun once more. "Be that as it may, I am asking you to find them in the Alley and make it clear that it is not safe for them to be out at the present time. Any business they wished to carry out can be rearranged for later when we can provide them with an escort. Now please hurry Severus." He finished with a hard stare almost daring the younger man to question him or refuse.
With a sneer plastered on his face and a billowing of his cloak as he turned, Severus Snape left through the kitchen floo with a call of "Diagon Alley"
Now with his mind focused on Harry he couldn't think of anything else. Thankfully he had no meetings planned for today and nothing drastic need to be brought to the Orders attention. He finally decided he would return to Hogwarts today rather than the planned tomorrow. Then as if slapped in the face he realised something that had slipped his mind the entire month. He hadn't brought or gone to check on the monitoring devices he had on Harry. Had he had them on him here or at least made a few minuets of his time free to visit the castle and check on them maybe todays outing might not have occurred.
Rising to his feet he declared to nobody in particular but more to the room and any who were listening that he would be returning to the castle to begin the lockdown reversal ready for the other professors to arrive tomorrow. As with Snape the he left via the floo, only with a destination of "The Three Broomsticks." And he was gone.
After a short walk from one of the taverns in Hogsmede and only stopping to remove the lockdown at the main gates and again at the main doors, Albus was making his way up his self moving spiral stairway. What he found when he entered his office though was not what he expected to see. The room was filled with pieces of his devices spread around the room and a multitude of various coloured smokes still clouded the space within. The Headmasters day was just beginning to get worse, and he had no idea just how much worse it would get.
Dolores Umbridge was pleased with herself, in fact she was extremely pleased with herself. Had she been asked a few days ago it would have been a different answer. Back then she was fuming, but not any more. The reason for her change of emotions was that she had been 'let loose' as it were. Ever since the anticipated return of the boy-who-lived she had been tasked with observing him from a great distance. Then last summer after the incident with the escaped inmate of Azkaban and the observations were increased a touch.
Then came his cheating and abusing of the rules to enter the Tri Wizard Tournament, now, she was allowed to look deeper in to his life. It was one of her main abilities that got her the position of Undersecretary to the Minister. She was able to find absolutely anything about whoever her wand was locked on to. So she pulled every string she could, greased every palm before her and any other trick she had up her sleeves to gather what she needed.
Nothing was done with what she collected, she merely read it and then stored it. That however changed with the events surrounding the final task. Potter was claiming the impossible, Voldermorts return. That and he were accompanied with the dead body of fellow student and competitor.
Now she was allowed to let loose with whatever she had found. It had taken several long months but she had the information needed. Using said information she quickly, over just a couple of days since the task, came up with a plan. But first she would need to find a certain item. It shouldn't be hard to get hold of them despite the illegality of them. After all she was Dolores Umbridge, Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic.
A few days later and she were in contact with Potters relatives. She couldn't approach their house but she was able to approach the fat muggles work place. Her contact with them was as little as possible and left to just passing notes. She would apparate in to his office on a night and leave her parchment. He would then take it home the following day and then leave a reply in his office the following night.
Telling them that Potter had money, and then how they could claim it for themselves had been of mixed feelings for her. Firstly they were muggles and didn't deserve any of their money, even if it was been converted. But if it led to a way to remove the boy-who-lies then it was a sacrifice needed to be made. She did have another part to the money plan but that would be given to them at the last minuet. With a suitable incentive for them to comply too.
The longest note she had passed to them had been the one with a pair of bracelets. She had managed to 'acquire' the illegal items almost effortlessly. But she had to include instructions about them, for which they had to follow or they would not work as designed. They worked almost like the shackles that the Aurors used with prisoners. Appearance wise they were nothing alike, instead of been bracelets that connected with a chain between, they looked simply like two thin striped metal bands. They also worked differently too, but there was no need to tell the muggles that, they wouldn't understand it anyway.
After the minor blip of Potter giving away his ill gotten winnings, she had managed to keep the filthy muggles on track with her plan. Every so often they kept up their small exchange of notes, but they became fewer as the days went on. However as the end of the month drew closer the notes began to grow in number too. That is how she now found herself seated in the Leaky Cauldron on the morning of the thirty-first of July with one final note to pass. This one she was going to deliver in person, although as discreetly as she could. She also wanted to be here to make sure that the plan, her plan would still be going ahead.
She didn't have long to wait before they arrived. Filthy muggles only interested in their own greed and with them that half-blood scum Potter. Dolores though, despite her beliefs, knew when she had to grit her teeth and deal with situations like this in order to get done what needed to be done.
Success…She had managed to pass the note off with the final part of her plan. The Ministries share of the Potter wealth. Given a chance she knew the fat thing would of argued against this but the clincher was with what she would organise for the mutually despised youth that was with them. How could they decline with an offer like that?
With the message handed off, and the group headed down to the bank, it too was time for Dolores to make her exit from the pub. Using the public floo she arrived in the Ministry, her destination the Department of Records.
She was positive that nothing would go wrong with her plan now that they were on route to the bank. However she did want to be in this department when the Ministries copies of the Headship Claim arrived. She had to make sure the plan was seen all the way through to completion.
When nothing happened for a while she began to think something must have gone wrong. The stupid filthy muggles were supposed to know what to do, but could it have been those wretched little creatures who handled the financial affairs of wizards and witches. Either or both could be blamed if this fell through. It was just as she was preparing to make her mind up on whether to wait a touch longer or head to the bank to investigate when a Headship claim form arrived.
She greedily snatched the form before any of the workers in the department could and with a sigh of relief began to read through it. Her relief was short lived however. After reading and re-reading, along with a few more passes over different sections her face grew pale, then an angry shade of purple. Then just as suddenly as the form had arrived she departed from the department. Something had clearly gone wrong and she needed answers. She needed to head over to the bank.
Hidden from view and cramped in an uncomfortable position, a lone wizard who had felt his Masters displeasure was serving yet more of his punishment. As if the crucio was only a part of his troubles, he now had to stand guard on where the Potter shit was supposed to live.
'Bloody useless task' He thought bitterly to himself. As he once more applied the 'ward sight' charm to his eyes to see the wards that surrounded a large area of a muggle street, he could see the shimmering colours of multiple wards.
He had been here since the early hours of the morning. His Master had wanted to be kept updated on any goings on at where the brat was supposed to live away from Hogwarts. His Master had something in mind to celebrate Potters birthday, today. But he wanted someone keeping guard of him in case he tried to attempt a rescue mission. He was under orders that should he leave the area of the wards he was to be snatched and brought to him. Then as his Master had said 'He will have front row seats to his presents.'
Unfortunately for this wizard though despite seeing the fat filth and his horse faced whore leaving in their muggle carriage, he had not seen them accompanied by his very target. If only he knew his task was even more pointless than he originally thought.
As the time wore on and the morning grew later, he periodically checked the wards. The last time however stunned him in to shock. He recovered quickly however and cancelled and reapplied the charm a couple more times to check what he was seeing.
The infamous wards around Potters hide out were failing. Failing rapidly too, from what he could see and what he knew of wards. Suddenly there was a bright flash and the sound of smashing glass. He cleared his eyes by rubbing them furiously before once more reapplying the charm.
What he saw, or rather the lack of what he saw had him swearing once more this morning. "No bloody way!" he quickly disapparated to pass this news on to his Master. He was sure he would be pleased with this turn of events, he was bound to be rewarded for bringing him the news he could now attack Potters home directly.
His thoughts of pleasure would soon turn out to be misguided. He still didn't know he had let Potter slip by earlier; his Master would not be pleased with that. But he knew none of this as he approached a tall pale figure seated in a throne like seat at the end of a bare hall.
"Crucio" a cold hiss like voice spoke as he approached the throne of his Master. He was on the floor seconds later, writhing once more in pain. "I thought I gave you my orders this morning after a similar punishment?"
Coming out of the curse he steeled himself to reply whilst bring himself in to a kneeling position before the throne. "Y-y-you did M-my Lord, but I bring important n-news. News you must hear at once My Lord."
"Is that so? What pray tell is this important news I must hear so urgently that you leave your post I ordered you to?"
"The w-wards have g-gone My Lord" Silence followed his announcement. Then a small noise he hadn't heard from his Master before. The strange noise grew in volume. It kept on growing and soon The Dark Lord was completely laughing. He didn't know what was wrong but something about his Master laughing the way he was, was more unnerving than hearing him torture his fellow Death Eaters.
Almost suddenly there was silence once more. "SUMMON EVERYONE! WE HEAD TO WISH POTTER A HAPPY BIRTHDAY"