Harry's eyes drifted over Dumbledore's office, studying the things he had seen each time he had come here. Nothing had changed much, yet Harry still felt a strong interest as he gazed at each vaguely familiar area.
"How are you, my dear boy?"
Harry's eyes flickered over to meet Dumbledore's. The man's eyes were twinkling in that trademark way of his; a pleasant smile had flittered across his elderly features.
"Fine" Harry murmured. 'Not that you cared much before' he thought, bitterly.
Dumbledore's smile grew larger. "Looking forward to Christmas?" he asked, although it was more of a statement than a question. "You will be spending it in the Order Headquarters this year -"
"Is there a point to this?" Harry demanded, looking embarrassed by his outburst a moment later.
Dumbledore raised one eyebrow. "I was wondering if everything was going all right" Dumbledore replied. "I haven't heard much from you."
Harry snorted.
Dumbledore gazed at him curiously. "What?" he questioned.
Harry shrugged. "Nothing" he muttered.
"Yes well..." Dumbledore frowned for a brief moment, and then his cheerful mask was back on. "I wanted to make sure that Voldemort hasn't been bothering you. Your scar - as it been hurting you at all?"
"No. It hasn't" Harry replied.
"You are certain of this?" Dumbledore pressed. "I have to know, my boy - I cannot risk Voldemort getting to you."
"My scar hasn't hurt me" Harry replied, and then hesitated. His mind flitted to his detention with Umbridge; to the feeling of pain that had burned from his scar. Should he tell Dumbledore about it?
'No. No, there was really no point.'
Dumbledore gazed at him, studying him closely. Harry shifted slightly, feeling uncomfortable.
"Either way" the Headmaster said, at last. "I will be arranging for you to begin Occlumency lessons with Professor Snape."
"Occlu-what?" Harry frowned. The word didn't sound familiar at all. His eyes widened slightly when he realized the last part of the sentence. "With Snape?"
"Occlumency is the art of being able to shield your mind; to stop any person from being able to invade it. Professor Snape is an expert in this."
"Why do I need to shield my mind?!" Harry demanded.
Dumbledore hesitated before replying. "Voldemort seems to be able to forge a connection with you" he said. Seeing Harry's worried look, he added; "Don't worry, my boy - I am simply taking precautions."
"Voldemort...he can get into my head?" Harry swallowed heavily. "Why didn't you ever tell me this before?!"
Dumbledore didn't answer. Harry let out a noise of frustration.
"What's going to happen if he does?!"
Dumbledore smiled slightly and shook his head. "It's nothing you need to concern yourself with" he replied, gently.
Harry stared at him in disbelief.
"Nothing?!" he spluttered. "It's my head!"
"I know" Dumbledore said, in that same gentle tone. It made Harry's blood boil. "If I have anything to say about it, nothing will happen."
"But -"
"Albus?" Harry stopped speaking and glanced towards the doorway of the office. Professor Kirkland stood there.
"Sorry for interrupting" he apologized. "I can wait until you're done."
"No it's fine" Harry groused. "We're pretty much done anyway."
Standing up, he marched out of the room, avoiding looking Dumbledore in the eye. Anger and frustration bubbled within him; what gave Dumbledore any right to treat him this way?
...
Dumbledore sighed and glanced up at England.
"How much did you here?" he asked, sounding slightly amused.
"Enough" England raised one eyebrow. "Albus, you really should just tell the boy about the prophecy."
Dumbledore sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "It isn't something a boy his age should have to deal with" he murmured.
"Why not? It's about him, isn't it?" England looked at his friend, studying his tired expression.
"He is just a boy; a child" Dumbledore replied. "It is my job to protect him."
England shrugged. "Whatever" he muttered. "It's not like I agree with that prophecy anyway. It seems like something America would have cooked up."
Dumbledore chuckled slightly at that but the tension in his form was still present.
"I don't understand..." he sighed, after a moment. "Voldemort hasn't made a single move to try and steal the prophecy. I've made sure that it is constantly being guarded by a member of the Order...yet still, he hasn't done a single thing."
England snorted, his eyebrows raising in slight amusement. "It almost sounds as if you want Voldemort to attack" he stated. "If that's true, then why didn't you just say so? Let's go and make some party invitations and get this thing started - it'll save me a whole lot of time."
"You understand what I'm trying to say, Arthur" Dumbledore said, shaking his head. "Voldemort knows about the prophecy; why isn't he doing anything about it? It isn't like him."
"Maybe he realized what a miserable old coot he really is" England replied, with a shrug.
...
When Harry arrived at the Order Headquarters later that day, he was immediately swept up in a hug by Mrs. Weasley.
"Hi Mrs. Weasley!" he wheezed, trying to breathe through her tight hug.
"Oh dear, look at you!" Mrs. Weasley fussed. "You're so skinny - Arthur, do you think he looks skinny?"
Mr. Weasley smiled in amusement at his wife, and laid a hand on her arm.
"Molly, calm down" he told her. "You're smothering the boy."
"Merlin, let go of him, you'll kill him!" cried a familiar voice. As soon as Mrs. Weasley let him go (sending the owner of the voice a dirty look as she did so) Harry whirled around, bounded over, and gave his godfather a big hug.
"Sirius!" he laughed. "It's so good to see you!"
Sirius hugged him back, holding him tightly. From behind him, Harry heard an alarmed yelp from Ron and a snicker of laughter from Ginny, who was standing beside Hermione. He turned around and saw that Ron had been swept up into one of Mrs. Weasley's killer hugs.
"This place hasn't changed much" Hermione said, looking around.
Sirius snorted. "Of course not" he muttered. "It never changes. Wish it did - there's something I definitely want wrong..." he shot a dirty look towards the direction of where his mother's portrait was hung.
Harry sighed, sympathetically. "Still haven't managed to get rid of it?"
"That woman will never leave me alone" Sirius replied, with a shudder.
"Well -"
Whatever Harry had been prepared to say was interrupted as Dumbledore entered the room, Professor Kirkland followed close behind.
"What is he doing here?" Ron whispered.
"Arthur, here, will be joining us for Christmas" Dumbledore told the curious figures in the room.
"Arthur?" Mr. Weasley repeated, looking interested.
"Yes" Professor Kirkland coughed slightly. "Me."
Mr. Weasley beamed widely. "Well would you look at that?" he laughed. "That's my name too!"
The Professor smiled slightly, seemingly amused by the other man's enthusiasm.
"Professor Kirkland? You'll be staying with us for Christmas?" Hermione asked, sounding excited.
Harry and Ron exchanged amused looks. The twins made kissing noises, laughing hysterically when Hermione shot them both an angry, embarrassed look.
"Yes" Professor Kirkland nodded, not seeming to notice the twin's antics. "It should be enjoyable."
Harry's eyes drifted over to where Sirius was standing; he was surprised to see that his godfather was staring intently at the Professor.
"Professor -? YOU are a teacher?" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, looking incredulous. "You're so young!"
"Molly!" Mr. Weasley hissed.
Professor Kirkland smiled at him, to show that he had taken no offense, and then turned to Mrs. Weasley. "Yes well, age doesn't always equal experience - and vice versa" he told her. "Although, I don't know why I'm telling you that - it has nothing to do with my case."
He laughed. Everyone stared at him, uncomprehendingly.
"Strange bloke" Ron muttered.
Harry smiled slightly and then found his eyes drifting back over to his godfather. Sirius was still staring at Professor Kirkland; his eyes were narrowed, a strange look in his eyes.
"Is something wrong?" Harry asked him.
"Hmm?" Sirius blinked and shook his head. "No, nothing's wrong."
...
"You were staring at me the entire time."
England watched in amusement as the man in front of him jumped and whirled around in alarm. The hallway was now empty save for the two of them; everyone else had wandered off.
"I know you" the man, Sirius Black, muttered.
"Oh" England raised one eyebrow. "Well that's interesting. I don't think I remember you -"
"Cut the crap!" Sirius snapped. "You know what I'm talking about!"
England stared at him for a moment. "No I don't" he said, at last.
"Yes you do!"
"...Are you trying to say something while attempting to be subtle? If so, I don't like subtle - just spit it out."
"Years ago, when the Order first started out" Sirius snapped. "...Back before Prongs and Lily died...I remember seeing you."
"Prongs?" England snorted. "There's a fellow called Prongs?" he shook his head. "Ridiculous, what people call their children nowadays..."
"His name was James you bastard!" Sirius snarled, his eyes flashing. "Prongs was his bloody nickname!"
"James Potter?" England questioned, looking slightly interested.
Sirius pointed a finger at him. "See! You know him!" he cried, triumphantly.
England rolled his eyes. "Everyone knows who James Potter is, you dolt" he sniped. "He was the father of the Boy Who Lived!"
"Who the hell are you calling -?" Sirius began, angrily, before shaking his head. "Hey, wait a second, don't distract me! Say what you want - I KNOW I've seen you before!"
"Alright" England smirked, looking amused. "Say you have seen me before - what's the big deal? What, did you fall in love with me at first sight?"
"YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED AT ALL!"
"Sirius?" England glanced up; Harry stood in the doorway, gazing at them curiously. "Is everything alright?"
Sirius nodded his head, quickly. "Fine" he said.
"Yes" England nodded. "Your godfather and I were simply discussing a touchy subject."
With a nod in Harry's direction, he walked off.
...
"Sirius...?" Harry frowned at his godfather.
Sirius glared at the spot that the man had been standing in. "I don't care what Dumbledore says" he spat. "I don't trust that guy."
...
AN:
Well, we're back with England! xD
Anyway, I just wanted to address the fact that a lot of you guys seem under the impression that I'm going to be making this an RusAme fic...I actually don't know. I mean, when I first planned this fic I was going to but then I kind of backed out...I'm hopeless at writing romance.
I've sort of planned this out and everything, so I don't think I'd have room for a developing relationship, even if I did think I could handle writing it.
Anyway, the way its looking now, there probably won't be any pairings.