Chapter 07: When Bullies Get Told Off

While Harry was meeting with the Goblins and Elves, Dumbledore had called for a meeting of the Order of the Phoenix. They were all assembled in the Headmasters room at Hogwarts that had been expanded to accommodate them. Gathered there were the Weasley parents, Bill Weasley, Fleur Delacour, Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Remus Lupin, Mundungus Fletcher, Professor Minerva McGonagall, Professor Severus Snape and retired Auror Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody.

Albus Dumbledore cleared his throat and slowly the noise in the room died down. "Welcome to the meeting of the Order of the Phoenix. There are many things we need to discuss today. So let us proceed. Is there anything you all have to report today?" Tonks raised her hand. "Go on Nymphadora."

"It is Tonks, Professor." Tonks bristled at the use of her much-hated first name. "There was an attack on the Bones Residence day before yesterday night. All the Aurors who were supposed to respond received a massive dressing down. According to the report filed, the death eaters had erected anti-apparition, anti-port key and floo jammer wards over her residence. She claimed that there was an anti-broomstick ward too. Just as they crashed the front door, Madam Bones reported that she was able to take both her nieces and escape through an unknown means to a safe house. She reported to work as usual at 9 AM the next day after having breakfast with her nieces."

"Both her nieces? I thought she had only one, Susan Bones", said Remus Lupin.

"Ah! Susan Bones is Amelia's brothers daughter and Daphne Greengrass is Amelia's sisters daughter. Mrs. Greengrass was killed in a death eater raid last week leaving Daphne an orphan. Amelia has applied for Daphne's guardianship a few days ago." Dumbledore explained. "So what is the state of the Bones residence? Would she want the protection of the Order?"

"Madam Bones vehemently shot down my proposal for protection. She said that her aurors must be able to do a better job of protecting their boss rather than some vigilante group. she reitirated that her nieces were safe and she acted pretty cold towards me the rest of the day." Tonks explained.

"Ah! Anybody else?" Dumbledore enquired. Kingsley raised his hand. "Go ahead Kingsley."

"Around the same time as the attack on the Bones residence, the Lovegoods were attacked too." This brought out gasps from the Weasleys. Molly looked about to rant about the poor dear when Kingsley continued. "Mr. Lovegood tried to slip a report on the attack using his old crowd network and I would have missed it had I not been looking into Amelia's report. Apparently the intent wards around their home got triggered and he went into D-day mode. They spread powdered Erumpet horn around their living room and port-keyed out of there. As expected a death eater foolishly tried to use the Incendio charm and it backfired on him. His body was later recovered from the rubble and identified as Marcus Flint, a recent Hogwarts graduate. I did meet Mr. Lovegood in his office yesterday and he denied needing protection by stating that 'the fourth estate was always independent', whatever that means."

"Ah! Old Odd! As they say, once a hit wizard, always one," quipped Dumbledore.

"Wait! Mr. Lovegood was a hit wizard? No wonder he always acted weird." Bill Weasley commented.

"Severus, is there anything you wish to report?" Albus asked his spy.

"Day before yesterday evening, I had been summoned by the Dark Lord for some healing potions. Whatever the Potter brat did to him when the Dark Lord possessed him, has left him very drained. The Dark Lord was already ranting about Madam Bones and Odd Lovegood being blood traitors when he suddenly collapsed around 8 PM. He woke up a few hours later ranting about Potter and tortured all those who were in his room and ordered the hit on both the residences. Lucius and I were not allowed to leave his chambers. When the raiding party came back after their failure, the Dark Lord once again tortured those in his room. I left in the morning and came back here to recuperate."

"Ah! I have wondered if that would have happened." The headmaster commented with a twinkle in his eyes. "What do you mean Albus? Is Harry doing okay?" Molly enquired.

"Molly, I received an amusing letter from Harry yesterday. It seems the boy is still angry with me and is not coping well with Sirius' death. Here let me read it out."

Headmaster,

I did what you should have done many years ago! I bought myself some peace at Privet Drive. For just a few galleons, my relatives now treat me as guest and not as their slave. I wish to let you know to keep those bullies, you call my minders, away from my relatives. If your order members undo the progress I have made thus far, I will be forced to encourage my uncle to file for legal action. The Order is not welcome inside 'my home'. And I will stay here the whole summer to recharge the wards as much as possible. I realize that as usual I am cut off from my friends. Is this more of your meddling? I will write to the Order about my well being every four days.

Harry James Potter

"The cheek of that brat! How dare he take that disrespectful tone..." Severus Snape sneered.

Molly couldn't stop herself from ranting. "That foolish boy! How much of his inheritance did he squander?"

"Now, now, Severus. Molly, my sources in Gringotts told me that a Bankers Check in GBP equivalent to 15,000 galleons was made in the name of Vernon Drusley, Petunia Drusley and Dudley Drusley. Does anyone have anything else to add to what we know?" Albus enquired with a twinkle in his eye.

"Professor, before Harry left with the Drusleys at Kings Cross station, Moody, Tonks and I had a 'chat' with Harry's uncle telling him that he better treat Harry right. We were very concerned about how dejected Harry looked after losing his godfather." Bill Explained. "Two days ago, I got a tip from Ron that Harry's uncle was going to beat Harry up. So I rushed from Gringotts to Privet Drive and accosted his uncle. Harry, who was in his room came down and diffused the situation. I have never seen him that angry. He called me a bully and asked me to get lost. His uncle too quivered when he saw his nephew that angry. I do not know what happened after that. Apparently, Ginny was in touch with Harry through a two-way communication journal and misinterpreted what Harry said. Harry has not written back to her as of yet."

"Hmm... Who was on guard duty when this happened?" Albus enquired.

"That would be me." Tonks replied. "I saw a very angry Bill march into Privet Drive before I could stop him. I hid behind the bushes to find out what was going on. Two minutes later a very embarrassed Bill walked out and apparated away. I continued watching and saw Hedwig carry a couple of letters away. I waited for an hour before a taxi stopped in front of the house and Hermione frantically ran in. I could not make out what Harry, Hermione and his family discussed, but Hermione left soon after hugging him and muttering something about a peaceful summer. As far as I am aware, nobody else entered Privet Drive."

The headmaster looked around the room with amusement and said, "Something good has come out of this episode. My instruments indicate that the wards around Privet Drive are much stronger now due to the fact that Harry now considers it his home. This is probably why Voldemort", Dumbledore paused watching the shudder in the room, "could not feel Harry through his scar connection and the positive feelings Harry sent him knocked him out. Mind you, Voldemort was already ill, and hence such a drastic reaction. I suggest that we honor Harry's wishes and let him stay there for the summer. If the strength of the wards increases as expected, maybe we can cut down on the number of guard hours."

There was a general silence in the room. Remus then asked, "Headmaster, when can we move into our old headquarters?"

"Ah! Headquarters! There is still the matter of Sirius' will that needs to be addressed. Fleur, do you have an update for me on that?"

Fleur, who had recently started working at Gringotts, said, "The Goblins have been pretty tight lipped about that. They expect the will reading to occur within a couple of weeks. But what is more interesting is that the whole Goblin community was bustling with anticipation. It was almost as if they were awaiting important news that is good for Goblin business. I only hope that the Goblins have not decided to side with you-know-who. I will keep an eye on the goings-on and will report at the next meeting. Crookclaw, the Goblin in-charge of the Potter accounts has not mentioned any activity other than the Bankers Check transaction."

"Well, if there is nothing else, I hereby adjourn this meeting. We shall meet again in two weeks time before Sirius' will reading."