The Half Blood Prince Revealed
Summary :
Harry's summer before sixth year is no different from the others. Around every corner surprises, good and bad, and adventure of all kind await. And it looks like the gods have finally granted Harry a possibility for a nicer life. What will this mean for his 6th year at Hogwarts ?
General Disclaimer :
I am just playing in the sand of JKRowling's literary produced beach and am attempting to build my own sandcastle for others to enjoy.
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30 The Last Days of Summer
By the time two o'clock came around they still hadn't finished with their shopping because they kept bumping into other Hogwarts students, most of whom wanted to say a little more than a mere hello. Ron had to go off to meet Professor McGonagall at Quality Quidditch Supplies. Harry on the other hand had a meeting with Paul Watkins to take care of some more paperwork and to prepare for the Wolf Liar meeting with all parties involved scheduled for the next day.
Harry made it to the entry of Paul Watkins' office with some difficulty as several strangers as well as more Hogwarts students approached him keen to be saying their hellos and thanks. Once inside the building however Harry was faced with another problem. Which door was the right one ? He made his way further into the hallway walking past several doors he recognised from passing them the previous time. He was happy to spot the simple pale door and was about to knock when he noticed a second similar door just up ahead. Unaccompanied as he was Harry preferred to be safe rather than sorry and sent off a patronus messenger. When Mrs Figg opened the door further down the corridor he breathed a sigh of silent relief and was surprised to hear her say "Oh, is it pretending again ?"
Looking back at the door he now saw that where it was pale just moments ago it was now a shabby looking dark painted door. Mrs Figg explained the guy behind that door was not very honest in his work and would lure unsuspecting people inside his office. As the door didn't transform when aurors were around nobody could quite prove they hadn't wandered in there willingly.
With Paul sitting at his desk, obviously occupied writing a letter Mrs Figg showed Harry to the couches. After a few minutes more of social chitchat and serving him a very tasty but unusual tea Paul handed her a letter and she was off to post it leaving Paul now free to join Harry for tea.
"Sorry about that, I wanted to make sure there was nothing urgent left on my desk."
"Nothing to it. It's always best to be able to finish something you've started, especially if it's close to the finishing point."
"So how are you doing ? Looking forward to returning to Hogwarts ?"
"I'm fine, thanks. It's actually the first time I've mixed feelings about returning. Hogwarts has always been my home of sorts, but this summer was super and the Manor felt like home too. I think I'll be OK once I'm back though. I'm actually looking forward to all the reading !" said Harry, finishing with a little smile at the thought.
They talked a little more about the subjects he had signed up for and Paul asked after Harry's future plans.
"Originally I wanted to be an auror, but now I have my doubts. I mean I've no real idea what jobs most wizards and witches have available to them. Anyway I figured I still have two years to think it over. My chosen subjects leave me with plenty of options anyway."
Mrs Figg had returned and took up her place behind her desk as Paul started to give Harry an update on all the different cases going on. The first case against Fudge was well under way : with the aid from Gringotts he'd already been able to nearly complete the required paperwork. All he needed now was the right timing to present the case. His friend Robert was doing a bit of an investigation into Fudge's financial dealings and had unearthed quite a few shady tricks they wanted to flesh out.
"Remus also forwarded some notes from a diary held by Orion Black, Sirius' dad. You know of those ?"
"Only a little. We found them among his personal belongings and from a few quick glimpses were able to make out he was suspicious about Mrs Malfoy. Did you find anything more ?"
"Oh, yes, quite a lot actually. I have forwarded a copy of these diary entries to Madame Bones. Sadly, although she thinks he was right to be cautious, this late after the facts it would be no use to pursue the case. However, she said to include them in the case regarding Fudge as that would paint a completely different picture of the situation."
Death eaters captured at the Ministry in June would be starting their trials in the third week of September, with the full case against Peter Pettigrew scheduled right at the start.
Harry asked after the case against Umbridge and Paul looked up in surprise.
"I've heard it isn't going too good. Most of the students only had one or two detentions with her and even though the quill scars, it takes several more sessions for there to be real permanent damage and thus evidence. At this point it's their word against hers. Why the interest ?"
"Will this help in any way ?" asked Harry with some regret in his voice as he bared his arm and showed Paul the "I will not tell lies" on it.
"Sweet Merlin, Harry ! That must have taken a dozen detentions for it to be this bad."
"Yeah, something like that. Can I still file the complaint, or who should do it for me ? If it's Professor Dumbledore wouldn't that cause him problems ?"
"Hmm, let me think. I could suggest to Madame Bones to go ahead with the case, and then appeal all victims to give their story in evidence. It might bring even more cases to light at the same time. Since some of the students already involved are still minors their evidence will be anonymous. With Hogwarts soon in session again an auror would be by to take pictures of your arm and to ask you some questions but that would be all. Would you be willing to do that ?"
"Oh yes, that would be fine."
"Good, I'll arrange this so be on the lookout in the next few days or weeks for an article in the paper."
Next they discussed the meeting taking place in Gringotts the next day. Paul was enthusiastic about the whole deal. Like Remus he'd found the new potion to be a godsend and from the reactions from the other werewolves he knew the scheme was going to be really successful. Tomorrow's meeting would be mainly to bring Harry fully up to date on the current situation and have him meet the people who'd been hired already.
There was the youngish but retired auror who would remain on site to oversee the progress and serve as a liaison between the work force and Paul Watkins. The man had lost his left arm while on holidays to celebrate his fortieth birthday and thus unable to continue his job as auror. The two others Harry was to meet were both werewolves. One would assist Elijah with the potion making and the other would be helping David and Joe Waverly with the set up and maintenance of the gardens and hot houses.
Just as Harry figured the meeting was nearly over Paul came up with one more subject.
"Harry, another thing I meant to ask about is your mail. What do you do to handle it at the moment ?"
"Handle it ?" replied a slightly surprised Harry, "What do I need to handle ? I don't get that much mail. It's only when an article is published that I get some extra letters.
"And how many is "some extra" ?"
"Oh, maybe twenty over the course of a day or two-three, a bit more if there's an article in the paper two days in a row, but never more than a hundred. It's funny. These letters are from people I don't know and are not always nice to read but I still get as excited to get mail as the day I received my very first letter, the one from Hogwarts."
"You didn't get any letters when you were little ?"
"No, but my first ever letter sure made up for that ! When uncle Vernon didn't allow me to read it, the next day two appeared, and then four and always more. The day before Hagrid finally hand delivered it some hundred letters must have arrived for me."
Paul looked startled and then, as if they'd just tapped into each other's brain Mrs Figg and Paul looked at each other and both nodded – "A mail diversion !"
Harry looked on surprise clear on his face. "Mail diversion ? Why do I get a bad feeling about this ?" he muttered half loud to himself. Paul chuckled at the words.
"You know how the mail system works, don't you ? All you need to add is the name of the addressee and the owls will find that person wherever he or she is. But there are a series of people, like medi-wizards or the Hogwarts teachers or myself, who under certain circumstances cannot be disturbed by an owl delivering a letter, so a special department in the Ministry sets up custom made charms.
While I'm in a hearing or with a client like now any letter addressed to me will be redirected to the office. A letter arriving at this very moment would go to Mrs Figg even though I'm sitting in the same room. You can set up these charms any way you want and pre-sort your mail that way. My best guess Harry, is that all mail however it was addressed for you would have been diverted to a holding room the moment you went to live with your muggle family. But when you neared the age of eleven and your Hogwarts letter needed delivering they lifted the diversion on your official name. All your friends along with the occasional witch or wizard would simply use Harry Potter as the addressee and the letters arrived, whereas fan mail letters addressed to "the Boy-Who-Lived" still get diverted."
"I see, so what do I do about that ? Do I say "I want to receive all my mail" or …"
Harry didn't continue as letters suddenly started raining down on him at an alarming rate. It took no time to be nearly knee deep in letters and still they came pelting down. The office they were in seemed to both magically expand and shrink all at the same time as the letters and packages just kept coming. When the downpour of mail finally petered out to nothing Harry and Paul, who'd both gotten to their feet pretty quickly after the start, were stuck in the letters high up to their chests. Mrs Figg had remained seated and would be buried alive if it weren't for the seemingly invisible barrier around her from the desk up and from where she sat all she could see was a wall of letters surrounding her.
The flabbergasted expression on Paul's face – and Harry was pretty certain it would be just as visible on his own face – made Harry say a rather exaggerated "Oops".
"Oops indeed ! Now how do we get out of this ? Can anyone move at all ?"
"If you don't mind, I won't even try." laughed a slightly worried Mrs Figg.
"I know !" said Harry and called for Dobby.
Dobby gave a squeak in surprise as he popped into existence on top of a mountain of mail.
"Dobby, can you help us please ? All this mail needs to be removed and stored somewhere so I can look through it all."
But before Dobby could do anything, Paul surprisingly said "Please, wait, not yet ! Harry do you trust me ?"
Harry was puzzled by the question but nodded anyway and the man asked Dobby for a quill and some parchment, scribbled down a few lines and asked Dobby to deliver it to his friend Robert Porter.
"I'm sorry for getting Robert involved and have your life spread out in the papers once again, but I just remembered reading a small article ages ago, most likely in an attempt to discredit you, about how you never answer your mail or even acknowledge receiving the mail and gifts people send you. Most of the W.C.'s have an answering service and it's only a few W.C.'s, Gilderoy Lockhart comes to mind, who reply in person."
Harry snickered as he had first hand experience with Lockhart's fan mail but asked about the W.C.'s anyway.
"Oh, it stands for Wizarding Celebs. I've been hanging out with Robert too much, I guess."
Before they could continue the conversation Dobby returned with a note from that man.
"You wouldn't know a photographer, would you ?" asked Paul as he finished reading, "Robert is on his way but his normal photographer is off today."
"Colin Creevey was in the alley just before I came here, maybe he's still around." said Harry and asked for and received a parchment and quill from Dobby who moments later was off with Harry's request.
The three stuck inside the body of mail didn't have long to wait as soon after sending off Dobby to Colin, the outside door opened and there were the faces of Colin and Dennis Creevey, Dobby and a man Harry had never seen before.
"Sweet Merlin, Paul, I thought you would be exaggerating, but it's even worse than you said. No one is going to believe this without the pictures, you know." Said the unknown man with a clear smile in his voice.
"Not a problem, Mr Porter." quipped Harry, "meet your future star photographer Colin Creevey. Colin, meet Mr Porter, who is a reporter for the paper and could use the photo's you make today."
Harry explained the situation to the Creevey brothers with Colin taking picture after picture of the mountain of letters that had spilled from the room into the hallway, the sheer size of the office and how high the mountain of letters was. Even when Harry asked Dobby to pack away the letters, Colin still continued taking pictures of the whirlwind of letters and packages that disappeared into filing cabinet after filing cabinet. And it wasn't until all the letters had gone from the room now filled instead with what looked to be a gazillion filing cabinets, and Dobby had shrunk those filing cabinets away until only a shoebox sized cabinet was left that Colin finally stopped.
The conversation that followed next between Colin and the reporter went largely over Harry's head as they were talking technical points for the development of the photographs. Mrs Figg told the two of them about the developing studio housed in the building and after agreeing to return within the next fifteen minutes the four of them left to look the pictures over.
Harry and Paul took the opportunity to go over Harry's options regarding his mail. First off Paul used the floo system to check with the Ministry department that dealt with the mail diversions to make sure no other diversions were left in place. Harry sat and marvelled in the mean time about the wonders of magic. Here he was in a big room with a fireplace to the left of the door that lead into the hallway where from the hall side only an inch from that same door was another door – on either side !
The conversation over, Paul fully returned in the room, clutching a big pile of parchments and retook his seat across from Harry. As he put the stack on the low table between them Paul explained that all diversions were now gone and that the parchments were the forms required to set up new ones. Harry learned that charms could be set up to monitor all his mail the moment a letter addressed to him left the sender. Paul told him of the albeit not too common practice when dealing with legal matters to have automatic copies of letters created so both the original addressee and his legal representative received a copy at the same time. The copy was very recognisable by the special blue coloured parchment it was created on.
Reading through all the various options available to him Harry discovered it wouldn't take much to sort out his mail from now on. But he would still be left with the problem of the fan mail both old and new.
"Paul, do you think I need a secretary ?"
"Not really, Harry, no. But someone to do your paperwork, like an administrative assistant would be better."
"Heh, that's what I meant !"
"Sorry Harry, sometimes I forget you're only sixteen. A secretary wouldn't be much help to you as she would only take away part of the job. You'd still need to read the letters and draft the reply before a secretary would than write the letter. An administrative assistant on the other hand will be able to handle the entire process on her own once she's had even only vague orders about what to do. And I know just the person who could help out. Just a moment, Harry."
He went to the floo and called out "Thornby residence, Charlotte, are you free ?".
Harry didn't hear the reply but wondered at how his life had even more spiralled out of his control.
Paul finished his floo call and turned back to Harry with an apologetic look on his face.
"I'm sorry to just jump to conclusions like that, but I've been trying to help her out without any luck on my part. She keeps calling it charity. And this is a real life genuine offer. Charlotte was married to my best friend from school. He went to join the aurors but when they had their first child he quit the force because it was too dangerous. Ironically he was killed in a muggle car accident three months after their third child was born. Charlotte is now struggling to cope with three children under five and unable to leave the house to get a job. But, ehm, … "
"But this is a job she could do from home, so that she can now earn an honest living, making the both of you happy !." nodded Harry in an understanding way. How often had he tried to help Ron but been told he didn't want the money !
"Exactly, Harry. Now let me send a message to Mrs Figg and we'll be on our way."
Harry followed Paul's example and took some floo powder. When he stumbled out of the fireplace at the other end he landed in what must have been the smallest room he'd ever been in, other than his cupboard under the stairs. There was little furniture in the room : a coat hanger, a shoe rack and a chest of drawers. Any more would have nearly filled the space leaving little room for manoeuvring.
Paul, familiar as he was with the place, walked on into the hall, again not very big. Across from the hall Harry spotted an equally small room, the very colourful mat on the floor giving away it was a playroom. To the right was obviously the front door and to the left, after only a few steps Harry and Paul walked into the kitchen cum dining cum living room, the size of which was not much better than the two previous rooms Harry had seen. Albeit tiny, the house exuded the warmth and love that reigned in this family. But he did get an awfully familiar feeling of seeing double. Where the house looked neat and tidy on the one hand it also reeked of rot and decay and Harry saw flashes of mould on the walls. Surely these weren't very healthy conditions for kids to grow up in !
Charlotte Thornby turned out to be an attractive woman in her late twenties with long brown-reddish hair tied back in a ponytail. Although smiling Harry saw beneath the mask a woman struggling to stay afloat and he couldn't fault Paul's wish to help her. The three children playing in one corner of the sitting room ranged from about a year old at Harry's guess to a five-year-old boy who came running to his uncle Paul as soon as he spotted the visitors. His youngest sibling also made a beeline for Paul, but the middle child, a girl with the same brown-reddish hair as her mum stood next to Harry, put up her arms and demanded "Up, peeze" and Harry, totally automatically, did just that. Amazingly the little girl dashed a quick kiss on Harry's cheek, said something like hello and proceeded to lay her head on his shoulder.
Both Paul and Mrs Thornby were amazed at the quick demonstration of trust from her daughter and she was quick to voice it.
"Well of course she trusts him," quipped Paul, "he's Harry Potter after all !
Charlotte, please meet my newest client, Harry Potter. And Harry, please allow me to introduce Charlotte Thornby, the mother of my god child and wife of my late best friend."
They exchanged pleasantries and shook hands, albeit clumsily on Harry's part as he still held the little girl in his arms and Paul continued the talk.
"Harry is looking for someone to help him with his letters and I suggested you could do that."
"Oh Paul, not again, I told you I can't. I don't need charity."
Paul wanted to object but Harry was quick to pick up unspoken and maybe even unconscious signals coming from the woman.
"Mrs Thornby, I'll presume you know who I am ?" asked Harry with a quiet voice. She nodded and he continued.
"Not half an hour ago I discovered that all mail that has been sent to the-boy-who-lived since Halloween 1981 was stored in some holding room waiting for me to ask for it. You know Paul's office ? Now imagine that room tripled in size and filled to about chest height with letters and parcels and you'll know just how much mail that was. You can watch out for pictorial evidence in the papers tomorrow as Paul's other friend Robert was there to witness our predicament. So I do need help. I'm about to start my NEWT years at Hogwarts and have been told that's a lot of work in its own right. But I do agree with you that you can't."
Harry saw Paul's sudden shock at Harry's words and despite turning it down earlier Mrs Thornby's shoulders sagged a little.
"There is just too much to do and with looking after these three lovely kids you'd be forced to do it in the evenings when you really need to relax and rest."
"Oh, but I can work real fast, and after getting used to the routine I'd be able to get a lot done, I'm sure."
"I don't know. Do you know of anyone who could either be your secretary part time or be able to look after the children a few hours a day ? I mean, the idea would be to also direct all the new mail your way and I have no idea just how many letters that may be."
"My sister-in-law Karen, my late husband's young sister is a secretary. She currently works for a muggle company but is looking to change. Maybe she'd be interested."
"Well, then I suggest you talk it through with her to see if she's interested. I'd like to sort this quickly especially with the article appearing tomorrow so if you could let me know tomorrow about your decision. I've no idea about wages, you'll need to take that up with Griphook at Gringotts who deals with anything financial for me but the job does come with a house to live in so the place can accommodate all the filing and paper involved."
Paul, having his equilibrium restored with each passing minute, suggested that they leave Mrs Thornby to think it through and return to the office for that talk with Robert Porter. But instead of returning to Paul's office immediately Harry suggested a quick stop at Gringotts where he informed Griphook of the job offer for Mrs Thornby and her sister-in-law and what Harry had in mind for them. Fortunately Griphook was able to allay Harry's fears that the house Mrs Thornby lived in was one of his. Another bit of good news was the availability of a five-bedroom house located in the countryside, near a pond and a small friendly muggle village. The muggle neighbours were all at a fairly small distance but the two homes closest by housed wizarding families and friends of Harry.
"Near Ottery St. Catchpole ?"
"That's right, Harry." confirmed Griphook.
"That would be brilliant. Also she doesn't seem to have too much furniture going on at the moment so could you provide her with a sum of money so she can decently fit it out ? And invite her to the meeting tomorrow if she accepts the offer before then, please."
That issue satisfactorily dealt with Paul and Harry made their way back to the office. Harry asked Paul about the Thornby home and was shocked to discover neither Paul nor Mrs Thornby had any idea of the bad state of the house. When Paul immediately wanted to return to the Thornby residence Harry just barely managed to stop the man from charging off with the comment that she'd be moving out in just a few days. With the spells most likely holding up the whole house it would be best to hold of just that bit longer.
Once back at Paul's office they found Mrs Figg had returned but there was no sign of either Robert Porter or the Creevey brothers. By the time Mrs Figg had explained the men were waiting for the final set of prints the three came waltzing in and Colin handed a complete set of pictures to Harry. Before Harry could ask after the cost of the set Colin regaled him with the for Colin astonishing news that Mr Porter would be paying him handsomely for the pictures. Eager to share their latest adventure the two brothers were soon off leaving Harry to answer a few of Robert's questions and finally make his way back to Grimmauld Place, pictures in hand.
He was last to arrive back at Grimmauld Place and by the time he'd listened to all their adventures and updated them on his findings and the article that would appear the next day he was parched. The others were in near stitches at the sight of the flabbergasted look on both his and Paul's face, being stuck in the mail.
"So what are you going to do about all those letters ?" asked a practical Remus.
"If all goes well I'll have an administrative assistant to take care of them by tomorrow." laughed Harry and continued on with the story of Paul's involvement in him finding someone so easily.
The rest of the evening passed similarly to yesterday. There were many guests staying and an additional amount of Order members to drop by for a chat. But Mr Granger and Mr Tonks had organised another barbeque and they all spent most of the evening enjoying the food, company and fine weather in the back garden.
Breakfast the next morning was a very low-key affaire. Remus was the only adult present and that was mainly because he would accompany Harry later on. On the other hand only Ron was missing to complete the youngsters' group but then again Ron had said he'd spend as much time in bed today as he possibly could stand as it was the last day of the summer !
They had just started on their meal when Dobby brought several copies of the paper. Harry had made the headlines again.
Surprise ! You've got mail.
By R.E. Porter
Just like me the average witch or wizard will simply write a letter, put on the addressee and the owl will do the rest. We never question just how it all works. Up until earlier today, neither did Harry Potter.
But the-boy-who-lived got quite a surprise while talking to his legal representative, Mr Paul Watkins. Unbeknown to either men mail diversions had been set up when Mr Potter was taken in by his muggle relatives way back when. Fifteen years worth of correspondence for the young wizard came crashing down totally unexpected. From the pictures below you can see that's quite a delivery.
By the time I spoke to the young man himself he was still in a slight state of shock.
"I knew that I was special to people, I mean the moment I entered the Leaky Cauldron for the first time five years ago people seemed very happy to see me and wherever I went people just knew my name. But I never expected anything like this. I would like to thank everyone for thinking about me and caring enough to send me a letter. I just hope that people will understand that for the moment I really don't know what will happen next. I've asked someone to sort them for me and when that's done I'll see what to do then."
Mr Watkins in the mean time wanted to stress that although the mail diversions have been re-instated all new mail will be looked at immediately from now on.
The article itself was not bad and not too long but Harry just wasn't sure about the pictures. The Hogwarts students surely would see this as an ideal teasing opportunity !
The first one showed just the open office door with a view of the slope of letters that had spilled into the hall, the second one was the overall view with Paul and Harry up to their chest in a sea of letters and next was an 'after' picture to show just how large the office had gotten.
Just before nine Harry and Remus were off to meet with Paul Enseel at his studio to have a look at the progress he'd made on the different paintings Harry had commissioned. Visiting an artist's studio was quite an experience. They were shown in by a house elf who took them up to the top floor of the house. Expanded like only a wizarding loft could be the room at the top was a light and bright place with several easels holding canvasses in varying states of progress. But much to Harry's joy he found that Paul had worked wonders and had actually finished three of the seven landscape paintings.
"I must admit I don't quite understand how I did it either. It just seemed to go so smoothly, each brushstroke just right. And though I've been working almost as many hours in the past ten days than I normally do in a month I feel great and ready to start the next one !"
Harry also spotted a very quick sketch of the other painting, the Potter heir portrait and at first glance liked the way Paul had managed to combine all the different aspects Harry had suggested. In the middle of the painting was a window with the view from Harry's master bedroom at Black Manor. On either side of the window were the two paintings, now hanging in his trunk study. The only thing that didn't feel right were both his and Remus' position on the painting just standing there, both partially blocking the view outside.
Paul Enseel who had seen Harry's appraisal of the sketch asked him what he thought about it.
"I cannot say exactly what it is, but Remus and I look all wrong in there. The pose would work if it were either just he or I there. It looks like something is missing. Does that make sense to you ?"
"Well spotted, Mr Potter. Composition wise there is no connection between you two and the usual pose to have one of you sitting down doesn't really help. The symbolism in the two other paintings is so obvious that the lack in this one is all the greater."
"What do you mean by symbolism, sir ?"
The man picked up a folder and produced near-life sized prints of the two older paintings and held them open for better viewing.
"Well, in case of your parents' portrait you and your mum are seated meaning you need protecting and the two men stand guard. Just to make things clear, your father's hand rests on the back of the chair, while Sirius isn't touching it, telling the viewer which of the two men goes with the mother and baby to form a family.
If you then look at your grandparents' portrait, your gran is seated, as most women will be. Now a more normal pose for this kind would be to have both parents seated with their kids standing on either side. But this pose with your grandfather on one side and your dad on the other side of the chair, both touching the chair and Sirius, with both hands on the chair in between the two men clearly states that as far as these people are concerned, Sirius is a son in all but name. It's very a very powerful statement."
Remus tried to have himself cut from the painting as the best and easiest solution but Harry was taking it all in and kept glancing from the prints to the sketch and suddenly understood about the connection that Remus and he needed and immediately the solution came to him. He pulled his trunket out of his pocket and enlarged it to the full sized Potter trunk.
"Sir, you said Remus and I need a connection and I believe this trunk would suit perfectly. My grandfather commissioned its creation for my father but both passed away before it made it into the family. Remus found it for me for my sixteenth birthday".
Paul Enseel's face lit up as he processed both the words and the image of the trunk and within moments he'd produced another sketch on the back of the previous one that looked much better and so right !
After that they had a hard time to get the painter's thought back to the mundane eager as that man was to start on his next masterpiece. He made several pictures of the trunk with Harry and Remus in different poses by its side and they paid for the finished paintings and gave another advance for the next few that should come along in the following months if not weeks.
They made it to Gringotts with some time to spare and learned that Mrs Thornby had accepted the job not ten minutes earlier. Unable to arrange for childcare at such short notice but eager to start her job the three kids were present as well in the meeting room that would be used for the first official Wolf Liar project meeting.
Harry and Remus were the first to join Mrs Thornby in the room and Harry did the introductions, once again holding the little girl in his arms. Next to arrive was Paul Watkins who took over doing the introductions which was just as well as the two men to enter next were unknown to Harry. Before introductions could be made however Elijah and the three Waverley brothers arrived, followed by a one armed man.
With the arrival of Griphook and Schmegg all the attendants for the meeting were present and it got started. Paul Watkins, as project manager formally introduced everyone, explained the presence of the three children, and then gave everyone a complete overview of the project, from the germ of an idea to the full-scale undertaking it had become and the long-term result they would be aiming for.
Jared Markham, the ex auror had been approached as first of the team and had thus had the opportunity to have a good look around the Village-without-Name, coming up with quite a few good ideas to get the brewing and distribution of the LeBon potion up and running as soon as possible. With the first small test run an overall success it would be highly likely that for next month's full moon they would see an increase in the amount of people asking for and willing to take the potion.
And that's where Greg Monteith, one of the werewolves came in. He was in his fifties and had considered being a potion master, but getting married to a muggle woman that career option would have been difficult to explain away. His lycanthropy had broken up his marriage and this opportunity would allow him to take up his earlier passion. For now he would work alongside Elijah but long term the idea was that he'd become the head potion brewer. The other werewolf, Adam Parker, had had a job until recently in a muggle garden centre but had been laid off due to his chronic illness. He too would at first be working alongside Joe and David to start on the whole concept of hothouses and garden beds but would be promoted to head of plants in due course.
Paul Watkins was very happy to be able to confirm that due to Harry's attitude toward werewolves they were able to start on the building phase of the project probably a month earlier than expected which would give them an enormous advantage in view of the coming winter months. With so many of the werewolves unable to get decent jobs quite a lot of them were eager to help out and the leaders had promised to contact as many as possible. A small team was scheduled to start on Monday to build the first of the hothouses. Paul gave them a new estimated timetable for the different phases of the project and explained about each in a little more detail.
One of the few problems they had encountered was the travelling to and from the site. Without a floo point in the area it was hard for some to travel and several options were put up. Harry's timid suggestion to provide accommodation through wizarding tents was first met with stunned silence – not counting the happy babbling of baby Oscar – and disbelief they had overlooked the simplest solution. As for the monthly meetings maybe something could be arranged combining the nearest or easiest accessible floo point with the use of muggle means of transportation like a bus.
A few more aspects of the project were discussed, amongst others that Mrs Thornby would be reporting minutes of future meetings to Harry and finally the meeting was over. Griphook suggested that with the young girl dozing on Harry's shoulder Mrs Thornby might like to take her two sons and accompany him and Mr Watkins to have a look at the house that came with the job. Paul immediately agreed, eager as he was to get is friend out of that terrible house.
Harry in the mean while had conversations with the three newcomers to the project. Jared Markham was very pleased with his new appointment. In the two and a half years since his accident he had learned to cope with his disability but the lack of a job had grated his nerves. An added bonus had been the offered accommodation on site. It was a small cottage and could do with some modernising but it was a palace compared to his old place. His wife and two children were chuffed when they'd seen their new home.
When Griphook and his human companions returned from viewing the new home of the Thornby family Harry asked after Mrs Thornby's sister in law and learned she'd eagerly agreed to the change of job. With the house so big there was even a good chance she would take up residence with them, something Charlotte was looking forward to.
While discussing her role as Harry's administrative assistant they had agreed that for the old mail she and Karen would compile a list containing the names of the sender, the reason for sending the letter and if required a short summary of the contents of the letter. Harry had indicated he'd been thinking to send all of the senders a Christmas card this year but had been told the timing might be a bit short for that. Griphook interrupted them at that point and suggested that he could help out by magically sorting the letters, which would save them a lot of time. As for the new letters the diversion would kick in action in five days to allow Charlotte some time to sort out her move. Neither knowing what to expect of these letters Harry suggested she keep tab of them for a month and then meet him on a Saturday at Hogwarts.
All of his business now taken care of Harry told Remus he'd make a quick detour to go to Black Manor and surprise Uncle Black with his new freedom. By lunchtime Harry had returned leaving behind an elated Uncle Black, even more so when he found out that one landscape would be going to his daughter Andy.
The remainder of the last day of summer was spent quietly. There were no order members visiting and the six students spent time with their own family. Harry handed Andy the landscape painting and recognising the view she was thrilled. But she was delighted when she heard she could expect a certain visitor as soon as the painting was up on the wall.
When Harry lay in bed that night looking back on the past two months he could hardly grasp the enormous changes that had taken place and the hundreds of little and sometimes large events that had given shape to his summer holiday. His last coherent thought before sleep took over completely was "What will sixth year be like ?"
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Author's Note :
Just finished typing out a manuscript (for a long and boring rant on society) for a friend and found that my inspiration during that job flew right out the window. While waiting for the corrections and changes to be made I should be able to write at least a little, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to post again next week. Keep your fingers crossed !
Thanks for your continued reading. Would love some feedback from you though. If you have any questions about the story, please don't hesitate.
Have you enjoyed this (and previous) chapter(s) ? You might be interested to know the story is a few chapters further along and offers a little extra info and pictures on my yahoo group (for link see profile page).
cheers
kadedeetje