A/N Here is chapter six! I've been able to write because I've been ill since Monday and thus haven't been able to concentrate. Hope you enjoy (next chapter is much, much longer) and thanks for the reviews! Pleasee R&R xxx

Chapter Six

Harry's Mistake

Though seeing Harry made Amara feel slightly better, she had a niggling feeling he wasn't satisfied with the summer's events.

She brushed it off the next day when Mrs Matthews decided they should go to Diagon Alley to get Tessie's things.

"It's just so annoying how neither yours or Ethan's supply lists came through with it," she complained as they walked through the bustling Leaky Cauldron. Amara's mother was no longer uncomfortable whilst walking through and seeing all the spectacular sights - she was used to it now, as she'd done it for five summers now. "Ethan or Amara tap the wall."

Ethan pushed Amara out the way so he could do it first (Amara rolled her eyes) and he led them into the bustling streets of Diagon Alley.

"Gringotts first, come on," said Mrs Matthews and she walked straight through the crowds. Tessie, who was excited that this was the time they were going for them, and hadn't been since Ethan started. She kept stopping at every display window and soon Mrs Matthews had to drag her along.

Amara still had some money since her last visit, but Mrs Matthews got extra for her and Ethan because of Hogsmeade. Ethan was very excited that he was able to go to Hogsmeade, as Amara had described it to him before.

Their first stop was in Madam Malkin's, because they all needed new robes.

Madam Malkin got slightly frustrated with Tessie as she kept squirming in excitement as she got her robe fitted (the one on her was trailing on the floor).

Ethan was in his element in the Apothecary, getting every supply and even chatting to the assistant about potion recipes.

After getting the majority of things necessary for her first year, Tessie coaxed their Mum into going in the Magical Menagerie and came out with a small scruffy kitten that she lovingly named Jinx. Ethan wasn't at all bothered that he hadn't got an animal because he wasn't too keen and preferred potions over them.

"Keep her in her basket Tessie," Mrs Matthews said as they walked along, to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, because it was a hot summers day. The Parlour was busy with wizard and witches licking the amazing flavoured Ice Creams on sale.

The three siblings bought one each but Mrs Matthews preferred to just sip some iced pumpkin juice Amara bought her.

There was mainly young children about, the same age as Tessie, as they were the only ones who had received their letters in advance. They all seemed very excited and all the parents seemed worn down.

It was a nice break from Grimmauld Place and the stuffy mouldy rooms that they had to clean. It made Amara half-wish she didn't have to go back, but she knew she had to because she had to know what was going on.

After their ice creams Tessie was finally able to go to Ollivanders for the last thing on her list: a wand.

Tessie bounced down the cobbled street to the shop which paint was slightly chipping and had only one customer, who was exiting all ready.

Ollivander seemed to recognise them as they walked in.

"The Matthews..." he said and turned towards Amara. "Pear and Dragon Heartstring, eleven and three quarter inch - fairly bendy?"

Amara nodded, grinning.

"May I have a look?" Amara nodded and gave him the wand, which he examined carefully.

"Ahh yes, I have never sold a pear wand to a Dark Wizard or Witch - they're always well-respected and popular ... And they always look new no matter how long you've had it - see how shiny it still looks? Mmm, yes, the perfect combination is a small witch or wizard with a large temper -"

"Suits you," Ethan said.

Ollivander smiled. "Yes, but their personality tends to be lovely ... Here you go dear."

He gave Amara back her wand and she took it, looking at how shiny it still was.

"And Mr Matthews ..." Ethan eagerly handed over his wand of nearly three years to Mr Ollivander. "Yes, Ebony and Phoenix Feather, ten and a half inches, springy. I do like using Ebony wood - they make a well-rounded person, rather good in combat or Transfiguration, if that's what you're good at ... Now, the second Miss Matthews, please step forwards."

As Ethan got his wand back, Tessie bounced forwards to get her wand.

"Your name is?"

"Tessie," said Tessie, quivering with excitement.

"Right, Tessie Matthews, please stand still whilst I measure you," said Mr Ollivander. The tape measure began doing it itself and Tessie looked at it in wonder. Once it had finished, Ollivander gave her a wand, which she took eagerly.

"Hazel and Unicorn Hair, Thirteen inches, unyielding."

Tessie was disappointed that the first few goes led to nowhere. Amara was reminded when she was getting her wand - she went through quite a pile. Tessie, however, had only gone through five before Ollivander handed her one which was compatible.

"Rowan and Unicorn Hair, Fourteen inches - whippy," he said, handing her the rather long wand.

Tessie took it and a shower of very bright sparks exploded around the shop.

"Oh bravo!" Ollivander beamed as he watched the sparks. "Very powerful - Rowan is good at Defensive shields and duels, a very good wand. That will be eight galleons please."

As Mrs Matthews paid for the wand, Amara and Ethan congratulated Tessie on her new purchase.

"Now we've all got wands" said Tessie excitedly. "And mine's really powerful!"

Amara and Ethan laughed at Tessie bouncing around the shop, but holding her wand ever so carefully.

-OOOOO-

Amara couldn't help but be quite sad that she had to go back to Grimmauld Place the next day. Ethan gave her her Nimbus Two Thousand and One before she left, because she had forgotten it before hand, and prepared to Floo to Grimmauld Place (Moody thought it was safer).

She had promised to find her sister on the train (Ethan said he wasn't bothered) and that she'd write to her mother every week.

When she stepped out of the fireplace in the kitchen, she found it empty except from Sirius, who was sipping a bottle of Butterbeer.

"Nice time?" he asked as he saw her. He sounded rather bitter and Amara felt slightly guilty (she shouldn't, but she did) as Sirius hadn't been out since he'd got to Grimmauld Place.

"Er, yeah thanks," said Amara awkwardly. Sirius nodded and looked into his bottle. Amara shifted on her feet. "Better get these up to the room."

"Yeah," said Sirius. "I think everyone's on the third floor cleaning my mother's old bedroom. Buckbeak has made it rather messy."

"Right," said Amara. "Thanks."

She walked up the stairs and dumped her things in her and Tally's room (it was still the same, dull and dreary) and walked up another flight of stairs until she heard a few voices coming from the end of the landing, passed Fred and George's room, and Mr and Mrs Weasley's room.

Once entering the room she found most of them in there, sweeping up droppings and straw, and putting fresh straw on the ground, as well as cleaning the other areas of the room. Buckbeak was in the corner, looking surprised at how many people were in his room. Only Fred and George were missing, but Amara heard their voices from the bathroom nearby.

"Amara, you're back!" said Ginny, who had turned around.

"'As it been zat long already?" Tally said.

"Had a nice time?" said Hermione.

"Yeah, thanks," said Amara. "Had fun without me?"

"It's been tremendous," said Ginny sarcastically as she dumped a rag in a bucket, scrunching up her nose.

"Amara, dear, I didn't realise you were back," Mrs Weasley had entered the room behind her, and Amara turned.

"I hope you had a nice time," she carried on. "I think Fred and George need some help in the bathroom, if you don't mind, because Buckbeak is getting quite stressed."

"That's fine," said Amara and she went out and went into the large-ish bathroom next door.

"We're doing the best we –" Fred started as she walked in.

"I do hope so," said Amara in her best 'motherly' voice.

"Amara, love, you're back!" Fred exclaimed, jumping down off the toilet and hugging her very enthusiastically. Amara laughed the whole way, as George bounded over and hugged her too.

"Are you here to help us?"

"Yes," said Amara. "What are you doing?"

"We were removing the dead fanged gerbil family from the bath," said George.

"Then why were you on the toilet?" Amara asked Fred. He grinned.

"Aerial view," he said. Amara raised one eyebrow but walked over to the bath and peered in. Inside was very, very disgusting, and Amara retracted quickly.

"Why would you want to look at that?"

"See if they've got anything worthwhile in their fangs," said George, who was peering in himself at the dead gerbils.

"Doubt it," said Amara as she put some gloves on. Fred and George had already got them on, and were now picking up the gerbils and sniffing them slightly.

"What are you, animals?" Amara said as she picked on up herself and threw it in a bucket. "Ew, they're blocking up the plug hole, how many were in this family."

"More than ours, I'm guessing," said George and Amara snorted in a rather unladylike way. "Charming."

"We've taken out ten so far – oh Merlin, there's a live one –"

Fred was right, as a small, fanged gerbil wiggled its way out of the dead ones.

"Oh god what do we do with it?"

"It's trying to get out the bath!"

"Try and grab it!"

"It's got fangs! No way!"

"Here – Stupefy!"

George's spell shot out and hit the live gerbil in the face. It fell to the floor with a small thump and lay quite still.

The three teenagers stared at the small things on the floor, George with his wand still raised.

"Er," said Amara. "Let's not mention this to anyone, yeah?"

"Sure," said Fred immediately.

"No way, I saved your sorry asses with my spell," said George smugly. "You two were squealing like girls."

"I am a girl," Amara pointed out.

"Whatever," said George, lowering his wand and putting it back in his jeans. "I win."

After the day's work, Amara informed Hermione and Ron of her visit to Harry, and they were both pleased that she had done it, but knew the feeling of annoyance that she couldn't say anything to him.

-OOOOO-

At half past nine that evening (or it may have been twenty to ten, Amara wasn't sure) there seemed to be a commotion in the hallway. It was so loud, Mrs Black woke up screaming and everyone scrambled out their rooms (Mrs Weasley's extended punishment) and ran into the hallway.

"What's going on?" Amara heard Fred's whisper above her as she, tally and Ron peered over the bannisters, with Hermione and Ginny's heads poking out below them.

Albus Dumbledore had stridden into Grimmauld Place with a rather angry aura. It reminded Amara of two months beforehand when he was saving her from Barty Crouch Jr.

He flicked his wand and Mrs Black was silenced with a bang as Mr and Mrs Weasley, Tonks and Lupin appeared at the top of the kitchen stairs. Sirius, it seemed, was still up with Buckbeak. Tailing Dumbledore, visually trembling and looking slightly drunk, was Mundungus Fletcher.

"Mundungus?" Mrs Weasley said. "I thought you were –"

"He left," Dumbledore boomed and Amara was slightly scared at how ferocious he was. "Arabella has found Harry and his cousin being attacked by Dementors."

Dementors? Amara gaped, and Ron and Tally had too. In Little Whinging?

"The Ministry have probably expelled him from Hogwarts already," Dumbledore carried on. "I am going to the Ministry – Arthur, write to Harry, telling him not to move, Tonks, alert Alastor and Kinglsey immediately."

With that, Dumbledore was gone, out of the door and away from Grimmauld Place. Amara's mind was reeling. Harry had been attacked by Dementors? He could be expelled from Hogwarts?

"Shit," said Ron.

Amara nodded. Down below them, Mr Weasley had already sent an owl to Harry and Tonks had gone back down to the kitchen to contact Order members. Mrs Weasley had turned to Mundungus and whacked him with a book she was conveniently holding. Everyone watching – including Lupin and Mr Weasley – winced at the impact.

"OW! Bloody 'ell woman – watch where yeh put tha – OW!"

"YOU HAD ONE JOB TONIGHT!" Mrs Weasley screeched. "AND YOU DIDN'T DO IT! HE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!"

"I'm sorry!" Mundungus cried as the book hit him again. "Stop hittin' me woman!"

"Molly," said Mr Weasley, hopping forwards. "Molly calm down –"

"No!" spat Mrs Weasley. "What if he hadn't of had his wand with him?"

"Molly, he's alright," said Lupin.

"He's going to be expelled!" Mrs Weasley wailed.

It was a long night. Mrs Weasley had to be given a cup of tea and brandy before she was calm enough to sit down. Mundungus was banished home, because she couldn't bare look at him, and everyone else sat at the kitchen waiting for news, except Sirius, who'd just found out and had gone to send a letter to Harry.

Hedwig arrived through the window with a short letter on four pieces of parchment: on for Amara, Hermione, Ron and Sirius.

I've just been attacked by dementors and I might be expelled from Hogwarts. I want to know what's going on and when I'm going to get out of here.

This put Hermione in a frenzy and Amara in annoyance, as Mr and Mrs Weasley told them they couldn't do anything. To make matters worse, Hedwig kept biting them and poking them to get them to write back. In the end, their fingers bled and Mrs Weasley took Hedwig away.

Around eleven o'clock, Jesse arrived (seemingly from the Ministry) with Tonks, who'd gone to find Moody. Hermione jumped up to give him a hug immediately, and then they sat down together.

"Dumbledore stopped them from destroying his wand," said Jesse breathlessly. "He's now suspended until a Hearing on the twelfth of August."

"He's got a Hearing?" said Mr Weasley, aghast. "This is all Fudge's doing! He's wanted to get something against us since June!"

"A Ministry Hearing over underage magic – it's ridiculous!" said Tonks. "I bet Fudge is pretty pleased this happened."

The next four days were a nightmare. Most of the time they were banished upstairs, because the Order were having major meetings to do with Harry. It was so important Mrs Weasley let slip that Dumbledore was at each one. Jesse and Adrien were also there, but were forbidden to tell anything about what had happened at the meetings.

So they stayed in Ron's room for most of the time, unless they were using the Extendable Ears to gather information, but they did it only a few at a time so it was more inconspicuous.

From what Amara and the others gathered they were planning to take a big group (including Moody, Tonks and Jesse) to Harry's house when the Dursley's had left. It was excruciating, waiting all the time, and everyone was getting rather anxious and annoyed.

Hedwig was still refusing to leave without a letter back, which Amara desperately wanted to give. She'd even written out a little note for Harry, so he'd know they were coming:

'Don't panic, will see you shortly'

But Hermione and Jesse had found it and given it to Moody. She was not at all pleased with her cousin, as Hermione had only wanted to take it away.

So then Amara was banned from sending letters, because the Order thought she was going to send on sneakily, and had put Archimedes in Fred and George's room. Everyone was reminded not to send any letters.

This left Amara fuming and not even Fred and George could cheer her up.

"This is absolutely ridiculous," Amara snapped on the third day of sitting in Ron's room, waiting for Harry.

"You've said that five times already," said Ginny.

"Nobody listened," muttered Amara.

"That's because you said it ten times yesterday too," said Ron, who was lying next to Amara on his bed, aiming a paper ball into the trash without looking. So far, Amara had five points and Ron had two.

"But this situation is ridiculous," insisted Amara.

"Amara, we love you very much but please shut up," said Fred from his spot by the small, grungy window.

Amara pouted and frowned but was silenced as she threw another ball sideways, she looked up and saw it land a few centimetres away from the trash bin.

She flopped back on the bedspread as Ron threw another piece of paper.

They were all pretty bored by the time the fourth day came around. Amara was surprised by herself wishing they were doing cleaning instead of just waiting around. Mrs Weasley brought them up sandwiches for lunch on the fourth day, because the Order had had a meeting since breakfast, meaning they were very close into collecting Harry.

The afternoon went by at a snail's pace. Tally painted Ginny's, Amara's, Hermione's and her nails and toe nails (Ginny had green, Amara had red, Hermione had dark purple and Tally had blue) and nearly persuaded Ron into getting his done, but he chickened out at the last minute.

At dinner, Mr Weasley and Bill informed them that the Order had made a guard which was getting Harry and bringing him to Grimmauld Place that evening. This put everyone in a little frenzy and they were slightly more excitable during dinner. Fred and George disappeared after dinner to their room, and so did Ginny and Tally. So Amara, Ron and Hermione were left in Ron's room for the evening. Hermione was re-reading her books on Magical Law, determined to find information which meant Harry shouldn't have been expelled (she already had, but she was trying to find more). Ron was spaced out on his bed, and Amara was lying on the floor in one of the Weasley boys' old jerseys (she wasn't sure whose it was, but she supposed it was either Ron's or Fred or George) and throwing a ball up and down and against the wall, each time it made a small thunk.

They spent their time that way for the better part of two hours, until the door opened and a familiar boy with jet black, messy hair walked in. There was a shriek from Hermione as she launched herself to give him a hug, chattering all the way as Pigwidgeon did excited circles around their heads.

"HARRY! Ron, Amara, he's here, Harry's here! We didn't hear you arrive! Oh, how are you? Are you all right? Have you been furious with us? I bet you have, I know our letters were useless — but we couldn't tell you anything, Dumbledore made us swear we wouldn't, oh, we've got so much to tell you, and you've got to tell us — the dementors! When we heard — and that Ministry hearing — it's just outrageous, I've looked it all up, they can't expel you, they just can't, there's provision in the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Sorcery for the use of magic in life-threatening situations —"

"Let him breathe, Hermione," said Ron, getting off the bed and finally grinning, closing the door behind Harry so that no one could hear them. Amara raised herself off the floor to grin at her friend too.

Hermione let go of Harry, but before she could say another word there was a soft whooshing sound and Hedwig landed on Harry's shoulder

"Hedwig!"

The snowy owl clicked her beak and nibbled his ear affectionately as Harry stroked her feathers.

"She's been in a right state," said Ron. "Pecked us half to death when she brought your last letters, look at this —"

He showed Harry the index finger of his right hand, which sported a half-healed but clearly deep cut.

Amara wiggled her own fingers in his face too, frowning.

"Oh yeah," Harry said. "Sorry about that, but I wanted answers, you know. . . ."

"We wanted to give them to you, mate," said Ron. "Hermione was going spare, she kept saying you'd do something stupid if you were stuck all on your own without news, and Amara got banned from sending letters because she had already written one out, but Dumbledore made us —"

"— swear not to tell me," said Harry. "Yeah, Hermione's already said."

There was a very tense pause. Amara had a strong feeling that Harry was trying not to let his anger show. He was determinately not looking at them, and was stroking Hedwig forcefully.

"He was stupid," said Amara, trying to break the silence. "The whole plan was stupid."

"He seemed to think it was best," cut across Hermione, rather breathlessly. "Dumbledore, I mean."

"Right," said Harry.

"I think he thought you were safest with the Muggles —" Ron began.

"Yeah?" said Harry, raising his eyebrows. "Have either of you been attacked by dementors this summer?"

Amara, Ron and Hermione looked at each other uneasily.

"Well, no — but that's why he's had people from the Order of the Phoenix tailing you all the time —"

Harry looked, if possible, even more angry.

"Didn't work that well, though, did it?" said Harry, his voice shaking in his attempt to calm himself. "Had to look after myself after all, didn't I?"

"We saw him – Dumbledore – before he went to the Ministry," said Amara. "I've never seen him so angry. Didn't even look at Mundungus when he told us he'd left."

"Well, I'm glad he left," Harry said coldly. "If he hadn't, I wouldn't have done magic and Dumbledore would probably have left me at Privet Drive all summer."

"Aren't you . . . aren't you worried about the Ministry of Magic hearing?" said Hermione quietly.

"No," Harry said defiantly. He walked away from them, looking around, with Hedwig nestled contentedly on his shoulder. Amara shifted from foot to foot and moved closer to Ron and Hermione.

"So why's Dumbledore been so keen to keep me in the dark?" Harry asked, still trying hard to keep his voice casual. "Did you — er — bother to ask him at all?"

They looked at each other, rather scared. This was exactly how they thought he would be acting when he got here.

"We told Dumbledore we wanted to tell you what was going on," said Ron. "We did, mate. But he's really busy now, we've only seen him a few times since we came here and he didn't have much time, he just made us swear not to tell you important stuff when we wrote, he said the owls might be intercepted —"

"He could still've kept me informed if he'd wanted to," Harry said shortly. "You're not telling me he doesn't know ways to send messages without owls."

Hermione glanced at Ron and Amara, and then said, "I thought that too. But he didn't want you to know anything."

"Maybe he thinks I can't be trusted," said Harry, watching them intently.

"Don't be thick," said Ron, looking highly disconcerted.

"Or that I can't take care of myself —"

"Of course he doesn't think that!" said Hermione anxiously.

"So how come I have to stay at the Dursleys' while you three get to join in everything that's going on here?" said Harry, the words tumbling over one another in a rush, his voice growing louder with every word. "How come even Jesse is allowed to join the Order? How come you lot are allowed to know everything that's going on — ?"

"We're not!" Ron interrupted. "Mum won't let us near the meetings, she says we're too young —"

Before they could say anything else, Harry, it seemed, had snapped.