TT13 shopping, godfathers and teachers oh my!

Daphne dropped her rook and it bounced off of the board with a thunderous clank. "you want to say that again I think I didn't hear you right."

Persephone sighed and pushed back in her seat a bit. "look Daphne, I know what you guys say are seers and stuff is a lot different that what the muggles do. for the muggles is the ability to speak with the dead, feel the presents of ghosts." she held up her hand to silence Daphne before she could speak. "I know we can see them but muggles can't right?" Daphne nodded. "some have the ability to see outcomes that are lucid, like water, it could change at the drop of a hat. they don't make real prophecies, they see things that could happen. well that's what I see. and if Harry doesn't get the...thing, then Voldemort will use it to create himself a new body. he isn't gone like everyone says, he's like a disembodied mist or mass of energy."

"a wraith?"

"I'm not sure. I'm still new to all of this." she gestured around her."and I forget what is a thing and what isn't." Daphne motioned for her to keep going. "well anyway I wouldn't even say I'm a real seer. I don't know if I will have these forever or just temporarily, but because of that wishy washy l, Harry will have to do it. but I don't know if Ron has to be the one that helps him or if we can." with a huff Daphne sat back and pinched between her eyes. "ok, well do you know when this is supposed to happen?" Persephone scratched her head, then ran a hand on her neck to help crack it. I would have to look and see if I had a date at all. but as of right now I'd say close to the end of school. we could go sooner I suppose but it may not work."

$$hp$$

Hermione was rudely woken by a Jaguar cub being dropped on her chest. He mowed as deeply as he could. Which was still high pitched and crackly. Hermione grinned and nuzzled into the cub. "Hi sweet boy! How did you get here?" He chuffed and nuzzled her back. "Miss Persephone thought he would like to wake you." Hermione went quiet again and Folly took notice. "Miss? Are you alright?" She hummed. "I'm fine just…a lot on my mind is all."

"Well Folly knows he is just an elf but maybe I can help?" Hermione gave him a soft smile. "Not with this one."

"Does it have to do with Miss crying yesterday?"

"I hope not." Folly gave his head a scratch before placing over to the window, giving a soft snap of his fingers and cleaning it. "Folly over heard and sees a lot Miss." He said calmly, looking out to the Granger's larger backyard. "She felt something she did was wrong. And you told the artsy one that she kissed you when she fell."

"Accidentally… and it wasn't a kiss it was a graze. More of my teeth cut her lip." Hermione went a little pink. "Even so. Folly had seen this before, if you keeps quiet you both will grow to resent the other." Hermione looked thoughtful but nodded. "At school. I don't want to ruin what's left of our break. Give me a few minutes and I'll be ready." She sat up and Hades protested but grumpily followed her.

$$hp$$

Tracey waited in the living room for Hermione and Tonks. Persephone and Daphne had commandeered the kitchen to make breakfast. Their laughter could be heard even over the flames. Tonks flew out first, sliding across the floor on her butt. "Why?!" She called out and went bright red when Tracey gave out a chuckle. "I thought dames were graceful?" Tonks mocked her and stuck out her tongue. She then heard the laughter and could smell

cinnamon. "Everyone here?" Tracey shook her head. ",Waiting on…" pop. "Hermione. Hey! Just in time!" Folly released her hand and set down the cub who padded away. Hermione could hear dishes clanking and laughter and her face twisted slightly before returning to normal but Tracey saw. "Daphne and Seph are making cinnamon rolls." Hermione scoffed softly but cleared her throat and scolded herself. All while witnessed by tracey. "Sounds good! Let's eat and hit the road!" Tonks strolled away, the two girls following behind.

They all are quickly, Tonks had been out in charge of anything bathroom. Her job would entail sets of towels for each "bed" so the closet would have the matching towels for the beds and everyone would know whose was whose. Tracey chose Persephone as her partner in crime today. They would be getting the main bedding for the two main rooms. Hermione had the Alrgon room and Daphne had the forbidden forest. Then after bedding they would be hunting down a futon couch for Harry's room. At his request when he had been floo called at Longbottom hall. He wanted a place to sit and play his guitar easier. But he did not want to go with them having too much fun at Neville's. With that they were also going to stock up on anything guitar related for both Persephone and harry. Extra strings, straps, picks stands for the rooms at Hogwarts and home and Persephone was going to find a case for her new guitar. Said guitar was around her shoulders as they walked into the department store. She had found an old belt and used a fishing line to tie a strap. It needed a full look over so she knew exactly what she would need to ask for help with.

They all agreed to meet back in front of the music store when they had finished. And they all quickly walked off in different directions. Tracey had been all excited and asked a thousand questions. Persephone didn't really have answers for anything, she was used to American malls that Harrods was different to her. To knock it out of the way, Persephone bought and ordered a late pick up for a futon couch for Harry. Then they had gotten all the guitar supplies, dipping off to a shadowy corner to put into a bottomless bag. Tonks had brought five bags total. Each one with temporary charms in place. She would need them back at the start of school. They had been her mother's. Persephone had been a bit bummed when she learned madame Tonks would not be joining them that day, but she had far too much work to do so she understood. Soon they were In the bedding and Tracey lit up at all the options. "Cool it. We need two sets for the beds and at least four sets of sheets to replace them if they get dirty." Tracey had grumbled but quickly helped pick out the four sets to match the colors of the rooms. The buggy they used was overflowing by the time they got to the check out counter. There were two pillows per bed, duvets, sheets and an extra throw blanket in case it got cold. Tracey had ended up having a very keen eye for color coordination.

"So how have you been doing since well…" Tracey started as they placed bags back into the cart. "I think I'm alright. Thank you for all that." Tracey just gave a curt nod, glancing around and seeing the other pair of girls each with their own carts heading for the check out que. "Hey Daph, Mione." She called out to them and they quickly rolled over. "We got duvets for each bed in Daph's cart and the extra blankets you said. And I have all the sheets and pillows in mine. We tried to find different shades for each bed, but there weren't a lot of options for that. So we had to get creative." Hermione spoke in a rush. Daphne gave a quick nod. "Ok let's pay, the lady at the counter thinks we're getting bedding for a horse riding camp. I told her there would be more coming." The two girls nodded and started to place the items on the counter. The woman seemed surprised by how much there was until she saw Persephone again. "Sorry miss. My father insisted on us doing this. Something about responsibility or something. Our counselor will be coming with shower supplies soon." The woman gave a sigh and began to calculate the total.

With three loaded carts they began to look for an isolated area to put all their things in the bags. It took them only a few moments but they soon had empty carts once again. "I have to go and check on the guitar I left with the guy back there. Shop around and have fun. Meet back there soon yeah?" She handed each girl a few bills." In case you find something you want." Quickly before they could protest to weave her way into the crowds and vanish. "Well… I guess we can shop then." Was all Hermione could say before two girls quickly dashed away. Girls she mumbled laughing to herself knowing had it been the other way around she would do the exact same thing.

$$hp$$

Tonks had been the first to the music store and browsed around looking at the different instruments. Persephone had been talking to the representative at the counter. Asking all sorts of questions about the old guitar. The young man didn't have a lot of information but pointed out the initials on the base of the neck she hadn't seen before. They were faded and worn down and it was hard to make out. But she hoped when they repaired it, the initials wouldn't be. Fixed too. It gave it character and it also showed who owned the guitar before. The man had placed new strings in and replaced the tuning pegs for her. He couldn't guarantee it would last long. The integrity of the wood from being exposed as long as it had made playing it more of a risk in his mind. "My cousin fixes stuff like this all the time." She lied smoothly. "I just wanted to see if it was even worth trying to fix." The man gave an eager nod. "If it can be do so! This guitar is old. I'd say maybe early 20s. But I could be wrong. See look here." He pointed to the tuning head. "The name was painted on but it's very faded. You can barely make out anything. But I can tell you with the fading, chipping and overall quality of the materials including these old pegs." He motioned to the pegs in the head. "I only replaced the screws. I refuse to replace these, these are original pearl pegs. It matched the fingerboard inlay and this here. It needed a quick polish to bring it out but look at this beautiful pearl around the hole here." He pointed under the strings where he had polished the wood to make the pearl really shine. "Wow. 1920? That's old." He nodded excitedly again. "I'd love to see it once you get her all fixed up. Maybe your cousin can read that on the head and we will know who made it." Persephone gave him a grin. He pulled out a simple black hard case, opening it with a nice black velvet inlay and setting the guitar carefully inside, as if he was handling an infant. If you're here this summer I will happily let you know anything I find out...err …"

"My name is Paul and you bet I'm gonna be here. It's not everyday someone brings in a guitar like this beauty. I wanna see her restored to glory." With paying and a nice tip for the kid she walked out to the main hall and over to Tonks. "Did he fix it?" She shook her head. "But I know what's wrong with it. I'll have to ask a professor for help unless you know how too." Tonks gave her a shrug. "I'd ask a teacher. I don't want to ruin it." Persephone gave her a grin.

$$$hp$$

All the kids with their single bags stepped off of the knight bus in front of the Tonks home. And decided to have lunch with the Tonks family. After the small lunch, Daphne and Tracey did have to make an appearance at home but promised to come back when they could. Hermione had followed Persephone through the floo.

Hades had been waiting for them, trying to be sneaky in the middle of the floor, trying to stalk them. Persephone chuckled nudging Hermione softly to look down at him. His butt wiggled every few moments, like we was going to pounce but changed his mind and would take a few steps closer. "Oh no Hermione!" Persephone dramatized. "We are being stalked by the mighty hunter Hades!"

"Oh seph what shall we do?" Hermione played along. The cub wiggling more, taking a few more steps. "I'm afraid my dear Hermione this…is..the end." Persephone fell to her knees and dramatically rolled into her back, just as the cub roared cutely and pounced on her. "Oh…the pain…oh…sweet death!" She played dead, and once he was satisfied he turned to Hermione, who in turn pleaded with the cub. "No Hades! Not me too!" She sat on her bum and held out her arms in defense and he pounded again. "No Hades aaaaagh!" With a dramatic flare she stuck out her tongue and made a noise signalling her death. He mowed victoriously and tried to nuzzle her face. Slowly she raised her arms and encircled the cub. "Gotcha!" He mewed in surprise. And the two laughed.

"So I see he's starting to stalk." Hermione spoke while they sat at the table. Persephone huffed softly. "This would be something he learned from his mother. How to stalk and hunt properly. All the things he should know. And I don't know how to help him but encourage him when he does. Somehow correct him in a way he will understand." Hermione nodded the cub and was now actively trying to hunt the big stuffed animal of himself. "If only you could turn into an animal Seph. Then you could help him."

"What did you say?"

"Changing into an animal. Like werewolves do." Persephone smacked her forehead. "Sirius." She whispered and Hermione gave her a hum. "Mione. Remember when I said I had visions right?" Her voice sounded urgent. "Well yeah, what's going on?" "I need to get a lawyer a good one. And I need Amelia bones and…" "Seph calm down! Talk to me." Hermione took her hands, and there was a pause as they looked at each other before Hermione quickly let go of her hands. "I'm sorry…Harry has family! But there's a problem." Hermione shot up. "He has family?!"

"Yes! But he's in prison."

"What?!"

"I know! But there's an issue."

"What now?! It's bad enough that the man is in prison and you want Harry to know this man?" "Hermione listen to me. His name is…"

"I don't care there better be a good reason he's in prison Seph?"

"Who is?" The midst of their arguing Harry had floo'd home. "Your godfather Harry."

"I…"

"Yes. And if Hermione would let me get a word in edgewise I'll explain. I can't believe I forgot until now." Hermione harrumphed. "My ability isn't like normal seer ability. It shows me snippets of events that could happen or that are fact in a way. So if I saw tomorrow that we had toast and egg and we had toast and egg it was a possibility it would happen. Well there was a snippet I saw from two years from now. Harry I need you to remain as calm as you can ok?" Harry gave a slow nod, sitting at the table and picking up the cub who begged for attention. "This man in prison was sent without a trail." Hermione inhaled sharply. "Yes exactly. They say he was the one who betrayed your parents but there's a problem with that." Harry's face twisted in pain for a moment. "He's your godfather. And there's only one way to become one's godfather in the wizarding world. It isn't just a name on a piece of paper in case something happens to them. There is powerful magic involved. He can't hurt a hair on your head. Nor would he want too." Harry sat back and gave scratches to the small black head. "So this man. He should have been raising me this whole time?" Persephone nodded. "When Voldemort was in power, no one could trust anything or anyone. But they must have done everything correctly, in the snippet he calls you his godson." Harry felt his eyes well up. "Who kept us apart?" Persephone shrugged. Not wanting to say more. "We will find out Harry." Hermione touched his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "You have family Harry. And we will get him to you."

$$hp$$

It was melancholy faces that waited on the train for their friends to join them. Daphne, Tracey, Neville and Draco all walked in with smiles until they saw the crestfallen looks on their friends faces. "Whoa. Who died?" Tracey spoke out only to be smacked by Daphne. "Shut it." Was all she spoke before sitting down next to Hermione. "What happened?" "We need a wizard lawyer and a good one. But we don't have a clue where to begin." Daphne hummed and thought for a moment. "Well I know daddy has taken a few men to wizengamot before. He always used Ted Tonks." Persephone moaned and hit her head repeatedly on the glass of the window. "Stupid, stupid, stupid." She mumbled over and over. "I'm guessing that should have been a dead giveaway" Draco smirked, warning a smack from Persephone. "Shut up peabrain." Draco mocked offence. "I will have you know Madame I am Lord Peabrain. Thank you." The two boys chuckled softly earning slaps from the girls. The train gave a lurch and soon they were moving once again.

The kids fell into casual conversation until a knock alerted them to a presence at the door. Daphne being the closest. Unlatched the door and opened it. A man stood above them. He had rich black hair tied into a long high bun with hints of grey on his sideburns and corners of his mouth where a small trace of hair could be seen. His eyes were warm but his face was worn. His clothing hid nothing from the children. His muscles were large and firm, scars littered his biceps and forearms. He had a teacher's robe but his arms were not in it and he wore it more like a cloak. "Are you my new pupils?" He had a thick Mongolian accent but it was friendly. "Master Epsi?" Hermione asked carefully. And the man nodded. All the kids quickly gave him a bow of their heads, as if they just knew what to do that instant. That was weird. Persephone thought, looking at the man. "Good! I am here for my calling. I felt something deep inside my chi back in September and I knew something was coming. Then I receive word from your headmaster asking if I would be willing to not only head the house of Pendragon but teach the old ways. I was so elated I put in my notice, packed my belongings and came over as fast as I could manage." His grin was contagious and soon had the other children grinning back. "I will teach you all about weapons, battle, balance and peace. It is a delicate line to walk. Too much power, you will be corrupted." Draco looked down, instantly picturing his father. "Too much compassion and you will be overcome." Hermione was the one to look down at this. Her gentle ways would need fixing. "I shall see you at the school." He turned to leave before Draco of all people asked him to stay. "We have room You can always stay with us." Master Epsi gave the boy a bow. "Thank you but no. I have to find my other pupils and return to the front compartment. I have much to meditate on."

Once he had walked away most let out a breath. "Did you feel the energy coming off of that guy?" Neville whispered. "It was so thick and lively I felt like the air was coming out of my body." Tracey agreed. "He's going to break us, build us back up and break us again." Harry whispered softly. "And that's just what we need." Daphne spoke with certainty. "We represent a new chapter in Hogwarts. Reviving a house long thought dead. We have a choice, let it fall into routine like all the others, or make the house stand out that everyone wishes they could be a dragon? A knight of old, how many stories were you told or heard of king Arthur? The magic of Merlin? We have that chance to become something greater than our parents ever were." Daphne spoke, the first time she let emotion into her voice since the talk The first night they became a house. The compartment was speechless. And the air seemed to crackle with energy. "To the knights of old." Persephone placed her hand in-between them all, most joining right away before some got the idea and joined. "To a new future." Hermione added. "To letting go of the past." Harry sheepishly said. "Bringing honor to our names." Draco smirked. "Showing what we're made of." Neville puffed out his chest. "To life long friends." Daphne gave a smirk. "To the old code." Tracey finished. There was flash of magic to the shock of the kids. "What just happened?" No one could answer, but 4 hours away a stone dragon opened his eye and smiled before releasing most from his nose and closing his eyes once again.