Passing the Light
Ginny was resting on her bed when Hedwig swooped down from upstairs and alighted on the windowsill with a parchment in her beak. As soon as she grabbed it, the bird flew away beating her wings at a quick pace, hooting some kind of owl apology. Ginny knew Hedwig was a polite bird and usually stayed to accept an owl treat, but obviously this time she was in a hurry.
She recognized the untidy script she had seen in numerous letters addressed to Ron. Her heart pounded madly in her chest, and her hands trembled slightly. It was the first letter she had ever received from Harry.
Then she remembered that she had officially given up on him.
After gathering her resolve, she opened the parchment, and concentrated on the contents of the letter. What she read worried her. She couldn't help it. Even if they weren't meant to be together, Harry would always have a special place in her heart. There was, however, an ember of hope that just refused to be extinguished no matter how much she tried to douse it.
She thought that dating Michael Corner was going to end her infatuation with Harry, and she sincerely had tried to make it work. She couldn't deny that she had enjoyed Michael's attention and snogs. He was handsome, attentive and gentlemanly in his behaviour towards her. All her female friends had complimented her choice of boyfriend. But then something unexpected happened. Harry and she had actually become friends, not just mere acquaintances. Being closer to Harry drove her away from Michael, and in the end, she couldn't even bear the thought of snogging him. Michael resented the change. Their final row over the Gryffindor – Ravenclaw Quidditch match was just the final act of a long-finished relationship.
Sure, Harry had been an insufferable prat much of the time. She had felt like hexing him more than once, but she understood his unique burden. She had thought that putting him in his place would mean the end of their friendship, but surprisingly, Harry seemed to accept the tongue lashings she gave him with contrition. That was a great quality about him. He could accept being wrong, even if it took some time. Being closer to Harry had been both a blessing, and a curse. She reveled in the ability to just walk to him and start a conversation about everyday things; in being able to see him in the eye without her instinct to run away taking over. At the same time, she couldn't suppress the hope of becoming more than just a friend to Harry. His indifference drove her mad with frustration, and it hurt her. Whenever she looked into his eyes, she couldn't detect the faintest spark for her. They were always clouded with pain, and it broke her heart not to be able to take some of that pain away.
Despite the worry that it caused her, there was a silver lining to the letter. He had treated her as an equal, and as a friend. That was enough to give her a warm and fuzzy feeling. Somehow, she suspected that her life was going to change right along with Harry's. The thought of not knowing where he was, or what he was doing was scary, but she trusted him. She would have to learn to live with the worry. All she could do now was wait for Dumbledore to show up.
She heard the heavy steps of Ron running down the stairs and she rolled her eyes as he ran into her room.
"Do you mind knocking?" she said irritated.
Ron held up a piece of parchment and was about to say something when Ginny raised her letter. He looked surprised and approached quickly. They exchanged parchments and began reading.
"It says the same thing," Ron said with a puzzled expression.
"Things are going to get ugly very soon, Ron. Just remember that you don't know anything."
"But…but, I don't know anything," Ron said with wide eyes.
"Exactly. That's all you have to say."
They heard the distinctive sound of the Floo being activated, and Ron stepped out to look down the stairs.
"It's Luna," he announced from the landing.
"Hi, Ron. Hi, Ginny," Luna greeted them as she walked into Ginny's room. Her blond hair was less messy than usual, but her wand was at its customary place over her left ear. "I thought I better come here to wait. It'll make things a lot easier."
Luna proceeded to look around the room with wide open, unblinking silver-blue eyes as if it was the first time she had ever been there, even though she had visited Ginny many times. She didn't even seem to notice Ginny's greeting in return.
They heard the Floo again, and the voice of Hermione nervously asking Mrs Weasley for Ron. The fireplace at Hermione's house had just recently been added to the Floo Network thanks to some help with the bureaucratic red tape from Mr Weasley. Soon she made her way up the stairs and was by Ginny's door.
"Ron, I need to talk to you in private," she said in a conspiratorial tone that really bothered Ginny.
Hermione was a good friend, but she had trouble accepting her as a friend of Harry's and including her in the trio's discussions. The idea that Harry might have also informed Luna, or her, of his plans apparently had not crossed her mind. Ginny knew Hermione would never fully accept Luna. She was just too unconventional for her. Irritated, Ginny held up her letter, and following her example, Ron held up his. Luna just stared at the ceiling with great interest.
"I'm painting my ceiling this summer," the Ravenclaw said dreamily.
Hermione was momentarily startled by Luna's statement, but she quickly realized what was happening. She exchanged parchments with the Weasleys.
"We better wait for Neville before we start discussing this," Hermione said after she finished reading the other letters.
"Who says Neville is coming?" Ron asked puzzled.
"It's obvious, Ron," she said clearly exasperated. "The only common denominator here is the Ministry."
Just as she finished saying this, they heard the Floo again, followed by Neville's voice.
A couple of minutes later, they were all sitting on the floor of Ginny's room. After a quick interrogation from Hermione, it became clear that none of them had any more information. They speculated that Harry's escape probably had to do with Sirius's death, but nothing more.
They settled in to wait for the proverbial shite to hit the fan.
OoOoO
Dumbledore was sitting in his office going through the list of new students for the coming term when one of the silver instruments behind his desk started beeping and smoking. It was one of the Privet Drive detection alarms. He got up and tried to think if Harry was scheduled to do anything outside Privet Drive. He turned towards the fireplace and kneeled down before throwing some Floo powder and sticking his head in to talk to Arabella Figg. He instructed her to go check if Harry had gone out with the Dursleys, however unlikely that was. After he finished, he sent a Patronus message to Mundungus Fletcher who was on duty watching the outside of the house.
Dumbledore paced a moment and then called a house elf and instructed him to tell Professor McGonagall to come to his office immediately. He paced his office some more, trying to think what could have set off the alarm. Professor McGonagall came in as a raccoon Patronus appeared, and with Dung's voice, it said that there was no unusual activity outside Privet Drive. He also reported that Mrs Figg had just gone into the house.
Dumbledore was relieved it wasn't some sort of attack. He knew that despite the strong wards, an attack was still possible. He had relaxed a little when Mrs. Figg's head appeared amid the green flames in the fireplace. She looked alarmed.
"Albus, the only person in the house is Dudley. He said Harry had left. When I asked when he was returning, he said 'never'. He said Harry ran away."
"What's going on, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked, her eyes wide with shock at hearing the news.
"Something very grave, Minerva. Contact Arthur at the Ministry and find out if any underage magic has been detected at Privet Drive, then check with Molly at the Burrow. If Harry has run away, that's the first place he would go. I'll go to Privet Drive myself and will contact you for a report." He stepped toward the fireplace. "Move over, Arabella. I'm coming over."
OoOoO
Molly Weasley had finished cleaning and started thinking about what to cook for dinner. She wondered if the visitors were staying. Now that she thought about it, the kids had been very quiet since they had arrived. She had decided to go upstairs to check what they were doing, when she heard her name being called from the fireplace.
'Who can it be now', she thought as she headed to the living room. "Oh, Minerva, what a surprise. How can I help you? You look worried."
"Molly, has Harry stopped by the Burrow today?" McGonagall asked, not even bothering to say a greeting.
"No. Is Harry all right?" Mrs Weasley asked quite alarmed.
"He's missing. Apparently, he ran away. He may try to come here."
"I haven't seen Harry, but something strange is happening," she said meditatively.
"What is it?"
"Hermione, Luna and Neville arrived today quite suddenly, and unannounced. They have been in Ginny's room for about half an hour."
"Dumbledore will want to talk to them. We'll be over in a moment."
As soon as Professor McGonagall disappeared from the fireplace, Mrs Weasley called for the kids to come downstairs. She lined them up in the living room and was surprised to see they all seemed resigned to their fate. She was about to start her own interrogation when Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall stepped out of the Floo.
"Molly, so very glad to see you," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Thank you for allowing us to visit with such short notice, but as you know, I'm here on a serious matter."
"You're welcome Albus. You can count on us to help in any way possible. Did those awful Muggles do anything to Harry?" she asked with her brow furrowed.
"No, Molly. Everything seemed to be in order."
At that moment Remus Lupin came through the Floo.
"Albus, the owls we tried to send just fly in circles. Harry must be unreachable by owl at this point. Have you found anything yet?" he asked slightly out of breath.
"No, Remus. I was just going to ask Harry's friends for their help," he said stepping in front of the five teenagers. He caressed his beard, gathering his thoughts. "Harry has run away from Privet Drive, and every moment he is away from there he is in very grave danger. All of you have proven to be true friends of Harry, so I expect you to want him to be as safe as possible. The only way to do that is to help us find him." The headmaster paused and paced in front of the teens. "I suspect that this gathering today isn't a coincidence?"
He stopped and looked at all of them over his half-moon glasses, eyes twinkling.
"No, Headmaster," Hermione volunteered, holding up her letter.
One by one all held their letters, except for Luna. Dumbledore picked all of the parchments offered and stopped in front of Luna.
"Can I keep mine as a memento of my friend?" she asked wistfully.
"I promise to return it," Dumbledore said smiling at her. Luna reluctantly held up her letter as well.
Dumbledore quickly read all five letters, and after finishing, passed one to each Professor McGonagall, Mrs Weasley, and Lupin. Then he paced in front of the teenagers, stroking his beard.
"It's possible that Harry may soon try to contact some, or all of you, asking for your help. The best way any of you can help Harry is by allowing us to bring him back to safety. I expect all of you to hand over any correspondence you may receive from him, and should he set up a meeting, notify us in order to secure his safe return…"
"You mean his capture," Ginny interrupted defiantly.
"I wouldn't use that word, Miss Weasley. We are, after all, just trying to do what's best for Harry."
Dumbledore stopped in front of Hermione. He knew she was his best shot at cooperation. He looked at her over the half-moon glasses, eyes twinkling furiously, and smiled.
"Can I count on you, Miss Granger?" he asked softly.
Hermione looked terribly conflicted and started squirming and wringing her hands, desperate for a way out of her dilemma. Finally, she just lowered her head and fixed her eyes on the floor. She said nothing. She knew that if she turned Harry in, he would never forgive her. His friendship was worth more to her than any respect to authority.
Dumbledore moved over to Ron, who was fidgeting. He didn't hold much hope of him agreeing. Ron Weasley was many things, but he wasn't a leader, or a traitor. Dumbledore suspected he would have to break one of the other teenagers first to get his cooperation. He bypassed him for now, and moved to Ginny. The headmaster was sure he was going to be backed up by Mrs Weasley, and that might make her break. He gave her the full eye twinkling treatment and smiled at her.
"Can I count on your help, Miss Weasley?"
Ginny raised her chin, and spoke loudly and clearly, looking straight at Dumbledore's eyes. "Not bloody likely."
"Ginevra Molly Weasley!" Mrs Weasley screamed as her face turned beet red. "How dare you talk to the Headmaster that way? You will apologize this moment and do as he says, or you'll regret it!"
Ginny looked calmly at her mother and turned to Dumbledore. "Please accept my apologies for my language, Professor, but the answer is still the same. There is no way I'll ever help you capture Harry against his will." She then turned to her mother. "I'm sorry, Mum. If I have to clean and de-gnome the garden for the rest of my life… so be it."
Mrs Weasley looked ready to explode, but Dumbledore raised his hand, and spoke first. He knew Ginny was not going to break. The determination in her eyes was awe inspiring. It was better not to completely burn that bridge for now.
"It's okay, Molly. Ginny's loyalty is admirable, even if it is misguided."
He moved to Luna. He didn't know what to expect from her. The girl was a total mystery. She could say, and do, anything, but maybe he would get lucky. Just in case, he gave her the full Dumbledore charm treatment. Luna was standing with a wistful smile on her face, her eyes were wide open, and focused somewhere outside.
"Ms Lovegood. Can I count on your help?" the headmaster asked softly and smiled.
Luna's expression changed. Her smile disappeared, and her silver-blue eyes focused intensely on Dumbledore, who was surprised when he noticed her radish earrings swaying on her earlobes. She looked at him as if he was a total nutter, and men in white coats could come at any moment to take him away to the insane asylum. Just as suddenly her expression changed again. Her eyes drifted away, and the wistful smile returned to her face.
Dumbledore looked totally perplexed. Neville let out a snort as he struggled to contain his laughter. Ginny covered her mouth with her hand, but her shoulders started shaking. Ron looked as perplexed as Dumbledore, but it was Hermione who finally burst out laughing. The irony was just too much for her. The four teenagers began laughing out loud, and even Lupin joined in.
Dumbledore was spared further ignominy when Arthur Weasley suddenly stepped out of the Floo.
"What news, Arthur?" Dumbledore asked.
"There was no underage magic used at Privet Drive," the Weasley patriarch reported.
"I suspected as much. The Dursley boy said Harry disappeared after he touched a coin. Someone had to help him to get a Portkey. Try to find out if a Portkey was requested and authorized by anyone for Harry."
"There is one more thing before I go. You're not going to like it." Mr Weasley said with a very serious expression.
"What is it?" Dumbledore asked.
"I found out that emancipation papers for Harry were signed two hours ago by Amelia Bones. Harry is now legally an adult."
Dumbledore looked shocked. Mr Weasley continued. "Apparently some law firm has been doing some very discreet manoeuvering and has the cooperation of Madame Bones. She kept everything secret up to the last minute. It seems the Minister was caught unawares. Fudge's advisers are looking for a way to reverse the ruling, but so far haven't been able to come up with any legal grounds. It was all done legally."
"Thank you for that report, Arthur," Dumbledore said. "Please see if you can find anything about the Portkey. The Order will be meeting at Grimmauld Place to devise a search strategy, go there as soon as possible."
Mr Weasley flooed out of the Burrow and Dumbledore addressed the three adults remaining. "Molly, Minerva and Remus, we'll continue this discussion at headquarters." He then turned to the teenagers. "I want you to consider the consequences of your decisions. Should something happen to Harry, you will not want to have that on your conscience." He turned around, and flooed out with Professor McGonagall and Lupin.
"I'm afraid you'll have to make yourselves some sandwiches, children. I don't know when I'll be able to come back." Mrs Weasley then walked over to the fireplace and flooed to Grimmauld Place.
Hermione was the first one to speak.
"Dumbledore is right. I could never forgive myself if anything happened to Harry if we could have prevented it. We need to convince Harry to come back the first chance we get." As she finished, she looked at the others for agreement.
"Hermione," Ginny said curtly, "everything that has happened to Harry in his life has happened while he was under Dumbledore's protection. The confrontation with Voldemort over the Philosopher's Stone; having to rescue me from the Chamber of Secrets; Harry's abduction from the Tri-Wizard Tournament, including the duel with Voldemort; the Dementor attack last year. Let's not even mention the horrible relatives he has him stay with. Harry survived all of those things despite Dumbledore's so-called protection, not because of it."
"Ginny is right," Neville said. "Dumbledore is rubbish at protection. Harry is probably better off on his own."
"I think we should give Harry a chance," Ron added. "I know he hated every minute he spent in that place. He obviously has a plan. Besides, if he is legally an adult, he now will be able to use magic, and defend himself without worrying about the Ministry."
"All right," Hermione said reluctantly. "Harry will probably try to contact you, Ron. Let me know as soon as you hear anything. If he contacts me, I'll let you know."
"Excuse me," Ginny said loudly with her right hand on her hip. She looked annoyed, and Ron instinctively took a step back. The redhead girl gave Hermione a look as sharp as a knife before continuing. "In case you haven't noticed, there are more of us here."
"Of course," Hermione answered. "We'll keep you informed."
The condescending way she had been dismissed, made Ginny see red. "Not just informed, Hermione," she growled. "Harry sent letters to all five of us. Any discussion regarding this matter will involve all of us. Is that clear?"
Ginny looked around daring anyone to contradict her. One by one all the teenagers agreed to her terms.
"Great," Ron said, "now that we've agreed, who is going to be making the sandwiches?"
OoOoO
Harry dropped in the vestibule and levitated his trunk behind him. Being able to do magic at any time was going to make his life a lot easier. As he walked into the living room, he found Mr Boot sitting in a comfortable-looking chair, while he was going over some papers in a folder. He raised his eyes and smiled at him.
"Ah, Mr Potter," he greeted him amiably. "I was waiting for you. I'm here to show you the flat and give you some items. Did everything go alright?"
"Yes, Mr Boot," Harry said lowering his trunk and Hedwig's cage to the floor.
For the next half hour, Harry was given a detailed tour of his flat. The kitchen was ample and fully equipped. Mr Boot was surprised to learn that Harry knew his way around the kitchen and knew how to operate the dishwasher along with the rest of the Muggle appliances. He couldn't believe that the famous, and obscenely rich, Harry Potter had done house-elf duty at his relative's home. He gave Harry a notebook that contained the phone numbers of nearby restaurants that did home delivery, as well as directions to the nearest grocery shop, bank, and other useful information.
He then showed him the training room, which had been magically expanded. It had a set of weights, a rack and a punching bag to one side. On the other there was a magically powered treadmill, and a rowing machine. The centre of the room was clear of obstacles, and the floor covered with mats. The room was designed as a refuge in case of an attack. It was the only magical room in the entire house. Once the door was closed and magically sealed, it would take several minutes of ward deconstruction for an intruder to get in. More than enough time for Harry to escape by touching the mirror on one of the walls, which also doubled as a Portkey to an alley behind Piccadilly Circus. The room also had a magical safe which Mr Boot showed him how to operate. Inside there were several thousand Pounds Sterling, and several hundred Galleons.
Mr Boot handed Harry a Muggle wallet, and a wizard's money bag.
"This is a bottomless money bag charmed to keep a maximum weight of half a Kilo. It has 250 Galleons inside. The Muggle wallet has five hundred Pounds, and some Muggle identifications. It was determined that you should only use cash, just in case the Muggle authorities start looking for you..."
"That's not likely..." Harry said with a chuckle.
"In any case, it is better to keep both your magical and Muggle signature as low as possible. You don't need to worry about any of the utility bills. They arrive directly at our office, and are paid by your money manager from your accounts. A full statement will be sent to you monthly. Do you have any questions?"
"No, I don't," Harry replied.
After inspecting the bedroom, they returned to the drawing room where Mr Boot pointed to a case resting on top of the centre table.
"Those are your Agnitio phials. They are very valuable, so be careful with them. Sirius spent a fortune on some of them. I recommend you keep the case in the safe when you are not using it. I believe Ms Tonks will be here shortly to show you how to use them."
"Agnitio phials?" Harry asked.
"They are the concentrated knowledge mentioned in your godfather's message," the barrister clarified. "Before I go, let me just say that you should feel free to contact my office if you have any problems, or need more cash. Ms Brocklehurst will be happy to assist you in any way she can."
"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind," Harry replied.
The older man placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I wish you the best of luck, Mr Potter," he said sincerely before disapparating.
After Mr Boot left, Harry laid down on the sofa to wait for Tonks, and immediately felt himself drifting into sleep. He had not slept well for weeks. He was startled when he was suddenly awakened by a knock on the door sometime later. He got up and immediately grabbed his wand. He rushed to the door and took a peek through the peephole on the door. He smiled as he recognized Tonks in her signature pink bubble gum coloured hair.
"Wotcher, Harry," she said with a grin as he opened the door.
"Hello, Tonks. It's great to see you. Please do come in," he answered as he invited her with a sweep of his arm into the flat.
"Remus wanted me to stop by and check on you," Tonks said as she looked curiously around. "This place is too orderly, but I like it."
"I'm glad you approve. Can I offer you anything to drink or eat?"
"No, Harry, I can't stay long. Remus also wants me to show you how to use your Agnitio phials. He suggested you learn Occlumency today, before You-Know-Who learns that you're gone from Privet Drive. Have you had any headaches or visions?"
"No. It looks like Voldemort is keeping a low profile. It seems that trying to possess my body at the Ministry Atrium was as nasty an experience for him, as it was for me. Does Dumbledore know I'm gone already?"
"Yes, he knew almost immediately. He was monitoring the place, you know?"
"I suspected he was. What happened?"
"He has all of the Order running around looking for you in the most likely places; The Leaky Cauldron, Hogsmeade, The Shrieking Shack, Godric's Hollow and the like. He is also monitoring all calls for the Knight Bus. He went personally to the Burrow to interrogate and pressure your friends but couldn't get any help from them. Remus was very impressed."
Harry felt a surge of pride for his friends and smiled. "I want to thank you for helping me, Tonks. Why are you doing it?" he asked looking at her intently.
"I always hated being part of the Black family. Sirius made me feel proud of being a Black for the first time, in particular that night at the Ministry. He believed in you, Harry, and I believe in Sirius. Dumbledore is not my blood; loyalty to Sirius comes before loyalty to him. It's a Hufflepuff thing, I guess," she finished with a sad smile. "Besides I think he's going about this the wrong way."
Tonks grabbed the case that contained the phials and opened it. Each of the phials had a paper label glued to it with the name of the contents and the source of the knowledge written on it. They contained a golden mist that looked the same as Pensieve memories, except for the colour. Harry recognized Sirius's handwriting on the labels and felt a shudder as Tonks read through the different labels.
"There is all kinds of knowledge here, Harry. Most of it is combat related, but some aren't. I believe Sirius was striving to give you a well-rounded education. He expected you to survive and planned accordingly."
She was going through the phials, when suddenly she took out one of them, and laughed out loud.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
Tonks held up the phial and read the label with a pompous tone, "The Talk; extracted from Sirius Black, 1996." After laughing some more at the sight of Harry turning red as a tomato, she turned thoughtful. "He did love you like a father, Harry," she almost whispered. "However, since the idea of what good 'talk' is likely to be very misguided in a bloke like Sirius, I consider it my duty to make sure this phial isn't complete rubbish," she said with a sly smile.
Harry looked in horror as Tonks took the stopper off the phial and raised her wand.
"Pay attention to the movements and the words, Harry," she said looking sternly at him. After a brief pause, she spoke clearly, "Extracto Agnitio."
A golden thread rose from the mist and hovered around the tip of the wand. Tonks moved the tip closer to her temple, and after looking at Harry to make sure he was paying attention, spoke again. "Transfero Agnitio."
The golden thread started glowing and the tendrils snaked towards Tonks's temple. When they made contact, she closed her eyes. Harry could see her eyeballs moving rapidly under the eyelids. After a minute he was starting to get worried, when suddenly Tonks opened her eyes, and separated the wand from her head as the thread stopped glowing. She pointed her wand towards the phial and raised her eyes to once again make sure Harry was paying attention. "Servo Agnitio."
Tonks put the stopper back on the phial and put it back in the case. She remained silent for a few moments, as Harry waited expectantly. "Actually, that was surprisingly mature and informative from Sirius," she said with a smile on her face. "It's more detailed and descriptive that I would have ever imagined, but it's certainly educational." The Auror blushed slightly.
"The knowledge in this phial is very useful for a young man like yourself," she said trying desperately to sound casual, but failing miserably. "Sirius could be a gentleman if he wanted to, and I'm glad that he included all his knowledge of what a gentleman should be." She paused and was visibly uncomfortable. "If you apply that knowledge first... err... the other knowledge will come handy on its own later."
"I'll keep that in mind," Harry said trying to fight down a furious blush. There was a long uncomfortable silence that was finally broken by Harry. "Is there a limit to the number of times the Agnitio can be used?" he asked.
"No, Harry. That's one of the beauties of knowledge. One candle can pass its light to a hundred other candles without losing its glow; same with these phials."
"That's great," Harry said excitedly. "I'll make this knowledge available to all the members of the DA."
"Knowledge is power, Harry," Tonks said soberly, "and power changes people, usually in a bad way. You have to be very judicious and be very selective with whom you share this knowledge. You cannot just trust anyone with it."
"I trust the members of the DA," Harry protested.
"Your parents trusted in Peter Pettigrew, and they shared knowledge with him..."
Harry visibly flinched at her words.
"... I'm sorry I had to use that example, but some of this knowledge can be very dangerous in the wrong hands. I advise you to keep it safe. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Harry replied in a subdued manner.
"It's time for you to learn Occlumency. I'll just watch to make sure you are doing it correctly."
The Auror handed Harry a phial labelled 'Occlumency; extracted from Cornelius Agrippa, 1532'.
"Blimey, this says this was extracted from Agrippa!" Harry said amazed.
"Sirius spared no expense in securing this knowledge for you, Harry. He paid millions of Galleons to assemble this case. Everything in it is thoroughly verified and authenticated.
Harry faithfully followed the steps exactly as Tonks had done them, enunciating the words carefully. When the glowing golden tendril made contact with his temple, he unconsciously closed his eyes, and felt a rush of light in front of his eyes. There were beams spreading quickly in many directions and connecting with bright points, like highways of light. It reminded him of how London looked from high in the air when they rode on the Thestrals less than two months ago. The river of lights stopped moving, and he knew it was time to finish the process.
After putting the phial back in the case, he turned to Tonks with a face full of wonder. "I know Occlumency," he said amazed.
"Of course, you do. After I leave, start organizing your memories, and building your defences. It should take you the rest of the day to have a good defence."
Tonks said 'goodbye' and once again urged Harry to take good care of the case. "Remember, just to do one phial a day. Once you finish using all of the Agnitio, you should consider putting the case in your Gringotts vault. Remus and I will be here tomorrow to start your training regimen."
Harry spent the rest of the day on his bed organizing his important memories by the level of privacy required. The vast majority were simply 'unsorted' random memories, and they formed the outer ring of his mental defence. These memories also acted as an alarm. As soon as any probing of these memories was felt, the rest of the defences were programmed to go up in the form of mental walls, and nests of resistance to attack the intruder. There were four more rings of memories going from 'expendable', to 'low interest', to 'moderate interest', to 'high priority'. This was the innermost ring of his mental defence. After relaxing his mind, which was surprisingly easy without Snape badgering him, he started the recollection of the important moments of his life. The sorting took several hours, and it was late at night when he finished. After a much-needed visit to the loo, and a couple of sandwiches, he fell into a deep, restful sleep.
OoOoO
The next day Harry went into the training room and did some exercise on the treadmill. It quickly became evident that his physical condition left a lot to be desired. He resolved to improve his stamina and to take better care of himself. After a shower and a hearty breakfast, he ventured outside for the first time to do some emergency shopping.
Harry walked with his hand close to his Portkey, but as he walked through the peaceful Muggle neighbourhood, he realized how paranoid he was being. No one on the street was paying any attention to him. No one was pointing or talking in low voices about him. He was just another nameless teen, walking around town during the summer holiday. He basked in the anonymity and liberty he had always craved.
He was vigilant, but relaxed. Neither Voldemort, nor any of his Death Eaters were Gods. They weren't all knowing, nor were they all powerful. They were made of the same flesh and bone as everyone else. Most of their power rested on the fear they instilled, and on the ruthlessness of their actions. The feeling of impunity fostered by the corrupt Ministry, and Dumbledore's non-confrontational approach, only added to their aura of invincibility.
Harry went to the grocery store to get some food supplies and stopped at a department store to buy himself some clothes and trainers that actually fit, before returning to his flat.
The next day, after eating his homemade breakfast, and doing some basic house cleaning, Harry went into the training room and tried the rowing machine for the first time, followed by some work with the weights. After a couple of hours, he was completely knackered. He took a shower, dressed, and then sat in the living room to wait for the arrival of Remus and Tonks. While waiting, he grabbed the case containing the Agnitio phials. The inside of the case was lined with blue velvet and was divided into two rows with fifteen labelled phials each. Harry read some of the labels.
Legilimency; extracted from John Dee, 1605
Human Anatomy; extracted from Andreas Vesalius, 1560
Enochian Magick; extracted from Edward Kelley, 1595
Karate; extracted from Gichin Funakoshi, 1954
Kabbalistic Magick; extracted from Athanasius Kircher, 1678
Bare Knuckle Boxing; extracted from Lenny McLean, 1984
Medicinal Potions and Spells; extracted from Nicolas Flamel, 1773
Judo; extracted from Jigoro Kano, 1892
Long Sword Fighting; extracted from Alvar Fañez Minaya, 1112
Offensive and Defensive Spells; extracted from Gellert Grindelwald, 1995
Dark Magic and Dark Magic Detection; extracted from Gellert Grindelwald, 1995
Harry's mouth fell open when he read the last two labels. He was not only surprised to learn that Grindelwald was still alive; he was also outraged that he was expected to learn from a Dark Wizard. He would certainly never use that kind of knowledge. He knew his parents would never have approved.
The doorbell rang and after looking at the time, Harry figured it was Tonks and Remus. After taking a peek through the peephole, he let his friends in. After a quick tour of the flat, which met with the approval of both visitors, they sat in the living room and Harry immediately brought up the Grindelwald Agnitio phials.
"Remus, there are two Agnitio phials taken last year from Grindelwald," Harry said pointing to the case. "I didn't know he had survived his duel with Dumbledore."
"Yes, Harry, he did. He is now imprisoned at Nurmengard fortress in the Alps. Sirius visited him personally last year to secure those phials for you." Remus looked him in the eye. "Agnitio can only be extracted willingly, Harry. Grindelwald wants you to have this knowledge."
"Did Sirius want me to use Dark Magic?" Harry asked disbelievingly.
"Of course not, Harry, but you have to know what you're fighting. One phial contains regular spells and techniques, although, as you can imagine, some are very advanced and powerful. The other will give you the knowledge you need to defend yourself against the Dark Magic that will be used against you. In view of Dumbledore's inexplicable lack of enthusiasm for your training, Sirius decided to go to the second greatest wizard of the Age for help. He explained the situation to him, and Grindelwald saw it as an opportunity to become the mentor of Dumbledore's protégé. I guess he gets some satisfaction from that, but he made clear to Sirius that his knowledge of offensive Dark Magic would die with him. You will know how to fight Dark Magic, and use the appropriate countermeasures, but you won't learn to use Dark Magic offensively."
Harry's surprise was evident in his face as he digested that information. He figured it made sense. "Is there a particular order in which I should use the phials?"
"Good question, Harry," Remus said with a smile. "You should start with 'Human Anatomy', then move to the Muggle martial arts, and then move to be magical skills. There are some odds and ends you should leave for last, unless you see an immediate need."
"Why start with human anatomy?" Harry asked with curiosity.
Tonks took a quick look to Remus, who nodded to indicate she should answer. "A Diffindo charm to the forearm is painful and annoying. A Diffindo charm to the femoral artery is deadly. You get the idea?"
Harry just nodded.
"A bludgeoning charm to the leg is painful. A bludgeoning charm, or a punch to the liver, is potentially deadly, and much more painful," she continued. "The Death Eaters will take any opportunity to kill anyone they target. If they attack you, you'll need to drop them quickly, and drop them for good. Don't give them the chance to cast another spell at you. Expelliarmus just won't cut it anymore, Harry."
Harry gave them a feral grin that surprised the two adults. "I had already reached that conclusion myself. I think it's high time for the Death Eaters to experience some pain and suffering. Dumbledore still believes that by pussyfooting with these bastards they'll see the light. I think he is putting everybody in danger with his attitude."
"So did Sirius, and so do we, Harry. That why we are in this together," Tonks said as Remus nodded. "I'm glad we understand each other."
"Sirius mentioned that both of you would help in my training."
"One of us will try to be here every day in order to teach you what we know and to answer any questions you may have," Remus said. "We'll also serve as your sparring partners if needed."
"There are three keys to dueling, be it Muggle or magical," Tonks continued with a seriousness that seemed strange in her. "Speed, mobility and accuracy. I'll work hard with you to improve all these three aspects of your technique. You're naturally lean, so you should be able to be really fast in your movements, and hopefully in your spell casting as well. The aim of weight training is not for you to gain bulk, but to gain strength, don't overdo it. The Muggle martial arts put a lot of emphasis on movement and speed, both offensive and defensive. That's the main reason why they are such an important part of your training. However, if you ever get close and personal with an adversary, don't hesitate to use them. Punching someone can be as rewarding as hexing them. To increase your accuracy, we'll work on some drills. We'll also use some concentration and breathing techniques that Muggles use in their target sports."
"All of this is going to be physically very intense Harry," Remus said looking at Harry intently. "Despite all of the exercise and activity you'll be doing, we figure you still need to gain at least ten to twenty pounds to be at a proper 'fighting weight'. It is very important for you to eat plenty and properly. No skipping meals. Is that clear, Harry?"
"Yes, Remus. I'm committed to seeing it through to the end."
"Excellent. Make sure you load up on carbohydrates, and protein."
"One more thing, Harry," Tonks said. "The reason Sirius did this, and we are doing this, is because we want you to survive whatever it is you have to face. Don't lose sight of that goal."
"Thank you, Tonks. I'll remember that."
"Also remember that having knowledge does not mean you have the talent for using that knowledge," Remus joined in. "As you absorb it, you might discover that you don't have the talent for some of the things you know, but don't let that discourage you. Knowledge is always useful."
After showing Harry the aerobic and weight routine they wanted him to follow for the next week, Lupin and Tonks Disapparated away. Harry was left alone to meditate on what was ahead for him. He was excited about the prospect of dishing out some payback to Voldemort and his minions, but his own future still seemed remote and improbable. One thing he was sure of was that he didn't want to disappoint Sirius. Somehow, he would have to find a way to survive this thing.
Harry grabbed the Human Anatomy phial out of the case and started his training. That night he dreamt of major arteries and internal organs.
OoOoO
The Order of the Phoenix was meeting again at Grimmauld Place. It had been over two weeks since Harry's disappearance, and they still weren't any closer to finding him. The frustration was running high, and the tempers were getting shorter.
"Has anyone anything to report?" Dumbledore asked with little hope of a positive response. He nevertheless looked around the table, only to see all the heads shaking negatively. "I'm afraid we'll have to start more sweeps of the most likely places in Muggle London," the headmaster said.
"That's insane," Remus said raising his voice more than necessary. "Greater London has over seven million people, spread over 1.600 hundred square kilometres. The type of search you are suggesting is a waste of time."
"Harry is emancipated, and he is not the enemy," Tonks added visibly agitated. "We should concentrate our efforts in stopping the Death Eater attacks, not on a hopeless goose chase."
"Here, here!" agreed Mad-Eye Moody.
"What are we going to do if we find him, and he refuses to do what you want?" Tonks hissed. "Are we going to stun him, and lock him up with those bloody relatives of him?"
"Watch your language," Mrs Weasley said scandalized. "Dumbledore was defeating Dark wizards while you were still on your nappies."
"Calm down, everyone," the headmaster said raising his hands. "Harry might be emancipated in the Wizarding world, but in the Muggle world he is still a minor. He can still be compelled to stay with his relatives.
"Do you get some kind of sadistic pleasure from keeping him there?" Tonks asked intrigued.
Every head in the room turned towards the headmaster, anxious to hear the answer. The lips of Minerva McGonagall were compressed into an even thinner line than usual.
Albus Dumbledore was not used to being questioned, and he was startled by the open hostility in some of those faces. "Of course not," he answered with eyes twinkling and a benevolent smile. "I only want to keep Harry safe. He is an indispensable part of the plan to defeat Voldemort."
"Will we ever hear what this brilliant plan of yours is?" Tonks asked with dripping sarcasm.
Mrs Weasley was looking mutinous at the tone of Tonks's voice.
"Only when it's absolutely necessary," Dumbledore replied with a soft smile.
"What's next?" Shacklebolt asked looking very displeased.
"I'll have to convince Mr Dursley to file a missing children report with the Muggle authorities," the headmaster answered.
"Good luck with that happening," Mrs Figg interjected. "They hate the boy and would rather have him dead. I've told you that many times, Albus. You'll have to use the Imperius curse for Vernon to report him missing."
"You'll find that my powers of persuasion are still quite good," Dumbledore said.
"You'll need to do a lot more than twinkle your eyes at him, Albus. I think you still don't grasp the idea of how much the Dursleys hate Harry," Remus said fighting his obvious anger.
"Luckily he can be persuaded monetarily. It's just a matter of the amount."
OoOoO
Ginny Weasley sat morosely looking out the window of her room into the night sky over the garden. It had been over two months since Harry's escape from Privet Drive, and she found herself spending a lot of time looking at the sky trying to spot a snowy owl. She had completely misjudged how difficult it would be to handle the uncertainty. She even welcomed the extra chores her mum had given her for disrespecting Dumbledore. They helped take her mind off Harry.
This was shaping up to be a miserable summer. Every day she would ask Ron if he had received any message from Harry, and every day she had received the same negative reply. The constant worry had her on edge, and things were not helped by the fact that the twins had moved out of the Burrow. They were now living on the top floor of their new store in Diagon Alley. The main source of fun and laughter during the summers at home was gone. Her brother Ron was not much fun these days. He spent his time locked in his room reading Quidditch magazines or mooning over 'Mione'. The clueless git didn't know how lucky he was. Everybody in Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and parts of London, knew that Hermione was crazy for him. All he had to do was get off his arse, and tell her how he felt, and the bushy haired Gryffindor would be all over him.
She, on the other hand, was mooning over a boy that was totally indifferent to her. She recalled how, on the way back from Hogwarts, after Ron had started needling her about choosing a better boyfriend, she had casually said that she had chosen Dean Thomas as her next boyfriend trying to get a reaction out of Harry. As she said the words, she had observed him carefully. He didn't raise his head, or suddenly freeze or jerk. It was as if her words had gone into one ear and out through the other. His face had been one of total indifference. It had taken all of her considerable acting skills not to break down right there and make a spectacle of herself. She had ignored the pain of the lump forming in her throat and disguised the tears filling her eyes with a yawn and a casual swipe of her hand over her eyes.
Ginny took one last blurry look into the night sky for signs of a snowy owl. Seeing none, she got up and walked dejectedly to her bed.
OoOoOoOoO