Pandemonium.
Pandemonium is defined as a 'situation in which there is a lot of noise and activity with a great lack of order, especially because people are feeling angry or frightened.' Synonyms: chaos, anarchy, tumult, uproar. If someone were to take a picture of the Wizengamot in this moment, it could be listed below the dictionary definition of any of those words.
Apparently, the idea of restructuring one of the Ministry's oldest departments was something of a bombshell to drop.
"A galleon says Dumbledore only intervenes when the first wand gets drawn," Harry muttered to Neville who was sitting to his left.
"I'll take that bet," the other teen said. He looked quite comfortable in the traditional robes of an Heir to an Ancient and Most Noble House. The Longbottom crest shone proudly on his chest. "He'll get involved when it looks like any one side is gaining traction."
"Boys," August said with a scolding note in her voice. "Now is not the time for gambling."
"So you don't want in then?"
"I'll throw in a galleon behind my grandson," she wagered after a moment, making Harry let out a snort of amusement. "There's no way our illustrious Chief Warlock will reign in the chaos until it suits him. For now, he's too busy cataloguing reactions and calculating how this might turn out."
"How do you think it might turn out?" Harry asked.
Augusta cast a long look around the chamber. "Given that I have only finished making the proposal five minutes ago, Harry, I think it is too soon to say."
"I guess that's better than outright negativity," he said as he looked between wildly gesticulating, red-faced Wizengamot members who were all shouting to be heard. "Because I'm seeing a lot of negativity. Most of them seem to think it's preposterous."
"None of them have read more than the cover page of the proposal," the older witch said with a nod towards a few people hurriedly reading through her proposal. They were noticeably quiet as they skimmed. "The smart ones are actually reading it; the ones who are blustering only want a bit of attention. Their votes will be the easiest to win over in the coming months."
"You sound pretty confident," Harry said. "So that's reassuring."
"Gran's been doing this for years," Neville pointed out. "We've got a solid plan."
"That we do," Augusta agreed.
Harry had seen it, in part. It was just a lot for him to follow and not really his thing. Their more politically inclined members as well as some of their parents who sat on the Wizengamot had helped design the plan. It detailed, mainly, a series of events to be held to promote the measure as well as a coordinated media push. The first story in a series of planned articles was probably already winging it's way towards the presses. Hopefully the people would take it better than their government representatives.
"The Headmaster looks pretty well shocked," Neville pointed out.
"I've been trying to avoid eye contact," Harry muttered. Despite the other man's best efforts, Harry remained unswayed and had insisted on leaving the school to attend the meeting. He'd endured enough looks of grandfatherly disappointment for one day already.
"He has been staring," Augusta said. "I would be surprised if he doesn't try to speak with you immediately following this meeting."
"He'll wait until I'm back at Hogwarts," Harry said. "He won't want to stop and interrogate me here; that would make it look like he wasn't in the loop."
"You think he'll want to save face and seem like he knew this was coming?" Neville asked.
"He has to have noted that people like Lord Greengrass and Lord Valli didn't look so shocked," he explained. "He's probably already noted a few of our allies in the neutral and darker aligned factions."
"I would think so," Augusta agreed. "But he won't know how to connect them to you."
"No, he'll likely attribute it to your years of experience and networking ability," Harry agreed. "But it won't have escaped his notice and probably the notice of some others who might report back to the Dark Lord. If I know the Headmaster at all, he won't want to seem weak, uninformed, or not in the loop."
"Ha," Neville said as Dumbledore stood. One of the neutral leaning members of the Wizengamot seemed to be making a loud enough point to have attention turning towards him.
"Damn," Harry said as he noticed the Headmaster begin to redirect their attention and quiet the room. "You were right."
"He likes to be the first one to draw his wand," Neville said as he nodded towards the old wizard. He was indeed drawing his wand to let out a loud bang, silencing the remaining whispers in the room.
"Funny," Harry said. "Normally it's like pulling teeth, trying to get him to take action."
"Venerated witches and wizards of the Wizengamot," Dumbledore began in a disappointed tone. He looked at them with a heavy stare meant to make them feel embarrassed about their behavior. Harry was used to it and was largely unmoved by the posturing. "Might I urge you to maintain a measure of the decorum associated with these hallowed halls?"
Augusta snorted under her breath, unable to be heard by anyone but the two teens.
"Decorum?" she muttered. "It's like he's never been in these halls before."
"Regent Longbottom Potter has brought quite a measure up before our attention," Dumbledore continued, still looking around the room to make sure everyone remained quiet. "And it is the solemn duty of this august body to fully…"
"Did you bring any of those Pepper-Up-Poppers from the twins?" Neville whispered as the meeting began to drone on. The pandemonium was over and order had been restored; once again, boredom reigned supreme.
"Oh yeah," Harry said as he reached into his robe pocket for a bag of the bright red candies. "I knew I was going to need them after the last meeting."
"Thank Merlin," Neville said as he took one and tried to discreetly put it in his mouth. "I was afraid I'd fall asleep otherwise."
"Just don't bite into it," Harry advised. "That'll make steam pour out of your ears like a normal pepper-up potion."
"They haven't figured out how to stop that yet?"
"No," Harry said with a roll of his eyes. "They said if you read the packaging, you'd know that you have to suck on them."
"Oh come on, everyone always has a bit of a chomp at the end of a bit of hard candy, right?"
"They're not responsible for the consequences of improper usage, they say," Harry shrugged.
"So pretty much they had a useful product but still wanted to stick a prank in there?"
"Yup, right in one."
"Boys," Augusta hissed, glaring at them in a way quite reminiscent of the vulture atop her hat. "It is important that we not draw any undue scrutiny given the measure our block has just put up, as you well know. It's extremely important for the future of our world. Your respectful attention is required, Lord Potter," she stressed. "And yours as well, Heir Longbottom."
"Sorry, Augusta."
"Sorry, Gran."
Seeing that both boys looked sufficiently cowed (her glare worked far better than Dumbledore's), she nodded her head and turned back towards the proceedings. Andromeda was poised to speak now and they were anticipating a rigorous questioning.
"Jeez," Harry mouthed to Neville.
"I know," he mouthed back.
"To suggest that we deface one of the Ministry's most long standing, most hard working departments is outrageous-" someone blustered.
"I wouldn't say it's defacing it, per say," the austere looking witch disagreed in a dry tone. "It is a department, not a monument."
"It's entirely deconstructing a historical pillar of our Ministry as we know it!" he continued blustering.
He was only saying these things because his son-in-law had a major position within the Department for the Regulation and Control ofMagical Creatures. He stood to lose face or funds if the department was overhauled, as did a lot of the opponents of this move.
"If the Lord Hawkworth would take a moment to breathe," Andromeda said dryly. "Perhaps he would be interested in hearing about the proposed reconstruction and where that might leave current personnel? Personnel who would not, of course, be fired or given startling pay cuts."
"Well," Lord Hawkworth said, drawing himself up and adjusting the lapels of his robe. "Perhaps he might!"
Andromeda, who thought that hearing about these measures would take much of the angry wind out of his sails, nodded to herself. "Yes, that's what I thought."
"Thank you, Regent Black. Should we then, continue?" Dumbledore said as he looked down at them from his chair. No one answered save to shift under his stare. "Very well then…"
And so it went. Even when the Wizengamot should be exciting or interesting given the landmark topic they'd just introduced, it was still boring as hell.
"I should have accepted the flask the twins offered," Harry sighed.
Neville gave him an amused look. To both of their surprise, Augusta turned towards them and cracked a barely-there smile.
"If you forgot yours, you can just ask for a nip off mine," she said with a wink as she patted the breast pocket of her robes.
"Gran!"
"I guess after all these years, you figured out a way to keep the Wizengamot interesting," Harry laughed.
"Oh dear boy," Augusta said, turning back to look at the proceedings with a stoic expression. "You haven't even heard about what is in my pipe yet."
Harry waited for her to elaborate as Dumbledore began to introduce the bill (that they'd painstakingly put together) point by point. Augusta never did as she remained focused on the proceedings.
"What's in her pipe though?" he asked Neville a few moments later.
"Beats me, mate," he shrugged. "Anytime she smoked it near me as a kid, I got a bit sleepy. Probably why she stopped smoking it in the house."
Harry looked between the two Longbottoms with an even mix of concern and suspicion.
"Just what are you growing in that greenhouse?"
"I'll give you a tour sometime," Neville said, brightening immediately.
"I think you missed the joke, Nev, but alright," Harry agreed. "Nothing could be worse than another Wizengamot meeting and that's starting to feel like all we do together."
"We need to get out more," Neville said seriously.
"No kidding."
…
Ministry Overhaul: How Much Change Is Too Much?
Written by: Rita Skeeter
The Wizengamot was in an uproar yesterday following a surprising new proposal from Madam Augusta Longbottom, Regent to Houses Longbottom, Potter, and Ravenborough. In a shocking move, a bill has been introduced to completely overhaul the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. More surprising was the initial support received from traditionally neutral and dark families like the Greengrasses, Li's, and the notorious Black family.
The DRCMC is the second-largest department within the Ministry and was formed not long after the Ministry itself. This bill would see the DRCMC being replaced with a so-called 'new, updated, and streamlined Department of Magical Beings.'
"The new name would certainly be less of a mouthful," one unconcerned citizen said in an impromptu interview in Diagon Alley this morning.
"I'm willing to try anything that might get the goblins to lower their interest rates," another said frankly. "Plus, I heard Harry Potter is giving it his full support."
Indeed, the Wizengamot's youngest Lord was seen at the Wizengamot meeting beside his chosen proxy, Augusta Longbottom, as she introduced the bill to the chamber. His clear show of support seems obvious but to some it seems potentially nefarious. While people on the street seem unbothered, members of the Wizengamot and employees of the Ministry are far more concerned.
"These younger Lords and Heirs have joined our number far too soon," Lord Selwyn openly criticized. "Their measures are shortsighted and ill thought out — ultimately, they will cost the taxpayer millions."
Continued on Pg. 3
"Well," Harry said as he sat down at the breakfast table. "This is surprisingly neutral."
"They went on to call you a young upstart that can't tell his wand from his-"
"Uh uh uh," Harry said, cutting off Hermione with a raised hand. "Let's stay positive here."
"It's less damage to undo than we thought," Colin said as he slid into a seat a few places down from Harry. "We can work with it."
"Lord Selwyn didn't have any problem saying what he thinks," Hermione pointed out.
"He's just a mouth piece for Voldemort," Harry said with a roll of his eyes. "Everyone knows that."
"Not everyone," she pointed out. "He's still respectable in the eyes of the public."
"Anyone with sense knows that he's no good."
"Need I remind you how much sense the wizarding world has?" she asked with a raised brow.
He paused then winced as he thought about the collective lack of any sense at all he'd experienced since turning eleven. "Good point."
"I'll see what we can do by way of smear campaign," Colin shrugged as he wrapped up a hastily compiled croissant sandwich.
"You off already?" Harry asked.
"Yep," he said as he grabbed his copy of the paper and tucked it under his arm. "No rest for the wicked, right?"
"And you're the wicked one in this scenario?" Ron replied with amusement as he looked at the scrappy blonde fifth year. "Right, sure."
"Oh shove it."
"Only a joke," the redhead laughed. "Thanks for staying on top of it, really."
"Someone has to compensate for your low reading comprehension," Colin said easily as he breezed off. "I'm happy to help."
"Hey, wait a minute," Ron huffed as he processed that.
Hermione and Harry shared a laugh before they noticed Ron beginning to double check the wards around their end of the Gryffindor table. All three of their faces became a little more serious.
"Did you see Brock's update last night?" he asked.
"No, not yet," Harry answered.
"I did," Hermione said with a flat set to her lips.
"What is it?" Harry asked, fingers straying towards where he kept his own journal. He planned to catch up on it in his first period.
"Brock and the other mercenaries been given surveillance assignments," the redhead said with a serious expression. "They're casing all the major magical population centers but they've also been instructed to find out anything about the hospital if possible. They're having trouble getting around the intent-based wards."
"That's a relief, at least," Harry said before frowning. "They're sniffing around Hogsmeade too, aren't they?"
"Yep," Ron nodded. "Easy for them to lay low in a pub or bar for a couple of hours, rotate around. Professors come and go freely so they'll be listening for any information they can bring back to the Dark Lord for a cash bonus."
"He's incentivizing now?"
"Unfortunately," Hermione nodded.
"That's concerning."
"Diagon and the Ministry are also targets," Ron reported. "They're sending people into the Ministry to file for records requests or obscure licenses. They can sit around for hours unnoticed that way."
"We're gonna need to figure out their goal within the Ministry and hope that Dumbledore doesn't do anymore bloody Hogsmeade weekends," Harry said with his thoughts racing.
"He won't," Hermione said confidently. "McGonagall already implied as much during the last prefect meeting; Valentine's Day was the last hoorah, so to say."
"It was a good one," Ron said with a grin aimed at his girlfriend.
"It was," she agreed with a light flush of color appearing on her cheeks.
"Anyway," Harry said as he pointedly reached across their staring contest for a pitcher of juice. "We'll need to bring this up with the DA during the next meeting."
"It's our last meeting before the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw match as well," Ron said. "So we need to refresh everyone on pitch evacuation and retreat plans."
"How much longer before the Headmaster cancels Quidditch matches as well?" Hermione asked, thinking about how far the pitch was from the castle. It was mostly under the wards but it was certainly at the thinner edges.
"Don't even say that, 'Mione," Ron said with a wide-eyed look.
"Yeah," Harry agreed. "You'll send Ron into a panic spiral."
"Oh like you wouldn't be upset?"
"I dunno, mate," the dark-haired wizard shrugged. "Practice eats up a lot of time, you know? And security around the matches is kind of a headache."
"Bloody hell, you're starting to sound like one of them!" Ron accused.
"One of who?"
"Them," he said, gesturing wildly towards Hermione. "You love Quidditch!"
"I do," Harry agreed in a measured tone. "I just also love sleeping past nine on a Saturday which I haven't done since Christmas break. Maybe not even then, honestly."
"I wish Oliver Wood were here right now," Ron huffed. "He wouldn't stand for this kind of weakness."
"It's not weakness," Harry protested. "I go to the practices, don't I?"
"You're the Captain, you have to!"
"That's what you told me the last time I tried to skip one," the green eyed teen agreed with a put-upon sigh.
"See? Weakness. I'm telling Wood about this."
"Woah, hey now," Harry protested again. "That's excessive."
"That is a little excessive, Ron," Hermione agreed. "If he thinks Harry is slacking, he might apply for special dispensation to come back just for Quidditch."
"Don't even put that thought in the air, Hermione," Harry said while pointing a breakfast sausage at her. Playfully, she put her hands up as if he were armed. "I'm serious, he might like that idea and McGonagall is crazy enough to go for it if she thinks the cup is slipping from her grasp."
"Then you better straighten up," Ron said, reaching out to pluck Harry's sausage right off of his fork. He ate it while threatening his best friend. "Or I'll tell Wood that you need coaching advice."
Harry hid a shudder.
"That's three hours of my life I'm never getting back," he muttered as he remembered the last coaching advice he'd received from his former-coach and current DA member. "Fine, you win. Woo, Quidditch."
"Gonna need a bit more pep in that woo, mate," Ron said as he gave Harry a squinty-eyed look of suspicion, clearly doubting his dedication.
"Woo!"
"Better," Ron nodded. "Hermione?"
"Erm, woo?"
"We'll work on it," he sighed. "At least you're cute."
"Thanks," she said sarcastically. Despite that, she looked a little pleased.
"I'm cute too," Harry said quietly, feeling a little left out.
"Sure mate," Ron said sarcastically. "Suuuure."
"That's just hurtful."
"I think you're cute, Harry," Hermione placated.
"Hey!" her boyfriend protested.
"Aw, thanks Hermione," Harry said with a smirk aimed at Ron.
"I meant cute like a baby duck or a kitten, Ron, calm down," she said with an eye roll.
"Oh so like an adorably feeble creature," Ron said, shooting his own smirk at Harry who looked noticeably put out. "I'm fine with that."
"And I'm back to being hurt again," Harry pouted.
"Focus on Quidditch, Harry," the redhead consoled. "You might even meet a nice girl that way. I know it's hard and all being single when your best mate has a girlfriend. You're like a, what do the muggles call it? A third base? The odd man out? But Quidditch can help with that; girls love Quidditch. I mean, just look at me!"
"Erm," Hermione said with an unconvinced look.
"Erm," Harry said, echoing her. "You gonna take this one or am I, 'Mione?"
"I got this one," she sighed. "You go on to first period, don't be late."
"What?" Ron asked in confusion.
"Good luck," Harry said, shaking his head.
"Thanks, I'm gonna need it," Hermione sighed.
"What?" Ron asked again more insistently.
Harry waved his hand as he walked away and Hermione waved back half-heartedly. Neither she nor Ron noticed the privacy ward and muffling charm being dispelled.
"Muggles don't call it a third base, Ron. It's called being a third wheel," she explained.
"Well what's a third base then?" he asked loudly. "Or does that just not exist?"
Dean snorted into his bowl of cereal, splashing a bit of milk as he did so.
"Jesus Christ, Weasley," he said as he cleared his throat. Across from him, Seamus was openly sniggering.
"Oh third base exists alright," the Irishman chortled. "If you're lucky enough to get there."
"Harry!" Hermione cursed as she realized the muffling charm was gone.
"What does that mean?" Ron asked, trying to understand.
"It's a sports analogy," Dean said helpfully while Hermione's face reddened.
"Yeah, first base is kissing, second base is above the waist," Seamus said with a silly eyebrow wiggle. "Third base is below the waist, and some say there's a fourth base-"
"Seamus!" Hermione shrieked, cutting him off.
In the entry hall, Harry laughed to himself as he walked away. Ah yes, even during times like these it was important to find ways to have a little fun and blow off steam.
"Ronald!" he heard faintly.
All Harry could do was laugh again.
…
The Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw Quidditch match came and went without incident. The DA breathed a collective sigh of relief only once every student was back within the castle walls. The eagles, who had won their match, were the most rambunctious of the lot and the hardest to clear away from the pitch.
"This is the first time in a couple of years that Ravenclaw is in the running for the cup," Ron pointed out as they walked through the entry hall within a pack of Gryffindors.
"They still have to beat Harry," Ginny said with sparkling eyes and a wind-reddened face. "They haven't managed that yet, Cho or no Cho."
"It's Cho's final year," Harry pointed out. "The next match is her last chance at the cup. I wouldn't count her out."
"You're just saying that because you're the humble type," Ginny said, shaking her head.
"No I'm not!" he protested.
He honestly did view Cho as solid competition. She'd gotten a lot better since the first match he'd played against her.
"Yes he is," Ron said to the surrounding Gryffindors. "The cup is ours this year just like it was ours last year and the year before that and the year before that!"
"There was the Triwizard Tournament," Hermione pointed out. "No Quidditch that year."
"Shush, you're ruining his flow," Harry said. "He's having a moment here."
"Shouldn't Ravenclaw be having the moment here?" she asked. "They did just win."
"She's right," Harry said loudly. "Let's go crash the eagles party!"
"Harry, that's not what I meant," Hermione said hurriedly as the crowd of students they were in the midst of shifted directions.
"Woo!"
"Yeah! Good shout, mate!"
"Party!"
"This isn't what I meant!" Hermione protested as she was pushed and pulled along towards the Ravenclaw common room.
"Those nerds always have the best homemade beer!" an upper year girl called. "Let's go!"
"Oh God," the brunette said as she looked towards the ceiling.
"Keep up, Hermione," Harry said with a light grin.
"I actually have some studying to do," she said, searching for a gap in the stampede of Quidditch-crazed lions.
"Uh uh," he denied. "No you don't. We all have to let loose every once in awhile. Come on."
"But my homework…"
"You can probably do some of it at the party," he said as he pulled her along. Ron was already up ahead leading the pack. "They do have a library."
"Do homework? At a party?"
"I mean they're still Ravenclaws. There's always at least two study tables," he said. "Normally weirdly close to the drink table."
"Why did no one tell me about this sooner?"
Harry laughed and pulled her along.
"Come on, let's catch up to Ron."
"No, really," she continued, letting herself be pulled faster. "A homework party? And I never knew?"
"See for yourself!" he grinned.
"Who would have thought…?"
…
"Sirius, how are you?" Harry asked as soon as he answered the mirror-call. He was catching up on some paperwork at his desk in the Cathedral. "How's Remus?"
"Harry," his godfather greeted with a wide grin. "We're both great. Ireland is awesome."
"He's been thrown out of two pubs," Remus said as he appeared next to Sirius in the small mirror. "Which is quite impressive considering the fact that this is rural Ireland and there's only two pubs."
"That does sound like Sirius," Harry laughed.
"Doesn't it?" the man in question asked with his best roughish smile.
"We have good news. Padfoot, did you tell him the good news?"
"I did not, Moony," he answered. "I'll leave that honor up to you."
"What's the good news?" Harry asked as he waved Hermione and Ron over.
"The Galway pack is pretty no-nonsense; as such a large pack, they have to be to keep things in order," Remus explained. "If we can prove that we're good on our word by delivering enough Wolfsbane for their pack, they'll agree to neutrality."
"No caveats?" Harry asked with surprise.
"Just one," Sirius answered. "They want aid if they're attacked. They've learned from experience that the Dark Lord doesn't accept no at face value."
"Do we need to arrange to ward their territory?" he asked.
"No," Remus said. "They'd prefer little to no wizard interaction where possible."
"If we're going to agree to provide aid if they're attacked, we're gonna need the lay of the land," Ron said. "We can't agree to that condition if it's gonna mean sending people in completely blind."
"Would my memory of the pack grounds be enough?" Remus asked. "I don't think they're going to be willing to draw us a map."
"You tell me," the redhead answered. "Is your memory comprehensive enough to draw a map from?"
Remus thought for a moment before nodding. "I know the major structures and pathways," he answered. "Just not the internal contents of those structures."
"If you've got a clear idea of the perimeters, key locations, and defensible positions than we have what we need. You think you've got the lay of the land to that degree?"
"I believe so," Remus said after considering it for a moment.
"Then I don't see too much issue with it," Ron said.
Harry nodded at his words before turning to look at Hermione. "Do you think Lord Davis can provide the amount needed before the next full moon?"
"With the stockpile he keeps on hand for the werewolf facilities and the improvements he's been able to make to the recipe thanks to his research being funded, yes, definitely," she answered confidently.
"Excellent."
"They'll send word," Remus said.
"Once they do and everything's worked out, we'll be on our way back," Sirius said with a grin.
"I'm looking forward to it," Harry said sincerely.
"Me too," Sirius said before grimacing. "Though I'm not looking forward to returning to Grimmauld Place."
"Is the Order still using it?"
"As far as I know," he answered with a shrug.
"Dumbledore will be wanting a report on our time with the packs," Remus said. "We'll spin a story about many long hours spent preaching about diplomacy and eventually getting them to agree to neutrality. He'll be disappointed not to have more forces against the Dark Lord but neutrality is still more than he's expecting."
"Given the way it's gone the last few times he's sent Remus to talk to other werewolves, it'll be a lot more than he's expecting."
"It's certainly the most success I've ever been met with," the werewolf agreed.
"I'm glad," Harry said. "But I'll be gladder when you're both back here safely."
"Us too, Prongslet," Sirius said. "Though you shouldn't worry too much — they're treating us quite well here."
"Just try not to get kicked out of anymore pubs."
"No promises," Sirius said with a wink. "Talk soon, Harry."
"Talk soon," he echoed.
"Bye!" Hermione and Ron called before the connection ended and he put away the mirror.
"What do you make of that?" Harry asked his two best friends.
"I think it's the best news we can hope for from any werewolf pack let alone an Irish one," Hermione said. "It's not like we were ever really hoping to recruit fighters."
"True enough," Harry agreed. It might have been nice but none of them truly wanted to pull anyone else into this fight. They wanted to end it not expand it.
"I can always appreciate a bit of good news," Ron said simply.
"Me too," Harry agreed. Good news could be a little scarce sometimes. "And it'll be good to see Sirius and Remus again."
"It feels like it's been forever."
"It really does," Harry agreed.
"You coming to lunch?" Hermione asked.
"No, Slippy brought me something earlier," Harry answered. "I have a few more things to finish up. You two have fun."
"Alright," Ron said with a wave.
"See you in Charms."
"Yeah," he agreed. "Save me a seat."
"Always!"
…
"Harry, do you copy?" he heard over the earpiece.
It woke him immediately. "I copy," he answered in a sleep roughened voice.
A wave of his hand conjured a set of glowing numbers that illuminated the inside of his drawn bed curtains. It was just after two in the morning.
"That you, Amelia?"
"Yes," she answered tersely. "Elf incoming."
Quickly, he cast a silencing charm around his bed and then pushed himself up into a half-seated position. A little elf appeared seconds later at the foot of his bed.
"Delivery for the little Lord," she said, handing him the file with a clumsy bow. She popped away before he could even say thank you.
"There's been another attack," Amelia said over the headset. "Devon again but miles away from the first one."
Harry opened the now-familiar auror folder. Again, it was marked 'Classified' but he ignored it as he read the first few pages. A stone grew in his gut, one that he was familiar with, as he read that there were more than sixty muggles dead with dozens of wounded survivors.
"Were they turned?" Harry asked immediately.
"Any that were turned were included in the death count," Amelia answered in a monotone voice.
"So they're…"
"As you know, muggles turned by vampires are animalistic for the first year of their life and immensely harder to subdue," she answered in the same tone. "The policy when encountering a suffering human mid-change is to euthanize them."
Harry swallowed and nodded. Then he realized that she couldn't see him nod and so he tried to clear his throat.
"Right, I understand," he said. It was grim and it was morally questionable but it probably seemed necessary in the moment — war, in a nutshell.
"A wizarding family was killed, the Chubbs. Grandmother, grandfather, and two of their adult children and their two spouses were killed."
"It shouldn't matter but for the Prophet spin I have to ask — they were all magical?"
"All six were magical and all pureblooded," she sighed.
"Were they specifically targeted?"
"They're a lesser known light family so it's unlikely," she answered. "The grandmother, Agatha Chubb, used to work in Arthur's department. She was respected as an expert in ancient wizarding artifacts but she dabbled with muggle ones on the side. The Chubb's are by no means a high-profile target."
"Are there any more family members?"
"Another grandchild and a few great-grandchildren," Amelia answered. "They live elsewhere."
"We'll put them in contact with the Diggory Fund then," he said. As he always did when he was stressed, he scrubbed a hand over his face. "Maybe offer to relocate them for their safety if needed."
"I'll leave it up to the Fund. I have to call an emergency meeting."
"Good luck," he said as he pulled his covers back. "Thank you for getting this to me."
"Of course."
Harry crawled out of bed without trying to be too quiet, rousing Ron easily. The redhead used to be much harder to wake up but in recent years it had gotten easier and easier.
"Another attack in Devon," he said by way of explanation as he held out the file to the bleary-eyed redhead. "Far from Ottery St. Catchpole but sixty muggles and a magical family were killed. Get up to speed, I'm gonna wake up Colin and call Hermione. I know she sleeps with her earbud in."
"Dammit," Ron cursed before turning on his bedside light. "Alright."
Harry walked out to wake up Colin in the fifth-year boys dorm. Seamus, Dean, and Neville were already waking up slowly due to the noise and lights. Ron explained the situation to them as they did.
"I hate to say it but it's not like we can do much," Seamus said as he sipped at a glass of water and tried to clear his throat. "It's over and done with."
"You're right," Ron sighed. "It's on the response teams for the war relief fund and the press squad."
"I'm going back to sleep. If there's anything I can do or something new, wake me up," Seamus said. "I have a double period with Snape in the morning."
"Ditto," Dean said. "Though just the sleep thing. The potions thing is insane."
"Still can't believe you're in NEWT level potions," Neville agreed tiredly.
"He can't believe it either," Seamus said vindictively as he drew the curtains around his bed shut. "That's why I still go."
Neville stayed up as Dean and Seamus went back to sleep. Harry walked back into the room looking serious and agitated.
"Colin's awake," he said. "I'm headed down to the Cathedral."
"We'll come," Neville said as he stood up. Ron was already pulling out his shoes from under the bed and slipping them on.
"I'm not sure how much we can do but," Harry shrugged. "I don't think I can go back to sleep."
"Me neither," Neville said. "I'll see if I can wake Hannah through the earbuds. She'll be able to get the Diggory fund rolling."
"Good idea," Harry said around a yawn.
"I need to look at our plans," Ron said as he pulled on a robe. "The Dark Lord is using vampires a lot more than I would have liked."
Harry just nodded. It wasn't an unexpected amount of vampires based on their intel but it was still too much for comfort. The threat was feeling more and more real as the days went by and that was making a lot of them pretty antsy. Ron would only feel better once he had concrete plans in place that he felt like he could trust. Frankly, that would make Harry feel better as well so he was just going to encourage Ron's fixation on strategizing. It was better for both of their peace of minds.
"Let's go then," Harry said as Neville pulled on his cloak and trainers as well.
"Disillusionment charms," Ron directed.
"Agreed," Harry nodded.
With a wave of three different wands, each teen turned nearly invisible. Together, they made their way down to the common room and through the corridors until they reached the nearby Cathedral. Colin had already beaten them there as had Hermione.
"How can we help?" Harry asked as he looked at his best friend.
"Go ahead and grab that…" she began to direct.
Harry and Neville fell into place easily. It might only be two in the morning but for them, it was the start of a very long day.
…
The next few days all turned out to be very long days as well. In fact, Harry was starting to accept that all of his days were going to be very long days for a very long time.
Thankfully, it was finally weekend. There was no Quidditch practice and all of his homework was done. That meant he could spend the weekend catching up with his godfather, hopefully, and catching up with his Firewall-related paperwork. He'd be able to slip away to the island for a good few hours if everything went according to plan. He loved Hogwarts but Firewall was actually beginning to feel like home and he noticed he felt less stressed when he was able to spend time there.
"Hey Harry," Neville said after dinner on Friday evening.
"Hey Nev."
"Did you get the invitation?"
"Yeah, at breakfast," he answered. He and a number of other students had received ivory envelopes with gold lettering earlier. "I've already sent back my RSVP."
"Wait, doesn't that mean you already have a date?"
"I've asked Luna to go with me, actually," Harry answered. "Just as friends."
"Huh," Neville said. "I thought you'd go with Susan again."
"We both agreed that if we did, there'd be never-ending dating rumors."
"Probably true," Neville agreed. "You excited?"
Harry resisted the urge to snort. He was never excited to be thrust into the public eye as he surely would be during this event. The fundraiser was more a gala dinner with dancing and since it was sponsored by the Diggory War Relief Fund in support of the new hospital, he definitely had to go. That didn't mean he was entirely enthused.
"Me? Excited? For a fundraiser?"
"It is for a good cause," Neville reminded.
"It's for the Greater Magical General Hospital," Harry said in an agreeable tone. "It's for a very good cause. That doesn't mean I enjoy dancing and politicking anymore than I did before."
"You're sort of hosting this thing though."
"Indirectly," he pointed out. "And only by virtue of being heavily involved in the running of the Diggory Fund. And no one knows that I'm connected to that, by the way."
"I know, I know," Neville said. "I'm just saying, you're obligated to go and try to enjoy yourself."
"I know, Andromeda already forced me to agree to 'make merry,"" he said with air quotations. "It's a great networking opportunity, great way to lend support to the new hospital, encourage new donors, blah blah blah."
"Well I'm excited," Neville shrugged. "I'm gonna ask Hannah tomorrow."
"Is she your girlfriend yet?"
"We haven't put titles on it yet," he answered. "As soon as we do, my Gran will start talking betrothal contracts and we're not sure we're ready for that yet. Taking her on another public date is already pushing it; Gran sent a letter about it after Valentine's Day even though I see her plenty face-to-face."
"That's crazy," Harry said. "You'll have to be sure you want to end up betrothed to her before you ask her to be your girlfriend."
"Pretty much," Neville said. "You should count your blessings that Gran can't set up matches for you. She's talked about it."
"Oh Merlin."
"I'm telling you, you're getting off lucky," Neville said. "She's gonna get worse once we're both seventeen."
"Let's go on a long vacation," Harry said. "I'm thinking somewhere tropical."
Neville laughed. "Yeah, good shout. Maybe a one, two, three year stay."
"Yeah, that'll do."
There was silence for a few moments as they passed a group of lower year 'puffs on their way towards their common rooms.
"By the way, you should get an invite to a luncheon at Longbottom Manor tomorrow," Neville said.
"Luncheon is fancy talk for politicking with finger foods?"
"Correct."
"But there'll be no dancing?"
"No, no dancing," Neville chuckled.
"Oh good. I can handle that."
"No dancing means straight politicking," Neville pointed out. "It's worse, honestly. At least dancing and music gives you an excuse to get away or be distracted."
Harry blinked a few times. "Damn."
"I'm just warning you," Neville continued. "Come prepared for a long afternoon of political jibber jabber with the occasional person asking for you to take them on 'a turn through the gardens for some fresh air.' Which is code for: let's talk in private so we can make backroom deals or backstab-y plans."
"Wow, don't hype it up too much or anything," Harry said sarcastically. "It's not as if you're hosting the thing. Oh wait, you are."
"The truth is the truth," the broader Gryffindor shrugged.
"So when I get this invitation tomorrow, is there a way to politely say no?"
"Ha ha," he said sarcastically. "But if I have to go to this thing then you do too."
"I know, I know."
Harry had already known about this luncheon; it was part of their efforts to curry support for their Magical Beings Department proposal. They had a schedule of events and press initiatives aimed at gathering more support for it and he would be attending many of them because, as much as he hated it, his presence made the most impact.
"Your presence is a big draw for some of those swing votes we need to cast in our favor," Neville pointed out, accidentally echoing Harry's own thoughts.
"Yeah, it's an important cause," he said. "So I'll be there. Dancing or no dancing. But there better be tiny finger foods or I'm leaving early. Those little sausages I like, you know the ones?"
"You're starting to sound like Ron," Neville teased with a laugh. "Anyway, I had a question."
"Sure, what's up?"
"What would you think about adding more structures to Firewall?" Neville asked. "I was thinking maybe one or two greenhouses could help make the castle kitchens a bit more self sufficient. The house-elves of Hogwarts are having a lot of luck with the greenhouses we set up in the Chamber as far as bulking up castle stores goes. Give it some thought but I was thinking we could easily build them over by…"
…
The Cathedral was as busy as it usually was on a Friday evening. Small groups of students were occupying various parts of the room working on their own projects and assignments. The core group, so to say, was gathered near the map wall.
"Woah!" Harry exclaimed as a solid mass slammed into him from behind.
"Pup!" an exuberant voice shouted.
"Sirius?" he asked as he spun around. "Sirius!"
"Hey, welcome back!" Ron said with a wide grin.
"Sirius, Remus," Hermione greeted as Sirius finally pulled away from the hug he'd dragged Harry into. "Welcome back."
"Good to be back!"
"Great job out there, you guys," Neville said seriously as he reached out to clap Sirius on the shoulder. "Glad to have you back."
Almost tentatively, Harry gave Remus a hug. His relationship with the other Marauder was steadier than it had been in the past. "Welcome back," he said with a smile.
"Thanks, Harry," Remus returned warmly.
"You look better," Harry said honestly as he looked between the two men. Both of them had clearly spent a lot of time in the sun and the outdoors.
"I think the open air did us both a lot of good," Remus said as he cast a careful eye over his best friend. Azkaban was kind to no one and certainly not to a prisoner of more than a decade.
"More like the time away from Grimmauld Place," Sirius said before his brow furrowed.
"Speaking of…" Remus said with a similar expression. He glanced at Harry curiously. "Have you been recently?"
"To Grimmauld place?" he asked with a confused expression. "No, I'm trying to avoid the Order for the most part. Why?"
"Uh, well," Sirius said as he scratched his head. "There's been some changes."
"Has the Order done something?" Ron asked curiously.
"I don't think so," Remus answered with a shake of his head.
"What kind of changes?" Harry asked.
"The interior kind," Sirius said. "It's clean, for one. There's actually sunlight in the entryway now."
"Sunlight?" Ron asked. "In Grimmauld Place? That is weird."
"The cursed furniture and curio cabinets are gone as well," Remus said. "That's what has the Order the most concerned. There were some pretty serious dark artifacts contained in that house."
"But it's under the Fidelius," Neville pointed out. "No one could have broken in and stolen anything."
"No one's been able to steal anything for months. The wards are preventing it," Remus said. "Mudungus has tried, believe me."
"That's why I figured I'd ask you all," Sirius said. "You're the only other people with the knowledge of Grimmauld Place. It's not like anything bad has been done to the place. If anything, it looks better."
"Startlingly better," Remus agreed. "It's incredible what a fresh coat of paint and wallpaper can do."
"Has anyone asked Kreacher?" Hermione wondered.
"Kreacher appears to have died while we were gone."
"What?" Harry asked incredulously.
"No one in the Order told you?" Hermione asked.
"None of them know what happened to him either," Sirius answered. "But if he's ignoring my calls, he's got to be dead. I can kind of feel it anyway, that there's no more bond to call on. It's like I can feel that there's no elf listening."
"Did you like, you know," Ron waved his hand. "Find his body?"
"We looked but there was nothing to be found," Remus answered.
"And the place is spotless now so it would be easy to find," Sirius said. "The stuffed heads of the other house-elves are gone as well.
"Spotless, you say?" Harry asked with a growing suspicion.
"Eat off the floor spotless," Sirius confirmed. "Even with the Order coming in and out and never cleaning up after themselves. Hell, even the attic and basement have been remodeled."
"There haven't been any new names logged around Grimmauld place in the last few months according to the records," Ron said as he set down a leather-bound binder near the map table.
"You know who doesn't appear on Marauder's Maps?" Harry asked.
"No, who?" Ron asked as he tried to figure it out.
"House-elves."
"No one's seen Kreacher or any other elf though. I think they all assume Mrs. Weasley's been up to something but she hasn't spent much time at the place since summer."
"Of course she doesn't," Ron grumbled in the background. Harry ignored him as he made a thoughtful expression and humming noise.
"Dobby!" he called.
Within seconds, the familiar house-elf was in front of them with a wide grin on his face.
"Master Harry be needing helping from Dobby?"
"I was wondering if you could help us solve a little mystery, Dobby."
"A mystery?" the elf asked excitably. "Dobby loves mysteries. I reads lots of books now that I is knowing how."
Hermione looked proud at that. Some house-elves were quite literate but most of them had been intentionally kept from learning how to read and write for fear that it might lead to 'rebellious behaviors.'
"Well Remus and Sirius just went to Grimmauld Place and they can't find Kreacher," Harry began. "And apparently the house has been almost completely cleaned."
"And renovated," Sirius added. "Furniture and all."
"Oh, Dobby be knowing about that already, Master Harry," the elf said with a surprised look. "Is you not knowing?"
"No, I don't think I know," he answered with an easy grin. "And I think I'd know if I knew."
"Dobby thinks Master would know if he knew too," he agreed gamely.
"So what's happening at Grimmauld Place then?" Hermione asked as the gathered group all watched the elf curiously. "And where is Kreacher?"
"Kreacher is being dead," he answered as he jerked his chin up slightly. "He was a very, very bad elf and things was having to be done."
"I…what?" Sirius asked.
"Things, Mister Black," Dobby repeated firmly. "Was having to be done."
"Did…Did Kreacher get offed by the house-elf mafia?" Dean asked quietly.
"There's no such thing," Hermione said before glancing at the house-elf warily. "Is there?"
"Dobby not be knowing what that is," the elf answered. Harry noted uncomfortably that the elf didn't answer his question one way or another. "But Kreacher attacked Dot and Dobby while we was making the place safe and clean for Master."
"Wait you killed Kreacher?" Sirius asked incredulously.
"Things was-"
"Having to be done," Sirius cut him off while giving the elf a strange look. "I get it."
"What exactly happened?" Harry asked with some concern. He wasn't exactly mad but he felt like this is something he should have heard about.
"Dot is being assigned to one of the safe houses but there's not being enough work for him," Dobby explained. "He be finding work in Master's other houses and places. All the elves does that. Black Manor was being very dirty, you knows."
"Yeah, that's an understatement," Ron agreed. His mum had forced him to clean enough of the place already.
"Dot asked for help with cursed things since I be knowing lots from the Bad-Masters." Harry nodded in understanding; he could imagine that the elf had a lot of experience dealing with cursed artifacts from the Malfoy family.
"Kreacher attacked you?" Remus guessed. "For cleaning Grimmauld Place?"
"He was being most mad about the loud portrait being gone," Dobby answered with a nod.
"You got rid of Mrs. Black?"
"That's the best part of all of it," Sirius said with real enthusiasm. "The bitch is gone!"
"Language," Hermione reminded.
"Come on, you've met her. I had to grow up with her."
"…yeah alright," she agreed with a distasteful frown. "Good point."
"Hers portrait was cursed," Dobby answered proudly. "We's be taking it down. But then Kreacher came down and he was being mad, Master, real real mad. Dobby even saw red eyes, crazy eyes," he explained, tugging his ears nervously.
"Red eyes?" Ron asked with alarm. Hermione and Harry shared concerned looks.
"Dot be saying his snake-y locket was cursed," Dobby said. "So we takes it but he attacked Dot."
"Is Dot alright?" Harry asked. "How long ago was this?"
"Dot is okay, Master," Dobby answered. "This was being right after students go backs to Hogwarts after Yule."
"I see."
"We wasn't having any choice," Dobby continued as he pulled at his long ears. "Kreacher was screaming about the snake-y locket being Master Reguluses and he be having to destroy it."
"My brother gave him the locket?" Sirius asked with surprise. "And told him to destroy it?"
Dobby nodded and shrugged a little. Truth be told, he and Dot hadn't asked a whole lot of questions once they'd been attacked. They were already a little on edge after being attacked by doxies, a boggart, cursed curtains, and more-cursed carpets. Kreacher had caught them at the wrong time, honestly.
"It is cursed locket, very very cursed."
"Not surprising if it belonged to Regulus. He was the quintessential Black; the perfect Death Eater and my mother's pride and joy."
"Your brother was a Death Eater?" Harry asked with surprise.
"My younger brother, yes," Sirius said with a shadow falling over his eyes.
"I don't think that locket belonged to him, Sirius," Hermione said with a furrow between her eyes.
"What…you think?" Sirius asked slowly. "You think it was the Dark Lord's?"
"Crazy red eyes, gaudy Slytherin themed locket, cursed antiques," Harry listed. "Sounds right up his alley, doesn't it?"
"When you put it like that…" he muttered.
"It sounds like it could be one of the artifacts Luna has been researching in connection with Voldemort's past," Hermione pointed out. "The question is why Kreacher had instructions to destroy it."
"What happened to your brother?" Harry asked.
"He died not long after he got out of Hogwarts. Went missing, at least. We all know what happened — he displeased the Dark Lord somehow."
"We know that Voldemort entrusted at least one of his horcruxes to favored followers…" Harry said slowly. "Is it possible that Regulus was given one?"
"I don't know how high in the hierarchy he actually got," Sirius answered with a shrug. "Maybe, I guess."
"He was the Black Heir so the Order always assumed he got pretty high up," Remus answered.
"If snake-face gave Reggie one of those, he'd recognize it immediately. He had access to the full Black Library way before I did and he practically lived there."
"Would realizing the depths of depravity Voldemort is willing to go to be enough to turn your brother against him?" Harry wondered.
"No," Sirius answered. "But realizing that he had made multiple might have."
"Regulus would have known that splitting the soul too much comprises one's mental stability," Hermione realized.
"Exactly. He wouldn't have been okay with following that sort of madman. Especially if he realized that old Tom isn't even a pureblood," Sirius agreed. "It's possible. It's possible that that's what got him killed too."
"Dobby, do you still have the locket?"
"Dot is securing it in Black vault at Gringotts with all of the other cursed or dark things."
"Can you bring it to us?"
"Yes, Master Harry," he said brightly before disappearing.
"Do you really think we've found another one?" Neville asked.
"We can only hope."
"Can someone get Luna here?" Harry asked as he strode over to the corner dedicated to the Huldra's puzzling map. "Sirius, come here."
"What is it, Harry?"
"Help me find Grimmauld Place on this map here," he said as he gestured to the pinned up map of the UK that Luna had set up.
"It's technically unplottable," Sirius pointed out.
"Then just put a pin in one of the neighboring houses or even the corner of street. That's probably close enough."
By the time Sirius had placed a black push-pin roughly over the map location of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, Dobby had returned.
"This is being it, Master Harry," Dobby said as he held out a drawstring bag made of thick layered silk.
"Set it on the table please, Dobby," Harry said. "Hermione, do you know the detection spells?"
"Oh yes."
"I'll levitate it out then."
A few flicks of Harry's holly wand saw the bag opening. A bulky golden locket with emeralds in the shape of an S came into their view. It was clearly extremely old and very corrupted. There was an almost tangible aura of malfeasance surrounding it.
"Slytherin's locket," Luna gasped as she walked into the Cathedral. "It hasn't been seen for decades."
"Apparently, it's been hidden in the Black family manor," Harry told her without taking his eyes off of the vaguely threatening jewelry.
"It's a horcrux," Hermione said with grim certainly.
"You're sure?"
"I'm positive." she said as she cast one more detection spell to be sure.
"I'll be damned," Sirius said as he stared at the locket with a sense of recognition. "I've walked by that bloody thing so many times."
"I've never seen it before," Ron said. He'd spent a bit of time at Grimmauld Place as well.
"It was in one of the extra-cursed curio cabinets your mother had me move out of the way before any kids arrived," Sirius explained. "Kreacher must have rescued it before it got tossed out."
"Unbelievable," Harry said as he slowly levitated it back into the pouch. "It's been right under our noses."
"Now that we have it, what do we do with it?" Ron asked as he gave the pouch a wary look.
"I'm not sure," Harry said. "I don't think I want to put it back in Gringotts."
"The goblins probably wouldn't take kindly to that, no," Neville agreed.
"Do we have anywhere secure enough to keep it?" Harry wondered. "I don't really want to bring that to the island or here."
"The Lord's safe in my father's old study," Sirius answered after a moment. "It's sealed to anyone without Black blood and can't be opened without the lord or the heir ring," he said as he flashed the heir ring he wore on his hand. He had kept it when Harry had taken the Lord's ring and would keep it until his godson chose an heir of his own.
"That'll do," Harry agreed. "Dobby, can you pop Sirius right into the study?"
"The hall outside the study will do," Sirius said before the elf could answer. "When sealed, the study is closed to elves too. My father was a paranoid sort."
"Alright," he said. "Secure it, please. Dobby, if you know any house-elf magic that might help to secure it, feel free to help. That locket is instrumental in the fight against Voldemort."
"Right away, Master Harry!" Dobby said with visible dedication as he and Sirius popped away.
"We need to discuss this with the DA. We can obviously destroy it with basilisk venom; we didn't sell a single drop on the market due to the danger and potential for abuse so we have enough to go around. But maybe there's a way to use it first, like to track down other horcruxes."
"Maybe there's a way to destroy it without destroying the item," Hermione suggested.
"Why would you want to save that awful thing?" Ron asked with a scrunched up nose. The lump of clunky, medieval gold and emerald wasn't so impressive in his eyes.
"That's a piece of history, Ron," Luna answered, looking over at him. "And perhaps it might be good practice for drawing horcruxes out of…other things."
All of their eyes flicked towards Harry's scar. Harry himself shuffled his feet slightly and tried not to look too uncomfortable.
"I'll see when Bill and Chie are available," he said, breaking the tension. "But it's staying in the safe when it's not being immediately examined. We have no idea what that thing is capable of and after what happened to Kreacher, I'm not taking any chances."
"I'll reach out to them," Hermione volunteered. "And Craven as well since he's been working on the scroll with us and seems to have some experience with soul magics. Though he hasn't said exactly how much…"
"Probably because admitting as much can earn you a lifetime sentence in Azkaban before they even learn the particulars," Remus said with a wry half-smile.
"I don't want anyone writing that we've found a horcrux in the journals. Even though they're secure enough, there's just some things that are better left unwritten. We'll need to have a DA meeting soon and get everyone up to speed face-to-face."
"Agreed," Ron nodded.
Sirius portkeyed back into the room and gave them all a short nod. "It's secure," he said.
"Thanks, Sirius."
"Of course, pup," he said with a fond grin.
"We were just discussing how to get the DA together before Easter break," Harry explained before looking back towards a thoughtful Hermione.
"I'll see what day works best and let you know," she said.
"Okay," he agreed.
"Are you coming to Grimmauld Place for Easter, Harry? I know the Weasleys are but I wasn't sure if you had something else planned, or if you needed to be at the castle, or if you wanted to avoid the dump that is my childhood home. But it's not a dump anymore, really. You should at least come by just to see the-"
"Sirius," Harry cut his nervous rambling off with a laugh. "I'd love to spend Easter break at Grimmauld Place."
"You would?" Sirius asked brightly. "Excellent! You'll have your own room this time and everything. Everyone will, actually, now that the house isn't full of things that maim or kill you."
"Amazing what a difference that makes on the atmosphere," Remus said dryly.
"I can't wait to see it," Harry grinned.
"I'll definitely come over to see it but I'm spending Easter with my parents," Hermione said.
"You're welcome anytime, as always," Sirius said. "We should probably be getting back now that we've figured out what's going on."
"What are you going to tell the Order?"
"We've got a new elf, Socky, but he's a bit shy and that's why no one's seen him," Sirius said promptly.
"Okay, he had that waaay too ready," Neville muttered.
"Socky?" Hermione asked with a raised brow. "Isn't that a little…derivative?"
"Can you come up with a better fake house-elf name on the spot?" Sirius challenged.
"Erm…Dotty?"
There was a little pop and a uniformed elf appeared in front of Hermione.
"Yes, Missus?"
Sirius nearly burst out laughing as Hermione stuttered out an apologetic 'sorry, never mind!' They all started laughing as soon as the elf popped away (except for Hermione who could only shake her head).
"See?" Sirius asked as he continued laughing. "Or do you want to try again?"
"No, thank you," Hermione conceded with a slightly reddened face. "Once was enough."
"So. Socky."
"And what happens when they call Socky and no one answers?" Harry asked.
"I'll say good, that's what should happen," Sirius said with a resolute nod. "Socky is my house-elf and not their servant. He only answers to me and the house looks great so I see no need to call on him. I don't run a bed and breakfast."
"Good answer," Ron said with a mildly impressed expression.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Sure."
"It'll work," Harry said. "Not like they've asked any questions for the last few weeks."
"Exactly," Sirius nodded.
"I'm really glad you guys are back," Harry said as he looked between the two older wizards.
"Glad to be back," Sirius smiled.
"It is good to be back," Remus agreed. "Even if the trip went far better than my previous ones."
"This is the first time in decades an alliance has been secured with any wolf packs."
"They're staying neutral though," Harry said.
"A neutral alliance is still more than has been achieved in a very long time," Remus told him. "I'm glad I could be a part of it."
"I'm grateful for your help," the dark-haired teen said sincerely. "It wouldn't have been possible without your contacts and experience."
"Just doing my part same as everyone else here," Remus said, avoiding the thanks.
"And there's not a lot of animagi who can run with wolves and keep up," Harry said as he turned to his godfather. "Especially in their advancing age."
"Happy to hel- Hey! Wait a minute," Sirius protested. "Advancing age? Advancing age! I'll show you advancing age. Come here!"
"Oh hey, gotta run!" Harry said. "Quidditch practice. Great to see you again. See you at Easter, bye!"
"Get back here!" Sirius shouted as he prepared to run after his godson, heedless of his fugitive status. Remus grabbed him by the back of his robe in a well-practiced move, stopping him short.
"Let him go," Remus said. Harry was already nimbly hopping through one of the portrait holes. "You know how youths are."
"Youths," Sirius seethed as his godson disappeared. "The disrespect."
"Sounds like something someone of an advanced age would say," Ron pointed out bravely. Hermione covered a giggle.
Sirius' suddenly dangerous looking black eyes were focused on the redhead. "Sounds like something spider-bait might say," he said with a narrow-eyed gaze.
"Now, now, play nice," Remus mediated.
"S-spider bait?" Ron asked bravely, fingers twitching to his emergency anti-spider kit he always carried just in case.
"Oh yes," Sirius said. "My age isn't so advanced that I forgot where you'd be spending your Easter break. Did you forget?"
Ron gulped a little. Right, he'd be spending the break under the roof of an insane prankster.
"Did I say advanced age? I meant glowing youthfulness. I mean look at you," he said with a flummoxed hand gesture. "Just glowing. Dewy, even."
"Hmmm," Sirius said before preening a little and tossing a lock of wavy hair over his shoulder. "That's what I thought. Remus, time to go!"
"Sorry about him," Remus said in a low tone. "He's been a little pent-up; having to be a responsible adult for any amount of time is stressful for him. There was no one in the same mental-age range in the packs to entertain him since they wouldn't let him near the children."
Hermione couldn't help but giggle as she heard the offended scoffing noise that Sirius tried to hide as he strode towards the designated apparition circle. He and Remus had portkeyed in because it was still impossible to apparate into Hogwarts. It was easier to apparate out and back to Grimmauld Place though.
"Remus! Away, I say," Sirius called loudly as he clapped his hands twice. "Away! Good day, youths."
"I'll see you both over Easter break," Remus said with a put upon sigh as Sirius made demanding hurry-up gestures and clapped his hands a couple more times. "See you later, everyone."
"Welcome back," they said. "See you around."
"Remus!" Sirius shouted again. "I said good day!"
"I'm going to kill you."
"I know it does't look like it but I'm not actually getting younger by the minute," Sirius said with impish glee as he saw Remus clench his jaw. "Get a move on, old man."
"I'm going to kill him," the werewolf said as he looked at the surrounding DA members.
"No, Remus, no," Neville asked with dry sarcasm. His expression was deadpan. "Don't do it — he's but a young man in the prime of his life."
Remus snorted and Sirius finally broke and laughed.
"Don't forget to mention the glow," Sirius winked.
"That's enough out of you," Remus sighed as he finally headed over towards Sirius and the apparition point. "Let's go."
"That's what I've been saying," Sirius huffed. "I've seen centenarians who move faster than you."
"Big word for a tiny dog brain," Remus muttered (quite maturely for his age, thank you) as he grabbed Sirius firmly by the arm.
"I'll have you know there's absolutely nothing tiny about either of my forms-"
Further mental trauma was avoided as Remus grabbed Sirius, rolled his eyes, and disappeared right in time. For some, it was too late.
"Ah, God," Dean whined as he pressed his fingers over his eyes. "Even the idea is mentally scarring."
"If Remus could have just left a second sooner," Neville groaned. "Just one second sooner."
"I…" Hermione sighed. "Just…let's start getting the DA up to speed."
"Anything to help me stop thinking about tiny animagus-"
"Dean!" the Gryffindor witch practically shrieked. "No!"
"Sorry!"