章 243: HPWW121-130
Chapter 121
The wide grin Bones was now directing at him had
Dumbledore sigh and drop back down to sit on the
edge of the bunk. 'Who, before, had ever thought to
set their wards well inside their property boundary?
Everyone always set them out at the boundary or
slightly beyond,' he thought. 'That's bloody clever...
bugger it.'
"And, just so you know, Dumbledore," she said. "I've
also informed your boss, Headmistress Marchbanks,
that you're currently my guest and will not be
returning to Hogwarts until Monday afternoon after
lunch, at the earliest.
"She is not happy with you, at the moment. She's told
me she'll be having words with you come Monday
afternoon."
'Which means she has grounds to... reprimand me for
not being present for this afternoon and half the day
Monday,' he thought with another mental sigh.
He barely even noticed Bones leaving again.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Marchbanks walked into the faculty break room
'fashionably' late; not as long as Dumbledore's usual
ten to fifteen minutes, but just under five.
She walked directly to the head of the table, conjured
a cushion for her seat, and carefully sat down.
Once sitting, she placed the card file she had filled
with her notes for the meeting before her, pulled out of
it blank parchment and ever-full quill and set both
aside.
After readying herself she finally looked to her staff.
Looking around the table she mentally checked off the
names that she had on a list before her. Four were
missing. Of course, one of them was Dumbledore.
"Where are Sybill Trelawney, Rubeus Hagrid, and
Argus Filch?" she asked.
"Hagrid has locked himself in his hut and won't come
out," said Sprout.
"I tried to talk to Argus," Charity Burbage, the current
Muggle Studies Professor, finally replied. "He said...
ummm..."
"Out with it, dear," said Marchbanks.
"He said he has no time for such nonsense," she
finished.
"I see," Marchbanks nodded. "And, Professor
Trelawney?"
"Passed out drunk in her rooms," huffed Sprout.
"You're sure she is drunk?" asked Marchbanks.
"I am," said Sprout. "The rest of the staff can back me
on this; the witch is an alcoholic who can polish of
around three bottles of sherry a day. When awake, she
is is rarely, if ever, sober."
The rest of the staff nodded.
Marchbanks gave a nod and said, "Then we shall
excuse her from the meeting. If what you say is true
then she will be out of the castle by the end of the day.
I will not have a drunken sot teaching classes. I have
enough other positions I need to fill; one more won't
hurt."
Picking up her quill she then wrote two quick notes on
a sheet of parchment before tearing it in half between
them.
"May I have an elf, please," she quietly said.
With a slight pop of displaced air one appeared next
to her left. "Yes, Lady Headmistress?"
Handing the elf the first note she said, "Please give
this to Rubeus Hagrid, down in his hut." Then handed
the second note over. "And please give this one to
Argus Filch."
The elf gave a nod, said, "Yes, Lady Headmistress."
Before it gave a bob and popped away again.
She then wrote a third note, tore the bottom half off it,
folded the top note and called for another elf.
When it popped in she said, "Please deliver this to
Sybill Trelawney. If she's asleep, wake her by any
means necessary and make sure she reads it. I find
tossing one out of bed and dousing them with cold
water to be a good way to wake someone who's been
drinking too heavily."
"Yes, Lady Headmistress," the elf replied before it
popped away again.
Looking down the length of the table at the staff who
were present, she said, "As you heard, each of those
notes went to Rubeus Hagrid, Argus Filch and Sybill
Trelawney. When I call a staff meeting for a specific
time and state that all staff are to attend, I mean it.
"The only people that are excused from such
meetings are Medi-wizard Robinson - but only when
he has a sick patient in his Infirmary that requires
constant care - you, when you are patient under
bedridden medical care, or when people are away
from the castle on authorised leave.
"Both Mister Hagrid and Mister Filch have just been
informed, in writing, that if they are not here within
five minutes of those notes being sent then their
employment will be terminated, effective immediately,
on the completion of that five minutes. They are to
then be out of the castle by the end of the day.
"Sybill Trelawney has just been informed she will
present herself to me in my office in two hours or she
will have been fired, effectively immediately, and is to
be out of the castle by the end of the day."
That had a few of the staff gawking back in shock.
"We will now wait for that five minutes for Misters
Hagrid and Filch to arrive before that time expires
before we start the meeting," she declared.
"While we wait for them "said Flitwick. "May I point
out we are also missing Albus Dumbledore?"
"Albus Dumbledore left the grounds without my
authorisation," she said. "He then went to the property
of a muggleborn student. As he is not Headmaster,
Deputy Headmaster, Head of the student's House or
was even invited there he attempted to trespass the
property.
"He was arrested and taken to the DMLE, where he
currently sits in a cell. I have been informed by Madam
Bones that he will abide there until Monday afternoon
while they investigate the criminal complaint that was
filed against him by the owner residents."
While some staff seemed shocked, Flitwick wasn't one
of them.
"Good," he said, quite emphatically.
Sprout had a pleased smile on her face.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Three minutes later, Filch came stomping in with
Hagrid on his heels. Filch appeared angry while
Hagrid was quite morose.
Filch stepped up to the table and, before sitting down
at one of the vacant seats, demanded, "What is the
meaning of this?" And waved the note in his hand.
"I've never been to a staff meeting before! Why are
you making me attend now?"
"Mister Filch," Marchbanks sternly but calmly replied.
"You will watch your tone with me, or I will fire you;
right here, right now."
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Chapter 122
After a few moments of him visibly calming himself,
she added, "When I order all staff to attend a meeting,
I expect all staff to attend unless otherwise instructed
by me. You are, for now, a member of this staff.
"However, if you address me like you just did ever
again, I will fire you on the spot. I am not just the
Headmistress of this school, I am also your direct
boss and employer. Show me respect, or I'll show you
the door."
When she saw he got it and understood, she said,
"Now, sit down."
As both he and Hagrid sat, with Hagrid sitting in the
oversized chair that was at the table specifically for
him, she turned her attention to him. "What I just told
Mister Filch also applies to you, Mister Hagrid.
Understood?"
"Yes, 'Eadmistress," he mumbled. Luckily for Hagrid,
one of his mumbles could easily carry the length of
the table.
Once everyone was settled she pulled another sheet
of parchment in front of her, glanced down at it for a
moment and said, "Now that all of us who could be
here are here, I'll open this meeting with an
introduction of myself for those who do not know me
very well.
"I am Lady Griselda Marchbanks. As well as being the
Head of the Wizarding Examinations Authority - a
position from which I've taken a leave of absence - I
am the new Headmistress of Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry."
She then went on to explain her background, with a
focus on academia and her past as a Professor of
Charms and Deputy Headmistress at this very school.
It was Flitwick who replaced her as Professor of
Charms.
"Next," she said, "We are currently short a number of
staff positions. Most of these need to be filled before
we can return to providing our students proper tuition.
"We are currently in need of Professors for the core
subjects of Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts
and History of Magic. And a professor for the elective
of Care of Magical Creatures. I may be adding a
Professor in the elective subject of Divination to that
list by the end of the day. I intend to reintroduce, as
soon as possible, the class Introduction to the
Wizarding World for our muggle-raised students. So,
we need a Professor for that subject, too.
"If you have any suggestions of candidates that I or
the School Board could approach, I would welcome
them. The floor is yours."
Hesitantly at first, but gaining traction, names and
reasons were given to her. Horace Slughorn was one
('He may be convinced to come out of retirement. He
also made an excellent Head of House for Slytherin
while he was here.') and on it went.
For the next half hour they submitted, discussed and
argued candidates.
When the names started to slow down, Marchbanks
said, "Thank you. I expect each of you to spend some
thought on who else might be suitable to be
approached over the coming days. If you can think of
someone, please do not hesitate to let me know.
"Next issue is the positions of Deputy Headmaster or -
mistress and the Heads of the Four Houses. Currently,
we only have one of those positions filled - Pomona
Sprout for Hufflepuff. I know many of you may or may
not have coveted the role of one of those positions;
so, if you wish to submit your name for consideration,
now is the chance.
"I'll also inform you that length of service as a
Professor will play no part in whether or not I would
consider you worthy of the post. The post will also be
in an 'Acting' capacity until I consider you have
proven yourself in that role. Anyone not willing to
publicly submit their name now, I will consider
unworthy."
It did not surprise her when Bathsheba Babbling
spoke up, first.
"I would like to be considered for the role of Head of
Gryffindor," she firmly stated.
"Noted," said Marchbanks. "Next?"
Septima Vector gave a nod and said, "I would be
honoured to be considered for the post of Head of
House Slytherin."
"Noted," said Marchbanks, adding Vector's name to
her new list, with Slytherin in brackets after it."
"Though it will mean four female Heads of House,"
said Aurora Sinistra, "I'd like to submit my name for
Head of Ravenclaw House."
"Noted," said Marchbanks. "Anyone else? Just
because I've received three names of one each for the
three Houses does not presuppose I'll not consider
anyone else for those positions or others."
"What about if Dumbledore wishes to be considered
for one of those posts?" asked Babbling.
"Albus Dumbledore has already been considered
unsuitable for any role. He currently holds the role as
Professor of Transfigurations because he is the last
staff member to have tenure and I've got nowhere else
to put him."
"In that case, I'd like to also be considered for the post
of Deputy Headmistress," said Babbling.
"Noted," smirked Marchbanks. "Anyone else?"
When no one else seemed willing to put their name
forward she said, "Thank you to those who applied for
Acting positions as Heads of House and Deputy. You
will have my decision by the middle of next week.
"Next..."
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Chapter 123
Harry was in his room trying to focus on studying, just
for something to do but not being very successful
about it, when an elf popped in with a note, handed it
to him and left again.
Opening it, he saw it was a short note from Madam
Bones informing him Dumbledore was now staying in
custody and would not be released until Monday
afternoon after lunch.
Setting aside his book he happily left his room and
went downstairs. He found Hermione in the kitchen
talking to Dobby.
"Hi!" he said.
As Hermione turned to him, Dobby popped away.
"You're suddenly chipper again," she said. "What's
caused that?"
He handed her the note and let her read it.
Finishing, she looked at him with a grin and said, "So,
Dumbledore's 'on ice' for the next three days."
"Yep!" he nodded. "Which means, we can go for our
walk."
Hermione's face fell a bit and she hesitantly asked
back, "Can we delay that until tomorrow morning?"
Confused, Harry frowned and replied, "I don't want
you to think I'd force you to do such a thing,
Hermione. So, if you want to simply delay the walk,
take a walk with me tomorrow or simply cancel it
completely, that's fine."
Relieved, she smiled back. "Thank you, Harry.
Dumbledore's attempt to get in past those wards you
had set up has me a bit spooked. Now, I'd just like to
talk with my Mum for a bit. It's been ages since we had
a decent chance to catch up for a 'girl talk' session."
"You don't need to explain it to me, Hermione," he
gently smiled. "It's alright."
After he left, he wondered again what to do. That's
when he decided he should be writing some letters
while he actually had the chance.
Heading up to his room and checking Hedwig was
available - she liked to sit on a branch of a tree in the
Grangers' back yard - he pulled out his spare
parchment, quills and ink, carried it to the small desk
in the room and pulled the chair to sit.
Mentally going over what and to whom he needed to
write, he set to work.
His first letter was to his Gringotts Account Manager.
After Sirius had told him he had taken material back to
the Tonkses to work on there, he thought he should
ask his account manager if he could do the same.
Knowing the goblins appreciated brevity, he wrote
accordingly.
~ # ~
Account Manager Tinderwick
for the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter
London Branch
Gringotts
Tinderwick,
In order to more rapidly bring myself up to speed with
the accounts of the Noble and Most Ancient House of
Potter, please cause to have copies of the financial
records of the House set aside for me for the relevant
fee, of course.
I shall endeavour to collect them, or have them
collected on my behalf, and complete what
documentation I previously caused to be uncompleted
when last we met. Once completed I shall see to its
return to you with due haste.
I include a drop of my blood on this parchment to
prove my claim.
.
Harrison 'Harry' James Potter
Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter
Heir Tertiary of the Noble and Most Ancient House of
Black
~ # ~
After he finished writing it, he read through it before
he signed it. Then he used a penknife the Weasley
twins had given him to poke the tip of his ring finger
on his off hand; deep enough to draw a drop of blood.
That drop he then allowed to drop onto the parchment
next to his signature.
Done with that letter, he turned to the window to find
Hedwig sitting on the window ledge looking at him
through the glass.
As soon as he opened the window she immediately
glide-hopped onto the desk and turned to him.
After offering her an owl treat - accepted - he tied the
folded up parchment to her ankle and let her go.
Once she'd flown off he made a start on his second
letter. This one to Neville.
~ # ~
Neville Francis Longbottom
Heir Apparent of the Noble and Most Ancient House of
Longbottom
Longbottom Hall
Nev,
Hermione and I arrived safely at her home in
Wimbledon.
It's a huge place I'd put on a similar scale to a small
manor house. Six bedrooms, four with ensuite
bathrooms; a small set of quarters for servants,
though the Grangers employ none; all spread across
four floors. The servants' quarters are currently being
used by the aurors Madam Bones stuck me with as a
break/rest room. Of course, there are also the kitchen,
laundry, parlour, entertainment room, an office for
Wendell and Monica, small library, that sort of thing.
Hermione's room sits on the top floor and is
comparable in size to our dorm at Hogwarts.
Connected to that she has her own ensuite bathroom
and a small room that her father converted for her to a
study room. In there she has a small desk with four
bookcases; one of which her father added lockable
doors to so she can put her Hogwarts books in and
lock close (in case anyone but a Granger tries to peek
inside). Of course, all bar the 'Hogwarts' bookcase is
over-full with books also stacked on top of them.
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Chapter 124
I'm in a guest room down one floor on the same floor
as her parents' master bedroom. Yes, I have my own
ensuite, too. It's not as big as Hermione's, of course,
but I'd say it would be about three-quarters of the size
of our dorm. So, to me, it's huge!
Hermione's parents, Wendell and Monica, are
wonderful people. They've made me feel completely
welcome. But they do ask a lot of questions. I think
that's where Hermione gets it from.
Both are what are known in the muggle world as
dental surgeons. That means they are Healers who
focus pretty much entirely on fixing teeth - there are
no teeth repair potions in the muggle world. But, I've
also found out they have 'after hours' jobs as well.
Wendell is what is known as a Justice of Peace. That
means he can make decisions of a legal nature. He is
something like a Chief Adjudicator, but only for cases
where the punishment does not exceed a fine or six
months imprisonment. Anything requiring more
punishment than that he has to refer on to a higher
court.
And Monica is a Commissioner of Declarations, which
means she can sign and or witness legal documents
that require someone 'of good standing' to sign or
witness. That then makes the document an 'official'
document as it pertains to muggle law.
As for me, I'm really enjoying it here. I've never felt so
relaxed living in someone's home. And I'm including
The Burrow in that.
I hope, for your sake, your grandmother allowed you
to return back to Longbottom Hall for the duration of
the school being closed. Which is why I've addressed
this to Longbottom Hall, even though I know Hedwig
will find you no matter where you are, and have not
been made you stay at Hogwarts. That would suck
without everyone there or something to do.
If not and you're bored out of your mind, as a
suggestion only you might want to ask Professor
Sprout, now that she's been released by the DMLE to
return to the school, if you can help her out in the
greenhouses. I know you love that sort of thing and
she might like the company.
Hoping you are well,
Your Friend,
.
Harrison 'Harry' James Potter
Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter
Heir Tertiary of the Noble and Most Ancient House of
Black
~ # ~
Again checking it over to make sure he made no
mistakes, he grinned in pleasure and signed it simply
'Harry P'. It was quite a long letter and he hadn't meant
to write it so long. But, once he started, felt like
writing as much as he did. The previous couple of
days had been full of new things, so he had quite a bit
he could write about.
Once done he'd send it once Hedwig got back.
Sitting there for a little while he then thought about to
whom else he could write.
That's when he had a thought. He really needed his
own law-wizard and he only knew of one. And, since
he was 'family', thought to write to him to ask him to
take the job as his law-wizard; or recommend
someone else.
~ # ~
Mister Edward Tonks
Law-wizard
.
Mister Tonks (or should I be addressing you as Lawwizard Tonks?),
I found myself quite impressed with how you
defended the case of my godfather, Sirius Black, in his
trial a few days ago. It was also impressed upon me
that I may very well need to retain a law-wizard myself.
As well as being my godfather's law-wizard of choice,
I ask that you also consider to be mine.
I have no idea if I have one already or not and, if I do,
then they haven't done a decent job of letting me
know that. So, if you consent to be my law-wizard of
choice - or whatever the title would be - then your first
job will be to fire whoever it is.
If you do not believe you will be able to be my lawwizard due to some conflict of interest or some other
such legal requirement, I ask that you help me out by
letting me know of other law-wizards that you trust
and who could do the job.
Thanking you in advance for your consideration of my
request,
.
Harrison 'Harry' James Potter
Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter
Heir Tertiary of the Noble and Most Ancient House of
Black
~ # ~
Harry didn't know the man's address other than Sirius
said 'the Tonkses' place' whenever he mentioned
them. So, knowing Hedwig would be able to find him
no matter the address, he left it blank.
'No, hang on,' he thought, giving himself a mental face
palming. 'I can ask Sirius via the mirrors'.
Setting the letter aside, he collected the mirror from
where he left it downstairs on the coffee table in the
parlour and returned with it to his room.
Sitting back at the desk he held it in his offhand and
whispered across it, "Padfoot". Then waited.
A few seconds later the mirror blurred for a moment
before Sirius's smiling face appeared. "Miss me
already?" he asked.
"I have a couple of questions for you," said Harry
"Cast," replied his godfather. That was the wizarding
world version of 'Shoot'.
"Firstly, do you know if the House of Potter has a lawwizard of choice?" he asked.
Sirius immediately frowned in confusion for a moment
as his eyes seemed to lose focus. Snapping back he
replied, "They must have. All Houses at our level do.
However, I cannot for the life of me remember who it
was. Secondly, the official term is 'Law-wizard of
Record'."
"Well, it doesn't matter who it was," said Harry.
"Whoever it was is soon to be fired, anyway."
"Probably wise," said Sirius.
"Next, is Mister... is Ted Tonks now your law-wizard of
choice... of Record, I mean?" he asked.
"Yes, actually," replied Sirius. "He agreed to that a
couple days ago."
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Chapter 125
"If he's your Law-wizard of Record, can he also be
mine?" next he asked.
Sirius shrugged and replied, "I can't see why not."
"I'm writing him a letter," explained Harry. "I'll ask him
myself. Which brings me to my next question, how do
I address him and what's his business address?"
Surprised, Sirius replied, "Hang on a minute and I'll
get his business card." Then his mirror got put down
face up on something - Harry could now see nothing
but ceiling in the mirror - as he heard his godfather
rummaging through parchment.
He was back a few moments later as the mirror got
picked up again.
"Here it is," said Sirius looking at something 'off
mirror'. Edward Tonks, Law-wizard. 15B Diagon Alley.
London."
Harry quickly wrote that down on a scrap of
parchment before he returned to looking at the mirror.
"Thanks for that, Sirius."
"Anything else?"
"No, I think that's it," replied Harry.
"My turn, then," said Sirius. "I know about
Dumbledore's attempt to get into the Granger's home.
I've let Madam Bones know I'm adding the weight of
the House of Black to pressing charges against the
old man for trying that."
"Really?" asked Harry, surprised by both pieces of
information. "Thank you. I'll give that information to
Wendell and Monica."
"Actually, I'd like to do that myself," said Sirius. "I'd
like to come and visit you early this evening, just to
make sure for myself that everything's alright. But, if I
don't bring Andi with me this time, she'll skin me
alive."
"Come and bring her," Harry immediately replied.
"Wendell and Monica have already told me you both
have permission to come over to visit. They both also
know cousin Andi's a Healer."
"Got a time for me?" asked his godfather.
"Ummm... be here at... 6.15pm. And expect both of you
to stay for dinner," he replied. "Dress is casual slash
office work clothes. They don't stand on ceremony
here."
Sirius nodded and said, "I'll let her know."
"If there's a change to that, each of us will
immediately let the other know in advance, right?"
asked Harry.
"Yeah, pup," replied Sirius. "Will do."
"Anything else?" he asked.
"Nope! See you at 6.15. Mirror off!"
Transferring his scrawl of Ted Tonks's business
address to his letter to the man, Harry made sure it
was dry before setting it aside with the other letter
waiting to be sent.
However, if Sirius was coming over with cousin Andi,
he'd just hand it to her and ask her to pass it on.
Then he went looking for Wendell and Monica; or
either.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
As the two hour mark since she'd sent her note to
Trelawney passed, Marchbanks waited a further fifteen
minutes. On exactly the fifteen minute extra mark she
summoned a house elf.
"Where is Sybill Trelawney, at this time?" she asked.
"She be in her tower, Lady Headmistress," the elf
promptly replied.
"Is she up and dressed?"
"Yes, Lady Headmistress."
Indicating the chair sitting ten feet in front of her desk
and facing her, set there for when Trelawney was
supposed to have arrived on time, she firmly ordered,
"Go get the woman and pop her into that chair. Right
now, please."
"Yes, Lady Headmistress," replied the elf with a short
head bob before it popped away.
A few moments later, Sybill Trelawney appeared in the
chair before her desk and promptly fell out it. Then
vomited on the floor.
Marchbanks frowned at her and vanished the vomitus.
"Get up, Miss Trelawney," she firmly ordered.
Trelawney groaned and slowly moved to her hands
and knees before using the chair to try and stand up.
She wobbled a fair bit and, not even letting go of the
back of the chair until the last moment, dropped into
it.
"W-where am I? W-why am I here?" she querulously
asked, peering around through her overly large and
thick spectacles
The reek of sherry was like a miasma about her.
"You are in my office, having been brought here by a
house elf on my specific instructions," replied
Marchbanks. "You are drunk."
"Sherry helps me to open the inner eye to the
wonders of the second sight," the witch slurred.
"Without it I am unable to provide true depth to my
predictions, the cards are not as clear, the crystal is
murky."
"I do not care," said Marchbanks. "It is a breach of the
code of conduct for Professors to be inebriated during
school hours. Personally, I believe it is a breach of
personal ethics for a professor to ever be so
effectively intoxicated.
"As such, I do not even need to give you a warning for
your conduct. You are fired. Your employment as a
Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and
Wizardry is immediately terminated for cause."
As Trelawney sat there, stunned and now feeling even
more sick than a few moments ago, Marchbanks
called for a house elf.
"Yes, Lady Headmistress?" asked the elf as soon as it
popped in.
"Please go up to the Divination Tower, pack up Miss
Trelawey's personal effects into a trunk and bring it
back here," she directed. "Miss Trelawney is no longer
a staff member of Hogwarts."
"But... what am I to doooo?" whimpered Trelawney.
"Where am I to go?"
"You claim to be a Seer," said Marchbanks. "Employ
your gift and figure it out."
The elf was back a few seconds later with a tan trunk
with brown trim and an overly large handbag.
"Is that all of it?" asked Marchbanks.
"Yes, Lady Headmistress," nodded the elf.
"Thank you," she said before turning to face
Trelawney again.
Indicating the trunk and bag she said, "There are your
personal effects. You may use my floo to leave. I do
not want you staggering like a drunken prostitute
through the corridors of this school on your way out."
Heartbroken and sobbing, Trelawney left via the floo
about fifteen seconds later. Her destination was the
Leaky Cauldron.
"Good riddance," muttered Marchbanks.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
When Harry went downstairs to the main floor he
couldn't find anyone, but did hear the sound of a
television showing a football match from down on the
lower ground floor.
Heading down there, he found Wendell watching a
game on the telly in the media room. One of the aurors
was also in there and looking at the telly in some level
of shocked confusion.
Harry quietly asked him, "Not seen a television
before?"
The auror blinked once before turning to Harry. "Seen
one, yes," he replied. "Not one as big as this, though.
Or seen this game Doctor Granger's watching."
"It's called football," said Harry. "It's also called
'soccer' in places like the United States - MaCUSA. It's
one of two national sports the British muggles focus
on and is about par with the magical world focusing
on Quidditch.
"This one is played across the winter half of the year;
while the other, cricket, is played across the summer
half."
"Oh, bloody hell, Ref!" Wendell suddenly exclaimed,
quickly leaning forward in his armchair, staring at the
telly. "That was a blatant trip! Yellow card, the
wanker!"
When the screen focused more closely on the referee
having a verbal go at the so-called tripper, it was to
see the man suddenly snatch a yellow card a little
bigger than a playing card out of his breast pocket
and hold it up showing it to the sideline.
"Yes!" exclaimed Wendell. "That's what I'm talking
about!" Then he leaned back again.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 126
"See?" smirked Harry. "Like Quidditch."
When the programme broke for an advertisement,
Harry came around the armchairs until he could be
seen by Wendell.
Seeing him, Wendell looked up and asked, "Come to
watch some football, Harry? Take a seat."
"Actually, I've come to let you know Sirius is bringing
cousin Andi, the Healer, to come and see me this
evening. I hope you don't mind but I suggested they
come for dinner. I'm sure I can stretch it out so there's
enough for everyone."
"Actually, Lord Potter," the auror spoke up. "We
aurors are going to have to beg off, if you don't mind.
Shift change this evening is at that time."
"Then it sounds like you've cooked more than
enough," said Wendell. "They're both more than
welcome for dinner."
"Thank you," said Harry. "In that case, I need to get
back to the kitchen for a bit, just to check on how the
roast is coming along."
"Have fun!" said Wendell, just as the programme
restarted. His attention already back on the screen.
As Harry was heading up the stairs he heard Wendell
cry, "C'morrrrnnnn Gunners!"
Harry wasn't a fan of the game. But, that was because
he never had the chance to be a fan. He could only
watch television while at the Dursleys when the
Dursleys were out. And, even then, he found far more
interesting things to watch. He was a fan of
documentaries.
Of course, he was never allowed to go to a game,
either.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After checking the roast - it was coming along
splendidly - he decided to preheat the oven for the
cobbler pie and start preparing the vegetables.
Once he was done peeling and cutting he prepared a
baking tray, using a thin layer of cannola oil in the
bottom of it - he never used lard or cooking fat when
baking vegetables, if he could help it - and laid within
it the carrots, potato, sweet potato and onion wedges
on that thin layer. Once satisfied, that went under
cling wrap with a stasis charm to stop the vegetables
drying out.
Satisfied the oven would now be hot enough, in went
the cobbler pie.
Cleaning his hands and wiping them on the little hand
towel Monica had hanging from the door handle of the
pantry, he turned back to look about the kitchen and
frowned at the now dirty dishes - the cutting board,
peeler and vegetable knife. He hated leaving them, but
he'd promised Dobby he wouldn't do the dishes.
Giving a muted nod of satisfaction to himself, muted
because of the dishes, he called Dobby to clean up.
The elf popped in, looked at all the dirty dishes,
grinned at Harry and said, "Thank you, Master Harry!"
And set to work.
Harry rolled his eyes, sighed and left to head back
upstairs.
His earlier efforts at letter writing had got him in the
mood to write more.
"The twins next, I think,' he thought. 'Then I think I
need to write to Angelina, Alicia and Katie to
apologise to them for rudely pulling out of the
Quidditch team. I hope they understand I said what I
said in the heat of the moment. But, I stand by my
word.'
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Harry was partway through writing what was probably
his fifth draft of a letter to the twins when his mirror
vibrated.
So it wouldn't leak everywhere, Harry put the quill
down with the tip on a scrap of parchment. Then he
picked up the mirror and said, "Padfoot." And the
image cleared.
"Slight change of plans, Harry," Sirius immediately
said. "Andi asks if Ted can come, too."
"Sure!" said Harry. "I'll check, of course. But, if you
don't hear back from me, he's more than welcome.
"I think he and Wendell might hit it off, too. With Ted
being a law-wizard and Wendell being a Justice of the
Peace they can compare issues of dealing with the
law between the two worlds."
"Next, if you have dinner scheduled for six-thirty, Andi
wants to know if we can arrive earlier," said Sirius.
"She wants to examine you before we all sit to eat."
"How much earlier?" he asked.
"At least half an hour before dinner," replied Sirius.
"She wants about ten to fifteen minutes to examine
you, plus the extra time to discuss with you your
treatment."
"That'll be fine, too. Best make it... quarter to six?
Dobby can set the table and serve tonight," he replied.
"I'll let the Grangers know of both the time change and
the extra guest for dinner."
Sirius grinned and said, "No 'Dora, though. I think
she's on duty with the aurors, tonight."
"That's alright," said Harry. "I'll meet up with her
another time. Besides, I don't want to impose too
much on the Grangers with having four guests.
Sirius appeared concerned and asked, "Are you sure
it's alright to bring Ted?"
"As I said, I'll ask," said Harry. "Right now, as a matter
of fact. If it's a problem I'll mirror call you right back."
"Alright. Thank you, Pup."
"Not a problem," returned Harry. "Mirror off!"
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
It turned out it wasn't a problem. Wendell said he was
even looking forward to speaking to someone who
was the magical world's equivalent of a solicitor. He
actually wanted to know why wizarding Britain didn't
have JPs when it was a law on the books from well
before the Statute of Secrecy was implemented.
Just to have the chance to try it, Harry cast a
messenger Patronus with the message 'Wendell's
looking forward to talking law with Ted'.
He was pleased to see his stag give a nod and charge
off, so assumed it worked. He promised himself to
check with Sirius when he arrived.
Noticing the time, Harry quietly exclaimed, "Shhhyte! I
need to get the veggies on!" And scrambled to pack
up what he was writing and hurrying downstairs.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Right on 5.45pm Harry and the aurors stiffened as
they felt multiple magicals cross the ward boundary.
He was in the kitchen, at the time, giving a last check
of the roast and the browning of the vegetables. He'd
also just put the shucked corn and green peas to
steam on the stove.
"Dobby!" he called.
"Yes, Master Harry?" asked the elf.
"Right," said Harry. Indicating each he said, "The lamb
is practically ready, the veggies are browning in the
oven but are essentially cooked, I've just put the peas
and corn in the steamer on the stove and the cobbler
pie is done and set aside.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 127
"I haven't made the lamb gravy yet, so that's your job.
And the table still needs setting. There'll be eight for
dinner, tonight. The aurors aren't joining us."
The elf gave a serious nod back and said, "Dobby be
taking cares of it, Master Harry. Yous go an' greet your
guests."
"Thank you, Dobby," he returned, stripping off
Monica's flowery apron and making sure he was
presentable.
He never noticed Dobby using elf magic to disappear
a stain off his hip where he must've nudged
something. It was probably when he 'hip bumped' the
wall oven drop door to knock it closed. A bad habit
he'd picked up.
He'd just left the kitchen when he heard the knocking
on the front door. However, with the aurors in the
house, none but them were permitted to open it if
there was a magical known to be in the visiting party.
So he had to wait back with the Grangers.
When the Tonkses and Sirius came into the parlour,
Sirius made the introductions. Surprising Harry after
seeing him in action in 'court', Ted was actually quite
affable. Andi, however, appeared relaxed but it was
evident to Harry at least that she was a great deal
more focused.
After handshakes and where Wendell matched Sirius's
first introduction to Monica and kissed the back of the
knuckles of Andi, which pleased her, the woman
wasted no time in focusing her attention on him -
Harry.
"Lord Potter―" she said.
"Harry," he shot back.
"Not this time," she shot back herself. "Lord Potter, is
there a room I can borrow so I may examine you?"
"Yes; but, before you do..." he spun to stare at
Wendell and said, "Doctor Granger; because of it
being discovered Madam Poppy Pomfrey was under
loyalty potions and never even realised it, may I
please have your permission to have Healer Tonks
here quickly examine your daughter, Hermione, for
traces of loyalty potions and the like?"
"Harry!" exclaimed the girl. "There's no need―"
Surprised at the question, Wendell's eyes widened for
a moment as he heard Monica gasp. He immediately
and firmly replied, "You do."
Harry spun back to Andi and said, "Hermione first,
please."
"You suspect?―" she began.
"Yes," he firmly replied. "And for the same reason.
Hermione's been by my side, almost since my first
day in the school."
"Harry, I'm not under any sort―" Hermione tried
again.
Andi had already spun towards her and, in quite the
firm voice, said, "Miss Granger..." cutting Hermione
off. "As there is a reasonable chance you may be
under such a potion based on evidence already
gathered, as a Master Healer I am legally within my
right to ignore your permission and simply examine
you. The examination will not be invasive and, as with
all such examinations, will be covered by my Healer's
Oath. Please, come with me."
"Sorry, Hermione," Harry said a little contritely. "But, it
won't harm you and I wouldn't put it past Dumbledore
to have tried."
"Better safe than sorry, sweetheart," said her mother.
"Isn't that what you told me, yesterday?"
Hermione looked to her mother for the moment as if
the woman had stabbed her in the back. Eventually
she gave a huff and snapped, "Fine."
"My room," said Harry. "It's closest and has its own
bathroom, if you need it."
Hermione gave him a glare and stomped off towards
the stairs.
As Andi followed, Monica called, "Next floor up, first
door on the left."
Once they'd gone upstairs, Wendell sighed and asked,
"Harry, you don't really think―"
"Not one hundred percent, buuut..." he replied, then
shrugged.
Everyone was a little tense for the next ten minutes
until Andi came back down, alone. Monica, seeing her
alone, immediately shot up the stairs.
Looking directly to Wendell she asked, "Doctor
Granger, a moment of your time?" Her expression was
quite closed but her eyes showed anger.
Wendell took one look at her face, glanced to the
stairs and without a word indicated for her to follow
him. He went out the door that exited into the rear
hallway, with her following.
As they walked out, Sirius quietly asked Harry, "What
made you suspect?"
"Pomfrey," he quietly replied.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Monica led Hermione down the stairs a minute later,
as Wendell and Andi walked back in through the other
door. Wendell appeared a little upset, but Harry was
thankful it wasn't directed towards him.
Hermione was shaken but seemed otherwise okay.
She immediately came over to Harry and hugged him.
"Thank you, Harry," she quietly said.
"I take it there was something there, then?" he asked.
"Traces of a mild loyalty enhancement potion," she
replied. "Very old."
"Do you want to tell us who?" he asked. "Or, would
you prefer not to?"
She hesitated only a moment before she replied,
"Healer Tonks said it was for two people; one with
white hair and another with red hair."
"Dumbledore and, probably, Ron... or, Missus
Weasley," said Harry.
"That was our thoughts, too," she said. "As the traces
were only in my fatty tissue now, they no longer have
any effect on me. It's just knowing―"
"Yeah, I get that," he said.
"Harry," called Wendell. When Harry glanced to him he
said in a clearly grateful voice, "Thank you."
Before Harry could respond Andi got in first.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 128
"Lord Potter," she said, just as firmly as her
expression reflected. "I'm now invoking Master Healer
privileges on you, this time. Upstairs."
"Cousin Andi!" he mock exclaimed. "Inviting yourself
into my... boudoir? And in front of your husband, to
boot!"
Harry felt Hermione relax and give a little snort of
amusement. Relaxing her a little was his intent.
Andi redrew her wand, but wasn't pointing it at him,
for the moment. "Get!" she firmly ordered.
As Hermione stepped away to give him freedom to
move he gave her lower back a quick rub before he
walked towards the stairs.
"We shouldn't be too long!" he declared. "After all, I
am only fourteen!"
He heard his godfather give his own snort of
amusement. As he climbed the stairs he looked back
at a now following Andi and, with a slightly warbling
voice, loudly begged, "Please be gentle! It'll be my
first time!"
"Upstairs, you scoundrel!" she barked.
That was it for Sirius, at least. Harry heard the old dog
give a quick bark of laughter, but also heard a couple
of nervous chuckles and giggles from others. He was
thankful one of them was from Hermione.
Once the two had climbed the stairs, Wendell said,
"You know all that was for our benefit, don't you?"
Ted grinned back. "Of course."
Looking to his daughter, Wendell closed the gap
between them and gave her a hug of his own. "If I ever
get my hands on that old―"
"You'll have to wait your turn," said Ted. "I'm led to
believe the line is quite long."
Hermione quietly said, "Healer Tonks... Andi... said the
potions were designed to enhance my loyalty towards
Dumbledore and Ron. She also said that the traces
were old, probably dating all the way back to first year.
"I think they were used to... cement... my loyalty to
him and friendship with Ron. It was probably
discontinued once he believed my loyalty to them
both was established."
A little brighter, she said, "But, at least the
examination also showed I wasn't under any other
potion or charm that shouldn't be there."
"Shouldn't?" her father immediately asked.
"Yes, Daddy," she returned, while blushing a little.
"Shouldn't."
He was about to push until he saw the direct look with
slight smirk his wife gave him. And, knowing that
look, decided he didn't need to know, after all. That
'look' promised him she'd answer; but, once she did,
he'd realise he really didn't want to know, after all.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Up in Harry's bedroom and current examination room,
Harry was lying on an examination table that had been
conjured from his desk chair. And he only knew that
because he'd immediately noticed upon entering his
chair was missing.
"Hop up and lie down on your back," she'd said.
As Harry made himself comfortable, Andi was setting
up her parchment and auto-quill system.
"Nice trick with that nonsense coming up the stairs,"
she said, as an aside.
"Hermione was upset and people were a little tense,"
he said. "The muggles have a saying, 'Laughter is the
best medicine'. I thought it would help."
As she worked, she said, "We have it too, but it's
potion instead of medicine. And, you were right."
Once ready she stood to his side and said, "I need
you to lie still. The better you hold still, the more
accurate the scan."
"Yes, oh great and wonderful Healer lady," he said. "I
am but your―"
"Shut up!" she distractedly snapped.
Harry shut up.
As he watched her she had her wand over his feet and
was slowly casting as she moved up towards his
knees. As she paused there a moment she glanced to
the auto-quill and parchment for a moment before
continuing. Her gestures now seemed more assured.
As she worked higher she was frowning a little and
Harry saw when she paused a little at his left knee.
That was the one his uncle Vernon broke when he was
little. Her frowned deepened a little before her
expression suddenly switched to closed off. Then the
casting began to again travel 'up', with her gestures
almost subtly a little more firmer.
When her gestures reached his hips and hands her
expression darkened as she cast extra over both his
hands. Her eyes were flashing with anger again and
she'd started to purse her lips.
She stopped when she reached his inside right
forearm and appeared shocked to her very toes. It was
where the basilisk bit him. She quickly cast a rapid
series of charms over the area, paused, checked the
parchment, looked him in the eyes and moved on.
Since telling him to shut up she'd not said a word;
either by incantation or conversation.
As she continued to move up her eyes were again
thunderous with her making even firmer wand
movements. Harry could now see her grip on her
wand was almost white-knuckled.
Finally she reached his head. A flick of her wand and
his glasses vanished. And she was carefully scanning
his eyes. Then she moved up to the scar.
Almost instantly she froze. And Harry saw her
expression, at first puzzled, suddenly morph into fury.
She whirled to and stared at the parchment as the
quill wrote upon it.
Once the quill stopped she stared at the parchment
for a long moment before she suddenly spun back
and very quickly cast a series of long wand
movements over his scar again. Harry even felt his
scar prickle a little when she did that.
She took half a pace back and let fly with loud
invectives. "I'm going to kill that whiskered fucking
arse. Just he wait until I get my hands on him. Dead
man walking, he is!
"That's it!" she declared, spinning about and starting
to head for the door. "I'm gonna rip his fucking beard
off and strangle him with it!"
As it became clear Andi was storming out, ready to
carry out her 'deed' right at that moment, Harry
muttered a quick, "Shyte!" quickly scrambled off the
table and made to chase after her.
By the time he got to his feet, she'd already gotten the
door open and was crossing the landing heading for
the stairs.
"Help!" he yelled, running after her.
"I'm gonna practice all those Black curses on him I
was taught growing up!" she declared. "Fucking
geriatric, brain-addled―"
The top of the stairs was as far as she got before
Harry tackled her by way of his right shoulder into her
waist and carried her the extra two paces along the
landing, to then slam her by her back into the wall
next to the twin doors into the master bedroom.
He'd just accomplished that when he heard feet
thundering up the stairs.
"Let go of me, child!" Andi practically screamed at
him. "Dumbledore needs to die and I'm the one who's
going to have the privilege of doing it!" She was
weakly beat on him and kicking him a little, though
half-heartedly.
"Not going to happen, Andromeda," he loudly
declared, weathering the thumps and kicks she rained
on him and just holding her in place.
"What the hell?" said Wendell.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 129
"Help me stop her!" called Harry. "She wants to go kill
Dumbledore!"
"Ummm..." said Wendell.
"Andi!" exclaimed Ted.
"Andromeda Venus Tonks née Black!" Sirius suddenly
barked. "Heiress Primary of the Noble and Most
Ancient House of Black!..."
Harry felt Andi suddenly freeze in place.
"... You will cease this unworthy behaviour,
immediately, and CALM DOWN!" continued the firm
and loud voice of Sirius.
"My Lord!" she immediately returned. "Yes, My Lord!"
Harry then felt Andi relax a little where he was holding
her and her hands then come to rest on his upper
back, side by side.
"Alright, Pup," said Sirius. "You can release her, now."
Harry hesitated a little before he slowly relaxed his
grip on her about her waist. He felt her drop about
four inches to the floor when he did so. He had no
idea he had her up off her feet.
Thankfully, to him, she didn't try to suddenly attack
him or break past.
Once Harry backed off a pace and a took a step to the
side, Sirius asked, "Now, Andi; what happened?"
She suddenly tensed and began trying to both yell
and choke on her words at the same time.
"Andi!" cried Harry. "Healer's Oath!"
She instantly stopped, took visible control of her
emotions again and more calmly replied, "I'm sorry,
My Lord; I am not permitted to tell you due to my oath
as a Master Healer."
Turning to Harry, he asked, "Lord Potter?"
"She found something that both horrified and angered
her to do with my scar," he replied. "However, she was
clearly quite upset about something even before that."
Sirius glanced between the two and asked, "Harry, can
you permit Andi to tell me? It'll require your verbal
assent."
Harry looked around at basically everyone, even all
three aurors who were standing on the landing with
them, and replied, "In private." Then gestured to his
bedroom and said, "Back in my room. Just us three."
Sirius gave a firm nod and said, "Fair enough."
Turning to look at everyone else, he declared,
"Alright! Fun's over! Harry, Andi and I will be down in
a few minutes."
Wendell was the first to react. He turned to everyone
else and said, "Alright, folks; this is now an issue of
private medical information and none of us need to
know. Back downstairs, please." Then started shooing
people down.
Harry heard Hermione put up a bit of complaining
about how she told Harry what had been done to her,
but she obeyed.
One of the aurors held back and repaired the wall
where Harry had rammed Andromeda into it. It had left
a 'dent' in the plasterboard.
As Wendell was following everyone else down,
making sure they didn't stop and try to come back up
again, Harry walked back into his room. He wanted to
know what that parchment said, especially the last
couple of lines.
Without touching it or the hovering quill, he read,
'Soul fragment. Possible attempted possession.
Possible Horcrux ritual. Identity: Tom M. Riddle.'
'Oh, shit!' he thought.
As he heard Andi and Sirius come in he whirled to
them and said, "Close and lock the door. And throw
up your best privacy wards."
As Sirius gave a nod back and turned to do just that,
Andi said, "Step away from that, Lord Potter. Most of
that you won't understand, anyway."
As Harry moved away from it, Andi deactivated the
quill and set it aside. Then she picked up the
parchment and re-read at the least the bottom of it.
With a sigh she leaned back onto Harry's desk and
waited until Sirius had finished with the wards.
Once he was done, he turned back with a very
concerned look on his face.
"Alright," said Harry. "Master Healer Tonks, I, Lord
Harrison James Potter, hereby give you my
permission to tell Lord Sirius Black what you
discovered while examining me. As I say, so let it be
written."
With a muted flash between Harry and Andi she
relaxed even more.
"I'll start with the worst," she said. "Harry has a soul
fragment embedded in the skin or against the cranium
behind that scar of his.
"I'm unsure if it's because of an attempted possession
that failed and then left the fragment behind, or if it's
because someone tried to make his scar, for whatever
reason, into what's known as a Horcrux."
Sirius gave a major start of shock and drew a gasp.
Visibly getting himself under control, he looked to
Harry and asked, "Remember when I told you about
those... 'artefacts'?"
Harry nodded.
"They're called Horcruxes," replied his godfather. The
man was looking quite grim.
Harry closed his eyes and propped himself against the
examination table. "Damn!" he firmly muttered.
"You've come across one of these before," said Andi
to Sirius. She worded it as a statement, rather than a
question. "How?"
"I can't tell you that," replied Sirius. "People we don't
speak about have me under an oath of my own."
"But, you clearly know what one is," she said.
He nodded.
"The identity of the fragment is a give-away, too," said
Harry. "Tom M Riddle."
"Oh, bloody Hell!" Sirius muttered while screwing his
face up in emotional pain.
"You know him?" asked Andi.
"Yeah," said Harry, when it didn't look like Sirius
would. "Tom Marvolo Riddle is the birth name of the
one everyone refers to as 'You-Know-Who', etcetera."
Andi blurted in horror, "If that's the case, then―"
"Then he's still... 'out there'," Harry completed. "Yeah,
he is."
He waited a bit. And, when he saw that she'd
processed that, he said, "That's how he came to be
possessing Quirrell in my first year and a first year
Gryffindor student in my second."
"Andi," Sirius gently called to her. "No one must
know! Those who don't speak have made this subject
an Official Secret of Wizarding Britain."
"Bugger that!" she exclaimed. Glancing at Harry she
looked back at Sirius and declared, "I'm getting that
thing out of him!"
Sirius declared right back, "You'll get no argument
from me on you doing that!"
"Me neither," said Harry.
"The question is, how?" asked Sirius.
"That's my job," said Andi. "I happen to know the
cursebreakers of Gringotts come across them
occasionally; and very occasionally one of them
manages to get him or herself possessed by one.
"I'll contact one of their Master Healers, who I know
has already dealt with one such case and find out how
he got rid of it. We'll find a way."
"Sounds like a plan," said Harry. "I'm happy with that."
Looking to Sirius he said, "This is one of those...
artefacts... I'm not going to be telling the
Unspeakables about."
"I don't blame you and neither am I!" Sirius
vehemently shot back. "They're just as likely to toss
you through the Veil of Death than try to find a way to
get it out of you."
Harry nodded and said, "Right. We have a plan for
that." Turning to Andi he asked, "What's next on the
Healing Harry Potter Programme?"
"That circle-shaped scar on your upper right forearm,"
she replied. "How?"
"Basilisk bite from a one thousand year old basilisk
out of the Chamber of Secrets, followed by three or
four tears willingly provided by a phoenix dripped
directly into it about three minutes later," he
immediately replied.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 130
"Then there's not much I can do about it," she said.
"Nor, I think, do I want to.
"The basilisk poison, neutralised by phoenix tears,
has now provided you a significant level of protection
against most poisons which are a venom or contain a
venom of some form - snake, dragon bite, spider,
doxie, you name it. However, for that protection you'll
have to put up with the scar."
Harry nodded and said, "Then I'll keep the scar; it
doesn't bother me. Next?"
"I also need to update your medical files to include
how you're now protected against such. There are
some healing potions that contain a venom of some
form; which means those potions will either not work,
will be diluted or will be contra-indicative... will work
against... your health."
"Fair enough," he said. "Next?"
And they worked through it.
Andi had initially thought they'd only need a half hour.
In the end, they spent over an hour, closer to an hour
and half, on Harry's medical issues before returning
back downstairs.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
When they came back down, Wendell asked, "That
bad, huh?"
Harry shrugged and smiled back. "It looks like I'm
going to be on quite a few potions for a while."
"Quite a few?" asked Sirius. "Harry's going to be
carrying around his own mini-apothecary for a while.
Then reached out and ruffled his hair.
Harry sheepishly grinned back.
Hermione, no longer able to contain herself, asked,
"What was all that about earlier?"
"Hermione!" her mother instantly scolded her, but the
girl appeared defiant.
"There's some dark magic associated with my scar
that Dumbledore should have had removed
immediately after he had Hagrid pick me up from
Godric's Hollow," he replied. "I'm lucky in that it's
remained contained there."
Indicating Andi, he continued, "Andi got upset
because it might well have not. And, if that was the
case, it might have caused me great harm."
Andi gave a snort and muttered, "Damn that goatraping buggerer, Dumbledore."
That's when Harry noticed Nymphadora Tonks was
there, too. He hadn't noticed her before because she
was in auror uniform.
"Tonks!" he exclaimed. before he noticed Ted and
Andi also look at him. "I-I mean... Nymph-"
"Don't you dare say it, Lord Potter!" she barked.
Harry heard Andromeda sigh and exasperatedly say,
"Really, Nymphadora!"
The girl appeared to sulk a bit, but glared back. Harry
was instantly reminded of Hermione. It was the same
look Hermione had just given when she was being
defiant with her own mother.
"Well, I just can't call you 'Tonks'," he replied. "Not
considering the company we're in. Nym or Dora?"
"Dora," she sullenly muttered back.
"Dora, it is!" he declared. "So, what brings you here?
Are you one of our on-site aurors, this evening?"
Before she could respond, Monica replied, "No, Harry.
You miscounted."
Turning to her he asked, "Hunh?"
"You said eight for dinner?" she smirked. "Try
counting."
Harry immediately counted heads and realised his
mistake - three Grangers, him, the two Tonks adults
and Sirius; that made seven.
"Oops!" he sheepishly returned. "I overcooked again,
didn't I?"
"When we found out Andi and Ted's daughter would
be home on her own - and being reminded of just how
fast magicals can get about the place - I invited her,"
she explained.
"I've heard about your cooking," said an eager Tonks.
"I'm looking forward to it."
"Well, we're late to sit to eat," said Harry. "If everyone
can move into the dining room I'll go to the kitchen...
Dobby suddenly popped in, looking at Harry. "Dobby
already be serving, Master Harry."
Harry looked at him for a moment before he turned
back and said, "As I was saying, if we can all move
into the dining room..."
That had people chuckling.
And Dobby popped away again, with a satisfied smirk
on his little lips.
------------------------------------
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