Chapter 7 - Through Hell and Uncertainty
Harry's night had not been as peaceful as it had been the past few nights. His dreams started tranquil enough with him and Ron playing wizard chess, until things started to get weird. The scene changed to Hermione yelling at him for no apparent reason, and he was startled to find that he was laughing at her. Then, the scene changed again. Harry felt he was riding his firebolt laying down and for some reason he couldn't sit up. He tossed and turned countless times in his sleep.
Someone shaking him roughly rudely awakened Harry. Harry was startled as he opened his eyes, by Kinglsey standing over him, with his index finger over his lips, signalling him to be quiet. Kingsley gave Harry some clothes and signalled him to quickly get dressed and meet him downstairs. Harry nodded, and did as he was told. He dressed while he looked around the room and saw there was no trace left of wrapping paper or his presents anywhere in the room. While that was strange in itself, Harry brushed it off by assuming Dobby had come up and cleaned a bit.
As he walked towards the stairs, Harry noticed Ron was still snoring loudly, and the door to Ginny's room was still closed. He'd have wanted to say goodbye to them, especially to Hermione, but this was no to be. He closed the door behind and walked quietly down the stairs.
He checked that he had his wand with him and realized that he wasn't wearing his own clothes. Kingsley had given him some pants, a shirt and sweatshirt which Harry automatically thought were his. Now he saw that they were all black and the material was odd. He found the fabric to be thick, but extremely light and comfortable. He found Kingsley and Moody waiting for him at the base of the stairs.
"Took you long enough," Moody grumbled. "Follow me, Potter," he said, walking out the front door.
Harry followed Moody outside while Kingsley fell in behind him. It was still dark outside, so Harry figured he had only gotten a couple of hours of sleep. Sighing in recognition of being unable to do anything about it now, he looked around and remembered that he had forgotten his things.
"Where's Dobby?" he asked Moody.
"Who?" Moody asked, still walking forward and not turning to look at Harry.
"Dobby, as in my house-elf," Harry pressed on, getting an uneasy feeling.
"Oh, right," said Moody offhandedly, "I sent him ahead with your things."
Harry wondered at Moody's choice of words. He really didn't know him that well, but he just simply couldn't picture Moody talking like that. He turned to look at Kingsley who had apparently not heard a word of their conversation.
"Thanks for the gift," Harry told him.
Kingsley eyed him curiously but then recovered quickly, with a smile.
"I'm glad you liked it," he said simply.
Harry was feeling strangely anxious.
"It was really a surprise to get a gift from you," Harry prodded.
"Yes, well," Kingsley continued awkwardly, "it was just something I give to every kid your age."
Harry stopped for a moment and then continued behind Moody. Had he heard him correctly? Did Kingsley just say he got a first aid kit for every kid his age? More important he said he had gotten him the gift. There was no mention of Tonks anywhere. Tonks had already gotten him a gift in the past, so it would not be as surprising to get one from her, but from Kingsley? Harry knew now something was wrong, and there was only one way to find out what. They were almost at the edge of the wood, when Harry spotted a large rock to his left. It was now or never.
"So, what's Voldemort been up to?" he asked.
He saw Moody shudder in front of him at the mention of Voldemort.
"Stupefy!" screamed Harry, blasting the fake Kingsley that was behind him and jumped behind the bolder.
The fake Moody turned around surprised to see a fallen Kinglsey. As he knelt down beside his fallen comrade, Harry took his chance and rolled from behind the bolder.
"Stupefy!" he yelled.
The fake Moody didn't dodge the bright red spell in time. Harry rolled back behind the bolder, and then he peaked out form his hiding place to look for the stunned corpse. There was no corpse, just a wisp of smoke a stick that looked like a wand. Harry was confused as to what had just happened but decided that getting to safety had a higher priority. As he began to think on what he was going to do or where to go, the darkness turned to brightness, as if someone had flicked on a light switch.
A soft clap could be herd from above. Harry turned quickly to see smiling Tiani and a grinning Moody, both sitting on a cliff above him.
"Impressive, Potter," Moody complemented, "while slow and far from perfect, you eventually figured it out. Things are never what they seem."
Moody walked down towards Harry who was clearly angry with Moody for having him go through another of his "tests".
"If you're angry at me now, Potter," Moody spat, "get used to it. I'm not here to baby-sit you or to make you believe that there aren't harmful things outside waiting for you."
Harry breathed in several times to calm down. He pocketed his wand and nodded at Moody.
"What is this place?" he asked quietly.
"This," answered Tiani, "is a training room."
"Room?" Harry asked unbelievably, he walked a fair distance from what he thought had been the Weasley's house.
"That's right," Moody said, walking over towards a tree as wide and tall as Hagrid. He tapped the tree with his wand and tree became a large, finely carved wooden door.
"I herd from Dumbledore that you found a room similar to this one at Hogwarts. You called a Room of Requirement, if I remember correctly," Moody spoke again, "this is similar to that one, only better. This room changes simply by thinking about what it is you need. There is no need to exit it, and there is no limit to its size. The people at the Department of Mysteries have spent decades looking for it."
"And you just happened to know where it was?" Harry prodded Tiani.
"Of course," Tiani answered, "I created it. This is the lion's den, where the cub shall learn and leave prepared. It is also a place that will help remember his past, giving him some of the time he needs. You see, in this place, time moves at different pace, slower and faster at the same time."
"What do you mean by that?"
"What he means, Potter," Moody said, motioning for him to near the door, "is that while we would only have had a month's worth of fun outside, here, we will have a year. Simply put, while we'll be gone for month from the outside world, in here, a year will have gone by. So like I said before, Potter, I'm not here to baby-sit you, so you have to make a choice, because I don't like to waste my time. You must decide whether to stay or leave."
Harry looked at the both of them and thought about what this meant. He would be locked in a room with paranoid wizard who was keen on blasting him and mysterious shaman he didn't know much about. While that in itself was disconcerting, he thought about the larger picture. He needed the time to train, he knew that, but it also meant he would be a year without contact to the outside world. He didn't even get to say goodbye to his friends, to Hermione.
"Not many people can survive under these conditions," Tiani spoke softly to Harry, "especially a man your age."
"It's not that," Harry said, "I'd have just wanted to say goodbye to my friends."
There was minute of silence that was broken by Moody.
"Well, Potter, what will it be? Are you ready to train or not?" Moody asked impatiently.
"No," Harry answered, "but I'm ready to try."
"Good lad," Moody said with a gruesome smile.
"Where do we start?"
"We'll start, Potter, by getting your body up to scratch," Moody began walking back towards where the house had been, motioning Harry to follow him.
The fake Weasley house was gone and in its place was a simple two story stone house. The house was in the middle of a huge field. Harry calculated a radius from the house to the surrounding wood to be about the length of a football field. Tiani was sitting in front of a blazing fire over to the left.
"That scrawny body won't support many hits," Moody barked, and then swiftly turned and punched Harry in the stomach making him double up and kneel on the ground grasping for breath. "See what I mean," he spoke down to Harry. "First Rule, always be on your guard. Constant Vigilance, Potter, remember that. I will be teaching you numerous rules Potter, the faster you learn them, the healthier you'll be. Now, pick yourself up and run five times around the edge of the wood."
"What?" Harry asked unbelievably, "You want me to run…" but Harry didn't get to finish. Moody had poked him hard on the chest with his staff and pinned him to the ground.
"Second Rule, I'm not to keen on having to repeat myself, or questioned for that matter. Like I told you before, this is not a vacation nor some little Nancy's tea party," he released Harry and helped him up. "Now, go to edge of the wood and run five laps around the house from there."
Harry neither said nor looked at Moody, he simply walked towards the edge of the wood, stretching his limbs as he went.
"This is going to worse than I could ever have imagined," Harry muttered to himself.
----------------------------------------------------
Hermione woke up in the middle of the night. She knew she should be asleep, considering how late it was, but something kept nagging her at the back of her mind that prevented her from doing so. She sat up and looked at Ginny who was breathing peacefully in her bed. She turned on her side and sighed, trying to find out what was wrong. She knew she had done everything she needed to do before going to bed. She had gone to the loo, brushed her teeth, and had sent Hedwig to her house with a note for her mum, telling her everything was okay. She covered her head with her pillow and screamed softly into it in frustration, thinking again and again what she could have possibly forgotten.
As the minutes went by and the blank ceiling was really getting boring, Hermione decided to get up and go downstairs for a glass of water. As she walked down the stairs, she smiled at how peacefully quiet the house was. The blissful silence was cut short by a loud snore she knew it had to belong to Ron. She laughed quietly as she pictured Harry with his head buried under his pillow, in a hope to escape the snores. She reached the kitchen and poured herself some water in a mug. While drinking, she wondered how Harry could sleep with that racket. She finished her water, washed the mug, and placed it back where she had found it. When she reached the door to Ginny's room, she looked up and saw that the door to Ron's room was open.
"No wonder," Hermione muttered to herself.
She looked at the door and a wild idea come to her. She had never really seen Harry sleep before. She had seen him sleep in the Hospital wing a few times, but this was different. This time she could actually see him sleeping comfortably. Hermione's wild side was taking over.
"A peek couldn't hurt, could it?" she asked herself. "I mean, it's not like I'm seeing him in the shower or anything. Hmm, there's a thought."
She slowly walked up the stairs, stopping slightly halfway.
"Gryffindor courage, don't fail me now," she encouraged herself.
She reached the landing and squinted as she looked around the room. There was little light coming in from the moon outside. She found Ron easily, using his snores to guide her. She looked over to Harry's bed and couldn't see him.
"Poor thing's probably buried deep inside his bed," she to herself. "He probably uses a silencing charm on his curtains in school to be able to sleep."
She walked into the room towards Harry bed. When she reached it, a cloud outside moved and the moon illuminated the room, shocking Hermione. The bed was empty, and Hermione began to panic instantly.
"Okay, relax, just relax," she muttered hysterically to herself, "he's probably at the loo."
She rushed out of the room as quietly as possible towards the bathroom. She was moving quietly on purpose because she didn't want to wake the whole Weasley household, not yet at least. She reached the loo, finding the door to be closed. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door softly. Her knock pushed the door open, revealing a dark and empty bathroom. Hermione didn't care anymore about being quiet and ran back up to Ron's room.
"Ron! Ron, get up!" she screamed.
"Huh? Um, what?" Ron blubbered sleepily.
He rubbed his eyes and spotted Hermione, "Hermione!" he yelled. "Don't scare me like that. You got the wrong bed, Harry is in…" his voice trailed off as his eyes cleared and saw the scared look on her face. "What's wrong?"
"Harry," she answered, beginning to cry, "He's gone!"
"Gone?" Ron asked incredulously.
Ron was about to start reasoning with Hermione when they both heard a door close downstairs. Hermione ran down the stairs with Ron at her heels. They met Bill at the bottom of the stairs.
"Where is he?" Hermione demanded.
"Wow, Hermione," Bill said, giving her a proud smile, "your good. Harry's lucky to have you."
"I asked you a question!" she retorted, taking no heed of Bills complement.
"He's gone," Bill answered simply. "Left a few minutes ago, as a matter of fact."
"Harry wouldn't leave without saying goodbye," Hermione said confidently. "I know he wouldn't, would he Ron?" she finished looking at Ron.
"No, or course not," Ron said agreeing with her immediately.
"I'm afraid he didn't have much choice in the matter," Bill said, walking over to the kitchen and pouring a cup of tea for himself. "Mad-Eye wanted to begin right away."
"So? That still doesn't explain why…"
Hermione was cut off by Bill's outstretched hand, signalling he wanted to speak.
"Moody used to do this with the aurors he trained," Bill began, "he would levitate the aurors out of their beds in their sleep, transporting them to the training facility. That way, Harry's training will begin the moment he wakes. Constant Vigilance, remember."
"Bugger," Ron said.
Hermione walked over to the kitchen table and sank into a chair. She put her face in her hands and sobbed quietly. Bill knelt beside her and gave her a hug, the type of reassuring hug that only a big brother can provide.
"Hermione, I'm sure he would have said goodbye had he gotten the chance. Don't worry too much, though, the month will pass faster than you know it.
"It's not that," Hermione said weakly, "I wanted to give him his present just before he left. Oh this is all my fault! I wanted to drag it out; I wanted him to ask me for it. Now he'll think I probably forgot to get him something."
"Hermione," Ron said, taking a seat next to her, "we both know he won't think that."
"I know," Hermione, said, nodding her head, "it's just that now he won't have anything to make him think of me. I know it sounds selfish, but what if he forgets me? What if…"
"Hermione," Ron interrupted forcefully, "your not an easy witch to forget. Just trust me on this Hermione, no matter what happens in Harry's life, you will always be in his thoughts."
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Severs Snape was limping painfully through the halls of Hogwarts on his way to the dungeons. He had just come back from a meeting with Voldemort and his Death Eaters, and to say that the "master" had been angry was a huge understatement. Voldemort's plans were not going as smoothly as smoothly as he had hoped. Of all the creatures that Voldemort had wanted to rally to his side, only the Dementors had fully joined him. The giants were still fighting amongst themselves and the goblins were strangely silent and distant.
Of course, all of these problems paled in comparison to the biggest thorn in the Dark Lords backside, Potter. The blasted boy had escaped him yet again. Year after the year, failure after failure, the Dark Lord was loosing face, not only with the world around him, but with his loyal followers as well. Every minute that Potter lived, was a constant reminder to Voldemort that he still couldn't eliminate a simple boy. Potter was growing stronger and wiser with each day, and Voldemort reckoned that taking candy from this baby was going to get harder the longer he allowed Potter to live. Because of all of this and more Voldemort vented his frustrations like any other leader who refuses to find a fault within himself, but more importantly, loves to blame others, by torturing his followers.
Snape reached his office and entered it quickly, closing the door behind him. He sat down painfully in a chair behind his desk and turned to simmering cauldron that was sitting in front of him. He had expected to get tortured at that meeting, seeing as how Voldemort had already punished all of his other followers that had gone to Department of Mysteries.
"You failed, Severus," Voldemort had said, "you failed by allowing Potter to bring his companions."
"Master," Snape spoke in his defence, "I allowed Potter to go your trap without the help of any of the staff. I didn't think it would matter that five children…"
"Crucio!" Voldemort spat angrily, torturing Snape before he could remind Voldemort that children beat his Death Eaters.
Snape drank a goblet full of the potion he had left for himself and tried to relax, but that was not to be. Just as he was begging to feel a bit better, his fireplace erupted in green flames and the headmaster's head was there.
"Severus?" Dumbledore inquired, "Ah there you are. Are you all right? I could get Madame Pomfrey to…"
"Thank you, headmaster," Snape answer coldly, "but that won't be necessary. I left a potion ready for myself in anticipation of what was to come."
"Very well Severus, as you wish," Dumbledore conceded, "There are several things that I would like to discuss with you. Could you come up to my office?"
"Yes, headmaster," Snape said in his usual tone, "I'll just change and be there shortly."
Dumbledore's head nodded and with a pop disappeared. Snape changed quickly and flooed to Dumbledore's office, he figured that the sooner he got the meeting over with, the sooner he could get some rest.
"Ah, Severus, may I offer you some tea?" Dumbledore greeted cordially.
"If you don't mind, headmaster, I would like to get some rest. Could we just get to reason why I'm here?"
"Well, as you know it has been a week since Harry's departure. It has recently come to my attention that…"
Arabella Figg's head suddenly appearing in his fireplace interrupted Dumbledore.
"Dumbledore!" Mrs. Figg yelled, panic stricken.
"Arabella, what is it?" Dumbledore quickly inquired, getting to his feet.
"Dementors, Dumbledore, Dementors here in Privett Drive!" she yelled rapidly.
"What?" inquired Snape in loud voice.
"Remus is outside trying to ward them off, but there are hundreds of them out there, he needs help!" she pushed on urgently.
"I'm on my way," Dumbledore interrupted, "Severus, we will talk later, get your rest," and with that, he held on to Fawkes' tail feathers and was off.
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Harry finished running his daily laps around the house. At first it had taken him hours to run five laps. He was up to fifteen laps now, and he could finish without collapsing on the floor. Harry had now idea had long it had been. There was no real way to tell time, considering that they controlled when it was dark and when it light. What he considered to be his first weeks were horrifying. Moody was certainly keeping to his word and not holding anything back. Harry was running, swimming, hiking, and going through a gruelling, ever-changing obstacle course, every single day.
When Harry had considered he would get trained, he imagined it would involve a lot spells and charms. To this day, he had not performed a single bit of magic. He had asked Tiani about this since the old man hadn't moved from the spot in front of the fire since they arrived.
"The stronger wizard, does not necessarily win," Tiani had told him without looking away from the fire, "Before the lion is ready to attack, it must learn to defend. You need speed of hand. More importantly you need speed of mind. A lion is difficult to kill not only because of its powerful offence, but also because of his intelligent defence."
"Hagrid is a hundred times stronger than Snape, but I doubt he could beat Snape in a duel," Harry added, confirming what Tiani was telling him.
Tiani smiled and conceded "True, but strength isn't always measured physically, as you will learn soon enough."
Harry had groaned in defeat.
Moody walked over to Harry carrying a towel over his shoulder and a glass of water. Harry had expected to be treated dismally during his stay here, but although Moody was tougher than any drill sergeant in the world, he still treated Harry as a man.
"Well done, Potter," Moody complimented, handing him the towel and the glass of water, "that's your fastest time yet."
"Yeah, well, having that crup chase me a couple days ago made me faster."
Moody had told Harry that he wasn't trying hard enough and that maybe he needed an incentive. The incentive was simple; Moody strapped a piece of raw, freshly gutted gnome to Harry's waist. While disgusting, Harry couldn't see why this would make him run faster, other than the desire to get it done with to escape the smell. A Harry was halfway through his first lap, he herd a loud bark behind him. He turned to see a canine running full speed towards him. He ran with all his might and kept the dog always a few steps behind him. When he finished, he threw the gnome body into the woods, where the dog disappeared.
"Speaking of which, why haven't I seen him again?" Harry asked Moody.
"Who?" Moody asked back, dodging Harry's eyesight.
"The dog," Harry answered, "where is it? And who were the people that were pretending to be you and Kingsley when I first got here?"
"Well stop the clocks, the boy's finally beginning to ask questions," Moody growled at Tiani who didn't move. "Damn Potter, Snape said you were slow, but this was beginning to get ridiculous. It took you this long to ask and confirm that it was only the three of us."
"Three?" Harry asked incredulously, "then who those other guys? And the dog?"
"Those were your brujo's creation," Moody pointed to Tiani.
Tiani remained silent for a moment while Harry stared at him.
"So, Potter," Moody extracted Harry from his revere, "why didn't you ask about them before?"
"I don't know," Harry said looking around, "I guess I just assumed…"
Moody swung his staff behind Harry whacking him behind his knees, causing him to fall on the ground on his back.
"Ha! You assumed!" Moody barked. "Assumptions, Potter," Moody said carefully, "are the mothers of all screw up's. If you learn nothing else from me, learn this."
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Hermione was sitting on a picnic table outside the Burrow. It had been two weeks since Harry was taken to train. She was devastated at first, but got worried when she was experiencing a broad range of mood swings. She knew was sad because she didn't get to see Harry off, but there was something more than that. At the end of last year, Madam Pomfrey had given her several vials with potions to continue to take. She had also mentioned, that she try to stay as far away as possible from any stressful environments. This last bit of the nurse's advice she hadn't followed.
She contacted Madam Pomfrey two days ago, telling her that she had been in a highly emotionally and stressful environment and that she was experiencing mood swings. She got an answer an hour later telling her that Madam Pomfrey would be along shortly. Hermione's thoughts were interrupted by Ginny who sat next to her.
"Hi," Ginny greeted.
"Hello," Hermione said half-heartily.
"Feeling any better?" Ginny asked.
Ginny knew that Hermione was going through mood swings since the first thing Hermione did was ask Mrs. Weasley if it could be related in any way to her period. Mrs. Weasley had dubiously told her that, while it was typical to be emotional while on your period, only pregnant women experienced extremities in their mood. Hermione quickly reassured her that unless it had happened as an immaculate conception, she was sure that was not the case.
"A bit," Hermione answered Ginny.
They herd a door open and they turned to see Madam Pomfrey walking towards them.
"Do you want me to stay with you?" Ginny asked her.
"Thanks, Ginny," Hermione answered her with a smile, "but I'll be okay. Its probably nothing anyways."
"Okay, then," Ginny said, and got up and left back towards the house, greeting the nurse on her way there.
Madam Pomfrey reached Hermione and greeted her with a smile, instantly placing Hermione at ease.
"Hello, Hermione," Madam Pomfrey said. "Well don't look so worried child," she continued, seeing the look on Hermione's face, "it's not like I wasn't expecting to get a call from you."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, still with a heavy tone of concern.
"At the end of last term, after your little escapade at the Ministry," Madam Pomfrey began to explain, taking out her wand and beginning to examine Hermione, "you were in a very delicate condition. Although I don't know exactly what curse it was that hit you, I do know that if that man had been able to speak, it would have probably been fatal." She stopped examining Hermione and took out several different vials, dripping some of the contents of each into a wooden goblet. "Now, to help you heal, I needed to use some potions that are not recommended for use on young girls because of their side effects." At the mention of the word side effects Hermione tensed up. "Don't worry child, there's nothing wrong with you that can't be cured. You simply took a potion that made your body shift more of defences to heal its physical state while leaving you psychological state more vulnerable. In short, the only side effect is the mood swings."
"And how do I get rid of those?" Hermione asked, getting a bit more composure.
"Simple," Madam Pomfrey answered, handing Hermione the wooden goblet, "take this inside and drink it. It will make you sleep for the rest of the day, when you wake up, you'll be back to normal."
"Thank You, Madame Pomfrey," Hermione said, finally with a tone of relief.
"Don't mention it child," Madam Pomfrey said, tapping her hand on Hermione's head. "Besides," Pomfrey continued while putting her things away, "you'll soon be learning how to take better care of yourself, and your friends for that matter," she added pointedly, "this coming term."
Hermione nodded happily at the nurse and thanked her again. Madame Pomfrey put her materials back in her bag and disapparated, leaving a thoughtful Hermione alone on the bench. She turned to her right and saw Ron standing a few feet away.
"It's okay, Ron," she said, "You can come over."
"Are you sure it's okay?" he asked doubtfully, "I don't want to upset you again."
Hermione recalled how two days ago Ron was the target of her wildest mood swings, by snapping and yelling at him. It was a few hours afterwards that she realized what she had said and quickly sent an owl to Madam Pomfrey.
"I'm sorry, Ron," Hermione said, motioning for him to sit with her, "I shouldn't have blasted on you like that. There was absolutely no reason for me to blow up in your face like that, and for that I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Ron said, "I've gotten used to it over the years," he added with a smile. "You'd just never yelled at me like that before."
"I know," Hermione said, looking down at the goblet in front of her, "it was totally uncalled for. It's just that with everything that been going on, and the potions I had to take, I just got a little bit out of control. That's not an excuse or anything, but I'm sorry nonetheless."
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The Order of the Phoenix was all assembled on the kitchen of number 12 Grimmauld Place. Meetings were not unusual these days, but it had been a long time since Dumbledore ordered a meeting with the entire order. They were all huddled together because of the lack of room, but Dumbledore had insisted on using this room for the meeting. They were all talking amongst themselves until Dumbledore rose from his seat.
"Friends," Dumbledore began, "it is good to see you all, although it seems that a few of you have grown a little greyer since our last meeting." A thick nervous laughter sounded around the room, stopping as quickly as it started. "I understand that many of you are uneasy about meeting like this, but recent events force me to do so. To talk to us about this, I yield the floor to Remus Lupin."
Lupin got up from his seat and looked around.
"Thank you, Dumbledore. There are many things that need be addressed today, so I ask all of for you to bear with me while I get through all them. First, I would like to talk about a recent attack directed towards Harry. As some of you know, Dementors went to Privett Drive a few days ago. While we all know that the Dementors are back under Voldemort's service, the fact that a number close to fifty of them came to Privett Drive is a cause for concern."
"I was under the impression that Potter was safe while staying there," Emmeline Vance interrupted, "Are you saying that the wards are no longer holding up?"
"Last year there was also a Dementor attack in Privett Drive," Remus answered. "That attack was ordered by former undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, Dolores Umbridge. That attack was a few blocks from the house so we then thought that the wards didn't prevent the attack because of their distance from it."
"In plain English, Remus," Mundungus asked, "what are saying?"
"We believe that the wards don't work on the Dementors," Remus answered simply.
"And what leads you to believe that?" Elphias Doge.
"This," Remus held out a letter written on black parchment. "It was left inside Harry's house, nailed to the door that lead to Harry's room."
They all gasped at the mention of this.
"How?" Tonks asked, "How did they get through?"
"More importantly," Kingsley added, "how did they know which room was his?"
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Harry was finishing his run faster than he had ever done before. He had already begun spell work with Moody, something that proved to be an extraordinarily painful experience.
"I can't tell you how to dodge, Potter," Moody grumbled, as Harry lied painfully on the ground, "that's something that each person has to learn on his own."
"Couldn't we learn first with paintballs, or cushions or something?" Harry asked, trying desperately to sit up.
Moody didn't like Harry to take his time getting up, Harry had learned that with running and Moody constantly whacking him with his staff.
"Of course we could," Moody answered sarcastically, "and I guess we could also talk all about spells and what not. You could also hope for Voldemort to appear in a ballet recital surrounded by cherubs in pink leotards, but the chances of that happening are less than zero. I tell you Potter, sometimes…"
Harry sat up and Moody immediately tried to slap Harry's head, barely missing by and inch since Harry anticipated Moody's move.
"See," Moody said, "it took you a while but you learned. You are more alert than you used too." Moody offered Harry a hand to get up. He pulled Harry up stronger than Harry expected and received a crashing blow of Moody's knee into his stomach. "You still have much to learn, though. It's like educating a child," Moody spoke philosophically, "you can tell a child not to put his hand in the fire because he'll burn his hand, but the child will sooner or later disobey because he doesn't really know what a burn is. I say let him get burned, then see if the child is stupid enough to do it again."
Harry got up and looked at Moody. He had once thought to ask Moody if he had ever been married or had a family. After this, he hoped no child ever had to go through Moody's educational course. Well, maybe Malfoy. Moody limped of towards camp, while Harry fell back towards the ground. There, looking at the starry sky trying to forget about the pain in all of his limbs, he was reminded of the first time he cured himself.
The first night that Harry tended his wounds was almost a bigger disaster than his first training session. His first duel with Moody had given a broken arm and a deep gash on his left arm, all part of Moody's "painful education" plan. Harry thought he simply had to take a few potions and he would be okay for the next day. Harry was sitting down next to Tiani in front of the fire.
Harry was beginning to get more comfortable with sitting in front of the smouldering, four-foot blaze. They slept and had their meals here. Harry had asked why they didn't use the house. He found out why shortly after that. Moody had converted the house into his personal booby-trap central slash obstacle course. Harry tried to stay as far away from the confines of that house as possible.
Harry had lined up the potion vials in front of him, when Tiani called to him.
"Timomachitia pahtia, miztli?" Tiani asked Harry.
Harry looked at him with expectation. He remembered the meaning of a few words, like miztli meaning lion since Tiani called him that often, but Harry always needed a translation.
"Do you know how to cure yourself?" Tiani asked again.
"Not really," Harry answered, "I guess I would just take a potion and be done with it."
"Ah, youth, a wonderful thing, but wasted on the young," Tiani recited poetically. "Yes, simply drinking potions is helpful and practical, but basically unnatural."
"Yeah, well, I've bled a fair share and I need to be ready for more by tomorrow," Harry retorted, "so, natural or not, I'm taking some."
"Your fatigue and pain create your logs of anger and frustration," Tiani said mistily," but it is you who allows them to ignite."
Harry eyed him angrily and uncorked one the vials.
"I hope you know how much potion would be wise for you to take." Tiani said simply.
Harry had enough. He corked the vial and threw it angrily into his kit, cracking several of the vials but shattering none of them.
"No, I don't know what I'm doing!" Harry spat angrily. "Everyone believes I know what I'm doing because a prophecy named me the freaking saviour of the world! Well I've got news for you, I don't know everything, and I'm just trying to get by. All I've ever done successfully is get by."
"That is obvious," Tiani answered calmly, "if you knew everything, you wouldn't be here. My question to you is why haven't you asked for help?" Harry eyed Tiani questioningly, trying to figure out what to say. "You have this, what was it that American called it, a 'Me against the world' attitude. Sometimes, Miztli, the answers can be found simply by asking."
"So, how much potion should I take?" Harry asked, feeling a bit ashamed of his childish banter.
"Now let's see," Tiani said, grabbing the almost broken vial of Blood-Replenishing Potion, "this potion is derived from…"
"You couldn't have just told me, could you?" Harry said, smiling a little.
Tiani smiled back and answered.
"Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you'll feed him for a lifetime."
"You know, you and Hermione would get along great. What was that, another mystical Indian proverb?" Harry asked, taking a seat next to Tiani.
"Chinese, actually," Tiani answered, and began to teach Harry the basics of medicine.
--------------------------------
The meeting had adjourned and most of the members of the Order of the Phoenix had left. Dumbledore was sitting at the table drinking tea, deep in thought. Lupin was sitting at the table as well, still unable to understand what the findings of the meeting had been.
It was clear and proved by veritaserum that all had remained loyal to the cause. While some considered the test to be unnecessary, it was decided that everyone should participate.
"We can't risk to have another traitor among us," Lupin had mentioned strongly.
In the end everyone had complied and passed every test, which while that fact let some rest easily, others were still thinking the same question. It was Hestia Jones who voiced it.
"So, we now know that there is no traitor amongst us," she said. "If it wasn't us, than who?"
Murmurs went around the room, no one with a defining answer.
"We have to look at this from a privileged information context," Kingsley said, "besides us, who else has access to Potters address, and more importantly, who would know exactly which room was his?"
"You're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting, are you?" Tonks asked him, a bit alarmed.
"Yes, I am," Kingsley answered, "until we have more evidence, it is the only viable that we consider it."
"Could you please explain to us, non-aurors, what in the bloody hell are the both of you going on about?" Mundungus asked.
"He's suggesting," Tonks responded, with a tone that said that what she was about to explain was the most obvious thing in the world, "that one of Harry's friends has turned. That one of his friends is supplying You-Know-Who with details regarding Harry's life."
Muttering broke out in the room again. This time louder and mixed between those that agreed and disagreed.
"Preposterous."
"Inconceivable."
"A friend of his?"
"That is simply outrageous!" bellowed Mrs. Weasley, standing up looking furiously at everyone.
"Molly, calm down," Mr. Weasley urged her, tugging at her arm.
"Arthur, you know what that accusation implies? What it suggests? Our children are Harry's friends, his best friends! My children are no traitors!"
"Treason is only possible from those whom you trust," Remus mumbled, silencing the room completely.
-------------------------------------------
Harry was walking around the edge of the forest. Since Harry was improving, Moody had decided to take Harry for walks to discuss everything they had just seen, and what was there to be learned. Harry was surprised that Moody liked to take walks, considering his leg and all, but Moody just laughed it off. Moody only spoke when Harry realized something or asked out directly. Moody had rationalized that if he told Harry what he was doing wrong, Harry would never learn. Moody's School of Hard Knocks really knocked hard.
Harry had learned a lot from Moody. Putting aside the paranoid and blast-friendly wizard, he knew a lot about fighting, curses, and warfare. Moody had been very careful to distinguish between a battle and a war. To him, a fight was an unexpected run-in between two opposing parties. Warfare or battles, on the other hand, was the strategic and planned activity designed to eliminate your enemy.
"So has Voldemort been fighting or battling with me?" Harry had asked Moody.
"Good question, Potter," Moody said, smiling at Harry, "a little of both would be my guess."
"But," Harry said, shaking his head, "I mean, he's been planning to kill me since I was a baby."
"All I know for certain, Potter," Moody said, "is that nothing ever goes according to plan. Nothing."
Harry nodded silently.
"Potter," Moody said suddenly, "We haven't talked about what happened in the Department of Mysteries."
Harry bowed his head, thinking of Sirius.
"There's nothing to talk about," Harry said, still looking at the ground.
"Nothing to talk about?" Moody asked, "I'm not one for emotions Potter, but you have to let it go." Harry looked at Moody, "More importantly, you need to learn from it. Now tell me, what happened before we showed up."
"Well, I led my friends blindly into the Hall of Prophecies and we got cornered by Death Eaters."
"And how did you manage to escape them?"
"We blasted the shelves that held prophecies and the seers' imprints and they distracted the Death Eaters long enough so that we could escape."
"Clever," Moody said with a smile, "you improvised, adapted and overcame."
"It wasn't like it was planned or anything. I was able to stall long enough for us to get our shit together, after that, it was all automatic. We just ran for our lives, its not like we really knew what we were doing."
"Your enemy shaped your strategy, since it was his strategy that had to be thwarted."
"Running is no strategy."
"True. Still, to survive a group of Death Eaters that big and suffer no casualties, I'd say you had a damn good idea of what you were doing."
"We did have a casualty," Harry whispered, more to himself than to Moody.
"Potter, you really have to move on."
"I won't forget my past!" Harry yelled at him.
"Of course not. Learn from it. That's what life is, a constant learning experience to define what we should and shouldn't do."
Harry glared at him.
"Remember Potter, dwell on the past and you'll loose an eye," Moody said, pointing at his glass eye, "but forget the past and you'll lose both eyes."
Harry glare softened a little.
"Your brujo is waiting for you," Moody said, pointing behind Harry.
Tiani was, as always, was sitting in front of the fire. Harry had been anticipating this for a long time. He had recently shown burst of uncontrollable power. He first thought was "cool", closely followed from an eerie feeling, causing Harry to question himself if he could handle it.
"Sit, Mitzli," Tiani gestured to a spot beside him, "we have much work to do before we begin to use that power of yours."
Harry did as he was told and looked questioningly at Tiani.
"Your questions, while important, will be answered at their appropriate time. First we will talk and meditate."
"Meditate?" Harry asked incredulously.
Tiani laughed out loud, causing Harry's facial expression to look even more confused.
"Why is it that young people always, what's the term, 'freak out' when asked to meditate?" Tiani asked, still laughing.
"I don't know," Harry began to respond, but Tiani waved him off.
"Forget it," Tiani said, stopping get laughter and getting serious again. "Now, you have experienced several changes or bursts of energy on several occasions, am I right?"
"Yeah, I mean I didn't realize what I was doing at the time, it just happened," Harry answered.
"Yes," Tiani continued, "this was expected and gladly no one was hurt."
"What is it that I'm able to do, exactly?" Harry asked, feeling doubtful of wanting to have harmful, uncontrollable powers.
"You have an ability that hasn't been seen in over 800 years. Do you remember that what I told you about magic that day in your kitchen?"
"Something about magic being different, I think," Harry said, scratching his head.
"Very good, Harry," Tiani said with a smile, "I'm glad you were paying attention. Now like I said before, magic was more natural. What I mean is simply this." Tiani stood up and extended his hands towards a pile of logs was sitting behind Harry. Suddenly the logs began to float towards Tiani. Harry turned to look at Tiani and found him to not even be concentrated in what he was doing. The logs stood up straight and followed by doing some sort of strange choreography, dancing on top of the flames. Tiani sat back down and laughed to himself by seeing Harry's dumbstruck face. Harry recuperated a minute later.
"How did you do that?" Harry asked. "I mean, you didn't use your wand or anything. I though that wand less magic was a myth. Hermione once talked about it because she read it somewhere. From what I can remember, those born with magic can do some sort of wand less magic, but that talent fades as they grow."
Tiani laughed out loud again.
"I should very much like to meet this Hermione. Looks like she was on her way to discover one of the best kept secrets in wizard life."
"What do you mean?"
"You see, Harry, my order was created to protect the magical gift. That in itself proved to be a task of protecting it from itself. I am not the only remaining member of that order, we are still here, and will remain here, protecting it for as long as it lasts."
"I don't understand."
"In the beginning, magic was performed by people without the help of a wand. A wizard or witch could simply think of what it was they wanted and with a flick of their hand, it was done. It was simple, pure, and extremely innocent. Being able to do magic was a simple convenience. The problems came when, as with all things, that innocence was lost, and the lust for power became important. As with any society, problems arise, rules are made only to be broken, fought over, eliminated, and finally re-established. It's human nature, and it hasn't changed since the beginning of time. I sometimes wonder if it ever will. Now don't get me wrong me wrong, there's the good side of human nature as well: nobility, purity, innocence, charity, self-sacrifice, even courage in some cases, and love. Love is important. The problem is that those values are accompanied by their opposites: envy, greed, covetousness, and many other impunities. Maybe the Greeks were right about keeping Pandora's box closed, eh?"
Harry looked into the fire, trying to sort through all of this.
"So how come things aren't like that now?" Harry asked, turning to look at Tiani.
"Well, as with other things, people seem to enjoy finding a shorter and easier way to do things. A "technological advance" I think it's called. You see, the reason why the innocence of magic lasted as long as it did was because it was extremely difficult to perform. Simple transfigurations took a great deal of effort, and not everyone could perform them. Many died in the attempt of performing a spell by focusing incorrectly."
"Focusing incorrectly?" Harry asked.
"I'll explain in a moment. Now, when things started to get dangerous, an idea was struck to use magical properties from the most mystical creatures in our world in order to channel or tap easier into our magical gift in order to perform the spells. While believed a barbarism and a desecration of magic, the high council thought it best all around, and in the interest of safety, to go ahead with the idea. "
"So wands were made," Harry stated.
"Yes and no," Tiani answer, smiling for some reason. "It was a long and arduous process to get to wands. First, the correct animals had to be chosen, and for some reason, size also became an issue. How big? How long? What animal? What part of the animal? The questions were endless. As with many things, it was believed that the bigger, the better, and thus more powerful. So the first creations were staff's. From there it was debated that they were inconvenient to travel with so rods were made. To make a long story short…"
"To late," Harry muttered under his breath.
"…Wands were designed, and depending on the maker, depends the magical infusion, as well as the size and shape."
Harry was starting to doze of. He found all of this interesting, but sitting in front of a warm fire simply listening to someone else speak was making him drowsy. Harry had been nodding for a few minutes and suddenly realized that Tiani was no longer speaking. He turned to look at Tiani only to find him staring back.
"Have a good nap, did we?" Tiani asked.
"Sorry," Harry apologized, rubbing his eyes.
"Don't worry about it. I was wondering how long it would take you to doze off," Tiani said, getting a confused look from Harry, "and since you listened to all of my ramblings, I might be inclined to answer a few of you questions."
"All right," Harry said, "If wand less magic is possible, how come everyone bothers with wands?"
"Well as I explained before, it's not something that one can do easily. Children do it all the time, although they are unaware they are doing it. You see, the more mature the mind, the more clouded it gets. In essence, it believes what everyone else is conditioned to believe. That magic can only be done with the aid of a wand. There are doubters, or those that refuse to believe the established, or that something is simply impossible. They have wasted their lives trying to achieve wand less magic, and while some have succeeded in the ability to perform a simple charm, they all stop there. None has ever had the proper focus."
"You mentioned that earlier," Harry said.
"Yes I did, and that is one of the reasons I am here."
"Meaning?" Harry asked, starting to get impatient.
"Meaning, you impatient sod, that I will try to teach the proper way of focusing." Tiani saw Harry with a stupid look on his face. "Simply put, I will teach the way to reconnect with the magic you have inside yourself, and how to use it to perform spells with the magic that surrounds us."
--------------------------------------------
Hermione was walking up her driveway. She was looking for her key when she remembered she had left without it. She wasn't sure she wanted to do this. She hadn't spoken to her father directly since the eventful drive home from Harry's. It was Ginny who had tried for days to convince her to go home and make up with her father.
"Hermione," Ginny said, "It's almost the end of the summer. If you don't make up with him now, it may be a year until you get that chance again."
"He's the one who should be apologizing," Hermione complained childishly, "I mean it's not like I did anything wrong. Harry's a sweet, caring, educated boy. It's not like I'm dating Malfoy or anything. I mean he took the news of Viktor a lot better, considering he was older, foreign, and wanted me to spend time with him alone when I was fifteen."
"Yeah, well, he probably saw that you didn't really like Viktor that way."
"Meaning?" Hermione asked irritated.
"Oh come on, Hermione, everything from your voice to your stance changes when you talk about Harry. Your parents knew, maybe even hoped, that you would end up together sooner or later."
"Then why won't he let me see him? If he has listened to me talk about Harry so much, and, according to you, knows how I feel, then why the anger and the prohibition?"
"He probably just got carried away with the whole, overprotective parent thing, Hermione. I mean, no offence or anything, but any parent would fear for their daughter's safety knowing that her boyfriend is bad guy enemy number one."
Ginny had a point but it hadn't convinced her. It was Ron who said the only thing that could have possibly changed her mind.
"I don't know about you, Hermione," Ron had said later that day when she had complained to him about Ginny's constant insistence, "but as of this year, I don't intend to leave any unfinished business. I mean, ever since we got to school, or more importantly, ever since we met Harry, we've had our fair share of near death experiences." Hermione was immediately angry and red faced but Ron interrupted her before she started to yell. "I'm not saying it's his fault, or that he dragged me along against my will," Hermione calmed down a bit, "Devil Snare and Life-size Chess pieces, our first year; Spiders for me and a basilisk for you our second year; Dementors our third year; a ball our fourth year," Ron said, smiling at her. "I still can't figure out how we survived last year," Ron said sombrely. "When you think about it, we shouldn't have. I mean I have never herd of five teenagers surviving an attack from twelve death eaters. Hell, I've never herd of a group of outnumbered aurors survive such an attack without loosing at least one person. Yeah, we trained up a bit, but we still ran like chickens with our heads cut off. We should have died then, but thanks to Harry, we didn't. We've been strangely fortunate all these years, and while I hope that our luck doesn't run out, I'm not leaving things undone. You shouldn't either."
They had remained quiet for about an hour when Hermione finally spoke.
"It's amazing that what a near death experience can do, huh?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well it took a fight with a troll to make us friends, and a run in with Death Eaters for you to get serious and teach me something." She gave Ron a warm smile. "Thanks Ron, I needed someone to put all this into perspective."
Hermione took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. It felt odd doing so, as if she were a stranger to the people inside. Before long, Hermione saw her mother open the door and quickly embrace her. Hermione was taken aback by her mothers hug, but she loved the feeling and the reassurance and love that came with it. The same one that only a mother can convey in a single hug.
"Hermione, dear, I thought we weren't going to see you until next summer," her mother told her still holding her in her arms.
"Me too," Hermione said truthfully yet sad, "I wasn't going to come around until then, well with everything."
Her mother ushered her into the house, as soon as she was inside, Hermione saw her mother reach for her purse and keys.
"I'm just going to the store to get a few things," her mother answered her unasked question, "your father is in his study, I'll let the two of you have some time to talk things over."
Hermione thanked her mother and headed for the stairs. Hermione's dad had his study located in the basement of the house. Hermione remembered how her father had once joked about it being his only "manly" sanctuary in women's household. Ever since she was little, she loved to go down to the basement and read in her fathers study. She had always entered without knocking or anything, she knew her father loved to company. Today she decided knock on the door for the first time.
There was no answer, so Hermione breathed deeply opened the door. Her father was sitting behind his desk in his leather reclining chair. There was a steaming cup of tea on his desk. Her father seemed to be lost in thought, looking down on something in his hands. He looked up to see Hermione standing in the doorway, making her even more nervous.
"Hermione," her father spoke breathed in a tone somewhere between surprise and relief, "what brings you around." Her father appeared to come out of his revere and look at her again, this time more alert and scared. "Is everything alright?"
"Not really," Hermione answered, entering the study and taking a seat in one of the cushy armchairs in front of the desk, "I don't like what our relationship has become."
Her father was taken about by her directness, he had expected that was reason she was here, he just hadn't expected to get right to it. Hermione, on the other hand, saw no reason why they should beat around the bush.
"I asked you a question last time we talked," Hermione began, speaking with a bit more firmness, "In case you have forgotten, I asked you what was it that made you so angry about me dating Harry. I was hoping to get an answer."
Her father looked at her for about a minute. He sighed an opened a drawer to his right and took out a thick file.
"Ever since I left you that first day at Kings Cross, I've been making trips to Diagon Alley. I had just left my daughter on a train to go develop a talent I knew nothing about, nothing real at least. At first I would just go when you would write about something that you obviously had interest in and I would go research it so that later, when you came home, we could talk about it and I would know a little about it. Like any loving parent, all I wanted to do was know a little about what my daughter was going to be with the dream and hope of maybe someday being able to support you in any that you needed. Two years ago, after your third year, I came across a discarded newspaper named the Daily Prophet. While I had herd you speak of it before, I saw that you had decided to not tell your mother about the dangers about your world."
Her father paused for a moment and took a sip of his tea.
"I wondered why you hadn't told us about it," her father continued, "so I gave you the benefit of the doubt, and as I hoped you would, you told us a little bit about your adventure and that Sirius Black was actually Harry's godfather who had been wrongly imprisoned. I wasn't very comfortable with knowing that your best friends godfather was a wanted man by the authorities, however, I have always trusted your judgement so I decided to keep quiet. Last summer, you let slip some information about Harry being abducted and witnessing the rebirth of this Voldemort and the death of a classmate. I was highly concerned about you being friends with someone who always seemed to be in mortal danger. So I decided when I left you at the train station to research your friends, find out something about them."
"You did what!" Hermione exclaimed. "If you wanted to know about my friends, why didn't you just ask?"
"Honestly, I don't know," her father said simply, "all I know is that I wanted information from a different source without you knowing yet. Now, I found next to nothing about your friend Ron, but I did find out a lot about Harry."
"Dad!" Hermione yelled, "I told you about Harry when you had just bought my first schoolbooks. I had told you about him even before I met him. What could you have possibly found out to make you change like this?"
Her father handed her the file. She opened it and found newspaper clippings that had obviously come from the Prophet. Hermione was about ready to explode.
"This!" Hermione screamed, "This is your source! You decided to believe the paper instead of me. I wrote to you and mum about this all of last year. I wrote about why the paper was doing it, and about Fudge being a dimwit. I sent you a copy with the real story, the truth, what Harry saw first hand. Now your telling that you would rather believe that he was an attention seeking glory-hound!"
"Frankly, I would prefer that were the case. Hermione I reacted the way I did not because I think Harry is crazy or imagining things. I reacted the way I did because I was scared."
"Scared?" Hermione asked, "Scared of what? Harry's the one who should be scared. He's the one with a mad and evil sorcerer chasing after him to kill him. He has ever since he was a year old."
"That is exactly why I am afraid," her father said quietly, "my daughter's best friend has a man who's after him with the intent to kill him. Worst of all, I know my daughter, so I know perfectly well that you have been beside him in every dangerous and potentially lethal activity Harry gets involved in. Hermione, I'm your father, more importantly, you're my daughter, and as my daughter I swore when you were born that I would always protect you, that I would always keep you safe. How do I that when I can't function in your world. Even worse, how do I protect you when you willing put yourself in danger."
"Dad," Hermione began, now in calmer tone, "Harry needs me. He will never say he does, in fact he will always do everything to do go on his own, but I've never let him. At first it was only because we were friends. Then it was because he needed it. Later it was because of who he was, and what he would face because of it. Now, it is just simply because I don't believe he can do it on his own, and will never let someone I love go alone to face something that is a lot bigger than anyone thinks or expects."
"I know that Hermione," her father said with a tired expression, "but how am I supposed to react when my daughter tells me she wants to get emotionally and romantically involved with a marked man. I've read about this Voldemort, so I know a little about what he is capable of. Do you know what kind of position you are placing yourself in? The target that you're hanging on your back? As soon as he knows that you are involved with Harry, he'll come after you! How can you possibly expect me to stay calm and collected when my own daughter is making herself a target." He took out his left hand from under the desk where Hermione saw a framed baby picture of herself in her father's arms. "How am I supposed to keep you safe? How do I keep my promise to you."
Hermione got up and ran around the desk to give her father a hug. She cried into her father's chest, a long therapeutic cry where all her frustrations and anger poured out. Hermione was not crying out of sadness, she was crying out of happiness, her father was once again acting the way she always believed he would act. After she calmed down a bit she separated a bit from her father and looked into his face.
"Daddy, I know you feel that you have to protect me," Hermione began, "but you to realize that this is not something that is going to blow over us. Even you and mum might be affected by it. Voldemort is out to take control, and if he succeeds, all muggles are in danger. You protected me for as long as you could, now it's my turn."
Her father hugged her again and kissed her on her forehead.
"Can't I just keep you with me, and try and see if it does blow over?" her father asked.
"You could, but it would only delay the inevitable. Yes, Voldemort is after Harry, but what I do know for sure, is that next to Harry is the safest place I could possibly be."
----------------------
Kingsley walked into Arrabella Figgs living room where Lupin was waiting for him. Lupin was looking thin and extremely tired, considering that the night before had been a full moon explained the appearance.
"You wanted to see me, Remus?" Kinglsey asked.
"Yes," Lupin answered weakly, "as you know, I will be in no condition to travel when they return. I am trusting you with Harry's safe retrieval and delivery to Hogwarts."
Kingsley studied Lupin for a moment.
"Why me?" Kingsley asked. "Don't misinterpret me, Remus, I flattered and honoured by your request, however you've known others from the Order for a lot longer than me. Based on that, why would you decide not to ask one of them instead?"
Lupin smiled at Kingsley's comment.
"Yes it's true that I've known many of the Order longer than I've known you, but I won't trust somebody I know very well with Harry's safety, I'll trust someone who I know can get the job done better or at least as good as I would. You know how to travel undetected and without drawing attention to yourself. For these and many other reasons, I ask this of you. Do you accept the task I ask of you?"
Kingsley stood up straighter than he already was and nodded his head towards Lupin in acceptance. Without saying another word, he walk out and disaparated.
-----------------------------
Harry was asleep, experiencing dreams that appeared to bring comfort to him. Moody and Tiani were seated at a distance, both looking at Harry sleep peacefully. Moody broke the melody that only a crackling fire could make.
"So what's the verdict, brujo? He going to make it?" Moody asked.
"Since the beginning of time, the ancients tried to define a foolproof way of defining a mans path. To know exactly what was to come. While many prophets can predict world changing events, none can fully determine what a man will do."
"I don't want you to prophesise anything, I'm asking for your opinion." Moody said back.
"It's to early to tell. We have helped him and given him a great advantage, but nothing is certain. His adversary is a difficult one, and Mitzli's allies have still to decide if they will fight or not."
"Of course we're ready, the Order of the Phoenix was created for that purpose!" Moody spat angrily, getting up and limping around the place.
"I'm sure it was, and while those are powerful allies, but they are not his chosen pack. In Africa, there is tribe of fierce warriors. They can rise from a deep slumber and be ready for battle in matter of seconds. While the entire tribe fights for the same ideal and purpose, like most armies, there is a captain for each faction. Mitzli will command his pack, just as Dumbledore will command his. Orders and commands form one faction to another will be respected, but in the end, the judgement of each captain will count more. We have prepared Harry for that, at least, as well as we could have within the time that was given to us."
"Are you saying that we should've brought Potter's lot here to train as well? They're children, most of them couldn't tell their head from their ass! Yes, five of them survived in the Ministry, but that doesn't mean they are ready to take an enemy head on. They were running, and managed to run just long enough to hand the battle over to us. They're not ready."
"There was once a young prince who led an army with the juvenile belief that he could expand his empire. As he left his hometown, many believed that they would never see the young prince again, for he was surely leading his men to their deaths. Later, news began to arrive home that the teen had conquered a neighbouring town. While no large feat, many rejoiced at the luck of the young man and hoped he would return home now that he was victorious. But the young man pressed on, leading his army onto the next village where he was yet again victorious. Before long, news arrived continually promoting the prince's victories and the perception changed about this young man. Maybe he wasn't such a push over. Maybe he knew what he was doing."
"I studied the Greeks and Alexander the Great as well, brujo, is there a point to your ramblings?"
"Yes, Alexander was just a child, a teenager, who knew how to inspire his friends who were in turn, his soldiers, his pack. Alexander was powerful and cunning, but even the fiercest general requires those that he trusts around him. Mitzli will need his friends with him, for they will be inspiration and the drive behind him."
"I still believe that you're suggesting to risk innocent lives," Moody said with a huff, "This is war for Merlin's sake! Not some stupid Defence Against The Dark Arts after school club."
"Yes war," Tiani agreed with a nod, "it concerns us all, but consider Harry's feelings in all of this. You think he can find the confidence and the encouragement he needs by spending his time with people twice his age, who will, willingly or not, second guess any opinion or idea he may have. No my tired friend, he needs to grow in his own environment."
Moody conjured a chair and sat next to Tiani, looking at the fire and thinking about what was said. He had to admit, Tiani had a very good point, all Moody had to do was think of Molly Weasley and the nail hit home. He now knew Tiani was right, he just wished he would have considered this before, to have left someone with the instructions to train, at the very least, Harry's prefect friends, who Moody knew as Harry's closest friends and who always followed Harry to the most perilous of situations.
-------------------------
Harry awoke peacefully the next morning. He was surprised that Moody had made no attempt to blast him or test him all night as he usually did. Harry figured that after Tiani finished training him on heightening his senses, there was little point. He sat up and prepared himself for his usual morning jog, we he turned to see Moody limping towards him.
"Glad you're up," Moody saluted in his usual manner.
"Don't worry I'm not slacking, I'm ready to go," Harry answered back.
Moody gave him his usual crooked smile.
"That's good to here," Moody said, "but unfortunately, there is no time. Our time here is up."
Harry nodded with understanding to Moody and began to pack up his things. When he finished he walked with Moody towards the large tree that he knew to be the door. As they walked, Harry looked at his hands.
"I don't think I'm ready," he said, more to himself than to Moody.
"That's because you're not," Moody said, "we didn't come here to get you ready, we came here to facilitate your readiness. The way you are now, you can face the Death Eaters and even Voldemort himself. As to the Death Eaters, you are ready to battle with some. In regards to Voldemort, you are prepared enough to defend yourself and others long enough until you can escape or help arrives."
"I guess," Harry said with a shrug. "I just wish I had more time, that all."
"Everyone does, Potter. Everyone does."
They reached the tree to find Tiani leaning against it.
"Why so sad Mitzli? I would have thought that you would be ready and eagerly awaiting to exit this place to have some peace and quiet."
"I would too," Harry answered, "it's just that, well, I don't know, can't I, or shouldn't I stay for another month here, just to be sure."
Tiani gave Harry his usual sage smile.
"There are several reasons why that can't happen Mitzli. First, the jackals that wait on the outside must not be alerted to any change so that you can be truly surprising when you face them. Most importantly, however, you cannot remain in this chamber for more than a month. It will seal itself for a year to reenergize itself for when it is called again to service. While a twelve-year period will surely leave you prepared, you must never forget what it is your fighting for, and for that, you must continue to live your life and fulfil the experiences that any man is privy to. If you were to remain here, you would lose your humanity, and that is something I will not allow."
Harry nodded, and looked at Moody.
Harry lifted his trunk and moved towards the tree that now had the door ready. He tapped the door with his wand and it opened. Harry was the first to exit followed by Moody and finally by Tiani. Harry looked around and found himself to be standing at the edge of a tall mountain. He turned back to see Tiani mutter a few words to the door as it closed and sealed itself, disappearing into the rocks.
"So what now, broom?" Harry asked.
"No," Moody said, "Where we are cannot be arrived by broom."
Tiani walked over to them and shook Moody's hand in an obvious sign of departure.
"Aren't you coming with us?" Harry asked, a bit confused.
"No Mitzli," Tiani said, turning towards him, "my task for now is completed. I will leave you here and watch through the flames how it is that you are faring."
"Will I ever see you again?" Harry asked, feeling sad about not having more time to get to know the old man.
"Perhaps," Tiani said, "Perhaps."
And with the incoming sore of winds that attacked the mountain they were standing on, Tiani disappeared.
Harry breathed deeply and turned to Moody.
"So where're we off to?"
Moody took a string of rope out from his cloak and watch a lot like Dumbledores.
"Hold on the end there," Moody signalled, "the portkey will be activated in a minute."
"Yeah, but where are going?" Harry asked again.
"Kings Cross," Moody answered, "It's time for you to return to school."
Harry smiled at the prospect, and with the familiar tug behind his neck, they disappeared.