A/N: thanks for the reviews!
Disclaimer: as always, I own nothing (except for my plot and the characters that I make up along the way).
Harry Potter and the Key of Serendipity
Chapter Four: Pandemonium, Part Two
Harry stood in front of the entrance to Quality Quidditch Supplies, his hand hesitant to grasp the tainted gold doorknob.
Had Hermione really gotten him a Firebolt 190?
He knew with both her parents being dentists, they had a rather decent amount of money. But to by him, a broom, the latest and fastest broom on the market, seemed a little surreal to Harry.
"Hurry up, Mate! You're gonna let me have a fly on it, right?" of course Ron had already assumed Harry's gift was indeed a Firebolt 190. No its ands or buts about it.
He could see Hermione rocking back and forth on her heals, her hands grasped together behind her back, seeming just as eager as Ron was for him to open the door.
Taking a breath, Harry wrapped his fingers around the doorknob; he twisted it and pushed it open, stepping through the threshold. He found himself being hurried up by Ron, who was eagerly pushing his body along.
"Ah, Miss Granger, I see you have retrieved your friend." The squeaky and aged voice sounded from the trio's left. All three turned around, and found a short and skinny wizard standing behind the counter, looking eagerly at their arrival.
Harry had visited Quality Quidditch Supplies many times before, but he couldn't seem to place a time when he remembered seeing Mr. Buckley.
"Hello Mr. Buckley. Yes, I believe it's time Harry receives his birthday gift." Hermione blushed slightly from Harry's stare. His emerald gaze seemed to be fixated on her instead of Mr. Buckley.
Mr. Buckley's gaze was plastered solely on Harry, "yes indeed, Harry Potter, it's a pleasure to finally see you in person."
Harry gave him a fake smile, knowing surely where this conversation was going; he had heard it too many times before. "It's nice meet you too, Mr. Buckley."
"Please, please, call me Gilmore. It seems like just yesterday when James wandered in here for the first time at the mere age of eleven."
"You knew my father?"
"Absolutely. Once he started attending Hogwarts, he would spend most of his summers in this very store, he had a part time job here; he was quite a responsible young lad. If it weren't for your eyes, I would think I was staring right at him."
Harry gave the man a sad smiled, besides his days at Hogwarts, nobody really told him much about his father's life before James' untimely death nearly fifteen years before.
"Well I suppose we should get down to the reason you are here. Miss Granger asked for my assistance on a birthday present for a friend and when I learned who this 'friend' was, I couldn't bare to turn her down." Mr. Buckley gave Hermione a small wink before disappearing beneath the counter and returning seconds later with what looked to be a rather weighted package in his hands.
Ron looked at Hermione insanely, "you got him a book!"
Hermione scowled at Ron's remark, feeling very self-conscious of how Harry would react to his gift. She smiled shakily at Harry, "it's not just any book. It's taken me about two and a half months to put it together, even with Mr. Buckley's generous help." She watched as Mr. Buckley handed it off into Harry's hands, and bit her bottom lip nervously, "Happy Birthday, Harry."
"Haven't you given him enough books? He could've really used a new broom, considering his mysteriously disappeared from Umbridge's office."
A loud crack had just sounded behind the three, soon to be Hogwarts sixth years, "I beg to differ, Mr. Weasley."
Ron let out a high-pitched yelp and spun around, he most definitely recognized the strict tone, "Professor McGonagall…err uh…" his ears now mirrored his hair.
"Minnie! So good to see you, again! It's been, what? Nearly six years?" Gilmore Buckley greeted his once-Hogwarts classmate enthusiastically.
Ron mouthed 'Minnie' in Harry's direction, for which he got a shrug in return. Harry was actually quite curious to see what exactly was in the book and why Professor McGonagall had showed up at Quality Quidditch Supplies.
Minerva McGonagall nodded curtly; not at all fazed by the name Gilmore Buckley had greeted her by, "yes, I suppose it has been nearly six years. I sincerely apologize for not keeping in touch, Gilmore."
"Nonsense, Minnie! If Harry here is anything like James, you've most definitely got your hands full!"
Ron snickered, that was definitely an understatement.
"Yes, well I really should get down to the reason I presented myself here. It actually has to do with you Mr. Potter."
Ron's eyes widened, "you're not going to take away his Quidditch privileges, are you?"
Professor McGonagall cast her stern glance downward at the red head, "not if Gryffindor wants a good chance at winning the cup this year."
Ron seemed appalled, "we won last year without him!"
"Indeed you're right, Mr. Weasley, but I rather not take those chances again this year. Would you?" Ron shook his head, "which brings me to the reason I am here. Gilmore, being a former Gryffindor seeker and Slytherin rival yourself, wouldn't you like to see us once again---"
"Beat their arses and utterly humiliate Malfoy and Snape!" Ron said enthusiastically.
"That's Professor Snape to you, Mr. Weasley…and that is one way to put it."
Harry thought for sure he saw the beginning of a small smile form on Minerva McGonagall's lips, almost in a Cheshire cat like way.
Gilmore Buckley chuckled and nodded, "ah, I see where you're going with this Minnie. The whole team has Firebolt 190s…and you want the same. Am I right?"
"Well we do have to keep up with the competition."
Harry snickered, "competition? With a seeker like Malfoy?"
"And a keeper like Bletchley!" added Ron, which caused Hermione and Professor McGonagall to roll their eyes simultaneously.
"He has James' ego when it comes to Quidditch skills, eh?"
Hermione didn't like this. "Harry doesn't have an ego! He's one of the most nice and down to earth people I know, don't believe what the Daily Prophet writes!"
Gilmore put his hands up in mock surrender, "just kidding there. You've got yourself quite a feisty one, there, Potter."
Both Harry and Hermione blushed slightly before speaking at the same time, "we're not a couple!"
Crossing his arms, Ron glared at Mr. Buckley, "aren't we supposed to be talking about brooms? You know, giving the whole Gryffindor Quidditch team Firebolt 190s."
"Not so fast Mr. Weasley, you don't even know if you're going to be on the team this year," spoke Professor McGonagall.
"What?"
"Honestly, Ron. There are tryouts every year. I barely pay attention to the sport, and I even know that!" Hermione said in her know it all voice.
Ron scowled at her, "well if you suddenly know so much about Quidditch, mind telling me who the new captain is?"
She crossed her arms and gave Ron a triumphant glare, "Harry."
"Harry?"
"Me?"
Professor McGonagall nodded, "yes, you." Harry didn't get it. He thought for sure Katie Bell would get the position; after all it usually did go by seniority. And besides, Professor McGonagall was not one to give the famous Boy-who-lived, special treatment. "Miss. Bell was my first decision, but she declined, the position, explaining she would have too much priorities with her upcoming N.E.W.Ts and her new Head Girl duties."
"Well you're going to give me the keeper position, right mate?"
Harry nodded, "yeah of course."
"Harry! You can't promise Ron the position, what if someone else tries out who is better than Ron." Hermione exclaimed.
"Excuse me! But I'm not that bad!"
Harry cringed: here comes another Hermione and Ron argument. He had to stop it before it started.
He turned to Professor McGonagall, "thanks for appointing me. I'll definitely have to send Katie an owl, thanking her, too."
Professor McGonagall nodded, "winning the Quidditch Cup would be a wonderful way of thanking me. And yes, you should thank Katie." She returned her attention once again to Gilmore, "so seven Firebolt 190s, Gilmore. Could you have them sent to Hogwarts and I'll send you the payment."
"No need to pay me. Think of it as a sponsorship towards the Gryffindor Quidditch team."
Within fifteen minutes the three exited Quality Quidditch supplies, not even noticing Moody, Charlie and Bill beginning to follow them again. Harry had completely forgotten their presence, until he heard the familiar rhythmic clunk of Moody's wooden leg.
"Bloody hell! Firebolt 190s! Can you believe it, Harry?"
Harry shook his head, trying not to lock gazes with Hermione's disappointed stare. She was still seemingly upset with Harry for automatically appointing Ron keeper without even weighing his options.
"We still have another hour to kill before we need to meet Mrs. Weasley at the Leaky Cauldron. Where should we go now?"
The three stood in the middle of the hustling and bustling Diagon Alley, Harry's eyes stopped at one of the few stores he had yet to enter. "How about he Junk shop?"
Ron raised a brow, "why in the name of Merlin would you want to go into the junk shop?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "I've never been there, before."
"I think we should go, too." Hermione agreed, "I've noticed while passing by that they have a huge collection of books."
Ron crossed his arms, "Percy got a book there, and look how he turned out."
"So are you saying if I purchase and read a book from the Junk Shop, I'll turn out like your backstabbing git of a brother, Percy?" Hermione's face was flushing with anger.
Harry stepped in, "that's not what he meant, right Ron?" Ron reluctantly nodded, "let's just go and get out of the center of Diagon Alley, people are starting to look at my forehead."
Once the three had made the rather long trek to the Junk Shop (the three member orders once again chose to wait outside, much to Moody's aggravation), Harry found himself walking away from Ron (who was busy looking at a stack of old editions of Sweeping the Air magazines) and to the other end of the small shop. It was one of the few places in Diagon Alley he had not gotten the opportunity to visit.
It sort of reminded Harry of the times his Aunt Petunia (not that she would ever admit it) had dragged him off during the day to flea markets. And it always amazed him; something that one person considered junk, another person considered treasure.
The little sun that had made its way through the old enchanted windows gleamed into the contents of a broken cauldron stuffed full of keys. One particular, rather large key caught Harry's eye. Upon picking it up for closer inspection, he caught sight of the Hogwarts crest engraved into the head of the key, it was barely noticeable from the beating it had taken from centuries of life, but it was visible, nonetheless.
"It's a worthless piece of rubbish, been sittin' there for years. Pay me a sickle and it's all yours."
Harry whipped around, his raven colored hair rustling at the sudden wind. The man chuckled, as Harry looked at him dumbfounded, "just a sickle?" The old wizard nodded and Harry Absentmindedly pulled a sickle out of his moneybag and placed it on the counter, "err-uh, thanks."
"A key? Why the bloody hell do you want a key?" Ron's voice spoke from over Harry's shoulder. Harry turned to his friend and shrugged his shoulders; he wasn't going to explain his reasoning to Ron in front of the shopkeeper. "Suit yourself, mate. Let's go find Hermione so we can get out of here."
For such a small shop, it took the two boys awhile to find the third member of the so-called 'trio'. But when they did, neither was at all surprised to find her deeply divulged in a book.
"You've bought at least a dozen books today, Hermione! And that's without counting the ones needed for school!" Ron exclaimed as Hermione finished paying for the book and left the shop, leading the way to the Leaky Cauldron. "If you're going to spend so much money, you should at least buy something you need! Like an owl!"
"I'm not getting rid of Crookshanks, Ron. So drop it." she pulled the heavy door open, not at all surprised to see Mrs. Weasley had yet to arrive, they were at least a good fifteen minutes early. She took a seat at the nearest empty table and sat her bags on the floor next to her chair. Harry followed suit, taking a seat next to her and pulling out the key he just purchased, while Ron went to order three butter beers.
Following close behind was Moody, his magic eye swiveling wildly and his wooden leg echoing as he walked up to the table Harry and Hermione now occupied. Harry quickly stuffed the key back into the confines of his robe pocket, all together forgetting the abilities of Moody's magical eye.
"Looks like a good find there, Potter."
Harry shrugged, "it just looked interesting."
Moody nodded, not at all believing the boy-who-lived. "Get all your school supplies." The two nodded as Ron headed back with three butter beers in his hands and talking eagerly with Bill and Charlie.
The group of six sat around the small round table, talking and sipping their butter beer when Harry heard the oh-so-familiar dreamy voice behind him.
"Hullo, Harry."
Harry turned and smiled genuinely at Luna Lovegood, "hello, Luna. Would you like to join us?" Ron's eyes widened and he nearly spit out his drink.
"Thanks, but no thanks. I just stopped by to congratulate you." Her eyes had now wandered to her favorite Weasley, although she continued to talk to Harry.
Harry raised a brow, "for what?"
"Why your chocolate frog card of course. You're the youngest wizard in history to make it on to a chocolate frog card." She handed Harry one, "I must be going now. Father and I have a lot to take care of before tomorrow evening." She left the speechless wizard, staring at the picture of himself.
Ron grabbed the card out of Harry's hands, and read it aloud: "Harry James Potter, otherwise known as the Boy-who-lived. Harry was born on July 31, 1980, to James and Lily Potter. His parents' came to an unfortunate death when he was at the mere age of one. Harry is the only known person to ever survive the Avada Kedavra curse and has fought he-who-must-not-be-named several times".
Hermione was first to break the silence, "at least they didn't make up any lies, like the Daily Prophet."
After Mrs. Weasley arrived at the Leaky Cauldron with a still seemingly angry Ginny, the grouped flooed their way back to number twelve Grimmauld Place.
~
"Honestly mate, I don't see why you're angry. It's an honor to be put on a chocolate frog card." Ron said right before stuffing his mouth with another chocolate frog. Surprisingly, he had yet to show signs of jealousy.
"I'm only on there because my parents were killed and I survived Voldemort's attack!"
Both Ginny and Ron flinched at the use of the Dark Lord's name and Hermione rolled her eyes, "honestly, it's just a name and it's not even his real name."
"Why don't we get back to the task at hand, finding who the last two new chocolate frog cards are?" Ginny said, "we know Harry, McGonagall and…"
"Maglee!" Hermione answered rather loudly; aggravated that she was the only one to remember the witch's name.
"Right. What'd he do again?"
"She wrote the very first edition of Hogwarts: A History."
They had returned back to Grimmauld Place nearly five hours ago and after a gruesome three hours of cleaning with Mrs. Weasley and then feasting down dinner, the four had been left alone.
So, here they were. Sitting around in a circle like figure on the carpeted floor in the center of the drawing room, going through chocolate frogs. Well actually, it was more like Ginny, Hermione and Harry looking at the cards and Ron eating the chocolate frogs.
Harry had been too involved in the day's "big news" about his card; he hadn't really had a chance to tell Hermione about Neville.
Until now.
Mrs. Weasley had just called Ron and Ginny downstairs, something to do with school robes. So it was just Harry and Hermione.
Leaning closer to Hermione, his voice came out in a concealed whisper, "Neville was invited to the meeting."
Hermione's eyes widened but quickly returned to their proper size, "I guess I can understand Professor Dumbledore's reasoning. But Luna…" she spoke her name with some amount of disgust.
"Luna?"
Hermione nodded, "didn't you hear what she said at the Leaky Cauldron?"
Harry stopped and thought about it for a moment. "I must be going now. Father and I have a lot to take care of before tomorrow evening."
"Yeah, she and her father."
Hermione nodded, and the two left it at that, not wanting Ron to walk in on their conversation. Neither of them had gotten around to telling him. Harry was still hoping Professor Dumbledore would show up and give Ron an invitation because Mrs. Weasley had suddenly had a change of heart. Although, he knew that was very doubtful. Molly Weasley was a very stubborn person.
The two sat in silence for several moments until Harry spoke once more, "thanks again for the book, Hermione." He blushed slightly and cast his eyes downward as she rested her gaze upon him. "It means a lot to me. I know you don't exactly approve of the sport."
"I just don't want you to get hurt." She felt her cheeks too, growing warmer but refused to move her gaze away from him, "if you study it, you'll get better at your seeker moves and in turn, there will be less of a chance for you to get hurt."
Leave it to Hermione to say he could become better at his Quidditch Seeking skills by reading a book.
"Thanks, for everything. You've been the one person who has always been there for me. You've never gotten jealous, or thought I was lying. And for helping me, with…you know. You've just…you've been a good friend to me. Sometimes I don't think I deserve your friendship."
Hermione smiled sadly, "well you've been a good friend to me too, you were my first true friend, Harry." The two sat in a comfortable silence, their eyes locked in a gaze.
Harry finally spoke, "when do you think we should tell him? About the order and Voldemort?"
"Soon I suppose. Better we tell him, than he find out from somebody else. You and I both know how Ron is."
"How I am about what?" Ron entered the drawing room, overhearing the very end of their conversation.
Harry and Hermione starred at each other.
"Err…" Harry started.
And as always, Hermione was the first to take action. She stood and closed the door into the room and turned the lock. "Where's Ginny?"
Ron raised a brow, "mum is readjusting her dress robes. Why?"
This time it was Harry who spoke, "we need to talk to you."
"Ok. 'Bout what?"
"It's about Voldemort." Maybe by starting out with Harry having to be the one to defeat Voldemort, Ron wouldn't be as angry when he learned of their, along with Neville and Luna's invitation to the Order Meeting tomorrow night.
Ron flinched, "come on mate! Don't just spring his name on me like that!" he reclaimed his seat next to Harry and across from Hermione. "What about he-who-must-not-be-named?"
Taking a breath, Harry decided once again not to beat around the bush. "I have to kill him."
"We'd all like to kill him, mate. After what he did to Ginny…" Ron shook his head, "make it painful too, use some of those hexes in that book of yours."
This time Hermione gave it a try, "you're Right, Ron." Both boys whipped their heads in her direction: Did Hermione Granger just now tell Ron Weasley he was…Right? "We'd all like to kill him. But Harry…Harry's the only one that can."
Ron's shoulders fell and face scrunched up, portraying his confusion. "How do you know?"
"The prophecy." Harry answered somberly.
This time Ron didn't have to think for words to reply, "But Neville broke it at the Department of Mysteries!"
Harry sighed, "Professor Dumbledore heard the prophecy, he knows it word for word. Neither Voldemort nor I can survive. Either I kill him or he--"
"Kills you." Ron finished.
Harry nodded, "I have to kill him. For the wizarding world, for muggles, for me, and most of all for my parents."
"You're father would be proud, Harry."
All three whipped their heads around to look at the owner of the voice; they spoke in unison, "Professor Dumbledore."
Albus chuckled slightly, "yes, it is me." Slowly moving farther into the room, he shut the door with a flick of his wand and performed a couple of locking spells. He took a seat in the closest chair and his eyes twinkled as watched the three students. "I've been waiting for you to tell Mr. Weasley. You had me worried that you wouldn't do it before tomorrow evening."
Harry scrunched his face in confusion, "you mean--"
"You were waiting for Harry to tell Ron about Voldemort before you invited him?" Hermione finished.
Ron flinched and looked at the three baffled by their conversation. "What are you talking about?"
His blue eyes twinkled through his half moon spectacles, "take a seat, Mr. Weasley." Waving his wand, he ushered a seat from the other side of the room and placed it right across from him.
"Err-yes, sir." Ron obliged.
"Harry, Miss Granger, you too, make take seats." They obliged too and Professor Dumbledore once again rested his eyes upon Ron, "you're mother and I have had quite the long talk."
Ron sunk in his chair, "a conversation with my mum, this can't be good." He managed in a fearsome voice.
"On the contrary, Mr. Weasley." Pulling an envelope from one of the pockets of his robes, he handed it to the redhead.
Harry and Hermione's eyes both widened as they stared excitedly at the letter, and Harry was the first to speak, "open it, Ron!"
Dear Mr. Ronald Weasley,
Please make your presence known on August the third, at Headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix Meeting.
Sincerely,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Ron tore his gaze away from the invitation, "I've been invited to join the order?"
"Yes indeed, Mr. Weasley. You're mother and I have reached an understanding, and she has allowed me to invite you to tomorrow night's meeting where you will one of six new members."
Ron turned to his friends, "one of six! Maybe you guys will get invitations, too!"
Hermione smiled, "actually Ron, we've already received our invitations."
"I'm glad you finally got yours, mate." Harry smiled, and smacked his friend on the back in a congratulatory way.
Ron scowled at his two friends, his mood quickly changing, "you guys got invitations and you didn't tell me?"
"We were waiting for you to get yours." Hermione said, not at all fazed by Ron's new demeanor.
Harry nodded in agreement, "yeah, we didn't want to spoil your invitation."
"Now is not the time to be angry with your friends, Mr. Weasley, it is not their fault for your late invite. If anything you should be thanking them, with their help I was able to get your mother to agree on you joining."
"We were?"
"They were?"
The three students looked at Albus Dumbledore, "yes." He answered, before his eyes glanced to the clock hanging behind him, "you three should be off to bed; tomorrow will be quite an interesting day."
~
Ok, so I haven't gotten a lot of reviews, which I'm taking it to mean people don't really like my story, or my writing sucks. Either way though, I enjoy writing. But I also get inspired by reviews.