Chapter 32: Org Chart
A/N: Sorry, but my muse is going on Thanksgiving holiday, so it was update now, or wait until next week. A poor excuse for pushing back Ginny once again, but I'm really working hard on writing a scene that hasn't already been done a thousand times (and at least a few hundred times better than me). Hope that serving up a large fluffy dish of pumpkin pie is adequate compensation.
Disclaimer: Not my characters, no money being made, etc., etc.
Bliss lost out to worry as Harry rose from the failed kip. Untangling his limbs, he sighed as Hermione reached out in her sleep for the warmth he'd stolen from her, then turned and headed down to their common room.
Harry walked up to the borrowed white board, grabbed a dry erase marker, and checked off the last four names on their list. There'd been little doubt that they'd accept the offer to join the Order of Arthur. Fred and George, who had seen the badges in action, said yes even before Harry could completely verbalize the invitation. Tonks and Remus had been almost as quick; their brief discussion at The Leaky Cauldron involved far more explanation of purpose than arm-twisting.
It was the rest of the list that had caused Harry's stomach to flip in fear - Wally, Steve, and Hermione's parents. The guilt felt over Brian's condition had initially blinded Harry to the notion that the new Order members were all wizards, and capable of bouncing back from injury as easily as Fred had. With second thoughts, however, he decided that his responsibility to the Queen required quick access if need be. Sir Evan, of course, could anchor her location when she was at Windsor, but Ascot Week was an aberration; weekend visits were more often the norm, and even with her advanced age she got around the country quite a bit. With input from Wally and Steve they'd decided that the best approach to this problem would be for Steve to be reassigned to the Queen's personal guard. In that way, all of the Order of Arthur members could rally to his position should the Queen ever again come under attack.
This idea of rally points had also been used to flesh out the roles of Tonks and Lupin. Tonks and all of the other Aurors that had been guarding the grounds of Hogwarts had been recalled to the home office after the attack, so she would be well placed to allow immediate access to the Ministry of Magic. Lupin, on the other hand, had no official ties to the Ministry, making him an ideal candidate for anchoring Hogwarts. Of course the Headmistress would have as well, but after some thought (and a bit of guilt) they'd decided that Remus would be more nimble on a broom and in battle.
Which left five badges, and the realization that the wizard-muggle teams that had been used on Privet Drive had worked for a reason. Wally was a natural selection, but they'd agonized over whether or not to include Mr. and Mrs. Granger. On the one hand it seemed like a selfish move; with the badges her parents would be able to escape any dangerous situation better than any other muggle could. But on the other hand the badges would put them at greater danger than any other muggles, because of the responsibility that came with it. Roger and Emily had proven their mettle at Privet Drive, and were constantly surprising them with new skills and capabilities. They also were c-mugs with motivation to fight and the knowledge to support that fight, but still…they were her parents. In the end, they had decided to lay out their concerns to her parents and ask their opinion. Roger and Emily had said that the choice was Harry's, but they'd be honored to serve if asked. Harry, very reluctantly, gave them that honor.
Harry had plenty of ideas to explore with the assembled Order. He also, however, had plenty of self-doubt. Was he really a leader? It had been one thing to head up the DA, but as Harry looked once more at the list of names he came to the startling realization that he was the youngest person on the list!
And if that wasn't enough to worry about there were all of his other responsibilities. Harry started to draw, following some of the diagram and flow charting tricks Hermione had taught him. A big box labeled "Clan Potter" was drawn on the board's edge, with an arrow connecting it to his name on the Order list. A second box, marked "Fawkes Foundation" was similarly tied to his name. And then the dam burst, and all kinds of worries were linked to his name (e.g. Hogwarts, his finances, MI-5 ¾, member of the Queen's staff). By the time he'd finished the white board resembled a giant web, with Harry the spider in the middle of it all.
He stepped back, then made the startling realization that he'd forgotten something. He reached out and wrote "VOLDEMORT/YOU-KNOW-WHAT HUNT" within a box that he linked to his name. Thinking that the omission perfectly symbolized his current state, he hurled the dry erase marker towards the white board. It bounced off the surface without satisfaction.
A call on his badge brought him out of his funk.
"Wally, what's up?"
"Nothing bad, Sir Harry…just wanted to let you know that there are some boxes waiting for you down at the loading docks."
Harry assumed that the goblins had made their delivery from his vault and told Wally that he was on his way. He then walked down the stairs and out of the tower. The loading docks were located within the Lower Ward, away from the State Apartments. As Harry's path took him past a perpetual queue of tourists, he steeled himself for some public recognition.
The possibility that he might become just as famous within the muggle world was a frightening prospect. Being "The-Boy-Who-Lived" had forced him to accept the stares, smiles and waves from strangers for years, so he'd reasoned that he'd be able to adjust. He tried to limit his movement around the Castle to times outside of public hours, but there were times (such as this one) where he knew he just had to grin a bear it.
A teenage girl recognized him as he walked down the path and yelped out an autograph request. It'd happened twice the day previous, and he obligingly walked over. This time, however, there was more than a Castle Tour ticket stub to sign; the preteen handed Harry the latest issue of a muggle magazine called TRW (short for "Teen Royal Watch"). The cover startled him; it was a picture of him in top hat and tails, taken at Ascot. The teaser headline read "Wizar-Delicious! Palace Serves Up New Magical Hearthrob."
As he finished writing the magazine cover, things began to spiral out of control. Another magazine was thrust in front of him, and then another, as the queue developed a bulbous growth of star-struck girls on its side. Hands not holding pens aimed camera phones, and picture flashes began to flare as the autograph requests became much more direct and provocative; one twenty-something blonde asked if he'd sign her knickers (while they were still worn, mind you).
A hand grasped his shoulder and pulled Harry back as the mob tried to crush its way into singularity. "Right then, that's enough, ladies and gents. Please return to your queue, as the Queen's Wizard has some meetings to attend to…back in queue, please…."
Harry turned and gave Roger Granger a slightly embarrassed look as Emily placed herself between Harry and the tourist pack desperate for some body contact. Once Harry cleared the crowd by a few meters those still in pursuit realized its futility, and quickly turned to secure their places in line.
"Thanks for the help," Harry told the Grangers, as they walked away from the crowd. "Almost apparated out that situation."
"Tsk, tsk, Harry," Roger said with a smile. "You'll be needing to be more mindful of visitor's hours, now that Fleet Street's proclaiming you 'Queen's Hottie.'"
"Arrggh," Harry replied, "That's exactly what I didn't want happening…hope you two didn't think I was courting any of that."
"No worries, Harry," Emily replied. "We had video on you from the start…came when we realized you'd be needing some help."
The Grangers walked Harry down to the dock, where two burly Castle staff members were already loading large boxes onto two utility carts. He signed some papers, then took an offered seat next to one of the men as they drove out onto the path back towards the tower. He yelled out more thanks to the Grangers as he passed them on their walk back to their post, then turned and waved again to the crowd as they caught sight of him.
"Become a Castle attraction yourself, you have," the driver dryly said.
"Yeah, I guess it comes with the job," Harry said with resignation.
When they arrived at the tower Harry got out to open the door, then walked back to help the two men unload. One of the men practically slapped his hand away. "What do you think you're doing, there, lad?"
"Just lending a hand…it's my things, after all."
The man shook his head. "See that the kitchen staff were right about you…Sir Harry, is it? Yes, well, Sir Harry, have you ever heard the ditty about Sir Reggie?"
Harry shook his head.
"Ah, well it goes something like this…
Sir Reggie went to change a light,
Fell off the ladder, serves him right!
He should have stayed where he did best,
And paid those skilled to do the rest.
Harry took a few seconds to work out the poem's purpose. When he failed to wipe the daft look off his face the man continued. "You and I, we both work for the Queen, right? To do what…I'm a mover, and you're a magician. If you spend time doing what I can do to serve the Crown, then who is going to do the wizarding? Not me."
Harry nodded. "I'm sorry, I just didn't want you to think that I think I'm better than…
"Look Sir Harry," the man said, "It touches my heart to see your feet on the ground, and lacking airs…but you need not prove that every day by washing dishes and mowing the lawn. By letting those around you do what they do best…that's what allows you to do your magic…to do what you do best."
Harry broke into a smile, and reached out his hand. "Thank you for the advice…I can't tell you how much your wisdom is going to help me."
The mover shook Harry's hand, and then raised his fingers up in a military salute. "Happy to help, Sir Harry."
Harry asked the two men to wait just a few seconds before bringing the boxes upstairs, which gave him time to shrink down and pocket the white board. He then left instructions to leave the boxes within the common room while he went upstairs to "work on his magic." Once in the dressing room he resized the white board and used a sticking charm to place it on a wall. With the mover's sage advice still ringing in his ears, Harry started to quickly sketch out a revised organizational chart.
Thirty minutes later Hermione found Harry sitting cross-legged on the floor looking up at his work. She smiled as she sat down behind him and scooted up with her legs outside his. With two arms wrapped around his chest she pulled Harry back until he was leaning on her with his head rested on her shoulder. After a little ear nibbling she asked, "Couldn't sleep?"
Harry smiled as he closed his eyes and shook his head. "Things on my mind."
"So it seems," Hermione replied. "Looks like you've taken my flow charting lessons to heart."
Harry nodded. "Along with the rest of you…and sorry, no give backs."
Hermione responded with a squeeze. "Guess I'll muddle through somehow." She released a hand to wave towards the board. "So what brought this on?"
"I was worrying about things getting lost in all of the shuffle…decided I needed to clarify and quantify my life." He turned his head towards hers. "So what do you think?"
Hermione let out a "Well…" that for all the world sounded like purring.
"I think it's brilliant, and smart, and bound to be wildly effective."
"Flattery will get you everywhere, Hermione."
"I certainly hope so, Harry."
"It's only a rough draft, though," he replied. "Any changes before I spring this on Wally and Ron and your parents?"
Hermione stood, grabbed a marker, and began chewing on its end as she examined the board. In the center, Harry had written his name next to Hermione's with Ron's right below to form a triangle. All three names were within a box labeled "Treasure Hunt," representing, (Hermione guessed), the Trio's horcrux search. Outside this box, Harry had drawn more boxes, each representing a group or organization that he was linked to. Within each box was a membership roster of sorts, with the top name in all-caps and underlined. Hermione noted that Harry had, on paper at least, accepted the need to delegate power and authority. The box labeled "Fawkes Foundation" had her mum's name on top, her dad's name was linked to Harry's finances, and her name…well, her name was in quite a few boxes, but it was given top-billing within Clan Potter.
"Harry," she asked, "Don't you think that the Clan Chief should be head of Clan Potter?"
"Only when I have to," Harry replied with a smile, "Thought I'd ask the powers behind the throne to run things otherwise."
Hermione silently nodded, noting that Ron's name was also prominent within the Clan box, as Champion and head of something labeled "CAF."
"Stands for 'Clan Air Force'," Harry replied sheepishly when she asked about it. "Wanted to make sure that Dean, Neville and the rest know how important they are in all this."
"Because you ran out of Order of Arthur badges?"
"Yeah, something like that."
Hermione nodded and moved on to the other side of the board. The names of the twelve Order of Arthur members were boxed, with Harry's name underlined (but not all-capped). MI-5 ¾ had a box with Wally's name on top (and Harry and Hermione's absent). Windsor Castle had a box as well, as did Hogwarts, the muggle government and a small box with the word "Peanut Butter Brigade." When asked, Harry said that it was a place-holder of sorts, representing his relationship to those within the magical world that supported him (with "Peanut Butter" standing for "Pure-Blood")
Hermine took two steps back from the board. "I think that Harry Potter, Inc. has become a multi-national corporation," she said.
"Well, not quite," Harry replied. He looked up at the board and realized that something was missing. Standing, he took the pen from Hermione and drew a box around their names, then drew a line connecting the two names. Above the box he wrote "House of Lord Gryffindor." He then walked back behind Hermione and wrapped his arms around her in embrace.
"Erm…Harry?"
"Yes, Hermione."
"I assume you added the Lord to distinguish that box from the Gryffindor House at Hogwarts?"
"That's right."
"So shouldn't Lord Gryffindor's name be underlined as the head of that little group?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Oh….so Harry?"
"Yes, Hermione."
"We're the only two people in that box?"
"For now, yes."
Hermione turned with a look of scrutiny on her face. "Planning on a harem?"
"No," Harry said with a smile. "Planning on in-laws."
Hermione went wide-eyed. "You know, Harry, that's the second time I've heard you talk about in-laws this week…just how definite are those plans of yours?"
Harry's face dropped into a serious expression. "You're right, Hermione, I shouldn't be joking about something that's so important."
"Erm Harry…that's nice, but it didn't really answer the question?"
"Guess you're right…it's just that…well, I can't imagine living without you in my life. That's nothing new…I would have said the same thing two months ago…but now it's, erm, so much better."
"How?"
"Well…the snogging, of course, is brilliant, and you wield a mean scrub brush, and…and I used to be afraid that if we became more than friends that we'd lose that friendship."
"Imagine your Aunt and Uncle weren't the best role models there."
"For certain," Harry replied. But it has worked, hasn't it? We've gone beyond just spending all of our waking hours together to adding in the sleep time as well…and we're not at each others throats, or arguing, or thinking less of each other…"
"Oh sure, say that now…but what happens the first time you hear me pass gas?"
"Who says I haven't already?"
"Harry James Potter!"
"Ah, come on, Hermione, with all of the time we've been together…I mean Ron's blasts are legendary, but you can't blame it on him all the time, can you?"
"That's what a polite boyfriend would do."
"Well…I guess I could blame him, even though I'd know better…"
"And how is that?"
"Erm…you have to admit, Hermione, while Ron's display an amazing two octave range, the associated smell is far more consistent. Well, consistent enough to notice a difference…."
Hermione sighed. "Merlin, it's like having Ron around…one minute we're talking about marriage plans and the next thing you know we're comparing farts." She laughed nervously. "I can't believe I just said that."
Harry laughed with her. "You can say anything around me Hermione, and I'm not going to think less of you…you know that."
Hermione's eyes were getting moist as she nodded in agreement. "I know…I've known that for a long time. Brings us back to that backwards approach we're taking to our relationship."
"You mean determine over a number of years that we're compatible and then go out on a second date?"
"Exactly." She placed a tender kiss on his lips then took a step back.
"You know, Harry, if you'd have been sorted Slytherin I might have thought your comments about in-laws were a sneaky way of testing the waters before risking a plunge."
"Really?" Harry smirked. "You do know the Sorting Hat wanted to put me there."
She gave him another kiss. "Yes, I do."
"Sure, you say that now, but will you say 'Yes' or 'I do' when it really matters?"
Hermione smiled, "Guess you'll have to risk jumping off into the deep end to find out."
"You know I'm not a very good swimmer."
Hermione kissed his nose in benediction. "So bring some gillyweed."