Harry and the Six Virgins

Chapter I

Monday, July 8, 1996

Dear Remus

First, I have to say it still seems strange to call you that. I also have to apologise for the yelling last week. Of all the people I shouldn't yell at because they don't deserve it, you must be near the top of the list. As you said, we can understand how the other feels more than most.

So, yes, I'm fine. By that, I mean the relatives are not locking me in closets, cupboards, or even the bedroom. They aren't giving me any problems about Hedwig or reading 'those freak books'; they moved Dudley's old television to my room so I am able to watch the news or anything I want. They are very certain they don't want you, or especially Moody, coming to visit again. Especially during the day. Especially on Wednesday afternoons, when Aunt Petunia's 'club' meets to drink pink gin and pretend to talk about books they haven't read. I really think Tonk's obliviate needs a little work, as Mrs. Reed still jumps whenever I raise an eyebrow at her.

As you might gather, yes, I am still as 'bitter, disillusioned, and generally aggravated at life' (that was your phrasing, wasn't it?) as I was last week. Yes, I am practicing my Occlumency. I still think it was unfair to threaten me with Snape if I didn't, but as you said, that alone is more than sufficient motivation. I haven't had any of 'those' dreams. My scar hasn't really hurt at all (it has always had little twinges, and that hasn't changed). I have had some odd dreams, some about the Ministry, but nothing more.

Dudley has actually let me use his equipment. Working out my aggression has helped my temper. Maybe you should ask the Headmaster if we may have a gym at Hogwarts?

Please let me know when I can leave here!

Harry

Wednesday, July 10, 1996

Dear Remus

Why are you so worried about my dreams? My scar should at least warn me after the fact if anything gets through. The dreams are weird, though, so, if you must know, they replay in fragments. If I could see them all connected, and remember them all, they might make sense. The arch where the veil is is in some of the scenes, but the area is outdoors, and the people I see are in costumes, like a living bronze-age museum our school went to when I was ten. Sometimes they are alive, sometimes they are dead. Other scenes are in what looks like ancient Rome. Some others are set in a tavern, sometimes with the people in classical costumes, sometimes more medieval. I see Hogwarts built up in stages. I also hear names: Casey, Caswallon, Cassiwallan. These seem to refer to the same person, or I guess it could be a place or a thing, but I think person. Mean anything to you?

Harry

"Hello, Hedwig," Remus Lupin said. "That was a quick turn-around for you. Let's see what Harry has to say; probably ticking me off." Remus casually opened up the note, and then turned very pale. "No! It . . . it can't be. . . ."

Lupin ran to the fireplace, and called out to Albus Dumbledore.

Thursday, July 11, 1997

"Answer the door, boy! Probably one of those freaks!" Vernon declared, before muttering as Harry left the room. "No consideration . . . calling at dinner. . . ."

Harry didn't think it likely, but went to the door with some hope (few people called on the Dursleys in the evenings, after all). Opening the door with a sigh, Harry was shocked to see Professor Dumbledore, Remus, Moody, Tonks, and worst of all, Snape.

"May we enter, Harry?" Albus Dumbledore asked.

Harry nodded, and gestured them in.

"Who is it, boy!" Vernon roared. "Those freak friends of yours?"

Moody took a step towards the dining room, but stopped when Dumbledore made a gesture. "Severus, would you mind ensuring the Dursleys are quiet, but unharmed, until morning? If you should care to speak with them, please be my guest."

Snape's mouth curled with both pleasure and disgust, and strode into the dining room. Snape must have cast a silencing spell, because Harry heard nothing more from the dining room after his uncle's initial protests to Snape.

"Come, Harry, we must talk." Dumbledore gestured towards the stairs, and Harry led Dumbledore to the small bedroom he was allowed partial possession of.

"We have little time, Harry, so I must ask you some incredibly strange questions. Any questions you might have will be answered within a few days. First, did you have a dream fragment last night?"

Harry nodded. "A few, actually. The one I remember most was in a Roman villa, a bit like one I saw on a special on Pompeii. Casey was called Caius Cassius Cotta, so I guess he's a person."

Dumbledore sighed. "I regret I must now ask you a very personal question. I do promise to tell you why in a few days. I must ask you to please name the girls, at least fifteen of them, you are most attracted to by the time you go to sleep tonight."

"What? You CAN'T be serious!"

"A strange question, but whom would you date if no obstacles existed, exempting those girls already in a sincere relationship, of course. And I do need fifteen names at the least."

"And this is important?"

"It is."

"In order?"

Dumbledore smiled. "That would be best. Pack your things. Write me a list after we portkey to Headquarters. It is unlikely we shall ever make you return here, so take everything. Alastor should be checking to see if there is anything of your parents' which Petunia has been hiding."

Harry was ready to go in less than twenty minutes. In less than half an hour, he and the others were in a bedroom a Grimmauld Place.

"Please send Hedwig with that list before you retire," Dumbledore said, herding Snape and Moody out the door. To Harry's surprise, Tonks kissed Remus on the cheek, winked at Harry, and followed Dumbledore out.

"You and Tonks?" Harry asked.

"You can't be as surprised as I was," Remus said. "She's . . . a very determined young woman."

"Do you mind?"

Remus gave a small smile. "Not a bit. Have a seat, Harry."

There were two large chairs in front of the fireplace. For the first time since he'd appeared in the room a few minutes before, Harry looked around the room, which was easily as large as Dudley's and the Dursleys' combined. There was a large canopy bed, two large mostly empty bookcases, a dresser and a large wardrobe, and a library table and a desk, with a chair on rollers that obviously rolled between the two. It had medium wood paneling, and Harry saw the second door led to a bathroom of some kind.

"This was Regulus Black's," Remus said. "Sirius spent weeks fixing it up for you last spring. You might take a look at the desk when you have time."

Harry, of course, immediately stood up and went to look. Harry saw a series of wizarding photos on the desk and library table. Some where of James and Sirius through the years. A few had Remus in them as well. The centerpiece was of Remus and Sirius, with Sirius holding the infant Harry, both looking very proud. The bookcases had reference books and some works on defense.

Remus broke into Harry's thoughts. "I hope you don't mind, but I've been appointed your wizard guardian."

Harry frowned. "Who has it been?"

"Albus," Remus admitted. "Although he deferred to Sirius after his escape with Buckbeak."

Harry felt a tide of anger, but fought it off. "Where is Buckbeak?"

"We sent him back to Hagrid. Fortunately, few people can tell one hippogriff from another."

"And Kreacher? And that awful painting?"

"Kreacher is dead. And the painting has been destroyed, along with the tapestry. I hope you don't mind."

Harry frowned. "Why should I mind?"

Remus shrugged. "You, Tonks, Tonks' mother, and myself inherited all of the Black fortune. You inherited almost all the real estate, although Andromeda inherited a building in Diagon Alley. With the investments of your parents and the Black real estate, not to mention the cash, you need never work."

"You mean I inherited more from my parents than the vault?"

"Oh, yes. That represents your father's ready cash. Banking is a bit more primitive in the wizarding world than the Muggle. I have no idea what your total worth is. Our tax laws are much lower than Muggle Britain, but you had an annual income of over a hundred thousand Galleons a year after taxes just from the Potter real estate."

Harry shook his head. "Did you reverse the exchange rate?"

Remus smiled. "No, I did them correctly. Your total real estate will probably now bring in some three quarters of a million Galleons before taxes. So far, it's been reinvested."

"Wow!" Harry collapsed back in his chair. "I hope I live long enough to spend some of it!"

"You will," Remus told him. "Tell you what, put your things away and write whatever this list is the headmaster wants. Tomorrow, we'll go shopping in Muggle London. We both need new clothes, and we'll even order you some new glasses if you want. I saw an advert for wrap-around goggles you might want to look into, for Quidditch."

"Has my ban been listed? Do you know where my Firebolt is?"

"Yes, and yes. The Firebolt is already back in your room at Hogwarts."

"That's good to know."

Harry took half an hour to sort out the material from his trunk and other possessions (mostly old school books and notebooks). He took a quick shower, and sat down at the fully-stocked desk and thought.

Harry thought about 'the list' and blushed at each name he thought of adding. After the disaster with Cho, he was more than wary about dating again. Still there were a number of girls he wouldn't mind walking to Hogsmeade with. He thought of the mistletoe the previous December. How many girls would want to kiss him under the mistletoe? Cho had, and Luna might have.

And 'no obstacles', Dumbledore had said, which meant ignoring things like Ron's jealousy or Ginny's old crush. Harry thought of the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, and the cute girls Ginny roomed with. He even thought of two of the Slytherins in his Potions class. Wondering why Dumbledore wanted to know kept intruding -- it was an odd question, by any standard -- and Harry had to keep filtering it out.

Harry sighed and wrote names for the list. He crossed a few names off, circled some names, and drew multiple arrows around most of the names. The hardest was deciding which name to list first, second, and third. Finally, he wrote:

Luna Lovegood
Hermione Granger
Ginny Weasley
Victoria Frobisher
Katie Bell
Lavender Brown
Eloise Midgin
Parvati Patil
Doreen Dale
Lisa Turpin
Megan Jones
Hannah Abbott
Susan Bones
Padma Patil
Daphne Greengrass

He gave the list to Hedwig, and went to bed.

Friday, July 12, 1996

Harry saw a cavern. He realized he was dreaming again. He could only see shadows playing against the wall of the cavern, and heard some voices.

"You must aid us! We must save the wizarding world from the Muggles and Mudbloods!"

'Sounds like a Death Eater,' Harry thought.

The voice Harry had now come to think of as Casey's answered the Death Eater. "Muggles outnumber you some two thousand to one, maybe more. We couldn't defeat them when we were outnumbered merely a thousand to one, when we had mastered magic and the Muggles merely had swords and spears. Now they have guns and steam engines; they produce more cloth in one factory than a city of slaves made two thousand years ago. You are a fool, and your followers are fools."

Harry woke up, and saw it was well past dawn.

Harry went down stairs to the smell of frying bacon. "Welcome, Harry Potter!"

"Hello, Dobby. Why are you here?"

"Master Dumbledore asked if Dobby would be willing to work here for the summer, and Dobby said yes." Dobby frowned. "Lazy evil house elf! Causing the death of his Master! the worst crime of a house elf! Never did Dobby consider doing such a thing to his evil Master, and Mister Sirius has been revenged."

"You?"

"No. Dobby must not say who. Please, Harry Potter, do not ask, for Dobby would answer Harry Potter!"

Harry, remembering the house elf's penchant for self-abuse, did not ask. He sat and piled his plate high with fried potatoes and tomatoes, eggs, and the hot bacon. "This looks great, Dobby. thanks!"

After six mouthfuls, Harry mumbled something that Dobby guessed was an inquiry about Remus Lupin. "Professor Lupin?" Dobby verified. Harry nodded. "Professor finished a short time ago, eating all the bangers. Professor told Dobby to fry bacon for Harry Potter, and to say you and he leave for shopping at Nine thirty."

Harry glanced around, looking for a clock. "Human time is Eight fifteen," Dobby told him.

"Thanks, Dobby."

"Harry Potter. . . ."

"Yes?"

"Could . . . could Dobby work for Harry Potter for real?" Seeing the confused look on Harry's face, Dobby explained. "Harry Potter owns this house. Dobby would like to take care of Harry Potter's house."

"You want to leave Hogwarts?"

Dobby considered that. "Dobby could work part time here and there during the year, until Harry Potter leaves school, if Harry Potter and Master Dumbledore agree."

Harry smiled. "You may ask the Headmaster."

"Thank you, Harry Potter. Oh, and Professor Lupin told Dobby to transfigure something to fit Harry Potter."

Harry flushed, and went back to his breakfast in a bad mood.

When Harry and Remus returned from shopping in the early afternoon, Harry's mood had largely swung back to happiness. Harry had never really understood how much money he had. Remus was a good teacher, and Harry was a fast learner, however. He came back with a totally new wardrobe, and a series of small toys and books for himself. Remus had managed, with difficulty, in keeping Harry from buying loads of presents for the Weasleys, Hermione, and Luna. Instead, he brought each two small presents, and Remus had sent them off via public post owls before they had left Diagon Alley (their last stop).

Dobby was very happy to burn Harry's old trousers, underwear, shoes, and more than half his shirts.

Over the next week, Harry was more confined to Grimmauld Place than he had been to Privet Drive, just in case word of Harry's being on the loose had reached Voldemort. Still, he found that more congenial than Privet Drive. He exercised in the back garden, ate well, and read books on defense. His O.W.L. results were still a week or so away, and until then, he did not have to worry about choosing classes, let alone homework.

Every night, he dreamed at least one fragment that he remembered, often three or four, once six. Harry saw London, Paris, Florence, Milan, Athens, and Rome in ancient, medieval, Renaissance, and modern settings. He saw Berlin, Vienna, and St. Petersburg. He saw remote towns across Europe, North America, and, he suspected, Australia. Harry wrote them all down, and those he remembered from Privet Drive.

If there was a pattern, Harry couldn't see one.

Harry wasn't very happy that Remus Lupin was uninterested in telling him anything. He had expected that kind of behavior from Dumbledore, not Remus. It was only tolerable because Remus was so apologetic about it.

Trapped with that impasse, Harry felt he had only course of action: he outlined the situation to Hermione (without mentioning Dumbledore's odd request) and sent it off.