Harry Potter and the Imaginary Order of Phoenix

Life at the Weasley's

"That would even the odds," Ron said as he closed the door.

"Sure it will ... but you two should behave while doing those pranks," Hermione warned. "Besides Sirius himself said that they might be dangerous."

"What about Fred and George?" Harry asked. "Are they learning pranks from Sirius or what?"

"Don't know," Ron replied.

"I don't think so," Hermione said. "Fred and George only know about Sirius identity and I would like to find out if they have discovered his Hogwarts history."

"Well, they can easily perform the pranks Sirius will tell us," Harry said thoughtfully. "Besides they are professional pranksters."

"They sure are ... but do you want to miss the fun?" Ron asked, his eyebrow raised. "Do you want to leave Malfoy on them to take care?"

"Oh snap out of it Ron," Hermione said. "You are going to school, not to a party. We will be taking O.W.Ls this year, don't you care about it."

"No," Ron said flatly. "We have nearly 8 to 10 months. Till that time, we will have the time of our life." Hermione shook her head.

"But why do you care about it?" Harry suddenly asked. "You are already good in studies. Its us that should worry about them."

"Yeah, and you have been practicing O.W.Ls practice papers too," Ron added. "Besides you do want to teach Malfoy a lesson as much as we want to, don't you."

"Yes I do, but this year the studies will be difficult and you may even be disqualified from exams," Hermione said exasperatedly. "If you two just read Hogwarts, A History for once, you will know that-"

"Drop it Hermione, you know we won't do that," Ron said, shaking his head. Hermione gave him an angry look, and then began to stare the floor indignantly.

"So Harry, did you enjoyed the way you were introduced by Arabella Figg?"

"Yeah ... a lot," Harry replied, unable to hide his grin, "it came as a shock to me. But I got over."

"We were also amazed when Mr. Weasley told us," Hermione said, sounding a bit muffled, "I just couldn't believe it that a witch could behave like a muggle for so long. So how was she? Did you ever felt when you were with her like something is wrong?"

"Not really," Harry replied, "I believed her to be a boring woman. She always talked about her cats that she owned and her house smelled of Cabbages. The closest house like her was the tent in which we slept during Quidditch World Cup."

"Well the smell of Cabbages is obvious," Ron said in a matter-of-faculty tone.

"Why?"

"That is because she once had a nasty encounter with a group of Vampires," Ron notified. "They are her enemies ever since and had attacked her a fair few times while she was there in your neighbourhood."

"She is keeping them away by the smell of CABBAGE?" Harry asked, frowning. "Has Garlic exchanged its anti-vampire properties with Cabbage?"

"No silly, the smell is enchanted, so only the Vampires will smell it as garlic, any wizard or Muggle will feel it as Cabbage. She doesn't want to attract them again, especially with Muggles around," Hermione informed, "you know. It would be dangerous."

"Well where there is a vampire, there's danger Hermione," Ron said.

"Yes I know that Ron," Hermione said, waving her hand irritatedly.

"Can't she just subdue them and take them to the ministry?" Harry asked.

"If that would have been so much easy as you are sounding it Harry, there might not have been any Vampire left on the face of Earth," Hermione said, smiling, "they are magical like goblins. Although they can't perform magic, but magic has very little effect and they are shockingly powerful. I think even Hagrid would have trouble if he ever faced one, and know what, a large group of them were Dark Lord's servant. Didn't you two remember anything in Defence against Dark Arts class in grade 3; we learnt everything about Vampires with Lupin."

"In that case, it's you," Ron said.

"Well then we are lucky that we haven't faced any of them, even though fair few are known to be living in the forbidden forest"

"There are Vampires in the forest too?" Harry asked, surprised.

"They sure are. Don't know if Hagrid ever faced any of them," Hermione said.

"Well who would want to drink someone's blood when he is too tall to reach," Ron chuckled, "the Vampire would waste half of his time jumping up in order to reach Hagrid's shoulder. Till that time he would punch and take the hell out of him." Hermione was about to say something when suddenly the door opened, and the Weasley twins entered the room.

"Hey ... are you guys participating in a funeral?" Fred asked

"Why? What happened?" Harry questioned.

"Come on you guys," George said. "Are all you three will be sitting there all day or you'll come down and have some fun."

"Thinking about fun at this time?" Hermione frowned.

"Don't be spoilsport Hermione," Fred said as he came closer to Harry, "Harry, want to join us in chess?"

"Or probably a game of Quidditch," George said, "Bill and Lupin might join us. They are through with their conversation. Arabella and Fletcher have both left with Dumbledore, but Lupin, Sirius and Bill are here."

"Yeah ... and I think they would. Charlie would be coming any minute now. He will have the message from the Romanian Dragon Defence Committee. Dumbledore said they might need the help of Dragons, not really sure for what?" Fred added.

"But why would Dumbledore use Dragons against You-Know-Who?" Ron asked, "He must be powerful enough to fight them."

"We don't know the reason for it our self you redheaded furball," George replied.

"Oh Shut up George."

"Why don't we go downstairs then?" Harry said clearly.

***

The group was marching down towards the close by hill where, Harry remembered, they played Quidditch. It was the best place for it as the muggles can't spot them due to high trees around, but they can't use real balls in case they get out of hand; this time again they used apples for it. Charlie had Apparated sometime before they left for Quidditch. He did have an envelope with him that he gave to Lupin, who tied to a Tawny Owl and send it to Dumbledore. Charlie needed to rest, so they left him with Mrs. Weasley. Harry, along with Ron, Weasley twins, Lupin and Snuffles, approached their destination. Snuffles sat on his rear paws and began to shot jealous looks at them. It seemed obvious that he liked Quidditch and must have been dearly missing it by staying away from it for more than a decade. They all took turns on Harry's Firebolt.

Bill was on guard along with Lupin and both were checking for anything suspicious. But Lupin couldn't resist the fun boys were having and he took Bill's shooting star, which was being ridden by Fred. Fred agreed to stay down with Bill while Lupin joined Harry, Ron and George up in the sky. Harry didn't know he was such a good keeper and saw him perform some of the best moves he had ever seen.

"You have to keep a very close look at the chaser," he was telling Ron. "Keep your eyes on his hand. Also see if there is a partner of his. Don't react till you know he or she has thrown the ball. Don't be stupid to run to the left hoop if he is making a fool out of you and throws the Quaffle to the right one."

Ron seemed very interested in his instructions. Harry and George were already in the team, so they didn't cared about it, but still they were interested in knowing it.

"What if he gets too close?" Ron asked.

"That is where your own capability comes, Ron, " Lupin replied with a grin. "You can't just stand there. If he is just a few feet away, then you'll have just 2 options," Lupin began to count them up. "First, you will attack the Chaser by moving forward, keeping your eye on his hand and broom, and then instantly catch the Quaffle as he throws it. But it is not easy if he has a partner. Second, you can start zigzagging in front of him at high speed, irritating the chaser, as he would have to think a lot as to where to throw it. It will be your luck if you catch the Quaffle; or else mostly the Chaser spends so much time that either a Bludger comes pelting its way and attacks the Chaser or a Chaser of your team would come for your help." After that Lupin began to show Ron a few moves and allowed him to practice them by taking charge of Chaser position with the apples.

"Did you play Quidditch for Gryffindor when you were at Hogwarts?" Ron asked while he was practising a particularly difficult dive to stop a spinning Quaffle.

"Yes I did. I was the Keeper, but I was only in the team for two years," Lupin replied.

"Just two years? Why?" Ron asked.

"Because then I graduated from Hogwarts," Lupin smiled.

"Then why did you apply so late for the keeper position?" George asked. "You're superb."

"Well I didn't have the courage," Lupin answered. "Although James and other friends had asked me for nearly 4 years, but it was not until I got in my 6th year that I decided to try it. Basically I was afraid of the Slytherins."

"Afraid of Slytherins," Harry repeated.

"Yes, Harry," Lupin, replied. "Your Potion Master, Professor Snape, as you may know, was in the same year as I. Apart from a few people at Hogwarts, he was the only Slytherin who knew my true identity. He threatened me many times to tell the others who I really was and how the Gryffindors were trying to hide it. I was just a teenager. I didn't want to attract taunts and wanted to remain friends with others, so I never tried to do anything that might popularise me; and Quidditch was on the top of the list as we had flying lessons with Slytherins and Snape had seen me keeping. He was already jealous with James capabilities and didn't want another threat."

"So how did you decided to join?" Harry asked.

"After he had a fight with me that made him bold enough to show his colours," said a cold voice that was followed by an unmistakable growl of Sirius. Everybody looked towards the owner of the voice and found, standing close to the trees, was no other than Harry's least favourite teacher, Professor Snape.

Harry, George, Lupin, and Ron remained suspended in mid-air, while Bill and Fred also turned their attention towards the intruder. Lupin frowned at the sight while Snuffles kept growling and bared his teeth. Snape gave a look at Sirius and said, "tsk ... tsk ... tsk, the dog seems to be becoming more ..." Snape stopped for a moment and gave a loathing look at Sirius, "uncivilised. Maybe if Dumbledore didn't watch him so closely, he might find his way in front of the Disposal of Dangerous Magical Creatures."

"What do you want, Snape?" Lupin asked firmly. Snape tore his eyes from Sirius and looked at Lupin.

"Nothing." His faced contorted into a wicked smile. "Just thinking about asking instructions for blocking a Quaffle that swings very closely from the left hoop and enters the middle one, remember it, Lupin?"

"Very clearly, Snape, but you haven't come here to remind me of school days' Quidditch," Lupin said. "What is it you want?"

"Dumbledore wants a word with you and Bill," Snape said. "Fudge is also there. Go right to Dumbledore's office." With that, he gave a sore look to everyone, particularly to Harry and Sirius, and with a pop, he disapparated.

"Slimy old git," Harry heard Lupin say as he descended down and got off from Bill's Shooting Star. Everyone in the air landed beside Lupin and Sirius.

"Maybe Dumbledore has something important to say," Bill said. Then he turned to Fred and George. "Take Ron and Harry back to the house, but be careful."

"Sure big brother," Fred replied.

"You can count on us," George said.

"What about you Sirius? Can you take care of them?" Lupin asked, looking at the canine. The dog looked at him and nodded.

Lupin smiled on that and turned to Bill, "So ready?"

"Ready," Bill replied. Then they both disappeared while the twins led Ron and Harry out, followed by Sirius.

***

"What kind of damn potion ingredients did that oily crab give us?" Ron said irritatedly as they were doing their homework in Ron's bedroom. "How are we supposed to cure a headache with octopus liver?"

"Well after the Octopus has eaten you, you'll probably be transferred to his liver where the acids will cure us," Harry replied, leaning on his book, his head in his hand.

"No silly," Hermione cut in, "Octopus liver has special qualities that removes tension and cures the brain cells that react to the sensation of pain." Her hand was moving so quickly on the parchment that Harry feared it might catch fire.

"But it's giving me tension rather than curing it," Ron said angrily as he threw his parchment aside. He gave a sore look at Hermione's parchment that was nearly full, "How much have you written? We only have to write one parchment for it."

Hermione quickly looked up, "Really? I am about to finish my second parchment. I didn't know about that."

"Neither did I," Ron said under breath to Harry, who grinned. Like Harry, Ron and Hermione also disliked Potions, but Hermione didn't have as much trouble as them.

Harry remembered quite well in his third grade when Hermione, even without Divination, had the most subjects and worked tirelessly to get to her goal. He sometimes laughed at the Boggart, which Hermione had faced in the final exam of Defence against the Dark Arts, which had changed into Professor McGonagall.

"Then I think we only have Charms left," Hermione said as she put down her parchment and turned towards them. A week has passed since Harry arrived at The Burrow. They frequently did their homework and she helped them whenever they were stuck, even though she didn't allow them to copy. Harry, who was still fighting with his homework, gave up, and laid flat on his back on Ron's bed.

"Tired?" Ron asked as Harry gave a sound like he was just relieved from immense pain.

"My back sure hurts a lot," Harry replied. Then he remembered something. "Hey, Ron, when will Mr.Weasley and Percy return? I haven't seen him since I got here."

"Neither have I," Hermione said.

Ron looked at both of them, sighed, and looked at the floor. "Nor have I,"

There was silence for a moment, and then it was broken when the door opened. The Weasley twins entered the room, wearing irritated expressions.

"Interested in degnoming?" Fred asked. "Mom is tired of them."

"And she forgot to scold us when one of the gnomes knocked the plate of sausages off," George added.

"Scold you? Why?" Hermione asked, sounding surprised.

"She heard us talking about the new pranks we found out," Fred said, grinning broadly.

"What pranks?" Harry asked, sitting upright again.

"Sorry. It's a secret," George said mysteriously, and then he resumed his previous pace. "Come on. We have work to do." With that, they turned and left. Harry and Ron looked at each other, shrugged, and stood up.

"Coming?" Ron asked Hermione.

"No thanks," she declined, "I'll talk with Ginny while you have fun."

"Yeah, better than Potions homework," Ron said sorely as the three of them stood up and marched out of the room. They found Mrs. Weasley and Ginny in the kitchen and Snuffles close to the dining table. Hermione joined the kitchen party while Sirius followed the two of them outside the house, towards the garden where Fred and George were waiting for them.

Harry had degnoming experience and didn't feel sorry for them as the sky was soon filled with screaming gnomes. Fred and George threw about five gnomes at the same time. Even Sirius had some fun. He growled at any gnome who tried to escape from the garden without being airborne. They retreated back, scared, and were caught by Harry or the Weasley brothers. When all the gnomes left the garden like they have drank a barrel full of whisky each, the five of them headed back to The Burrow. In all the fun, they had lost a lot of energy and now wanted something to eat.

As they entered the house, Fred shouted, "Mom, we're hungry."

In a few moments, Mrs. Weasley called back from the kitchen, "Just a minute boys."

The four of them sat at the table, later they were joined by Hermione and Ginny who emerged from the stairs.

"Girls, will you please help me to set the table?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Sure mom," Ginny replied.

"With pleasure, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said. The two of them left for the kitchen and returned with plates, spoons, and forks. Ginny's hand shook a bit when she placed a plate in front of Harry; and then quickly took her place on the chair beside Hermione.

After a minute, bowls began to float from the kitchen and glided to the table, settling at the empty spaces. They were filled with corn soup, sausages, chicken sandwiches, and corn beef. The six of them filled their plates with whatever they fancied and began to eat.

Mrs. Weasley came out of kitchen with a bowl in her hands. It was filled with Corn soup. She placed it in front of Sirius, stood up and turned back. She looked back when she was about to enter the kitchen and asked, "Are you sure it will be fine here Sirius? You don't want to eat inside a room in human form?"

The dog looked at her and shook his head, then turned to the bowl and began to lick the soup. Mrs.Weasley gave him a pity look, then went back into the kitchen and returned with her plate of sausages and chicken sandwiches.

Although Harry was very hungry, he still couldn't resist himself to notice the worried glances Mrs.Weasley shot at the clock. The family clock that was fixed at one end of the room, was very useful if you want to know the current state of the Weasley's, but useless for telling time.

Among the nine hands, 4 of them named Mr.Weasley, Bill, Charlie and Percy were pointing towards the word "Work" while rest of the 5 were pointing towards "Home". Harry clearly understood why she was so worried. After all it was about a week since she saw her husband and son. Although he knew what the theme of their work might be but couldn't guess why they are there for so long. Ron was busy with his plate and was bare of any worries but Hermione saw what Harry and Mrs.Weasley were looking at.

Harry tore his eyes from the clock and looked directly at Hermione. She looked worried too. Then in unison, they glanced at Mrs.Weasley who had busied herself with the sausages, but was eating slowly, like she was eating and thinking at the same time.

Harry turned back to his plate.

"Want some more soup Sirius? Or maybe something else, like a sandwich?" Mrs. Weasley asked after sometime, noticing the empty soup bowl in front of the canine. Snuffles wagged his tail and nodded in yes.

Mrs.Weasley picked up a sandwich and was about to place it in Sirius's bowl when suddenly somebody shrieked,

"Look!! It's dad. He's coming back." It was Ginny.

Everybody turned his or her face towards Ginny. She was looking at the clock. Following her gaze, Harry saw the hands of the clock. Two of them named Mr.Weasley and Percy were on the move and they now pointed towards "Travelling".