Harry Potter and the Ancient Order

Chpt 34. Summer Partings

It was with much trepidation that Harry packed up his trunk in the morning (this time, sans hangover). He had no desire to leave the wizarding world for the ignorance of Privet Drive. Once again, Dumbledore insisted that Harry remain in the care of his relatives despite the best arguments that the Weasleys could muster. Heaving his trunk downstairs into the Entrance Hall, he left it there and made for the kitchens.

House elves bustled about, completing various tasks and cleaning the remainder of the breakfast dishes. Harry quickly scanned the room for the house elf he desired to speak to.

"Dobby?," he called out over the noise.

"Harry Potter sir!" Dobby crashed into Harry's stomach with a bearhug. For once, Harry didn't mind.

"It's good to see you, Dobby."

"Dobby is happy to see you is Okay, sir!" cried Dobby, grinning toothily. "Dobby never wishes that Harry Potter come to harm, but danger always finds him and Dobby worries so!"

"I'm fine, Dobby, really," said Harry hastily. "Listen, I don't have much time, the train home is leaving soon. I never got the chance to thank you for your help with Peter Pettigrew."

"You is not needing to thank Dobby, sir," said Dobby, though his eyes began to water. "Dobby is always wanting to help Harry Potter, for I is owing my happiness to you!"

"I do need to thank you," said Harry. "If Sirius is set free, then he'll adopt me and I'll be free from the Dursleys. You'll have given me my freedom, as well as my godfather's freedom, and I don't know how I can ever repay you for that."

By this point, Dobby was beyond words. He stood there, admiration in his eyes, as tears streamed down his face. Harry couldn't help himself and pulled Dobby into a bearhug of his own.

"Here, Dobby," said Harry, handing Dobby a small package. "Hermione taught me how to knit so I could make these for you."

With trembling hands, Dobby opened the package, which turned out to be-

"Socks!" cried Dobby. With a charm taught to him by Hermione, Harry had placed a glowing Hogwarts crest on the side of each sock, and he was careful to make one blue and the other gray. "Harry Potter is giving Dobby socks he has made with his own hands!"

Unable to stop smiling, Harry gave Dobby a squeeze on the shoulder. "I've gotta go, or the carriages will be leaving without me. I'll see you soon, okay?" Dobby was too bust admiring his gift to answer, and grinned at Harry.

"So, how did Dobby like his gift?" asked Sirius once Harry made it back to the Entrance Hall. It felt great to be able to talk to Sirius in public, now that it was known that he wasn't the cold-blooded murderer everyone had thought he was for so long. Many students still cast cautionary glances at him, since they had been brought up their whole life believing him to be a dangerous lunatic.

"He loves socks," Harry generalized. For some reason, he didn't feel much like talking, he just wanted to enjoy the few moments he had left with Sirius before he had to leave.

"I can't come and visit you at your Uncle's house," said Sirius with a touch of bitterness. "I'm not allowed to leave Dumbledore's custody until my trial is over. But he was able to take me back to my old home to gather a few things, and I want you to have this," he finished, and handed Harry a small rectangular package. "If you have any more dreams, worries, anytime you wanna talk, or if you just want to see me, use this."

Harry opened it, revealing a small 5x7 mirror. Turning it over, he noticed words come across the back: Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs present: the Marauders' Lookout Glass

"Anytime you wish to talk, just call my name," said Sirius. "We made these after the Map was confiscated by Filch. We used to use them with your father's Invisibility Cloak to sneak out of the castle," he added, his tone full of fondness.

"Sirius, this is..." Harry trailed off.

"Your Aunt and Uncle won't be able to take a mirror away from you, will they?" asked Sirius, a grin spreading across his face.

"Thank you," said Harry softly. The knowledge that he could now talk to Sirius anytime he wanted to without waiting for letters to be delivered made the thought of two months magic-free seem almost bearable.

"Go on, go catch your train," said Sirius, though he didn't sound like he meant it. "Keep in touch."

"I will," said Harry, and he reluctantly left the school. The horseless carriages carried him in silence to the Hogsmeade station, where the steam-engined Hogwarts Express waited. Harry loaded his trunk quietly, hoping against hope to slow down time itself.

A group of first years followed Harry nearly everywhere he went, but he didn't mind too much. He knew that after having witnessed Voldemort's attack, they were quite shaken and were merely looking for some reassurance of their own safety. He also knew that for a long while yet, they would look to him for that reassurance. Not only was he a famous name, but he was beginning to receive the respect that such a famous name deserves. Maybe now they'll stop treating me like a child, though Harry, until he reminded himself that in terms of years, he was still a yet a child on the verge of adulthood.

A startling change had come over Ron over the past week. No longer did he seem unsure of himself, no longer did he dwell on living up to the standards set by his brothers. He accepted the fact that he was Ron Weasley, not the youngest Weasley boy. His self-confidence showed; Ron appeared to have grown three inches and ten pounds in a week.

"Oy! Harry! The train's leaving soon!," called Ron from a window, waking Harry from his musings.

"Hang on, I'll be right on," he called back, having spotted the remaining person he wished to speak to before he left Hogwarts. A giant, hairy man with beetle black eyes was leading the first years onto the train.

"Good ter see yeh, mate," said Hagrid gruffly. Hagrid had to be physically restrained by Dumbledore once it was revealed that Pettigrew was captured, as Hagrid vowed to avenge James and Lily Potter himself that night. He had been most apologetic to Sirius, asking for forgiveness for having believed him a murderer and backstabber for nearly fifteen years.

"Hagrid, I wanted to thank you before I left," said Harry, and the first years all boarded the train in order to leave the two to talk.

"Thank me? Fer what?," asked Hagrid, raising his eyebrows.

"For being a friend to my parents," said Harry. "Wherever they are, I'm sure they're proud that you stuck up for them."

"Nothin' doin', Harry," beamed Hagrid. "They'd have done the same fer me."

"I was wondering if you could do me a little favor over the summer," said Harry. "I don't know anything about my family, and I don't know where to begin..."

"I'll see what I can do fer yeh," said Hagrid with a twinkle in his eye. "Go on now, I'll see yeh nex' term. Take care of yerself, hear?"

"You too," said Harry, and he boarded the train. It didn't take him long to find Ron and Hermione, who had managed to keep their compartment empty. Not wanting to be disturbed, Harry magically locked the compartment door. Somehow, though, Xander appeared in the middle of the compartment.

"Now, you really didn't think that you could keep me out, did you?," he asked, smirking.

"How did you do that?," asked Ron in awe. "I thought you can't Apparate?"

Xander tossed a silver ring in the air and caught it. "It's a teleportation ring," he told them. "All I have to do is conjure an image of where I want to be in my mind, then put on the ring. Comes in handy."

"How come your riding the train?," asked Hermione. "I thought you were full-time at the Ministry now?"

"Eh, I have to go to London anyway," he shrugged. "From there, it's off to a Conclave. They've never met so often before..."

"What do you expect will happen?," asked Hermione.

Xander shrugged. "Can't tell for sure. I haven't captured Voldemort yet, so I know I won't gain my admission. My sponsor will most likely be sentenced to death, though." Xander looked very disappointed. "I believe you two have seen him?" He was looking at Harry and Ron. "Tall dude, dark hair, midnight blue robes? He was with Pettigrew that day on the Knight Bus."

Ron slapped his forehead. "No wonder we didn't recognize that spell!"

"His name is Dorolith," Xander continued, ignoring Ron. "He was once tabbed as the next Head of Conclave. It frightens me that Voldemort could corrupt one such as he. He was great once. If not for him, I never would have been allowed to pursue my magic."

"If he was your sponsor, how come you're in a different Order?" asked Harry.

"One is allowed to choose which Order he seeks admittance to," explained Xander. "Few Orders would entertain me due to my age. The Phoenix and The Raven are the only two that would consider, but I just couldn't enter The Raven. Gaining power at the expense of others goes against everything I believe in."

"I've been meaning to ask something," said Harry. "Exactly how did Dobby get involved?"

Xander grinned. "Dobby will do anything for Harry Potter! I is owing my freedom to you, sir!," he imitated in Dobby's voice, and Harry remembered Halloween. "I knew he'd be more than willing to help."

Ron and Hermione were too busy sniggering to notice Harry turn pink. He heard a tapping on the compartment door window and saw Cho's and Alicia's smiling faces. Nearly stumbling in his hurry to open the door, it took him a moment to remember the correct spell. He went to reapply his wizard-lock until Xander put his hand on his shoulder.

"Please, allow me," he said, and ran his hand down the length of the door, much like he was closing an imaginary zipper. "There," he said, wiping his hands clean. "Now, watch what happens when Malfoy tries to unlock it."

"How do you know he will?" asked Alicia, and Xander motioned over his shoulder. Malfoy's pointed face was gazing through the window.

Harry smirked when Malfoy tried to open the door, but wasn't prepared for what happened next. Malfoy pulled out his wand, and Harry read his lips as the muttered 'Alohomora', and heard a popping noise, and immediately, all of the companions were on the floor roaring with laughter. Malfoy's head took on the appearance of a buttocks.

"Nice try Ass-Face!" called Xander between fits of laughter. He snapped his fingers, and Malfoy's head returned to normal. Malfoy stalked off, furious.

The three couples had an enjoyable afternoon, soaking up what could possibly be the last afternoon they would have together as a group. Everyone chipped in once the snack trolley came around (after Xander removed his lock on the door), and they ate an enormous meal of junk food. There was a note attached to the front of the trolley: Coming next term, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes!

After a few hours that felt like a few minutes, the train pulled into the London station. Nobody in the group wanted to be the first to leave the train, as they all felt that it would symbolize walking out of each other's lives. Finally, Xander stood and walked to the door.

"Here's my stop," he said, trying to sound cheerful. "Once I buy my house, you'll all be there, right?" The group all nodded. He looked to Harry and said, "Next time you see me, pretend you don't know me."

"Why?," asked Harry, mystified.

Xander only winked, and left with Alicia in order to say their goodbye's. Will a great force of will, Harry managed to force himself to get off the Hogwarts Express and gather his luggage. Hedwig in her cage and securely placed on his trolley, he turned to Cho.

"You will write this summer, won't you?," he asked her.

"Of course," she answered, looking at Harry as though he were mad.

"It's, um... I'm really glad to have gotten to know you this year," he said to his feet. Just do it, go on, he told himself. Don't wimp out, just do it. Mustering up courage he never knew he had, courage beyond anything he ever needed in facing Voldemort, he closed his eyes and leaned forward, brushing his lips softly against Cho's. There, was that so hard?, asked the little voice in the back of his head. "Yes," said Harry, not realizing he spoke out loud.

"Yes, what?," Cho asked, who was blushing furiously.

You're a moron, said the little voice. "Yes, I'll miss you this summer," he said in an attempt to cover up.

"My parents are waiting for me," said Cho, glancing over her shoulder. "I'll make sure I see you at some point this summer," she told Harry, and leaned in to kiss him. Even though his head was swimming from the sweet smell of her hair, even though he couldn't open his eyes if he wanted to, even though his lips were virtually numb from the gentle touch of his lips, Harry could have sworn he felt Cho momentarily lick the front of his lips in the middle of her kiss. Now, every part of his body was awake with emotion.

"Bye," he said, though it sounded more like a grunt.

"Bye," said Cho, and she walked off to meet her parents.

"Mee-ow!" said Ron as he walked up.

"C'mon, Romeo, let's go," said Hermione, and they crossed the barrier into the Muggle world. It was very easy for Harry to find Uncle Vernon, as all he had to do is follow the impatient grunts.

"Why are you smiling like that, boy?," asked Uncle Vernon gruffly.

Harry wasn't going to let his uncle spoil his mood. "Because I read that people with no necks have below-average I.Q.'s," said Harry, and smirked even more when Uncle Vernon ran his hand over the thick, narrow stump that was his neck.

"Get a move on, Dudley has a boxing match to get- what are you laughing at!" he yelled. Xander had appeared behind Uncle Vernon, and was doing a very accurate imitation of a gorilla, complete with scratching a very intimate area of his body.

"Nothing," Harry lied. For some reason, the knowledge of Sirius's mirror in his trunk coupled with the promised correspondence from Cho gave Harry the feeling that this summer wasn't going to feel like two full months away from Hogwarts.

To Be Continued?