Harry Potter and the Rest of the Story

Harry Potter and the Rest of the Story

Chapter 5 - A Pack of Revelations

Thu, 10-Jul-1997 continued

As professors and Weasleys and friends flooed into the Room of Requirement, they saw Harry standing across the room, examining various entries on the huge Heritage Canvas. Before anyone could say a word, there was a popping sound as a small buffet of late-night snacks and a familiar, hyperactive house elf appeared.

"Dobby hopes that Harry Potter, sir and his Weezys will be pleased with the snacks," the little creature bubbled.

Harry turned with a smile. "Thank you, Dobby. It's good to have some real food, since anything the Room would produce wouldn't last after we left." Looking at the others, he said, "Apparently, from now on, if any of us wants to come to this version of the Room of Requirement, the floo address is 'Room of Requirement, Harry's Room'. Hogwarts decided I need a permanent hideaway." Harry had a faraway look for a moment, then said, "Oh, I'm supposed to tell you that I have to approve access to this room, either through the floo or the doorway. All of you are on the initial access list, but you won't be able to bring anyone else in until I okay them."

Hermione gave Harry a strange look, saying, "Harry, I don't understand what you're talking about, as though Hogwarts was a person. It's not even supposed to be possible to floo into this room, because it's variable."

"Professor McGonagall, how much did you tell them so far," asked Harry.

Finding a seat near a table, where she was placing the frame of Dumbledore's portrait, she answered, "I told them basically what we told Ginny when she arrived. You had performed a Heritage Ritual with our assistance; you discovered that you had both Gryffindor and Slytherin heritage and legacies; and that your connection to Slytherin and Voldemort had caused you a great deal of distress. I assumed you would prefer to decide just how much other detail they received," she said. She glanced around the room as everyone was finding a place to sit. The entire Weasley family was present, excluding Percy. Fleur Delacour was present as Bill's fiancé, and Hermione as Harry's friend and Ron's girlfriend. Remus Lupin and Professor Flitwick were also there, to give support and because they couldn't bear to be left out.

"I'm grateful that everyone here was able to get past the news. With the help of Ginny and Hogwarts, I think I'm dealing with it well enough," commented Harry.

"There you go again," said Hermione in a bit of a huff, "talking about Hogwarts like a person."

"Patience, Hermione," Harry smiled softly. He looked towards Dumbledore's portrait, where the former headmaster was just making his reappearance. "Good, everyone is here, unless Madam Pomfrey wants to be part of this."

Lupin answered, "She would like to hear about everything later, since she is in the middle of a long-anticipated family visit. However, she insisted that if her services were needed, we should call immediately."

Harry stepped over to the buffet, grabbing a pumpkin pasty and a bottle of butterbeer. "Feel free to snack everyone," he said, chuckling as Ron and the twins bounced up to head for the food. "Professor Flitwick, I see you were able to print the scroll. A couple questions: Is there a way to make it self-updating ... it looks like a couple things have already changed ... and is there a way to magnify the image so everyone can see it easily?"

Flitwick pulled out his wand, murmuring as he waved it a bit and tapped the scroll. He took a quick look, and said cryptically, "Ah, that explains what happened earlier." Then he scurried over to the canvas, invoking Harry's detail, and murmured another charm so the image was almost as large as the entire Canvas and could be read easily from anywhere in the room. The current version of Harry's gift analysis now read:

Gift / Legacy Source or non-Legacy Gift / Status

Animagus-black wolf / Gift / Transitional

Animagus-golden phoenix / Gryffindor / Dormant

Command Voice / Slytherin / Transitional

Empath / Gift / Suppressed

Force of Will / Gryffindor / Transitional

Legilimency / Slytherin / Blocked

Mage-sense / le Fay / Active

Metamorphmagus / Black / Suppressed

Occlumency / Slytherin / Blocked

Parselmage / Slytherin / Active

Power Surge / Gryffindor / Transitional

Power Surge / Slytherin / Transitional

Unknown / Unknown / Dormant

Wandless Magic / Gryffindor / Suppressed

The Mage-sense had changed from 'transitional' to 'active', and an entry for 'Command Voice' had been added.

Lupin was nodding. "I see. That explains the odd sensation I had when you insisted on an explanation of the legacy report."

Harry quickly summarized what he had been told about the gift statuses and the meanings of those gifts that may not be obvious. Then he described in part the sensations he had experienced when he woke up, especially his sense of Hogwarts as an entity. With a rueful laugh, Harry commented, "Mrs. Weasley, I think Hogwarts wants to spoil me just the way you always do. It's been centuries since a founders' descendent has been able to communicate with her so she's making up for lost time."

Ever the analytical one, Hermione asked, "Do you hear words from Hogwarts? Is it some kind of mental communication? And you refer to Hogwarts as 'she' ... how can you tell that it's a female ... whatever?"

"So far, it's feelings and images, not actual conversation," Harry replied. "As for being a 'she', well, one of the images I received was of a mother singing a lullaby. Plus, she hasn't tried to correct me. I suppose it could be a 'he' ... nope," he chuckled. "I just got a mental swat for that ... definitely a 'she'."

After a moment, he walked towards Dumbledore, saying to the others in the room, "Excuse me a moment, please." He picked up the portrait and stepped over to a corner. "Sir, I need some permission, or at least advice. Should I tell the rest of them about the prophecy, and should I tell them about the Horcruxes? Ron and Hermione know both. If there is a way to protect the information, I'd like to tell the others. I think they could be of help, and it would put the legacies in perspective. Right after I turn 17, I'm going Horcrux hunting."

"There is a spell that can protect knowledge in a person's mind, almost as well as the Fidelius can protect a location," Dumbledore answered after a moment. "It was something I was researching for use with the Order, though I hadn't actually used it yet. Minerva knows about the spell. Have the Room produce a copy of Advanced Rituals and Spellcasting - Not for the Nervous Novice, by Evan Esco and check page 394 for the Sodalis security spell. It is used to protect the secrets of a group of people bound together in a type of brotherhood. It would be applicable to the Order of the Phoenix, or could be used in present company if they are defined as a group pledged to support your mission. It requires a very powerful spellcaster for both the pledging ceremony and the security spell. However, based on your gift analysis and observing you during the Heritage Ritual, I would say that your magical presence would no longer be overshadowed by mine as in the Horcrux cave a few weeks ago. Leave me near Minerva while you explain the situation to the others."

The Weasleys had been snacking and discussing what they had learned so far. Ron and Hermione were staring at Harry, wondering what else he may choose to tell them, including the secrets that so far were limited to the three of them. Ginny addressed her family's concerns about Harry's state, since they had been told how distressed he was at first. Flitwick and Lupin were back at the Canvas, checking out various ancestors, and explaining to Bill and Charlie more about how the Ritual was performed.

Harry stood in the middle of the room, clearing his throat for attention ala Umbridge. The twins gave him a dirty look and went into twin-speak.

"Harry!" chided Fred.

"That is ..." started George.

"... positively cruel," Fred continued.

"Though you don't ..."

"... have the Toad's ..."

"... tone of voice ..."

"... quite right," finished Fred.

"But it got your attention, didn't it?" laughed Harry. "There are some things I want to discuss, but so far they've been very closely-kept secrets. Professor Dumbledore says there is a security spell I can use to help us all keep the secret and protect you to some extent from people trying to learn about it. A key requirement, though, is that the group involved be bound to some purpose ... a brotherhood or fellowship, like the Order. If you are willing, we would be a group pledged to help me along the way to defeating Voldemort. And, yes, it does have to be me, even if Dumbledore was still alive. That's one of the secrets I want to share."

Though some had to think about that for a few moments, others like Lupin and the twins immediately agreed to be part of such a group. Ron and Hermione explained that they already knew at least part of the secret involved, and they considered themselves already pledged to Harry's cause. Flitwick went to join McGonagall, who had Required the reference book that Dumbledore had mentioned and was reviewing the needs of the spell involved. The pledge among them would not have the 'to the death' consequences of an Unbreakable Vow, but would be extremely strong, only breakable by the mutual consent of the subject of the pledge (or designated alternate) and the one making the pledge.

It was Arthur Weasley who answered for the group. "Harry, I speak for all of us when I say that I am willing to pledge my support to you and to participate in this security spell. I suggest that you limit access to Harry's Room to those in the group, and include the details of your legacies as part of the secret. It's hard for some of us to believe that all along it has been your job to face ... the enemy, but since Albus didn't contradict your statement, I can only believe it must be true." The Weasleys and Fleur nodded in agreement, and Lupin gazed at Harry with a look that said, Do you even have to ask?

McGonagall brought the reference book over to Harry, who Required a lectern so he could check the book and keep his hands free to perform the spell. He quickly read the entries, paying close attention to the sections that the headmistress pointed out. "I wonder," he mused. "Would this work with a house elf? I was thinking of Dobby, of course, not Kreacher, though if you do this with the Order, then including Kreacher would make sense if you could get him to pledge." After a short moment of vagueness, he said, "Hogwarts recommends including Dobby ... something about strengthening the bond by including a non-human." Seeing no objections, he called the house elf and quickly explained the pledge and the security spell. "So, Dobby, you don't have to do this, but would you be willing to join us to help me with what I have ahead of me?"

"Dobby is honored that the great wizard Harry Potter would include a house elf such as Dobby in such an important undertaking," gushed the little creature. He was nearly crying with joy. "Say what Dobby needs to do, Harry Potter." Harry indicated that Dobby should sit with the others. After starting towards where the students were sitting, he seemed to decide against sitting so close to Hermione and scurried instead to sit on the floor beside Lupin's chair.

Dumbledore began with an introduction as Harry reviewed the pledging ceremony and security spell one more time. "To begin with, Harry will perform an invocation, a statement of what he asks of us. With Harry's permission, I will be the one to state the pledge, after which he will step up to each of us. We will affirm the pledge with 'I,' state your name," he gave a sharp look at the twins, warning them not to play games with the statement when their time came, "'so pledge on my honor and my magic'." He glanced at Harry, who nodded in agreement. "That will form the group's bond. A magical parchment will record the text of the invocation and pledge, and each of our names. After that, Harry will invoke the security spell for the first time. Any future additions to the group will affirm the exact same pledge, and the sealing of the pledge will automatically include the Sodalis. As the subject of the pledge, he will control what is hidden by the spell, and can make exceptions on a case by case basis. In addition, he can designate alternates with similar authority within the group."

"The group needs a name of some kind, not too trite, not too pompous," commented Flitwick, smiling at Harry's embarrassed reaction to this.

After a few moments of silence, then some mutterings as various people tried and dismissed several ideas, Charlie suggested, "How about something related to Harry's animagus form?"

Fred and George popped in. "Ah, excellent dear brother!"

"Phoenix ... The Order of ..."

"... the Phoenix! It has a nice ..."

"... ring to it! ... But ..."

"... it sounds ..."

"... vaguely ..."

"... familiar,"

"... doesn't it?"

Charlie half growled, half chuckled. "Enough, you two prats! I meant the other form. We could be called the Wolf Pack."

Lupin smiled, looking at Harry. "Yes, that would be perfect. Harry is everything an alpha should be," said the werewolf, nodding. This, of course, caused Harry to blush extensively.

A tremulous sigh could be heard from the lectern, as Harry braced himself. "Professor, please don't go overboard on the pledge ... just what is necessary ... I ... well, you know what I mean, don't you? I don't want to take advantage of anyone."

"I understand, Harry. Begin when you are ready, carefully," Dumbledore answered. His strong but soothing voice conveyed all the pride and affection he had needed to mask while he lived. The spirit of the portrait was grateful that his many other responsibilities no longer interfered with expressing the love that had grown over the years for this young man. We fools who love ... he thought.

Harry looked puzzled at Dumbledore's urge for caution for a moment, then he realized, I need to work carefully since I'm not sure how my magic is changing because of the legacies. He raised his wand, unconsciously summoning his magic in preparation, and felt a strong surge of energy like a blast of heat throughout his body. Whoa! Let's try that again ... gently. Breathing steadily, he carefully released the energy, which seemed to trickle away like a small stream into a large lake. Reaching carefully but consciously this time, a tiny but powerful thread of energy seemed to flow out of the reservoir he imagined deep within his being. He waved his wand in a simple warding spell that circled the room like a golden lasso.

"Invocatio!" A glowing golden parchment appeared, floating above Harry's head. Lowering his wand, he began, his words appearing on the parchment in glowing black letters. "You are my teachers, my friends, my only true family. In various ways you have already helped and supported me over the years. Before me is a path directed by prophecy and the public, which I have willingly chosen to follow ... a path that leads to the downfall of Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters ... if I succeed. I am told that the power of love, in all its various forms, is a most formidable magic, a gift I have in great measure. If this is true, it is those who have cared about me that will make all this possible. I ask you now, to preserve those secrets which must be kept from the enemy, will you pledge your support to me as the Wolf Pack until such time as we both agree to release that pledge?" Harry stood before them, strong in his dedication, a soft, golden glow forming around him. The golden lasso ward spread both up and down, encompassing the walls, ceiling, and floor, softly pulsing with Harry's heartbeat. As Dumbledore began the pledge, Harry walked slowly in the direction of the portrait.

"Harry, we pledge to you that we will do all in our power to help and support you, both in your mission and in your life. We offer assistance and guidance, and will follow your leadership as you take your path of destiny. We are your teachers, your friends, your true family ... your Pack. Depend on us as we depend on you." As Dumbledore finished, his voice strained with emotion, Harry stopped before the portrait. Dumbledore reached out his hand, which spread out as though the front of the portrait were a pane of glass.

Harry reached out the tip of his right index finger to touch the miniature image of that hand. For a moment, he seemed to feel the warmth of living flesh, the texture of aged skin, but then he was only touching a painted canvas.

"I, Albus Dumbledore, so pledge on my honor and my magic." The golden glow around Harry flared, extending around the portrait, and Dumbledore's name appeared on the magical contract below the phrase I so pledge on my honor and my magic. The name appeared in a bright green, a match for the glittering emerald of Harry's eyes.

He then turned to Professor McGonagall, who was standing beside the portrait, her hands reaching toward Harry, who clasped them and met her eyes as she firmly stated, Scottish burr strong with emotion, "I, Minerva McGonagall, so pledge on my honor and my magic." After the golden flare of magic receded, she pulled him into a quick embrace, and he realized that, beneath the stern exterior of his former Head of House and now headmistress, beat the generous heart of a surrogate grandmother.

Harry continued around the room: Flitwick stood on his chair to better look Harry in the eye; Lupin embraced him firmly after the pledge, with an odd wolf-like gesture that Harry realized was meant to symbolize the submission of a beta to an alpha; Dobby wept at the honor done to a mere house elf, his huge eyes wide with devotion, who yet constrained himself to speak only the required pledge and to cling only for a moment to Harry's legs; Molly and Arthur Weasley were the closest parental figures he had left, but they both realized their 'seventh son' was no longer a child; Bill, Fleur, Charlie may not have known Harry as closely as others, but they just as surely pledged their support; the twins for the first time in Harry's memory abandoned their frivolous manner and pledged in all seriousness, the mischief in their eyes only returning after the now traditional embrace; Ron held Harry's hands firmly as he clearly affirmed his pledge, his eyes apologizing for all the times he had failed Harry, resolving not to fail again; Hermione, who had been the first to show Harry just how good a hug could feel, tenderly gave her friend and brother all her love and support; and Ginny, who owed her life, who gave her heart, who waited when necessary, pledged her love to the world's hero and her own.

Harry stepped back to the center of the group to finish. He reached above his head for the scroll, which rolled up at his touch. He held it in his left hand, and tapped the scroll with his wand, saying, "So I pledge in turn to do my best to prepare for my destiny, and to lead and protect the Wolf Pack for as long as we are willingly bound together. Let our secrets be our own. Let no one steal our thoughts or memories to our detriment. Let it be as I declare. Sodalis!" The golden light again surrounded them all, almost blinding, but somehow not painful. Everyone felt a surge of energy fill them, refresh them, giving their thoughts clarity, then forming in their minds a place to hide the secrets of the Wolf Pack, preventing them from revealing those secrets to an outsider, whether by word, action, or thought, regardless of Veritaserum or Legilimency. "I hereby designate as my alternates Minerva McGonagall, Remus Lupin, and the portraits of Albus Dumbledore, so that they may act in my name within the confines of this Sodalis. Let their decisions regarding our secrets be as my own. So be it." Harry's words rang with power and authority, and each person was starkly aware of the implacable force of the gift of Command Voice.

And the light faded and the world was normal once again. Harry carefully opened the scroll he held, then nearly dropped it, gasping, his eyes wide in shock. Lupin hurried forward to see what was wrong, examining the scroll Harry held in shaking hands. At the bottom of the list naming those who had pledged to the Wolf Pack was a single, unexpected word, printed in medieval script, the initial illuminated with a full-color representation of the elements of the school crest.

The last of the night's pledges to the Wolf Pack was Hogwarts herself.

It had taken Harry over an hour, with Dumbledore's help, to brief his Pack; to relate the prophecy and its meaning; to summarize what Harry had learned from the pensieve memories about Voldemort and the Horcruxes; to tell of the destruction of three of them, and the suspected artifacts holding the other three. Those who were hearing much of this for the first time went through the gamut of emotions: shock, anger, compassion, resolve. Even those who knew part of the story were stunned at times. As they were all wizarding-raised, except for Hermione who had the book-learning, they realized in ways that Harry didn't, just how remarkable he must be. When Dumbledore enumerated the indications over the years that led him to suspect strong legacies for Harry, they understood how the evidence proved that Harry was, in fact, the Chosen One, a uniquely powerful wizard just waiting to fulfill his potential. They were in awe of their Wolf, though they tried to hide it for Harry's sake.

Over Harry's protests, it was decided that, within the Pack, they would use their given names. Harry just didn't think he would get used to calling the teachers and the elder Weasleys by name, though he admitted that he'd like to call Lupin 'Remus' or 'Moony'. They discussed additional members of the Pack, deciding immediately on Poppy Pomfrey and Hagrid. "It's the only way Hagrid can keep a secret," quipped Ron, thinking back to all the information they had tricked out of him over the years. Other suggestions included Kingsley Shacklebolt, to assist with Auror-type training, and Tonks, who would be recruited to help Harry with his Metamorphmagus gift. A decision on Neville and Luna and several others was tabled to a later date.

Anyone who had to be at jobs by a particular time left a short time later, those being Arthur, Bill and Fleur, Fred and George. The others spoke quietly for another hour before Harry insisted they all needed to get some sleep. Ron and Charlie gave Harry a pat on the back; Molly, Hermione and Ginny all insisted on a goodnight hug before they left.

"Are you sure you don't need me to stay, Harry?" asked Ginny, still keeping her arms loosely around his waist after a lingering snuggle.

"I'll be fine. Madam Pomfrey, Hogwarts, and especially you have all performed your special magics quite well," he smiled. "You go home and get a good night's sleep." After a moment, he leaned in to hug her again, and she heard an undercurrent of soft hissing as he whispered in Parseltongue, 'If you decide to reveal that you are a Speaker, I will make it a Pack secret. Only if you choose, though.'

She whispered back in normal speech, "I'll think about that, Harry. Truly, I will. I understand how it could be useful."

After the remaining Weasleys and Hermione had left for the Burrow, Harry said, "Hogwarts agrees that my Pack alternates can give access to this room, but I'd like to keep it to people who are likely to join the Pack."

"That is understood, Harry," agreed McGonagall. "Dobby?" she addressed the house elf who had just finished cleaning up the remains of the buffet. "Harry will be staying in the guest quarters next to Remus. I want you to consider yourself assigned to Harry for the duration. You may perform your usual chores when Harry has no immediate need of your services, but his needs will be your first priority. Whether he is staying at the school or elsewhere, you will remain attuned to him. Don't hover, though. He will call you when he has need of your assistance." She looked at Harry. "I insist on this, Harry. Dobby's magic will allow him to follow you places that the rest of us might not. He remains a free elf, but as his employer, I assign his duties, and you are now his primary duty."

"Are you okay with this, Dobby?" asked Harry. "I know how much your freedom means to you. I can pay you extra if you like."

"Oh no, Harry Potter sir," the house elf replied earnestly. "Dobby is pledged to the Wolf. Dobby would serve the Wolf for free. If the Wolf wished, Dobby would even call the Wolf his Master!"

"Never 'Master', Dobby," Harry insisted. "I don't want to be anyone's master. Besides, Hermione would never forgive me. She has enough trouble with my owning Kreacher, though she understands I really had no choice there. But you, Dobby, I choose to have as my friend and helper. Thank you." Turning back to the headmistress, he asked, "Professor?" At her raised eyebrow he amended, "Oh alright, it's still Pack business. Minerva," he asked with a wry smile, "would you help me start animagus training? The only problem is ... I won't register with the Ministry. I can't. I ..."

"I understand, Harry. It must remain a Pack secret for now," she agreed. "However, I expect that once ... Voldemort ... " she forced out, "has been defeated, or if it is confirmed that he has learned of one or both of your forms, you will then register with the Ministry immediately. We can prepare all the paperwork ahead of time, but keep it here. You can avoid legal entanglements as long as you register before the Ministry finds out. I assume we will begin with the wolf, since the phoenix is still dormant." Harry nodded. "At least we can skip the first step ... identifying what form you have, if any. Having two forms is unheard-of, though I suppose it is possible that any prior dual-animagus could have kept it a secret."

"It took Dad and the others three years to achieve," Harry commented. "They started secretly in second year."

"Those boys were remarkable, I must admit," McGonagall remembered fondly. "I would never have believed Peter capable of such an achievement; I must credit James and Sirius with being excellent teachers. Under the guidance of an experienced animagus, it should take much less time. In addition, as your legacies develop, your Mage-sense and force-of-will in particular, the process can be accelerated. Finally, your magic is very strong. I expect you could possibly succeed with your wolf as early as the start of term. I keep all reference books on this subject in my private library. I'll send Dobby in the morning to bring you Animagi - Finding your Inner Animal as a start. If you have any questions after you leave, you can owl me or send a message through Albus."

Turning to check on Dumbledore, Harry saw that Flitwick and Dobby had already left, and Remus was speaking quietly with the portrait. Remus noticed that Harry was ready to go. "We'll floo back to my room, since you're just next door. I plan to let you sleep in, young man. You've had quite a long day," he commented.

Harry nodded. "Good night, sir ... Albus," he told the portrait. "I'll take your frame back to my room, but you may want to stay in your office portrait ... I'm told I snore," Harry commented wryly.

Dumbledore chuckled, his eyes almost twinkling in their old way. "Not too badly, Harry. I was there during your nap this afternoon. However, I will be discussing a few things with Minerva before our business for the night is complete. Sleep well, Harry. If you feel you need any potions, Poppy left a dose of Dreamless Sleep which should be in your bedroom by now. Dobby will bring you breakfast ... or brunch as the case may be ... when you awaken. Call me if you need to discuss anything ... anything at all, my boy." Dumbledore nodded once more before leaving the portrait.

It took less than five minutes for Remus and Harry to floo to the werewolf's room, get Harry and his things moved next door, and for Harry to drop off to sleep. Just before losing consciousness, he felt the ghostly sensation of a gentle kiss on his forehead as Hogwarts wished him sweet dreams.

"But Minerva," Dumbledore responded almost plaintively.

"Albus, he must know and soon. I realize you are trying to spare him again. He has already said he will go Horcrux hunting as soon as he turns 17, though he may at least wait for the Weasley wedding that following weekend. You know he will also seek to avenge you. He will need time to accept what you have to tell him. Merlin knows I still have difficulty with what you told me." McGonagall stopped her agitated pacing and faced her predecessor's portrait squarely.

"He must know the truth about Severus."

to be continued