|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Author: Grandma Kate Story: Ginny's Third Year at Hogwarts Rating: Everyone Setting: Pre-OotP Status: Completed Reviews: 6 Words: 38,332
The Harry Potter Universe belongs to J.K. Rowling. I'm just borrowing the characters for a while. This is for pleasure only, no profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended. Bold Face Type indicates a direct quote from Chapter Four, Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, or Chapter Five, The Order of the Phoenix, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. The first night that the Weasleys and Hermione stayed at the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, no one slept very much. They kept hearing strange noises from both outside and within the house. Every surface was grimy, as though no one had lived there for years. Molly was relieved that they'd brought their own bedding and pillows because what was on the beds was tatty and dusty. She personally Scourgified each of their mattresses before making up the beds for the night. After Arthur left for work on Monday morning, she told the children that they would need to help her clean. She had decided to start with the big stone kitchen, the stone steps leading to it, and the front hall. Thank Merlin, Fred and George could do some things by magic, but the rest of the children would just have to clean the Muggle way. She sent the twins up to the front hall to see if they could figure out a way to keep the portrait of old Mrs Black from screaming invective at the slightest noise. 'Might as well use the talents they have for finding unique ways to solve problems,' she thought as she told them to use the strongest cleaning spells they knew on the ceiling, walls, and floor in the entry hall. Molly set Hermione and Ginny to work emptying the pantry and putting all the food on the kitchen table. She would organize it to suit herself after she was sure that the food was edible and not full of insects. After Hermione and Ginny had emptied out the pantry, she gave them pails of hot soapy water and scrub brushes. They began scrubbing its ceiling, walls, shelves, and floor Ron was given a pail of hot soapy water and a stiff brush and set to work on the stone walls and steps between the hall and the kitchen. Molly determined that half the food was inedible and began making a shopping list. She and the children would have to buy Muggle food unless Sirius knew of a reputable wizard establishment. When Hermione and Ginny had scrubbed and rinsed the pantry, she cast a Drying Charm and conjured some lavender stalks to freshen the air. Then she carefully arranged the food that she deemed acceptable and went to consult with Sirius. He handed Molly a bag of gold and directed them to a nearby shop. He said he wished that he could go with them but that Dumbledore had asked him to remain in the house at all times. Molly took all five children with her to do the shopping. Each of them had a large sack of groceries or cleaning products to carry back to the house. When Arthur came home, he was careful to tiptoe past the curtain that covered the picture of Mrs Black. He commented that at least one coat of grime had been removed from the front hall and said that he was pleasantly surprised at the clean staircase and kitchen. It was still drab, but spotless, and there was a heavenly smell coming from the cauldron on the cooker. 'Beef stew,' he said appreciatively, 'and fresh baked bread and an apple pie.' He kissed Molly and smiled at Ginny and Hermione. 'You always have had a good nose,' said Molly, returning the kiss. 'The rest of the house is still a mess but we have a clean place to eat. Sirius told us where we could restock his pantry and we had quite a shopping expedition.' Ron, Fred, and George came down the stairs. 'Dad,' said Ron. 'Sirius says that we can't send an owl to Harry telling him that we're here.' 'It shouldn't be much longer before Harry will be able to come and join us.' Arthur looked very serious. 'I know it's hard on you and Hermione but you must not let him know anything that is happening until he is here safe with us.' 'Why couldn't we stay at the Burrow?' asked Ron. Molly and Arthur looked at each other. Fred and George looked away. 'What? What aren't you telling me?' asked Ron. 'In good time, we can explain everything to you and Ginny and Hermione.' Arthur looked uncomfortable. 'Please call the girls to dinner.' After dinner, Arthur stood up and said, 'I have to be on duty at the Ministry tonight. I'll see you in the morning.' He clasped the hands of Sirius, his three sons, and Hermione; then kissed Molly and Ginny and tiptoed up the stairs. They just barely heard the click of the front door closing. Molly felt a cold shiver as she looked at the clock. It read 9:23 PM. She wondered why she had a strong feeling that something very bad had just happened. They all went up to their rooms as soon as the kitchen was cleaned up. Molly reminded them not to stay up late because there was serious cleaning to be done the next day. Everyone laughed when Sirius barked, 'Serious indeed.' Almost as soon as Molly got there, a Ministry owl tapped at the window of the room that she and Arthur were sleeping in. She quickly gave him a half-eaten biscuit and opened the parchment. It was from Arthur. Dear Molly, Do not share this information with the children. Dementors have attacked Harry and his cousin. The cousin is greatly affected and the Dursleys attempted to force Harry to leave. Dumbledore has instructed him to stay inside their house at all times and wait for instructions. We are making plans to transport him to where we are staying. Harry may try to communicate with Sirius. Tell him he must keep calm. Dumbledore and Kingsley are taking care of the arrangements. I may not be home at all until tomorrow night. Molly was greatly distressed by Arthur's note. She had just begun to prepare for bed with a heavy heart when there was a tentative knock on her door. She went over to it, opened it, and was surprised to see Sirius standing in the hall. 'I've just gotten this from Harry,' he said, holding out a piece of parchment. 'What do you know about Dementors attacking him?' Ron, Hermione and Ginny suddenly burst from the girls' room. Ron and Hermione were holding notes, too. Hermione said, 'Hedwig brought these.' She read aloud- I've just been attacked by dementors and I might be expelled from Hogwarts. I want to know what's going on and when I'm going to get out of here. 'Mine says the same thing,' said Ron. 'Hedwig keeps pecking us like she wants an answer. Did you get one, too, Sirius?' Sirius nodded and all four of them looked at Molly. She used her most calming voice to say, 'You must not reply to Harry. Arthur says that Dumbledore and Shacklelbolt have everything under control. They will transport Harry here when it is safe. We must trust them.' They all began to protest but Molly remained firm. 'We must get the house ready for Harry. We had better buy some more sheets and towels tomorrow after we clean the bedrooms we are using. We haven't even started on the bathrooms.' She shook hands with Sirius and hugged the three children. Then she closed her door and tossed and turned all night wondering what was happening to Arthur and if Harry was still safe at the Dursleys. After breakfast the next morning, Molly directed the children to sweep and scrub their bedrooms. She told Fred and George that they were to make the bathrooms spotless when they finished their room. The twins were allowed to accompany her shopping for sheets and towels and more food. The three younger children were told to organize their summer homework. Arthur came home that night, absolutely exhausted from being on duty for twenty-four hours. Molly brought him supper on a tray and tried to convince him that everything was going well with the preparation of Grimmauld Place. Arthur said that the Order needed to meet in the kitchen at least every other night to complete the arrangements for Harry's transport. During the next three days, Molly supervised the stripping of the beds in the bedrooms that were not being used and kept all five children busy. The children were sent to their rooms before and after dinner each night while various members of the Order met. They argued quite a bit about being left out, but Molly remained firm. Early Friday evening, the Order was meeting in the kitchen and the five children had been told to stay in their rooms. Molly was bustling around with tea when she heard someone arrive in the front hall. She climbed the stairs and opened the door at the top of the stairs. She beamed as she saw Harry and the members of the Order. 'Oh Harry, it's lovely to see you!' she whispered, pulling him into a rib-cracking hug before holding him at arms length and examining him critically. 'You're looking peaky; you need feeding up, but you'll have to wait a bit for dinner, I'm afraid…' She turned to the gang of wizards behind him and whispered urgently, 'He's just arrived, the meeting's started…' Everyone began to go through the door and Harry started to follow but Molly motioned him to follow her upstairs to stay with Ron and Hermione and the rest of the children. 'Ron and Hermione will explain everything, dear. I've really got to dash… There- you're the door on the right. I'll call you when it's over.' And she hurried off downstairs again and joined the meeting, casting an Imperturbable Charm on the door to the kitchen as she went through it. Professor Dumbledore was at the head of the table, about to begin the meeting. He looked at Molly and asked, 'is Harry all settled with the other children?' Molly nodded and took a seat where she could keep an eye on the baking bread and the simmering stew while Harry's escorts reported on their journey. The next item that was discussed was about Harry's trial. Dumbledore thought that Arthur would be the most logical person to prepare him for the Wizengamot and take him to the Ministry. Severus Snape showed the plans of a part of the Ministry and went on and on about strategies for guarding it. When the meeting was over, Molly removed the Imperturbable Charm and looked down at the Dungbombs right in front of the door. She waved her wand, said 'Evanesco', and they vanished. She then climbed the steps to the entry hall, waved good-bye to the members who were quietly going out the front door, and climbed the stairs to the bedroom where she had left Harry. He, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were sitting on the beds. 'The meeting's over, you can come down and have dinner now, everyone's dying to see you Harry. And who's left all those Dungbombs outside the kitchen door?' 'Crookshanks,' said Ginny unblushingly. 'He loves playing with them.' …'I thought it might have been Kreacher, he keeps doing odd things like that. Now don't forget to keep your voices down in the hall. Ginny, your hands are filthy, what have you been doing? Go and wash them before dinner, please…' Molly started down the stairs with Ginny following her. Ron, Hermione and Harry lagged behind. Some members of the Order were still standing in the hall, whispering to each other, but eventually they all left. Molly helped Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks magically seal the many locks. Then she looked up the staircase and saw Ron, Hermione and Harry coming down it, with Harry looking curiously at the row of house-elf heads. 'We're eating down in the kitchen,' she whispered, meeting them at the bottom of the stairs. 'Harry, dear, if you'll just tiptoe across the hall, it's through this door here-' At that moment Tonks tripped over the umbrella stand and a horrible, earsplitting, bloodcurdling screech filled the hall. The voice went on and on until Sirius charged in. 'Shut up, you horrible old hag, shut UP!' he roared, seizing the curtain… The old woman's face blanched. 'Yoooou!' she howled, her eyes popping… 'Blood traitor, abomination, shame of my flesh!' 'I said –shut-UP!'… He and Lupin got the curtain closed. Then Sirius turned to Harry and said, 'Hello Harry… I see you've met my mother… This was my parents' house… I offered it to Dumbledore for headquarters…' They all walked down the stone steps and entered the big kitchen. Molly immediately began preparing dinner after telling Arthur and Bill to tidy up the table. Fred and George offered to help put the dinner on the table. Molly shrieked- 'Fred- George- NO, JUST CARRY THEM!' after they bewitched a large cauldron of stew, an iron flagon of butterbeer, and a heavy wooden breadboard complete with knife. They sent it hurtling to the table where Harry was talking to Sirius and Mundungus Fletcher. The stew skidded the length of the table and came to a halt just before the end, leaving a long black burn on the wooden surface, the flagon of butterbeer fell with a crash, spilling its contents everywhere, and the bread knife slipped off the board and landed, point down and quivering ominously, exactly where Sirius's right hand had been seconds before. Molly berated the twins for using magic for everything and reminded them that Bill and Charlie and Percy had not acted in such an irresponsible manner. As soon as she mentioned Percy's name, she stopped dead, catching her breath with a frightened look at her husband, whose expression was suddenly wooden. 'Let's eat, ' said Bill quickly. Dinner was a quiet affair. Molly told Sirius, 'There's something trapped in the writing desk in the drawing room, it keeps rattling and shaking. Of course, it could just be a Boggart. But I thought we ought to ask Alastor to have a look at it before we let it out.' 'Whatever you like,' said Sirius, indifferently. 'The curtains are all full of Doxies, too.' She said that she and the children would start getting rid of them first thing tomorrow so they should go up to bed. Sirius insisted that Harry be allowed to stay and ask questions about what was happening. He and Molly argued about this with Molly saying that she had, 'Harry's best interests at heart-' 'He's not your son,' said Sirius quietly. 'He's as good as,' said Molly fiercely. 'Who else has he got?' 'He's got me!' Molly pointed out that Sirius had not been able to care for him while he had been in Azkaban. Lupin tried to calm both of them down and said that Harry should be allowed a say in how much information he wanted. Molly knew better than to argue further. 'Ginny- Ron- Hermione- Fred- George- I want you out of the kitchen, now.' The children all argued with her and Arthur pointed out that Fred and George were of age. Ron pointed out that Harry would tell Hermione and him everything as soon as he got upstairs. 'Fine!' shouted Molly. 'Fine! Ginny- BED!' Ginny did not go quietly. She kept raging and shouting at her mother all the way up the stairs, and when she reached the hall Mrs Black's earsplitting shrieks were added to the din. Molly half dragged Ginny up the room that she shared with Hermione and tried to calm her down and get her ready for bed. She had a very bad feeling about how much the men would tell Harry. She thought that he needed to know something so he could keep himself safe, but he was just a boy. She felt strongly that that he did not need to know everything. Finally, Ginny was calm enough to be left, although she kept muttering that Harry would tell Hermione everything and that Hermione would tell her. Molly wondered when Ginny had developed such a strong will as she tiptoed down the stairs, across the now quiet hall, and down the stone steps to the kitchen. She stood in the shadows by the door as she heard Sirius's voice saying, 'Stuff he can only get by stealth.' Then he continued, 'Like a weapon. Something he didn't have last time.' 'Yes.' 'Like what kind of a weapon?' said Harry. 'Something worse than the Avada Kedavra-' 'That's enough!' Molly spoke from the shadows by the door… Her arms were crossed and she looked furious. 'I want you in bed, now. All of you,' she added, looking around at Fred, George, Ron, and Hermione. 'You can't boss us-' Fred began. 'Watch me,' snarled his mother. She was trembling slightly as she looked at Sirius. 'You've given Harry plenty of information. Any more and you might as well induct him into the Order straightaway.' 'Why not?' said Harry quickly. 'I'll join. I want to join. I want to fight-' 'No.' Lupin explained that the Order was only for overage wizards who had left school… 'I think Molly's right, Sirius. We've said enough.' Sirius half shrugged but did not argue. Molly beckoned imperiously to her sons and Hermione. One by one they stood up and Harry, recognizing defeat, followed suit. When Molly had cleaned the kitchen and she and Arthur had climbed the stairs to their bedroom, she was very quiet as she got ready for bed. 'Is everything all right, Molly?' asked Arthur as he climbed into bed. 'I'm worried about Harry. It just isn't fair for that dear boy to have so much put on him. I wish we could protect him more.' 'So do we all, Mollywobbles,' he said as they snuggled together. 'So do we all.'
|