Chapter 4, Christmas at Grimmauld Place
You appeared in Dumbledore’s office a moment later. Harry and Ron had been standing in their night clothes looking terrified and concerned. A moment later, Minerva came into the office with the rest of the Weasley’s.
“(Y/N), I need you to escort Harry and the Weasley’s to Grimmauld Place then get to the Burrow to try to calm Molly down. Arthur Weasley has been attacked and I need someone there until we know what is going on.” Dumbledore turned to an old kettle on his desk.
“You have all used a Portkey before?” They all nodded. “Good. (Y/L), please count it off.”
“Alright everyone,” You were nervous you haven’t traveled by Portkey in a long time. “One...two...three!” Before you knew it, you were whizzing quickly in the air. You looked up and saw everyone was aboard and you had hoped for a soft landing.
The group came to a halt in a basement filled with kitchen ingredients and supplies. Unfortunately, you hadn’t gotten the landing you had hoped for. It was dark but there was a small fire and a candle to help them see. Suddenly, a voice came from the darkness.
“Back again, the blood traitor brats, is it true their father’s dying…?”
The second voice made everyone jump. You caught a glimpse of a house elf scurrying away. A scruffy man came down the stairs, you had seen his picture in The Prophet a few years back; it was Sirius Black, Harry’s godfather and member of the Order. You realized you would finally get a chance to meet everyone that you would be working with to bring down Voldemort.
“What’s going on? Phineaus Nigellus said Arthur’s been badly injured-“
“Ask Harry,” said Fred...or George you were still trying to figure out which was which.
“Yeah, I want to hear this for myself,” said the other Weasley twin.
Harry explained his dream/vision to everyone. Ginny wanted to go to St. Mungo’s Hospital immediately but Sirius explained why they had to wait.
“You must be (Y/L),” Sirius put out his hand to greet you.
“Yes. It’s nice to meet you.” You shook his hand not knowing what to do next. “I should go help Molly. Dumbledore sent me to comfort her until we can go see him.”
Sirius gave you instructions on how to get to the Burrow safely. You disapparated immediately. When you came to you noticed you were on, what looked like, a farm. The rickety house in front of you had its lower level lights on, which told you Molly was awake and probably knew about her husband. You knocked on the door and a moment later a stout, red-haired woman with a tear stained face was standing in front of you, her robe tied tightly around her waist.
“(Y/N), dear. Come in please! Thank you for coming. Let me get you something to eat,” Molly said wiping her face. “Let me just finish this letter.” She rolled up the parchment and attached it to Fawkes, Dumbledore’s phoenix. “There, now then what would you like dearie?”
You knew that she was putting on a brave face because she felt like she had to be the warm welcoming woman that you had heard many stories about. You didn’t say anything, you walked up to her and gave her s hug. You felt her bury her face in your shoulder, trying to hold back tears.
“He’ll be okay, Molly. From what I know they found him quickly and he was alive.” You weren’t the best at consoling people but you tried your hardest. You couldn’t imagine what was going on inside her head right now. Molly walked into the kitchen and pulled out two glasses and a bottle of firewhisky.
“Nothing to do now but wait. So, tell me about yourself, dear. Dumbledore has had nothing but nice things to say about you.” You blushed as she handed you the glass.
About an hour past, you told Molly about yourself which seemed to distract her for the moment. When she saw the time, she decided to go upstairs to get dressed. You heard a tapping coming from the kitchen. An owl was outside with a roll of parchment in its beak, you opened the window and took the roll of parchment. You ran up the stairs and gave Molly the letter. She opened it immediately then grabbed your hand.
A moment later you were standing in a bright white room. It took you a moment to get your bearings straight and to let the wave of nausea pass; when your vision had come back into focus you realized you were in St. Mungo’s waiting room. Molly had run over to the desk and was led back into the hospital. She looked back at you to see if you were coming but you decided it was best to stay out in the waiting room, this was a delicate situation and you didn’t want to intrude. Around five in the morning, Molly came back out of the waiting room.
“He’s going to be fine, thank the gods. I need to get to the children. Would you mind leading? I'm an old witch as it is, now I’m an old tired witch.”
You took her hand and disapparated from the hospital and found yourself in the kitchen at Grimmauld Place. The Weasley children all stood when they saw their mother, waiting to hear the news.
“He’s going to be alright,” her voice weak from tiredness. “He’s sleeping. We can all go see him later. Bill’s sitting with him now, he’s going to take the morning off work.” Everyone was relieved to hear the good news. Sirius called for Kreature to make breakfast but he never showed up so Sirius started making it himself. You and Harry decided to assist in making breakfast to let the Weasley’s enjoy the happy news. Molly came over to thank you all for everything you did to help her and her family. Sirius offered to let everyone stay as long as they needed, which would bring them well past Christmas. Harry pulled Sirius away to talk to him privately as you continued to make breakfast. After everyone was full of bacon and eggs, they headed upstairs for a nap before they headed to the hospital to visit Arthur.
You finally awoke from your rest and saw trunks had arrived from Hogwarts for everyone, including one for yourself. You got dressed and met Sirius in the sitting room where he was talking to two people. One was a beautiful witch who had short, pink hair and the other was Mad-Eye Moody, who was your Defense Against the Dark Arts professor your seventh year.
“Good to see you, Ms. (L/N),” grunted Moody, as he shook your hand roughly. “This here is Nymphadora.” The girls' hair and eyes had turned bright red at Moody’s introduction.
“DON’T. CALL. ME. NYMPHADORA!” Moody chuckled and slapped her on the back.
“Nah. I’m just teasing, she prefers Tonks.” You smiled and shook her hand.
“You must be (Y/N). Sirius has filled us in on some stuff but maybe after our visit you’d want to get to know each other?” Her hair had returned to normal and she leaned in as whispered, “we're sort of outnumbered.” She gave you and wink and walked over to Molly and gave her a hug.
The trip to St. Mungo’s had been better this time around, now that everyone knew Arthur’s condition. The visit went well, the doctors said Arthur would recover nicely and he would be home by Christmas. He thanked you again for helping with Molly and the kids and said you’ll get to know more about each other in the coming months. Everyone left the hospital feeling like a weight had been lifted. When you arrived back at Grimmauld Place you helped Molly prepare dinner, that night had been much better than the prior evening and everyone could get a good night's sleep.
The next morning everyone chipped in with setting up Christmas decorations. Sirius sang carols while Fred and George set up the tree a wizard named Mundungus had brought. Tonks was hanging garland on the fireplace while Molly made lunch. You decided to go through the tree ornaments with Ginny. Hermione arrived later that night, even though she was supposed to be skiing with her parents. You heard that Umbridge was furious that you had taken Harry and the Weasley’s away from the school “without her permission” as if she was some type of authority. The thought of that vile woman made your stomach turn. The kids went upstairs and the members of the Order gathered around the fireplace to catch up.
“So (Y/N), Sirius tells us you come from Death Eaters.” There was no beating around the bush with Mad-Eye.
“Yes my father mainly, my mother is more reserved. Ever since the night that was supposed to be Voldemort’s last, my father has been leading the search trying to find any sign of him. After the Triwizard Tournament, I had seen even less of my parents, which I didn’t even think was possible.”
Molly passed out mugs of butterbeer. Tonks got up from her spot and ran to the door. When she returned she was followed by another one of your former professors, Remus Lupin. He had been your favorite Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and he recognized you immediately.
“(Y/N) (L/N). Dumbledore told me there was a new member but I never would have guessed. Great to see you, dear.”
“Likewise.” He was the first person to greet you with a hug. You weren’t sure why, but it made you feel much more welcome, like you had been a part of the Order for years.
“Who has Albus got you shadowing these days? Don’t tell me it’s Snape.” Lupin grimaced when he said Severus’ name.
“No, although Potions is where I would have liked to be. I’m the student professor of Herbology.”
“Ahh yes, Pomona Sprout if I remember correctly. Brilliant witch, you’ll learn a lot.” Sirius looked like he was about to burst if he didn’t greet Lupin. They hugged as Molly brought over another mug for Remus. The night ended after hours of catching up and retelling stories of the early days of the Order. Tonks was a little older than you so you weren’t the only one who wasn't in the First Order. Everyone had said their good-nights and went to bed.
Christmas morning started better than any you ever had at home. There was a small stack of gifts at the foot of your bed. One had been from Molly, it was a green sweater with a big letter (Y/N/L) on the front, a pack of Fizzing Whizbees from Dumbledore, and a letter from your parents with a picture in it (this year's trip was to Bulgaria). You put on your sweater and got out of bed, eager to get to the bacon you smelled, when you heard something drop lightly on the floor. A small box in red and gold wrapping paper laid on the ground, you must have lost it in your quilt when you grabbed your presents. You opened the square box and your heart almost pounded out of your chest, you pulled the long silver chain from the box that held an emerald gemstone. It was one of the most beautiful necklaces you had ever seen. The box had no note attached and nothing to say whom it was from. You pulled out your wand and cast a Curse Detection charm, there was no sign of a curse so you put it on wondering who it could be from.
“Happy Christmas (Y/N)!” Arthur Weasley sat bruised but merry at the head of the table.
“Happy Christmas. How are you feeling?”
“Better than ever now that I’ve got Molly’s breakfast in me, I’m telling you the food at St. Mungo’s was horrid.” He turned to talk to Sirius when an owl ran headfirst into the front door. Molly opened the door to find a package, she came back into the kitchen with tears on her face. In her hands on a jumper like yours but in red with a “P” on the front.
“No note. No explanation! Hasn’t even written to see if you’re even alive!” She burst into tears again. Fred and George had come downstairs when they heard the ruckus. They tried to comfort their mother but it didn’t seem to be helping. Lupin sent them upstairs to see if everyone was awake and took over consoling Molly, eventually she calmed down. The entire day was full of music, food and laughter; more than you could say if you were with your parents, you had never laughed so hard in your life.
The following days had been full of pleasant conversation and amazing food. You and Tonks had a lot in common and she showed you her metamorphmagi ability, which you found fascinating. Arthur told you about his work at the Ministry, learning about Muggle products and their uses and Alastor was telling stories from his days as an Auror. The holiday break was coming to a close when Molly, Arthur, Lupin, Tonks, Mad-Eye, Mundungus, and a man named Kingsley Shacklebolt brought you into the sitting room. Sirius stepped forward.
“(Y/N), getting to know you over these past week has been a joy. I can see now why Dumbledore picked you, you are a fine witch and I think you would make a fantastic addition to our cause. So, I would like to formally welcome you into the Order of the Phoenix.”
Everyone applauded as Sirius opened his arms for a hug. You tried hard to hold back the tears.
“When Dumbledore asked me if I wanted to join the Order, he said ‘you will enter into a family, one that treasures your abilities and protects you to the ends of the world.’ I heard what he said but I don’t think I really comprehended what he was saying, but I get it now. I have felt more at home this holiday than I did 18 years with my actual family. Thank you so much for accepting me, I won’t let you down.” Your eyes were welling up with tears so you figured it was best to cut it there before you became a bumbling mess. After a string of hugs and welcomes you went up to your room and opened your copy of Moste Potente Potions.
The final day of break was finally here. You couldn’t wait to go back to Hogwarts but you didn’t want to leave your new friends. You were packing up your trunk when Tonks came in to say good-bye.
“Mad-Eye needs me, Auror business. But I just wanted to let you know that you can always send an owl my way.” She gave you a hug and when she pulled away she saw your necklace.
“And who, may I ask, was that from?!” She let herself become a little girly and bent down to get a closer look. “It’s gorgeous!”
“I’m not sure. There was no note it was just on my bed Christmas morning. Don’t worry I checked for curses.”
“A secret admirer? Ohh, Molly will love this! When you find out who it is you must tell me I’m dying to find out!” With that she ran out of the room, you assumed, to tell Mrs. Weasley.
You turned back to your trunk and finished putting away your clothes. You were about to put your book away but when you turned to grab it off of your bed it was gone.
“Enjoying your new book? I can see you are more than halfway through.”
Your heart skipped a beat when you recognized the voice.
“As a matter of fact I am enjoying it. Very informative you know.” You turned around and saw him skimming through the pages. You waited for Severus to give it back so you could pack it away. “What are you doing here?”
“I had some business with Mr. Potter from Dumbledore and figured you would prefer to apparate back to Hogwarts. Only Albus, Minerva and myself may apparate in and out of Hogwarts.” Severus looked up from the book and glanced at your necklace. “Unless you would prefer to take the train.”
“Let me just say good-bye to everyone and we can go.” You went downstairs and said your good-byes. You didn’t want to leave yet but you didn’t want to sit on the Hogwarts Express for hours either.
“See you for Easter, dear?” Molly asked.
“Absolutely! I can’t wait.” She gave you the tightest hug of everyone and went back to cleaning the kitchen.
Severus held out his arm for you to take. You looked at your feet as your hand snaked around his elbow, not wanting him to see you blush. The room spun and you landed in Dumbledore's study.
“Ah Severus, (Y/N). Good holiday? I’m hoping that everyone was gracious at Grimmauld Place?”
“Yes, sir. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. You were right about them, I have never felt more at home.” You said with a large smile.
“Well I’m glad. Now, it’s good that you are both here because I have important business for both of you. Severus, I want you to teach Ms. (L/N) occlumency as well; it may come in handy in the future.”
“Of course, Headmaster.” Snape said, hands behind his back, looking professional. Dumbledore nodded and looked over at you.
“So, you took my advice and went with the emerald.” Snape’s face went bright red in a second flat and left the room quickly, obviously embarrassed. “It looks lovely on you (Y/N).” Dumbledore gave a playful wink and went back to his desk.
“Thank you, sir.” You left his office hoping to catch Severus in the hall but he had already disappeared. You touched your necklace and smiled as you walked back to your room.
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