Apparition was the art of disappearing from one location and appearing at another. Basically the teleportation that muggles know but more dangerous for the witch or wizard doing it.
Apparition had the danger of splinching yourself if you didn't do it right. And splinching yourself meant leaving body parts behind which was a scary thing to discover but it was also a very handy skill to have in the war. Amelia Bones was willing to teach them that skill now even though it normally wouldn't be taught to underage children.
She put down four hoops on the floor and explained the mechanics of Apparition to them. She also told them that since she was the one teaching them als the Head of the DMLE that it would be legal. They would be getting the papers to prove it. Normally you could only learn it when you were seventeen or older but this was a nessecary skill in these times according to Amelia. After they had succeeded in appearing in the hoop a few times without splinching themselves she'd give them the papers so they could get their licence.
And Harry agreed. This would be good to know how to get away quickly. It took a while of spinning in circles and imagining yourself appearing in the hoop but eventually it was Neville who appeared first with a loud bang into the hoop. He was just missing his eyebrows but Amelia quickly spelled them back in the right place.
Neville was so surprised that he did it first, he looked really proud of himself when Susan, Harry, Hermione and Amelia congratulated him. Harry was happy for his friend. Neville had gotten more confident lately but a little bit more confidence wouldn't hurt him.
Now it was just Harry, Hermione and Susan left who had to appear in the hoops. Neville, meanwhile, was Apparating from the hoop to his original spot and back again.
They tried a few more times before Harry looked at Hermione and Susan and asked them, "Shall we try it together now?" They looked back at him and nodded. They counted from three, two, one and spinned in a circle at the same time as the other. There sounded a loud pop and both Harry, Hermione and Susan stood in their hoops.
"We did it!" Hermione said happily as she ran over to Harry to hug him. Harry was a bit surprised by the hug but he quickly relaxed into it. Her hair smelled nice, he noticed once again. Merlin, he really was getting pathetic. Harry needed to start doing something because this wasn't working either.
Neville and Amelia congratulated them and Susan ran over to hug her aunt. Harry stood there with his arms still around Hermione as Nev came over and smirked knowingly at him. Harry was sure he turned bright red and was glad Hermione couldn't see it. Why was she still standing there hugging him anyway? Not that it didn't feel nice to have her in his arms but surely this wasn't normal friend behavior?
Amelia clapped in her hands to get their attention and congratulated them again before she said, "Very well done! You guys got it in less then a day. Good job. Now since we have a bit of time left I wanted to start teaching you four something else. It will be a difficult thing to learn but it will be an amazing skill to have if you kids can master it."
Harry sat up straigther as he listened to what she wanted to teach them. She wanted to teach them how to feel the magic around them and the magic in objects. She was going theach them how to feel if something was cursed, or which curse their opponent cast at them. It sounded awesome and Harry wanted to be able to do that.
He'd already started to feel the magic around him since the Horcrux had been removed from his head but this was a step futher. It would be very handy if he could feel the curse someone could sent at him. He also thought it might be a bit of a help with the Animagus transformation.
Amelia continued explaining that this was the first step for learning how to spell chain. While one could do it without, it would be better if they learned this first. This way they could learn to mold the magic even quicker for the spell chain.
Which made him think he still had to ask if Hermione and Susan wanted to become one with them. He had the Mandrake leaves on him so if they wanted to become an Animagus then they could start the first step in the process immediately.
But he would ask them on the usual walk after training. Susan's aunt was still in law enforcement after all.
Amelia had the four of them sit down in a comfortable position in which they could stay for a while. Then she asked them to close their eyes and focus on the magic moving inside of them.
Amelia spoke in a calm voice and it didn't take long for Harry to calm down and focus on his magic. It took a little longer but soon he had found his magic moving around in his body. It felt like there was a thunder storm around him but he could sense that it would never harm him or those he loved. He could feel the connections to Andromeda, Ted and Tonks in his magic.
He felt great and he wondered why Snape never taught him this when he was using Legilimency on him to teach him Occlumeny. This was a great way to clear his mind.
He opended his eyes again when he heard Amelia calling for him. He looked around him and saw that the other three were looking at him with wide eyes.
"Merlin, Harry, that was brilliant!" Neville exclaimed. Susan nodded fervently and Amelia looked thoughtful. Hermione just looked proud, like she expected this from him, whatever he just had done.
Amelia said to Harry when she saw his confusion, "You, Harry, are a very powerful Wizard. When you found your magic it flowed out and it spread around your body so that we could feel it too. I never expected you to be able to do it so soon. It can take months for an adult Wizard to be able to do what you just did."
Amelia continued with, "I think you might just be a natural. But that doesn't mean you get to slack off. I still expect you to work hard."
Harry was very serious when he nodded his agreement. He was surprised to hear that he did so well in this while his Occlumency lessons did not go well at all. He decided to ask Amelia, "Amelia? Last year while at school I had Occlumency lessons from a professor in the hope that Voldemort wouldn't be able to get in my mind. But I only got the instruction to clear my mind before he used Legilimency on me. Is that the normal way to teach it?"
Harry didn't know what he hoped for as answer but the way Amelia looked was kinda scary. She looked very angry and very much like the badass Head of the DMLE she is.
Amelia took a deep breath before she said in a scarely calm voice, "Who was your teacher, Harry?"
Harry was a bit unsure when he replied with, "Erm... Professor Snape was trying to teach me but I coudn't do it."
Amelia nodded with a forced calm and said, "That is not the way to teach Occlumency, Harry. If you do it the way you said then the only thing that happens is that you hurt the person you use Legilimency on. It is abuse and not the way you should ever teach a student in your care."
Hermione gasped, horrified. Harry was shocked. He knew that he and Snape kinda hated each other but he was still surprised that Snape would deliberately hurt him. He was a bully, yes, but he did safe Harry's life a few times times. Could it be that he didn't know that is would hurt Harry? Small chance, Harry knew but he didn't want to believe Snape hated Harry and both his fathers so much that he would hurt a student in his care.
So Harry asked, "Could it be that he didn't know he was hurting me? I mean, he is a bully but he did safe my life a few times. Why would he try to hurt me now?"
"What do you mean Professor Snape is a bully? Has he hurt you before?" Amelia was looking very, very calm right now and Harry knew that this was the calm before the storm.
But Harry was also a bit confused. How was it that she didn't know about Snape's behavior? Did Susan never tell her? Did no one ever complain about the man?
Harry looked at Neville and Susan and saw that Neville looked just as confused. Susan wasn't looking any better and Harry was getting a bad feeling.
Why did no one from the Ministry come to find the monster of Slytherin? Or Fluffy? Or Aragog? Or at least come to Hogwarts to defend the students? Why did no one check the professors to see if they could actually teach? Why, why, why? There were so many questions about his school years. Was Hogwarts completely independed from the Ministry of Magic? Then why was it possible for the Minister to appoint Umbridge as the High Inquisitor? He didn't understand.
Harry started to explain about Snape and how he taught his students. Neville and even Hermione chimed in with there own traumatic experiences with Snape and Susan explained what she witnessed happening over the years. Snape was apparently a bit kinder to Susan and her Potions class than he was to the Slytherin/Gryffindor class.
Amelia nodded and said, "That is not alright. Unfortunately it's not possible to do much about it at this time. Hogwarts is a mostly independent institution from the Ministry. The only way for things to change in Hogwarts is either the Headmaster or the Board of Governors. They have to give their approval. I can arrest Snape if he does something illegal but as of yet, from what you've told me, it hasn't gotten that far."
She continued with, "While the Ministry has some power in Hogwarts it isn't enough to make changes without the permission of either one. So here is what we will do, I will talk with Augusta and we will take it to the other parents on the board. It is not acceptable for him to treat you like that. If we can get most of the Board of Governors on board we will be able to get Professor Snape fired. But only then."
The four teenagers sitting in front of her nodded. They hoped that the parents of the children in Snape his class who are on the Board could do something about it. It wasn't right that the biggest fear of a child was his professor.
Amelia asked them for their memories of the lessons with Professor Snape and the Occlumency lessons he took with them. They agreed and soon there were around 12 vials with silvery glowing memories. Amelia would show them to the other parents as evidence so that they could see for themselves.
This concluded their training session and so the three teenagers went for their usual post training walk on the Longbottom grounds.
The four teenagers talked about the training they did today and how glad they were that they were able to apparate now. It was a great feeling to know that they were able to quickly get away now. They played around with it for a bit before they continued on with walking.
Harry told them both about Potter Manor and how it made him feel. All were very understanding about how it felt for Harry to visit his ancesteral Manor.
All three of them had grown up in the same house as their parents had grown up in. Neville and Susan knew the feel of their family magic and had grown up with the history of their family. Harry never had any of that before he ran away to Number 12, Grimmauld Place. And that was only the Black side of his family, not his Potter side. Harry had been born a Potter so it wasn't strange that he felt more connected to the Potter family magic.
He told them about his thoughts of moving to Potter Manor even thought he just invited Andromeda and her husband to come live with him and Tonks. He hoped that they woudn't mind.
His friends assured him that it would be fine. It would be only right for Harry to live in Potter Manor. Maybe Black Manor could be a weekend home or something?
Harry then asked Hermione and Susan if they wanted to become Animagi with them. He told the girls about what Sirius had told him in his letter to Harry and he showed them the Mandrake leaf.
Susan looked touched that they would think of her and she quickly agreed. She would love to become an Animagus. She hugged Harry and Neville both and locked her arms together with Hermione. Harry had noticed that Susan seem to like walking like that. Hermione, of course, had a few questions before agreeing.
After explaining all he knew about the process Harry gave Hermione and Susan their leaf and told them how to stick it up to the roof of their mouth. They did so and made a face at the taste of the leaf. Harry and Neville were sympathatic. The Mandrake leaves were really gross.
He hoped that they all got a cool or at least an useful animal. It was great to be doing this together with his friends.
A House Elf popped in front of them to tell them that Andromeda and Ted had arrived. Harry was a bit nervous for this meeting but he had the feeling that he and Ted would get along great with what Andromeda had told him about the man.
The four of them walked back together to the Manor and went to the sun room where the House Elf had told them to go. Harry walked in first and saw Andromeda, Gran, Tonks and a man he assumed to be Ted drinking tea.
Ted Tonks was a tall man with brown hair and friendly hazel eyes. He looked kind. Harry felt himself relax and he went up to the guest to greet them. He air kissed Andromeda's hand and shook the hand Ted gave him.
"Hello, my Lord, my name is Ted and I am very glad to meet the person who made my Andy so happy." Ted looked Harry straight in the eyes as he said this and Harry could feel himself begin to blush. He really wasn't good with compliments.
Harry took a moment before he said, "Thank you Mr. Tonks. It is nice to meet more family. And thank you for agreeing to move in with me."
"Call me Ted, kid, and it is I who should thank you for opening your home for us. It is a very kind thing of you to do."
Harry nodded and took a seat. Neville, Hermione and Susan greeted the guests and went to sit down with a nice cup of tea and a biscuit. Hermione was talking to Gran about Wizarding culture and her role in it as a muggleborn. She had seen Harry's behavior change and wanted to know if she should be doing things differently in the Wizarding World. Apparently, she didn't want to be unknowingly rude.
Gran was visibly charmed by Hermione's questions and agreed to teach her the ways of a magical Lady. She was writing down some books for Hermione to read when Harry decided it was time to tell his new roommates about his visit to Potter Manor and how he really wanted to move there even thought he just invited the both of them to live with him. He really hoped they woudn't be mad.
So he started to tell them about his visit but before he could tell them about his change of plans, Andromeda interrupted him with soft smile on her face, "Harry, do you want to live there? We would understand."
Harry was very much relieved that she understood and that they didn't mind. Now he just had to tell Kreacher and Dobby. He hoped that Kreacher wouldn't mind to much since there would still be three people living in Black Manor and Harry thought that Dobby might like it if he could help out in both Manors since both Effy and Kreacher would like some help.
Perhaps when Winky joined them they could be assigned more permanent places like Dobby and Effy for Potter Manor and Kreacher and Winky for the Black Manor. If they wanted that. Harry was at least sure that both Kreacher and Effy wanted to stay where they were.
After tea time and the dinner they had together, Harry was sure he liked Ted Tonks. The man was friendly to his core and clearly cared for his family. Which the man had decided now included Harry.
After dinner Harry called the Elves so that they could take all four of them to Black Manor. The Elves were exited to have more people to take care of around and took them home. Andromeda and Ted had a few trunks shrunken in their pockets which they took out so that Kreacher could take it to their rooms.
Tonks went upstairs again for some rest and Harry went to sit down in the living room. Now he just had to talk to his Elves about wanting to move to Potter Manor.
And so he called, "Dobby, Effy, Kreacher!"
Luckily, all three the Elves seemed to like his plan to move to Potter Manor and Effy was exatic to hear his plans. Dobby also liked his plan for him to help out in both Manors and Kreacher just seemed glad that he'd still have people to care about in Black Manor.
Harry also reassured Kreacher that he'd sleep at least one night a week in Number 12, Grimmauld Place and visit them often. Hedwig wasn't able to move just yet so Harry would stop by a lot so he could see her and her owlets. Thought he hoped that with the rate the chicks were growing that it would be possible to move them soon. It was quite weird how quick the chicks had grown in the last few days. If it continued in this rate then they would be able to try flying soon.
The move would happen tomorrow and Harry couldn't wait. But now he had a stack of letters waiting for him on the side table that he would have to read first.
The letter were from the DA members and one from Hannah Abbott. He opened that one first and started reading.
Dear Harry,
Thank you for your letter. It is a difficult time but sharing and talking about it with my friends makes it a bit easier. I heard that you wanted to know if the DA could continue after the summer. I would really like that but I don't know if you heard, my dad doesn't want me to go to Hogwarts this year. I'm trying to convince him to let me go but it is a work in progress. Either way, my vote is yes.
Once again thanks for your kind letter.
Sincerely,
Hannah Abbot
Harry was relieved that it seemed that he did the right thing in writing her a letter and he hoped that she'd be able to convince her father to let her come to Hogwarts. If only for Susan's sake. Harry was also glad to hear that at least one person wanted to continue the DA. Though he would have to change the name as soon as possible. Dumbledore's Army was not a good name anymore. Perhaps he would just change it to Defense Association. Then it could keep being called the DA.
He knew already that Nevilee, Susan and Hermione liked the thought of continuing the DA and the new name. Hermione especially liked that they might be an official club this year. She was already making plans and schedules and Harry caught himself thinking it was cute how excited she was to be planning for a new year of DA classes.
He was even thinking how cute it was how she made schedules. Schedules. Merlin, he had it bad.
Harry had a strong urge to bang his head against a wall when Tonks walked into the room. Harry was startled since he thought she had gone for a rest in her room. The pregnancy took a lot of energy out of her and it didn't help that she was barely able to keep her food down. Luckily she felt a bit better since coming to live here. Tonks had regular check-ups with her mum and everything was still looking good.
Tonks took one look at Harry and said, "Are you alright, kid?" Her hair circled from a bright pink to a concerned light yellow.
Harry groaned again and said to Tonks, "You ever had a crush on a friend?"
Tonks laughed and said with a strange look on her face, "Well, actually yes, I did have a crush on a friend. It was back in Hogwarts and after we manned up we dated for a few years. We only decided to split up since we had very different ideas for our futures. I wanted to becoma an Auror and he wanted to move out of the country for his dream. He was my best friend."
Harry leaned forward in interest, "Who was he?" He hoped she wouldn't mind him asking that. Tonks had become a cousin/big sister figure to him in the short time they lived together. While he didn't want to know every gross detail, he did want to get to know her better.
Tonks looked a bit uncomfortable when she replied with, "Your friend Ron's older brother, Charlie. He was my best friend in Hogwarts but we kinda lost touch after we broke-up after our graduation."
He was surprised to hear that Tonks had dated Charlie. Ron never told him that but perhaps he never knew. Though it was a few years ago and Ron wasn't the most observant person he ever met. So he asked her, "Don't you miss him?"
Tonks laughed bitterly, "Of course I do. But he could have contacted me too, you know? It goes both ways. And now I'm pregnant so the best thing I can do is focussing on my baby. Nothing else matters more."
Harry thought it was sad that Tonks and Charlie lost contact. They were best friends for seven years before they dated each other. He really didn't want something like that happening with him and Hermione if he ever gathered the courage to ask her out.
Then Tonks perked up, "Does that mean you have a crush? On whom? Somebody from school? Susan? Ginny? Hermione? Hermione!"
Harry must have showed someting om his face when she named Hermione because now she had a shit-eating grin on her face. He groaned again.
Was this what people felt like when their sister teased them? He thought so. It was kinda nice in a very annoying way. She looked minutes away from singing that annoying song about sitting in a tree. If she did, Harry'd... do something. Could he even curse a pregnant witch? Oh no, Tonks looked like she knew what he was thinking, and she was enjoying it.
Tonks stood up and ruffled his hair and said to him, "Don't worry so much, Harry. As long as you treat her right and respect her choices, everything should be alright. Just let what will happen, happen."
It felt nice to have an older sister-figure telling him this stuff. But the hair ruffeling was annoying. It wasn't like the Potter hair wasn't already messy on it's own. Before she left the room Harry still had one thing to say to her, "Perhaps you could write him a letter? Maybe he thinks the same way as you do about it all and it can't hurt to have at least tried, right?"
Tonks stopped in the doorway and said, "Perhaps you are right. Would you mind if I borrowed Effy for it? Since she is the Elf no one knows about."
Harry agreed and wished her a goodnight. It was getting late but Harry wanted to read the other letters sent to him and he still needed to visit Hedwig and her owlets. He was glad to see that Othello was back with Hedwig. He and Hermione had talked about it and they han agreed to stop using Othello for sending letters for a while. Hedwig needed him with her for a while yet.
The next letter he opened was from Fred and George. He hoped that Errol had come through the wards alright. He opened the letter and read.
Harry,
How are you, mate? We loved your grand escape from Durskaban! Taking after Padfoot, are you? Althought we are a bit offended that you didn't ask for our help. It would have been a nice Potter-Weasley tradition, don't ya think? We're sure we could have found our good old Ford Anglia somewhere. Or made our own.
Mum was in a right snit about it but she was glad to hear that you are alright where ever you are. Do be prepared for some groveling when she sees you again. You might be her favorite child, after Ginny of course, but she was worried sick about you. Professor Dumbledore didn't help there. He was acting strange, mate.
Of course we want that! We read some things about it ourselves and we would be grateful for your help with supplying the leaves. We can make the potion ourselves in our new home.
Speaking of, we do hope you will be able to visit our new shop. You are after all our silent partner. We couldn't have done it without you, mate.
We would love to help you with your prank. Visit us and we can talk about it. We can't wait to show you our shop! It is brilliant even if we're saying it ourselves.
Misschief Managed,
Fred and George
Harry was very glad they wanted to become an Animagi with him. He would sent them the leaves as soon as possible. Harry couldn't wait to see what they had done with their prank shop. It was sure to be awesome.
Now the letter from Ron sent him. Harry was quite surprised that he had answered him so quickly but perhaps Ron was a bit bored this summer. Last summer he had come with his family to Grimmauld Place but that, of course, hadn't been possible this year. So Ron was stuck in his house with only his family this summer. Harry didn't think that was a horrible thing, he quite liked the idea of living with family. He opened the letter so he could read it.
Hey mate,
It is bloody boring around the Burrow. Mum won't let us leave since You-Know-Who is now out in the open. The only thing to do around here is chores and a bit of flying.
I'm glad that you left the Dursleys but did you have to do it this way? Mum and Ginny were right worried about you. I was too, I guess.
Thanks for letting us know that you are safe.
The Chudley Cannon are doing good this summer! They almost won from the Hollyhead Harpies! They only lost with a 250 point difference from the Harpies. It was bloody awesome to listen to on the Wireless.
See you at Hogwarts!
Ron
Harry was glad to read that Ron wasn't mad about him leaving the Dursleys without telling him. While he and Ron weren't as close as in their first few years at Hogwarts, they were still friends and Harry will never forgot the good times of their friendship. Ron was still the first human friend he made.
The next few letter were some very enthusiastic replies to his letter asking the DA if they wanted to continue the DA lessons. He was touched that they wanted to keep coming to the lessons.
He wrote a response to Fred and George and went to grab a vial with two Mandrake leaves. He hoped that the owl who had brought the letter was still in the owlery. Otherwise he might have to use Errol and the poor old owl couldn't handle both going back to the Burrow and to the shop of Fred and George.
Now Harry would go and visit Hedwig and her chicks and then it was bed time. He been working hard in these last few weeks and he was getting a bit tired. But he was glad with what all his work did. Harry had shot up a few inches and filled out a bit. He wasn't short or very thin anymore and he was very glad to not be so small anymore.
He was also able to defend himself a lot better than before. Harry had capable adults around him that cared about him. He made a new friend and found out a lot more about his family. He even found a portrait of his grandparents that he couldn't wait to talk more to.
As he walked up the stairs he stopped to talk with Alphard for a bit. The man had been flirting with the portrait next to him and looked strangely caught when Harry stopped in front of him.
Harry was amused to see an adult man blush after being caught flirting with with the male in the portrait next to him. The man didn't look like a Black so he was probably a spouse of a Black. Alphard came back in his own portrait looking a bit flustered so Harry said with a smirk, "So this is why you wanted to be placed back with the rest?"
Alphard perked back up when he saw no dissaproval on Harry s face and smirked back at him and said, "I'm sorry my Lord, I don't kiss and tell."
Harry laughed and they talked for a while. Alphard was the kind of uncle Harry wished he could have grown up with. Instead he got Vernon Dursley. But now he had both Alphard's portrait and Ted Tonks. They were good people.
After a while Harry said goodnight and went further up the stairs and up to the owlery. There where two more owls in the owlery than usual not counting Othello. Hedwig was sitting on her nest in her usual nook with Othello sitting next to her.
Hedwig and Othello hooted their greeting and Hedwig sat up a bit so that Harry could see her owlets. They were growing so fast but Harry had read that that was normal for magical owls. They looked as if they were around 8 weeks old now instead of a few days. They looked a lot better than when they got out of their eggs.
Harry scratched all the owls in the little family on the spots they liked and cast another warming charm. Hedwig cooed at him and her owlets and went back to sleep. Harry could imagine being exausted with raising three baby owls. They were always hungry and not shy on letting it show.
Othello hooted at Harry and went out for a hunt so that he could feed his mate and chicks. Harry was glad that Othello was so caring for Hedwig and their chicks. It was clearly a lot of work to keep them all fed.
Harry went over to the other owls and asked them to take the letters for Fred, George and Ron. Well, he asked Errol if he wanted to stay here and rest for a while since he didn't have a reply for Ron and he asked the Eagle owl with the orange eyes if he could take the letter and vial with the Mandrake leaves to Fred and George.
Both hooted back at him and Harry tied the letter and vial to the held out leg of the eagle owl. The owl hooted again and flew away through a window.
Errol meanwhile had gone back to sleep. Harry carefully scratched him on his head and went back to the Master Suite. He really hoped that the Weasleys would stop using Errol soon. The poor owl clearly couldn't take it anymore. Perhaps they could use Pigwidgeon a bit more often?
He said softly goodnight as not to wake the old owl and went back to his own rooms so he could go to bed.
Tomorrow he would move to Potter Manor.