Chapter 4 – The Introduction



Everyone turned and looked at Karis, with her beautiful long brown hair, big brown eyes and petite frame.



“I’m sorry I’m a little late, I didn’t get your message until half an hour ago Grandfather, Fawkes took a while finding me, I was in Germany.”



“Not a problem at all Karis, I am just very pleased you could make it, please, do come in and meet the rest of the Order.”



Dumbledore gestured with his hands and Karis walked forward with a kind smile for everyone in the crowded kitchen.



Harry kept staring at her, Karis Dumbledore, the Grand daughter of the most powerful sorcerer in the world, he knew immediately that being her student was going to be hard work, her aura alone bellowed power but she had an air about her that Harry could not explain, she really was stunning.



Karis shook everyone’s hand, and then something quite unexpected happened, Karis walked over and stood directly in-front of Professor Snape, she slowly leaned in closer and put her arms around him, and they stood there embracing for a short while.



Harry turned to Ron and noticed that his mouth was hanging wide open; he knew Ron was thinking the same thing as he was; what in merlins beard was this all about?



However; the strange thing was no-one else seemed to hold the same clueless expression as they did, but with the uncomfortable silence that followed within the crowded atmosphere, they finally parted.



“Well it really is great to be here, I wish it could have been sooner but I have been very busy in Germany, I have much news but firstly I want to meet my young apprentice.”



Karis turned and walked slowly towards Harry; with their eyes meeting he felt himself blush and they both exchanged a warm smile.



“Hello Harry. My Grandfather has told me much about you of course, I am pleased to be here at last, and as I understand it I will be tutoring you in Occlumency!”



“Uh, yes that’s correct, I didn’t know until recently but I’m looking forward to working with you Professor.”



“Bless you Harry, I like that but we can’t have two Professor Dumbledore’s now can we, please just call me Karis, but Professor Karis in the classroom, alright!”



Harry seemed a little taken aback with her down to earth attitude but nodded in agreement and carried it with a polite smile.



“I am looking forward to working with you too Harry, but I will not lie to you, it will be tough, I expect full dedication if we are to ascertain our goal, do you think you are prepared for that?”



Karis surveyed Harry sincerely, and he knew she was a true Dumbledore alright, she was very much like Albus in her manner; Harry held an instant respect for this young woman.



“I will do anything to make sure Lord Voldemort will never reign like before, I will do anything in my power. That I promise you!”



“That’s good to hear, maybe you won’t find it so hard after all, all I need is your dedication and hard-working enthusiasm and I believe you will succeed.” finished Karis, with a wink.



Harry’s heart started pounding, he crossed his arms hoping that nobody else in the room could hear the thundering walls of his chest trying to escape, she made him feel good about himself, special even, in the presence of Karis Dumbledore, he felt hope.



Part 2.



“Come on everyone, tuck in, there is plenty of food here, I think Kreacher has over ordered again.” said Molly Weasley



“Kreacher, you mean Kreacher is here?” retorted Harry, angrily



Tonks walked over to the table and put down a big bowl of mashed potato, she smiled at Harry gently “Yes, unfortunately he refuses to leave as he believes that he still serves Mrs Black by means of her portrait, if a house elf believes his mistress is still well and giving orders than his magic will not work, he will not let himself be free, and besides we cannot let him go anyway, he knows too much, he is a risk and must stay within these walls, an escape to Narcissa will be very dangerous for us and we cannot let that happen”.



“Can’t we just lock him away then or something?”



Hermione looked at Harry with a disapproving frown “Harry, it’s not Kreacher’s fault, he, well you know he needs help mentally.”



“Mentally, he needs a good kick up the backside if you ask me.” said Ron, in-between a full mouthful of mash potato and peas.



Harry glances across the table and notices that Karis is staring at him; he feels slightly uncomfortable and starts shifting in his chair.



From across the room they heard Ginny explode into a fit of giggles, Fred, George and Ginny were whispering and had total look of misdemeanour on their freckled faces.



“Oh No, what are they up to?” asked Ron, while secretly wanting to be apart of whatever clever prank or scheme they had up their robe sleeves.



“I have no idea, but they want to watch their step, the Order is not a place to be pulling pranks.” replied Hermione.



“You know what Hermione, I think it is, we all need a little lightening up, after all we have got a lot of hard work ahead of us, so it’s about time we had some fun!” interrupted Remus Lupin. “I have a lot of respect for Fred and George and what they have achieved, how they managed it Merlin only knows, but they are doing a wonderful job.”



Harry smiled and nodded “Spoken like a true marauder.”



Remus laughed at Harry’s statement



“You are right Harry, never too old to have fun, stay here a moment”.



Remus then departed from his seat and walked over to where Fred and George were congregated with Ginny, and within a minute they all seemed to be conversing together quietly.



Within minutes Remus came back to the dinner table and resumed his seat next to Harry, “I think I better sit back over here.”



“What is going on Remus?” asked Ron



“Ah, you’ll see.” he replied, all the while holding back a chortle.



“Harry, do you think Mum and Dad will ever find out how Fred and George managed to start Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes?”



“I don’t know, but I have a feeling they wouldn’t approve, that’s why I kept it quiet from them, they have done a lot for me and I wanted to show my gratitude and if it meant getting Fred and George out of your parents hair for a while then I knew I was doing something right”.



Ron and Hermione both started laughing



“You’re right, they do drive her up the wall, but I think she misses them a lot, they are always at the shop these days, what with Percy still being a total git even though he now realises we were right all along about Vol, uh, you know who, I think she misses having a full house.”



“Oh Ron, when are you going to start calling him by his name?” interrupted Hermione.



“OK then Mione, Tom Riddle, ha there you go!”



“Really, I thought you may have got over that by now.”



“You, Harry, Remus and Dumbledore are the only one’s who do, I just don’t feel comfortable speaking the name of the dark lord.”



Harry patted his friend on the shoulder, “It’s OK mate, no-one expects you to, but Hermione is right, if we are to defeat him you have got to get over it, as much as I wish it were different, we are all in this together.”



Ron looked a little deflated, but he knew they were both right; after all it’s just a name. As for Harry, Ron knew more than anything that his friend would do this on his own if he could, not wanting them to get hurt.



All at once there was a scream of laughter and a loud crash.



Harry rolled his eyes “What’s Tonks gone and done now has she” but he stopped in mid sentence and his eyes and face lit up like Christmas had just come early.



Professor Severus Snape was wobbling all over the kitchen, his legs had been turned to jelly, he had a look of horror spread across his eagle like face and his greasy black hair was hanging over his eyes, the crash was Snape falling into a plate stand, as shards of porcelain scattered all over the floor.



Fred and George were in hysterics, Harry could not help but join in, Hermione had a smirk across her face yet something told him she did not agree with their antics, Ron was bright red in the cheeks from laughing so hard, it made his hair look like it was on fire.



“Yes, Yes, very good Fred, George, another successful concoction I see.” said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling.



Snape flashed dangerous eyes at Dumbledore, he was completely dumbfounded, he felt the least he could do was reprimand Fred and George for their defiance in the presence of the Order.



“That is our new Fizzy Wobbler, congratulations you are the first to try it Professor Snape, how do you feel to have the Weasley tester privilege?” asked Fred

“Yeah, we normally charge for that.” said George



“Privilege, you pretentious jumped up immature brats, how dare you.” shouted Snape.



“Now Now Severus, it was after all just a prank, surely you did them when you were young.” said Karis Dumbledore, her large dark clear brown eyes mocking Snape.



Snape looked at her with surprise.



“Well No, I didn’t actually; I had better things to do with my time.”



Ron leant over to Harry and whispered, “Yeah, like becoming a death eater.” Harry nodded.



“That will teach Snivellus to bad mouth my best friend.” said Remus Lupin to Harry so only he could hear.



Harry’s heart leapt slightly, he always felt that Remus had a lot of time and love for Harry, but he felt it most from him right then in that single sentence.



“How did you do it Remus?” enquired Harry



“I snuck the sweet in his butterbeer when he wasn’t looking.”



“Excellent, well you proved yourself tonight; you will always be a true Marauder.”



“Well thank you Harry.”



“Oh boy, there is going to be serious trouble, Mum doesn’t look too happy.” said Ginny



Ron and Ginny both stopped laughing immediately as Molly Weasley’s face resembled something of uncle Vernon, she was burning purple and for a moment Harry thought she may explode.



Arthur Weasley intervened, seeing his wife about to have a nervous breakdown, he thought it best to calm the situation, “Ok, show’s over, I think that’s enough for today boys, I have got to get going, got plenty of work to do back at the Ministry, there have been more raids then ever in past weeks, what with recent events, the ministry is on full security alert.”



“I understand, you must all go stand your posts, Kingsley, Tonks, Moody, keep me owled, any progression let me know immediately; if you can’t get me, advise Karis.” said Dumbledore



Karis approached Albus and the rest of the group slowly, smiling brightly “Yes, I will be staying at Hogwarts permanently from tonight, I also forgot to tell you all, I’m the new defence against the dark arts teacher”.


Harry, Ron and Hermione turned abruptly to look at her, they all felt very relieved, Harry more so, he couldn’t stop himself, he let out a big smile, Karis turned to look at the trio, and smiled back at them all, Harry blushed slightly and quickly put his head down. However It took a few seconds for Harry to realise he was being watched, by no other than a scowling Professor Severus Snape.