Through The Veil「 The Veil Trilogy Part Ⅱ 」✔

[19] Hot Cocoa

It had been found that Professor Alastor Moody was actually Barty Crouch Junior in disguise, a Death Eater impersonating to be a Professor at Hogwarts so that he could hurt Harry for Lord Voldemort. He had put his name in the Goblet, he had turned the Cup into a portkey and he had also given his statement that You-Know-Who had returned.

Barty Crouch was sentenced a Dementor's Kiss for all the allegations on him but the Ministry refused to take his statement of You-Know-Who's return as authentic.

Hence the majority of the Wizarding World was living under the pretense that it was just a rumor, but Dumbledore had warned us all to be careful.

In fact, he had also told Mum and Dad (me and the twins overheard that conversation accidentally) that they would be forming a resistance against the Death Eaters just like in the previous war. The Order of the Phoenix.

And for that reason, we were to move in to the Order Headquarters which were supposed to be a top secret location and we had to stay there so that we could be safe. Just a few days ago, a Dementor attack had happened on Harry and since he had used magic to defend himself, he was put on a Wizengamot Trial...

Trust the Ministry to be a total idiot at times.

Anyhow, Harry was supposed to be brought to the Order Headquarters as well and the real Alastor Moody along with a few other Aurors, also part of the Order, were tasked to bring him to the headquarters safely before his trial could be carried out.

Mum told us that we would be moving to the Order Headquarters very soon so we had to pack our stuff up. And though a lot had changed due to the recent events, one thing was still the same as ever.

The awfully unorganized packing dilemma of us Weasleys.

Mum kept shouting as usual while loads of redheads fumbled in drawers and chests, tossing out one thing after another. Percy wasn't at home or else he would still have been bickering with the twins, however, Ron was screaming his head off to see a trail of spiders in the old locked up store room.

I wonder why he even went there in the first place.

It took us a whole tiring day to pack and get organized and we finally set off to the Headquarters. It was somewhere in London but Mum and Dad still hadn't told us exactly where.

Most of us took hands and apparated while Mum, Ron and Ginny had to come through Floo Network. In next to no time, we were standing in front of a dreary mansion with Grimmauld Place written in bold at the entrance.

It was ancient yet enormous with a dull grey and black color scheme. The typical sort of setting for a horror movie, if you ask me. I wouldn't be surprised if we opened the door and were greeted by shrill, piercing screams of agony.

And that was precisely what happened.

As soon as we stepped in, the giant portrait of an old woman with stern features started screaming and cursing at us. She created an incredible noise, throwing volleys of curses at us and had such a foul, sharp tongue that we had to cover our ears with our hands.

"Blimey, the old hag sure knows the greatest insults," Fred mumbled.

"BLOOD TRAITORS! FILTHY MUDBLOOD LOVERS! HOW DARE YOU STEP THROUGH MY DOOR! HOW DARE YOU FILTHICIZE MY NOBLE HOUSE..."

We rushed past her as she had awfully quick temper. Her screams still echoed in the background.

But my curiosity got the better of me. The mansion looked like an infinite display of family heirlooms and treasured artifacts. Though the whole place was draped in black, it still had a mysterious and frightening aura about it.

I wondered why Dumbledore chose such a scary place to be headquarters for the Order.

But of course it was well hidden and we (I mean the Order) had to keep itself preserved and concealed. Besides, it would be safer for Harry as well.

Thinking of Harry, he would be coming the next day with Moody and Tonks.

We had dinner and were told to go into our rooms and get some sleep since we had an early start tomorrow.

***

I woke up to see Ginny shaking me. She backed off in fright as I suddenly sat up. 

"Morning, Gin," I greeted.

She mumbled, "morning. I can't find my room and the twins kept giving wrong directions so I... It's not even morning, y'know, just 3 AM."

I got out of my bed, "it's okay. Come on, we'll find your room without the twins' help."

We walked downstairs, I could see the kitchen and the smell of cocoa wafted through the air. 

"How about I make you some hot chocolate before we go for the search?" I asked and she merely nodded in reply.

Her face was turning red like her hair, either from embarrassment or guilt; I didn't really know what, to be honest.

As we neared the kitchen, I could hear voices. Mum, of course.

She must have been up to prepare an early breakfast. Ah well, that made my work twice easier.

I stepped inside, Mum, can we also have some..."

But my voice trailed off, seeing who she was talking to.

Sirius Black.

He was leaning against the counter with a mug of hot cocoa in his hands. He looked much better than before. His hair were back to their usual perfect look and he seemed as if he had taken a lot of rest.

Almost restored to health.

We were both staring at each other in shock.

Mum spoke, "oh, I almost forgot. You two haven't met yet. Sirius, this is my daughter Katerina and Kat, this is Sirius Black."

The shock had vanished from his face as he smiled politely and extended his hand towards me. 

I shook it (being as formal as he was), "nice to meet you."

His smile widened and mischief danced in his stormy grey eyes, "the pleasure is all mine."

Mum spoke up, "well, Kat dear, you were saying something?"

I racked my brains for an answer as the shock of seeing Sirius had totally blanked me out, "I... Uh... Ginny and I came for some hot chocolate."

She looked inside the saucepan and then back at the full mug in her hands, "oh but there's only enough for one mug left and I have to give this to Arthur."

I spoke immediately, "no, it's not a problem at all." I filled the mug with the remaining hot cocoa and handed it to Ginny, "I'll make some for myself. You take it."

Mum suggested, "what if you wait for just five minutes so that I can come back and make some for you too?"

I would have replied but Sirius spoke in his smooth drawling voice, "it's okay, Molly. I was thinking of making more either way. You go to Arthur. Katerina will have her hot chocolate in no time."

Mum smiled, "oh thank you, Sirius."

She was about to go off when I added, "and Mum, Ginny forgot the way to her room."

She nodded, "alright then, come Ginny."

They stepped out, leaving me and Sirius alone in the kitchen. I braced myself since I could clearly imagine how awkward everything was going to be. I just hoped not to get too flustered to be unable to manage a small conversation with him.

***