Chapter 1
An
Invitation to All
The grounds of Hogwarts were still and silent. Not a sound came from the Forbidden Forest; no smoke billowed from Hagrid's chimney; no students studied or played under the enormous oak trees planted across the terrain. So this is summer at Hogwarts.
Hermione Granger felt an odd sensation in the pit of her stomach. It had been six years since she'd last stepped foot on these grounds. Oh, how life had been different then. Though Hermione and her best friends at the time, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, had never been known for leading fun, care-free lives, Hogwarts had still always provided a sense of comfort and security. It played as bondage holding together such a strong friendship between the three of them.
But life changed after Hogwarts. Was it the defeat of Voldemort? Granted, it wasn't the defeat that Dumbledore's side was hoping for. In fact, it came as completely unexpected. Who would have guessed that the Avada Kedavra curse that backfired on Voldemort when Harry was the mere age of one would actually be repeated, and Voldemort would once again be reverted to nothingness, leaving the same terror behind that he could one day return, just as he had when they were all fourteen years old?
Or was it love that had caused them to drift apart? Harry had been dating Ginny for two years before they left Hogwarts, and Ron and Lavender had been together one year, and it never proved an issue when they resided in school. But once they'd graduated their seventh year, Ron and Lavender had immediately eloped to France, and Harry and Ginny had found a place together in London so Ginny could finish her last year at Hogwarts, which unfortunately did not happen due to little Harry Jr. who emerged before Ginny had had the chance to graduate.
Hermione stayed in touch with them for perhaps six months after graduation, but it did not last. They had their own lives, their own families, and Hermione had begun to feel like an imposter. It didn't help matters that Lavender loathed Hermione, for reasons she knew nothing of.
So Hermione moved on, finding a job in the Ministry (much to her dislike) and beginning a life of her own, with no friends or lovers due to the time-consuming hours that the Ministry required of her.
And then one summer when she was twenty, she had decided it was time to go out and meet new people. Life was becoming boring and repetitive, and she was craving the social factor that her life job was depriving her of. So, one night, she put on her best robes and Apparated to Hogsmeade, deciding that the place to be to meet new people would of course be The Three Broomsticks. She must have sat at the bar for at least an hour, chugging back Firewhiskey's, her self-esteem rapidly seeping out of her body as no one in the tavern would even bother to approach her, and she did not seem to have the courage to initiate a conversation. Eventually though, someone did approach her. Not because she was good-looking or intoxicated, but because they recognized her. Oliver Wood, who she hadn't seen since she was fourteen years old, sidled up to her, quite pleased to see her.
They had talked for hours; about what, Hermione could not remember. She barely remembered taking him back to her small cottage on the outskirts of London, talking to him in an excessively seductive manner; she could barely remember ravishing his body in a completely uncharacteristic way, having sex for the first time in her life with someone she barely even knew.
Though, to her surprise, Wood did not take the opportunity for a one-night stand. For
days following their encounter, Wood had sent her flurries of owls, each with notes professing what a wonderful time he had and begging her to go out with him. Initially she rejected him, feeling embarrassed with herself for what she did and wondering how she could possibly find the time to date someone anyway. But his persistence prevailed, and they'd dated a good year-and-a-half feeling happy and in-love, Hermione feeling that life was finally the way it was meant to be.
Hermione could not think back to that time without crying. If only she'd known then what would happen next, if only she'd known how suddenly Wood would change … if only she'd known, she'd never have gone out to the Three Broomsticks that night, never would have agreed to date him, never would have let herself let her guard down the way that she did ….
"Well well, if it isn't Granger," a void drawled from behind her.
Hermione gasped and spun around, the voice jerking her out of her thoughts as though she had just traveled by Portkey.
"Malfoy!" Hermione cried, feeling an anger surge from her stomach that she had almost forgotten about for six years.
"Why is it that I am not surprised that you are here?" Malfoy asked, strolling past her up to the front doors of the school.
Furious, Hermione followed him quickly to keep up. "Why is it that I am absolutely shocked that you are here?"
The Entrance Hall, like the grounds outside, was silent.
"And why wouldn't I be, Granger?" Malfoy asked as he continued to walk towards the Great Hall. "Did you not read your letter? Did you feel special, thinking you were the only one to receive it? Or is your arrogance shining through and you believe you are worthy of the invitation, whereas I am not?"
Malfoy pushed his way into the Great Hall, it being completely empty except for a large table with perhaps forty empty chairs in the center of the Hall.
"I think you were closest with your last guess," Hermione snarled.
"Perhaps I should read you the letter?" Malfoy asked, reaching into his robes as he took a seat at one of the empty chairs. Hermione took a seat opposite him.
"I've already read-" Hermione began angrily.
But Malfoy cleared his throat as a way of interrupting her, and began to read the scroll of parchment with Albus Dumbledore's neat, slanted writing identical to the one that she had received only a week before.
"Dear Mr. Malfoy,
I would like to bring to your attention the recent occurrence of the attack on Azkaban prison. Two nights ago, Azkaban was blown to shreds, leaving what is believed to be none alive. The Ministry believes this attack to be the work of anti-Voldemort supporters who felt that Azkaban was not punishment enough for his remaining Death Eaters. I, on the other hand, believe this is the work of the Death Eaters themselves - a clever set-up to release their brothers and sisters and as a result come together to bring back Lord Voldemort. I am in need of fighters. With the Death Eaters reunited and proof that it has been done before, they will stop at nothing to bring Voldemort back. The Ministry once again refuses to believe this possible, so I am taking matters into my own hands.
If you are interested in assisting the magical world, please come to the Great Hall, Hogwarts School, at six o'clock on the eve of July the fifth. I hope to see you there,
Signed yours truly,
Albus Dumbledore
"I got the same letter, Malfoy!" Hermione exclaimed angrily. "What I don't understand is why Dumbledore would send you the letter, of all people! You, who was probably next in line to become Voldemort's heir! I can't believe this! What could ever have possessed Dumbledore to put his trust in you?!"
"Well, I am sure Dumbledore doesn't waste his time dwelling on old rivalries like a childish little girl and he understands that he needs to recruit all the help he can get." Malfoy replied coolly.
"Childish … childish little girl?" Hermione cried. "How can you say that? After the hell that you put me and my friends through! You expect me to just forget so easily? I was fine, for six years I very happily didn't have to spare a second of a thought of you! And now, to have you thrown at me so unexpectedly … it's injustice."
"Oh, grow up will you?" Malfoy spat. "There are bigger things here than the rantings of a stupid little Mudblood-"
"See?" Hermione seethed. "You're no different now than you were then. Why are you here, Malfoy? Here to spy for your father?"
Malfoy's eyes flickered with an anger that Hermione had never seen before, but before he could retort, the doors to the Great Hall opened once more.
In came five faces Hermione hadn't seen for years: Harry, Ron, Lavender, and Fred and George Weasley.
Hermione stood, tears immediately forming in her eyes. It had been too long. It had been much, much too long …
"Eh, Hermione! What do you know, you are still alive!" cried George jokingly.
"We were beginning to think you'd moved-" said Fred.
"To Iceland-"
"Or India-"
"Or Canada." Both George and Fred clapped a hand on Hermione's shoulder, their way of saying hello.
Ron and Harry smiled sheepishly, both evidently embarrassed that they had lost touch for so long.
"Hi, Hermione," they both said.
Hermione smiled at them. "Where is Ginny?" she asked Harry.
"Ginny had to sit this one out," Harry explained. "She was just fired up to come, but we've got three little ones at home who she just couldn't leave-"
"Three? Already?" Hermione asked, dumbfounded.
"Yup," Harry smiled.
"And what about you, Ron?" Hermione asked. "What's new with you?"
"Ronnie, this journey has been long and tiring enough without you diddy-dallying!" Lavender shrieked. "Now find me a seat would you!"
Ron shrugged at Hermione and led Lavender over to the table, carefully choosing to ignore Malfoy completely but giving Harry a quick look that said, What the bloody hell is he doing here?
"So, Lavender sounds like a treat," Hermione whispered sarcastically.
"You don't know the half of it," Fred said darkly.
"Mum won't even let Ron over for holidays if he plans to bring the hag," George said.
"Ginny won't have her around the children," said Harry. "You should here the mouth on her now that she's had Ron wrapped around her little finger for six years."
"OW!" Lavender's voice rang throughout the Hall as Ron had just helped her into a chair. "CAN YOU NOT SEE THAT MY FOOT IS THERE? ARE YOU SO ABYSMALLY STUPID THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN WATCH WHERE YOUR BIG OLD CLOWN FEET ARE GOING?"
Fred and George looked murderous, whereas Harry and Hermione just looked pitiful.
Over the next twenty minutes or so, the Hall filled with people Hermione hadn't seen in years. People she'd gone to school with; Parvati Patil and her sister Padma, Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, Luna Lovegood, Cho Chang, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet and Katie Bell, Lee Jordan, and a whack of other faces from other houses, most of whom Hermione recognized but was taken aback to see the adults they had grown into over the long stretch of time.
Malfoy, Hermione was pleased to say, was alone of the Slytherins, sitting all by himself with empty seats on either side of him, as though nobody wanted to get too close.
And, much to Hermione's great relief, Wood was nowhere in sight. She was terrified that he would receive the letter, horrified that he might show up. But Hermione's loyalty to Dumbledore lay outside her own battles, and for once the Gods seemed to be working with her as it seemed he would not be attending.
Hermione chatted animatedly with her former classmates, feeling a surge of excitement flowing through her as she was thrown back into old times. The way she talked with Harry and Ron (when Lavender wasn't screaming at him) felt no different then the way they used to talk, as though time had never passed and their lives had never grown apart. The fear of Wood showing up and the disgust at Malfoy being there were both temporarily forgotten as she basked in the magnificence of old friendships.
Then Dumbledore appeared. The whole room immediately silenced as though an eerie Silencing Charm had been placed upon them.
Dumbledore was followed by Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, and Remus Lupin. The sight of all them (even, somehow, Professor Snape), put Hermione at ease, feeling as though she were eleven again and it was her first day at Hogwarts.
"How wonderful," Dumbledore began, smiling, "to see all of your faces. All of you, grown witches and wizards, out of Hogwarts, leading normal, successful lives.
It is with regret that I call you here with such a sour taste in the air. I take it you have all received my letter?"
The forty students at the table nodded, all except Malfoy, who was tracing the wooden table with his finger as though not remotely interested in what Dumbledore had to say.
"Well, let us get right into it, then." Dumbledore said. "Since Voldemort-" (several people shuddered or gasped) "- tortured former Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour into madness and Fudge reclaimed the title, he has been - if not more than before - exceedingly ruthless in retaining it this time around. I have appealed to him time and time again that it is ridiculous to think a common witch or wizard would have had the power or the mindset to blow up Azkaban. That is Dark play at work, and Fudge will not, once again, listen to reason. The Death Eaters who were not caught freed their imprisoned Death Eaters because now they know that Voldemort can return. It was worth the risk to them, knowing that they can bring their Lord
back sooner this time. This cannot happen. If Fudge refuses to listen to reason, then we will need to take matters into our own hands. The Order of the Phoenix has the knowledge of almost every Death Eater still alive. These Death Eaters must be destroyed."
Hermione gasped. "But … but sir! That's murder!"
Dumbledore hung his head solemnly. "It is not the path I would normally choose, Miss Granger. But we cannot risk Lord Voldemort returning to his full self once more. Too many innocent lives were taken the last time, too much misery and despair. We must stop that from happening again, at all costs."
"So … you've gather us here to go after the Death Eaters, then?" Dean Thomas asked.
"In time, Mr Thomas," Dumbledore said. "First, you must learn to fight. I know many of you achieved above the passing grade on your NEWT Defense Against the Dark Arts, thanks to Mr Potter's defense association-"
Dumbledore nodded and smiled at Harry, who returned his smile along with the rest of the table who took a sudden jerk back in time to the days of the DA.
"- but it will take much more to deal with the Death Eaters. Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, Professor Lupin, along with various other members of the Order of the Phoenix, are extending an invitation to spend the summer here at Hogwarts, learning from us, allowing us to prepare you if you choose to accept this task."
"The rest of the summer?" Cho Chang asked. "But sir-"
"As we speak members of the Order are using a highly advanced skill of magic to create exact replicas of yourselves who will carry on your daily tasks. They are not real duplicates of you, more like holograms of your human selves. They will go about your lives just as you would, and none would be the wiser."
"Sir?" Harry asked, shooting his hand in the air as though he were back in school.
Dumbledore smiled. "Yes, Harry?"
"How do you know you can trust those of us that you've invited here?" He shot a untrustworthy glance at Malfoy, who smirked right back at him. It was like their old rivalry had reemerged in full force, without even a word exchanged between the two of them.
"Oh, if there was even the slightest thought of a betrayal from any of you, you wouldn't be sitting in this room." Dumbledore smiled.
Harry, clearly unsatisfied with his answer, chose not to pursue it and instead crossed his arms and sulked in his chair, glaring at Malfoy.
"If you choose not to lend your assistance, which I nor the other professors will judge in any way, you are free to leave. Those of you that wish to assist the Order, please sign your name on this parchment."
With a swish of his wand, a very old blank piece of parchment appeared before him. Everyone at the table hesitated, thinking it over.
Hermione had no dilemma. She had been withdrawn and depressed ever since her hell of a relationship with Wood, and seeing all of her old friends had somehow brought life back into her (excluding, of course, Malfoy's presence). And what better deed could she do for the wizarding world than aid in preventing the return of Lord Voldemort?
After Harry, Hermione was second in line to sign. Malfoy, surprisingly, closed in quite quickly as the third.
A few Hufflepuff's and a handful of Ravenclaw's left, each of them giving a quick apologize and brief explanation as to why, but Dumbledore continued to smile as he waved their excuses away. "Please, please, no need to explain. It was great seeing you again, Mr Corner …
Ms Tremor … Mr Boot …"
"And how do you know they're not going to go running their mouths the first opportunity they get?" Fred asked Dumbledore as he glared at the backs of those who chose to leave, as though they were shaming him personally.
"The second they Disapparate they will have no recollection of this meeting," Dumbledore said simply.
Lavender was the last to sign, and, as Hermione watched her fretting to Ron in a hush voice, it was evident she was not particularly pleased about it.
"Excellent!" Dumbledore said, beaming. "Welcome, to the Order of the Phoenix! Lessons will begin Monday, which gives you the weekend to settle in and get reacquainted with Hogwarts! Old Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, you will be rooming in the Ravenclaw Tower. Old Gryffindors and Slytherins, you will be rooming in the Gryffindor Tower."
Harry and Ron exchanged looks of utmost horror at the thought of sharing a dormitory with Draco Malfoy. Malfoy did not look all too pleased either.
"Now, if that's all, why don't you all run up to-"
"Sorry I'm late, Professor!" A voice called.
Everyone turned at the sound of the doors opening, and most broke out in grins of welcome as a mud-trodden Oliver Wood strode in, wearing his Puddlemere United robes, a quaffle in one hand and his broomstick in the other.
Hermione barely had the chance to breath before her eyes widened in terror and she collapsed on the floor of the Great Hall.