Chapter 1
"I Don't See What Everyone's so Concerned About!"
Albus Dumbledore sat in his office at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry looking particularly pleased about something. Minerva McGonagall, sitting across from him, on the other hand, looked less than happy at the current situation.
"Do you really think this is a good idea, Albus? Because I must say, I do not have a good feeling about this."
"Oh, lighten up, Minerva!"
"Please, be reasonable! Think about the safety issues, in light of recent events." McGonagall was getting desperate in her pleadings. This was not on the list of ways she would want to spend her summer vacation.
"Nonsense, Minerva. This is the most ingenious idea I've ever had! You must throw caution to the wind and let your hair down now and then!"
McGonagall realized that her current plan of attack to make the headmaster see reason was not working, so she tried a different tactic.
"What about the financial resources needed to fund this sort of 'venture'?"
Dumbledore waved away her concern with his hand.
"Already taken care of." McGonagall gave him a questioning look. "The Ministry gives the school gold every year. Usually I use the gold to buy new potion supplies for Severus since he claims our students insist upon stealing from his cupboards! But I don't think he'll mind!"
"Somehow I think he will."
"Well, I am the headmaster so if he has a problem with my decisions, he can find a new job."
McGonagall made one last attempt.
"Are your sure, Albus? Think reasonably."
"I've never been so sure about anything in my whole life!"
***
Within the hour, most of the teachers were assembled in the Great Hall. Dumbledore stood at the front of the Hall looking very excited.
"Thank you all for coming, I know you're busy grading exams, but I have a very important announcement to make! I have decided to take all of the students to Disneyland!"
This was not met with the cheering he had expected. Most of the staff looked confused, a few turned to their neighbor and asked "What-land?" or "Disney-what?"
McGonagall stood up and faced the teachers. "It's a Muggle theme park in California." She still looked less than thrilled about this.
"I think it will help the students learn more about Muggles and will be a wonderful learning opportunity allowing them to build a greater understanding of their way of life. And of course, I need all of you to come and chaperone the students. Isn't that wonderful?"
No one did seem to think of this as wonderful. Some one asked, "Does the whole staff need to come? Because I'll stay behind!"
"No, some need to stay and watch the school of course. Luckily Madams Pince and Pomfrey, Argus Filch, and a few of you that I spoke to earlier have agreed to stay behind and look after the school and grounds. So everyone else, we leave on Thursday at 5:00 a.m."
"How are we getting there?" asked Flitwick. McGonagall shot another exasperated look at Dumbledore, this had to be the worst part of the whole trip.
"By a wonderful form of Muggle transportation - an airplane!" The reaction to this news was to be expected. Some were confused, others looked shocked, and a few voiced their displeasure loudly.
"Calm down, everyone! Not all of you need to take the airplane, I just need at least three of you to supervise the students - they can get rather unruly. Would any of you be kind enough to volunteer?" The room was completely silent. "Come on, or else I'll start calling names." Once again, there was silence. No one moved. "Okay then, Minerva, Sibyll and Severus will supervise the students on the plane. Glad that's settled! Everyone meet in the Entrance Hall at 4:00 a.m. on Thursday morning with your bags, if any of you are late I shall be forced to dock your pay! See you then!" Dumbledore practically skipped with glee out into the Entrance Hall.
"Wait!" Snape attempted to shout, but Dumbledore was already gone.
"I foresee this trip ending in disaster!" Trelawney said in her overly mystified voice.
McGonagall just looked angry and stalked out of the Great Hall. She hoped the Order would have more luck persuading Dumbledore to abandon this foolish plan. Or else, for once in her life, she had to agree with Trelawney's prediction. Nothing good could come of this trip.
***
Dumbledore and McGonagall stood on the front porch of number twelve Grimmauld Place. The former bouncing with excitement.
"I don't think the Order is going to approve of this idea any more than I do, Albus."
"Oh, don't be such a spoil sport. This is the greatest idea I've had in a long time. A trip to Disneyland is exactly what everyone needs!"
Dumbledore proceeded to rapt madly on the door several times with the brass knocker. From within could be heard the beginnings of an ear-splitting scream.
"I've come to appreciate that portrait." Dumbledore spoke airily.
"Oh yes, Albus, it is a real masterpiece." McGonagall replied sarcastically.
The door quickly opened to reveal a man with long unkempt hair, his face wrinkled with disgust at the shrieks issuing from the portrait.
"MERLIN'S BEARD! IT'S SIRUIS BLACK!" Dumbledore shouted, his face alight with glee.
"For goodness sake, Albus! Get in the house!" McGonagall yelled shrilly, shoving the headmaster through the door. "I apologize, Sirius, I don't know what's gotten into him."
"Quite alright, Minerva, I'm just glad to see you've arrived safely." Sirius replied, yelling over the shrieks of the nearby portrait.
The screaming suddenly ceased and shortly afterwards Lupin and Tonks appeared in the hall.
"Remus! Nymphadora! It's so wonderful to see you again!" Dumbledore cried happily.
"And it is wonderful to see you too, Dumbledore, McGonagall." Lupin replied politely.
"Well are we going to stand here all day or are we going to start the meeting already?" Tonks said in an exasperated tone.
The group proceeded down the hall, Dumbledore commenting continually on the "lovely décor". When they reached the kitchen, they all took their seats around a long wooden table with the other members of the Order. As they took their seats, Dumbledore shouted:
"Oh wonderful! Everyone's already here!" Everybody looked up at Dumbledore with looks of mild confusion on their faces. Dumbledore continued to speak.
"I have the most exciting news! I have reason to believe that I know where Voldemort is hiding! And we're all going on an important mission to find him!"
"Going? Where?" Tonks replied with a semi-annoyed tone.
"Why, Merlin's beard! We're going to Disneyland!" Dumbledore clapped his hands excitedly.
"Pardon me, Dumbledore, but what is this Disney land?" Lupin questioned.
McGonagall rose to her feet and took over:
"Disneyland is a Muggle theme park – "
"And is the 'Happiest Place on Earth'!" Dumbledore interrupted loudly.
"I want everyone to know that I am against this." McGonagall replied harshly.
Alastor Moody suddenly spoke up. "How can we be sure that this is where You-Know-Who is in fact hiding?"
"Well! Barty Crouch Jr., formerly known as Professor Alastor Moody, let something slip at the end of term…" Dumbledore replied.
"How do we know this information is reliable?" Molly Weasley piped up.
"Albus's never let us down before. We cannot let any opportunity, no matter how unlikely, to slip by! We must be constantly vigilant!" Moody replied indignantly.
Everyone at the table looked unsure, but it was Tonks who expressed their mutual uncertainty.
"But won't You-Know-Who realize we're there looking for him?"
"I've already got that covered!" Dumbledore replied excitedly. "I've already booked tickets for the Hogwarts students!"
Indignant shouts rang throughout the kitchen.
"You're bringing the students!?"
"What were you thinking?"
"This is absolute madness!"
"You're getting the children involved?!"
The far away portrait of Sirius' mother began screaming again.
"Now look what you've done! You've woken that up again!"
Lupin and Tonks rose from their seats automatically and disappeared into the portrait-lined hall. Moments later, the shrieking had stopped and the two returned to their seats ready to listen to Dumbledore's reasoning.
"Here are my main points." Dumbledore continued. "We need to stop Voldemort, he could be there, and it's already been arranged! Look! I have your tickets right here!" He pulled a stack of papers out of his robe and began to wave it in the air. The group eyed the tickets warily as Dumbledore proceeded to hand them out.
"Shouldn't someone stay behind to watch over the headquarters?" Snape asked hopefully.
"Well that would be me, obviously." Sirius replied looking tauntingly at Snape.
"Nonsense! You're coming of course!" Dumbledore squealed.
All the members stared at Dumbledore in disbelief.
"Are you serious?" Tonks asked.
"No, I am." Sirius laughed. "Dumbledore, are you sure –"
"I've never been so sure about anything in my whole life!" Dumbledore shouted, his face glowing with excitement. "I've got your rooming assignment right here!"
"Headmaster, may I direct to your attention that, with the exception of a very specific few, the students are not as stupid as they would appear. I don't believe it would slip past their notice that an escaped murderer is accompanying them on this ludicrous excursion." Snape spoke coolly.
"I agree!"
"Absolutely out of the question!"
Sirius gripped the wand in his pocket.
"I don't know what you're all so concerned about!" Dumbledore shouted. "Most of the students are pretty ignorant! But we will definitely need to have someone stay back to watch the headquarters."
"I volunteer." Snape shouted rather quickly.
"Nonsense! I've already signed you up to chaperone the students on the airplane!"
The sly grin Snape was wearing on his face vanished as quickly as if it had never been.
"Headmaster, I implore you – "
"You absolutely must come! It's final! I've already made your rooming assignment!" Kingsley Shacklebolt spoke up quickly.
"I would be happy to stay and watch the headquarters!"
"Marvelous! It's settled then!"
"Well, how long are we going to be gone?" Tonks asked.
"A month of course! And that reminds me! I'll be needing some volunteers to help chaperone the students on the airplane. They can become quite disorderly!"
No one seemed too keen to supervise a mess of unruly teenagers.
"Not again!" Dumbledore shouted out of frustration. "Then you leave me no choice! Sirius! You will be accompanying Severus!"
"I object!" Sirius shouted.
"I regrettably agree." Snape responded. "The students may remain ignorant, however, I highly doubt he will slip the Muggles' notice."
"What is an airplane anyway?" Tonks asked but was ignored.
"I'm sure we can whip up a disguise! Anyway, Alastor, you will be traveling with McGonagall! And Lupin! You will accompany Miss Sibyll Trelawney! And so we begin!"