Chapter One: The Gathering of the Order
There are many things no one wants to be the target of. The Cruciatus Curse, for example, or perhaps a gun, or an avalanche. Yet Sirius Black would have preferred any of those things to the fury of Mad-Eye Moody.
"YOU LET HIM GO?!" roared Moody.
"He's my brother!" Sirius said. "I'm not going to-"
"YOU COULD HAVE WIPED HIM OUT!" Moody yelled. "REGULUS IS A DEATH EATER AND HE KNOWS THE LOCATION OF THIS PLACE! YOU COULD HAVE KILLED HIM AND NOW THEY'RE COMING!"
"Patience, Alastor," said Dumbledore calmly. "Killing is not something to be encouraged or to be allowed in any but the most dire circumstances. While I am concerned about the Death Eaters coming for the four of us, I am sure we will make it to the rest of the Order at headquarters."
Peter was the first to break the silence. "Ah- Professor Dumbledore? I- I was, ah, wondering about the meeting- you said the entire Order would be there? I- I don't know how you could gather them all at the Prewetts' home- you know, it's not very large..."
"Do not worry, Peter," said Dumbledore. "It is large enough... and besides, the Potters and Weasleys are not there; they must care for their newly born children, Harry and Ronald. And Professor McGonagall too shall be absent, for she is investigating the home of the Malfoys, attempting to break in. There will be enough room. Now, on the count of three, we knock out the Anti-Apparition Charms and then flee. One... two... three!"
In a flash of light Dumbledore had broken apart the giant shield around them, and as Death Eaters fired curses towards them, they Apparated.
"Well, Wormtail did his job, didn't he," said Macnair. "The Prewetts' home it is. As soon as the Order reaches that place we can attack." They Apparated to a point half a mile away from the house, and Bellatrix, laughing, pressed down hard onto her Dark Mark.
"Good," said Dumbledore, surveying the dining room. It was by most measurements extremely large, but the fact that there were over thirty people crammed into it made it appear far too small. "I see everyone who we expected has arrived. Now, I call you here today to discuss an interesting secret that I have uncovered. I have a suspicion that Lord Voldemort has created a Horcrux."
There was a long burst of chatter, until Remus Lupin finally called out, "And what do you believe it to be?"
"Again, I have no evidence," Dumbledore said. "But I believe it is most likely a golden chalice that once was the property of a witch by the name of Helga Hufflepuff."
"Hufflepuff?!" Lupin exclaimed. "How would he have ever found it?"
"It belonged to a woman named Hepzibah Smith," said Dumbledore. "Voldemort learned the means of creating a Horcrux, and it required several special objects. After he attained these objects, less than a week later, he met with Smith, and the next day she was dead and the cup missing.
"What's a Horcrux?" Dedalus Diggle squeaked.
Dumbledore wanted to answer his question. However, Dumbledore, like most of the Order, was on fire, in several pieces, and dead.
Death Eaters were surrounding the ruins, firing Killing Curses in, wiping out anyone who had survived... Remus leapt across the room, dodging a blast from Bellatrix, and grabbed Sirius and Peter's hands, and they were instantly at Remus's home.
"James," panted Remus. "And Lily. We need to go and save them... where are they..."
"I'm the Secret-Keeper," said Peter. "They won't be attacked." Not until we've disposed of the rest of the Order, at any rate, thought Peter.
"It's the Weasleys and McGonagall we need to worry about," said Sirius. "I'll go to Arthur and Molly. Remus, Peter- you two go get McGonagall out of Malfoy Manor before it's too late. Then we'll all meet up at the Potters' and try to plan... but without everyone else..." He was crying, as they all were, but he wiped his tears away. Focus on saving who you can. The three Disapparated away to save the rest of the Order.
When Sirius and Peter arrived, they saw McGonagall dueling both Malfoys furiously. Their house-elf, a small, light brown, bat-eared creature in a pillowcase, was helping them, but it seemed almost as if it was trying to miss.
Peter and Sirius jumped into the battle. Peter stared straight into Lucius's eyes and thought as hard as he could, Change of plans. Let them escape... I know where they're going.
Lucius relayed the information silently to Narcissa and the house-elf, and McGonagall began to notice a subtle change... these spells were no longer Killing Curses, but things that were more defensive. Like they aren't trying to fight... McGonagall gasped. Were they trying to trap them?
They won't succeed. McGonagall raised her wand and yelled, "DIFFINDO!"
The marble ceiling split in half. Columns ripped and were uprooted as the house was torn apart, sending rubble flying everywhere, parts of the house flying all over the grass field. Lucius Malfoy was trying to shoot a curse at Sirius when the entire contents of the laundry landed on his head. Screams echoed through the air, and Narcissa yelled for Draco, and Peter was shooting spells that no one could tell exactly where they were aimed. It was too much for anyone.
Sirius, Peter, and McGonagall Apparated away to the Potters' home, hoping to soon be joined by Lupin and the Weasleys. Hoping that the Ministry would make it, hoping Voldemort didn't take control... but their hopes were destroyed in a matter of minutes.
