Chapter 1

The Meeting

Harry Potter, almost-seventeen-year-old, newest Head Boy of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and most famous wizard of his generation was sick of all the attention. Every day the weight placed upon his shoulders seemed to grow heavier and heavier; the burden doubled since last year. And still, the ever-present prophecy patiently awaited its fulfillment.

"Harry, dear, please eat something," Mrs. Weasley begged him. "I haven't seen you eat in over a week."

"I'm not hungry," Harry replied, pushing away his untouched plate in the same manner he had these last few nights. "I'll be upstairs if you need me." The summer Harry would spend at Grimmauld Place, with Aurors constantly coming and going as Harry and the Weasleys held down the fort. Hermione Granger frequently apologized for not being there, as she was getting ahead on her N.E.W.T. review for the upcoming school year.

"Typical of Hermione, really," Ron Weasley told Harry when they received her letter by owl. "I'd be surprised if she doesn't take the tests and pass them with flying colors before school starts up again."

To tell the truth, Harry thought he should have probably been studying as well, but that was near impossibility. He should be training as well, but ever since Tonks died last year… Harry shuddered at the memory. And the Order of the Phoenix still hadn't decided on a replacement to teach and train Harry.

The teenager fell onto his bed once he reached his room and shut the door. The very same room he and Ron had shared two years ago. When Sirius was still alive… Harry couldn't help but tell himself. Tears of anger, grief, stress, and frustration flooded his eyes. Everything was in disarray. Even the Dursleys had died last summer. Harry rolled over onto his stomach, punched his pillow in frustration and broke out into new sobs. Fortunately Ron had taken the room next door so he wouldn't see Harry crying…

"Harry, mate, Dumbledore's here and wants to talk to you!" Ron called as he pounded on the door.

"OK, I'll be right there," Harry called back as he glanced at his watch; evidently he had fallen asleep. Clearly, if Dumbledore was here that could only mean one thing: the Order was going to come to a decision on Harry's trainer. Quickly, Harry rolled out of bed and ran down the stairs and into the kitchen. Countless Aurors that Harry had gotten to know over the years filled the chairs in the room.

"Harry, over here if you will," Albus Dumbledore said, gesturing to the empty chair between himself and Remus Lupin, who gave Harry a small encouraging smile. Harry gladly returned it. With one glance around the room, Harry could tell that the entire Order of the Phoenix was there. He saw Professors McGonagall and Snape directly to the right of Dumbledore, the entire Weasley family (excluding Ron and Ginny) sitting by Lupin, Harry's Advance Guard from his fifth year, and many others who Harry had seen but didn't know.

"Now," came Alastor Moody's raspy voice from Harry's left, "Can we get on with the meeting, Albus?"

"Of course. As we all know, Harry here needs to complete his Auror training throughout the next year. Time is a commodity we do not possess. Due to a misfortune, Nymphadora Tonks fell at the hand of Lord Voldemort and is unable to complete her assignment at Hogwarts and working with Harry." A respectful pause filled the entire room to remember their fallen comrade. "Alastor, your report please."

Moody stood up so everyone could hear him better. "There haven't been any breakouts from Azkaban in the last two months due to an Auror guard stationed there. Reputable sources tell us that Voldemort is saving his and his followers' strength for June, the end of Harry Potter's last year at Hogwarts. More deaths will inevitably occur, but much fewer than last year. Now as Dumbledore said, Potter needs to complete his training. Otherwise he won't be ready when the face-off with Voldemort comes to pass."

"Couldn't you train him, Dumbledore?" Mr. Weasley asked. "You are the obvious choice."

"The Headmaster has more things on his mind than teaching the boy Auror tricks," Snape said maliciously. Harry gladly saw that even McGonagall gave Snape a death stare.

"I did not ask you opinion, Severus," Dumbledore said strictly as Snape sunk back into his musing state. "That is a possible solution to our problem, Arthur, but I am afraid I need to stick to my duties as headmaster of the school. I'm not as young as I used to be. In addition, we also need a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"I could take up the task if need be," Lupin said quietly. He looked like he hadn't had a decent night's sleep in days and the gray in his hair just became more prominent by the day.

"Remus, Harry needs constant protection. I'm afraid you—don't meet the requirements," McGonagall said as nicely and politely as she could.

"Lupin can be the last resort then, eh?" Moody said. "I don't see anyone here who we can afford to lose from the Order—"

"But we can only trust the people in this room to hold a position so close to me," Harry interrupted.

"Yes, Harry has a point there. Anyone willing to volunteer to be the next Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher as well as Harry's trainer?" Dumbledore looked over his half-moon spectacles at the group gathered around them. A nervous shiver went around the room. Even the bravest Aurors in the world shuddered at the task at hand.

"Don't everyone volunteer at once," Moody said gruffly. "I'll do it if no one else is willing to. Never got around to teaching much three years ago, now did I?"

"Alastor, I don't think we can afford to lose you…" Dumbledore said, uncertainty in his voice.

"Things will be fine, Dumbledore. I'm sure Molly and Arthur will be able to handle everything by themselves." He looked over at the Weasleys and gave them a lopsided grin. The redheads looked rather perturbed, but still shook their heads in agreement.

"Yes, I suppose things will be fine."

Moody leaned across the table to talk to Dumbledore in a low, raspy whisper that Harry could hear, "Whatever the boy's future is, the future of the Wizarding world as we know it is the same, Dumbledore. You know the prophecy. This is the only way to vanquish Voldemort once and for all."

"You're right like always, Alastor," Dumbledore replied. Then he addressed the entire room, "Alastor Moody will train Harry next year as well as shoulder the responsibilities of the Defense Against the Dark Arts job." A murmur of disagreement rang through the room.

"Not Moody! He's the only leader we have left!"

"Who else will do it, then?" Moody asked, looking around the room with a mixed look of disgust and anger on his face. "None of you are willing to volunteer. You all heard the prophecy two years ago. Potter is the only one with the power to destroy Voldemort. Whether you are aware of it or not, he holds the fate of the Wizarding world on his shoulders. Tonks was a huge loss to us, and Harry needs the best training possible." Moody's voice and face softened as he glanced over at Harry. This was one of the few times Harry could remember Moody referring to him with his first name.

"The meeting is adjourned then, Alastor?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes. Resume the tasks appointed to you. Molly, Arthur, please wait here with Dumbledore and Lupin. I need to talk to Potter."

Lupin stepped forward. "Alastor, may I please speak to him first? There are some things I need to tell him."

"Sure, Lupin, go ahead. But don't take too long."

Lupin led Harry out of the nearly empty kitchen (most of the witches and wizards had Apparated already) and into the foyer. "Harry, James and Lily were great people, as you already know. They were both extremely quick-witted, talented, intelligent, and popular: some of the traits I'm starting to see develop in you." He smiled at Harry who felt himself begin to blush. "I don't know if you know this, but James and Lily became Aurors soon after the rise of Voldemort."

No one had told Harry this, but he knew it fit. "No one told me, but somehow I knew," he replied.

Lupin smiled, but behind his smile Harry could see concern. "I can see that you are starting to feel the pressures of Aurorism already."

Starting? Harry couldn't help but think. Instead he forced a smile. "I get by, I guess."

"Will the task of being Head Boy be too much?"

"I don't know. I always thought you had to be a prefect to be Head Boy or Girl."

"Nope. James was it in our grade. It came as a bit of a shock to him when he found out. Severus Snape too. And Lily for that matter since she had to be Head Girl with him." Lupin smiled. "Sirius teased him about it mercilessly all year."

"But why did Dad become Head Boy? From what I've heard he never really followed the rules all that much."

"Neither do you, Harry."

"Well—that's—that's just for—for noble purposes."

"Sure. Hermione's Head Girl, isn't she?"

"Yes. I'm starting to think Dumbledore favors Gryffindor."

"He doesn't. It's just that—I don't mean to be biased, but Gryffindor tends to accumulate the best people and most willing people for such daunting tasks."

Moody limped into the foyer. "Lupin, your time's up. I just filled Molly, Arthur, and Dumbledore in on what sort of things I'll teach Harry within this next year. They'll explain everything to you."

"OK. I have to get going soon anyway. See you around, Harry."

"Bye."

Moody made sure Lupin was out of the room before he began talking to Harry. "Now Potter, I know you know there is a huge task in front of you for this year. Tonks was a great loss to our numbers, but you must continue with your training as soon as possible. Like I said in the meeting, Voldemort's power is rapidly increasing. He won't attack until the end of the year, so we have time, although a small amount. I must get back to my post tonight, but we'll start training tomorrow. Bright and early. Any questions?"

"None at the moment."

"Good. I explained what I'm going to teach you to Molly, Arthur, and Dumbledore. You'll find out tomorrow when there's more time. For now you had better get some sleep, as it will be a busy day tomorrow. Good night, Potter."

"Good night."