Spellbound
Author Notes: I"m going to take a week off for my birthday. Hope you guys enjoy.
Chapter 2: The Order of the Phoenix
Harry enters his room and immediately puts his quill to work. He wrote three letters to Sirus, Ron and Hermione. He knew they couldn't possibly ignore the fact he was attack by Dementors. Hearing the noise of wings he wasn't surprise to see Hedwig coming in with a rat in her beak.
"Hedwig, I need you to do send these to Ron, Hermione and Sirus. I need answers Hedwig and don't come back until they write information I need." Harry said tying the letters to Hedwigs leg. She gave a hoot and took off. Harry was sad to see her go, she was his only friend it seemed. He doubt that his others friends would tell him what was going on. Without even bothering to get undress, Harry falls backwards onto his bed and fell asleep.
Harry woke up the next day expecting to find Hedwig back with three letters. To his disappointment, Hedwig didn't return.
The following week, the Dursley's were all giving Harry strange looks. They didn't make Harry do his usual chores for that, Harry was grateful but there was now tension in the house that seemed to be creating a void.
Finally the tension broke. To Harry's surprise it was Petunia who broke it.
"Harry." She said as she appeared in his bedroom one week later.
"What?" Harry snaps. Petunia flinches, but held her ground.
"I suppose I deserve that. I really haven't been a good aunt to you over the years." She said slowly. "I just wanted to say… thank you." She said looking like the words were difficult to come out with.
Harry raised his eyebrows at the sudden change.
"Why are you thanking me? Wouldn't it be easier just to scowl and blame me?" Harry asks.
Petunia winces as if she had been slap.
"I know I haven't been the best aunt. I put my own selfish pride before your needs. However despite the treatment you've received from us, you still saved Dudley's life. For that, we cannot thank you enough." Petunia said as she gets up and leaves Harry alone with very confusing thoughts.
Later that night, Harry was eating dinner when the front door open and a group of people walks in.
Harry immediately leaps up with his wand in his hand. The Dursley's all got up quickly and enter the living and hid behind the couch.
"Very clean these muggles." A young woman said.
"Tonks for Merlin's sake." A voice that seemed to have growled out said.
"Professor Moody?"
"I'm not so much as a Professor now am I? I didn't get to teach much. Lower your wand boy, before you take someone's eye out." Alastor Moody said as he enters the room. Harry didn't do as he requested and kept his wand up. He had a good reason to be nervous.
"It's alright Harry, we've come to get you." Another warm voice said. This person step in and moved around Moody to let Harry look at him.
"Professor Lupin."
Others had enter the room as Harry lowered his wand.
"Oh he looks just as I thought he would. He looks exactly like James." A young witch said as she enters the room.
"Expect his eyes," a dark bald wizard said, "he's got Lily's eyes."
"Are you quite sure it's him Lupin? Moody growled. "It'd be a nice lookout if we bring back some Death Eater impersonating him. We ought to ask him something only the real Potter would know. Unless anyone brought along some Veritaserum?"
"Harry what was my first lesson with you?"
"A boggart that took the shape of a dementor in private."
"That's him Mad-Eye." Lupin said happily. Harry however quickly raises his wand.
"What spell did you use on me in the shrieking shack?" Harry asks quickly.
"The disarming spell. Expellimarus." Lupin said quickly. Moody let out a bark of laughter and gave Harry a smile.
"Taking security lessons serious I see. Constant Vigilance Potter; Constant Vigilance indeed."
"What's going on?" Harry asks.
"We've come to take you away Harry. Some place safe." Lupin said. He looks at Mad-Eye whose eye spun from the Dursley's upwards.
"We're not clear yet, but we don't have much time. Tonks, get Potter's things."
"Where's your room Harry?" The witch named Tonks asks.
"Upstairs, turn right and it's the first door on the left." Harry said.
"That's Nymphadora Tonks, who prefers to be known by her surname only."
"So would you if your fool or a mother called you Nymphadora." Tonks called out from the stairs.
"You know Alastor Moody, this is Kingsley Shacklebolt." The tall black wizard bowed at being introduce. "Elphias Doge, Dedalus Diggle, Emmeline Vance, and Sturgis Podmore." Lupin said introducing the witches and wizards. Harry half wondered why there was so many. As if reading his mind, Lupin said "A surprising number of volunteers who have come to collect you."
Tonks came down carrying Harry's school trunk and holding Hedwig's cage.
"Did you use magic?" Harry asks with concern.
"It was the quickest way to get all your stuff ready to go. Don't worry, we're using a magical device that hides the use of magic that won't be detected by the ministry." Tonks said as she sets Harry's trunk down.
Lupin walks towards Petunia who had somehow moved her family to the couch and they sat in silence watching the whole affair.
"It's been awhile Petunia. I have a letter here from Professor Dumbledore. It should explain our reasons to being here. Also there's a request from Professor Dumbledore." Lupin said.
"Green sparks, we have to move." Moody said as he marches outside.
Lupin hushes Harry outside while Tonks grabs Harry's things and went outside.
"How are we leaving? Apparation?" Harry asks as he steps onto the lawn.
"Brooms. It's the only way, you're too young to Apparate and they're watching the Floo network and it's going to cost us all a lot more than to set up an unauthorized Portkey. Brooms are also untraceable." Lupin said as he picks up a broom. Harry grabs his Firebolt and mounts it as Tonks magically binds Hedwigs cage to the end of Harry's Firebolt.
"Alright, here we go." Lupin said as they flew up into the night sky.
The flight was long and chilly but Harry landed in the park with the others landing safely.
"Here, read this." Moody said passing Harry a piece of parchment.
'The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix can be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.'
"What's…"
"Not here, boy!" Moody growled. "Wait till we're inside."
"But where is…" Harry asks looking at the houses in front of him. He could see number eleven and number thirteen.
"Just think about what you just memorized." Lupin said as he walks forward and disappears between the two numbers. Harry frowns and realizes this must be advance magic. Following Lupin's advice he thought about seeing a number 12 and to his surprise he could see a house with the number twelve on it.
Walking forward he soon reaches the number twelve door and opens it to see a smiling Lupin and to his surprise, his godfather Sirus.
"Sirus." Harry said embracing his godfather.
"Did Mad-Eye try to make you fly over Greenland?" Sirus asks as he let go of Harry.
"He tried, but we manage to convince him to fly straight here." Tonks said as she walks in and puts Harry's trunk down.
The others came in and they walk down the hallway that seemed unusually small. Stepping into the living room, Harry was surprise to see how huge it was.
"Harry," A woman's voice said and Harry turn to see Mrs. Weasley standing there.
"Mrs. Weasley,"
"Thanks Merlin you are alright," She said warmly. She quickly turns to the others and says in a hush voice as if trying to block Harry out. "He's just arrived. The meeting is about to start."
The others patted Harry goodbye and walks towards the other room. Harry made to follow Sirus but Mrs. Weasley got in his way.
"Upstairs Harry. Ron and Hermione are anxious to see you." Mrs. Weasley said as she quickly went in the door and closed it.
With no choice but to go upstairs, Harry walks up the stairs.
"Harry." Hermione said as she wraps her arms around him. Ron soon appeared and was carrying a rag.
"We've got your letters; we've also heard that the Ministry is going to give you a hearing. It's just outrageous." Hermione said in her usual one breath sentence.
"Look mate, your owl went mental on us." Ron said holding up his right hand showing deep scars.
"Well you two weren't answering any of my questions. I've been stuck with no news at all." Harry said bitterly. These words caused Hermione and Ron to turn a light shade of red of shame and embarrassment.
"Harry, we wanted to tell you. Honestly we did. Only," Hermione began but stops short.
"Only what?" Harry snaps, his anger was starting to rise.
"Only Dumbledore made us swear not to tell you anything. He said it would be too dangerous." Ron stated stupidly. Hermione threw him a dirty look as if he wasn't supposed to say that.
Harry felt angry once again. Dumbledore, for some strange reason Dumbledore was starting to become the source of his problems this summer and not Voldemort. Before Harry realized it, he lost it and started screaming at his best friends.
Down in the meeting room, the whole order fell silent as they immediately recognize Harry Potter's voice yelling at the top of his lungs. He was calling his two friends the worse kind of names there was and he seem to be getting angrier with their response.
Hearing enough and fearing for the safety of both Ron and Hermione Sirus got up.
"I haven't finished giving my report yet Black." Snape said as he was sitting at the end of the table.
"Moony can tell me. I'm going to do my duties as my godfather. Before we have to send Ron and Hermoine to Saint Mungo's for spell damage." Sirus said.
"Harry won't do that Sirus." Mrs. Weasley said.
"Yes he will. I'm surprise he hasn't already. He's not your son that you think he is."
"He is too." Mrs. Weasley said. "Who else does he have?"
"He has me." Sirus said proudly and walks out the room before they could so much as stop him.
Sirus walks up the stairs and could see Hermione crying and Ron standing there angry as well and was shouting back at Harry.
"That's enough all of you, get back to work Hermione, Ron. I'll talk to Harry." Sirus said.
"Did Dumbledore tell you not to write me?" Harry asks the moment Ron and Hermione were gone.
"He did, I know you wanted answers Harry and information but the Dark Lord was back and there is one thing he would have done that we couldn't have done. He would have had Death Eaters watching your residents and attempted to intercept your letters. Dumbledore feared we be giving the enemy free information and we didn't have any means to tell you otherwise. I've been pushing for Dumbledore to bring you here but he was very stubborn about having your stay with your relatives. After we receive word that you were attack by Dementors, Dumbledore finally agreed for you to come here."
"Dumbledore is starting to become a pain. I know he means well, but… Sirus I've been on edge ever since June twenty fourth. I've gone without news and it's making me mental to know exactly what's going on."
"A lot is going on, but some of it will be better off discuss later. Come, I'll show you your room." Sirus said, quite surprise that Harry didn't lash out at him.
"What is this place?" Harry asks.
"This was my parents' house. Didn't anyone tell you? My parents were paranoid and blood idealist. 'To be a Black, means to be better than the rest.'" Sirus said mimicking a woman's voice. "They put every known protection to wizard kind in this house. Offered it to Headquarters to Dumbledore. He and Mad-Eye than place their own protection in this place making it an idea wizard Headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix."
"What's the Order of the Phoenix?"
"It's a secret society, founded during the First Wizarding War. Dumbledore is the founder and our leader. Remember last year after you came back from the graveyard?" Sirus asks as Harry nods. "Dumbledore started me to spread the word to get the 'Order' back in shape. Tonks for example was too young to join last time and having an auror like her increases our chances."
"Tonks is an Auror?"
"Yes, so is Kingsley. Mad-Eye serves as our second in command. He's the most experience amongs all of us and has fought in two wars and the Wizard Dark Age in the nineteen sixties. We got about half the Auror's in our pockets. Many of them eagerly joined us as they knew at once the threat was real. Amelia Bones is a member as well. She'll be handling your hearing. She'll make it formal just to put it on the record."
"What's the Order been doing?" Harry asks eagerly.
"Now is not the time. I'll explain but later Harry. Trust me. Here's your room. It's the biggest room there is, I felt you deserved it the most." Sirus said as he turns around and leaves Harry.
Harry enters the room and sees that it was indeed massive like Sirus said. Before he could enter the room, two pops behind him caused him to jump and pull out his wand. He was surprise to see Fred and George, the Weasley twins.
"We heard you earlier."
"It's good to see you again Harry."
"Now listen, the adults here won't say anything to you. They've been talking about how Dumbledore wants you to be kept in the dark as much as possible. But we do know some things, mum will got ballistics if she found out."
"They keep trying to recruit members into the Order. People they know and trust."
"They've also been talking about guarding something. And it's not you; they refer to it as a thing rather than a person." Fred said quickly at the look of Harry's face.
"That's it?" Harry asks.
"It's all we've been able to get. They don't let us anywhere near the meetings. So we've been attempt to eaves drop on the meetings with these." George said holding up a ear.
"What's this?" Harry asks quickly. He knew better than to trust anything the Weasley twins had in their position.
"Extendable Ears. Our latest inventions. We're still beta testing them, but they are working quiet well until a week ago. Mum found out and went crazy. She thinks she destroyed them all."
"Only we're smart enough to know how to hide them in this house."
"And it's all thanks to you."
"Me?"
"You gave us your triwizard winnings remember? You gave us our start to increase our business.'
"We haven't forgotten. We owe you big time for making our dreams come true."
"Here, they're having a major meeting, let's find out what they are up to."
Harry grins and moves with the twins who were making sure not to make any noise. At the bottom of the stairs they ran into the youngest and finally member of the Hogwarts Weasley children. The only female of the family, Ginny Weasley.
"Hey Harry." She greeted warmly. She turns to the twins with a sour expression on her face. "It's a no go, she's gone and put the Imperturbable Charm on the door."
"How do you know?" George asks.
"Tonks showed me how, you just chuck stuff at the door and if it can't go near, the charm is in place." Ginny said in a matter of fact tone.
"Shame, I really would like to find out what Snape is saying."
"Snape is a part of the Order?"
"Yeah, ugly git."
"Giving a report, top secret apparently. Would love to hear it."
"But we can't."
"Whose in the Order?" Harry asks quickly.
"Tonks, Professor Lupin, Sirus Black, Dumbledore, Dumbledore's brother, Mad-Eye, Mum and Dad…" Ginny said.
"Professor McGonagall. Hagrid, Bill and Charlie. Victor Krum, Fleur Delacour."
"That's all we know, but there are others, we know. We caught glimpses of them. Moody got some old retired Auror friends who have decided to join. Sirus has called in some of his own friends, and they are coming in like crazy. Tonks and Charlie have been talking to their old Hogwarts friends and they've joined too." Fred said in a calm tone of voice.
"They're keeping you out?" Harry said in disbelief.
"Yeah, they said it was for the best. But it hasn't stopped us from trying to find out what they are up to."
The doors open and at least fifty people came pouring out. Some of them tilted their hats at Harry and even said hello to him.
"Well now, we'll be eating in the kitchens." Mrs. Weasley said as everyone began to move to the kitchen.
Dinner was full of laughter as Tonks was making funny faces much to the disapproval of Mrs. Weasley. Victor Krum apparently had some time off from his professional Quidditch life and was staying with Sirus at Headquarters. Also staying with them was Andromeda Tonks and her husband Edward 'Ted' Tonks.
When dinner was finish, Mrs. Weasley was cleaning up while Harry was staring at Sirus and Lupin who were sharing a very heated discussion.
"What's going on? Sirus I want answers." Harry finally said. All chatter stop at once.
"Show him." Moody said. Mrs. Weasley turns to look at him in disbelief. "He'll find out soon enough, better he learns from us than hearing about it at his hearing."
Kingsley unfolded the Daily Prophet and Harry could see his own picture in the front cover.
'The Boy Who Lives' The words suddenly change to 'Lies'.
"Fudge has been attacking Dumbledore as well. Fudge is using all his influence at the Daily Prophet to smear anyone who has claimed Voldemort is back and active again."
"Why would Fudge do this?"
"Fudge believes, Dumbledore is after his job."
"That's insane, everyone knows Dumbledore doesn't want the job…"Harry began.
"Exactly the problem. Fudge isn't in his right mind. Now fear can make people do terrible things Harry." Lupin said. "Now, the last time Voldemort was in power he nearly destroyed everything we hold dear. Fudge will do almost anything to deny anything that has to do with Voldemort's return."
"That's enough." Mrs. Weasley said. Harry turns to look at her and was surprise to see she didn't look so drowsiness anymore. "He's too young. Don't forget what Dumbledore said." Mrs. Weasley said. Once again Dumbledore was involved and this made Harry angry.
"Since when does someone have to be in the Order to ask questions?" Sirus challenge. "Harry's been trap for a month without any news. He's got the right to know… more than any of us who are in this room." Sirus said in a strong tone of voice.
"Hold on," George said loudly.
"Why does Harry gets to have his questions answered?" Fred said.
"We've been begging to join and get information for a month and you haven't told us a thing." George added, supporting his twin's claim.
"You're not in the Order, you're too young." Fred said in a mockery to his mother voice.
"It is not my place to tell you what's been going on. That decision falls to your parents. Harry on the other hand is…."
"It's not your decision to decide what's good for Harry!" Mrs. Weasley said sharply. Her face look very dangerous and she raised her tone like she normally did when she tried to get her way. She however was not use to being challenge. "Remember what Dumbledore said."
"Dumbledore has said a lot of things. Why don't you say what you mean?" Sirus said in in a tone that almost sounded like a growl.
"The part about not telling Harry more than he needs to know." Mrs. Weasley said as if she expected the subject to be drop.
"And I don't intend to tell Harry more than he needs to know." Sirus said loudly getting to his feet. His wand resting on the table. Mrs. Weasley also got to her feet.
"He's not a member of the Order of the Phoenix. He's only fifteen years old and…"
"He has dealt with more than most in the Order. And more than some." Sirus said loudly.
"No one's denying what he's done. But still…"
"He is not your child."
"As good as he is. He's not an adult either! He's not James, Sirus."
"I know who he is thank you." Sirus said coldly.
"I'm not sure you do. The way you talk to him, it's as if you're talking to your best friend."
"And how would you know how I spoke to James?" Sirus growled out threatening.
Mrs. Weasley fell silent.
"I think Harry has a right to know." Victor said. "He was the one who saw He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named return and match him in a duel. He has earn his right."
"Dumbledore said…" Mrs. Weasley began.
"We'll leave Dumbledore out of this thank you."
"Arthur, Arthur, back me up." Mrs. Weasley said in a commanding tone of voice.
Mr Weasley did not speak at once. He took off his glasses and cleaned them slowly on his robes, not looking at his wife. Only when he had replaced them carefully on his nose did he reply.
"Dumbledore will understand that the situation has changed Molly. True we did not write him information due to the risk of the letters being intercepted however now that Harry is staying at Headquarters, it will be okay to tell him… some things." Mr. Weasley said slowly not looking at his wife.
"I understand that, but there's a difference between that and inviting him to ask whatever he likes."
"Personally," said Lupin quietly, looking away from Sirius at last, as Mrs Weasley turned quickly to him, hopeful that finally she was about to get an ally, "I think it better that Harry gets the facts – not all the facts, Molly, but the general picture – from us, rather than a garbled version from ... others." Harry knew at once that Lupin knew the Extendable Ears manage to survive Mrs. Weasley's wrath.
"Well, well I see that I'm going to be overruled. I'll just say this: Dumbledore has his reasons for not wanting Harry to know too much, his safety is more important that his personal satisfaction."
"He's not your son." Sirus shouted.
"As good is. Who else does he have?"
"He has me!" Sirus shouted louder.
Mrs. Weasley was about to speak but Lupin beat her to the punch.
"Molly, you're not the only person who cares about Harry. Sirus, please sit down." Sirus did so though he was giving Mrs. Weasley a hard glare who gave one of her own.
"Very well, Ginny Ron, Hermione, Fred, George I want you all upstairs and out of this kitchen now!"
There was an instant uproar.
"We're of age!" Fred and George cried out.
"If Harry's allowed, why can't I?" Ron shouted.
"Mum, I want to stay!" wailed Ginny.
"NO!" Mrs. Weasley shouted over her children. "I absolutely forbid…"
"Molly you can't stop Fred and George," Mr. Weasley said. "They are of age."
"They are still in school."
"Yes, but they are also legal adults now.
"Fine, Fred and George can stay but the rest of you in bed now."
"Harry will tell us anyway, won't you Harry?" Ron said.
"Don't even think about it." Harry snarled at Ron. Ron face look shock as did everyone else's.
"Bed now!" Mrs. Weasley shouted. Ginny, Ron and Hermione got up and left the room with Mrs. Weasley on their heels. The moment they were gone Harry turns too Sirus and immediately ask the first question that came to his mind.
"Where's Voldemort? What's he been up to?" Harry asked at once.
"We don't know where Voldemort is. He's lying low and is using his puppets like Lucius to tell the Ministry certain things. Lucius also has Fudge in his pockets. He's been making certain request in return for offering Gold to Fudge."
"We've been attempting to keep tabs on known Death Eaters and we know they are attempting to recruit others to their cause and we've been doing the same."
"You mean, build up an army?" Harry asks slowly.
"That's right." Sirus said. "When he was in power, he had huge numbers in his command and not just witches and wizards but a whole number of Dark Creatures. He won't attempt to take on the Ministry of Magic with just a couple dozen Death Eaters. Some of his best lieutenants are lock up in Azkaban, or are dead."
"But Fudge is against the idea of any army. I mean if people start noticings…"
"Oh they will. Dumbledore believes around the winter holidays sighting of dark creature attacks will start to increase and people will demand answers from the Ministry." Lupin said.
"Your name carry's a lot of weight. When you announce that you-know-who had return, it wasn't just in front of Fudge and Dumbledore. But in front of many Ministry Official's and powerful foreign ministries. They took heart to your words at once when Dumbledore official announce Voldemort's return and the Minister is in denial as he refuses to believe it." Bill said.
"We also know that Voldemort is after something."
"Sirus." Moody said in a warning tone of voice.
"Something that he didn't have last time."
"Like a weapon?" Harry asks.
"That's enough." Mrs. Weasley spoke from the shadows and made herself known. "I want you all in bed now."
"You can't boss us…"
"Watch me." Snarled Mrs. Weasley. "You've given Harry plenty of information. Any more and you might as well induct him straight into the Order."
"Good, I want to join. I want to fight."
"No." Lupin said suddenly.
"The Order is very complicated and very dangerous. More so than you think. There are dangers involved which you can't even begin to imagine. I think Molly is right Sirus, we've said enough."
Harry got up and made his way to his room, knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep well tonight with the amount of information he got from the Order.
Author Notes: Okay, someone ask me to make a change and I agreed to it. I'm going for a vote of two people. The two pairings for Harry are Luna Lovegood or an OC character Helena Black, daughter of Sirus Black.
