For the first time in his life Harry Potter seemed to be not intimidated with the man before him. For years he had been awed by the elder wizards power but now, he felt as though he was foolish to believe that the man had been superior to him. Albus Dumbledore, one of thee greatest wizards to have ever lived was sitting before him with the top officers of his own making, The Order of Phoenix, with him and his officers of his army, The D.A ( Dumbledores Army) sitting opposite of him. Dumbledore, Harry had to credit the man, was under to false pretention of the D.A being under his command, despite its name honoring the man. His officers, Molly Weasley, Minerva McGonagall, and Severus Snape, along with other members, seemed to be in different opinion.
They had been sitting there at his round tabel, a table that Draco had already said "...had no head...", for quite some time already. Each had asks numerous, pointless in Harrys opinion, questions. Harry had used a chicken against a question Moody had asks- smart man he- to which all he got was a smirk in reply. The question had been " how many are your numbers and where are your bases located". Dumbledore had used a chicken against Fred, who, like a Gryffindor, had the audosity to ask " ...is Harry a horecrux". Harry was not the only one to see Dumbledore loose his twinkle, one that gave him away despite controling his physical and mental sheilds.
The pointless questions returned. It was mostly between the Weasleys on both sides. His side were slowly making their mum slip up every now and again with information. So far Harry had learned where the Headquarters were near, who all had been attacked, how they had found them - Remus had a really good nose it turned out- What Dumbledore was olanning for Hogwarts, and future attacks in D.E bases. Harry frowned when a Mrs. Weasley said a DE base in America.
"What is it?" Dumbledore asks seeing a change in Harry. Harry glanced at him before looking to Draco and the twins.
" thats awefully close" Draco says. Harry nods in agreement.
" You have a base there?" Remus asks catching on. Harry hesitated but nods.
"Dear lord" Molly gasps.
" Are they in danger of being discovered?" Snape asks warily. Harry closes his eyes for a minute.
" No, at least they shouldnt be if they're following the route and not wondering" Harry says. Snape narrows his eyes.
" Who do you have in charge if that particular base?" Arthur asks. Harry looks over at Ron.
" it's Dean and Seamus, they've been there before. They know the culture and the woods." Ron answers.
" not the most talented wizards" a member who Harry didnt recognized spoke.
" Sorry, who are you?" Harry asks. Suprised at being addressed the woman straightened her stature and answered.
" I am Whitney Comeson."
" Well, Ms. Comeson, since you are neither their Professor, parent or intructor, I do not believe you have a position to comment in their ability to either their magical studies or their leadership capabilities" Harry advised in an authoritive voice. McGonagal smirked slightly at her Gryffindor. He had become a good leader, quick to defend his friends, and intelligent with his words.
" I'll have you know, Mr. Potter, that as an Order member, I have plently of qualifications to make this assesment." Whiteny testifies sharply, ignoring the warning stare of Dumbledore.
" If you insist on this, then you then question the ability of those who put them in their position as leaders of a platoon. Therefore, it comes around to me. You you question me as a leader of making these choices, by all means, throw a guantlet (sp). " Harry states, his voice becoming dangerously calm and collected.
" That wont be neccessary" Dumbledore interjects warning Whitney to not overstep herself. However, Whitney is not detered by a mere hogwarts dropout.
" I'll not be outwitted by a Hogwarts Dropout!" Whitney jabs standing and draws her wand. Almost everyone glared at her, she definetly overstepped her bounds there.
" Have you forgotten that he dropped out to raise an army to fight a war!?" Snape hissed, earning suprised looks and noises from both sides., even from himself.
Harry sighs as he stands.
" since this is your duel, what are your rules" Harry asks. Before Whitney could utter 'none' Dumbledore spoke.
" nothing fatal, only disarm" Whitney frowned while Harry nodded.
They walked over a safe distance from the others. Together, they walked ten steps away from each other, turned, then bowed before the duel began.
" stupify!" Whitney kept trying to curse Harry, but he kept moving with ease.
" Come on Harry,-" Fred started
" Giver her a fighting chance mate!" George ended.
Again Harry just kept dodging, his wand, for the first everyone noticed, was not drawn. Back at the table, Arthur asks his son what every Order member is thinking.
" Why hasnt he drawn his wand?"
" oh right you dont know" Hermione looked awefully guilty and pale.
" know what?" Sirius asks worried.
" it was about a year ago..." Hermione mumbled.
After seeing she couldnt continue, the order grew worried about what they might learn.
" we were...in the woods running away from the snatchers and death eaters. We had already been attacked earlier that morning and were alreay tired and injured" Ron starts wincing at the memory of a spell slicing through his shoulder.
" Harry had gotten hit with a spell, knocking him to the ground. We turned back to get him, i didnt even..I didnt see his wand. I thought he still had it." Hermione says guilt lacing her voice. Dumbledore looked warily over to the duel, his intent of stopping it clear.
" Oh, dont worry professor. He's learned how to do wandless magic. Apparently, its a lot easier to do than have to channel through a wand anyway" Draco says.
" channel?" Tonks asks. Dumbledore looked suprised. As did Snaoe and McGongall.
" no wonder he had trouble with potions" Snape mutters.
" sorry?" Tonks asks not following.
" Potions are made from magic. Its very rare for it to happen, but when a wizard is a 'natural' they can see the waves of magic. It'll give the Natural head aches if they dont tone their sight down. " Snape explains. Only, McGongall, the D.A, Dumbledore, and Arthur seemed to understand.
" its easier to think of it like this. Imagine seeing in color, add ultra violet colors and thats what Harry see's all the time. " McGongall explains, of course using animals as an analogy.
" Sounds painful" Draco mutters. Snape nods in agreement.
" it is" Snape says. Everyone looked at him but he merely sneered.
" it also enables a natural to use wandless magic. Merlin was a Natural, he never had to use a stick nor dtaff to channel magic. His talen with magic was so raw that he didnt need one. Like Merlin, Harry has raw talent, it would be difficult to channel magic through a wand, thus making classe s like charms a lot harder, because it requires absolute control, control that Harry did not have channeling his magic through wand. Its the opposite of trying to dam a dam through a dam. " Dumbledore states.
Back with Harry and Whitney.
It was clear that Whitbey was tiring. She was old, and not used to dueling, where as Harry was young and duled constantly. Harry made the final move. He had been slowly making Whitney move towards a stump. Harry grimaced at what he was about to do. Out of what seemed nowhere he ran at Whitnet, with the agility and speed of a seeker mind you. Startling the witch, who stumbled backwards to keep some distance. And that was all it took. She tripped over the stump, sending her falling. A second before her head could hit the stump and knock her out, Harry levitated her so she wouldnt hurt her self.
" Submit" Harry orders. Whitney glared st him but nodded. Gently, Harry let her to the ground. He walked over to her and offered her his hand, a sign for oeace and help up. Whitney drew a breath but took his hand.
" You should know, Ms Whitney, war changes people. If Dean and Seamus were like they were when we were at school, I'd agree with you assessment of them. However, I am the one who led their training during the rise of the D.A. I need people who I trust to look after not only the new recruits but my friends. I do not trust easily, Ms. Whitney, but i trust them. " Harry says as they walk back to the table. Whitney nods her head, coming in new light of the boy who lived.