The Feather Tamer

thestoicwarrior

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Chapter 6: An Unexpected Job

Marlene had just gotten back from work and was changing into something a little more comfortable.

I was conjuring chairs for the Order meeting. Since I had never actually been to one before, I wasn't sure what to expect. Much less, how to set up for it.

I had made some tea after work to offer everyone and there were a few pastries Marlene had grabbed in the morning while at the bakery.

"Melaka babe, you're going to have to stay in the other room when everyone gets here. I don't want you distracting us."

"Meow."

"Yes I know you never listen to me anyway. Just if you come in, don't attack anyone love. We don't want a repeat of that time with Petunia. Unless, of course, it is Petunia. Then attack her all you want."

"Meow," she batted a paw at me.

I kissed Melaka in between her little black ears and continued to duplicate the few chairs we had.

"Geminio. Wingardium Leviosa. Geminio. Wingardium Levios—ah!"

Marlene walked in and frightened me. Unfortunately for her, the chair fell out of the air and right on top of her. Oops.

A now very disgruntled Marlene said, "I was just going to offer help but I think I'll go sulk in my room now."

"Oh don't be sassy. You know I didn't do it on purpose." Even so, I could see a little red bump forming on her forehead. Maybe I'd skip out on mentioning that.

"Yeah, yeah," Mar muttered and stayed to help anyway.

I could tell she was just as nervous about everyone showing up as I was.

Dumbledore was the first to arrive. He came early to place wards around the loft. With my help, we produced a few strong, interweaving wards. Hopefully that would be sufficient enough in protecting us.

If a random wizard walked by, they would definitely feel the magic holding the wards together. You could probably feel the magic out on the street below. They were pretty sturdy.

By one, the meeting was well on it's way.

Every once in a while I would stop to offer another lemon pastry or some cherries.

"Well if you're offering your cherry you should have owled me before everyone else got here," Sirius smirked.

I swear, for such a melancholy guy, he sure is cocky. I've never seen him in a serious relationship. Though, I don't know if it's for lack of women he really likes or insecurities about himself.

I gave him a don't-even-suggest-it look. I was secretly blushing.

And then we were back on track.

"Did anyone ever find about about Arnold Peasegood?" Nymphadora Tonks asked.

"No, nothing solid. His rhetoric makes it almost dead obvious he's working for You-Know-Who, but we can't turn him in for that," Kingsley Shacklebolt offered.

"But if we could turn him in as a criminal, it wouldn't help since we'd be turning him into the hit wizard Alastor Gumboil, who is just as likely as Peasegood to be working for the dark side," Alice replied.

I know there's no such thing as honest politics, but honestly. Can't everyone try to be a little honest?

We were all quiet for a few long moments.

It was as if everyone was thinking about just how screwed we were. The people supposed to catch the badies were the badies. Tough life.

Remus seemed to be able to sort out his thoughts first, "As one of the most secret societies in the wizarding world, we ought to have spies to be able to gather evidence."

"We are currently working with one spy. For obvious reasons, this person does not attend meetings," Dumbledore informed everyone.

"Does this mean we have a Death Eater double teaming with us?" I asked. It seemed I wasn't the only one thinking it. It also seemed no one else really knew anything else about the spy if you looked at everyone's curious (and sometimes furious) gaze on Dumbledore.

Dumbledore had that twinkle in his eye he used to get every time I was in his office during seventh year. "He has requested anonymity on all matters and I have granted him such. However, I have not neglected to inform you all of information I have found out from him. I'm positive I wouldn't be able to get away with that in front of all you brilliant witches and wizards."

"Ah no need to flatter us Albus, we understand."

And it was true. Any one of us could be captured and tortured. We could be force feed Vertasium. It made me shutter to think of the nasty side effects of that potion. It seems we're just racking up the secrets though. What we need is a secret keeper.

"What we need is a ministry spy," Benji said.

We seemed to be on opposite wavelengths.

He continued, "Perhaps someone inside the ministry already. No not you Potter, you're too far into being an auror to ever be trusted by dark wizards. We need someone who doesn't work in any related department. Someone who can just listen in to conversations around the ministry. We need someone who seems vulnerable but is far from capable of handling himself."

"Or herself," I corrected. I know he didn't mean it, but come on. Can you say 'sexism in its most obvious form'?

All eyes turned towards me. Maybe I was the only person concerned with inequality.

Then I realized this wasn't about sexism. I had all but offered myself to be a spy. I fit all those descriptions. I was brilliant with charms, brilliant with listening, brilliant at potions. I work in the ministry in a low key position...

Bloody hell.

"Pastry anyone?" I was trying to hide behind my hospitality.

Gideon Prewitt would not be phased, "Lily darling, I know this is a lot to ask but..."

I was pretty sure I caught a glare from Potter sent to an oblivious Gideon, but I didn't know 100% because right away, Potter started to talk, "You can't honestly think Evans would be able to do this. This is the most important job of the Order. This is why we exist. We can't change anything without information. We can't get information without a spy. Maybe Sirius would be more well equipped."

Sirius looked like he was going to protest. He could do it, but not with his reputation of a Black cast out. We all knew that. Sirius didn't have to remind us.

I was stunned. Did James really think I couldn't do it? Was this what the glare was about? Does he think I'm that incompetent?

"I'll do it."

My voice sounded small. I realized this did not help my case about being able to handle such a big job. But at the time, I didn't care. As if Voldemort didn't have enough reasons to kill me already, I have to go and add one more.

Marlene looked over, very concerned. I shrugged it off.

That about ended our meeting.

I was going to need a drink after this. Screw cleaning up, that could wait until tomorrow.

Alice said, "If anyone wants to go to the bar, Frank and I are up for it."

Now we were on the same wavelength. I knew there was a reason I liked her.

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That's it!

thestoicwarrior

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