A/N: And here's my surprise! On the first day of Christmas, Royari gave to me... (See profile, under My fanfictions, for more info)
Harry Potter and the Guardians of the Mindspeakers
Chapter Ten: A Busy Day
Harry woke up feeling unusually nervous. It was a few minutes before he remembered they would soon be finding out whether not they could join the Order – the next meeting was that evening. Harry sighed and slipped out of his room, heading down to his pond. Once there, he sat down, and his thoughts turned to Ginny.
'I like her,' he thought. But even thinking that felt strange. It was like repeating what someone else had told him to say. Even so, he immediately glanced around and hoped no one had heard him.
'Oh good, you finally admitted you like the girl. Took you long enough.'
Harry blinked. 'Who the hell are you?' he asked.
The voice chuckled. 'I am the voice inside your head. Everyone has one, but most people don't talk to theirs. As far as I know, most people who talk to the voice in their head are going crazy. Or they're really lonely. But that's not what I came to talk to you about.'
Harry felt his heart sink. He knew what was coming next.
'Sirius and your parents are waiting for you, Harry. It's not kind to keep them waiting for so long. I don't see why you're sticking around there. It's not like anyone wants you to stay. They blame you, you know. For Sirius's death. And so do Sirius and your parents. You should make it up to them by joining them. It would be best for you to come here. Do you really think you'll stand a chance against the Dark Lord? Foolish boy!'
'Shut up!' Harry roared. 'It isn't true, none of it is! They don't blame me!' he said fiercely, forcing himself to remember every moment of loyalty and support his friends had shown recently. Ginny would be furious if he let the dream win.
'So, you think you can defeat the Dark Lord? You fool!'
Voldemort appeared, glaring, and Harry's scar burned painfully.
"Stupid boy," he hissed. "You will never defeat me! I will destroy everything and everyone you love! I give you one more chance: join me and show the proper respect or be destroyed!" he snarled.
Harry glared at him. "I'll never join you, Tom."
Voldemort hissed in anger. "Don't call me that name!" He narrowed his eyes. "Very well, then. Crucio!"
The pain was unbearable. Harry sunk to the ground, biting his lip until it bled. He would not give Voldemort the satisfactions of crying out. Voldemort held him under the curse for several minutes, knowing the boy would be near death.
"Now, foolish boy, I give you one more chance. Join me!"
Harry raised his tortured eyes to meet Voldemort's. "No."
He said but one word, yet it was this word that provoked Voldemort's wrath.
Voldemort waved his wand and Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Neville, Luna and Remus appeared on the ground, bound and gagged.
"Are you sure you won't join me, Mr Potter?"
Harry shook his head, gazing at the figures of his friends in anguish. Even if the dream would allow him to move, he was in no state to do anything. Though he only felt a fifth of the pain he would feel if the attack occurred outside the dream, he was still in extreme pain.
Harry's eyes widened in fear as he realized what Voldemort was about to do.
"No," he cried out.
Voldemort glanced at him. "Silencio!" He smiled cruelly as Harry realized he wouldn't be able to help his friends.
"Crucio." Voldemort said it as if he were bored. He watched as Luna screamed, holding the curse for nearly half a minute before casting it on each of the other captives in turn. He turned to Harry and once more asked him, "Potter. Will you join me?"
Harry felt lost and indescribably sad but shook his head.
Voldemort's lips pulled back into something Harry thought was meant to be a smile. "Have it your way. Avada Kedavra!"
Harry watched as the green light cut down Ron, then Hermione, Neville, and Luna. The malevolent being turned towards Remus and with a flash of green light, the werewolf joined Harry's friends. Only Ginny was left. Miserably, Harry watched as Voldemort turned towards her, muttering those fateful words. As the green light sped towards Ginny, Harry froze. When the light hit its mark and the victim fell, Harry's heart raced. He turned towards Voldemort. 'No, no, no!' he thought. Seeing Voldemort's triumphant sneer, he let out one long wail.
"NOOOOOOOOO!" he howled.
"Harry! Harry! HARRY!" an urgent voice called.
He opened his eyes, the fear and panic he'd felt in the dream immediately multiplied by the threat of reality.
'Where is she?' he thought wildly. 'Where is she?'
Glancing around, he noticed that they were all absent. Remus, Ron, Neville, Luna, Hermione, and Ginny were nowhere to be found and it did nothing to allay his fear.
"Where is she?" he roared, trying to get out of bed. Someone gently pushed him back down and he flinched at the contact.
"Mr Potter, stay still!" the voice said sharply.
Angrily, he started struggling even harder. "Let me go," he said through gritted teeth. "Where is she? He won't get them! Where are they? Where is she?" he roared, the sense of urgency he felt threatening every ounce of control he had left.
"Mr Potter!"
He raised eyes full of such anguish to meet those of McGonagall that she felt her annoyance disappear and she said more gently, "Calm down, Mr Potter. Let Madam Pomfrey take a look at you."
Harry glanced at the faces of those who surrounded the bed; they didn't seem to be troubled by his fear, but then they hadn't known about Mr Weasley, had they?
When Madam Pomfrey tried to get him to lie down again, his lips pulled back in an unconscious snarl, and she backed away with a frown.
"Where are they?" he demanded, his voice low. "Where are they?"
"Harry," said Dumbledore gently, "let Poppy look at you."
Frowning, Harry shook his head, trying to clear the panic, the sense of helpless urgency, so he could think.
"No, not until you tell me where they are! You can't let Voldemort get them! Where are they? Where is she?" He repeated the mantra again, although more wearily, when he received no answer.
Loud voices caught his attention, and he immediately turned his gaze to the door.
"Let us in, damnit! Let us in!"
"Absolutely not! Dumbledore says no one goes in; you'll have to wait like everyone else."
"What's happening to him? What's happening to Harry?"
"I understand you're worried, but you need –"
"You understand nothing!"
There was the sound of someone being moved forcibly and then several voices yelled, "Reducto!"
The door was blasted into smithereens. The five Mindspeakers strode into the room, shaking with the effort it took to fight back the rage and panic that Harry had triggered. Mr and Mrs Weasley quickly followed them inside, as did Kingsley, although he was rubbing his arm with a grim look.
"Harry," Ginny said tensely, "What's going on? What did they do to you?"
When he said nothing but continued to look at her in pure relief, she hesitantly stood next to him and placed a hand on his arm.
"Ginny?" he murmured. "Are you okay?" When she nodded and he got a similar response from each of his friends, some of the strain left his face.
Ginny gently wrapped her arms around Harry's thin, stiff shoulders and to everyone's surprise, he returned the hug after a moment's hesitation. She didn't know what had frightened him, but a glance at his angry red scar told her all she needed to know. Bastard, she though, briefly tightening her hold.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and gave them a gentle smile. "I supposed Ms Weasley was the 'she' you were talking about?"
Harry nodded stiffly, clearly still uneasy.
"Would you allow Poppy to look at you now?"
Again, Harry nodded. Ginny made as if to get up and was startled when Harry very briefly tightened his grip and then let her go.
"It's all right," she said. 'I'll stay right here and make sure everyone's okay. And I won't let them make us leave. You won't be alone, okay?'
While he was agreeing, Madam Pomfrey leaned over to touch his forehead, unaware of the silent conversation. So she was surprised when Harry flinched and he and Ginny turned, startled. But she forgot her annoyance when she spotted something worrisome. Pulling Albus, Minerva, and Severus aside, she murmured her findings; they would need the proper potions immediately.
It was while they were conversing that Harry realized Remus had not appeared. Before he could say anything, Ginny gave her mum a pleading glance.
Mrs Weasley walked over and gave him a gentle smile. "Harry, we saw Remus just a few minutes ago, and he was fine. He would have alerted us if he were in any danger." She couldn't resist giving him a hug – he looked so young, so lost, to her – but she tried to be extra gentle.
"But where is he?" Harry asked. Then he heard Kingsley say "Honestly, Remus, you're as bad as those kids", and he felt every last trace of anxiety drain away.
Harry grinned fiercely as Remus immediately crossed the room to put a concerned hand on his shoulder. Everyone was safe!
"What happened?" Remus asked briskly. Only the amber glint in his betrayed his worry.
Harry ducked his head. "I guess one of my nightmares got a little out of hand. Sorry."
Snape looked up and sneered. "If 'a little out of hand' for you is being held under the Cruciatus Curse for several minutes, no wonder you have no trouble fragrantly breaking school rules."
Harry stiffened. He wanted to tell Snape that he was wrong or to get our of his house, but he'd already lost his temper once around the man and didn't want to ruin his chance of joining the Order any more that he already had. "It was just a dream," he said instead.
Snape's lip curled. "And I seem to remember Professor Dumbledore saying you were to report all dreams. Only you would choose to stop doing so when the Dark Lord has found a way to attack you in your mind."
Harry's temper flared. "I didn't know! I never remember the dreams!"
Snape quirked an eyebrow. "And yet," he said, "you do."
Scowling, Harry said, "This time was different."
"How?" Snape leaned forward and watched him tensely.
For a moment, Harry was too surprised that Snape actually seemed concerned to refuse to answer. "Well, I don't really remember them, like I said. And I think they normally happen in the night and then I go back to sleep afterwards."
Snape leaned back and shot Harry a dark look, as someone might when he realized he'd been staring avidly at something quite disgusting. "Not possession, then. Probably a Confunding spell tied in to when he goes back to sleep. What aren't you telling me?" he asked sharply.
"I don't know," Harry cried, exasperated. "I guess it hurt more."
"Explain."
"I don't remember it hurting this much when I had the other dreams, but I wasn't under the Cruciatus for any longer than the other times."
Snape frowned, looking as though he were going to say something, and then decided to give Potter the potions. "Pain reliever, nutrition supplement, and dreamless sleep," he said shortly.
Although he swallowed the potions as quickly as he could, Harry still grimaced at the taste.
"Harry," Dumbledore murmured. "Before you go to bed, could you tell us what you saw in your dream?"
Blinking sleepily, Harry told him he could see the memory of the dream and only the dream. Dumbledore had just enough time to extract the memory before Harry drifted off to sleep. As soon as he'd heard that Harry would not wake up from his nightmare, he'd grabbed his pensieve and it seemed that foresight would now serve them well. He viewed the memory on his own and when he emerged, he left the part about Miss Weasley out of his summary. Only Severus seemed to have reached the same conclusions, and Albus resolved to speak to him as soon as possible.
Luna's serious "He is not a nice man" seemed to sum up their feelings appropriately.
As the Weasleys gathered their children together, Molly needed more than a "Harry needs to rest" to get Ginny to leave his side. The professors and Madam Pomfrey returned to Hogwarts, and Remus stayed to watch over Harry.
When he woke up later that day, Harry stretched and found Ginny curled up on the edge of the bed. He tried to gently shake her awake, but she just mumbled, "Don' wanna get up. 'M sleepy."
Slowly, he smiled, and with a flick of his wand, a bucket of ice water appeared over her. It slowly tipped, drenching Ginny with freezing water.
Ginny screeched and toppled off the bed. "Fred! George! When I find you two, I'll –!" She caught sight of Harry, who was smirking, and could feel his barely restrained laughter.
"Harry?" she asked, sweetly.
"What?" He tilted his head. "You wouldn't wake up!"
She winked, and Harry just had time to remember who her brothers were before he, too, was wet and cold.
Neither of them noticed their friends standing in the doorway, watching their 'Lord and Lady' engaging in a particularly vicious pillow fight. They both had feathers sticking out of their hair and this sight reminded Ron of his own chicken experience. He quickly told Hermione, Neville, and Luna to go on downstairs and he hurried to his stash of the twins' pranks.
Ron entered the kitchen, holding two bottles simply marked 'Malfoy (M)' and' Malfoy (F)'. The genius of the idea was not that it was a new prank, but that Harry and Ginny wouldn't expect it.
"What are you up to? Not playing one of the twins' pranks, I hope." Mrs Weasley said suspiciously. Ron had a glint in his eyes that she normally saw right before one of the twins blew something up.
"Would you like us to?" Luna asked, tilting her head.
Molly gave them a suspicious look, asked where her youngest child and honorary son were, and decided to put out plates for them since they would soon be down. A warming charm would keep the food ready to eat.
While she was looking the other way, Ron quickly poured three small drops of potion onto each plate.
He had just hidden the bottles when Harry and Ginny walked into the room. They were talking quietly, smiling, and they seemed relaxed.
Ginny automatically took the seat between Luna and Hermione, and Harry sat between Luna and Ron. Ron was relieved: while it would be funny to see Harry and Ginny swap genders, he was more likely to escape Ginny's wrath if they didn't.
Luna ate her lunch as though nothing were happening, not even blinking when the appearances of the people either side of her started to change. When the transformation was complete, she looked back and forth and smiled.
"I'm a bloody Malfoy," said Ginny tersely. "I'm blonde. I look inbred," she said, grimacing at her reflection in a spoon.
Harry blinked and prayed Malfoy never found out about the prank. "If you wanted me to do something with my hair, you could've just asked."
Remus stuck his head into the kitchen. "Harry, there you are. If you feel up to it, I was thinking I could give you your birthday present now."
"I'm fine," Harry said quickly. "Can my friends come too?"
"If you'd like them to. You're very close, aren't you?"
"You could say that," Harry muttered.
It was when Remus stopped outside of Sirius's room that Harry began to question whether he really wanted his friends with him. And how much he wanted to see what Remus had to give him. Then Ginny was there with a quick touch to his arm and telepathic reassurances, and he found he could keep walking.
Kneeling on the floor, Remus pulled a box out from under the bed. He dusted off the lid and handed it to Harry. "It's not much, but Sirius and I have been trying to get together some photos and things from our school days. We were trying to write down a list of our pranks, and what we could about James and Lily. Hagrid told us about the photo album he gave you; that's what gave us the idea. We were going to give it to you in a few years, but now that Sirius is gone… Well, I thought you might like it now. There's not much left to write about anyway. I hope you like it," he murmured. "And if you ever want to talk about any of them, just let me know." He clasped Harry's shoulder and left the room to give him some privacy.
Harry looked at the box blankly, startling when Luna began humming and said, "I think there' a spotted Tortoine hiding in here. We should go back to your room; I know it's safe in there." She continued to hum as she ushered them to the boys' room. She glanced around, smiled, and said, "Much better."
Harry perched on his bed, still absorbed in examining the box. Ginny sat next to him and gently nudged his shoulder, shooting him a concerned look.
'I'm fine,' he thought.
Ginny rolled her eyes. 'You always say that.' But she didn't push.
Only a few more moments passed before Harry worked up the courage to open the box. The first picture was one of his parents and had a note clipped to it. Sirius had written that the photo had been taken after a date in Hogsmeade, and Remus had added that it was Lily and James' first date that went smoothly. Some pictures didn't have notes attached, just names scrawled on the back, and there were many notes that didn't have a corresponding picture.
They spent the time until Mrs Weasley came to fetch them for dinner going through the photos and notes, laughing at some of the pranks the Marauders had pulled. Then they waited impatiently for the Order to arrive. When the first members opened the door, Mrs Black's piercing shriek started up. Sighing, Remus and Tonks headed towards the portrait to shut the curtains. Harry tried to block out her loud tirade and Mrs Weasley's muttered "Stupid, I tell you, I keep telling them to be careful or they'll wake her up."
Mrs Black's shrieks rang on. She was always especially difficult when the Order was holding meetings. It was when she started saying horrible things about Sirius that he snapped. His eyes hardened and he strode quickly out the door. The other Mindspeakers exchanged a quick look then followed him.
When Harry walked into the hallway, he saw Remus and Tonks struggling with the curtains, Mrs Black screaming hate-filled obscenities, and the new arrivals trying to sneak down the hall. Mrs Black switched the focus of her attack, calling Remus a mutant poisoning her home. Harry's fists clenched when he saw Remus flinch away and do his best to avoid Tonks' eye. Tonks released the curtains helplessly, shooting Remus a look full of pity. As the portrait continued yelling insults at Remus, Harry felt his blood boil. His face was white and his eyes dark.
Just as the door opened and another group entered the house, Harry pointed his wand hand at the portrait and roared, "Shut up, you ugly old hag!"
The room was silent: everyone was staring at the raven-haired boy in shock, including the portrait. Snarling, he stepped forward and slammed the curtains shut. He flung a locking spell at them and they stiffened. Turning around, eyes ablaze, he snarled "What?!" and strode back to the meeting room, head held high, ignoring the stunned eyes following him.
Remus blinked and turned to the people who were standing in the doorway. "Won't you come in?" he asked weakly.
Old Matilda gave him a reproachful look. "What was that all about, Remus?"
"Harry and his friends have had a rough day." He sighed.
Matilda grinned. "Oh, I wasn't complaining; I think it was brilliant. Anyone who can get that old cow to shut up deserves respect. Hello, you lot," she greeted the rest of the Mindspeakers.
Remus stared after Matilda's group as it made its way to the meeting room and shook his head. "Well, this has been an interesting day."
Ginny groaned. "It's been bloody busy, that's what it's been. And now we have to deal with the Order again."
After the last Order members arrived, they joined the meeting.
Seeing Harry slouched in a chair, Ginny frowned. He didn't see her impish smile and wasn't paying any attention to her thoughts so was unprepared when she plopped down onto his lap. He started, then flushed. Rolling her eyes, Ginny gave him a quick nudge. When Ron shot her an amused look, she stuck out her tongue. Neither of them paid much attention to the unreadable looks Mr and Mrs Weasley were exchanging. And when Dumbledore drifted over, eyes twinkling, to ask them if they were comfortable, they grinned.
A few minutes later, Dumbledore started the meeting and Ginny regretfully moved to a proper chair.
"Tonight, we shall decide if Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, Mr Longbottom, Miss Weasley, Miss Granger, and Miss Lovegood will be allowed to join the Order, and we will continue from the previous meeting. Severus?"
Snape gave his report quickly and quietly. The Order had one or two other spies but Snape's information was the most reliable.
When Snape had finished, Dumbledore stepped up. "Thank you, Severus. Any questions?"
A wizard asked something about recent Death Eater recruits and he and Snape discussed the point for several minutes before the meeting continued.
Eventually, the meeting returned to the point that the Mindspeakers were most anxious about.
"Thank you. Now, is it agreed that Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, Mr Longbottom, Ms Weasley, Ms Granger, and Ms Lovegood be allowed into the Order?"
Order members turned to each other, whispering amongst themselves until they reached a final decision. It was old Matilda who gave them the news.
"We have decided that these teens, though they are undoubtedly young, should be allowed to join the Order of the Phoenix." She grinned and gave Dumbledore a pleased smile.
Even Snape had agreed, though grudgingly.
"So it is decided," said Dumbledore quietly. "Welcome to the Order. May your hearts never fail and your minds serve you well.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, I believe that concludes our business for the evening, so I invite you to return home to your beds while we formally induct our new members. Severus, Remus, if you would remain?"
Once Dumbledore had answered each question and murmured assurances to the departing guests and made sure only those who were staying in the house remained, he returned to the meeting room.
"Now," he said, allowing himself a small smile, "we have come to my favorite part. I would like you to line up here and hold your wand in front of you. Exactly like that, Miss Lovegood.
"As you may have heard, each witch or wizard has an aura. No two auras are exactly alike. There are a few things that an aura can tell us. The most obvious is an approximate evaluation of one's power. Most witches and wizards have an aura of one colour that is indicative of them. More powerful witches and wizards have an aura flecked with silver, gold, or, more rarely, white or black. It can also indicate certain fields at which one might be intuitively good – healing or dueling for instance. However, it is more complex to read auras at this level and only healers are generally taught the spell. I happen to know it and would be happy to perform it for you at a later time. With every new member I like to see the level of their raw power – an aura does not tell one's level of experience or knowledge, so a person with a lower level or power could defeat someone more powerful – and get a sense of their strengths so we can make the best use of them. Are you ready to begin?"
The Mindspeakers nodded.
Neville and Luna were first. Both auras were flecked with silver; Neville's was mainly dark blue and Luna's mainly light pink. Ron and Hermione both had auras flecked with gold. While Ron's aura was a reddy-orange, Hermione's was a rusty-red. Harry and Ginny, perhaps unsurprisingly, had auras of their individual shades of green flecked not only with white but with a few flecks in the each of their knights' personal colors.
"Well," Dumbledore murmured, his eyes twinkling. "How intriguing." He paused to let them mull over the results of the spell and then continues, "Usually we would now examine your auras to see if you're naturally inclined towards a specific area, but as none of you is of age yet, I think we should wait until you are unless circumstances would make an earlier examination prudent."
"So what exactly does that mean?" Harry asked slowly.
"Well, for you it is mostly a confirmation of what we had already suspected; however, when most members join, we know nothing about their magical ability. In short, it means that you are all quite powerful."
Dumbledore gestured for them to sit again, and as he himself took his seat, he wore an intrigued expression. "Now, I'm afraid," he said quietly, "that there are a few things of a more serious nature that we must discuss. I'm afraid that I must remind you, Harry, just how great an influence you have on your fellow students. If you choose to follow your father's path in regards to the Slytherins, I can guarantee there will be no change in the way Slytherins are treated for the foreseeable future. If we are ever to achieve unity, then we must have the Slytherins with us. That said, we need to discuss the actions you took against Severus a few weeks ago. I must admit that I knew you might react adversely to Severus's presences and as I did not have the time to prepare you, I took it upon myself to put a cushioning charm on the walls in case of a scene like the one in my office. I know I have forced the two of you to work together in the past and that has gone continuously wrong. I will not try to make you two like each other but I must insist that you put aside your differences, at least when it comes to Order business. I trust you both immensely.
"So, Harry, I would ask that, if you feel any guilt or regret, to apologize if you can. I am not your father, nor are you in school, so I cannot punish you nor do I have the right to do so. But I must caution you against taking out your anger on others. Things are expendable, and I have quite a few knickknacks I haven't found a place for if you are in need of any, but I'm afraid I only have one Potions professor."
He paused for a moment and, while the two couldn't bring themselves to voice an apology, they did exchange terse nods.
"Thank you," Dumbledore murmured. "Now, Harry, the last thing we need to discuss is the matter of your guardianship. Even if the Ministry were willing to recognize Sirius's will, they have made it perfectly clear they will not allow a werewolf to have custody of you. That being said, we have several options. We could attempt to have Remus appointed anyway, we could find a wizarding family to act as guardians, or you could be legally emancipated. Do you have any preference?"
For a moment, Harry hesitated. He glanced at Remus and said, "I'd like to try and get Remus as my guardian, Professor. It's about time werewolves had more rights anyway."
Dumbledore nodded. "Indeed. Do you both understand that this will be a long, difficult process?"
Both Harry and Remus nodded, and Remus ever-so-slightly bared his teeth. "No one hurts my family. If Sirius wanted me to be Harry's guardian, then so mote it be."
"Very well." Dumbledore stacked his papers and held them with one hand, pushing his chair back with the other. "I will begin meeting with the Minister and the proper department heads tomorrow. If there are no other questions?"
"Actually, Professor," Hermione said hesitantly, "I was wondering when we would receive our OWL results."
'Of course you were!'
Smiling gently, Dumbledore said, "They'll be delivered in the morning. Goodnight."
Before long, both Dumbledore and Snape had returned to Hogwarts and the Mindspeakers to the boys' room.
Harry immediately sat on his bed and buried his head in his hands. He clenched his fingers in his hair, gritting his teeth. The only thing he hated more than Snape was being compared to him – and the idea that he could turn out like the older man. He hated that Dumbledore had just put more pressure on him – now he not only had to save everyone but champion the Slytherin cause as well. Maybe Snape had been right about Potters after all…
Ginny nudged him and Harry looked up bleakly.
"We'll help," she murmured, and the others nodded their acquiescence.
"We don't have to become friends with them," Hermione said gently, "just be kind."
Harry nodded and no more was said. Hermione, Ginny, and Luna returned to their room and they quickly drifted off to sleep.