Return of the Order
A/N All thanks are to JK Rowling for creating the Harry Potter universe and everything to do with it.
Thank-you anyone that has reviewed, followed or has given my story a favourite; all support is really appreciated and I reply to every review, so if you want leave me a question!
Cornelius sat up right away with a snap, like he was sprung up by a spring "Interesting idea Rufus, I like your way of thinking. Get the Daily Prophet for me, we have headlines to make!"
"Harry – my boy!" Cornelius smiled to Harry from across the courtyard, a few days later. It was a Wednesday. Harry perked his head up slightly, and turned around to see the Minister for Magic. It was mid-day. The birds were up chirping along and Harry had a free class. Harry examined that the Minister was accompanied by both Rufus Scrimgeour, Head of the Auror Office, and John Dawlish, one of the Ministers most trusted Bodyguards and Auror. Not only had that, but a line of reporters followed him.
Several students had turned around at this stage, staring at Harry in slight envy. Why was it always Potter that got to be the Celebrity, appear in the news and meet the Minister for Magic?
After the initial shock of seeing the Minister, Harry Potter smiled back at the Minister. "It's great to see you Minister Fudge" Harry exclaimed, arms stretched as if they were had a deep and long friendship. Harry was quite confused for why both the Press and Cornelius had arrived at Hogwarts. But it was obviously a media stunt for some big announcement that Harry hadn't been forwarded.
"I was hoping I would be able to borrow some of your time" Cornelius smiled with an extra hint, "I know with the rapid improvements that Umbridge is making, with your help, it is keeping you very busy," he noted to the reporters quite loudly "But I was hoping we could have a little chat"
Harry noticing how everything was playing out took the Minister's hint "Why of course I have time for you Minister." Harry replied back, smiling for the rapid flashes of the cameras. "You were in the fact the person that had the brilliant idea of recruiting me to help Umbridge do her reviews of the teachers, and for me to then further help Umbridge fix the problems of this school. I must also say Minister," Harry continued, "That your ideas have been brilliant and I can really see a change in the school."
Cornelius nodded to Harry and turned around to face the Cameras with his hand around Harry's back. "Thank-you very much Harry" Cornelius tried to look as humble as he could "Why don't we continue our conversation inside". Cornelius gestured for Harry to enter the building and follow him.
"Course, Minister" Harry said blissfully and followed the Minister and headed away from the cameras. Not far behind were the two Auror's tagging along. They ensured that none of the press entered the School Building – for the time being.
Harry chatted with the Minister about very unimportant issues. To ensure anyone wasn't listening in, they chatted about how the school was running and if there were any further improvements to be made. Harry could tell very quickly that this wasn't the purpose for his visit. The Minister climbed several flights of stairs, with Harry following behind all the way to Umbridge's Office. Umbridge wasn't present. However, without Harry knowing, Umbridge was well aware of the visit and reasons for the visit in advance.
"Ok Harry, I'll be frank with you" The Minister moved to a very serious tone. "Dumbledore got loose. Something happened to him and Shacklebolt on the way, and we can't seem to find him. I fear the worst, that either Shacklebolt is dead, kidnapped or a spy all along.
"Now the Ministry would like to borrow your help in playing down the issue. We are afraid of a potential backlash in the issue, and I cannot have another breakout of Azkaban story. Otherwise people will really be questioning the security of the Prison. Not only that, but we have been unable to locate Sirius Black. 12 Grimmauld Place has been raided but we were a few days away from being able to locate him."
Harry gulped slightly. "Oh…" he sighed.
"Who was your source Harry?" John Dawlish questioned him with a stare.
"Molly Weasley" Harry said with a straight face, without a pause and staring into John's eyes. "I met them in Diagon Alley, and she stressed that I go with her there over the summer. But of course, I refused."
"Would she have knowledge, or any of the other Weasley's, of her whereabouts?" John questioned him further.
Rufus headed to the fireplace, took some Floo-Power and announced clearly "Ministry for Magic". Rufus was headed back to the Ministry itself to find Mr. Weasley. If Molly had known the whereabouts of him, then surely he would too. With Sirius Black missing, and Molly knowing the whereabouts then Dumbledore and the investigation into what happened with Shacklebolt may be ended suddenly.
"I don't know sir" Harry replied quite calmly. Harry didn't like where the conversation was going, he felt like he was being treated like a suspect.
"Oh don't worry Harry," the Minister noticed, "You aren't in any trouble. But to find these men, we need to have information."
"I understand" Harry gulped "Well, I was in Diagon Alley at the time. Ron and Mrs. Weasley found me there shopping, and they ran over to me before I could pretend to not have heard them. They told me that they should bring me back to 'The Order's Headquarters', whatever that is, and that it was at 12 Grimmauld Place. She specifically said, and I remember that Albus was a secret keeper and Sirius made me one. When they were attempting to force me to come with them, because they didn't like the fact I was staying with the Malfoy's, I was forced to stick their feet to the ground so I could get away."
Cornelius and John looked at each other, "Why did you tell us before?" Cornelius questioned.
"I didn't think it was important" Harry looked discouraged.
John slammed his fist onto the desk in frustration.
There was a brief and awkward silence, after that, until the Minister broke it and said "Well anyway!" He smiled, "Now that that is behind us, why don't we get back to business? It won't be long anyway until Rufus is back"
"Why did he go to the Ministry?" Harry asked very anxiously and a little bit boisterously.
"To find Arthur Weasley of course" John replied as calmly as he could "I think he should be back soon."
"How are we going to tell the press, at all, of Dumbledore going missing?" Harry continued with his almost interrogation style questioning.
"The Ministry's ratings are as high as ever, and a bombshell in the press would likely reverse and outshine the good things which have been happening in the Ministry," John replied quite condescendingly. "That is where we hope you would step in Harry. If you helped us to make it an Order of the Phoenix problem, we could very easily shift the blame elsewhere."
"What's in it for me?" Harry replied cunningly.
John looked quite flustered by the question, he looked speechless. Cornelius noticing this quickly tried to answer "Well…" he thought for a moment, "How would you like to be the boy who captured, along with the Ministry, Dumbledore?"
Harry smiled "I'd love to be that boy". Noticing their weakness and trying to play on it, "Obviously there would be loads of photos in the press of me helping to escort him, personally, to Azkaban"
Fudge smiled, also wanting that to be the case, "Well of course!"
There was an awkward silence, as everyone tried to gather their thoughts. Cornelius pretended to be interested by the room, and looked around at the books.
"Who are we pinpointing the blame on?" Harry asked curiously a few moments later.
"The Order of the Phoenix." John spoke simply, "It's the best lead we have, and probably true."
"What is the Order of the Phoenix?" Harry asked anxiously.
John gave a very thorough and long explanation of the Order of the Phoenix and their role in the last wizarding war. How they acted as vigilantes to help the Ministry take down Lord Voldemort. Dumbledore had many key allies in the Order of the Phoenix, who could have helped him. He could think of no other groups or people who would help him. Now it seemed to the Ministry that the Order of the Phoenix has a new agenda to take over the wizarding world and place it in the hands of Dumbledore. It all made sense to Fudge.
A few moments later Harry watched as the fireplace lit up a great big green smoke. A tall man manifested through the flames and stepped out. It was Rufus, returning from the Ministry. He swooped the dust from his jacket, as he stepped through the fireplace. He fixed his hair slightly, and nodded to everyone in the room.
"Well" He said "Instead of locating Arthur myself and on the off chance of him being able to resist attempts to lead us to him, I have sent some of our most trusted Aurors to find him"
John questioningly "Are you sure we can trust those Aurors? Who did you send?"
"Positive" Rufus said matter-of-factly, "These are some of the most trusted in my whole department, and have likely had very little contact with Dumbledore. Kinsley, on the other hand, has a long History with Dumbledore and those sorts. This is why I have been thinking of letting go Nymphadora Tonks. Do you recognise the name, Harry?"
Harry said quite clearly "No, never heard of her"
Rufus mused and daydreamed for a second, and then continued. He walked up to Harry, and sat a piece of parchment on the table in front of him.
"Your speech" he muttered. "Memorise it" he continued imperatively - much to the dislike of Harry.
Harry glared down at the piece of paper, and skim read it. He glossed over it quite quickly and then got off. "It's quite dry" Harry deliberated "Mind if I add some things to it?"
"Course" The Minister began quickly to interrupt Rufus, who would have emphatically said no, "However I would have to have a look over it before you read it"
"Fine" Harry replied quite innocently "Got a quill?" Harry had a quill in his pocket, but wanted to see what kind of quill the Minister might have.
The Minister handed him a quill from his inside pocket. It wasn't a very special quill, like Harry was hoping, but it did have some golden trims on it and it did look quite fancy and expensive.
"And ink…" Harry was acting slightly spoilt.
The Minister was about to take some out of his pocket, when he noticed some of Umbridge's desk. He pointed and said "There's some ink there".
"Thanks" Harry replied gleefully.
Once Harry had prepared his speech to the press, and had memorised it, they made their way down to the front of the school. Harry had pocketed the quill quite nicely, 'forgetting' to give it back to the Minister. Harry smiled up to the cameras and said:
"Thank-you for all being here today. Not so long ago, Dumbledore was captured by the Ministry in this very castle. Unfortunately we suspect that on the way to Azkaban, the Order of the Phoenix ambushed the Ministry. The Order of the Phoenix is back, and they pose a massive threat to the Ministry. This is why I am extending my help to also helping capture Dumbledore. With the Ministry, we will work tirelessly to find this man, and bring him to justice for all of the crimes he has committed against the Magical Community. This Order of the Phoenix is attempting to cause chaos and bring down and to destroy the peace which the Ministry has brought. They want to destroy the lives that the Ministry has helped to create. They want to destroy the hard work made by every citizen. They want to damage our growth and prosperity. Most of all, however, they want to plunge this world into an all-out war, where a dictator named Dumbledore will be able to control every aspect of your life.
"This is why I ask you, to report anything that you might suspect to the Ministry. Maybe you know of someone helping the order, a member of the order or simply having the suspicions that they might be attempting to help. You could be doing them a favour, because they could be doing this all against their will. Turn away anyone that may want you to join them in the Order, and report them to the Ministry. Together we can bring security in these troubling times.
"I would also, finally like to ask anyone who may have any knowledge or know the whereabouts of Kingsley Shacklebolt to report so to the Ministry. When they were ambushed by the Ministry, he has not shown up. Worst case scenario, he may be working for the Order of the Phoenix.
"Thank-you" Harry finally said to the reporters, and smiled saying "There will be no questions"
A/N - That will be all until the Summer. Probably early JULY. Hope you enjoyed it!
BTW: It's my BIRTHDAY tomorrow (Same as Emma Watson) :P 18!