Chapter 27: The Night Before the Dawn

Chapter 27

The Night Before the Dawn

Dumbledore made his way towards the hospital wing. He got the attention of Madame Pomfrey. "Poppy we need these people ready. The battle is coming and these beds may be needed for more serious cases can you handle that?"

"You know I can Albus. I prefer to have them heal a bit more slowly, but desperate times..." Madame Pomfrey sighed. Dumbledore took her hand. "I know I can count on your strengths Poppy I have always been able to. Take the Grangers and show them what you can keep your eye on them they are defenceless against magic. I must make way to my office. I have further Order members to contact. Arabella will be coming too, please put her to use here in the wing. I will leave Charlie with you. He is the most injured but he can help guard the wing. Bill is in Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley getting what extra supplies you sent him to gather. Both Fawkes and Merlin will be here also. They may be called into the battlefield but you should have access to them both." Dumbledore then did

something so out of the ordinary it shocked even Madame Pomfrey. He took her in his arms and held her for a few minutes. As they pulled apart, she kissed his cheek. He took his fingers and tilted her face to his and he put a soft sweet kiss on her lips. "I'm sorry Poppy I don't know what came over me."

"ALBUS DUMBLEDORE DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR DOING IT! APOLOGIZE FOR WAITING SO LONG!" Admonished Madame Pomfrey, but the whole time she said this she was smiling.

Dumbledore kissed her quickly and turned to leave. He entered his office and began the task of calling the order together. Firstly, he called to the Hogwarts ghosts.

They appeared at once almost as if they were suspecting it. Sir Nicholas, the Grey Lady, The Bloody Baron, and the Fat Friar, appeared in ranks at the request of the headmaster.

"Thank you all for coming, I have to know can we count on all of you in our upcoming battle," Dumbledore asked them.

"Certainly," Nicholas said.

"Definitely," Friar said.

"Of course," Lady said.

"You know you can Dumbledore. I may be loyal to blood but I am not for murder." The Baron said.

"Thank you all. I must ask that you rally the other castle ghosts. If they are not loyal to the effort, expel them from the castle. I know this seems harsh but we must be united under the cause or we are weak and facing Voldemort, we cannot afford to be weak. Baron, I ask you to assemble a team to patrol the grounds. Nicholas you will need to assemble a team to patrol the castle every little square inch of it. M'Lady, you are to get the house elves ready they have my permission to use their magic to protect themselves first and the castle next. Friar, I need a team to help in the hospital wing and with helping others around the castle. Baron, I leave you to deal with Peeves. Let him know that expulsion is possible if he does not conform at least for the time being. All of you no matter your job need to keep your eyes open and report anything strange to me immediately. Remind your dorm portraits that they are to only admit those with the correct password. In your patrols, inform the portraits to keep attention to their surroundings. I thank you all for your loyalty. Should something go wrong I expect Minerva to command the same respect you have all shown me. Be loyal to the Order members."

Bowing low the ghosts scattered to there respective duties. Dumbledore took a deep sigh and laid his head in his hands. He felt more tired than he had ever in his

life. After a few minutes, He raised his head to find Fawkes sitting at his side. He emitted a low quivering note. Dumbledore smiled and stroked the beautiful plumage. "We have a long hard road ahead of my friend." The phoenix let out another louder note and then left Dumbledore to continue his business. "Portraits, your turn you all know who you need to contact and the destinations that we have for them. We will have a large meeting in the Great Hall in the morning. Thank you all. Make sure to check all of your other portraits regularly."

Hailee and Mr Weasley arrived at St. Mungos with a flash of green flame. Mr Weasley made his way to the front desk and asked, "Can you tell me where they have sent Narcissa Malfoy?"

The woman at the front desk looked at Mr Weasley. "I am sorry sir but she is a top security patient and only Ministry officials are allowed..."

Just then, a more elderly woman came to the desk, "Anne Mae... Mr Weasley is a Ministry official." The young girl blushed. "She on the fourth floor Arthur. I believe they just changed her room. We haven't gotten a notice as of yet, but feel free to head up there they will help you." The woman told him.

"Thank you so very much for your help." Replied Mr Weasley.

Hailee followed Mr Weasley through the hospital. They stepped onto the elevator. There were several people there but they got off on the next floor. "Mr Weasely How are we going to do this? I know that is George in there and If we make Narcissa disappear then how are we going to explain it?" Hailee asked.

"Let's take this one step at a time, let's turn George back and then we will take it from there. I am just stalling, Hailee, I don't know the answer to this. All I know is that we have to be discreet." The elevator doors opened and they stepped out. "Let me handle this." Mr Weasley whispered.

"Excuse me," He said to the nurse at the desk. "Can you tell me where I might find Narcissa Malfoy?"

"Well, Arthur you are the last person I expected to see here for her. How are Molly and the kids?" Said the nurse.

"They are just fine, Sophie Thanks for asking. You know I am glad you are here. I need your discretion here show us Narcissa's room please." Mr Weasley gestured back towards Hailee. Sophie, the nurse raised her eyebrow but stood anyway checking the hall she motioned for them to follow.

Hailee and Arthur followed quickly. They entered the room they looked down at the pathetic Narcissa laying in the bed. She still had drool running down her chin. Hailee sighed. She turned to Arthur who in turn looked to Sophie the nurse.

"Sophie, we believe that this is my son, George, He is missing and there is so much to explain I just don't have the time. If you cannot be here for this then please give us the time to find out. If we are wrong I can swear that no harm will come to Narcissa." Mr Weasely explained.

"Arthur Weasley, after all that our families have been through together I trust you. Now hurry and do what has to be done before the other nurses come back." She stammered.

"Hailee go ahead." Mr Weasley ordered.

Hailee walked over to the bed. She leaned over and whispered something into the ear of Narcissa. Narcissa raised her arm and began spinning it in circles. "Had to see if the Imperius curse was in use." She took a piece of the shredded skin of boomslang into Narcissa's mouth, "chew it up, George."

Slowly Narcissa began to chew the boomslang and the long fluorescent blonde hair shrank and became flaming red. The smooth pale skin became freckled. George was laying in the bed where Narcissa had been. Hailee let out a groan she leaned over and touched his heart saying. "Innervate". Slowly George's eyes came into focus. "Mr Weasley we need to get him out of here."

"Go Arthur here port key, "Mr Weasely looked at her with a puzzled expression. "See you in the morning I have some things to get in ORDER." She winked. "I'll handle it I'll report her missing after you have gone. Trust me our desk people have things to keep in ORDER and will not even remember that you were here."

Mr Weasley nodded his understanding. He tapped the vase on the bedside table and said "Portus." George allowed Hailee to get behind him and she held on to him tightly. They all grabbed the port key. Hailee felt that familiar tug around her waist. They landed right in the middle of the hospital wing.

Mrs Weasley let out a squeal and ran to her son. Just then, the fire roared and in came Fred with Harry and Ron in tow. Bill was helping Madame Pomfrey with the items he had brought for her. Fred went to his knees next to his twin he grabbed him in an iron grip hug, "Don't you ever do that again." He proclaimed. He alone helped his brother to a bed. Fred walked over to Hailee he took in his arms. "Thank you" was all she heard and the sobs took over. Mrs Weasley soon joined in.

"Madame Pomfrey..." Remus walked in the door. "Sorry I didn't mean to interrupt."

Madame Pomfrey walked over to Remus and led him to her office. Hermione walked in the door and straight over to her mother. She sat there with her parents around her watching the tender Weasley moment as they all joined in a hug. Hailee had walked back towards Harry they stood shoulder to shoulder soon Remus was there. He stood behind them with a hand on each of their shoulders. Dumbledore entered the room, followed by Tonks who immediately went to

Remus's side. With all that was going on in the room, no one missed when Dumbledore walked over to Madame Pomfrey and took her hand.

"I think for safety sake I am going to make this wing our dorm for the evening. I think that we can make it comfortable for dinner. Dobby, Bonita, Chantal, Bleb, and Crias are going to stand guard over the hospital wing. They are very powerful elves, especially when guarding their home or 'master' so to speak. I want us all to get a good nights rest, as tomorrow there will be a huge meeting of Order members. They are arriving as we speak. The ghosts are helping them get settled mostly in Gryffindor tower. I think this group needs some quiet before this gets insane. You have all earned it..." With a wave of his wand, the beds pushed aside and a long dining table with large comfortable chairs appeared right in the middle of the hospital wing.

Everyone took a seat, but not before George grabbed Hailee and pulled her aside, where he kissed her lips lightly. They took a seat next to one another. Harry sat next to Ginny who was having some pain but she would not have it any other way he was holding her hand. Dumbledore stood, "Let's all have a good night and see what tomorrow brings. Tuck In." The table filled with the most delicious food and they ate and laughed as if there was not a care in the world. After dinner, the table cleared and disappeared and large chintz chairs appeared around the room, there was even a chessboard where the men gathered to play a wizard chess tournament. The women sat around talking about how silly men can be. For all of the clapping and cheering was like the Quidditch World Cup. They began to head for their beds. When the entire group lay there sleeping in peaceful slumber, Dumbledore was awake his mind full of the coming days. Wondering who was going to make it through this war and if they could find peace once it was over.