A/N: I had really enjoyed writing this chapter, I hope you enjoy reading it just as well. Here is the long-awaited Order meeting, at last!
Also. thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing! I'm trying to publish the chapters as quickly as I can, to rebuild your interest in the story after my long absence, and when I find encouraging reviews, especially from my old readers, it makes me smile! :)
Last thing, I am never abandoning this story, so don't worry. Even if it takes me 10 years to finish this, I have every intention to. :)
Enjoy!
Chapter 38: The Plan - Part 1
"Hermione, Severus?" Remus looked from one to another. "You both?"
Professor Snape made an impatient noise in his throat. "Why, Lupin, who else were you expecting to find at the Order Headquarters?"
"We were not expecting to see you two together," Remus replied.
"Yes, apparently, I had to take up the role of the Order's resident chaperone, under the unquestionable leadership of our most venerable leader," he said sardonically.
"I could have Apparated you, Hermione," Remus said. "As your other Professor seems quite...unsettled about having to bring you."
"I was going to be late..." She bit her lip.
"So are we," Remus looked at Ron. "I had a detention to see to. We just Apparated, too."
"I, uh..." Hermione hesitated, "I had an extra shift at the Hospital Wing-"
"No, you didn't," Ron said accusingly. "I went to the Hospital Wing looking for you. You weren't there."
"Yes... It got cancelled," she said with abruptness. "I was in the Library..." Ron, Hermione noticed, was eyeing her sharply, not buying a word of her lie, that was, in all honesty, not sharp enough to fool anyone.
"But if your shift got cancelled, you should have asked me to take you." In Remus's tone, Hermione detected blatant suspicion.
"You three might find your current company apt to set up a personal meeting, but I would rather join the meeting inside to privy myself to matters of substance rather than Miss Granger's transportation arrangements," the Professor said irritably.
Remus was switching his gaze from Professor Snape to Hermione. He was silently evaluating the situation.
"Yes, do keep up the game. The meeting will progress smoothly without three golems infesting the assembly," Professor Snape snarled. He pushed Remus aside and walked ahead.
Suddenly, the band on Hermione's finger flared with heat. "Professor!" She cried. Three faces turned in her direction.
"Hermione?" Remus stepped towards her, baffled.
Hermione's eyes found the sharp black orbs. 'You told me to go first!' She sent the words through Legilimency. The muscles around his mouth tightened in acknowledgement. "Thank you for...the lift, Professor..." She said awkwardly. She could feel a sheen of sweat breaking on her forehead.
"When your inane nattering ends, do consider joining the meeting," he contradicted his previous order. The burning in Hermione's finger subsided. With that, he strode away in the direction of the Number Twelve.
Ron glared at the man as he vanished in the dark. "What the hell was that?"
"Are you alright, Hermione?" Remus asked with a frown.
"I am fine." She ran the back of her hand over her forehead. "We should go in."
"You don't- Never mind." Remus shook his head. "Come along." He cast a scrutinizing eye down her before turning to lead them.
Disconcertment hung thickly in the air. The unasked questions that they had were almost palpable. Ron walked sluggishly so Hermione to catch up. She could hear crickets in dark, distant corners. Light when falling on Ron's face was revealing a reddish hue settling over his features.
Hermione looked at the blank sky, not a single sparking speck could she spot on that eerie new-moon night. Then looking at Remus, she realised how nights like these would be preferred by him. Hermione did not dislike Remus, she decided. He was a good man, just a little too sympathetic, to the extent of annoyance. But perhaps, he expressed sympathy because nobody else did to him... That thought hurt her heart.
If only he could differentiate between being concerned and downright sympathetic...
"What were you thinking!" Ron hissed. "Couldn't you have come with me?
"I thought you had left," she said in a hushed voice.
"When your shift got cancelled, why didn't you come to me then?" His accusatory tone pricked her.
"I told you, I had gone to the Library-"
"Why?" He huffed. "You knew there's a meeting and you rather preferred to go to the Library and later came with Snape!"
"I had thought to come with Hagrid, but he was not in school today-"
"So out of everyone, you could only come with that Greasy Git?"
"Ron, mind your language-"
"And he was carrying you!" He said in disgust. "How could you have allowed him to even touch you, Hermione!"
"Ron!" She shushed him, looking at Remus' back as he walked ahead of them.
"You could have come with me and Remus!"
"Can we discuss this later?" She pursed her lips in annoyance. "We have a meeting-"
"To hell with the ruddy meeting!" He kicked a stone with his shoe. "With Snape, of all people!"
"So who else could I have come with!" Hermione said in exasperation.
"Remus and I! I told you we can even wait for you!"
"I didn't want to,"
she hissed back.
"You didn't want to come with me, but you came with Snape!"
"It's not about you, Ron."
"So who is it about! Snape?"
"Don't be absurd."
"I'm being absurd?" He stopped. "You come with Snape carrying you and you call me absurd!"
"Ron, Hermione," Remus called. "Please, come inside."
They were standing outside the looming House of Black. Lightened windows appeared as the eyes to the house that looked over the street.
Hermione left Ron standing and moved her Chair inside while Remus stood holding the door open. The hallway inside was empty of people. She could hear commotion from the kitchen where the meeting was to be held.
"Hermione," Remus approached her, "Are you sure you're alright?"
"I am," she kept her tone free of the bubbling irritation within.
"Yeah, of course, she would be," Ron's comment sparked the reservoir of her carefully concealed anger.
"Come now, let us join the others," Remus gestured towards the kitchen door. A feminine giggle escaped the door and was again mingled with other voices.
"We'll come in a moment," Hermione said to Remus.
Remus stared at the two before nodding. He crossed the hallway to the meeting. Hermione turned to Ron who was still fuming out of his senses. "Come with me," she said and led him towards the staircases.
"I don't wanna waste my time arguing with you, Hermione," he declared.
"No, you better do that," she countered. "Because I'm not letting you think that you have a right to come to me and talk rubbish about me, and get away with impunity."
"Oh, so I have no right to say anything to you," his face crumpled in anger.
"No, you don't," she said simply. "It is entirely my choice with whom I come to the meeting or-"
"It was bloody Snape, Hermione!" He clenched his fists. "He was carrying you!"
"Because I cannot Apparate sitting on my Chair, you idiot!" She huffed.
"So you should have come with me in the first place," he kicked the wall. "I would have taken you-"
"You yourself Apparated in a Side-along!" She could hardly keep from shrieking. "You could not have carried me."
"So Remus would have!"
"I did not want to come with Remus!" She said finally.
"And you rather came with Snape?"
"Yes."
"What a brilliant choice, isn't it?"
"I would choose him over Remus any day," she blurted out.
Ron snapped his mouth shut, dumbfounded. "You will choose Snape over Remus. Have you lost your mind?"
"Maybe you are too blind to see why I was annoyed with Remus, but that won't change my outlook," she said firmly.
"Just because he didn't let you participate in class?"
"There was more to it."
"So what was wrong with that?"
Now it was Hermione's turn to gape at Ron. "You can't see what's wrong with that? You're ridiculous, Ronald."
"Just because he didn't let you participate in a bloody class, you came with that Greasy Git!"
"Enough!" She hissed. Light started flickering from the old glass chandelier above. Hermione drew up her Occlumency Shields to avoid any accidents. "You, Ronald, have absolutely no right to tell me whom I should go with, whom I should talk to, whom I should choose, or whatever I should or should not do. If I don't interfere between Lavender and you, you have no right to interfere in my personal affairs!"
"Oh, so it's about Lavender!" He said bitterly.
"No, it's about you and your controlling attitude-"
"You're tryna make me feel jealous of Snape because of Lavender?!" He said incredulously.
"You are sick, Ronald," Hermione shook her head in disgust. "You have a sick, sick mentality."
"I have a sick mentality!" He shouted. "It is you who prefer Snape over others and I have a sick mentality!"
"I don't find anything wrong in preferring the Professor over others," she declared. "Just because you can't see beyond the end of your own nose, I'm not doomed to share your demeaning opinion of people."
"I can't believe you're fighting with me over that Greasy Git!"
"Ronald Weasley!" With a slip of her Shields, Ron was brought to his knees, followed by a shriek, on eye-level with her. Hermione gazed into his widened eyes with rage. "You will NOT call him that—EVER!"
Silence.
He did not respond, but kept gawking at her. Looking into that familiar face with blue eyes and red hair of her friend, Hermione's anger subsided and so subsided her magic. She moved her Chair away from him.
She glanced back at Ron, still kneeling on the floor, and felt a surge of guilt overpower her. She never meant to for her magic to affect her friend.
'Just because he didn't let you participate in a bloody class, you came with that Greasy Git!'
Maybe this is how you'll learn to respect others' choices, Ron.
She sighed and manoeuvred her Chair towards the kitchen door.
UUUUUUU
Stale, damp air met Severus' nostrils as the kitchen door was pressed open, the vacant scent of food made his stomach churn instinctively. He crinkled his nose, before stepped into a room full of witches and wizards, gathered round the long kitchen table and looking apprehensive.
The seat of the Head was still vacant. To the right, where Minerva was supposed to sit, the crest rail of the chair was playing a hanger to a travelling cloak. In a row of red heads, the eldest Weasley boy sat with the troublesome pair of twins. Potter was looking around the room, appearing bored. Arthur Weasley was standing in a corner, in a deep conversation with Nymphadora Tonks. Moody and Shacklebolt sat on the Head's left. The half-insane ex-Auror shot Severus a glare when he entered. To that, Severus returned an ugly sneer.
Fluer Delacour, the most recently appointed Order member came to sit beside the eldest Weasley boy. When the boy turned to acknowledge the girl, he noticed Severus and nodded. Severus returned a curt nod of his own.
How miserably out of place he felt at those abject gatherings, Merlin!
Severus decided to take the seat beside the one reserved for Minerva, sitting opposite to Shacklebolt. The Weasley twins, he noticed, quietened when they spotted Severus. Inwardly, he smirked. Potter, when saw Severus, narrowed his eyes and looked at the door in question. Severus surmised him to be looking for Granger.
"Snape, any news from the Death Eaters? Shacklebolt asked.
"None of substance," he replied.
"Huh, of course," Moody snorted. "Attacks happening all around the world and he has no news of substance."
"I do have a piece of relevance for you, Moody," Severus said silkily. "The Dark Lord is hunting many ex-Aurors. See that you don't find yourself trapped in yet another trunk."
"And you see that you don't find yourself in Azkaban again, Snape," the puerile response was expected. Severus returned a smirk with a calm disposition to further irk the other man.
Severus' eyes lingered on the door. He, too, could not help but wonder about Granger. She was, indeed, caught up in an uncomfortable situation. One where he could not aid her. He inwardly cursed Lupin to have sighted them.
Arthur Weasley walked to his side. "Severus," he offered a welcoming smile.
"Weasley," Severus nodded. It always discomfited him to acknowledge one by their given name, with a few exceptions.
"Albus told us about some plans we need to make regarding your rank in You-Know-Who's circle..." He meant it like a question.
"Correct," Severus replied. "The primary objective of the meeting will be that."
"I think it's a wise decision," the other man said. "With all
these attacks taking place, we are in dire need of intel."
"Wotcher, Professor?" Nymphadora Tonks approached him.
Severus turned his gaze to her with such disdain that she visibly recoiled. "Miss Tonks."
When Molly Weasley appeared with a tray of tea, a murmuring of Thank yous broke out. A cup of steaming tea was sent before each one of them. Severus usually never ate in the house, unlike the other members who preferred to stay for meals. In fact, Severus had his own reservations when it came to consuming anything outside of Hogwarts, a spy as he was. He would rather not jeopardise his position for a bit of food. And Grimmauld Place was one dwelling he could never trust entirely. He vanished his cup silently.
"Harry, Dear, where are Ron and Hermione?" Molly Weasley asked.
Potter looked from Severus to the door, then back at the witch, "They must be coming with Remus, I think."
"Er... No offence, but can Hermione even travel?" The eldest Weasley boy asked.
"Albus said she will be sworn in today," Molly Weasley replied.
Severus pretended to ignore the conversation. Lupin, he was sure, would blabber about spotting Severus assisting Granger. It would open another can of worms for them.
"Here you are!" Tonks cried jovially as Lupin entered the kitchen. Severus avoided watching the two menaces involved in public display of affection and instead sat waiting for Granger to come in. But she didn't.
If the Warewolf has left her alone on the street...
Lupin threw a suspicious look towards Severus before shaking hands with Arthur Weasley.
"Settling in at Hogwarts, then?" Arthur Weasley asked lightly.
Lupin nodded, "It feels like I never left."
"Tea, Remus?" Mrs. Weasley asked with excitement that made Severus wonder what exactly did she find so fascinating about feeding others.
"Thank you, Molly," he accepted a cup.
"Oh, and where are Ron and Hermione?" She inquired.
"They are coming," he replied. "They are just outside."
Severus glanced at the Grandfather clock. The meeting was supposed to have begun at least forty minutes ago. Yet, the Head and his Deputy were missing. He again glanced at the door.
Unfortunately, Lupin decided to take the seat beside Severus. He placed his half-empty china cup on the table and settled beside him.
Severus could feel the Warewolf's eyes fixed on him. Annoyed, he turned sharply and arched a brow, "Something you find particularly entrancing, Lupin?"
"I, uh, no, my apologies, Severus." Embarrassed, Lupin turned away.
"Ello, Reemus!" The Delacour witch greeted Lupin in her French accent.
"Hello, Fluer," Lupin returned with too much politeness. "How are things going with the Veela community?"
"Ah, not so good," she shook her head. "You-Know-Who 'as already eenfluenced most of them."
"But Fluer is still trying her best," William Weasley advocated for her.
"Of course, Albus speaks very highly of you, Fluer," Lupin conveniently lied. Delacour was proving to be unsuccessful time and again to influence the Veelas to join their war effort.
"Hermione!" Molly Weasley cooed when Granger finally entered. While the others turned to watch her and eyed her Chair not so stealthily, Severus kept his attention carefully away.
"Oh, how are you, Dear? You look so peaky."
"I am good, thank you." Granger's polite tone was laced with forlornness.
"Wotcher, Hermione! Ow!" A wooden chair fell to the ground, earning chuckles from the Weasley twins.
"We were starting to wonder-"
"-When will that happen."
Severus inwardly rolled his eyes at their ridiculous way of speech.
"Hi," Granger greeted the witch half-heartedly.
Severus glanced into Granger's direction to find the Weasley twins and the Metamorphmagus witch surrounding her.
"Good thing you came, Hermione," one of the twins spoke.
"We have a few Charms for you to teach us," the other finished. "What are your thoughts on Muggle firecrackers-"
"-to make a Wizarding counterpart of an explosive-bomb-"
"-As a joke product?"
"What? You two better not be serious."
"Oh, let her breathe, you two," Mrs. Weasley huffed. She removed a chair between that of Potter's and Shacklebolt's. "Come, Dear."
Hermione mumbled a word of gratitude and adjusted her Chair accordingly. A cup of tea was placed before her.
"Where's Ron?" Potter asked.
"I don't know and I don't care," Granger said, hushed. But Severus picked.
"What's wrong?" Potter asked.
Granger mumbled something that Severus could not catch, but it had Potter's features set pensively. Granger, on her part, remained silently transfixed on her hands.
The youngest Weasley boy entered looking cadaverous. While Potter did turn to watch the boy, Granger did not pay him any acknowledgement.
"Look, Mum, Ronnikins is here!" One of the Weasley twins shouted.
"Shut up," the Weasley boy irritably spat.
"Ron!" The Weasley mother rushed to embrace her most dunderheaded son.
Severus turned his attention to Granger. With the weight of his gaze on her, she looked up. When their eyes met, Severus decided to take benefit of the connection that they established through Legilimency.
'What is the matter?' He sent her way.
A litany of nebulous memories came his way to convey the gist of an ugly argument between her and the Weasley boy.
Granger's eyes moistened. She broke the connection and blinked a few times to compose herself. Severus watched as she erected her Shields.
Gormless fool of a boy!
"Merlin knows what's wrong with Albus," Moody spoke in his gruff voice to Shacklebolt. "The Order is no place for fragile, little girls to join."
Granger seemed to have heard the lunatic ex-Auror for her body visibly tensed. Though not a ripple appeared on her face, her untouched cup of tea began rattling on its own accord. Granger closed her eyes and exhaled a slow breath—the cup settled.
Youngest Weasley boy, Severus noted, chose to sit a seat away from Lupin, avoiding his peers.
"Should I talk to him for you?" Potter murmured to Granger, not too softly.
"I can't care less about Ronald right now," she muttered.
"Oh, am I missing onto some lovebirdie gossip?" Tonks came to stand behind Granger, grinning. "A small piece of advice, Hermione, these guys never take the first step."
Granger clenched her jaw. "It's nothing like that."
Minerva joined them a few minutes later. Though prim, she seemed prostrate.
"Wotcher, Professor!" Tonks went to greet the elderly witch. "You look tired."
"Well, I cannot say I do not feel the same," Minerva replied. "Hello, Molly. Is this cup for me?"
Mrs. Weasley welcomed the other witch with another china cup in a blithe demeanour.
William Weasley and his twin brothers stood to acknowledge their former Head of House in respect.
"I thought you were coming with Snape," Potter whispered to Granger.
"Professor. And I did," she mumbled.
"Where did you meet Ron then?" Potter inquired.
"Come, have a seat, Minerva," Arthur Weasley gestured towards the seat beside Severus'.
"Oh, wait, that's my cloak. Sorry!" Tonks rushed to pick the cloak up. A loud bang had the occupants in the room hiss. "Ow! Shit! Shit!"
What a pleasurable company of utter idiots.
The witch had somehow managed to fall face down on the stone floor.
"Oh, dear!" Mrs. Weasley rushed to help the witch up, and so did Lupin. The others were focusing on suppressing their laughter.
"I'm okay, I'm okay," Tonks got up, nursing a quickly bruising chin. Her hair now glowed with a deep shade of purple that made Severus squint.
Lupin approached her gingerly. "Dora, you should...sit for a while..." He led her to sit on the vacant chair between his own and the youngest Weasley boy.
"Tonks, try to move your jaw," Granger instructed. "And see if all your teeth are intact."
"Now little girls will order the Aurors around," Moody muttered.
Granger turned to the cantankerous, old ex-Auror. "Excuse-"
A thundering explosion above the ceiling sent the occupants gasping and crockery breaking.
"I didn't do that!" Granger blurted to whoever was lending an ear.
Moody was the first one on his feet, wand in hand and a command to vacate the house on the tip of his tongue. Severus, Minerva and Shacklebolt followed suit with wands at the ready.
"Oops!" One of the Weasley twins looked up sheepishly.
"Maybe the firecrackers exploded-"
"-Before they were due," the other finished.
"What?"
"Fred! George! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!"
"It's our business, Mum!"
"Foolish boys!" Severus snarled. "I thought the Headquarters have been compromised."
"Messers Weasley," Minerva spoke sternly, "This is a workplace for the Order.
"We're sorry, Professor..."
"Mon Dieu, my 'eart stopped," Delacour sighed.
"I cannot stand this bedlam any longer," Severus muttered to himself.
"You two will restore whatever damage you caused to Harry's house. Now!" The Weasley mother commanded.
"It's okay, Mrs. Weasley," Potter hesitated. "It's hardly my house..."
"No, Harry, let them take responsibility for their actions," Arthur Weasley declared.
"Alright, fine, we're going," one of them complied.
"Let me help you," Shacklebolt volunteered.
After the asinine boys left with Shacklebolt, Tonks spoke. "Er... I think I have a loose tooth..."
"I am sure Miss Granger can fix that," Minerva said with the pride resembling that of a mother bird when her offsprings first learn to fly.
"Of course," Granger nodded. She moved her Chair around the table towards Tonks. Blatantly ignoring Weasley, she settled her Chair in level with the clumsy, injured witch's chair. "Let me see."
"How bad is it?" Lupin asked.
"I can fix it easily. Don't worry," Granger assured him. She held her wand close to Tonks' jaw and murmured an incantation. A sickly crack later, she removed her wand. "All done."
Tonks worked her jaw and grinned. "Thanks, girl! You're learning some good stuff-"
"My sincere apologies for my tardiness, everyone," Albus entered wearing glittery mauve robe and a bright tassel hat. His blackened hand was covered under a glove matching the hat.
A few of them rose to their feet and acknowledged Albus—Severus was not one of them—with friendly smiles as he walked in. Others merely nodded or exchanged a formal word of greeting.
Behind him, Dedalus Diggle and Hestia Jones followed, much to everyone's surprise. Severus was not aware of the presence of all the members of the Advanced Guard tonight. To everyone's chagrin, Mundungus Fletcher accompanied them, too. Although his presence was appreciated when the Weasley twins re-entered the picture.
The others filtered round the table accordingly, the voices picked up. Moody and Shacklebolt engaged Albus in a discussion while Diggle involved himself in a conversation with Minerva.
"Severus," Hestia approached him. A former batchmate and a co-member of the Order whom Severus did not openly regarded with disdain for she was a walking source of news. Though he did dislike her garrulous nature. "Hestia," Severus nodded. "I did not realise the meeting is open to the members of the outer circle."
"Dumbledore's taken Diggle and me in the inner circle, actually," she told him. "He is a bit of a surpriser, if that's even a word. Dumbledore just came to my office and told me to join them here. Same for Diggle. We work in the same office, you know. He made us inner-circle members just like that."
"And Fletcher, too?" At her nod, he sneered. "Merlin help us."
After a brief chuckle, she asked, "He needs eyes in Hogsmeade and I can do that, Diggle, too. Dung can keep him updated with the goings-on in the Knockturn Alley. I've heard Dung has good contacts there. And of course, it's a go-to place for the Death Eaters."
"Is Abertforth not cooperating from Hogsmeade?" Severus inquired.
"I cannot say but good that he isn't, it got me a chance to join the inner-circle, after all," Hestia waved it away with a snicker. "Jokes apart, I truly cannot say what's up with Abertforth. Anyway, what's the plan? Do we even have one? Really, Severus, with the kind of attacks happening in the Muggle world, bridges collapsing and people going missing, we really need a tough plan. You know, the poor Muggle Prime Minister is in dutch with the public, the poor chap. I follow the Muggle news. Many wizards disregard the Muggle sources, but I don't."
"Wise," was all he replied.
''Settle down, please,'' Albus instructed finally.
Instantly, silence fell across the table. Hestia took her seat beside the Delacour girl. Minerva joined Severus beside Albus. Diggle and Fletcher chose to occupy places beside the Weasley boy.
Albus began. "Today, we have among us three young minds who shall be sworn in before the entirety of the inner-circle—of course, with some greatly missed members who could not partake in the meeting today. Kindly step forward, Harry, Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger."
Potter held his face tight to hide his curling lips. Weasley's face remained plain as he left his seat and approached Albus. Granger offered a forced smile depicting gratitude.
Moody muttered some obscenity under his breath at which Shacklebolt stiffened.
"Are you agreeable to join the Order of the Phoenix and follow its policy of secrecy and loyalty?" Albus asked.
"Yes."
"Yes, Sir."
"Yeah- Yes."
"Excellent. Hold out your wands," Albus instructed. When three wands were held out, Albus retrieved his own and placed the tip on the tips of the other three. "I, Albus Dumbledore, in the capacity of the Head of the Order of the Phoenix, hereby declare Harry James Potter, Hermione Jean Granger and Ronald Billius Weasley as the sworn members of the secret society, and put my trust in them to serve with ultimate fidelity and secrecy."
The four wands glowed. A candescent thread extended from Albus' wand and bound the other three wands together. The thread changed colour from red to green, to yellow, to blue, and finally settled into a mixed shade of silver and golden.
When the thread disappeared, Albus pulled his wand back. "Congratulations, you are officially members of the Order. I must say, it is a rare opportunity to serve the community. You have been bestowed with the honour, cherish it."
The three new members presented their thanks.
"Er... Professor?"
"Yes, Harry?"
"Won't we be sworn under some Oath of Loyalty kind of thing...?"
"Huh, even those who deserve to be sworn under one are not," Moody taunted.
Before Severus could repay with a suitable comeback, Albus spoke. "No, Harry, there exists nothing like an Oath of Loyalty. Here, I myself choose the inner members of the Order and I choose them with trust."
The three Gryffindors glanced at one another, clearly disagreeing with the ridiculous logic.
"Now, please take your seats. We shall start the meeting."
Molly Weasley took the Gryffindors in an embrace, offering her congratulations. The Weasley mother's face held pride, even though her eyes were brimming with tears.
Albus entangled his gloved hand in his beard. "I would like to take the rare opportunity that we are all grouped together to make an assessment of our current progress..."
Granger leaned towards the closest Weasley twin. "Is anyone taking the minutes down?"
"The what?" The Muggle term puzzled the boy.
"Notes," Granger amended. "Is anyone taking down notes?"
"Er... We never, actually," Weasley replied.
Granger frowned. "That's really stupid."
"Kingsley, please present your reports," Albus instructed.
"Of course," Kingsley cleared his throat. He produced a folded parchment from his pocket for reference. "Since the last meeting which was conducted in August, the Death Eater activities have increased dramatically. Including the attacks on Muggle Britain, there have been approximately forty three attacks on both small and large scale."
"Out of these twenty three big and small attacks, we've got intel about none," Moody muttered, his magical eye scrutinising Severus.
"Most of these attacks were headed by Death Eaters like Nott and Bellatrix Lestrange," Tonks added.
"Do they follow a pattern?" Minerva asked.
"Not really, but an attack usually implies death of more than half the present gathering," Kingsley elaborated.
"And they mostly attack the Muggles?" Diggle confirmed.
"Mostly," Tonks nodded. "In the last month, most of these attacks have taken place in towns near London, provably to be more noticeable."
"The Muggle world is suspecting a Muggle terrorist organisation to be behind these attacks," Kingsley informed.
"Thank you, Kingsley, Tonks," Albus said politely. "How are things faring in the Diagon Alley?"
"After Florean Fortescue went missing," a Weasley twin started, "There is a buzz about one of the shops being run by a Death Eater or a close supporter. People have their suspicion on the owner of Eyelop's. But nothing can be backed with evidence."
"Eyelop's," Granger furrowed her eyebrows. "Could it be that one of their animals is actually an Animagus?"
"Good assessment, Miss Granger," Albus commented.
"That's a simpleton's plan," Moody said gruffly. "These Death Eaters are too cunning for that."
"Let us not dismiss the possibility, Alastor," Minerva said.
UUUUUUU
The meeting progressed with long monologues delivered by different members, narrating the condition around their area of surveillance. Questions, suggestions and minor arguments followed each account. Despite her obvious interest in the matter, Hermione pretty much found the information banal.
Except the information about attacks taking place around Britain, or Europe as a whole, no new methods to fight Voldemort were drawn. Hermione found the Order's objectives displaced. They focused more on combating attacks than taking down the source, Voldemort. Nobody seemed to be talking or even contemplating his downfall.
Beside her, Harry suppressed a yawn. Looking at the pensively set faces of the Order members, only Harry seemed to be sharing her opinion. Ron, though, looked just as disinterested, but for entirely different reasons. Hermione could tell he was replaying his argument with Hermione in his mind. Hermione was still infuriated with him and recollecting their ugly argument brought a lump to her throat. She diverted her mind from him.
Her eyes skimmed over a speaking Remus and a hair-changing Tonks, and travelled to Professor Snape. His emotionless state gave away nothing. Whether he was finding the meeting of purpose or was ruminating over what to eat for breakfast the next day, she could not tell.
Briefly, his eyes found hers. 'Enjoying?' He sent with a hint of amusement.
'Thoroughly,' she returned. Hermione sighed and settled back tiredly.
"Is it odd if I'm feeling sleepy while they discuss Muggle casualties?" Harry whispered.
"A little, but it's alright, I'm tired, too," she whispered back. Harry snorted at her reply.
Hermione listened to Hestia Jones' account paying half a mind. She evaluated the gist—Hogsmeade was relatively safer of Death Eaters that Diagon Alley. Diggle back the opinion. Mrs. Weasley, she noticed, was uncomfortable when George had told them about Florean Fortescue's alleged kidnapping. Hermione could understand her heart's plight. The reason Hermione seldom revealed any dangerous details about the Wizarding World to her Mum and Dad was similar. After all, it needs a strong mother to bear to send her children to the battlefield.
When the Headmaster had informed her parents of Hermione being petrified in her Second year, they had been almost adamant not to send her for the Third year. Had she told them of an impending war, they would have left the country with her... A sad smile came to her lips which she shrugged.
"Finally," the Headmaster said, "As many of you are already aware, one of us is to undertake a dangerous move for the Order, with the intention of regrouping within Voldemort's ranks."
Several people flinched at the Headmaster's blatant addressing of Voldemort's name. Hermione glanced at Professor Snape. He appeared simply impassive. Though the word 'dangerous' pricked at her mind.
"Do we have a plan, Albus?" Kingsley asked.
"I do have something in mind," Professor Dumbledore confirmed.
"Why don't we first determine why You-Know-Who doesn't trust Snape any longer in the first place," Moody said. "Was it something that Snape did or didn't do, or-" his magical eye moved to the Professor, "-is it a trap?"
"Is your allegation backed with a sound evidence or is it just an extension to your mundane motto of 'constant vigilance', Moody?" The Professor said smoothly.
Fred and George tried to conceal their laughter behind bouts of cough, but in vain.
"Snape-"
"Gentlemen," the Headmaster held up a hamd. "We must set an example before our newest members with our conducts today."
"Ah, must you remain blindly trusting a Death Eater," Moody spat.
"Yes, Albus," Professor Snape said, "Shall we start running tests for Polyjuice poisoning here?"
Harry snorted and quickly pretended to be sniffing at his half-full cup of tea.
"Gentlemen, please maintain the decorum," the Headmaster called them to order. "As for why Tom does not trust Severus as much as he earlier did, I know the reason and I believe you trust my judgement."
That dictated silence.
UUUUUUU
Wonder how the half-lunatic would react if I tell him why exactly the Dark Lord is losing confidence in me.
Severus had an understanding why the Dark Lord was excluding him from his plans. It had begun since Granger's fall from the Astronomy Tower. When Severus had delivered the news, he had suffered dearly for being 'careless' with the Dark Lord's 'asset'. Granger was assigned or rather alive to keep a close eye on Potter and to continue discouraging the boy so that he could become mentally handicapped to fight in the war.
Since then, the Dark Lord had deemed Severus inept. The situation had only been exacerbated by his fellow Death Eater fuelling the fire. As a result, Severus was reduced to being a low ranking spy.
"What is the plan, Albus?" Lupin asked.
"We will have to compromise a safe house," Albus announced.
"But we're already short on safe houses, Dumbledore," Diggle pointed out.
"And even shorter on intel," Albus countered politely.
"Which safe-house, though?" William Weasley asked.
"But what's the plan exactly?" Tonks inquired.
"The plan," Albus begun with a dramatic pause, "The plan is that Severus will provide intel to Tom, false intel, that the Fidelius Charm on one of our safe-houses has failed, and that the safe-house is playing residence to many of our prominent guards here. Tom will most probably send his Death Eaters to strike and harm as many Order members as he can manage. Like that, Severus will once again gain a standing in the ranks, having proved his loyalty.
"But meanwhile, we will be ready to fight the Death Eaters as they come to attack us, and reduce their numbers as a result or capture them for further investigation. Thus, we kill two birds with one stone."
Severus began kneading at his temples. The Dark Lord would very much punish Severus for the failure of the mission, but he would also reward his loyalty by reordering a position in his inner-clique. But when had a bout or seven of Cruciatus ever hindered the grand scheme of thoughts.
"Yes, the plan sounds good," the oldest Weasley boy said in approval.
"Who will be at the safe-house that day?" Shacklebolt asked.
"Definitely I will," Moody declared. "You need a good leader. You're all kids."
"Oh, please, Mad," Tonks rolled her eyes and thus followed her nose.
"Which safe-house will we compromise, Albus?" Minerva asked.
"Do you have a suggestion, Minerva?" Albus stealthy gave her the lead.
"I feel the one in the West End could do," she replied. "What do you think, Severus?"
"Yes. That safe-house is already dilapidated enough," he mused. "Though the location is quite prominent, we will survive the blow. Moreover, no Muggles reside nearby to be affected by the confrontation."
"Settled, then," Albus declared. "When shall we conduct the mission?"
"A week from today," Severus advised. "We will have ample time to prepare."
"Let us go over the plan once again," Arthur Weasley said. "A week from now, Severus will go to You-Know-Who and give him false intel. The Death Eaters will reach the safe-house in West End with the intention to kill the members present. There, our people will overpower the Death Eaters. Like that, You-Know-Who's plan will backfire. But among all of this, Severus will regain his rank. Am I missing anything, Albus?"
"Just the details, but we shall discuss them at length," Albus sounded confident. "Does everyone agree to the plan?"
A noise of affirmation broke, followed by serious murmurings. Albus glanced around the table, satisfied, "Excellent, then-"
"Excuse me, Headmaster," Granger's interruption disrupted the murmurings. "I have an objection."
All eyes turned to their newest co-member. Even Potter, Severus noted, seemed surprised.
Moody made an impatient noise in his throat. "This is not a child's play, little girl."
Granger turned to the ex-Auror sharply. "It is Miss Granger for you, Mr. Moody. I would appreciate being addressed by my proper title." Her words commanded silence. "And I do realise this Order meeting is no child's play. As a sworn member, I am well within my rights to rise an objection. Am I not, Headmaster?"
Granger's boldness had always impressed him. The plain determination on her face worked to make her appear a decade or two older than her age. Albus, too, seemed floored. He looked from Moody to Granger. "Of course, My Dear. Do tell us what you object to."
Beside him, Minerva hid her smirk behind a tight-lipped smile. Moody, still grouching, exhaled a huff and muttered something about his seniority being disrespected.
UUUUUUU
Hermione began, "Sir, if the Order members capture all the Death Eaters that Riddle will send, he will not only get suspicious but also vent his rage at Professor Snape for bringing the intel to him."
"Miss Granger," Professor Snape said dismissively, "That will be of no consequence in the long run."
"I beg to differ," she said plainly, though his nonchalance over his own safety astounded her. He had not once raised the concern to the Headmaster, not once objected to put his own neck in line. "We are conducting this mission to deceive Riddle and get you your rank back, not to make Riddle even more suspicious and get you to bear the brunt of it."
"I think she's right," Fred seconded Granger. "Old Moldy-Shorts will lose his mind if all his Death Bats are killed."
"And Merlin knows what he'd do with his spy," George said with a shrug.
"But does anybody have an alternative to that?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Yes," Hermione spoke. The Headmaster and Professor Snape turned to her in question. She glanced at the Professor, his disapproval palpable. To her it seemed as if he did not care to remain unscathed.
"What have you thought of, Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall prodded.
"When the Death Eaters arrive to attack the safe-house," Hermione elaborated, "The present Order members will let one or two Death Eaters return to Riddle. That way, Riddle will have those Death Eaters to vent his frustration who have lost the duel.
"As a result, Professor Snape will not only rise in his rank, he will also remain unaffected."
Now we're killing two birds with one stone, she snorted inwardly.
Around the table, discussions broke out again. Even Moody leaned towards the Headmaster to whisper something.
She looked at Professor Snape whose scowl had deepened, and sent, 'Don't you agree?'
"That," the Headmaster combed his fingers through his beard, "Is an acceptable plan, I believe."
A small smile crept on Hermione's turned to her, "You have an amazing insight, Hermione."
"Thanks," she smiled.
She looked back at the Professor. 'Well?'
'I cannot deny your perspicaciousness, Granger,' he allowed.
'Thank you,' she tipped her head almost imperceptibly and broke the connection.
But she sobered as soon as she spotted Ron eyeing her warily. Looking between the Professor and her, he frowned in contemplation. Hermione hoped he did not recognise their mode of communication.
"What we can do is," Bill started and waited for the others to pay attention, "We can capture the other Death Eaters and let go of their leader, a Death Eater from the inner-circle."
"Like my dear Aunt Bellatrix," Tonks snorted.
"Utter nonesense!" Moody declared. "We let go of these deranged Death Eaters? Not at all."
"Alastor," Professor McGonagall interrupted, "It will benefit us in the long run. We must follow a strategy and not just kill like Barbarians."
"I believe what is left is the details now," the Headmaster spoke. "Please allow me a day to work on the minutiae. I will give a list of the members who will be present in the safe-house that day.
"Alastor, you are in charge of coming up with an apt strategy to take most of the Death Eaters down. Tonks, you will make arrangements at the safe-house so it could appear to be a case of Fidelius failure. Kingsley, you will ensure that no Muggles could enter the vicinity during the confrontation."
"How many members are needed for the confrontation?" Diggle asked.
"That will depend upon the number of Death Eaters Tom sends," the Headmaster replied. "We will also have some fighters on stand-by, just in case."
"But, Albus, we don't know how many You-Know-Who sends," Kingsley pointed out.
"Severus," Professor Dumbledore said, "Will you be able to send a signal to let us know?"
UUUUUUU
Severus was about to open his mouth to reply in negative when he received a signal from Granger's band. He glanced at her to find her giving him an imperceptible nod.
Inwardly, Severus praised her presence of mind.
"I believe so," he replied.
"Very well," Albus clapped his hands. "We will execute our plan exactly one week from today."
"Merlin be with us," Minerva murmured.