CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

RECOGNITION

"Headmaster, I still don't understand what you are saying" Professor McGonagall said, confusion marring her features. "I thought you said that you were only meeting with Harry Potter and his guardians."

"That is correct, Minerva, but I am also going to try to convince him to join Hogwarts so that I can have him under my control and watchful eyes" Dumbledore said with a smirk, as he gently stroked his beard.

"Do you really think that the boy and his guardians will go for such an idea" Minerva asked, doubt marring her face. "I mean, they had gone to great lengths to prevent Harry Potter from attending the school in the first place."

"Oh, I will make them see reason" Dumbledore answered confidently.

McGonagall looked at the headmaster dubiously as she was still very doubtful about his success. She decided not to reply and kept mute instead.

In the Burrow…

"When do you think Mum is going to settle down and take a break" Fred whispered to his twin as they watched their mother simultaneously prepare dinner while charming the dishes to wash themselves.

"Mum, don't you think you should take a break?" Percy, their older brother said as he walked into the room.

"I can't do that. I need to make sure this house is spotless" their mum replied without looking up from stirring the food in the pot. "We've got guests coming over…important guests"

Just then, Hermione emerged from the fireplace, dusting the debris from her robe.

"Mum! Hermione is here" Ginny yelled to her mum as she went to greet Hermione.

"Hello, Mrs Weasley" Hermione greeted, just as Ron bounded down the stairs.

"Oh hello, dear" Mrs Weasley replied, sparing her a quick glance and smile before turning back to the chores.

"What is going on? And why does your mum look so frazzled?" Hermione whispered to Ginny and Ron.

Ron put a finger to his lips and gestured with a jerk of his head to indicate that she follow him. Upon reaching his room, Hermione settled on his bed and asked, "What is going on around here?"

"Dumbledore sent a letter to mum and dad last night to let them know that there is going to be an Order of Phoenix meeting today with, wait for it…." Ron paused excitedly for dramatic effect. "Harry Potter, Professor Lupin and Sirius Black."

"Wait what? Really?" Hermione asked, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Yes, apparently Sirius Black had agreed to meet with Dumbledore but only with the Order around since they are going to form some sort of alliance"

"Wow! This is good news…we should let Nev know" Hermione excitedly jumped up and began looking around for a parchment.

"Calm down, Hermione" Ron replied with a roll of his eyes. "I already sent Nev a message. He is on his way"

"What I don't understand is why they had wanted to meet with the Order around" Ron mused out loud.

"According to what I heard, they don't seem to trust Dumbledore" Hermione answered with a shrug.

"That's nonsense. Why wouldn't they trust Dumbledore? He is the only one, You-Know-Who fears." Ron said, as he took a seat across from his friend.

"That might maybe be because he had abandoned Harry Potter with his muggle relatives or…"

"But what is wrong with Dumbledore leaving him with his relatives. That's a good thing, right?" Ron asked confused.

"I overhead Professor McGonagall once in our first year telling another professor that they weren't the nicest people. Apparently, they had mistreated Harry Potter and Dumbledore didn't find out until he escaped from them" Hermione replied with a shrug.

"Maybe Dumbledore didn't know that he was being mistreated" Ron mused aloud, a frown marring his face. It is hard to believe that Dumbledore would have been aware of Harry Potter's mistreatment and would have let the boy would stay with his relatives.

Hermione merely shrugged in response and was able to speak when Neville walked into the room.

"Nev! I'm so glad you're here" she beamed.

"Yeah, well I got Ron's message" he replied as he perched himself at the edge of the Ron's bed.

Hermione frowned at his response. He seemed almost uncomfortable.

"Neville, are you ok? You don't seem too happy to be here" she prodded gently.

Before Neville to reply, Ron piped up.

"Jeez Hermione, leave him alone. In his shoes, I'd be stressed out too"

She opened her mouth to defend herself when Ginny burst into the room excitedly.

"Dumbledore just arrived!" she said, plopping herself down beside Neville.

Ron rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"Ginny, we've seen Dumbledore before. We are more interested in meeting Harry Potter"

Just as soon as he made the statement, George apparated into the room with a pop.

"Harry Potter and his guardians just arrived and…" he was unable to complete his announcement before his intended audience were rushing past him excitedly as they ran down the stairs.

Harry looked around the living room, he and his guardians had just entered via the floo network. He smiled at how cosy and lived in it looked, even though it seemed a little small. He was still looking around when a small plump woman bustled into the living room excitedly.

"Oh, my stars, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin!" she stood on the tip of her toes to kiss him on the cheek before turning to Remus to do same.

"Molly…it is great to see you" Remus replied, while Sirius just smiled in response.

She didn't respond however as she was distracted by the boy standing next to the two men. As she took in the famous lighting scar on his forehead, she noticed the boy's shuttered expression and reluctantly dragged her gaze away from his scar.

"You must be Harry…it is lovely to finally meet you" she said softly, making sure to keep eye contact as she could tell the boy was not very comfortable with having his scar gawked at.

He smiled back in respond, saying "Thank you for having us, Mrs Weasley"

"Oh, please call me Molly" she answered, waving her hand dismissively. "If you all can follow me, I will lead you to the Order's meeting. Dumbledore has already arrived"

Harry exchanged a look with his guardians as they followed behind her. She stopped in front of a door and was about opening it when they heard running. Next thing, a bunch of teenagers came barrelling down the stairs excitedly but stopped short upon seeing Mrs Weasley who looked furious.

"Where on earth do you think you are going?" she addressed the children, who all simultaneously began to talk over each other.

Harry glanced disinterestedly at the red-haired siblings who were still talking over each other and stopped short when he noticed, Neville's friends, Ron and the bushy haired girl Hermione. She blushed, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw him looking at her.

Just then Neville walked out of the room near the top of the stairs causing Harry to smile.

"Oh hey, Nev!" he said and was about to take a step towards the stairs when Molly opened the door to the room where the meeting is taking place. As they were ushered into the room, he took one last look at his friend before following the adults into the room.

In the room, a large table was placed in the centre with chairs surrounding the table. Each chair was occupied and sat at the head of the table was Dumbledore. He was exactly what Harry pictured him looking like. He had this smarmy smile which he must think looked warm and inviting but just made Harry want to punch him in the face.

"Welcome Harry, Sirius and Remus" he said as he got his feet, his arms outstretched. "I am glad that you have accepted to join the Order in our fight against the Voldemort"

Ignoring the members flinching as a reaction to Voldemort's name, Harry took a step forward.

"We did not agree to join the Order, neither are we asking to. All we are here for today, is to hear what you have to say" he said as he stared the old man down.

Several of the members gasped in surprise at his statement. Even Dumbledore seemed taken aback but was quick to mask his surprise.

"Harry…" he began softly. "Why don't you take a seat or better yet join the rest of the children outside while I speak with your guardians. As you can see, members of the Order have to be of legal age to join"

"With all due respect, Headmaster…" Remus said as he stepped forward to stand next to his son. "Whatever decision we make, we make together as a unit with Harry's input"

"Plus, he is able to make any decisions on his own without needing our consent" Sirius also stepped forward. He folded his arms across his chest as he paused for effect, taking in the shocked expressions on the members' faces. "He is after all emancipated."

Even Dumbledore gasped at that revelation.

Meanwhile…

"Hang on, did Harry Potter just say 'hey' to you?" Ginny asked, eyes still widened in shock.

"I didn't know you knew him" George and Fred said simultaneously, surprise evident in their voices.

While his siblings were bombarding Neville with questions, Ron, however, was eyeing him in shock. He was too numb to even formulate a sentence.

Hermione on the other hand, was mulling the interaction over in her head. Turns out, the dark-haired boy that they had encountered with Professor Lupin in Diagon Alley is the Harry Potter.

"But how did he manage to conceal his scar?" she thought to herself. She had made sure to check for the scar the day they had encountered him.

She turned to Neville and asked almost accusingly, "Did you know who he was, the whole time you were friends with him?"

Neville frowned at the tone she was taking with him. He definitely didn't owe any of them any explanations.

"So, what if I did, Hermione?" he replied, staring her down. "What is it to you? I don't believe I owe you any explanations or information about who I hang out with or call friends"

She stuttered in response.

"You're friends with Harry Potter?" Ron said, almost to himself. He just couldn't believe it. He was stunned! He had always wanted to meet him, and it turns out his friend actually knew him and was friends with him too.

"I need some air" Neville said, ignoring him before pushing past them and making his way outside.

"Did you know he was friends with Harry Potter" one of the twins asked.

"No, we are just as shocked as you guys are" Hermione answered.

"We met him once in Diagon Alley with Professor Lupin, but we didn't know it was Harry Potter" Ron said agitatedly as he ran his hand through his hair. "He must have hidden it somehow"