Chapter Three
The Order of the Phoenix
Jess spent the next couple of days learning the ropes of things at Hogwarts and soon after he began to fall into a routine. He knew to never try to draw attention to himself in Snape's class(even though he loved being the center of attention), always be prompt and prudent in Professor McGonagall's, and every other class was a breeze. Jess was in Transfiguration sitting next to Hermione one sunny afternoon. They were learning to change dogs into dragonflies. Jess knew how to do Transfiguration well. When he had become a third year, he couldn't decide what he wanted to do so he choose to do everything. Now that he was at Hogwarts, he took every class with Hermione; who had done the same thing.
"Do you have any idea when Dumbledore is going to start the thing to fight against Voldemort?" Jess asked as he stared down at the dog on his table.
"The Order of the Phoenix?" Hermione supplied and looked up.
Jess nodded.
"No," she said and pointed her wand at the animal. "I haven't heard a word about it." Her wand made a loud popping noise and the dog was a dragon fly. "It's been pretty quite, even though Voldemort is out and about."
Jess pointed his wand and repeated the procedure Hermione had just done and had a dragonfly of his own.
"Congratulations, Miss Granger, Mr. Rice," Professor McGonagall said in passing. "Ten points to Gryffindor."
Jess and Hermione looked at each other and grinned.
"Psst, Hermione, Jess," Ron whispered. "Help us over here. We can't figure out how to do this!"
"It's a simple thing to do, Ron," Hermione told him. "Professor McGonagall explained it rather well."
"Yeah, I know," Ron said. "But I still didn't understand."
"Well, I'm not going to do it for you," Hermione declared. "You only learn by doing it on your own."
"But Hermione!" Ron said urgently. "We get graded on this!"
"I know," Hermione replied. "I'm sure Harry knows what he's doing. You should ask him."
"Jess? Will you help me?" Ron asked.
Jess shook his head. "Sorry, Ron and Harry. I'll have to stick by Hermione in this. You only learn through your own experiences."
Ron gave them both a disgusted look and turned back to Harry. "I guess we will have to do this on our own," he said sourly. "We'll never be the top of our class!"
"I don't really think that's all it's cracked up to be," Harry remarked and went back to his dog.
The second before the bell rang and signaled the end of class, Harry and Ron had done their lab. Jess and Hermione swept up their books and had to hurry to their next class, Potions with Snape. Neither was looking forward to that. When they had found their bench in the dungeon, they sat down and a moment later Harry and Ron came in and dropped into the seats beside them.
Snape, with his black robes rustling softly and his greasy black hair pushed back, strolled to the front of the class and turned to face them. "Today you will learn how to make a Knowledge Potion. This potion is designed to make the drinker gain knowledge faster than possible. You will find all the supplies you need at this bench," he said and indicated behind him. "Now, remember, as with any potion, one mistake could be disastrous. Longbottom, I'll be watching you especially," Snape said and his lip curled. The Slytherins went wild with laughter. "Perhaps you'd like to be partners with Miss Granger or Mr. Rice. You might be able to do it right with one of them." More laughter from the Slytherins. "You will find your recipes on your tables. Now get started!" And with that Snape turned and went to his desk.
"I'll get the ingredients if you get the measuring instruments," Jess suggested to Hermione.
"Sure, that sounds good," Hermione agreed and they both got up to gather them.
"Mr. Rice," Snape said when Jess had grabbed the last of the owl feathers. "Please follow me into the hall when you have placed your items on your desk." Snape looked about the room. "Mr. Malfoy, you are in charge until I return. Be sure no one tries to be a star," Snape said cruelly with a look at Harry and then left the room with Jess on his tail.
Snape closed the door behind him and turned to Jess. "I believe that you have attended Durmstrang, am I correct?"
"Yes, you would be," Jess replied with a straight face. "But I only went for my first and second year. My parents didn't agree with what they were teaching."
"Ah, yes. The Dark Arts are taught to their students, right?" Snape asked and his lip curled into a sneer.
"Yes, they do," Jess answered. "And as a student, I did learn them."
"Dumbledore had asked me to question you about that," Snape explained. "He wanted conformation."
"Well, there you have it," Jess said.
"Don't get smart with me and think you can get away with it just because your smart and beautiful, Mr. Rice," Snape warned. "It wouldn't be wise."
"Sorry, Professor," Jess apologized.
"I have heard that you have an interest in the Order of the Phoenix," Snape remarked, watching Jess's face closely.
"I do," Jess said, looking right back.
"Do you believe you're good enough to fight those who use the Dark Arts?" Snape asked, his face sneering.
"Yes, I do," Jess declared in ringing tones.
"Very well," Snape said and opened the door. "Return to class, Mr. Rice."
Jess followed Snape inside and took his seat with Hermione.
"What was that all about?" she asked and handed him a beaker.
He poured it full of snake scales and replied, "Snape wanted to know if they teach the Dark Arts at Durmstrang and I told him that they do."
Harry and Ron had been listening in and Harry said, "why did he want to know that?"
"He said Dumbledore had requested him to ask me," Jess explained.
"That's weird," Ron muttered. "Why wouldn't Dumbledore ask you himself?"
"I don't know," Jess said.
"Maybe he's too busy," Hermione suggested. "He is headmaster, after all."
"Mr. Potter! Mr. Weasley! Miss Granger! Mr. Rice!" Snape bellowed from his desk. "If I find you talking again I'll remove points from your house! Get to work!"
The four of them returned to their potions, not wanting to be yelled at by Snape again.
When everyone had gathered in the Great Hall for the evening meal, Dumbledore stood up and announced what had been on Jess's mind for the past week. The Order of the Phoenix tryouts would be held tonight fifteen minutes after dinner on the Qudditch Field. Jess was so excited he could barely sit still at Gryffindor table.
Fred looked over at him. "Little anxious are we, Jess?" he asked and grinned.
"Yes!" Jess replied. "I've been waiting for Dumbledore to get on with this for a long time!"
"I heard that they're bringing back the seventh years who graduated last year," Lee Jordan said and took a sip of pumpkin juice.
"The old seventh years?" Jess asked, leaning forward with interest. "Which ones?'
"Oh, I don't know," Lee said. "I think Oliver Wood might even be coming back."
Jess wanted to jump up for joy. "Oliver Wood? Wasn't he your old Qudditch captain, Harry?"
Harry nodded. "The first three years of school here he was."
George had been watching Jess's face closely as he talked about Wood. "You haven't got a thing for Wood? Do you?"
"He's cute, and I like cute boys," Jess said and smiled evilly.
"You do like him, don't you?" demanded Hermione and grabbed Jess's arm.
"Yes, I do," Jess admitted. "I've talk to him on numerous occasions in Diagon Alley and we used to send letters to one another."
Fred and George looked at each and grinned. They had that mischievous twinkle in their brown eyes.
"You know," Fred said, "Wood never had a girlfriend the whole time he went to Hogwarts."
"Really?" Jess asked, eyeing them suspiciously.
The twins nodded.
"Honest," George said and put his hand on his heart.
"May we die by a snake's bite if we're lying," Fred nodded eagerly.
"I'm still not sure about you two," Jess said.
"Go and ask Dumbledore to be sure if he's coming," Harry suggested.
Jess looked down at his plate. He had cleared it of food. "I just will then!" And with that he dashed off to the professors' table.
The lights on the Qudditch field had been lit and Dumbledore, Snape, Professor McGonagall, and Professor W, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher, were standing at the sidelines facing the mob of students who had shown up for the trials to be in the Order of the Phoenix. Jess stood at the front with Harry, Hermione, and Ron beside him. Out of the changing rooms marched the graduates of Hogwarts, and leading them was Jess's crush, Oliver Wood. They stopped shortly beside Snape, who stood to the right on the outside of the professors.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward with a parchment in her hands. "Now, I will explain the rules to you. The purpose of the Order of the Phoenix is for students to protect students from Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters. These students will be the most skilled with their magic and their wands. Now, in order to be on this team, you need to be a second year and above." Some groans came from the crowd and the first years departed. "Second, you must have lighting quick reflexes." More groans and students left the crowd. "And last but not least, you must be able to hold your emotions in cheek when in a battle." Once again people departed from the crowd.
Jess looked around him and was pleased to know that Harry, Hermione, and Ron had stayed.
"Now," said Professor McGonagall, "Professor Snape with the help of Professor W will show the proper steps it takes to fight a Dark wizard or witch." She stepped back and the Potions Master and the Dark Arts teachers came forward.
"Let's see," started Professor W, "since you all know how to knock someone off their feet and you are able to use portkeys, the best thing to do is use the element of surprise. Professor Snape and I will demonstrate," Professor W said. He struck a pose and Snape attacked him. He flew backwards and landed hard on the field. He got off the ground and dusted himself off. "Very good, Professor," Professor W complimented Snape. "Let's begin! Students, meet your opponents!" With a wave of his arm, Professor W showed them the graduates. "Choose your foe and begin."
Everyone of them took someone and soon the people who weren't good enough were eliminated. The best opponent by far was Oliver Wood. Jess finished his last challenger and knew Wood was next. It was quite clear that Harry, Hermione, and Ron had all made it. Draco Malfoy had too, along with two other Slytherins, much to Harry's, Hermione's, Ron's and Jess's disappoint, and a few people Jess didn't know from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.
"I'm Oliver Wood," Wood said and gave Jess a smile. Jess thought he had a great smile.
"I know," Jess said. "And I'm Jess Rice."
"Well, let's get this over with," Wood said. "Good luck," and with that he lifted his arm to strike.
"Expelliarmus!" Jess shouted and pointed his wand at Wood. Wood shot off his feet and fell back.
Shortly after Wood jumped back up and sent one at Jess who blocked it. Jess then used the same move again and again until Wood gave up.
"Congratulations, Jess," said Dumbledore, smiling kindly. "You're in the Order of the Phoenix!"
Every Phoenix cheered except for Malfoy and the other two Slytherins.
Soon after Dumbledore said the order would meet again and said everyone was dismissed. The students headed back to the school but Jess stayed to chat with Wood.
"Um, Oliver?" he asked.
"Yeah, Jess?" Wood said.
"Sorry for being so harsh," Jess apologized.
"Hey, it's okay," Wood said. "It was a good fight."
"Well, that's not really the reason I wanted to talk to you, Jess admitted.
"Oh, all right," Wood replied. "Ask away.
" Well, I just wanted to know if this is true," Jess began, "because Fred and George told me it was. You've never had a girlfriend the whole time you were at Hogwarts?"
"No, I didn't," Wood answered nonchalantly.
"Do you have one now?" Jess asked, praying he didn't.
"No, I don't," Wood said. "I'm not really interested in getting one either."
"The reason I asked is because I just wanted you to know that I think you're really cute," Jess explained, hopeing he wasn't freaking Wood out.
"Gee, thanks," Wood said. "I think you're gorgeous too."
Jess felt his heart soar and gave Wood a dazzling smile. "So, are you interested in seeing anyone?"
"Yeah, I am," Wood replied and gave Jess a sexy smile. "Are you seeing anyone?"
"No," Jess said. "My boyfriend and I broke up when I left Beauxbatons."
"Well, since I'm not seeing anyone, and you not seeing anyone," Wood mused. "And we're obvious interested in one another, what do you say to being my boyfriend?"
Jess was too shocked to answer him right away. Then he came out of his daze and said, "yes! You have no idea how long I've been wanting to do just that!"
"Great," Wood said and wrapped his arms around Jess. "Glad I made you happy." And with that said he put his lip's to Jess's and they shared a long kiss before they walked back to Hogwarts, hand in hand.