Chapter Three

Albus Dumbledore paced around his office, and Fawkes was flapping around in his cage. Becca stood in the north corner of Albus' office, as far away from Severus as she could possibly get. Her hand was holding her wand, prepared for another threat he may throw at her.

"Where is he?" Albus asked himself, as he walked back to his desk. He sat down, and rubbed his beard in an unsettling way. Albus' eyes were angry, upset, disappointed, and worried all at the same time.

Someone suddenly apperated into the office. "Sorry I'm late, Albus. Just as I was about to apperate, Lucius Malfoy and some of his cronies pasted by, so I stopped at listened incase I could hear something..."

Albus raised a hand to signify silence from the dark man. Becca's eyes narrowed at the sight of him, and Snape did the same.

Albus noticed the unwelcoming atmosphere. "Everyone in this room is on the same side now. No one is against the other. Becca, you are now to work cooperatively with Severus and Sirius..."

"I refuse to work side by side with Sirius. He killed Harry's parents!" Becca's hand began shaking, just like in Potions class. She raised her wand at Sirius.

"Albus, I do not mean to be rude, but...you never mentioned I would have to work with *Rebecca*! There is no possible way..."

"Sirius, Becca, you two WILL work together. You will get along, and you will help with Voldemort's downfall together. Understood? Shake hands-NOW."

Becca snorted. "I refuse to shake hands with a murderer."

Sirius laughed. "That was a fabulous joke, Becca. And what would you call YOUR father?! What would you call YOUR sister? What would you call YOURSELF?!" He pulled his wand out. "I would never kill James and Lily. Your father on the other hand..."

"I was one year old! How was I supposed to stop him? I cannot control my father's actions! And if you hadn't suggested to the Potters to use Wormtail as the Secret-Keeper, non of this could have happened! You are at much fault as my father!" Becca's eyes were hostile.

"Please," Albus said calmly, "you three must work together in order to kill Voldemort. Understood?"

Sirius and Becca nodded.

"Severus?"

Snape looked up from the south corner. He walked out from the shadows. His eyes did not come off of Sirius. "Must I work with them?" he asked, quietly.

Albus sighed. "Yes, Severus. You must."

Severus nodded. "If it means the Lord's downfall, then I agree. But it doesn't mean I have to like it."

Albus nodded. "That's the spirit! Now, some others may be joining us soon-"

"Albus?"

Albus looked at Sirius. "Yes?"

Sirius smiled. "If it wouldn't be a problem, I'd like Harry here. You know, he's as much a part of this as the rest of us. He needs to know...about Becca."

"NO!" cried Becca. "He can't know about me!" Becca turned to Albus and begged. "Please, Albus, I don't want Harry to know. It would ruin me in Gryffindor!"

Albus nodded. "I'm sorry Sirius, but I agree with Becca on this one. Harry may come, but we will not tell him about Becca. NO STUDENT must know about Becca. Understood?"

The three nodded.

"But, he may still understand the plan. Severus, go retrieve Mister Potter."

^*^*^

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were in Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid. They were working on a mooncalf.

"Yer see, mooncalves ain't that difficult ter train," explained Hagrid. "But yas gots to be nice in order for it ter let'cha touch it. Mooncalves are immensely shy. How many of yas have ever 'eard of 'crop circles'?" asked Hagrid.

A few students raised their hand, including Hermione.

"Okay. How many of ya think it's aliens for oute' space makin' them circles?"

Fewer people raised their hands. Hermione dropped hers.

"Well, the real creatures to make those circles, are the mooncalves. Durin' the night-time, they do fancy dances, probably for matin' reasons. Sometimes they do their dances in wheat fields, which leave the crop circles."

Some murmurs of interest were heard.

Suddenly, Harry saw Snape walk over to the class. "Oh no," said Harry. "What's he want?"

"Hagrid, Dumbledore would like to see Potter."

Hagrid sighed. "Alrigh' then. Go ahead, 'Arry. I'll get'cha caught up later," and Hagrid winked at him.

Harry waved to Hermione and Ron, and began to walk back up to the castle with Snape.

"Er...Professor? Am I in some sort of trouble?" asked Harry, who was worried by the fact that it was Snape that Dumbledore had used to get Harry.

"No," Snape sighed. "But it may not be a fun visit. Just...just be prepared for anything, okay Potter?"

Harry nodded, but was shocked Snape was being somewhat polite. What on earth was going on? First a student frightens him, and then Snape doesn't sneer at the site of Harry. Harry was so baffled, and hoped this meeting with Dumbledore would answer all his questions.

Harry and Snape entered Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore smiled, and nodded towards Sirius.

"SIRIUS!" cried Harry, and ran to his Godfather. Sirius embraced him.

Becca's eyes rolled.

Albus cleared his throat. "Harry, you are here by request of Sirius, and because I feel you deserve to understand what the plan of action for getting to Voldemort is. Everything you here in this room is top secret. When Miss Granger and Mister Weasley ask what you did in here, tell them we discussed your...er...Quidditch playing. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir," Harry nodded. He stood next to Sirius, and the smile which was plastered on his face had vanished when Dumbledore's voice and eyes -made him realize the seriousness of this meeting.

Harry turned to see Becca staring at him. She smiled at him, and he blushed and smiled back. Sirius gave him a little hard push on his back, and Harry looked up at him. Sirius just gave him a disapproving look.

Snape decided to get things moving. "So, Albus? What's the plan?"

Albus grinned, sheepishly. "Well...that's why you're all here. I cannot conjure up a plan of defeat on the Dark Lord all alone!"

Sirius laughed stiffly. "Well...where do we start? I'm assuming it will be Albus and Becca doing the actual killing?"

Dumbledore nodded. "I will attack first, and if anything will happen to me, then Becca will step in. If anything happens to her...." There was a moment of silence.

"Then I will step in," cut in Harry, when he realized that there was no one after Becca.

"Oh no you won't, young man. You'll do no such thing!" yelled Sirius.

Dumbledore nodded. "Sirius is right, Harry. Becca and I do have much more sophisticated powers."

"But Headmaster, don't you remember last year?"

Albus sighed. "I do indeed, son. And that's why I don't want you to face him. He wants revenge-and he'll do anything to get it."