Dark Marks, Orders and Auror's chapter 5

The Order of Auror.

By Bob... No, er...Chris. Yeah, that's it. Jeff.

Bate-raed by no one.

Summary: After a—bad—Care of Magical Creatures class, Hagrid explains to an anxious student—whose father is in a task force; whose goal it is to take down 'The Two'—just why the infamous Harry Potter, his faction: 'The Two,' and the Order of Auror are so feared amongst Wizards. Contains spoilers for prequel fic., 'Harry Potter and the Rings of the Sorcerer'.

Chapter 5

The Order of Auror.

With the same thing on his mind as had been haunting him over the previous few day's, Hagrid had to force himself to go to his lesson with the third year Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw's. Making sure he took the longest route to the classroom he knew, he arrived just as a large crowd appeared from the corridor opposite him. He waved to a few familiar faces (from his fourth year class), offering them a glum smile as he waded through the sea of body's to his classroom.

Inside the huge room, several rows of desks ran from the very front where Hagrid's own desk was, to about three-quarters up the room. Seated already, were the third years Hagrid had that period for a double 'Care for Magical Creatures' lesson. At the far end of the room, several over sized cages were positioned one atop the next, stacked all the way to the ceiling. Though most stood empty—Hagrid didn't agree with caging the animal's up—the few animals, or rather beasts that were in a cage were making an awful din.

In the bottom row of cages, a creature that resembled an oversized goldfish hung, floating mid-air, it flapped its fins manically in an attempt to keep airborne. Every now and then it would growl loudly, setting off a two headed Dragonet (A miniature dragon-like-creature, that only grew six inches tall, and 16 inches long) which would squeak, sending—as they couldn't blow fire—puffs of smoke into the air. By most the noisiest creature however, was the northern-howling gerbil. Bouncing around with the energy only a small rodent could show, it howled and screamed whenever Hagrid tried to talk, somewhat resembling a wolf during the full-moon. Unfortunately, so far, unlike the other two, Hagrid hadn't a clue as to how to stop it doing so.

'Righ', who wants ter feed the Dragonet?' said Hagrid, walking over to his desk, and slumping down.

A sea of raised hand's later, and two students were hand feeding firedrops to the two heads of the tiny beast, which hungrily gulped down the treats, and sent a victorious puff of smoke into the air. ('Ah, it's so cute,' agreed a chorus of girls.)

'Now, we need someone ter pet the floatin' fish ... Anyone?' said Hagrid not really expecting an answer; within the class, you could almost hear a pin drop. 'Oh, come on... You'll all be wantin' ter when it gets its golden scales and singin' voice through.'

One of the Hufflepuff girls warily raised her hand, volunteering to pet the floating fish, receiving a few blank, and a few "what-are-you-crazy" looks from her friends when she done so. While she petted the growling fish, which eventually sent it into a deep sleep, Hagrid had someone else try feeding, walking, shouting at, and as many different things as he could think of to quieten the howling gerbil; without luck.

'Yer all in the same Herbology class, aren't yeh?' Hagrid asked, some of his excitement breaking through his glum mood, showing again with more enthusiasm when he received nod's of agreement.

Pulling out a large box with punctured holes in the top, which had been hidden under his desk, he eagerly pushed everything aside knocking a few things off the desk to make room for the box: namely a few books on dragon care (Which could also be applied to dragonet's, or so Hagrid said. Many believed he was hiding a dragon somewhere deep within the forbidden forest.); a black quill; and almost a bottle of ink. Luckily a Hufflepuff boy dived forward from where he was standing, acting on instinct alone, and caught the bottle just centimetres from the ground.

'Did professor Sprout show you the Fur-bulb plant,' said Hagrid, his beetle black eye's twinkling with anticipation.

'Were they the short green plants with mauve branches that kept turning away from the sun?' said a Ravenclaw boy.

'Yeah, ours kept on drinking our ink,' said a girl sitting next to him wrinkling up her nose, and muttering, astounded, 'Ink!'

'It was just hungry,' said Hagrid. 'Eatin' fer twelve, wasn' it! Probably had a cravin' fer ink. They have the strangest cravin's, I once had ter feed one nothin' but wands an' spellotape—cost me a ruddy fortune—had ter go ter the broken wand office ter get it food... Cheaper that way.'

'Twelve -' someone said in shock. 'You mean, it's having babies?'

'Yeah,' grinned Hagrid, lifting the plant out from the box. 'It's having twelve little Fur-seeds.'

The plant looked very different now to how it had months earlier when the class had examined it, and extracted the special fluid it produces during one Herbology lesson. It still had the same large fluffy purple base that sunk deep into the soil, out of which the green shoot grew. But instead of tiny pods on the tips of the mauve branches, there were now huge spherical swellings—each 5 inches across—that had caused the branches to bend over so much so, the lumps had been resting on the bottom of the box, leaving unsightly creases in the unhealthy shoots. The swellings were brightly coloured, luminous mauve in colour, though the rest of the plant seemed drab and exhausted.

'Ready ter open,' said Hagrid, waving his hands to get the class to come forward. 'At least, they will be in a minute... Come on all of yeh, come closer—You won't see anythin' from there.'

Having had a few months worth of lessons experience with Hagrid, the class already knew he had more then a liking for what other people would call "monsters". The class, with great apprehension, crowded round the desk, with those at the front looking as though they'd drawn the short wand.

'The fur-seeds wouldn't normally come out 'til the beginnin' o' next year,' Hagrid explained. 'When there's lot's o' food fer them ter eat.' Taking a small bottle labelled "Magi-Grow," that was filled with a violent yellow liquid, from the bottom of his desk draw—which he held up for the whole class to see—he poured a small dribble onto each of the bulbs, telling the class, 'Full o' nutrients... should see 'em hatch immediately.'

When someone asked about the 'hatching' in reference to the plant ('Plant's don't hatch ... they grow from seeds'), Hagrid refused to tell them what he meant, insisting they should 'Wait an' see.'

After twenty minutes of waiting around (During which the flying fish had to be petted again, and the howling gerbil was finally silenced when it ate someone's sleeping potion—which was supposed to be a handed in after lunch that day during potions lesson.), one of the pods gave a small shudder, and squeaked what sounded remarkably like, 'food!'

'Did that thing just talk,' asked a tall, blond Ravenclaw, taking a step back from the plant, as did the rest of the class. More then a few of the students looked apprehensive, though a few seemed to be amused by the idea of a talking plant.

'O' course,' said Hagrid, looking as if the boy had just asked if one add one equalled two. Well, perhaps not that exact look, as Hagrid wasn't very good at maths, it seemed to be more of an "Of course that's a Chinese-Fireball-Dragon and not an Ancient-Oriental-Fireball" look. 'What did yeh expect it ter do, Cluck?' The boy just opened and closed his mouth, unsure of what to say.

As the bulb's twitches grew stronger, a few of the other purple pods began twitching as well, and, sure enough squeaks of 'food,' followed. The entire class stood transfixed until all the bulbs—some ten minutes later—were jumping about frantically. As the pods jumped to and fro, the branches began to resemble walking leads from which the pods were trying to escape. Slowly, the leaves of the first pod began to peel away.

''Ere we go,' said Hagrid excitedly. 'It's hatchin'. Yer all goin' ter see fur-seeds.'

Beneath the mauve leaf covered pods, a small purple mass of fur stood. Beneath the layer of fluff—which gave the appearance of a small purple cloud—two beady black eye's twinkled above a large mouth so huge, it took up most of the surface of the creature. The "fur-seed's," it seemed, were nothing more then one huge mouth around which a bundle of fur grew. As with the Dragonet, a few 'Ah's', and 'oh's,' escaped the mouths of the class, with mutters of 'It's so cute' filling the air.

'Cute!' Hagrid said, sounding scandalised, his beard twitching wildly. 'It 'ain't cute...' Dipping a hand in a bag—which many only just realised was there—that stood next to his desk, Hagrid pulled out a dead mouse. 'It's a magnificent creature...' said Hagrid, angrily waving the mouse in the air by the tail, the dead creature wobbling to and fro as Hagrid continued to wave at the class; whom all cringed away from the corpse. 'Beau'ful even, but it ain't cute... Watch,' he finished, muttering under his breath, 'Cute indeed!'

Placing the mouse next to the fur-seed, he stepped away, signalling for the class to do the same. 'Uh, if yer squeamish, yeh might wanna look away,' said Hagrid, not taking his eye's off the mouse.

The little furry ball waved about on tiny legs as if in a gentle breeze, sniffing the air (Which was incredibly odd as it had no visible nose). It finally stopped; it's beady little eyes fixed on the mouse, which was only slightly smaller then it's own body. Hopping over, it poked the dead body, and then suddenly, let out a feral, ear-piercing shriek that: caused almost the whole class to scream with fright (Though the boy's would insist it was a manly shout); woke the floating fish which set the Dragonet off yelping with anger; and caused someone to knock over a pot of ink. The fur-seed opened it's mouth at an impossibly large angle much the same as a snake could, and swallowed the mouse whole, shaking its body violently as it attempted to jam the rodent in.

'Each take a fur-seed as it hatches,' Hagrid instructed to a wall of pale faces. 'And don't wave yer hands around... Remember ter wear yer dragon-hide gloves... yeh did all bring 'em, didn't yeh?'

The rest of the lesson went past quickly, though for many students not nearly quick enough. The fur-seeds gorged on mice, one after another, almost tripling in size before the end. Though the fur-seeds seemed extremely violent, feeding them seemed to go off without hitch, for the most part. One Hufflepuff boy though, seemed to struggle with just about anything he did that day. He clumsily knocked over things everywhere he went, accidentally fed the fur-seed one of his text books, and nearly got bit twice; only just managing to get his hand out the way in time. It was only the instincts he picked up as seeker that allowed him to escape with both hands intact. Six minutes before the end, the same boy managed to get Hagrid bitten as well; completing the disastrous lesson in the same way he'd started it. The fur-seed latched onto the half giant's hand and refused to let go for a whole five minutes.

'Alright everyone, make sure yeh remember what yer fur-seed looks like. Yer pottin' 'em next Herbology lesson, I think,' said Hagrid, just before the bell for next lesson rang. 'An' fer homework, I want yeh all to read yer books an' find out what makes fur-seeds so important.'

As the class filed out into the crowded corridor outside, Hagrid called out for one of Hufflepuff's to stay behind. The boy looked more then disturbed by this, waiting until the class was gone before spluttering out, 'Sorry, I didn't mean to... do all that stuff.'

'Did yeh like the fur seeds?' Hagrid asked warmly, breaking up a fight that had started between two of the fury purple creatures. 'Gonna have to put 'em in separate boxes... So, did yeh like 'em? They're not my cup o' tea, but you lot seem ter like the small fluffy creatures best.'

'What?' the Hufflepuff boy gaped in shock. A look of confusion formed on his skinny face as he helped Hagrid put the fur-seeds in different boxes. 'Did I ... aren't you going to... because it bit you...'

'What this?' said Hagrid with a shrug he held up a dustbin-lid sized hand which had a circular red bite mark on the tip of his finger and gave another unconcerned shrug. 'I've had worse, believe me. Serves me righ' for not wearing gloves... I'm more worried about you.'

'Me,' repeated the boy, suddenly looking worried. His eyes darted frantically to the door, almost preying for someone to help him. 'I'm fine, really.'

'Marcus, yeh dropped yer sleepin' potion in Rosie's cage—not that I'm not grateful fer the quite, mind—I'll make sure ter tell yer potions teacher how good it was,' said Hagrid with a grin, before continuing, 'But so far today, yeh've also knocked over two pots o' ink—though yeh did save one pot from smashing as well—and fed yer Herbology text book to a fur-seed... not the kind o' grace yeh normally see in a star Seeker.'

'I've just got a few things on my mind,' said the boy in a panic. 'It's nothing really.'

'It's okay,' said Hagrid patting the boy on the shoulder like a close friend, almost sending the boy sprawling to the floor. 'If yeh want ter talk about it... bout yeh dad being in the Special Taskforce.' Seeing the boy's gaping mouth, Hagrid added, 'I know someone in the Taskforce... don' tell yer dad I know though, s'possed to be a secret, isn't it!'

'It's just... I don't even know what he's going up against,' said Marcus. 'Everyone keeps talking about how dangerous Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley are... But I don't really know anything about them.'

'Blimey,' said Hagrid almost dropping one of the boxes with fur-seeds in. 'Yeh don't know 'bout Harry and Ginny?'

The Hufflepuff looked unsure whether or not to continue; his voice sounding unsure, wavering, when he did. 'Oh, I know about Harry Potter, about how he stopped You-Know-Who the first time round, when he was just a baby. I know about how, when at Hogwarts he face You-Know-Who again. I know the good stuff he done. Everything I've read makes him out to be a good wizard... I don't understand why everyone's so afraid of him and Ginny Weasley... Every book that contained anything about 'The Two' or about 'The Order of Auror' was removed from my house when dad was first assigned to the Taskforce. I hate it that they won't tell me what's going on, as if I'm still in the first year or something.'

'They're just trying ter protect yeh,' said Hagrid. 'That's all... You saw the reactions o' some o' the students when Miss Granger made the announcement.'

'I just wish I knew, that's all,' said the boy slumping where he stood. Suddenly his eye's lit up and he looked at Hagrid with a grin. 'You knew Harry Potter Hagrid, didn't you?'

'Yeah,' said Hagrid suspiciously, 'but I don't see how-'

Why don't you tell me?' the Hufflepuff boy cut in. 'Tell me all about him and Ginny.'

'Uh... Well... I don't know if I should,' Hagrid Spluttered, standing up quickly he scooped up the boxes on his desk in one motion, and made his way to the cages at the back of the classroom in four huge strides. The majority of the large stack of boxes piled in his arms were jumping about wildly as the fur-seeds attempted to gnaw their way through the cardboard barrier. Marcus ran behind, picking up any of the boxes Hagrid dropped. 'Please,' asked the Hufflepuff. 'I have to know what my dad's doing.'

'Alrigh' then,' said Hagrid, after a moment's silence. The giant glanced around suspiciously to make sure no one was listening then took a huge breath of air, filling his lungs, he said, 'Fifteen years ago—well, fifteen years ago this November, anyway—Harry discovered he was what's called a "True Blood Sorcerer"... Yeh know what that is, don't yeh?' The boy shook his head, and Hagrid paused as if summing up his thoughts. 'It basically means—if yer a True Blood Sorcerer—that yeh don't need yer wand for most spells and hexes. They can do spells just by thinking about them, or just by moving their hands and saying a few words. You have to be able to do twenty percent of spells without a wand ter be labelled as a True Blood Sorcerer-'

'Wow,' said the Hufflepuff in awe, a hundred different questions popping into his head, each more exiting the next. His thoughts immediately changed to his encounter the night before, when Harry and Ginny had saved him from a cave Siren. He hadn't once see Harry use a wand, not even to perform such difficult tasks as creating a magic barrier or silencing the Imperius-curse-like song of the Siren. '-they don't need wands... How dose it work? How many spells could Harry do without a wand?'

'Don' know how it works,' said Hagrid with a shrug, 'no one does. Just a gift, like being able ter speak Parseltongue; yeh can't learn it, yeh just have ter be able ter do it. The closest thing to an explanation is they draw power from another wizard or witch. See, every True Blood Sorcerer—TBS for short—has a second wizard or witch called an Anchor they need ter be near ter do what they do. Otherwise they need a wand just like you or me...' Hagrid's eye's widened in shock at his slip of the tongue about using a wand, and he hastily added, in an attempt to cover up, 'Uh, I mean you! Harry's Anchor was Ginny Weasley... sweet little thing before all the nastiness, had a thing for Harry.

'As fer Harry's level—a level is the measure of how much potential as a TBS he had. It goes from one ter ten; ten bein' the highest—he was a ten, could do a sixty-seven percent o' spells without a wand... very high. Highest True Blood Sorcerer in a long time. Even higher then You-Know-Who.'

'You-Know-Who's a True Blood?' said the Hufflepuff, straining to take in all information he was being told.

'TBS? yeah,' Hagrid said through gritted teeth. 'Not many people know though, because he preferred to use a wand... That was he never had to rely on anyone else. Could do fifty-nine percent o' spells without a wand though; level eight... practically a level nine.'

Pulling over a chair, and making himself more comfortable, the boy asked, 'So what happened after that?'

'You-Know-Who went after Harry again in his fourth year at Hogwarts, but Harry got away,' said Hagrid with a note of victory. 'He just disappeared again—You-Know-Who did. Think he went underground building his support. Knew if he was seen, when most o' his supporters still hadn't rejoined him, he would have been stopped. So he just disappeared, an' the Ministry refused to accept he was back... Just what he wanted.'

'What happened to Harry,' asked the Hufflepuff completely enthralled.

'He was fine, graduated from Hogwarts and became an Auror; him an' Ginny. Anyway, 'bout ten years ago, You-Know-Who resurfaced, and Dumbledore was already trying to stop him gainin' too much power. Cornelius Fudge still refused to believe he was alive fer years, but eventually he joined forces with Dumbledore. In the end though, he thought the Ministry o' Magic could stop You-Know-Who on their own, and split away from Dumbledore—stupid move, gave You-Know-Who a chance, is what it done. Five years ago, Harry, he founded the "Order o' Auror"; wanted to get all the best Auror's together and workin' to stop You-Know-Who. Worked closely with Dumbledore fer a while. Then, two groups of the Order o' Auror decided ter split from the main body, take down as many dark wizards as they could, even if it meant killin' 'em on the spot, or injurin' innocent wizards ter do so. These two factions called themselves: "The Triads," made up of three wizards; and "The Dilourseys," who were a large coven of wizards and witches... bad news they were. Killed so many wizards on both sides. For some reason, don't ask me why, Harry and Ginny split from the main body month's later—called themselves "The Two"—along with a few other factions. Majority o' Auror's though left the Order and joined either Dumbledore, or the Ministry. The Two, the Triads and the Dilourseys all went after You-Know-Who. By that time they were all feared by a lot o' dark wizards... between those three orders, some people recon they killed close ter three hundred dark wizards...'

'Killed...' said the Hufflepuff who had turned pale, and struggled to continue. 'Killed three hundred.'

'That's probably an overestimate, eighty is probably closer ter the target,' Hagrid offered seeing the blood drain from the boy's face. 'Yeh sure yeh want ter know the rest?'

'Yeah, just give me a minute,' said the boy, and within seconds, Hagrid was on his feet pouring out a drink of water for them both.

'Here, drink this,' said Hagrid, offering the Hufflepuff the glass. 'Make yeh feel better.'

'Thanks,' said the boy feebly, gulping the water down, and staring mindlessly at the ground.

'What... what happened after they went after You-Know-Who?' he finally asked.

Hagrid gulped down the rest of his water, and for the first time since starting the story sat down, as if, if he continued standing, his feet would give way.

'Well,' said Hagrid, the corner of his mouth twitching wildly. 'You-Know-Who was ready fer 'em... There's a reason he's the most feared Wizard in history... Killed all o' the Triads, and most of the Dilourseys—only three o' twelve left now. That only left Harry and Ginny. They tracked You-Know-Who for a while, rumour is, nearly got him too. O' course, nearly got killed a fair few times... S'cuse me, I need another glass o' water-' After gulping down several more glasses of water, Hagrid finally continued, his voice growing gruffer. '-Then one day, Harry, he just showed up at the Ministry o' Magic headquarters an' in front o' everyone there killed three Ministry members: Jason Flint, Daniel Henson, and Samantha Lee. Then he injured seven more escaping, including the Minister himself... ever wonder why Cornelius Fudge walks with a permanent limp? Got hit by a stray spell.'

'Why?' spluttered the Hufflepuff shaking his head. This definitely didn't seem like the Harry and Ginny he'd met the night previous. The Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley who had gone out of their way to save him, and even taken the time to help him face the Siren. They'd even walked him back to his dormitory regaling him story's of when they were at Hogwarts, going so far as to inform him of a secret entrance to Hogsmead that was hidden behind a statue. 'Why would he do that, it doesn't make sense...'

'Accused them o' being dark wizards, o' being in league with You-Know-Who,' choked Hagrid, his beard quivering slightly. 'Said he saw 'em with other Death Eaters.'

'And were they?' said the boy, on the edge of his seat. 'Were they dark wizards.'

'No,' said Hagrid shaking his head sadly. 'Wish they were, but they weren't. Two o' them were spy's fer Cornelius; he swore ter that. And the other one, Daniel Henson, there was no way he was a dark wizard, at least that's what everyone said.'

'Couldn't Harry have been under a spell,' said the Hufflepuff, straining to think. 'The Imperius curse perhaps... or they could have been dark wizards for real or...'

'Doubtful,' said Hagrid miserably. 'I don't think there is anyone with the magic in 'em to control Harry Potter. You heard what he done... in front of all those other Wizards. And Cornelius swore they were as straight as himself.'

'Why would he do it though-' said the third year, thoughtfully, feeling the need to defend the two that had saved him. 'There's no reason for it... It's ridiculous.'

'Yeh sure yeh aren't in Ravenclaw,' said Hagrid with a small grin. 'Yeh think an awful lot-' ('Nah, I may think a lot, but I'm usually wrong...' said the Hufflepuff.) '-As far why he done it, You-Know-Who probably got ter him in the end. Harry had to face things as a youngster even fully fledged Wizards and Witches shouldn't have to face. Real shame... Yeh would never have met a nicer wizard at the start. Great person was Harry. Every bit yer perfect Gryffindor: Brave, daring, loyal, had a good heart... Same goes fer Ginny. I 'spose, in a way, they're both just another victim of You-Know-Who. Facing him is enough to bring out the dark side of anyone.'

'So what does my dad have to do?' the Hufflepuff said warily as he fidgeted awkwardly on the chair. He didn't want to believe what Hagrid was saying, but if it was true, if he'd misjudged Harry and Ginny—which was very possible; he'd only met them briefly—then his dad was in a very dangerous job.

'Oh, sorry,' said Hagrid, realising he'd missed an important part of the story out. 'When Harry and Ginny... Well, when that thing happened at the Ministry, Cornelius Fudge came under pressure ter stop the Order o' Auror, and ter stop Harry in particular. He promised the Wizarding community that Harry would be caught and killed.'

'Just like that?' said the boy, raising his eyebrows. 'No trial, or anything?'

'Not everyone is like you Hufflpuffs:' said Hagrid. 'Fair! They weren't even gonna give him a trial. The few Dementors that didn't join You-Know-Who—and I have no idea why they didn't—were to use the kiss if Harry was caught. So he did the only thing he could; flee the country.'

'And now?' said the Hufflepuff. 'What if he's caught now?'

'Same I expect,' said Hagrid sadly. 'The Task Force will probably try to catch him, and take him to the Dementors. Don't see how he could return though-' said Hagrid frowning.

'What do you mean,' asked the Hufflepuff.

'I mean, when Harry fled, the Ministry o' Magic used a lot of resources—to many if you ask me, considering You-Know-Who was gaining more power by the second—in making sure Harry couldn't return to a lot of places. Hogwarts among them, so we're probably the safest of all; as well as Hogsmead and a few other places that You-Know-Who's rumoured to be.'

'Do you think my dad will be alright?' said the boy.

'He'll be fine,' said Hagrid. 'He's in good hands. All you have to worry about is next lesson!'

'Why,' said the Hufflepuff warily.

'Were goin' ter be looking at Basilisk's' said Hagrid, and if possible, the boy paled even more.

End Chapter 5—The Order of Auror.

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.