Chapter 9: Dumbledore's warning.
Harry woke to a bright sun shine morning, much better than the rainy day that encircled the land the day before. Ron had already been gone from his bed, in fact, as Harry noticed only he and Neville Longbottom remained, snoring.
He headed down to the common room. Hermione was there, reading a book, while Fred and George sat off in the far corner in heavy whispers. Ron was nowhere to be seen and Harry figured he was in the bathroom.
So he made his way to Hermione. He sat down beside her as the portrait hole opened.
'What are you reading?' asked Harry.
But right when she looked up, Crookshanks jumped on her lap.
'Where have you been?' she asked, patting the purring cat.
'So, what's on the schedule?' asked Harry.
'Defense against the dark arts is first, should be fun.'
'Right, I wonder how Mrs. Figg will do.'
Crookshanks jumped off her lap and made his way over to the far corner.
They made their way to the dinning hall for breakfast. Ron was already there, to Harry's surprise.
'What are you doing here so early?' asked Hermione to Ron.
'Signed up for Quidditch,' said Ron with a grin.
'But do you have a good enough broom?' asked Hermoine.
'Yes, now I do. Fred bought me it, can you believe it? It's a Nimbus 2000. He just told me last night, it's coming in the mail any day. I don't know how they got the money.'
Harry knew, of course. It must have been from the award money he had won from the Triwizard tournament. He had given it to Fred and George on the train back home, he told them to get Ron a new dress robe, but looks like they got him a broom instead.
'That's great Ron,' said Harry.
The windows burst open, and within seconds, flocks of owls of all sizes and color flew in, and began dropping the mail. Ron was disappointed not to see a broom sized package.
Hermione got her copy of the Daily Prophet, and an envelope fell into Harry's lap. But before he looked at who it was from, he remembered something.
'OH! Hermione, I can't believe I forgot to ask you before, what ever happened with Rita Skeeter?'
'OH Yeah! She's still in my bedroom! Oh NO!'
They stared at her in disbelief.
'Only kidding... I let her go about a week after I got home, she promised that she wouldn't write anything bad, or I would get her in some big trouble, being an unregistered Animagus and all.
I have leverage.'
Ron eyed her with the deepest look of admiration Harry had ever seen from him. Indeed, she had changed, or rather they changed her in their years.
Harry remembered his letter, as Hermione picked up the Daily Prophet to read.
There was no address, yet he opened it.
Dear Harry,
It's me Sirius, I have been able to write to you a bit sooner than I thought. I have been called by Dumbledore to discuss some things. I want you to write to me this time, but write to me when you know the first Hogsmeade weekend is coming, we might be able to meet. Remember that I told you I had a present for you? Well, I still do, but you won't see it until Halloween, like I said.
I just want you to know that I haven't forgotten. I also want you to report to me anything strange going on or anything out of the ordinary. I know this is just your first week back, but this is important. Also, don't worry about anything, because with Dumbledore there, you'll be safe.
Write soon,
Sirius.
'OH NO!' yelled Hermione
She handed the Daily Prophet over to Harry, the front page showed clearly, the Dark Mark in the sky. The headline said "Dark Mark seen!"
Ron gave a soft kind of cry of exclamation.
Harry vaguely felt pain in his scar, or it could have been his imagination.
They headed for class, with worry on their faces...
'He is on his way, Severus,' said Dumbledore, to Professor Snape, who had slept on the floor of Dumbledore's office.
'Good, I want to get back out there.'
'Do you still wish to spy for us, I know it is very dangerous,' said Dumbledore.
'It is what you sent me out for last year, I must.'
Just then, the door knocked.
In came the Minister of Magic Fudge.
Fudge held his bowler's hat in his hand, 'So, what is the meaning of this?'
'Oh come on! Are you that thick in the head! Have you not seen the papers?' said Snape.
Dumbledore gave him a look to be quite.
'Do you know think, it be time that we do something?' said Dumbledore.
'No! We have everything under control,' said Fudge.
'FOOL!' yelled Snape loudly. 'I saw him! And I saw the death eaters. I saw him set off the dark mark, and I heard him speak of this school, and of Potter! How can you be so blind?'
Fudge had a brief gleam of terror in his eyes. He turned to Dumbledore.
'Do you trust a former death eater, Albus?' said Fudge.
Snape said nothing, only turned away to look at the window. Dumbledore walked slowly to Fudge, and looked him in the eyes over his half moon spectacles.
'It is obvious that you are a stubborn man,' said Dumbledore at last. 'I had hoped that with the report of the dark mark, and the fact that our own Professor Snape witnessed it, than you would change your mind. But all you can do is question whether or not I trust one of my most loyal professors, and friend. You should be ashamed of yourself. Why can you not see the truth?'
Fudge was shocked by this, and quickly thought of a response on the spot.
'Albus, think about what you are saying! You believe someone who once claimed his loyalty to he-who-must-not-be-named, and a fifteen year old wizard who is showing signs of mental problems! Anyone could have set off that dark mark!'
'It would have to be cast by someone who is very crafty in dark arts!' said Dumbledore.
'How dare you question my loyalty!' yelled Snape out of the shadow of the other side of the room, which was yet to be hit by the sun.
'Potter may have his problems, but if Dumbledore believes and trust him, than I must too. If there should be any question of loyalty here, it should be put upon you!'
With that, Snape stormed out of the room and slammed the door.
'Perhaps you better rethink your situation,' said Dumbledore. 'The Order of the Phoenix is back in order, with or without your help.'
'I will not stop your fellowship, Albus, for that is out of my reach. I do ask that you try not to waste your time. Do not stray out of law, for that is in my reach.'
With his new found bravery, Fudge but his hat back on and walked out of the room, but before he did, Dumbledore shouted.
'This is your last chance! If you walk out that door and go blindly on, ignoring the fate of the magical world, you will regret it! You will regret it with every walking second upon our world, and you will have allowed Voldemort to begin a new era of darkness! It would be because of you! I said this to year last year in the hospital wing! He'll get the Giants and their pure strength and power on his side. He'll get the Dementers, and they will release his people from Azkaban. I warn you, you turn your back on us, and our world will be brought to our knees, and he will rule. The old crowd can do as much good as possible, without your help. But we could do a heck of a lot better with your help.'
'No, Albus! I walk out this door and leave the blindness behind.'
'Than perhaps the Order does not need the help of an old fool who is so blinded by his own fate that he will allow the dark lord to rise again!'
Fudge walked out.
Dumbledore sat at his desk and pounded his fist in fury. This was a side of Dumbledore that rarely got out. Dumbledore resolved that he must summon Lupin and Figg.
Harry walked into his Defense Against the Dark Arts class with Ron and Hermione. They still were rather upset at the front page of the paper, but Harry pretended not to be.
The picture brought back memories of that fateful night. Memories he wished would have been lost in the back of his mind forever.
Mrs. Figg came in the room, and stated: 'I am terribly sorry, but today's class has been cancelled. I have to attend an emergency meeting of sorts. All of you can either go back to your common rooms or go to the library or where ever, until your next class. We should have a make up in the near future.'
She looked troubled as she left the room.
'That's a bit odd, don't you think?' said Hermione.
Harry knew, though, what must have been going on. The old crowd was gathering. He knew exactly what that meeting was, perhaps it had to do with the dark mark. Harry also thought about what Sirius has in mind for him. This he thought about a lot lately. Next, was Transfiguration.
Soon, Mrs. Figg and Dumbledore were greeted by Remus Lupin, who walked into the room.
'Where's Snape?' asked Lupin.
'I just sent him back to follow the trail. It looks like we are on our own. We will have no help from the ministry.'
They all were angry after what Dumbledore told them about Fudge.
'Do we have to bring him at the toes of Voldemort before he believes us!?' said Lupin.
Just then, there was a scratch on the door. Mrs. Figg opened it, and a cat came in.
The cat was Crookshanks.
Harry woke to a bright sun shine morning, much better than the rainy day that encircled the land the day before. Ron had already been gone from his bed, in fact, as Harry noticed only he and Neville Longbottom remained, snoring.
He headed down to the common room. Hermione was there, reading a book, while Fred and George sat off in the far corner in heavy whispers. Ron was nowhere to be seen and Harry figured he was in the bathroom.
So he made his way to Hermione. He sat down beside her as the portrait hole opened.
'What are you reading?' asked Harry.
But right when she looked up, Crookshanks jumped on her lap.
'Where have you been?' she asked, patting the purring cat.
'So, what's on the schedule?' asked Harry.
'Defense against the dark arts is first, should be fun.'
'Right, I wonder how Mrs. Figg will do.'
Crookshanks jumped off her lap and made his way over to the far corner.
They made their way to the dinning hall for breakfast. Ron was already there, to Harry's surprise.
'What are you doing here so early?' asked Hermione to Ron.
'Signed up for Quidditch,' said Ron with a grin.
'But do you have a good enough broom?' asked Hermoine.
'Yes, now I do. Fred bought me it, can you believe it? It's a Nimbus 2000. He just told me last night, it's coming in the mail any day. I don't know how they got the money.'
Harry knew, of course. It must have been from the award money he had won from the Triwizard tournament. He had given it to Fred and George on the train back home, he told them to get Ron a new dress robe, but looks like they got him a broom instead.
'That's great Ron,' said Harry.
The windows burst open, and within seconds, flocks of owls of all sizes and color flew in, and began dropping the mail. Ron was disappointed not to see a broom sized package.
Hermione got her copy of the Daily Prophet, and an envelope fell into Harry's lap. But before he looked at who it was from, he remembered something.
'OH! Hermione, I can't believe I forgot to ask you before, what ever happened with Rita Skeeter?'
'OH Yeah! She's still in my bedroom! Oh NO!'
They stared at her in disbelief.
'Only kidding... I let her go about a week after I got home, she promised that she wouldn't write anything bad, or I would get her in some big trouble, being an unregistered Animagus and all.
I have leverage.'
Ron eyed her with the deepest look of admiration Harry had ever seen from him. Indeed, she had changed, or rather they changed her in their years.
Harry remembered his letter, as Hermione picked up the Daily Prophet to read.
There was no address, yet he opened it.
Dear Harry,
It's me Sirius, I have been able to write to you a bit sooner than I thought. I have been called by Dumbledore to discuss some things. I want you to write to me this time, but write to me when you know the first Hogsmeade weekend is coming, we might be able to meet. Remember that I told you I had a present for you? Well, I still do, but you won't see it until Halloween, like I said.
I just want you to know that I haven't forgotten. I also want you to report to me anything strange going on or anything out of the ordinary. I know this is just your first week back, but this is important. Also, don't worry about anything, because with Dumbledore there, you'll be safe.
Write soon,
Sirius.
'OH NO!' yelled Hermione
She handed the Daily Prophet over to Harry, the front page showed clearly, the Dark Mark in the sky. The headline said "Dark Mark seen!"
Ron gave a soft kind of cry of exclamation.
Harry vaguely felt pain in his scar, or it could have been his imagination.
They headed for class, with worry on their faces...
'He is on his way, Severus,' said Dumbledore, to Professor Snape, who had slept on the floor of Dumbledore's office.
'Good, I want to get back out there.'
'Do you still wish to spy for us, I know it is very dangerous,' said Dumbledore.
'It is what you sent me out for last year, I must.'
Just then, the door knocked.
In came the Minister of Magic Fudge.
Fudge held his bowler's hat in his hand, 'So, what is the meaning of this?'
'Oh come on! Are you that thick in the head! Have you not seen the papers?' said Snape.
Dumbledore gave him a look to be quite.
'Do you know think, it be time that we do something?' said Dumbledore.
'No! We have everything under control,' said Fudge.
'FOOL!' yelled Snape loudly. 'I saw him! And I saw the death eaters. I saw him set off the dark mark, and I heard him speak of this school, and of Potter! How can you be so blind?'
Fudge had a brief gleam of terror in his eyes. He turned to Dumbledore.
'Do you trust a former death eater, Albus?' said Fudge.
Snape said nothing, only turned away to look at the window. Dumbledore walked slowly to Fudge, and looked him in the eyes over his half moon spectacles.
'It is obvious that you are a stubborn man,' said Dumbledore at last. 'I had hoped that with the report of the dark mark, and the fact that our own Professor Snape witnessed it, than you would change your mind. But all you can do is question whether or not I trust one of my most loyal professors, and friend. You should be ashamed of yourself. Why can you not see the truth?'
Fudge was shocked by this, and quickly thought of a response on the spot.
'Albus, think about what you are saying! You believe someone who once claimed his loyalty to he-who-must-not-be-named, and a fifteen year old wizard who is showing signs of mental problems! Anyone could have set off that dark mark!'
'It would have to be cast by someone who is very crafty in dark arts!' said Dumbledore.
'How dare you question my loyalty!' yelled Snape out of the shadow of the other side of the room, which was yet to be hit by the sun.
'Potter may have his problems, but if Dumbledore believes and trust him, than I must too. If there should be any question of loyalty here, it should be put upon you!'
With that, Snape stormed out of the room and slammed the door.
'Perhaps you better rethink your situation,' said Dumbledore. 'The Order of the Phoenix is back in order, with or without your help.'
'I will not stop your fellowship, Albus, for that is out of my reach. I do ask that you try not to waste your time. Do not stray out of law, for that is in my reach.'
With his new found bravery, Fudge but his hat back on and walked out of the room, but before he did, Dumbledore shouted.
'This is your last chance! If you walk out that door and go blindly on, ignoring the fate of the magical world, you will regret it! You will regret it with every walking second upon our world, and you will have allowed Voldemort to begin a new era of darkness! It would be because of you! I said this to year last year in the hospital wing! He'll get the Giants and their pure strength and power on his side. He'll get the Dementers, and they will release his people from Azkaban. I warn you, you turn your back on us, and our world will be brought to our knees, and he will rule. The old crowd can do as much good as possible, without your help. But we could do a heck of a lot better with your help.'
'No, Albus! I walk out this door and leave the blindness behind.'
'Than perhaps the Order does not need the help of an old fool who is so blinded by his own fate that he will allow the dark lord to rise again!'
Fudge walked out.
Dumbledore sat at his desk and pounded his fist in fury. This was a side of Dumbledore that rarely got out. Dumbledore resolved that he must summon Lupin and Figg.
Harry walked into his Defense Against the Dark Arts class with Ron and Hermione. They still were rather upset at the front page of the paper, but Harry pretended not to be.
The picture brought back memories of that fateful night. Memories he wished would have been lost in the back of his mind forever.
Mrs. Figg came in the room, and stated: 'I am terribly sorry, but today's class has been cancelled. I have to attend an emergency meeting of sorts. All of you can either go back to your common rooms or go to the library or where ever, until your next class. We should have a make up in the near future.'
She looked troubled as she left the room.
'That's a bit odd, don't you think?' said Hermione.
Harry knew, though, what must have been going on. The old crowd was gathering. He knew exactly what that meeting was, perhaps it had to do with the dark mark. Harry also thought about what Sirius has in mind for him. This he thought about a lot lately. Next, was Transfiguration.
Soon, Mrs. Figg and Dumbledore were greeted by Remus Lupin, who walked into the room.
'Where's Snape?' asked Lupin.
'I just sent him back to follow the trail. It looks like we are on our own. We will have no help from the ministry.'
They all were angry after what Dumbledore told them about Fudge.
'Do we have to bring him at the toes of Voldemort before he believes us!?' said Lupin.
Just then, there was a scratch on the door. Mrs. Figg opened it, and a cat came in.
The cat was Crookshanks.
