Chapter 11: The Breaking of the Order

October first came with dark clouds in the sky. It marked the return of Professor Snape as well.

Care of Magical Creatures went well that day. Things had been sort of quite in Hagrid's classes over the month, until this day.

'Isn't he cute!' boomed Hagrid. He was smiling at a tiny creature with a horse like head, but was the size of a lizard... in fact, it looked like a short snake with tiny legs and a horse head.

'It's a Baggnesin, they are ver' poisonous. But only if yeh handle it's dung.'

'I hear that's the same with Hagrid,' came the voice of Draco Malfoy... but it was hushed, only meant for Crabb and Goyle to hear. However, Harry overheard it.

'The Baggnesin's dung, in fact, has been used teh stave off evil spirits back in the days of old. Any questions?'

'Yeah, why don't you show us something good, instead of something idiotic,' said Malfoy.

'The only reason why your way back there, Malfoy, is because he doesn't want something idiotic to be seen!' shouted Ron.

Crabbe and Goyle marched forward, but when Hagrid had gone to separate, he mistakenly handed the Baggnesin to Neville Longbottom.

Hagrid had pushed them all apart from each other, and when he was about to order punishments, he noticed Neville lying on the ground.

'Quick! Somebody call for help!'

Hagrid picked Neville up and started a dash for the castle.

The students followed, but Harry and Ron stayed behind a bit, along with Malfoy.

'You should have been the one hurt Malfoy!' shouted Ron. 'It's that kind of dung you eat for breakfast!' Harry tried to hold Ron back, as he made a dash to Malfoy. He was very tempted to let go, noticing Crabbe and Goyle were up ahead with the rest of the class, but he thought better of it, Ron could get in a lot of trouble.

'I bet if you fed it some of the food in your house that it's dung would be even more poisonous, fire head!' and he picked up the pace to join his two friends.

'I hate him!' yelled Ron.

'He's not good! And now Hagrid is probably in trouble again, and again thanks to Malfoy.'

'Ron, I think for the moment we should be worried about Neville, do you suppose he's okay?'

They were concerned, but Hermione said:

'It is poisonous, yes... but they have an antidote I hear... he'll be fine in a few days.'

Defense against the Dark Arts was nothing noteworthy, Mrs. Figg showed them a dark power creature known as a Tumbleyee, which looked just like a small pig, but had a tail like a rabbits... it meant to look cute, but it can be dangerous to those who touch it's head, for it will burst into flames.

Dinner time came, and all the students filed into the great hall.

Dumbledore stood.

'I have an announcement. Our Potion's Master has Returned.'

With that, Snape came walking into the room. He looked rather pale and worn, clad in a dark gray cloak.

Harry glanced at Snape, and when he did, he got a quick shearing pain in his forehead.

'Also, the first Quidditch match is to take place in three weeks, and we will be having a Official to watch over the games... seeing we no longer need him for Potions, he has volunteered to be our Quidditch official, as long as be the assistant to Professor Snape.'

Scattered applause for that, as Wood waved his hand over his head in thanks.

'Also, I want to say that Neville Longbottom, who was slightly poisoned, will be fine...'

They ate their dinner and soon, the students made their way back into their respective dorm.

Dumbledore went to his office, along with Professor Snape. They entered and Dumbledore sat behind his desk.

But they gave a cry of surprise, to see Cornelius Fudge standing in the shadows.

'Dumbledore, sit down.'

Dumbledore, fed up with Fudge's attitude, stood firm on the spot.

'I will not! What have you need to visit?'

'I have drawn counsel, along with others like Lucius Malfoy, have decided it best if you stepped down once and for all,' said Fudge, with a mad twitch in his eye.

Dumbledore, shaken by the information, but not given in, calmly said, 'oh? Well... what if I decide not to?'

'Well, that is not your decision, if you refuse to rightfully step down, we will remove you as headmaster of this school.'

'You can't do that!' shouted Snape.

'I will not step down...'

'Then, as of this moment, you are hereby removed from your job... I ask for you to leave now.'

'FOOL!' shouted Snape. 'With him gone, there will be no stopping Voldemort!'

Fudge gave a gasp at the name being mentioned.

'It seems we have done this before, doesn't it Cornelius?' said Dumbledore, with a gleam of anger under his white brow. 'I remember it well, but you will have no hold over me!'

Just then, the clouds outside seem to form and block out the moon outside, and the lights inside began to dim. No doubt, it was coming from the anger, which beheld Dumbledore.

'YOU!' shouted Snape standing up, wand in hand. He pointed his wand at Fudge, but Dumbledore pushed it down and whispered quickly, 'No use getting us both thrown out of here, I need you here to make sure all is well here, do you promise me Severus?'

Snape shook his head, and the clouds seem to clear, as Dumbledore moved over the Fudge.

'Fine, we shall go... but I have one last request... that I may send a few owls to respected friends.'

'Fine, but make it quick.'

So Dumbledore hastily put together a few notes and send them out. Dumbledore slowly walked out of the office, with a quick glance back at Snape.

The next morning was cool and dreary. Hagrid woke to the gentle tapping of an owl on his window. He blinked in the dim morning light to see an owl with a letter. He jumped up and grabbed it, reading:

Hagrid, I am sorry to informed that I have been fired, so to speak.

We must now speed up our operation. You must go now and seek Madame Maxime, and try your hardest to bring the Giants in the mountains on our side, before it is too late.

Keep an eye on Harry, for I fear he will be in grave danger...

Tell Harry that he is in good hands with any of our members, including Snuffles (he'll know what I mean) and that it be best he journey with Snuffles come October 31, he will be safe with Snuffles, and I have resolved to join them... that is very important.

Do not worry Hagrid, go on with your part the operation as soon as possible, and good luck, loyal friend.

Albus Dumbledore.

Hagrid swelled with tears, he was enraged, and soon sprang to life.

In a deep forrest dwelling in Hogsmeade, Sirius Black laid on a cave floor, next to Buckbeak, when an owl came and landed, giving him a letter.

It read:

Snuffles,

I am afraid that I have been fired as Headmaster of Hogwarts. I wish to meet with you soon...

Much must be discussed. I am afraid that there has been some evil put into my firing. I do not trust the Minister of Magic one bit. At worst, he has been persuaded. I have sent a letter to Arabella ,

Telling her to take a leave with Mr. Norris and hunt down Peter Pettigew, among other things...

We will discuss more when we meet.

Albus

At the entrance halls, two cats made their way out the oak front doors.

It was Mrs. Figg, in her Animagus form... a medium sized white cat, with a black spot on her back. She took follow to Mr. Norris, which is the real name of Hermione's pet Crookshanks.

She followed Crookshanks into the depths of the forbidden forrest.

Remus Lupin received his letter, telling him that, "even though they were all scattered around, they all could still fight for their cause". Lupin was sent on a mission to find anyone who has information to spare about Wormtail or Voldemort.

It was very important that they find Wormtail, but also important was to keep the death eaters at bay and to keep them away from Harry. Everything was falling apart.

Wormtail sat next to his master, in the darkness.

'With news of that fool Dumbledore's firing, we will begin our gathering,' said Voldemort.

'Pay off that fool Fudge for his good work... and to Malfoy.'

'Yes master... what shall we do now?'

'With Dumbledore out of the picture, we can be more active, but we will wait a bit for our army to build, and then we attack... but I wish for the boy to be healthy and alive... I wish for the boy, Harry Potter to come to me, there is much we need to discuss,' he let out a cold sort of laughter.

'Very well, master.'

'And!' shouted Voldemort. 'The other boy must be with us, but we cannot find him, can we?'

'No sir... but why do we truly need him?'

'Because, Wormtail, to undue Potter's curse, we need the blood of another relative, and the blood must have wizard in it... Potter's cousin is the only one, find him!'