When...Why... Harry didn't know where to start.
"All righ' Harry? Long time no see, eh?" Hagrid walked over to him and
hugged him so tightly that Harry gasped for air, "I missed you so much,
Harry!" Hagrid began to blubber. Harry tightened his grip around Hagrid. He
was finally back. They pulled away from each other,
"I missed you too!" Harry said, "I really need to talk to you and Dumbledore
right now, though! It's urgent!" Harry looked around for Dumbledore. He
turned around and there, face to face with him, was Sirius Black. "Sirius?"
"Harry. Sorry I couldn't stop and say hi that one time you and Ron called
for me. I had my orders." He chuckled at the smile that Harry gave him as he
ran into Sirius's arms.
"Why didn't you answer my letters?" Harry questioned.
"Because I told him not to." Dumbledore's voice replied behind them. Harry
turned around and looked at Dumbledore, who was smiling warmly at Harry.
"Professor! I have to talk to you! I had this dream! Then my scar started
hurting!"
"Now calm down, Harry," Dumbledore walked over to Harry and placed his hand
on his shoulder looking concerned, "What is all the trouble?"
"Maybe you should have him sit down, Albus," A woman's voice said. Harry
knew the voice. He turned around and found Mundungus Fletcher standing next
to a stout woman with a wizard's hat on. It was Mrs. Figg.
"Mrs. Figg? I need an explanation right now--"
"Wait, Harry. Do you know about Mrs. Figg?" Professor Fletcher looked
shocked.
"WHY DON'T WE ALL CALM DOWN HERE?!" Hagrid bellowed. Everyone turned around and stared at Hagrid, who was now blushing and giving them a toothy grin.
Harry sat down, still looking at Mrs. Figg in wonder. Sirius and Dumbledore
both sat down, while Hagrid stood beside Dumbledore, and Professor Fletcher
and Mrs. Figg stood in the same corner. "
I told you he knew, Albus," Mrs. Figg retorted, "I could feel it in my
bones!"
"Now, now Arabella. Maybe we should hear what Harry has to say before we
jump to conclusions. Harry, would you like to start at the beginning?"
"But, I don't understand--"
"Why don't we hear your side first, son?" Professor Fletcher said, with a
look of mixed shock and confusion in his eyes. Harry sighed reluctantly and
told them about how he had overheard the Order of Phoenix during Christmas
break. He told them how he had been worried about nothing happening and how
after he had seen the meeting, he had noticed little things; like
Professor Fletcher sneaking in dueling, despite it not being in the
curriculum, and Professor Flitwick giving them free weeks so he could do top secret work in the back. He told them how Hermione had figured out that they were staying in the Shrieking Shack ("That girl is brilliant," Sirius replied.) Then he came to
his dream. He told them how he had seen it so clearly; Voldemort's new look
of health and power.
"And then I saw Professor Snape, Professor, working for Voldemort!" Harry
looked around for reactions. Everyone had winced at the sound of Voldemort's
name except for Professors Fletcher and Dumbledore. Harry was shocked to see
they didn't look the slightest surprised that Snape was a traitor.
Dumbledore apparently saw the shock on his face.
"Yes, Harry, we know he is with Voldemort."
"But, Professor! Aren't you going to do something about it? He could be
feeding information to Voldemort!" Every one of the adults looked away from
Harry except Dumbledore, who looked hesitant about something. "Is there
something I don't know about Snape?" It was a question that he had asked
before, but had never been told the answer to. Would he find out?
"Yes, Harry, there is," Dumbledore said this very casually, "But I am afraid
I can't tell you it. I will tell you when you are old enough to know--,"
"But Professor! I'm fifteen! Don't you think I am old enough to know?"
"Harry, some things are just too intricate, too misapprehended during these
times of fear to tell to those who are innocent. I am afraid this is just
one of them. I can tell you one thing, Professor Snape is on our side."
Harry slumped into his chair at these words, unable to comprehend them.
Dumbledore continued, "Harry, we need to hear the rest of your story!"
"Oh! Right, Professor!" Harry continued to tell them how Voldemort had a
plan and Snape had attempted to foil it. Everyone in the room appeared to
perk up at this.
"Did he succeed?" Mrs. Figg asked eagerly. Everyone seemed to be holding his
or her breaths.
"Erm, I don't think so..." Harry mumbled. Everyone's eyes grew frightened at
this, "Is there something wrong?"
"Well, we aren't sure what it is Voldemort has planned, Severus reports that
it is very top secret and only between Peter Pettigrew and Voldemort."
Dumbledore explained to Harry, "But, we know that it is something that needs
to be prevented. Severus attempted to, but it appears he did not succeed. Is
there anything else in your dream, Harry?"
"Yes," Harry hesitated slightly, "Voldemort--he--used the Cruciatus Curse on
Professor Snape. That is all I saw before my scar woke me up." There was a
moment of silence as the teachers stared at Harry. Harry couldn't look at
them.
"Well, does your scar still hurt?" Sirius asked Harry.
"Just a little. Do you think that dream really happened?" Harry commented as
he looked at Dumbledore.
"Well, if your scar is hurting it is very likely it did. There is really
nothing we can do about it, though," Dumbledore explained slowly, "A-hem,
well now, are there any questions you have Harry? I believe we are able to
answer SOME of your questions!" Harry looked up at Mrs. Figg immediately,
"Yes, I have a question. Who ARE you?" He pointed at her. Mrs. Figg smiled
warmly.
"I was a friend of your parents, Harry. During their time at Hogwarts, I was
a Charms teacher here. They were both lovely students. It was not until I
discovered my gift that I chose to quit my job here as a teacher. Your
parents kept in touch with me and I went to their wedding. Their deaths were
unfortunate ones. Someone had to protect you, Harry. Naturally, I was the
only one in the country to do the job, so I volunteered."
"Wait a minute. What job?" Mrs. Figg looked at Dumbledore, and Dumbledore
nodded his head solemnly.
"I am your Fiddelium, Harry." she said.
"Fidd--wha?" Harry blurted out.
"A Fiddelium, Harry," Sirius began, "is a very powerful wizard. In special
situations, such as yours, the Fiddelium is able to use their magic to
protect a large vicinity of land. Fiddeliums have many other duties, such as
performing the Fidelius Charm. Mrs. Figg here was the one for the job!"
Sirius smiled softly, while Harry tried to comprehend this new concept.
"So, you mean, Mrs. Figg moved into my neighborhood just to take care of me?
Why? I mean, they may not be very good, but the Dursley's seem to take care
of me enough."
"Well they do take care of you, dear, with my help of course," Mrs. Figg
piped in, "They are your Secret Keepers."
"They...THEY ARE?!?!" Harry shot out of his seat, "How in the world did you
convince them to do that?"
"They don't know they are your Secret Keepers, dear! And that is the best
part! They will never know! With the help of my Fiddelium duties,
You-Know-Who is very unlikely to get into Little Whinging. But, if he does,
we can only depend on your Uncle, Vernon is it?" Harry put his face into his
hands. His life depended on this crazy woman and his Uncle Vernon? He was
doomed.
"How did you get the Dursleys to be my Secret Keeper?" Harry cried.
"Arabella conjured the spell on them not long after they received you, in
their sleep. Mrs. Figg is the only Fiddelium in all of Britain."
Harry immediately thought of one thing that made his throat swell, "Were you
the Fiddelium for my parents?"
Mrs. Figg's shoulders slumped in a big sigh, "Yes, Harry, I was."
Harry sat back down in his seat and fought the tears that were threatening
to escape his eyes, "Why didn't you tell me you knew my parents? Why didn't
you tell me you were a witch? Harry was nearly in tears, "Why didn't you
tell them that Peter Pettigrew was the Secret Keeper instead of Sirius?
WHY!?"
"Oh, dear. I am so sorry. The Fidelius Charm is so complicated. It is hard
for a child to understand this curse--,"
"I am not a child anymore!" Harry fumed. The tears refused to stay in and
started streaming down his cheeks. Hagrid, who was in tears too, went over
and caressed Harry.
"Come now, Harry," Hagrid comforted Harry, "don' yeh think she would have
tried if she knew to? That particular Fidelius Charm was a far more powerful
Charm then most are. It made even her unable to remember where yeh and yer
parents were hidin'. The one that the Dursleys keep is only against
You-Know-Who and his close followers. If it was for everyone, then how would
we be able to visit yeh?" Hagrid beamed as Harry showed signs of a smile.
"But, then, wouldn't you know when Peter revealed to Voldemort?" Harry
questioned as he wiped his cheeks.
"Not necessarily. Apparently, Peter did something to prevent me from
knowing. I only remembered putting the charm on Peter when Dumbledore told
me. I may never know how he did it. And I had always thought he wasn't very
bright..." Mrs. Figg stared into oblivion. Harry had no more questions for
Mrs. Figg, he moved to Hagrid, who still stood behind him with his large
hands on Harry's shoulders,
"Hagrid, did you bring the giants back?"
"No I didn' Harry. They will come if they are summoned though. Olympia is
waitin' with them in case they are ever needed."
"Why didn't they come?"
"Well think about it, Harry," Sirius chimed in, "How would we hide them from
all the students? There has to be at least 20 meters high!" Harry laughed at the thought
of giant heads sticking out all over the forbidden forest.
"What WILL happen if they are needed?" Harry questioned.
"Well," Dumbledore sighed deeply, the bags under his eyes became more
obvious, "that all depends on what Voldemort has planned. Professor Flitwick
has been helping me keep all on our side informed about what is going on. As
soon as we received the news that Peter Pettigrew hasn't been around for a
long time from Severus, Professor Flitwick had to spend weeks informing all
of our supporters."
"How many people are in the Order of Phoenix?"
Professor Fletcher, who had remained quiet most of the hour, spoke up, "Our number is currently 288 world-wide. If you haven't noticed, the Owlery should have been very empty these past couple weeks."
Harry looked out the window at the rising sun. Only 288 people against the evilest wizard in the world? How could they defeat him? Then he remembered the Ministry.
"What about Cornelius Fudge?"
"Haven't heard from him in ages," Dumbledore replied, "I'm afraid the Order
of Phoenix is our only hope."
***Don't forget, I love getting reviews, so I know what you enjoyed the
most!
Thanks for those who have been so loyal, I truly appreciate it! Please keep
coming back for more! ***
Disclaimer- The characters, setting, etc. belong to the most talented writer
in the world (JK Rowling), yet the plot was developed, with inspiration from
the greatest writer in the world, by yours truly ;o)
"All righ' Harry? Long time no see, eh?" Hagrid walked over to him and
hugged him so tightly that Harry gasped for air, "I missed you so much,
Harry!" Hagrid began to blubber. Harry tightened his grip around Hagrid. He
was finally back. They pulled away from each other,
"I missed you too!" Harry said, "I really need to talk to you and Dumbledore
right now, though! It's urgent!" Harry looked around for Dumbledore. He
turned around and there, face to face with him, was Sirius Black. "Sirius?"
"Harry. Sorry I couldn't stop and say hi that one time you and Ron called
for me. I had my orders." He chuckled at the smile that Harry gave him as he
ran into Sirius's arms.
"Why didn't you answer my letters?" Harry questioned.
"Because I told him not to." Dumbledore's voice replied behind them. Harry
turned around and looked at Dumbledore, who was smiling warmly at Harry.
"Professor! I have to talk to you! I had this dream! Then my scar started
hurting!"
"Now calm down, Harry," Dumbledore walked over to Harry and placed his hand
on his shoulder looking concerned, "What is all the trouble?"
"Maybe you should have him sit down, Albus," A woman's voice said. Harry
knew the voice. He turned around and found Mundungus Fletcher standing next
to a stout woman with a wizard's hat on. It was Mrs. Figg.
"Mrs. Figg? I need an explanation right now--"
"Wait, Harry. Do you know about Mrs. Figg?" Professor Fletcher looked
shocked.
"WHY DON'T WE ALL CALM DOWN HERE?!" Hagrid bellowed. Everyone turned around and stared at Hagrid, who was now blushing and giving them a toothy grin.
Harry sat down, still looking at Mrs. Figg in wonder. Sirius and Dumbledore
both sat down, while Hagrid stood beside Dumbledore, and Professor Fletcher
and Mrs. Figg stood in the same corner. "
I told you he knew, Albus," Mrs. Figg retorted, "I could feel it in my
bones!"
"Now, now Arabella. Maybe we should hear what Harry has to say before we
jump to conclusions. Harry, would you like to start at the beginning?"
"But, I don't understand--"
"Why don't we hear your side first, son?" Professor Fletcher said, with a
look of mixed shock and confusion in his eyes. Harry sighed reluctantly and
told them about how he had overheard the Order of Phoenix during Christmas
break. He told them how he had been worried about nothing happening and how
after he had seen the meeting, he had noticed little things; like
Professor Fletcher sneaking in dueling, despite it not being in the
curriculum, and Professor Flitwick giving them free weeks so he could do top secret work in the back. He told them how Hermione had figured out that they were staying in the Shrieking Shack ("That girl is brilliant," Sirius replied.) Then he came to
his dream. He told them how he had seen it so clearly; Voldemort's new look
of health and power.
"And then I saw Professor Snape, Professor, working for Voldemort!" Harry
looked around for reactions. Everyone had winced at the sound of Voldemort's
name except for Professors Fletcher and Dumbledore. Harry was shocked to see
they didn't look the slightest surprised that Snape was a traitor.
Dumbledore apparently saw the shock on his face.
"Yes, Harry, we know he is with Voldemort."
"But, Professor! Aren't you going to do something about it? He could be
feeding information to Voldemort!" Every one of the adults looked away from
Harry except Dumbledore, who looked hesitant about something. "Is there
something I don't know about Snape?" It was a question that he had asked
before, but had never been told the answer to. Would he find out?
"Yes, Harry, there is," Dumbledore said this very casually, "But I am afraid
I can't tell you it. I will tell you when you are old enough to know--,"
"But Professor! I'm fifteen! Don't you think I am old enough to know?"
"Harry, some things are just too intricate, too misapprehended during these
times of fear to tell to those who are innocent. I am afraid this is just
one of them. I can tell you one thing, Professor Snape is on our side."
Harry slumped into his chair at these words, unable to comprehend them.
Dumbledore continued, "Harry, we need to hear the rest of your story!"
"Oh! Right, Professor!" Harry continued to tell them how Voldemort had a
plan and Snape had attempted to foil it. Everyone in the room appeared to
perk up at this.
"Did he succeed?" Mrs. Figg asked eagerly. Everyone seemed to be holding his
or her breaths.
"Erm, I don't think so..." Harry mumbled. Everyone's eyes grew frightened at
this, "Is there something wrong?"
"Well, we aren't sure what it is Voldemort has planned, Severus reports that
it is very top secret and only between Peter Pettigrew and Voldemort."
Dumbledore explained to Harry, "But, we know that it is something that needs
to be prevented. Severus attempted to, but it appears he did not succeed. Is
there anything else in your dream, Harry?"
"Yes," Harry hesitated slightly, "Voldemort--he--used the Cruciatus Curse on
Professor Snape. That is all I saw before my scar woke me up." There was a
moment of silence as the teachers stared at Harry. Harry couldn't look at
them.
"Well, does your scar still hurt?" Sirius asked Harry.
"Just a little. Do you think that dream really happened?" Harry commented as
he looked at Dumbledore.
"Well, if your scar is hurting it is very likely it did. There is really
nothing we can do about it, though," Dumbledore explained slowly, "A-hem,
well now, are there any questions you have Harry? I believe we are able to
answer SOME of your questions!" Harry looked up at Mrs. Figg immediately,
"Yes, I have a question. Who ARE you?" He pointed at her. Mrs. Figg smiled
warmly.
"I was a friend of your parents, Harry. During their time at Hogwarts, I was
a Charms teacher here. They were both lovely students. It was not until I
discovered my gift that I chose to quit my job here as a teacher. Your
parents kept in touch with me and I went to their wedding. Their deaths were
unfortunate ones. Someone had to protect you, Harry. Naturally, I was the
only one in the country to do the job, so I volunteered."
"Wait a minute. What job?" Mrs. Figg looked at Dumbledore, and Dumbledore
nodded his head solemnly.
"I am your Fiddelium, Harry." she said.
"Fidd--wha?" Harry blurted out.
"A Fiddelium, Harry," Sirius began, "is a very powerful wizard. In special
situations, such as yours, the Fiddelium is able to use their magic to
protect a large vicinity of land. Fiddeliums have many other duties, such as
performing the Fidelius Charm. Mrs. Figg here was the one for the job!"
Sirius smiled softly, while Harry tried to comprehend this new concept.
"So, you mean, Mrs. Figg moved into my neighborhood just to take care of me?
Why? I mean, they may not be very good, but the Dursley's seem to take care
of me enough."
"Well they do take care of you, dear, with my help of course," Mrs. Figg
piped in, "They are your Secret Keepers."
"They...THEY ARE?!?!" Harry shot out of his seat, "How in the world did you
convince them to do that?"
"They don't know they are your Secret Keepers, dear! And that is the best
part! They will never know! With the help of my Fiddelium duties,
You-Know-Who is very unlikely to get into Little Whinging. But, if he does,
we can only depend on your Uncle, Vernon is it?" Harry put his face into his
hands. His life depended on this crazy woman and his Uncle Vernon? He was
doomed.
"How did you get the Dursleys to be my Secret Keeper?" Harry cried.
"Arabella conjured the spell on them not long after they received you, in
their sleep. Mrs. Figg is the only Fiddelium in all of Britain."
Harry immediately thought of one thing that made his throat swell, "Were you
the Fiddelium for my parents?"
Mrs. Figg's shoulders slumped in a big sigh, "Yes, Harry, I was."
Harry sat back down in his seat and fought the tears that were threatening
to escape his eyes, "Why didn't you tell me you knew my parents? Why didn't
you tell me you were a witch? Harry was nearly in tears, "Why didn't you
tell them that Peter Pettigrew was the Secret Keeper instead of Sirius?
WHY!?"
"Oh, dear. I am so sorry. The Fidelius Charm is so complicated. It is hard
for a child to understand this curse--,"
"I am not a child anymore!" Harry fumed. The tears refused to stay in and
started streaming down his cheeks. Hagrid, who was in tears too, went over
and caressed Harry.
"Come now, Harry," Hagrid comforted Harry, "don' yeh think she would have
tried if she knew to? That particular Fidelius Charm was a far more powerful
Charm then most are. It made even her unable to remember where yeh and yer
parents were hidin'. The one that the Dursleys keep is only against
You-Know-Who and his close followers. If it was for everyone, then how would
we be able to visit yeh?" Hagrid beamed as Harry showed signs of a smile.
"But, then, wouldn't you know when Peter revealed to Voldemort?" Harry
questioned as he wiped his cheeks.
"Not necessarily. Apparently, Peter did something to prevent me from
knowing. I only remembered putting the charm on Peter when Dumbledore told
me. I may never know how he did it. And I had always thought he wasn't very
bright..." Mrs. Figg stared into oblivion. Harry had no more questions for
Mrs. Figg, he moved to Hagrid, who still stood behind him with his large
hands on Harry's shoulders,
"Hagrid, did you bring the giants back?"
"No I didn' Harry. They will come if they are summoned though. Olympia is
waitin' with them in case they are ever needed."
"Why didn't they come?"
"Well think about it, Harry," Sirius chimed in, "How would we hide them from
all the students? There has to be at least 20 meters high!" Harry laughed at the thought
of giant heads sticking out all over the forbidden forest.
"What WILL happen if they are needed?" Harry questioned.
"Well," Dumbledore sighed deeply, the bags under his eyes became more
obvious, "that all depends on what Voldemort has planned. Professor Flitwick
has been helping me keep all on our side informed about what is going on. As
soon as we received the news that Peter Pettigrew hasn't been around for a
long time from Severus, Professor Flitwick had to spend weeks informing all
of our supporters."
"How many people are in the Order of Phoenix?"
Professor Fletcher, who had remained quiet most of the hour, spoke up, "Our number is currently 288 world-wide. If you haven't noticed, the Owlery should have been very empty these past couple weeks."
Harry looked out the window at the rising sun. Only 288 people against the evilest wizard in the world? How could they defeat him? Then he remembered the Ministry.
"What about Cornelius Fudge?"
"Haven't heard from him in ages," Dumbledore replied, "I'm afraid the Order
of Phoenix is our only hope."
***Don't forget, I love getting reviews, so I know what you enjoyed the
most!
Thanks for those who have been so loyal, I truly appreciate it! Please keep
coming back for more! ***
Disclaimer- The characters, setting, etc. belong to the most talented writer
in the world (JK Rowling), yet the plot was developed, with inspiration from
the greatest writer in the world, by yours truly ;o)
