IN WHICH EVIL AND GOOD HAVE NO DIFFERENCE

It had been a few days since the last encounter and the same people were at another meeting. Well, all except Ron, who was in the dormitory curled up in a ball. This time though, the meeting took place in a part of Dumbledore's study they had never see before. There was a round mahogany table in the middle of the room with exactly thirteen red velvet chairs around it. Carved and embroiled on both the chairs and table were pictures of a phoenix. Also on the chairs were names engrave in gold. Going widdershins from the top chair were the names, Albus Dumbledore, Argutice B. Pienter, Rhaetia V. Silvcornis, Torrin J. Obodère, Severus Snape, Minerva H. McGonagall, Alastor Moody, Remus Lupin and Sirius L. Black. The remaining chairs contained place cards of, Harry J. Potter, Seamus K. Finnigan, Draco I. Malfoy and Merloyn E. Malfoy. There was also a small red sofa and a fire place near the front of the door. Dumbledore waved his hand in a dramatic gesture towards the table. "This, is the conference room for the Order of the Phoenix," he explained. "I have contacted the members about our, shall I say, situation and they shall all assemble here within the next hour. Harry, I'm sure you'll be glad to meet one of the members of the Order. You can come in now old pal."

In walked Sirius Black, clothed in a black robe.

"Sirius!" Harry cried. "Great to see you. How come you didn't come before? Merloyn said she saw you."

The elder man shook his head. "I still don't get it with that Merloyn girl. What is it with her and how come I haven't seen Hermione around?"

"You STILL haven't told him?" Merloyn asked Dumbledore who just answered with an innocent smile.

"Sirius, sit down." Harry instructed.

He looked confused but obliged anyway.

"Merloyn, you'll probably have to help with this," Harry said looking at her before turning back to Sirius and explaining the whole dilemma. Sirius wouldn't believe it at first but after the 'trick' was performed by Merloyn and after he stared into space for almost a literal five minutes he was convinced. One by one the members of the Order arrived. Remus walked through the door in a black robe accompanied by a young, dark haired woman in midnight blue. The students soon found out that she was Rhaetia Silvcornis, the Dark Arts specialist. The Asian Torrin Obrodère, the Charms specialist, soon arrive clothed in red silk. Professors McGonagall and Snape walked through the front door together complaining about each other's houses and Alastor (Mad-Eye) Moody soon followed suit, muttering about arson. Merloyn assumed they were waiting for another wizard or witch for there was still a chair left over and she was proved correct when an elderly man clothed in a star patterned electric blue walked in the door with the assistance of a cane. He looked almost identical to Dumbledore, just about twenty years older. The room silenced at his entrance and with his approval they all filed in to their seats before announcing their names in a deocil direction.

"As you have all been informed," Dumbledore started, "Raven has returned and if we do not conquer him before his return to full power we shall never succeed. We have in our in our company the only laudabilis in existence, Merloyn Ensis Malfoy, but she will not be able to be of much help if we cannot formulate a plan. A spy of Voldemort's has been caught, and he claims to have some information about the Molwordenack and we shall use Veritaserum on him during this conference. Raven has consequently  traumatized a boy, loved one of Miss. Malfoy, by kidnapping him into his realm and placing illusions into his head that he has a destructive power that cannot be controlled."

Murmurs spread around the table as the chairman finished his speech.

"We all know subsequent information about Raven so why don't you bring the infiltrator in for questioning?" Argutice suggested and the others nodded.

With a clap of his hands the door swung open and in walked none other than Rupert McNamara, and a pair of ghost guards.

"Severus," Dumbledore regarded, and the aforementioned walked towards the shivering boy and poured the contents of a glass vial down his throat. After making sure the boy swallowed every drop the Potions master returned to his seat.

"Argutice, if you would," Dumbledore said to the elderly man who gave a nod in reply.

"What do you know about Raven?" he commanded.

"The Master says he is gaining power. He is feeding upon souls dark and light alike. We had to sacrifice Pansy, Crabbe, Moon and Nott to him so that he would spare us. The Master has promised him others but is afraid that he will attack us when he regains sufficient power. His appearance is that of a man. Dark haired and fair clothed in Victorian style robes. He calls himself Nevar though the Master regards him as Benzoate. He has the power to dig into our deepest fears, desires and our innermost secrets and give power to them. He can also take people into his realm when they are most vulnerable or unguarded though he cannot touch a laudabilis without his or her consent. The Master is also looking for this laudabilis. Nevar suspects that Merloyn Malfoy is the laudabilis," McNamara said in a far-off tone.

"How did he feed on his victims?" Pienter continued.

"He turned himself a ball of light before entering the mouths of the chained Nott, Moon and Crabbe in turn though he treated Pansy in a different manner."

"And what was that manner?"

"He turned himself back into his human form and began to caress her before he seemingly sucked her soul from her mouth."

"Has he come into contact we any other followers of Voldemort other than yourself and the sacrifices?"

"Yes."

"How many?"

"One."

"Who?"

"Finnigan"

Heads snapped to where Seamus sat.

"No, no. It's not me. Even ask him. It's not me," he said panicked.

"What is his first name?"

"Albert"

"DAD!" Seamus exclaimed. "Oh shit, oh shit. I can't believe he would do that. Could you please ask for the middle name?"

"What is his middle name?"

"I'm not sure. Something beginning with C"

"I'm doomed!" Seamus exclaimed.

"I'm sorry about that Mr. Finnigan but we must continue with the questioning," Dumbledore said before the questions began again.

"What did Raven do?"

"He projected an illusion of Parvati Patil and proclaimed her his innermost desire when Finnigan had questioned his power."

" I have to interrupt," Rhaetia said suddenly. "I think we should excuse Mr. Finnigan from the rest of the questioning. I'm sure he is quite stunned and disgusted by his father's actions."

Seamus merely nodded and left with the young woman after Dumbledore had showed his consent.

Then Professor Dumbledore did a very strange thing and tapped his ears, eyes and nose twice with his fingers.

"What is your innermost desire?"

"I didn't agree to tell you those things! Don't tell me you spent the whole time asking those questions!" McNamara suddenly exclaimed snapping back into liveliness.

And that was the end of the questioning, for as Professor Dumbledore had clearly guessed, the affects of the Veritaserum were over but all previous answers to the questions Argutice assured, were under the affect of the potion.

"Wait," McNamara suddenly said as he was about to be led away. You promised me protection if I answered your questions, and I demand your side of the bargain be upheld."

"Don't worry Mr. McNamara," Dumbledore said with a smile. "It will be indeed upheld."