JK Rowling wrote and owns the magic
They are not mine, Harry & CO
I have no rights, I make no money
This verse is just, so you know
( Some of the sir-names have been borrowed from 'Quidditch through the ages' copyright Bloomsbury Press. No copyright infringement intended.)
Andolyn
The Guardians
When Rajiv wanted to take his seat again, he found himself confronted by Mrs Norris unblinking stare. 'Shove off.', he said to the cat, who did not move. So he had to satisfy himself with a seat in a windowsill. Ari liked the cat, but that was no surprise. She liked all animals, especially the grouchy ones. It was something wonderful to win them over and have them relax near you.
But this was not exactly the time to butter up to an old cat. It was however a time to note the animal was not simply taken by the scruff of the neck and pushed out of the way. Rajiv respected the animal, and nobody even noticed something special about his attitude. Oh well. Just another little titbit of information for future reference.
Ari felt tired. The people around her kept talking about trouble down at the ministry. That the International Confederation of Wizards could hardly do a thing to aid their British cousins, as long as their own government denied there was anything amiss. It was a British affair, as long as it was no hindrance to others. A dark man with dreadlocks, a thin fluffy beard and batik robes in rather hellish red, yellow, green and black, got really upset with that.
"Simply woonderful", he said with a thick drawl. "An' when Albion and Caledon have fallen, it will be thee prooblem of the Common Wealth, an' what after that? Things really never do change, now do they."
Dumbledore gently shook his head. "But giving up hope won't be a solution either, Franklin. It will be -my- task to make the international community aware of the threat, even if our own government refuses to see truth. But no-one must be aware, at any time, of my absence from the school grounds. Voldemort still fears me, and we have to use that. In the meantime, the daily running of Hogwarts will become even more Minerva's task and burden than it has ever been. I trust she can count on the other staff members present to hide my tracks, as it were, and to continue the administrative duties as if nothing were amiss. Remus?"
"Yes, Headmaster?"
"You -still- know how to do my autograph fairly well, I trust?" Dumbledore asked with his eyes twinkling good-humouredly.
Lupin had the grace to blush and suddenly looked like a little boy caught with his hand in the cooky jar. "Er- yes, Headmaster."
"Very good. Minerva, you can put that Marauder's talent to use then. Severus has enough on his plate right now as is- don't burden him with any administrative humdrum."
McGonagall looked rather sternly over her shoulder at Lupin, who positively fidgeted under that stare. Ari could barely suppress a grin- It was clear to her Lupin, and Black probably as well, had spent their own schooldays at Hogwarts. There were some disadvantages in working together with your old teachers who might know you just a little too well.
"Ariadne-"
Ari perked up, all attention now.
"You have some good ideas, my dear. I know I can count on you to work them out, and we'll talk about them in more detail later, if that is alright with you?"
Ari nodded, glowing. Being taken into the trust of -this- man did marvels to one's self esteem.
The Baron, Hooch, Filch, Flitwick, Hagrid, Black, Lupin and Smiley would concern themselves with safe-guarding the school. But Snape would not hear of it. He refused to be excluded, for he maintained no-one knew better than he what there was to guard against. Dumbledore reluctantly agreed.
Franklin and Arthur Weasly would do what they could at the Ministry. Franklin was a Jamaican by birth and worked since a few weeks for the Department of International Magical Co-operation.
"With all thee prooblems with the Crouch family, resources were pulled an' I had the chance to come by. I like thee thought I'm somewhat closer to me boy when he comes back here."
"How's Percy?" asked Harry.
Franklin smiled a very broad pearly white grin.
"Busy, -very- busy."
"He will go far, he will!" Weasly said proudly. Harry chuckled and behind Weasly's back, Franklin rolled his eyes.
Most others in the room would be providers of information, if they could get any. They appeared to be researchers, university professors, shopkeepers and a real estate manager. Keepers of secret safe houses, they would be. Searchers for ingredients and spells helpful in the upcoming struggle. They would stop rumours. They would, however, have to spread realistic fear and that was not good. Flitwick's idea of starting their own paper was translated into an underground press, only spreading pamphlets when necessary and only containing truth. The sturdy blond man near Hagrid, Nostradamus 'Nostie' Nix by name, would see to that. A morose woman, Vasilisa McKinnons, promised to take care of posting the pamphlets and another elderly man by name of Dedalus Diggle told her he would help. A young witch who introduced herself as Humility Rabnot, told them she had a chance of becoming a reporter for the sports page of the Daily Prophet, and this was very good news indeed.
Others were already spies in the Muggle world, like Rajiv. They were to alert the group on anything that drew their attention, looked suspicious or merely odd.
They all would be there if more physical action had to be taken. Ari doubted that people like Dumbledore or Flitwick would be much good in a fight, until she realised that within a magical community a fight would be one of willpower, knowledge, cunning and courage. Not blades, canons and fisticuffs. She never owned a weapon herself, not counting the inherited German bayonet her grandfather had kept as souvenir from the Second World War. A memory of a simple, kind man merely doing what he knew was his duty, witnessing too much at too young an age. He had been a loving grandfather- And now his photograph and bayonet were buried under the rubble of Ari's new home. Old home, she corrected herself. And her mother, her sister and nephews- they would mourn her, never understanding what in the world had become of her. She shivered, listening to Dumbledore making the arrangements that would keep them safe for a little longer. Stressing the necessity of secrecy, looking pointedly at Dedalus at that. Turning even more morbid with her thoughts, Ari half expected that doctor-witch Pomfrey to be handling out suicide pills next.
It had been a long night and a long day already, even if the sun stubbornly refused to set yet. Ari needed a bit of peace and quiet now, not the drone of how their circle, their gathering, was the first, last and best hope against Voldemort's evil, spreading like a disease, tearing apart families, threatening them all.
"Yeah," she muttered absentmindedly, while pouring herself another cup of tea from the everlasting supply on the silver tray. "Poor old Voldie has a lot to account for, now hasn't he."
"Voldie?" asked Harry, as tired of it all as she was, his green eyes big in astonishment. Still paying more attention to her tea than the boy, Ari nodded.
McGonagall chuckled softly. Smiley blinked his soft, big bulging eyes. Dumbledore pretended he had not heard, the rest really had not. When Hootch asked what was so funny, McGonagall repeated the nickname louder. Hooch almost chocked on -her- tea, when she heard and the yellow robed witch had to hit her back for a while before she could breath again. While the meeting was still going on, Ari noticed Dumbledore shaking his head and a soft murmur spreading through the room.
Until Hagrid burst out laughing. Howling, to be more precise.
"What now?" asked the Potions Master, also feeling the strain of the last few days, perhaps even more keenly than the others.
"O, nothing, really." Black answered innocently. "Your friend here just thought of another alias for You-Know-Who. She's rather good at that, isn't she, eh, Sev?"
Snape cringed.
Finally the wizards and witches seemed satisfied, if that was the correct term under the circumstances, that they knew what task lay ahead of them. Vainamoinen Smith, Tiberius Tittle and Geraldine Bacon, all three severe and somewhat scarred looking people, promised to take up their old Auror ways again, helped by the odd eyed and peg legged Alastor Moody who scoffed them for going slack in the first place. The three of them would also try and convince their younger colleagues and successors of the impending danger. A hard task, for they could not dare to let slip anything regarding today's gathering.
Dumbledore took out his wand. Apparently a sign for those seated to rise, for the furniture to be moved aside, to the chagrin of Mrs Norris, and for all present to form a circle. Black courteously helped Ari to her feet, and took a place next to her, while Harry took his place at her other side. When the circle had to be broadened a bit to include the last, Ari moved to Harry and, from behind, Snape quietly slipped in-between her and Black. Black stepped back, moved to the other side of Ari and pleasantly asked if he could stand next to his godson. With a gentle smile, McGonnagal at Harry's right, beaconed him over and made some room for him. His 'thank you Minerva' sounded just a little forced. Ari glanced at Snape, his expression impassive and attention focussed on the Headmaster. But he seemed to feel her gaze at him and he turned his head. There was that fleeting half smile again, a shimmer in his eyes betraying some merriment- Ari really had to look up at him, the top of her head not even reaching his shoulder. Another question She had to make a point in asking, what was it that was really going on between Black and Snape that these grown men jumped to the first chance they had to compete- Not that she was complaining.
"What is happening?" Ari asked, a bit intimidated by the ritualistic atmosphere. Snape had to bend sideways a little to hear.
"Just wait and see. And don't be so apprehensive, Albus' little ceremony is meant to bind us in respect to our common goal. To strengthen us, not to make us nervous."
"Thanks, you're a great help." Ari deadpanned in that same whisper, so only he could hear. He chuckled and straitened. Ari turned her attention to Harry, who appeared just as nervous as she felt. Black had put a protective arm around his slender shoulders. Right now, the boy had no need for her support. Nor could he give any. Ari decided to take a little chance, slipped her small hand inside Snape's and gave a tiny squeeze.
For a moment he stiffened, turned and frowned. Ari still looked up at him, and a lot more nervous than she had felt seconds ago. Snape turned away, and Ari felt his long, slender fingers curl around her hand. He did not let go.
Dumledore's voice was warm and steady. While he spoke, he slowly turned his face to each of those within the circle, locking eyes with all. He stood in line with the others, yet he was the centre, the one who directly or indirectly had drawn all of them to this place. He seemed to know this, and made them understand he felt responsible for all of their fates.
"My friends," he said, "We stand at a crossroads. The days of piece and contentment are behind us. In the days before us, the only certainty we have is that we do not know what is going to happen. Some of us have lived through times like this before, others were to young or blissfully unaware. But we, as we stand here, now, we know. And therefore it is our duty, our resposiability, to take action. To make others aware, to protect. Both from what is threatening all of us, but we also need to find ways to protect them from themselves. As long as we can keep the children safe, the future remains ours.
"All of us have personal experience with the tragedies directly or indirectly caused by Voldemort and those who are his. We've lost family to him. He has killed our loved ones, broken them. Turned them away from the light. In the upcoming struggle we will have to both face them, and ourselves. We will have to battle disbelief, fear, mistrust and outright stupidity.
But we are -not- alone in this. There are so many good and gentle people out there, simple people, difficult ones- who have no idea yet what is coming, or the choices life will present them in the coming months and years.
"And we have us, this circle of Guardians. We shall be called upon, we shall not fail!
"We have to know ourselves. We have to know -why- we stand here, to maintain our strength. We have to know why we start this, we have to realise, none of us, -none- of us stand here merely out of coincidence!"
Ari could not suppress a shiver at that. No coincidence? Did the old wizard mean each and everyone of them had been drawn here by fate? That they -all- had some essential role to play? That she, a mere Muggle, gods, she hated that word, had a special role to play? Unbelievable!
Ari felt Snape squeeze her hand, and the gesture touched her deeply. She could barely control herself from pulling him against her, needing to feel his arms around her again to be comforted as he had done, as awkward as he had been while doing so, at the side of the road last night.
But instinct told her last nights contact had been extremely rare, more a form of manipulation than a need to give comfort. This, her hand in his, him unwilling to let Black stand at her side, meant something else.
She sighed. Whatever her role here would be- there were interesting times ahead, for sure. And wasn't that some old Chinese curse? To wish somebody they lived in interesting times?
Don't let a mere squeeze distract you from the moment, girl!, Ari berated herself.
A ripple went through the circle, while the wizards and witches pulled out their wands. Snape let go of Ari's hand and pulled out his own. Ari crossed her arms over her chest defensively. She noticed Filch and Smiley simply stood waiting quietly, hands at their sides. Both no wizards either, apparently. She imitated them.
Dumbledore waved with his wand at the windows. With loud banging in quick succession, the outside shutters closed themselves and with a whoosh, thick velvet curtains flashed over the windows. The loud sounds startled Ari. In the following dark, Dumbledore was sharply outlined against the fire in the hearth. He turned slightly, waved his wand and muttered some Latin. The fire died and the darkness would have been absolute, if not for the eerie pearly light coming from The Bloody Baron. The room was turning cold again.
Suddenly, Dumbledore's voice rang out clearly in the semi darkness.
"For the future! So it may be safe!"
From his wand sprung sparkles of crimson and gold, a beam towards the centre, where the sparkles formed a sphere, still fed by the unwavering ray.
The Bloody Baron put out his wand in the same fashion. Pale particles darted out of it, merging with Dumbledore's sphere and being welcomed by it. In his booming, distant voice he spoke forcefully.
"For the past! So it may never be forgotten!"
McGonagall went next. Again with a beam of crimson and gold.
"For never losing courage! So we may never lose ourselves!"
The white hared witch in the yellow robes had electric blue sparks, combined with a warmer gold springing from her wand.
"For the protection of knowledge! So it may never be misused!"
The sparks from Amos Diggory's wand were bright yellow contrasted by a deep dark black, hardly detectable against the darkness of the room but clearly visible when mingling with the other swirls and colours of the glowing, growing sphere.
"For our friendship. May it always remain!"
A man Ari did not know the name of raised his wand in the brightening room. Younger than Dumbledore but older than most, bearded, grey, but not silver and hard lines edged around his eyes. His beam was silver and emerald.
"For our drive to not waver! So we may rise above ourselves!
Little Smiley pointed his hand at the sphere. In a rather shrill voice he gave his wish.
"To the servitude and support of those who do battle for us!"
A rainbow of colours erupted from his long finger and several people smiled. The sphere started to rotate slowly.
Filch simply pointed while no evident effect came from his fingertips.
"For the safety of our homes!" he stated fiercely. The sphere grew a bit with every syllable.
Black and yellow, bronze and blue, each wizard added their own. Hopes, wishes and what they stood for with a repetition of colour combinations. Each word and beam combined made the sphere more bright, spinning faster, growing in intensity and size.
"For freedom!"
"For wisdom!"
"For family!"
"For truth!", that was Black's voice.
"For the knowledge of self-worth!" Lupin, no doubt.
"For hope!" Harry's voice rang clear and self assured.
Ari looked round the circle, unsure of what to do. Everybody seemed to know their words, everybody seemed to know their goals. But she had -no- idea. What could she say, what could she add? What the hell did she want anyway?
"For justice!" Was that Arthur Weasly?
She had to make a decision and she had to be quick but she simply could not think of anything. The others seemed to reach deeply inside themselves, without any difficulty in doing so. Pouring a bit of their own souls into the light, making it shine all the brighter. All members of the circle basked in its glow, warmed by it, drawn together by it. Their wands once raised never wavering, their light steadily pouring into the sphere.
But what could she say? Compassion? Could she say something about compassion? It had been her compassion that had saved both Harry and Snape- Compassion was good.
"For healing!" said the one called Pomfrey. Well, that was logical.
"Fer Caring!" Hagrid boomed. Wasn't that the same as being compassionate? Shit! And what was that thing he was pointing with? An umbrella?
Snape raised his wand. In the murmur of voices, his was but one. Forceful and calm he spoke, but there was a bitter undertone Ari had not noticed in any of the others.
"For forgiveness!"
In the infinite moment that followed, Ari looked up at the tall, morose man, despised by some, mocked by others. Protected by the Headmaster and doing one of the most dangerous jobs of them all. Whose deepest desire, whose greatest quality was forgiveness? To give? Or to receive? Ari's heart went out to him, to the impassive mask that was hiding so much- as in slow motion, she turned her gaze to the circle, saw the Headmaster whom she admired, Black, Lupin, McGonagall and Filch who each in their own ways had almost immediately taken a place in her heart. Harry, both vulnerable and strong, indeed a carrier of hope, a survivor. Who had remained both human and kind-hearted in spite of all he had lived through. The ghost who had accepted her simply because she cared. And all those others in this room who seemed to be willing to face whatever the future held for them, combining themselves to a grander whole. Regardless of who or what they were, rising above their differences and dislikes. They were one.
But there was one word, one quality none of them had mentioned. One word Ari felt burning within her. One concept, one emotion still lacking and without it, everything would fall apart.
Without thinking, or without realising she was last, Ari raised her hand like Filch had done, a heartbeat after Snape had spoken.
As with Filch, there was no visible magic. But Ari could feel a search of power reach up from the earth and pouring down from the sky, mingling in her chest, bursting from her fingertips.
Quietly, without force, she spoke.
"For love."
The sphere turned pure white, bursting through them all, growing far beyond the walls of the room. Burning without hurting them, bright beyond compare.
It was done.
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And now, for something completely different…
Shameless bit of advertising following
I've written a short story in two chapters that has nothing to do with this series. It is about our poor Potions Master's decent into Hell, PG-13 for inexplicit yet rather mature themes. Angsty and sad and not quite what you might expect. It is called 'When Hell Froze Over'.
I'm -very- curious to learn what you all think of it.
End of commercial.
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It is most likely Mrs Rowling's next book will be Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and I strongly suspect (who doesn't?) this Order to be Dumbledore's answer to Voldemort's circle of Death Eaters. I've come across pre-announcements on the internet and our ever expanding writing community seems to be buzzing over it, using it in stories or as a title of their own.
I have tried to find a reference in any of the books to this order, but I could not. Since in the current canon it does not exist yet, for as far as I can see, I won't be referring to it.
Wish I had thought of it myself though. The name is perfect for any group surrounding Dumbledore, sigh.
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Arya, humor is the best medicine agains a lot of bad things in mho. Thanks for liking the mix! I am not making thigs up as I go. When I write, I think of a plot first, then I fill in the gaps.
Hi Ozma! Thanks for your wonderful of comment on 'When Hell Froze Over'! (OK, I admit, that was another shameless bout of adversising my own work). But the comment was very much appreciated, nevertheless! I like Filch, he is deliciously grumpy and he loves cats. What more does one want?
Lataradk, wow- that was some review! Thanks! Mrs Rowling makes her personages come alive in a -world-, thanks for comparing my efforts to that! I understand what you were trying to say. I cannot see for myself how Snape would be attracted to weakness in any form. Vulnarebily is something else entirely, but not weakness. Ever watched the Discovery Channal? Their series on WOII and how the media were used in the The Third Reich? Or how our press nowadays 'informs' us about how wars are 'really' fought? -That- is how important the media are and I think Mrs Rowling has picked this subject up marvellously in her books. Just following the example here.
Dark chocolate and pepermint cream (or toffee)? Oh darn, now I'm hungry (drool).
The bum is fine, now. Thanks.
Strega Brava, just read 'These Hallowed Halls', lovely story. Perhaps you already know the page, but if you wanne swoon over some brilliant Snape imagery (apart from the obvious pictures of Mr. Alan Rickman as Snape) please visit "Severus Snape's Slytherin Society". I do not have my data quite at hand to give you the name of the very talented artist, but there are some drawings of our dear professor there (nothing to do with AR) that will -really- make you swoon.
Thaks Ryoko-chan (so what is up with a nice Uncle Vernon? Yer making me qurious), mysteriousways (humble bow to your praise), Juniper Holly (again, humble bow), Ice Queen (my back is beginning to hurt now), slytherin girl (I know, but I can't hold my liquor, so I hardly drink at all, and well- even too much butterbeer goes wrong with me-. And I am NOT an elf! Fudge s**ks!), asprosdracos (short people rule!), Troy (hope you still got some sleep, grin)tailchaser (hope you update soon, too!)Rosmerta (thanks for the Hagrid info), Blackthorne (very nice, that shape shifting thingy on Black), Belle Starr (now my back -really- hurts), Magical me (just red 'Those Nights', wonderfull!) and Anna.
They are not mine, Harry & CO
I have no rights, I make no money
This verse is just, so you know
( Some of the sir-names have been borrowed from 'Quidditch through the ages' copyright Bloomsbury Press. No copyright infringement intended.)
Andolyn
The Guardians
When Rajiv wanted to take his seat again, he found himself confronted by Mrs Norris unblinking stare. 'Shove off.', he said to the cat, who did not move. So he had to satisfy himself with a seat in a windowsill. Ari liked the cat, but that was no surprise. She liked all animals, especially the grouchy ones. It was something wonderful to win them over and have them relax near you.
But this was not exactly the time to butter up to an old cat. It was however a time to note the animal was not simply taken by the scruff of the neck and pushed out of the way. Rajiv respected the animal, and nobody even noticed something special about his attitude. Oh well. Just another little titbit of information for future reference.
Ari felt tired. The people around her kept talking about trouble down at the ministry. That the International Confederation of Wizards could hardly do a thing to aid their British cousins, as long as their own government denied there was anything amiss. It was a British affair, as long as it was no hindrance to others. A dark man with dreadlocks, a thin fluffy beard and batik robes in rather hellish red, yellow, green and black, got really upset with that.
"Simply woonderful", he said with a thick drawl. "An' when Albion and Caledon have fallen, it will be thee prooblem of the Common Wealth, an' what after that? Things really never do change, now do they."
Dumbledore gently shook his head. "But giving up hope won't be a solution either, Franklin. It will be -my- task to make the international community aware of the threat, even if our own government refuses to see truth. But no-one must be aware, at any time, of my absence from the school grounds. Voldemort still fears me, and we have to use that. In the meantime, the daily running of Hogwarts will become even more Minerva's task and burden than it has ever been. I trust she can count on the other staff members present to hide my tracks, as it were, and to continue the administrative duties as if nothing were amiss. Remus?"
"Yes, Headmaster?"
"You -still- know how to do my autograph fairly well, I trust?" Dumbledore asked with his eyes twinkling good-humouredly.
Lupin had the grace to blush and suddenly looked like a little boy caught with his hand in the cooky jar. "Er- yes, Headmaster."
"Very good. Minerva, you can put that Marauder's talent to use then. Severus has enough on his plate right now as is- don't burden him with any administrative humdrum."
McGonagall looked rather sternly over her shoulder at Lupin, who positively fidgeted under that stare. Ari could barely suppress a grin- It was clear to her Lupin, and Black probably as well, had spent their own schooldays at Hogwarts. There were some disadvantages in working together with your old teachers who might know you just a little too well.
"Ariadne-"
Ari perked up, all attention now.
"You have some good ideas, my dear. I know I can count on you to work them out, and we'll talk about them in more detail later, if that is alright with you?"
Ari nodded, glowing. Being taken into the trust of -this- man did marvels to one's self esteem.
The Baron, Hooch, Filch, Flitwick, Hagrid, Black, Lupin and Smiley would concern themselves with safe-guarding the school. But Snape would not hear of it. He refused to be excluded, for he maintained no-one knew better than he what there was to guard against. Dumbledore reluctantly agreed.
Franklin and Arthur Weasly would do what they could at the Ministry. Franklin was a Jamaican by birth and worked since a few weeks for the Department of International Magical Co-operation.
"With all thee prooblems with the Crouch family, resources were pulled an' I had the chance to come by. I like thee thought I'm somewhat closer to me boy when he comes back here."
"How's Percy?" asked Harry.
Franklin smiled a very broad pearly white grin.
"Busy, -very- busy."
"He will go far, he will!" Weasly said proudly. Harry chuckled and behind Weasly's back, Franklin rolled his eyes.
Most others in the room would be providers of information, if they could get any. They appeared to be researchers, university professors, shopkeepers and a real estate manager. Keepers of secret safe houses, they would be. Searchers for ingredients and spells helpful in the upcoming struggle. They would stop rumours. They would, however, have to spread realistic fear and that was not good. Flitwick's idea of starting their own paper was translated into an underground press, only spreading pamphlets when necessary and only containing truth. The sturdy blond man near Hagrid, Nostradamus 'Nostie' Nix by name, would see to that. A morose woman, Vasilisa McKinnons, promised to take care of posting the pamphlets and another elderly man by name of Dedalus Diggle told her he would help. A young witch who introduced herself as Humility Rabnot, told them she had a chance of becoming a reporter for the sports page of the Daily Prophet, and this was very good news indeed.
Others were already spies in the Muggle world, like Rajiv. They were to alert the group on anything that drew their attention, looked suspicious or merely odd.
They all would be there if more physical action had to be taken. Ari doubted that people like Dumbledore or Flitwick would be much good in a fight, until she realised that within a magical community a fight would be one of willpower, knowledge, cunning and courage. Not blades, canons and fisticuffs. She never owned a weapon herself, not counting the inherited German bayonet her grandfather had kept as souvenir from the Second World War. A memory of a simple, kind man merely doing what he knew was his duty, witnessing too much at too young an age. He had been a loving grandfather- And now his photograph and bayonet were buried under the rubble of Ari's new home. Old home, she corrected herself. And her mother, her sister and nephews- they would mourn her, never understanding what in the world had become of her. She shivered, listening to Dumbledore making the arrangements that would keep them safe for a little longer. Stressing the necessity of secrecy, looking pointedly at Dedalus at that. Turning even more morbid with her thoughts, Ari half expected that doctor-witch Pomfrey to be handling out suicide pills next.
It had been a long night and a long day already, even if the sun stubbornly refused to set yet. Ari needed a bit of peace and quiet now, not the drone of how their circle, their gathering, was the first, last and best hope against Voldemort's evil, spreading like a disease, tearing apart families, threatening them all.
"Yeah," she muttered absentmindedly, while pouring herself another cup of tea from the everlasting supply on the silver tray. "Poor old Voldie has a lot to account for, now hasn't he."
"Voldie?" asked Harry, as tired of it all as she was, his green eyes big in astonishment. Still paying more attention to her tea than the boy, Ari nodded.
McGonagall chuckled softly. Smiley blinked his soft, big bulging eyes. Dumbledore pretended he had not heard, the rest really had not. When Hootch asked what was so funny, McGonagall repeated the nickname louder. Hooch almost chocked on -her- tea, when she heard and the yellow robed witch had to hit her back for a while before she could breath again. While the meeting was still going on, Ari noticed Dumbledore shaking his head and a soft murmur spreading through the room.
Until Hagrid burst out laughing. Howling, to be more precise.
"What now?" asked the Potions Master, also feeling the strain of the last few days, perhaps even more keenly than the others.
"O, nothing, really." Black answered innocently. "Your friend here just thought of another alias for You-Know-Who. She's rather good at that, isn't she, eh, Sev?"
Snape cringed.
Finally the wizards and witches seemed satisfied, if that was the correct term under the circumstances, that they knew what task lay ahead of them. Vainamoinen Smith, Tiberius Tittle and Geraldine Bacon, all three severe and somewhat scarred looking people, promised to take up their old Auror ways again, helped by the odd eyed and peg legged Alastor Moody who scoffed them for going slack in the first place. The three of them would also try and convince their younger colleagues and successors of the impending danger. A hard task, for they could not dare to let slip anything regarding today's gathering.
Dumbledore took out his wand. Apparently a sign for those seated to rise, for the furniture to be moved aside, to the chagrin of Mrs Norris, and for all present to form a circle. Black courteously helped Ari to her feet, and took a place next to her, while Harry took his place at her other side. When the circle had to be broadened a bit to include the last, Ari moved to Harry and, from behind, Snape quietly slipped in-between her and Black. Black stepped back, moved to the other side of Ari and pleasantly asked if he could stand next to his godson. With a gentle smile, McGonnagal at Harry's right, beaconed him over and made some room for him. His 'thank you Minerva' sounded just a little forced. Ari glanced at Snape, his expression impassive and attention focussed on the Headmaster. But he seemed to feel her gaze at him and he turned his head. There was that fleeting half smile again, a shimmer in his eyes betraying some merriment- Ari really had to look up at him, the top of her head not even reaching his shoulder. Another question She had to make a point in asking, what was it that was really going on between Black and Snape that these grown men jumped to the first chance they had to compete- Not that she was complaining.
"What is happening?" Ari asked, a bit intimidated by the ritualistic atmosphere. Snape had to bend sideways a little to hear.
"Just wait and see. And don't be so apprehensive, Albus' little ceremony is meant to bind us in respect to our common goal. To strengthen us, not to make us nervous."
"Thanks, you're a great help." Ari deadpanned in that same whisper, so only he could hear. He chuckled and straitened. Ari turned her attention to Harry, who appeared just as nervous as she felt. Black had put a protective arm around his slender shoulders. Right now, the boy had no need for her support. Nor could he give any. Ari decided to take a little chance, slipped her small hand inside Snape's and gave a tiny squeeze.
For a moment he stiffened, turned and frowned. Ari still looked up at him, and a lot more nervous than she had felt seconds ago. Snape turned away, and Ari felt his long, slender fingers curl around her hand. He did not let go.
Dumledore's voice was warm and steady. While he spoke, he slowly turned his face to each of those within the circle, locking eyes with all. He stood in line with the others, yet he was the centre, the one who directly or indirectly had drawn all of them to this place. He seemed to know this, and made them understand he felt responsible for all of their fates.
"My friends," he said, "We stand at a crossroads. The days of piece and contentment are behind us. In the days before us, the only certainty we have is that we do not know what is going to happen. Some of us have lived through times like this before, others were to young or blissfully unaware. But we, as we stand here, now, we know. And therefore it is our duty, our resposiability, to take action. To make others aware, to protect. Both from what is threatening all of us, but we also need to find ways to protect them from themselves. As long as we can keep the children safe, the future remains ours.
"All of us have personal experience with the tragedies directly or indirectly caused by Voldemort and those who are his. We've lost family to him. He has killed our loved ones, broken them. Turned them away from the light. In the upcoming struggle we will have to both face them, and ourselves. We will have to battle disbelief, fear, mistrust and outright stupidity.
But we are -not- alone in this. There are so many good and gentle people out there, simple people, difficult ones- who have no idea yet what is coming, or the choices life will present them in the coming months and years.
"And we have us, this circle of Guardians. We shall be called upon, we shall not fail!
"We have to know ourselves. We have to know -why- we stand here, to maintain our strength. We have to know why we start this, we have to realise, none of us, -none- of us stand here merely out of coincidence!"
Ari could not suppress a shiver at that. No coincidence? Did the old wizard mean each and everyone of them had been drawn here by fate? That they -all- had some essential role to play? That she, a mere Muggle, gods, she hated that word, had a special role to play? Unbelievable!
Ari felt Snape squeeze her hand, and the gesture touched her deeply. She could barely control herself from pulling him against her, needing to feel his arms around her again to be comforted as he had done, as awkward as he had been while doing so, at the side of the road last night.
But instinct told her last nights contact had been extremely rare, more a form of manipulation than a need to give comfort. This, her hand in his, him unwilling to let Black stand at her side, meant something else.
She sighed. Whatever her role here would be- there were interesting times ahead, for sure. And wasn't that some old Chinese curse? To wish somebody they lived in interesting times?
Don't let a mere squeeze distract you from the moment, girl!, Ari berated herself.
A ripple went through the circle, while the wizards and witches pulled out their wands. Snape let go of Ari's hand and pulled out his own. Ari crossed her arms over her chest defensively. She noticed Filch and Smiley simply stood waiting quietly, hands at their sides. Both no wizards either, apparently. She imitated them.
Dumbledore waved with his wand at the windows. With loud banging in quick succession, the outside shutters closed themselves and with a whoosh, thick velvet curtains flashed over the windows. The loud sounds startled Ari. In the following dark, Dumbledore was sharply outlined against the fire in the hearth. He turned slightly, waved his wand and muttered some Latin. The fire died and the darkness would have been absolute, if not for the eerie pearly light coming from The Bloody Baron. The room was turning cold again.
Suddenly, Dumbledore's voice rang out clearly in the semi darkness.
"For the future! So it may be safe!"
From his wand sprung sparkles of crimson and gold, a beam towards the centre, where the sparkles formed a sphere, still fed by the unwavering ray.
The Bloody Baron put out his wand in the same fashion. Pale particles darted out of it, merging with Dumbledore's sphere and being welcomed by it. In his booming, distant voice he spoke forcefully.
"For the past! So it may never be forgotten!"
McGonagall went next. Again with a beam of crimson and gold.
"For never losing courage! So we may never lose ourselves!"
The white hared witch in the yellow robes had electric blue sparks, combined with a warmer gold springing from her wand.
"For the protection of knowledge! So it may never be misused!"
The sparks from Amos Diggory's wand were bright yellow contrasted by a deep dark black, hardly detectable against the darkness of the room but clearly visible when mingling with the other swirls and colours of the glowing, growing sphere.
"For our friendship. May it always remain!"
A man Ari did not know the name of raised his wand in the brightening room. Younger than Dumbledore but older than most, bearded, grey, but not silver and hard lines edged around his eyes. His beam was silver and emerald.
"For our drive to not waver! So we may rise above ourselves!
Little Smiley pointed his hand at the sphere. In a rather shrill voice he gave his wish.
"To the servitude and support of those who do battle for us!"
A rainbow of colours erupted from his long finger and several people smiled. The sphere started to rotate slowly.
Filch simply pointed while no evident effect came from his fingertips.
"For the safety of our homes!" he stated fiercely. The sphere grew a bit with every syllable.
Black and yellow, bronze and blue, each wizard added their own. Hopes, wishes and what they stood for with a repetition of colour combinations. Each word and beam combined made the sphere more bright, spinning faster, growing in intensity and size.
"For freedom!"
"For wisdom!"
"For family!"
"For truth!", that was Black's voice.
"For the knowledge of self-worth!" Lupin, no doubt.
"For hope!" Harry's voice rang clear and self assured.
Ari looked round the circle, unsure of what to do. Everybody seemed to know their words, everybody seemed to know their goals. But she had -no- idea. What could she say, what could she add? What the hell did she want anyway?
"For justice!" Was that Arthur Weasly?
She had to make a decision and she had to be quick but she simply could not think of anything. The others seemed to reach deeply inside themselves, without any difficulty in doing so. Pouring a bit of their own souls into the light, making it shine all the brighter. All members of the circle basked in its glow, warmed by it, drawn together by it. Their wands once raised never wavering, their light steadily pouring into the sphere.
But what could she say? Compassion? Could she say something about compassion? It had been her compassion that had saved both Harry and Snape- Compassion was good.
"For healing!" said the one called Pomfrey. Well, that was logical.
"Fer Caring!" Hagrid boomed. Wasn't that the same as being compassionate? Shit! And what was that thing he was pointing with? An umbrella?
Snape raised his wand. In the murmur of voices, his was but one. Forceful and calm he spoke, but there was a bitter undertone Ari had not noticed in any of the others.
"For forgiveness!"
In the infinite moment that followed, Ari looked up at the tall, morose man, despised by some, mocked by others. Protected by the Headmaster and doing one of the most dangerous jobs of them all. Whose deepest desire, whose greatest quality was forgiveness? To give? Or to receive? Ari's heart went out to him, to the impassive mask that was hiding so much- as in slow motion, she turned her gaze to the circle, saw the Headmaster whom she admired, Black, Lupin, McGonagall and Filch who each in their own ways had almost immediately taken a place in her heart. Harry, both vulnerable and strong, indeed a carrier of hope, a survivor. Who had remained both human and kind-hearted in spite of all he had lived through. The ghost who had accepted her simply because she cared. And all those others in this room who seemed to be willing to face whatever the future held for them, combining themselves to a grander whole. Regardless of who or what they were, rising above their differences and dislikes. They were one.
But there was one word, one quality none of them had mentioned. One word Ari felt burning within her. One concept, one emotion still lacking and without it, everything would fall apart.
Without thinking, or without realising she was last, Ari raised her hand like Filch had done, a heartbeat after Snape had spoken.
As with Filch, there was no visible magic. But Ari could feel a search of power reach up from the earth and pouring down from the sky, mingling in her chest, bursting from her fingertips.
Quietly, without force, she spoke.
"For love."
The sphere turned pure white, bursting through them all, growing far beyond the walls of the room. Burning without hurting them, bright beyond compare.
It was done.
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And now, for something completely different…
Shameless bit of advertising following
I've written a short story in two chapters that has nothing to do with this series. It is about our poor Potions Master's decent into Hell, PG-13 for inexplicit yet rather mature themes. Angsty and sad and not quite what you might expect. It is called 'When Hell Froze Over'.
I'm -very- curious to learn what you all think of it.
End of commercial.
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It is most likely Mrs Rowling's next book will be Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and I strongly suspect (who doesn't?) this Order to be Dumbledore's answer to Voldemort's circle of Death Eaters. I've come across pre-announcements on the internet and our ever expanding writing community seems to be buzzing over it, using it in stories or as a title of their own.
I have tried to find a reference in any of the books to this order, but I could not. Since in the current canon it does not exist yet, for as far as I can see, I won't be referring to it.
Wish I had thought of it myself though. The name is perfect for any group surrounding Dumbledore, sigh.
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Arya, humor is the best medicine agains a lot of bad things in mho. Thanks for liking the mix! I am not making thigs up as I go. When I write, I think of a plot first, then I fill in the gaps.
Hi Ozma! Thanks for your wonderful of comment on 'When Hell Froze Over'! (OK, I admit, that was another shameless bout of adversising my own work). But the comment was very much appreciated, nevertheless! I like Filch, he is deliciously grumpy and he loves cats. What more does one want?
Lataradk, wow- that was some review! Thanks! Mrs Rowling makes her personages come alive in a -world-, thanks for comparing my efforts to that! I understand what you were trying to say. I cannot see for myself how Snape would be attracted to weakness in any form. Vulnarebily is something else entirely, but not weakness. Ever watched the Discovery Channal? Their series on WOII and how the media were used in the The Third Reich? Or how our press nowadays 'informs' us about how wars are 'really' fought? -That- is how important the media are and I think Mrs Rowling has picked this subject up marvellously in her books. Just following the example here.
Dark chocolate and pepermint cream (or toffee)? Oh darn, now I'm hungry (drool).
The bum is fine, now. Thanks.
Strega Brava, just read 'These Hallowed Halls', lovely story. Perhaps you already know the page, but if you wanne swoon over some brilliant Snape imagery (apart from the obvious pictures of Mr. Alan Rickman as Snape) please visit "Severus Snape's Slytherin Society". I do not have my data quite at hand to give you the name of the very talented artist, but there are some drawings of our dear professor there (nothing to do with AR) that will -really- make you swoon.
Thaks Ryoko-chan (so what is up with a nice Uncle Vernon? Yer making me qurious), mysteriousways (humble bow to your praise), Juniper Holly (again, humble bow), Ice Queen (my back is beginning to hurt now), slytherin girl (I know, but I can't hold my liquor, so I hardly drink at all, and well- even too much butterbeer goes wrong with me-. And I am NOT an elf! Fudge s**ks!), asprosdracos (short people rule!), Troy (hope you still got some sleep, grin)tailchaser (hope you update soon, too!)Rosmerta (thanks for the Hagrid info), Blackthorne (very nice, that shape shifting thingy on Black), Belle Starr (now my back -really- hurts), Magical me (just red 'Those Nights', wonderfull!) and Anna.