Disclaimer: I'm sorry to say that I do not own any of the brilliant characters of the Harry Potter world; they are in fact the property of Ms. JK Rowling.
Chapter 2
The chicken coop appeared in the middle of High Street in Hogsmeade, right outside the Three Broomsticks. Sirius and the others went inside while Mrs. Figg stayed back to destroy the chicken coop along with any evidence of their arrival. Madam Rosmerta was handing out butterbeer to the others when Mrs. Figg came and took her aside to explain the situation.
"Well," Mr. Weasley said, his voice barely above a whisper, "I suppose that we'll be safe here for the time being. The school term will start shortly, at least for you four," he said nodding towards Ron, Ginny, Harry, and Hermione. "You'll be safe with Dumbledore around."
"What about you?" Hermione asked.
"We won't be far," Mrs. Weasley said warmly. "We'll be staying at the Inn."
Madam Rosmerta came back from the kitchen with some food which no one seemed hungry for, even though it was lunch time. Sirius had stepped out while waiting for the food and now came back in.
"Well," he said, "I've just sent an owl to Professor Dumbledore; I imagine he'll send for us shortly." No sooner had Sirius spoken these words did the most powerful wizard of the time appear in the doorway, flanked by Hagrid and Professor McGonagall. The sense of power that surrounded Albus Dumbledore was like nothing like Harry had ever felt. When he spoke, it was as if he had thunder in his very words.
"Come with me," he commanded the children. He looked at the others, his tone softening, but no less powerful. "I suggest that the rest of you head off to the inn and lie low. For the time being no one knows you're here but it won't take Voldemort long to figure out where you have gone." With a nod towards Mrs. Figg and Sirius, he left with Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny close behind while Professor McGonagall and Hagrid brought up the rear. Hermione still clutched Ron and Ginny, who needed someone to be held by as well, walked with her head half buried in Harry arm.
The walk to the castle seemed an eternity, but once they finally reached the archway to the great hall, all the events of that morning seemed to be washed away for a moment. Like Professor Dumbledore said, Harry mused, for the time being we're safe.
The moon was high in the dark sky when Harry woke up. I must have been really tired to have slept for so long. He was sitting in a large armchair in the same room where he had met the other contestants for the Tri Wizard Tournament just a year ago. He looked around suddenly, remembering what had happened earlier that day. Seeing the others sound asleep in various other chairs around the room, he calmed down. Harry got up, poured himself a glass of warm milk that was sitting on the table in front of him and was soon asleep again.
When Harry woke the next morning, he was greeted by a very enthusiastic Hedwig who had brought a copy of the Daily Prophet with her. Harry, glad to see that Hedwig was unharmed, stroked her softly and tried to turn his thoughts away from the previous day's events. School would be starting soon and things would be getting increasingly more complicated. At the centre of these complications was Draco Malfoy. After all the comments he had made to Hermione over the past four years, Harry was convinced that Draco had known what had been in store for her. If it weren't for Mrs. Figg, Hermione might be dead as well, and that was something that Harry would never be able to bare. Harry turned his attention back to Hedwig who was impatiently sticking out her leg, which had a letter attached to it. Taking the letter Harry gently nudged Hedwig until she hopped onto the windowsill next to him. Harry opened the letter and was startled to see that it was from Cho.
Dear Harry,
I just heard from my aunt who works at the Ministry about what happened to Hermione, I am so sorry. I can't believe her parents were killed. I hope you'll send her my love; I know how it feels to lose a loved one. But Harry I really wanted to tell you before we left last year that I don't blame you for what happened to Cedric. I don't know what exactly happened that night but I want you to know that I'm thankful you brought his body back. I know it must have been hard. You've been through a lot and yet you still somehow remained calm when danger presented itself. I'm very proud of you Harry. I hope to talk to you more when I arrive for school in a week.
Yours truly,
Cho
Harry felt the emotions of the past few days begin to rise up in him. If it weren't for the persistent hooting of Hedwig distracting him, he may have just buried his head in his hands and wept. "What is it?" he demanded Hedwig, with a cracking voice. Hedwig looked hurt by his outburst and flew away. Harry, though not liking it when she was mad, just shook it off and closed his eyes again. Cho had forgiven him, and that was the first good news he had received in a long time.
~*~*~
Harry woke up with a start, his scar burning. Unfortunately for him, it was becoming a more and more frequent event.
"…It is my belief that your scar hurts both when Lord Voldemort is near you, and when he is feeling a particularly strong surge of hatred."
Dumbledore's words echoed in Harry's mind. The situation had gone from bad to worse in the few weeks following Percy's betrayal of Hermione's parents. The term had started and everyone was giving him sympathetic looks everywhere he went. But he was getting tried of all the, "I'm sorrys". He knew that his classmates were trying to be nice but Harry didn't want to think about what had happened. And the news just kept getting worse. Witches and Wizards everywhere had begun to declare their allegiance to the Dark Lord. Soon, Harry thought, I'll get him. "Percy"; the name tugged at Harry's emotions and made him ask, "Why? Why Percy?"
A mere two and a half weeks had passed since Percy's betrayal and no matter how hard it was on the Weasley's as a family, they had managed to try and get on with things. With one exception: Ginny had taken Percy's fall harder than her brothers had, because, unlike Fred and George, who had always teased her, Percy had always been kind to her and taken her seriously. She only was just now realising how much he meant to her. "I've got to be strong," Ginny told herself. "I need to be strong for Hermione, she needs me at the moment."
No spell or potion that Hermione could think of could bring back her parents. They were gone. They died trying to fight off something they didn't fully understand. "Why?" Hermione asked herself for the hundredth time. "Why didn't you run?" For the first time in her life Hermione knew that no book could ever help her find the answer to her question. All she could do was weep, if only the tears would come.
Hermione looked up from her fetal position on her four poster bead as she heard a knock on the door. Ron poked his head in and searched Hermione's face for permission to enter.
"May I come in?" he asked finally. Hermione just nodded her head. Ron had been paying her visits when he felt she needed company. Often, either Ginny or Harry would come along, but today Ron was here. He quietly closed the door, headed over towards her bed and sat down gently on the edge. Hermione made an effort to sit up and fell into his outstretched arms.
"Sirius just sent us news," he began slowly, "He said he was on his way to London to search for clues about who is responsible for your parents' dea - ." Ron stopped himself in mid sentence, realising what he had just said.
"I'm sorry," he apologised.
"It's okay Ron." Hermione responded her voice barely above a whisper. Once again as she had done for the past several weeks she placed her head on his shoulder and began to weep in dry sobs. Each one sending stabbing pains through her entire body.
"Why Ron, why?" She trailed off her whole body shaking. Not knowing what to say, Ron pulled her closer and tried to be strong for his friend, his love, his Hermione.
Harry, Fred, George and Ginny sat inside Professor Dumbledore's office. Ginny still feeling upset had her head against her brother Fred's shoulder. He and George hadn't been teasing Ginny as of late instead, taking the stance of two very protective and loving brothers towards their little sister, threatening anyone or anything that looked at her in the wrong way. Harry was sitting to the left of his friends with Fawkes' head resting on his knee. Dumbledore was busying himself with tea throwing glances towards his guests every now and then. Finishing with the tea and handing them each a cup and saucer, Dumbledore smiled warmly and sat down behind his desk.
"Harry, there was nothing that you could do."
Harry looked up, wondering how Dumbledore knew what he was thinking. Realising that Dumbledore was looking at him expectantly, Harry nodded in response.
"Good," Dumbledore said, folding his hands across his chest and shifting his attention to Fred, George, and Ginny. "The same goes for you." They nodded an affirmation.
"Well, now that that's taken care of, I thought that I should inform you all that your family is safe," he told the Weasleys. "Your parents send their love to you and to you Harry as well. They also said to tell you that they want you to work hard in classes and not to let this incident control your life. Now off to classes with you, I wouldn't want you to be late."
"Yes Professor," they mumbled.
"You're late, Potter"
Harry had run as fast as he could to the dungeons after his meeting with the headmaster, but he still was late to Potions.
"Sorry sir, I had a meeting with Professor Dumbledore," Harry replied trying not to sound too annoyed.
"I realise that, Potter," Snape sneered. "The Headmaster contacted me and told me of your departure. You had ample time to get here. Ten points from Gryffindor for your laziness."
Harry sat down next to Neville as Ron was already sitting with Hermione and took out his materials. Snape, seemingly satisfied with Harry's submissiveness, continued with the class. Harry tuned for most of this and instead concentrated on what he should do about Hermione. She's my best friend, Harry thought to himself, why can't I just tell her everything will be alright, that I'll be here for her whenever she needs me. Oh and what about Ginny and Ron and the others…what can I say to them? Voldemort has hurt me in the past but this is different. Now he's attacked my friends and their families. Damn him…
"Potter!" Snape shouted, snapping Harry out of his musings. By the looks Harry was getting from the class, Snape had been shouting his name for quite sometime. He looked over at Malfoy who was trying (though not very hard) not to laugh.
"Yes"? Harry asked, trying to recover.
"I asked you a question Mr. Potter. What is your answer? Or were you too busy thinking about how to console Miss Granger that you weren't paying attention to my class?" Snape leered.
Harry looked over towards Ron and Hermione who had been conversing quietly but were now visibly upset by Snape's brashness. He has no heart, Harry thought to himself.
"Well Potter, what do you have to say?"
"I'm sorry sir I wasn't paying attention."
"I see, well another twenty points from Gryffindor for lack of concentration." Snape looked like he wanted to say more, but he was cut off the protests of Ron.
"That's not fair!" Ron shouted, "How can you be so cruel! Hermione just loss her parents! You always just pick on Harry because his dad saved you!" Ron paused to catch his breath.
"How dare you!" Snape bellowed. "How dare you speak of something that you know nothing about? 30 points from Gryffindor and detention both of you." Snape glared at Ron and Harry. Ron looked like he wanted to retort but Harry placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
Snape feeling particularly anal assigned a 1 meter long essay due the next period on the long term affects of pain killing potions. Hermione was quiet the entire period and whisked away as soon as the class was over without so much as a glance to either Harry or Ron.
~*~*~
Harry breathed a sigh of relief; he had just returned from dinner and getting ready to do some homework. Maybe if I get started on this potions essay it will help take my mind off of everything that's going on. Harry looked around the common room for either Ron or Hermione but didn't see either of them, oh well I guess I'll just have to do it myself. Harry found a comfortable spot by the fire and sat down to begin his essay.
"May I join you?"
Harry looked up to see the must beautiful chocolate brown eyes he had ever seen. It took him a moment to realize that he was staring at Ginny, who was looking down at him apprehensively.
"Well?" She prompted.
"Of course, of course," Harry stuttered "I could use the company." Harry gave Ginny his best 'I'm a hero' smile and motioned for her to sit next time him.
~Thank goodness I thought he was just going to stare at me with that funny look all day.~
"So, what's going on?" Harry asked, cursing himself silently for asking such a stupid question. Duh you moron, her brother just betrayed her whole family and tried to kill her, what's going on…honestly.
"Not much I guess."
"Oh. Well um, you know Ginny that here for you if you need to talk to someone, you know," Why am I getting so nervous? "in case you want to talk to someone without red hair."
"Thanks Harry," Ginny replied, shooting Harry a 'I'm okay smile' "you always have been, just like in the Chamber with Tom."
Harry just looked over at Ginny not knowing what else to say to her. After a few agonizing moments of silence Ginny spoke up. "I still have nightmares."
"I'm sorry Ginny," Harry responded with true sympathy "I know what you're going through. I have nightmares too. Like I said before I'm here for you. If you ever need me, even if it's 3 am, I'll be there for you."
"You know Harry, its nice to know that there's someone who understands. I can't go to my family to talk about my nightmares. They just don't get what it was like. Now don't get me wrong I love my family dearly but they just don't get it. Ron's so self-absorbed they he wouldn't care what's going on until it affects him. Fred and George are so carefree that they would probably just make some joke about it. I never see Bill and Charlie and as more Percy, well…" Ginny stifled a cry, looking into Harry's emerald eyes she gained the encouragement that she needed. "And mum and dad well they just, would baby me to death, and try and tell me how everything will be alright, that if I just wait a little while the dreams will go away." Taking Ginny's hand Harry inched closer to her. And pulled her into a warm embrace, the kind of embrace that Ginny had be waiting to feel since her first year. She began to cry softly into Harry's shoulder as they held onto each other for dear life.
"Thank you Harry."
"Anytime Ginny"
Still in his arms Ginny leaned back into Harry chest and closed her eyes. They continued to gaze into the crackling fire. Harry placed a tender kiss on top of Ginny's head and closed his own eyes. His potions essay could wait. Something, namely a pretty redhead with chocolate eyes, were more important then homework.
~*~*~
The next morning at breakfast the regular barrage of mail owls swooped in. Harry who wasn't expecting anything gave the briefest glance towards the owls and continued with his meal.
"Watch it Harry!" Ron shouted.
Harry looked up at Ron, who was sitting across from him and through his peripheral vision saw an owl carrying a small package sweeping in his direction. Reaching out Harry got the package in his left hand and began to examine the wrapping.
"Well?" Ron asked being his usual impatient self. "Are going to open it?"
"No, Ron his going to look at it all day you big git" Ginny replied sarcastically next to Harry. Harry smiled not because of Ginny's comment but because of who the package was from.
"It's from Mrs. Figg." He said to no one in particular.
"Really?" Hermione asked. Glancing up at Harry from her book, apparently to try and deal with her loss Hermione had immersed herself in her work, which considering that this is Hermione it was quite the feat to be accomplished.
"Yeah," Harry responded giving meaningful looks towards the others. "She used to look after me whenever the Dursleys wanted to get rid of me for a while. I used to think that she was just a mean old woman with lots of cats but I began suspecting last year that she was a witch after Professor Dumbledore mentioned her name when I was recuperating from the third task. Then she showed up Sirius a few weeks ago. So, I guess I was right. But why would she be sending me a package?" Opening up the package and accompanying letter Harry read the opening line.
Dear Mr. Potter
Welcome, to the Order of the Phoenix.
"The what?" Hermione asked, reading the letter over Harry's shoulder.
"I don't know." Harry said, shrugging his shoulders and continuing to read the letter.
The Order is an ancient society set up originally
by Merlin himself. The Great Merlin created
the society to combat the forces or evil and to
protect all that were threatened by this evil. Albus
Dumbledore resurrected this society back during
his battle against the dark wizard Grindelwald.
Mr. Potter you have been selected for the order
due to your personal experience with the new
threat. And due to you previous victories over
the Dark Lord. Along with this letter you have
received a pendent of a phoenix you will begin to
wear this at all times because it is the symbol of
your membership and devotion to the Order. The
pendent will feel warm whenever it is in close
proximity to another pendent of its kind. Albus will
inform you of when and where the first meeting
will take place. Please take care and I look
forward to seeing you again.
~Alabrella Figg
Harry took out the pendent that Mrs. Figg spoke of marveled at detail. Carved out of obsidian, the phoenix was attached to a thin silver chain. Handing the letter to Ron and Hermione, Harry placed the pendent around his neck and slipped it under his robes.
"Wait a minute!" Ron exclaimed. "I remember mum telling me something about this order from when she was little. She said that, to defeat Grindelwald, Dumbledore put together the best witches and wizards that he could find in order to gather intelligence and such." Ron beamed at his useful insight. It wasn't often that he knew something that the others didn't.
"How does your mum know all this Ron?" Hermione asked.
"Oh because mum's dad was in it." Ron replied simply, still smiling.
Ginny not wanting to be left out quickly added her agreement. Harry was about to ask Ron some more questions when Professor McGonagall. Placed her hand on Harry's shoulder and cleared her throat. "Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office after classes today Mr. Potter."
"Yes Professor." Harry responded his voice cracking a little from his surprise from the sudden intrusion.
"Now, you best be off to classes before you're late." McGonagall said eyeing the children.
"Yes Professor." The Trio plus one responded, gathering their things for class as quick as they could and headed out the great hall and towards their first class of the day. Harry had a million questions in his head that he wanted to ask but knew from experience that he would just have to wait until Dumbledore was ready to speak with him to get the answers. It was going to be a long day.
~*~*~
After Herbology ended Harry rushed back to the common room to change while Ron and Hermione stayed behind so Neville could help them with the new adult Mandrakes.
"Merlin's Beard!" Harry shouted the password breathlessly once he reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. Harry started to rush up the stairs when he noticed a solitary figure of a young woman with red hair huddled in the corning. "Ginny?" Harry whispered. Sitting down in front of her by the fire. She didn't look up.
"Ginny," Harry asked carefully "are you okay?"
"Fine." Ginny mumbled through her hands.
"You don't seem 'fine'."
Ginny looked up for the first time at Harry. Her eyes were red from crying But the look she gave Harry sacred him. "Why would you care?!" She snapped at him.
"Because," Harry stumbled over his words, trying to revoke from her outburst, "I care for you . And if somebody hurt you I want to help." 'There' Harry thought 'that sounded good…why is Ginny still looking at me like that.' Harry watched her raise off the floor and dust off her robes. Her eyes never leaving his 'Wow she's' really pretty when she's angry…wait no not pretty, scary…yes that's better scary.'
"I don't need you to protect me, Harry Potter, you're not my brother! I'm 14 stop treating me like a little girl!" Ginny shouted, her voice shaking. Harry noticed that she was on the verge of tears.
"You're right Ginny. I'm not your brother. And you're not a little girl," 'defiantly not' Harry added to himself, "But I'm still here to listen. I really do care for you." Harry added looking right back into Ginny's eyes.
All at once the fire disappeared from Ginny's eyes. Harry found himself relieved, but at the same time almost disappointed with the loss of her passion.
"Thank you." She whispered, giving Harry a quick hug before running up to her dorm.
'Well that was weird' thought Harry. "Girls are so difficult sometimes." He said aloud to no one in particular.
Harry stood in the common room before remembering he needed to go see Professor Dumbledore. Running up to his room her began searching through his trunk for a clean set of robes. He froze when her heard someone mutter a locking charm on the door. He reached into his robe pocket for his wand. It wasn't there. Harry slowly turned around and faced the figure with now two wands pointed in his direction.
"Hello Harry, I've been waiting for you."
"Percy?" Harry croaked in disbelief. Percy looked different then from when Harry last saw him. He had a full beard and black hallow eyes now. Long gone was the Percy that Harry met his first year. He may have been strict but he always had to hid his laughter when scolding Fred and George.
"You didn't think that I would forget about you did you Harry? I still owe you for escaping the Burrow. My Master was not pleased at my failure. Now I'm going to teach you a lesson."
Harry gulped. But nothing could have prepared him for what happened next.
"Crucio!"
Harry's world went black with pain.
~*~*~
"…rry, wake up please wake up." Harry struggled to open his eyes. The pain was incredible. His memory slowly returned. He opened his eyes to the sight of Weasley red hair. "Ginny?" He mumbled his voice raspy…*I must have been screaming* he realized.
"Its me Harry." Ginny said softly.
"Where am I?"
"In your room." Harry was a bit surprised by that
"I heard you screaming you sounded like you were in so much pain." Ginny paused to press a cool wash cloth on Harry's forehead. Being careful not to touch his scar. Harry mumbled his thanks and allowed her to continue.
"I was so worried. I came up here and Colin got here a few seconds after I did. I told him to go fetch Professor McGonagall. And…"
"I just realized something." Harry interrupted.
"What's that?" Ginny responded her voice still gently, almost motherly.
"You'll get in trouble for being alone with me in my room…" Harry breathed closing his eyes.
"That's okay Harry. I care more for you than about getting in to trouble." Harry missed her blush as he slipped back into unconsciousness.