CHAPTER4:THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
It was raining heavily as they reached Platform 9¾. Soaked to the core the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione slipped through the barrier and found two familiar people waiting for them.
"Remus, Snuffles! What are you doing here?"
"I've to tell you something," said Remus looking around.
"Go away Ginny, " said Ron turning to her. Ginny sighed ans was about to walk away when Harry interveined.
"Let her stay Ron, she knows."
"Harry," said Remus seriously, as the boy patted Snuffles, "I'm sure you've heard about Fudge's deed." Harry nodded, his expression hardening. "Then," Remus continued, "I need to tell you that once you reach Hogwarts, I want you and all the Weasleys to go immediately, and I mean immediately, to Professor McGonagall."
Looking around quickly he leaned towards Harry and whispered, "Password is 'poppin'."
Harry nodded and turned to the rest behind who nodded in comprehension. "Alright," Harry said, "Bye."
The twins who had gone off to see Lee Jordan their classmate had not heard any of this. "We'll tell them on the train," said Harry as they made their was to their compartment.
As Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione sat down Harry's mind went to the dream he had the previous night. He could hardly recall it but what made him think was the fact that this dream wasn't about the events of the Triwizard Tournament but, something he couldn't quite put his finger on. Now it was coming to him in bits and pieces…
"Well, well, well…" drawled an all too familiar voice, "what's Dumbledore's golden boy going to do now?"
Harry cursed silently under his breath as he turned to face Draco Malfoy flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.
"Sod off if you know what's good for you Malfoy," hissed Ron. Catching sight of him and Hermione, Malfoy, smirked, "So Weasel's got together with the Mudblood," he laughed, "Really Weasley, and I thought even you pathetic family could sink no lower than that."
Ron took one step towards Malfoy but Hermione caught hold of his robes, restraining him. Harry fought to keep his composure, he had a strange feeling beginning to grow inside him and he couldn't figure out what it was. "Leave," Harry said as levelly as he could.
Malfoy's smirk widened, "Scared Potter?" he sneered, "No one to protect you now that the Mudblood lover is gone."
Out of the corner of his eye Harry could see Ron struggling to get lose from Hermione. The growing feeling inside him made him feel slightly panicky, it felt like a sort of reckless power. "Just go Malfoy," Harry hissed, "Leave now."
"Ah the Weaslette is here too," the Slytherin boy said catching sight of Ginny who was standing next to Harry her hand on his arm, "better looking than her mother I daresay," Ron struggled harder, "Gotten together with her have you Potter?"
Harry felt like he was losing control.
"Taken pity on the family's financial situation?"
Harry felt a new stream of energy course through his body.
"Tell me Potter," said Malfoy unable to grasp the gravity of the situation he was heading into, "tell me, do you pay her all that much?"
Harry saw red.
Ginny gasped.
Ron broke free.
Hermione pulled out her wand.
But before Ron or Hermione could do anything Harry felt an aura envelope him and a jet of light issued from it hitting the three Slytherins with full force. A loud crash was heard as they hit the closed door of the opposite compartment, wrecking it.
The aura vanished, Harry and Ginny both stumbled and fell against the wall. Ginny realeased his arm and Harry felt even more drained than before as he slumped onto the seat.
Ron and Hermione stood stock still looking stunned. Hermione ran to the opposite compartment door, "Reparo!" she yelled and the door stood as good as new.
Harry noticed people from other comparments had crowded into the long passage of the train trying to get a better look.
"What happened?" asked a sixth year Hufflepuff.
"Malfoy insulted Dumbledore," explained Hermione thinking quickly, making sure that her prefect badge was seen, "We…um…we all hexed them at the same time."
"Again?" said Fred excitedly from the crowd, "We should've…"
"Later Fred," said Hermione, "Everyone back to their compartments now!"
As Hermione shut the door Harry turned to look at Ginny, his eyes widened as he saw her leaning against the wall motionless, she looked very pale.
"Ginny!" he whispered, shaking her, scared that he might have hurt her, "Ginny wake up!"
No response.
Ron was next to him in a flash. "Gin!" he said
Hermione looked shocked, "Oh no…," she said Hurrying to the unconcious girl. Harry pulled out his wand and pointed it at Ginny.
"Enervate."
Ginny groggily opened her eyes, "Wha…?" she managed to say. "Shhh…," said Hermione conjuring up a glass of water, "Here drink this."
A few minutes later when they were all seated in silence Hermione asked rather timidly, "What exactly happened?"
Harry closed his eyes tiredly and was surprised to hear Ginny, "I don't know I felt this really strange feeling of power…"
Harry's eyes snapped open, "You felt it?!"
Ginny looked at him confused, "Yes, I mean I did it, didn't I?"
Harry shook his head, "I thought I did it, " he said.
"You both did it!" Ron said, Hermione nodded in agreement, "Yes," she said, "You both had the aura around you."
"I don't know," Harry said feeling somewhat uncomfortable. Ron looked at Hermione. "What are you thinking?"
"I wonder…" she began, "…"
"You look like the time you were trying to figure out how that Skeeter cow got into Hogwarts."
"Yeah," said Harry, egar to change the subject, "What did you do to her?"
Hermione looked smug. "We made a deal," she said, "she never writes another degrading article about any of us and promised to make up for the damage and I don't spill the beans about her so she can still get her stories."
"Great!" said Ron hugging Hermione, "You're brilliant!" he leaned over to kiss her…
"Ahem!"
Harry cleared his throat rather loudly, which made Ron and Hermione spring apart. Hermione blushed furiously and Ron's ears went red. This was too much for both Harry and Ginny who promptly erupted into a fit of giggles.
"Really Hermione," said Harry, " perfect and all, some example you're setting for your fellow students,"
"Oh shut it you," Hermione muttered pulling a book out of her bag and burying her face in it. Harry and Ginny took one look at her and burst into peals of laughter. Ron looked puzzled but one look at Hermione and he too started to laugh.
"What now?" snapped Hermione looking up at them.
"Nothing really," said Ron, "Just wondering, do you read your book upside down often?"
Hermione went crimson, "Really!" she huffed turning the book the right way and burying her face in it again.
The rest of the journey went uneventfully till they reached the great Hall. "Hermione quickly pulled Harry and Ron aside. "We have to see McGonagall." They both nodded and together with the twins and Ginny made their way upstairs. As they reached the gargoyle that was the entrance, they were greatly surprised to see Neville standing there desperately trying to remember the password. Just as Harry was going to give the password, it swung open and McGonogall stepped out.
"Potter, Longbottom, and the rest of you," she said ushering them in, "I have to go to the Great Hall, go to the office now."
Harry nodded. As they entered the Headmaster's room Harry was surprised to see Dumbledore himself there to greet them.
"PROFESSOR!"
Ginny ran foreward and surprised them all by throwing her arms around him and hugging him. Dumbledore smiled kindly and patted her on the back. "Have a seat Ginny."
Turning to the rest he conjured up chairs for each of them, when everyone was comfortable he spoke.
"As you all are aware Voldemort has risen and we're not safe anymore, we have to fight him with the best we've got. You," he looked at each of them, "are our best students for this."
"Us?" Fred asked increduously.
"Yes," Dumbledore said, "Therefore I would like to initiate you in the Order of the Phoenix."
As if on cue Fawkes flew in through the window. Everyone gasped at the sight of the magnificent bird.
"Fawkes," Ginny said softly. The beautiful bird looked at them both blinking gently. It flew over to Harr and Ginny and perched between them, laying its head gently against Ginny's cheek.
"Timely entrance Fawkes," Dumbledore said, a twinkle in his eyes, "I see the rest of the Order has arrived.
Turning around Harry saw Remus, Sirius, Snape, then came a man and a rather attractive woman he didn't know but they looked familiar and much to to everyone's shock Viktor Krum, Fleur Delacour, and Bill and Charlie Weasley.
"Viktor!" Hermione exclaimed. Harry cast a worried glance at Ron but was surprised to see him smiling and even more surprised when Ron greeted him in a similar fashion.
"I assume you haven't met these two."
Harry turned to see that Dumbledore was talking about the man and woman. The woman stepped foreward.
"I'm Arabella Figg, " she said, pointing to the man she said, "Mundungus Fletcher."
On a closeup Harry knew why she looked familiar.
"You were at my parents' wedding!" he exclaimed, seeing their shocked expressions he added, "I have photos, Hagrid gave me." On a sudden inspiration he asked, "You're Mrs.Figg's daughter?"
Arabella nodded and returned to her seat.
"Professor," Hermione asked, "What exactly is the Order of the Phoenix?"
"The Order of the Phoenix," Dumbledore said, 'Is a rater secretive order which is probably why you haven't heard of it. It was what we used to defeat the previous dark wizards such as Grindewald. The names of those who defeated him went down in history but the Order remained a secret. When Voldemort first rose to power we had to call on the order again. James was also one of the members."
Harry looked at Dumbledore. So his father had been one of the members.
"Now since Voldemort is back it is time for the Order to reunite," turning to them he said, "I must tell you that entering the Order is your choice, no one is forcing you. Are all of you willing?"
Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Fred and George nodded. Dumbledore smiled, raising his wand he flicked it in the air. A golden orange orb of light with a blue core formed in the air from what looked gold thread that seeped out of Dumbledore's wand. Fawkes flew up and hovered over the orb.
"Join your wands to the orb."
Each of them pulled out their wands and joined it to the orb. The most unearthly and beautiful sound filled Harry's ears. He immediately rcognised it as the Phoenix's song.
"As one I want you all to say 'I pledge truth, trust and loyalty."
"I pledge truth trust and loyalty."
Harry felt something like a jolt pass through his wand. The orb dissipiated and Fawkes flew to his perch.
"It's done."
They all returned to their seats, Harry felt strange, well he thought it's not everyday you get initiated into an order.
"Now began," Dumbledore each of you have been assigned to our older members with regard to your special individual talents.
"Fred and Geroge will train with Sirius Black,"
This led to loud whoops from the twins who had taken a shine to Sirius during his short visit to the Burrow.
"Hermione and will be with Professor Snape."
Everyone looked shocked. Ron looked ready to protest but Dumbledore continued.
"Neville and with Arabella Figg."
"Ron Weasley with me,"
Whatever Ron was going to say was cut short, "Me?"
Dumbledore smiled, "Chess," he said, "Strategy."
"Miss Delacour with Bill Weasley." Bill grinned roguishly at Fleur who much to Harry's surprise blushed.
"Mr. Krum with Charlie Weasley."
"Harry and Ginny under Remus Lupin."
Then looking at the new mwmbers he said.
"Sirius and Remus will train Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny as animagi."
They gasped.
"Fred and George will train with Mundungus Fletcher."
The twins were too stunned by this announcement to actually say anything. Dumbledore smiled, "You may return to the feast."
As they stood to leave a loud exclaimation from Ron stopped them. "Hey theer's gold on my wand!"
Quickly looking down at his own wand Harry noticed that there was a tiny golden symbol. Squniting Harry could just make out the picture of a Phoenix and tiny writing around it which he could only presume was the name of the order.
"That's to show you're a member of the Order," explained Dumbledore, "It is visible to Order members only."
As they entered the Great Hall Harry suddenly remembered something. The train incident, he thought, how could I forget!
Grabbing Ginny's hand he pulled her back, "We have to see Dumbledore." He said as he started running back pulling her with him.
'Harry what…"
"Oi Harry! Where're you going?"
"tell you later when I get back!" Harry said as he rushed past Ron and Hermione. He didn't know if Dumbledore had already gone, and wanted to catch him before he left.
He felt the eyes of everyone in the Hall on him and Ginny, whom he was dragging along by the hand. It suddenly crossed his mind what sort of an image he was giving out. A boy and a girl holding hands, running, he slowed down immediately and released Ginny's hand. Glancing at her Harry noticed she was blushing, heck he thought so was he.
The made their way to the gargoyle, "Poppins," Harry yelled. A minute later he and Ginny burst through the door. Harry was relived to see dumbledore was still there and that he was alone. The wizard looked up concerned.
"Harry, Ginny is anything wrong?"
"There's something we have to tell you professor," Harry began, "You see on the Hogwart's Express…"
Domino84: you'll really have to be patient. I'm not even planning to get Harry and Ginny together in fifth year. I mean look at the way things have developed in the past 4 books, Cedric's death, Voldemort, personally I don't think Harry can handle a relationship let alone sustain one. But don't worry this is definitely H/G, they'll get together eventually.
WhiteThunderDragon: I made Ginny break her arm coz I needed a plan to give Harry and Ginny privacy to talk. It's not anything significant.
Anu:Hanky indeed! You'll probably need a box of Kleenex tissues. And YES I'll try and involve Oliver Wood.
Sew2100: thanx for the review, hmmm…. Idea of changing schools is quite tempting. Drumstrang perhaps? Just kidding.
Oh yes and btw people, if you expect me to keep updating then, I NEED REVIEWS and lots of them, mind you.
