Chapter 9 - The Order of the Phoenix


I apologize in advance here, everyone. I'll switch to Sirius's point of view occasionally from here on out. I could do it all from Harry's, but you'd miss a few side-plot things that happen when he's not around. I'll try very hard not to confuse anyone. And all right, yes, I enjoy watching Snape and Sirius bicker.

Dark storm clouds gathered over Hogwarts on the dawn of Halloween. The student body largely ignored the gloom as they happily chattered through breakfast, anticipating a day of freedom combined with a holiday, and a long-awaited trip to the nearby village of Hogsmeade.

Everyone jumped as the doors of the Great Hall crashed open, admitting the cloaked form of Severus Snape. The tables hushed as Professor Snape stalked up the Hall and straight to Dumbledore's chair. He leaned over the staff table, whispering his news quietly, while all the other teachers crowded close. After a moment Dumbledore nodded and stood, waving Snape and the other teachers to follow him to his office. Professor Myfanwy glanced from Snape to the open doors of the Hall and froze. She recovered quickly and stepped up to Dumbledore, shaking her head and gesturing at the curious students.

Professor Lupin stared curiously at her, taking in her startled eyes and pale face. Then he relaxed with understanding and nodded to Professor Dumbledore, subtly glaring at Snape, who looked faintly amused. Myfanwy shot Lupin a grateful look before turning back to address the curious gaze of the students. "News of the war just arrived, everyone," she announced, while the rest of the staff slipped out the door. "Calm down and finish your breakfast. You'll all know it soon enough."

Her blunt announcement worked. The students turned back to their plates with only murmurs of speculation and no tremors of panic. Harry, however, exchanged concerned looks with Ron and Hermione. News of the war meant news of Voldemort.

Sirius Black restlessly paced the length of Dumbledore's office, waiting for the arrival of the others, or news of any kind. After the initial summons from Dumbledore the night before, things had been far too quiet. By all rights Snape should have returned just after midday yesterday with the latest news from his contacts in the Death Eaters. Sirius had waited impatiently in Dumbledore's office since then, becoming a dog the instant anyone approached, or roaming the almost deserted halls as Padfoot.

Though common knowledge to the inner circle of the Order of the Phoenix, Sirius's innocence wasn't a situation all of them were comfortable with. Consequently Sirius took care to avoid as many of the staff and students as possible while inside the castle. Even Harry and Remus. Avoidance of Rowan Myfanwy went without saying. He still wasn't sure of her opinion towards him and wasn't sure he wanted to know. He still enjoyed eating occasionally and she currently had far too much access to the house-elves and potion stores.

Just then the door opened and Dumbledore and several other professors, including Snape, entered the room. Snape's dark eyes raked over the small company and he frowned as he noticed the missing members.

"Where is Myfanwy? This concerns her as well," he demanded.

"Watching over the students, Severus," Dumbledore explained calmly, settling himself comfortably behind his desk. "Since Voldemort's return we do not leave them without staff supervision."

"And we're so glad you could finally join us, Snape," Sirius snapped, irritable after the long wait. "After all, we wouldn't want to interrupt your quality time with your old friends with things like schedules."

"And you'd know about time, wouldn't you Black? How long was it that you spent rotting in Azkaban? Have you and Myfanwy had a falling out? I notice most of your old friends are dead or wish you were, Black." Sirius glared, but ignored him though he heard something sounding suspiciously like "greasy-haired slime-ball" from Lupin. Even Dumbledore's mouth thinned slightly. "The Dark Lord does not trust me as he once did for good reason. I am not free to move about completely as I wish," Snape bit out darkly. "And lest you get complacent and think you're being unconditionally accepted, Black, let me remind you that not even Rowan Myfanwy dared to be in the same room with you. She, obviously, sees you for what you really are."

Sirius lunged forward and grabbed Snape by the collar. "No one would miss you that much, you know," he growled dangerously.

"Sirius! Severus!" Dumbledore's voice cracked sharply between the two. "Let us concentrate on the present, if you will, and leave private vendettas out for the moment!"

Lupin quickly stepped up behind Sirius and laid a warning hand on his shoulder; McGonagall did the same with Snape while favoring him with a sternly disapproving look. Snape merely glared disdainfully at the two Marauders before nodding to Dumbledore.

"Of course, Headmaster. Without Miss . . ." Snape stopped and corrected himself with a sneer. "Professor Myfanwy's expertise in this area I cannot give you the entire details of the process, however, the Dark Lord is apparently devoting some of his attention away from Potter and attempting to replicate the Amulet of Achidnae. Though with only limited success thus far." Lupin grasped the arms of his chair tightly and both Sirius and Flitwick paled slightly. Even Dumbledore and McGonagall looked troubled.

"You are sure of this, Severus?" Dumbledore asked at length. Snape nodded.

"Yes, Headmaster. And I am to assume that you have taken precautions with the artifact itself?"

"The Amulet itself is both secret and safe,"

Dumbledore assured him. "No harm can come to it or its master within these walls."

At that moment the door whispered open, admitting a slender black cat with a letter in its mouth. Orion leaped lightly onto Dumbledore's desk, deposited his burden then hopped down. He padded silently over to Sirius and swished his tail once before leaping up and appropriating his lap. Sirius looked at the faeracat awkwardly for a moment before tentatively petting him. Orion began purring almost immediately, turning his bi-colored gaze from Sirius to Dumbledore. Dumbledore regarded the cat with amusement before picking up the letter and carefully browsing through its message. He kept his face carefully controlled as he looked up, meeting the curious gazes around him.

"A letter. From Wormtail and addressed to Rowan," he told them, ignoring the sudden murderous fury in Sirius and Lupin's faces. "This is not the first time he's contacted her, nor do I believe it will be the last."

"What does he think he's doing?" Sirius demanded. Lupin looked disgusted but fairly calm; he'd seen the letters before.

"Garnering support," Snape answered condescendingly. "Wormtail's position with the Dark Lord isn't secure. Myfanwy's the only one on our side that would possibly listen to him."

"Listen? Headmaster, she can't possibly be considering forgiving that spineless monster! Even Rowan isn't that forgiving!" Lupin protested.

"Oh, maybe not forgive, Remus," Sirius glowered. "But trust enough to get herself killed? Possibly."

"You may be very thankful of that forgiving trait in the future, Sirius," Dumbledore reprimanded mildly. Sirius lowered his eyes guiltily. Dumbledore stood. "Well, Severus, if that is all we'll let you return to your rooms for some rest."

"Thank you, Headmaster, but I need to speak with Myfanwy first," Snape responded wearily, the rigors of the past few months finally catching up to him. "I've yet to discover how much damage her coddling of my students has done."

Even after the feast, Harry, Ron, Hermione and (surprisingly) Ginny lingered, hoping for more information from Dumbledore or the other Professors. When they finally began garnering strange looks from Professor Myfanwy they began making their way back to the common room. Midway Harry stopped and listened for a moment as Snape's voice caught his ear, while the other three continued walking. Distantly he heard Snape speaking softly to Professor Myfanwy. Myfanwy, he realized, hadn't attended the meeting! Which meant that Snape would be recapping it for her!

Harry quickly grabbed Ron as soon as they reached the portrait hole and yanked him up the stairs to their dormitory. "What? Harry, what are you doing?"

"The Order's had a meeting tonight," Harry began rooting through his trunk. "I want to know what they talked about." Ron looked at him like he was daft. He'd heard, of course, about Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix. Most of his family was involved in one way or the other.

"Harry! Even with the Invisibility Cloak, we can't eavesdrop on Dumbledore!"

"No," Harry agreed, pulling out the shimmery Invisibility Cloak and the Marauders' Map. "But we can on Myfanwy."

"No we can't!" Ron protested immediately. Harry glanced at Ron in shock.

"Why not?"

"Hermione," Ron answered, folding his arms. "She's a prefect, remember? She'd never let us."

"Then we don't tell her," Harry shrugged, activating the Map and draping the cloak over them both.