Chapter 15: The Order of the Phoenix

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"Well, that's done," Sirius said, going out of the shack and stopping just outside to take in the beautiful woods. It had been an interesting meeting, to be sure. The Dark Lord was really taken with Harry. He didn't think the man had a kind bone in him anywhere, but he really did dote on Harry. "I'm glad you told us not to comment on his change of appearance, Snape," he said to the potions master. They had talked about it before Tom showed up.

"Yes, it is a sensitive subject to him," Severus said, bending the truth a bit. Voldemort hadn't mentioned it one way or another. He just didn't want Black to crack jokes to the Dark Lord. It would have made for one uncomfortable conversation and set things back a bit. "He was embarrassed on how messed up the ritual went that brought him back to life," he said, lying again. These two were just too easy to lie to.

"I was going to make a joke or two," Black confessed, as if proving the man right. There were some things he could think of, like how much the man improved by bringing his soul back, or how he could only improve from what he had been. They weren't all that funny, but they got the point across.

"Which would have gotten you hexed," Harry said, knowing that not even him being there would have saved his godfather from that. He was glad Snape had forewarned them. He thought Tom looked quite distinguished. He looked like a rich older gentleman.

"We'll floo home from Hogshead," Sirius said, dropping the subject, knowing that Harry was right. He didn't like side-along apparation. He had done it to get there, but it was too risky to do it twice in one day. That and he was getting tired.

"Okay," Harry agreed, following him. They left the front of the shack and walked towards Hogsmeade. It was still bright out and the sun came down through the trees on the path, lighting the way to the village.

Harry donned a conjured cap, which Sirius magicked up, and hid his scar free forehead and his untamable hair. They didn't want anyone to recognize him. There might be someone from the school who would tell Dumbles that he was out and about.

Sirius pulled his hood on his cloak. That was enough for him. He wasn't really worried about anyone recognizing him. They still tended to cross the street when they saw him coming. He knew it would be a long time before others trusted him to be among them. Too bad for them, he was a pretty nice guy.

"I will see you at the Order meeting tonight," Snape said, reminding them that there was one this evening.

"Damn, I forgot," the dogman said, snapping his fingers at the reminder. He had totally forgotten with all that was going on that he had agreed to host one. "I'll have Dobby make sure there's at least tea ready." While the Order had to supply their own dinner, he could make sure there was beverages. It was what any good host would do.

It was going on five in the evening and the meeting was at eight. They had time for a light dinner. If the Order wanted to eat, they had better bring their own food.

They parted at the road and the duo went to Hogshead and made their way to Grimmuald Place and had Dobby make something light for dinner. So, the happy elf made an easy Spaghetti Bolognese with thick garlic bread. It was delicious and they ate it up quickly.

Soon the members of the Order started to appear, and Sirius made sure to sit at the head of the table. He wasn't giving up that seat to anyone. If Dumbledore wanted to be seen, he could have the foot of the table.

Remus sat at his right and was talking to him about what they had got up to during the day. Sirius made sure to keep it to what they had done without mentioning Bones, Snape, or Tommy Boy. He mostly told him of their shopping and the visit from Tonks.

"You should not have taken Harry out of the house," the werewolf chastised, leaning forward a bit as to not be heard by everyone. He might be at odds with his friend right now, but he wanted him safe. "What if he had been seen?"

"We are not prisoners here," Sirius said, his tone hard. "I will not be kept in my own house like a criminal. I would think you would understand that," he added, some menace in his tone. He had told the werewolf all about how he felt during his time in Azkaban, and what it felt like even now. The dementors had done a real number on him, that he still felt it to this day.

"It isn't safe," Remus tried again, knowingly quoting Dumbledore. "You-Know-Who could have men anywhere," he added, hoping to get his friend to see it was dangerous. "They could take Harry, and then where would you be?" he tried to make him see that the danger was real.

"I am not convinced the man is back," the dogman said, lying through his teeth. "There hasn't been any sign that we are in any type of trouble," he said, pointing out the lack of evidence.

"If Dumbledore says he is, then he is. I will not have this debate with you again," Remus said with finality. He then turned to the person next to him, who happened to be Tonks, and started up a conversation.

Sirius just watched the back of the man's head for a minute, hoping that Tom could find out if it was potions or not. He was starting to think it was just plain hero-worshipping. That was even worse than brainwashing. He didn't know what he was going to do, and he might just resign himself to losing his friend.

The Order filed in and filled up the table, each bringing a dish to put in the center of the table to share, making Sirius glad they listened. Even Molly brought a large Shepherd's Pie. Soon enough, there was quite a spread to be eaten. Dobby made sure there were plates and silverware, and something to drink. Mostly tea, but there was water and coffee to be had as well.

The teens of the Weasley family and Harry were sequestered in the study, playing exploding snaps and some other card games. They munched on some snacks that Dobby provided, while the Order were settling down and waiting for Dumbledore to show up. He was running late, so they were serving themselves up some of the finger foods. The rest would be eaten at the end of the meeting.

It was a quarter past eight when the old man showed up with Minerva in tow. They seemed to be quarreling with one another, and that made the Order uncomfortable. It wasn't often that those two didn't see eye to eye.

"Thank you for waiting. I am sorry we are late," Dumbledore said, looking at the head of the table and sighing. He noted the foot of the table was left open and sat there. Minerva sat on his right. Kingsley was to his left.

"There is no news of Voldemort at this time," he started, only for McGonagall to stop him.

"Severus's mark is gone," she said with a huff. "I'd say that is news," she added, folding her arms. She had already spread the news to her co-workers, and they were all ecstatic. They all agreed that it was good news and that it meant that You-Know-Who was gone.

"Is it really?" Tonks asked in complete surprise. "Doesn't that mean that You-Know-Who is dead?" she asked, looking around the table for confirmation. She would have to tell Bones. She shared a look with Kingsley, and he seemed to be thinking the same. They would have to look at the marks on the prisoners in Azkaban to be sure. But if Snape's was gone, that had to mean something.

"No," Dumbledore said firmly. "That is why we were late. We made a stop at the Department of Mysteries. The prophecy is still in play. Voldemort is not dead. I do not know why Severus's mark is gone, but Voldemort is not dead," he reiterated, tapping his finger on the table for emphasis. He wanted to make sure they understood that.

The entire table, bar Severus and Sirius, shivered at the Dark Lord's name being mentioned twice in a row. Most really wished the headmaster didn't just casually throw that name around.

"Are you sure, Albus?" Molly asked, worrying her hands. She wanted it to all be over. She wasn't cut out for war. That and she worried for her children. They were all such close friends with Harry Potter, and he was being hunted by You-Know-Who.

"I am very sure," the old man said with a sad smile. Inside he was glad the prophecy was still active. That meant his plans were still in action. He didn't have to change anything.

"There are thousands of prophecies in that room. You have no clue if they are still in play or not. You have not proven that this prophecy is about Harry and Voldemort," Sirius argued, he wasn't going to make it easy for Dumbledore.

"The globe still shines bright. It has not been fulfilled," the headmaster stated as if it were fact.

"If you don't tell us what it says, we can't know for sure that it is true or not," Sirius reasoned, wanting to know the wording of the thing that got his best friend killed and his godson hunted.

"Alas, you will just have to take my word for it," Albus said, looking around the room at all the people that believed in him. They were wavering, and he knew that he might have to take some measures that he didn't like to do with adults. However, if there were to be a war, they needed to follow him unconditionally. Black was going to be an issue. "I do not want it to get back to Voldemort, and it will if too many people know it," he added, trying for reasonable. He pulled it off pretty well.

"What else is there for us to do?" Diggle asked, looking to the old man with admiration. He thought that Dumbledore could do no wrong, and if he said that You-Know-Who was back, then by Merlin, the man was back.

"We need to continue to guard the prophecy. Voldemort cannot get his hands on it," Dumbledore stated, running his hand down his beard like a wise man. "There is something else. There are some strange things happening at the ministry," he added, looking to Arthur, and waving for him to speak.

"Yes, there has been a rash of hiring and firing. It is unprecedented. Most of those that were fired had gotten their jobs through nepotism," the redhead said, like it was a good thing, just strange. He had lost three lay-abouts in is department, and they were replaced with people who actually liked their job.

"This warrants some concern," Albus said, looking around the table with his grave look.

"Why? It sounds like a good thing," Sirius said, a look of confusion on his face. Many others, including Arthur, looked much the same.

"It means that Voldemort is planning something," the old man said, his voice firm.

"That doesn't make a lick of sense. Wouldn't You-Know-Who want the purebloods in charge?" Podmore said, looking to Arthur for the answer. He was unsure what was happening. He wasn't the diehard fan of Dumbledore that Diggle was, but he fought for the rights of the common man.

Mr. Weasley said, "They are hiring purebloods, just more competent purebloods. Some of them are even blood-traitors." He was enthusiastic about the prospect. At least he was until he saw the headmaster's face. That look said it wasn't a good thing.

"That is disturbing," Albus said, not sure what Tom's plan was. If it was to have his people in place when he took over, then he was going about it the right way and in such a way that Dumbledore couldn't stop it. However, those that were being hired, weren't Tom's type of people. They were more likely to side with him, Albus, than they were to side with Voldemort. It just didn't make sense.

"I still don't see the issue," Sirius said, snagging a pastry from the dish in the middle of the table. It was from his kitchen, and Dobby made the best cakes. He took a bite, like he didn't have a care in the world.

"We can't let it go without investigating why it is happening," Dumbledore argued, getting miffed at the dogman's constant undermining.

"How are we supposed to do that?" was Sirius's next question. "Ask the new recruits why they were hired? Ask the Death Eaters why they are doing what they are doing? What is your game plan?" He was getting tired of them just blindly going about things. If they were to do things, they needed to have specific orders.

"This is not a game," Albus said, going for the most offensive thing he could use.

"Then quit treating it like one." Sirius snapped, throwing his cake on the table, where it splatted a bit. "We are doing your bidding, but you are not telling us how or why," he said, waving to the people around the table, who were just staring at the two of them.

Albus took a deep breath, "Just make a few inquiries," he said in his most gentle tone.

The rest of the room relaxed, bar Sirius and Snape, who was standing in the shadows. He had been there from the beginning, but he preferred to stand out of the way and be unnoticed.

"I'll ask around," Mad-eye Moody said, looking at Sirius with a queer look. His magical eye looking everywhere, like it was looking for hidden spies. He was looking at Snape and noted that the man did indeed have a bare arm. He didn't know what that meant, but he didn't trust the Death Eater.

"Thank you, Alastor," Albus said, sighing in relief that his friend didn't hold it against him that he had been held captive for almost an entire year. "Now, Arthur, why did you take your family home?" he asked the redhead.

"They are not well suited here," Arthur said with a nod in Sirius's direction. "We can have wards put up at the Burrow. Bill said he can do it tomorrow," he added with finality. "I won't have discord in my family, Albus. Molly and Sirius don't get along," he stated, putting his foot down, metaphorically.

"Very well, I am sorry it did not work out," Albus said, looking to Molly and shaking his head as if disappointed in her for not trying hard enough.

She hung her head a bit, but inside she was seething at the fact that Sirius made her look like a nagging hag. She would show that man not to mess with her. She wasn't sure how yet, but he would learn she was one not to be toyed with.

"That being said, I want to thank everyone for bringing a dish to eat. I don't think it is fair to rely on one person to feed the whole Order, even if that person is me," Sirius said, nodding his head to each and every one of them. "I offer my table for you to finish the meal when the meeting is over. That way you can take your dishes home," he said, with a flourish wave of his hand. Dobby would clean them quickly.

They all nodded back and were smiling. It was such a little thing, but it made them feel better to be recognized for it. That didn't happen often, and it was good to see.

"If there is nothing else, then I call this meeting to an end," Dumbledore said, getting up and going to the door. "Severus, a word," he said, waving the dour man to join him.

"Of course, Headmaster," Snape said, knowing he was about to be chastised for letting his secret slip.

The Order started serving up the remaining food, that had been kept warm with spells, and consuming it. There was a lot of cheerful chatter as they discussed what had been said at the meeting. There was some arguing about the missing mark, and what Sirius and Albus debated, but for the most part, it was friendly.

"Tonks, can I see you a moment," Sirius said, waving her over to him as he got up toward the stove. She agreed and followed him there. He put an arm over her shoulder and started loudly talking about her moving in, while putting a note in her other hand. "This is for Bones," he said in a whisper, then started talking boisterously about the room she could take on the family floor.

That got a few glares from Molly, who had been forced to stay on the first floor. She wanted to see the family floor, where she was sure there were dark objects that needed to be disposed. Albus had asked about them and had hinted that she be the person to clean out the Black Manor. Oh well, that was a missed opportunity now.

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The headmaster and potions master moved off to the hall where they would not be disturbed. Albus threw up some wards. He knew the teens were in the study, just down the hall and he and Severus would not be long.

"Why did you let Minerva know about your mark?" he asked in his most disappointed tone. "I was most clear on my instructions to keep it a secret."

"It was an accident," Snape said, lying blatantly. He was very good at it. He had lied to many people this day. It is what made him such a good spy. "I was scratching an itch and my sleeve slipped up. She saw my unmarred arm and inquired about it. I could not come up with a plausible excuse quick enough. She drew her own conclusion," he added, using the story he had concocted when he told the transfiguration professor, the morning he created the ruse.

"Alas, it cannot be helped," Albus said, believing him without a doubt, as usual. If there was one person he trusted above others, it was Severus. No matter what other people said about the potions master, he knew he would never betray him.

"I bid you good night then," Snape said, turning and leaving through the front door. He didn't go far though. No, he lay in wait. He had a mission this night.

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Later that night, in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor, Remus Lupin woke with a headache. He had no idea where he was, of course. He just knew he was in some dungeons. He wasn't chained to the wall, but there was a chain around his ankle. It was connected to the bed that was bolted to the floor. He was sweating from every pore of his body, which was sans clothes. He didn't have a stitch on.

He knew what was happening by the cramps in his guts. Someone was purging him. He didn't know why, but that could be the only reason he was sweating and felt like expelling everything he had eaten in the last three days.

Thank Merlin there was a toilet in the cell because he was making use of it right now.

He was there for an hour by himself. During that hour, his body ejected everything foreign in it.

He was a mess. His hair was plastered to his head, and his entire body was covered in bodily fluids. He had no wand to clean himself off with and there was no water. He stank to high heaven, and he could smell himself quite well, thanks to his enhanced senses. He was just too tired to care.

Just when he was about to pass out from exhaustion, a man came into his cell. He was an older man with salt and pepper hair. He was dressed in all white, like a healer.

"Are you a healer?" Remus croaked; his voice raw from throwing up so much.

"You may call me Tom," the man said in way of an answer. The man waved his hand and Remus was clean and covered in a sheet.

"Why are you doing this to me?" the werewolf asked as he sat up. His body was weak from the purging, but he'd be damned if he was going to lay there like a weak cub. He leaned against the wall near the bed. He dragged the sheet to his chest, so that his legs and lower torso was covered.

"It is feared that you have been potioned. I am merely putting those fears to rest. I believe that you are simply a fool and a coward," Tom said, conjuring a chair and sitting by the door. This was to make sure the wolf knew he could not leave. Not that Tom thought the wolf strong enough to move anywhere right now. He wanted him to know who was in charge.

"Potioned? I don't understand," Lupin stated, his face a mask of confusion. Who thought he was being potioned?

"You are a fool," the man said again, looking at the man sitting on the wall with something akin to disgust and pity.