Later that day Clara and Rose were helping the kids with some cleaning
in one of the rooms. Mr Weasley had disappeared with the CD Player. No one
knew where he had gone but they occasionally heard strange metallic noises
as of things being blown apart and then odd blasts of music. A while later
he had reappeared with the CD player in his hands, good as new, much to
Clara's relief.
"It's.It's amazing!" He said beaming at them all, "There's this red light inside it that reads the erm.."
"CD," prompted Clara.
"CD, yes. It reads the CD! And, and then the sound comes out of these," he pointed to the speakers, ".wow," he added. Clara and Rose looked at one another and tried not to giggle.
As the evening drew nearer the kitchen was tidied and arranged for the meeting. The younger ones were given dinner and then told to go upstairs. This was accompanied by much moaning, mainly by the twins, but no one could argue with Mrs Weasley once she had her mind set on them doing something.
Clara and Rose sat nervously in the kitchen while the others bustled around them. Having never been to a meeting before they didn't know what to expect. Wine was placed out and goblets just like the night before and scrolls of parchment laid out.
"Arthur would you put that thing away please!" Mrs Weasley said sharply to her husband.
Mr Weasley jumped, mumbled an apology and slipped the CD that he had been looking at, making it catch the light of the flames, into his pocket. Rose glanced at Clara to see if she was panicking at all that the CD might be damaged as it was a rather favourite album of hers but saw her laughing to herself at Mr Weasley's guilty look instead.
There came a clang of the doorbell upstairs followed by a high-pitched yelling. Mrs Black's painting had woken up. Sirius stood up a furious look on his face, followed by Lupin.
"I keep telling them not to ring the bloody bell!" Sirius growled as he stormed out the door. They could hear him storm upstairs and yell. "SHUT UP YOU OLD HAG! WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP!" A moment or so later the screaming stopped.
"I do hope we'll be able to find a spell to get that off." Said Mr Weasley looking up at the ceiling. "It really doesn't help to improve Sirius' mood." The door opened and Dumbledore entered, followed by Mad Eye Moody, his magical eye swivelling around the room and noticing the girls. He nodded towards them.
"You must be Clara and Rose." He said in his deep growling voice.
"Mad Eye right?" Guessed Clara politely. He nodded. "Clara." She said and smiled, trying not to be unnerved by the eye.
Lupin walked in behind them looking out of breath and Sirius followed pulling his black hair out of his eyes, looking very annoyed. No sooner had they sat down, the doorbell went off again and again it was accompanied by the screams of Mrs Black. Yet again Lupin and Sirius went upstairs to deal with it. Clara looked at Rose.
"Happy bunny." She said and Rose knew she was commenting on Sirius and nodded back.
They heard footsteps coming down the stairs and in strode a tall man, dressed entirely in black. Severus Snape the Potions Master at Hogwarts, soaked through and wearing a distinct 'slapped arse' look on his face.
"Ahh Severus. Nice to see you." Said Dumbledore, who had taken a seat at the head of the table. "Right I think everybody is here. We might as well get down to business."
The meeting started. General news was talked over. What was going on at the Ministry and other goings on in the Wizarding world.
"Of course they still refuse to admit Voldermort has returned. I don't know if they're ever going to change their minds until he actually does something. More's the pity." Said Lupin bitterly.
Clara and Rose sat and listened. Joining in the conversation when they could. Listening eagerly to news that they had not heard. There was not much new going on it seemed lately. All the known Death Eaters, followers of Lord Voldermort, seemed to have been lying low or carrying on as normal as if all the talk of Voldermort's return was not happening. Conversation then turned to the new school year that would be starting in a few weeks time.
"I have been thinking." Said Dumbledore. "With Hagrid away, unable to teach Care of Magical Creatures, and no teacher as yet to fill the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts classes, it would be wise of us not to waste this opportunity to get some more of our Order into the school to be able to watch over things." He looked at Rose and Clara who were sitting to his left. "I was wondering, how would you feel about teaching?" Both the girls took a moment to let the question sink in. Then they looked at each other.
"Well, I wouldn't mind. If we had a little help that is." Said Clara slowly.
"Of course." Nodded Dumbledore. "We would not leave you to teach without guidance. Does that mean you accept the offer?" Again they both looked at each other and nodded. "Yeah. Yes we do." Said Rose with a smile.
"Excellent." Beamed Dumbledore, leaning back in his chair. "Now comes the question who wishes to teach what."
"I wouldn't mind teaching the Defence Against the Dark Arts." Said Rose. She didn't notice the irritated twitch of Snape's face. "I've had, err, first hand experience. Plus Clara knows about the Magical Creatures side more than me." And she looked at her friend who nodded in agreement.
"I could give Rose lessons. That's if she wouldn't mind?" Said Lupin quickly. Rose looked at Lupin across the table and didn't hide the grin that crept across her face unwillingly. "I'd be very grateful." No one noticed Clara roll her eyes.
"Well that's settled then. Is everyone happy with this?" Asked Dumbledore. There was a murmur of agreement but Dumbledore did not smile.
"Sirius?" He asked. "Would you like to say something." Sirius, who had not mumbled an agreement along with the others, looked up.
"I don't see why there should be more Members of the Order at Hogwarts. Wouldn't it be more useful for them to be out getting more information.?"
"Sirius. We already have people out collecting information." Started Mr Weasley but Sirius interrupted him.
"Not enough if you ask me."
"Well nobody did ask you." Snape's lip curled as Sirius gave him a fierce look but bit his tongue.
"Remember one of our main priorities is to look out for Harry." Said Lupin. "Voldermort," There was a slight shudder from some sitting at the table. "Will no doubt be trying to find a way to get Harry as he's always done."
"He's not a child." Snapped Sirius.
"No one's saying he is." Said Clara. "All we're saying is that it makes sense to have people being able to watch out for him."
"Oh who asked you?" Said Sirius sharply.
"No one." Replied Clara loudly. "But seeing as it's a matter that concerns me I think I have a right to have a say."
"Harry doesn't need people babysitting him." Sirius said, now looking angrily at Clara.
"And believe me." Replied Clara, her voice getting louder. "I have no intention of 'babysitting' him. I've more important things to do than follow him round like a minder."
"Well there's no point in you being there then." Said Sirius, rising to his feet and leaning forwards on the table. Clara determined she was not going to be intimidated by this stood up too to face him.
"I said I wouldn't follow him round like a minder." Her voice louder now. "I didn't say I wouldn't look out for him. That would be my point for being there."
"I'm just thinking of Harry." Sirius snapped back his face looking angrier by the minute his voice nearly a shout. "As his godfather I have the right."
"No one said you didn't have the right." Clara shouted back. There noses were almost touching, "We're thinking of Harry too otherwise why the bloody hell would be here?!" The rest of the group watched them in silence. Lupin and Rose looked at each other with such looks that they nearly burst out into fits of laughter, but instead managed to stifle it. But Clara and Sirius both heard and glared down at their friends beside them.
"What!" They said angrily.
"I think that's enough now you two." Said Mrs Weasley loudly as Sirius and Clara glared at each other again. "Sit down."
They continued to glare. Mrs Weasley coughed loudly. Slowly they sat back down in their chairs, folded their arms and looked away finally. Their faces were not so much dark as thunderclouds, as full-blown tornados.
"Right. Well." Said Dumbledore cheerily. "I guess that settles it. When the New Year starts, we'll have two new teachers joining our faculty. More wine anyone?"
"It's.It's amazing!" He said beaming at them all, "There's this red light inside it that reads the erm.."
"CD," prompted Clara.
"CD, yes. It reads the CD! And, and then the sound comes out of these," he pointed to the speakers, ".wow," he added. Clara and Rose looked at one another and tried not to giggle.
As the evening drew nearer the kitchen was tidied and arranged for the meeting. The younger ones were given dinner and then told to go upstairs. This was accompanied by much moaning, mainly by the twins, but no one could argue with Mrs Weasley once she had her mind set on them doing something.
Clara and Rose sat nervously in the kitchen while the others bustled around them. Having never been to a meeting before they didn't know what to expect. Wine was placed out and goblets just like the night before and scrolls of parchment laid out.
"Arthur would you put that thing away please!" Mrs Weasley said sharply to her husband.
Mr Weasley jumped, mumbled an apology and slipped the CD that he had been looking at, making it catch the light of the flames, into his pocket. Rose glanced at Clara to see if she was panicking at all that the CD might be damaged as it was a rather favourite album of hers but saw her laughing to herself at Mr Weasley's guilty look instead.
There came a clang of the doorbell upstairs followed by a high-pitched yelling. Mrs Black's painting had woken up. Sirius stood up a furious look on his face, followed by Lupin.
"I keep telling them not to ring the bloody bell!" Sirius growled as he stormed out the door. They could hear him storm upstairs and yell. "SHUT UP YOU OLD HAG! WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP!" A moment or so later the screaming stopped.
"I do hope we'll be able to find a spell to get that off." Said Mr Weasley looking up at the ceiling. "It really doesn't help to improve Sirius' mood." The door opened and Dumbledore entered, followed by Mad Eye Moody, his magical eye swivelling around the room and noticing the girls. He nodded towards them.
"You must be Clara and Rose." He said in his deep growling voice.
"Mad Eye right?" Guessed Clara politely. He nodded. "Clara." She said and smiled, trying not to be unnerved by the eye.
Lupin walked in behind them looking out of breath and Sirius followed pulling his black hair out of his eyes, looking very annoyed. No sooner had they sat down, the doorbell went off again and again it was accompanied by the screams of Mrs Black. Yet again Lupin and Sirius went upstairs to deal with it. Clara looked at Rose.
"Happy bunny." She said and Rose knew she was commenting on Sirius and nodded back.
They heard footsteps coming down the stairs and in strode a tall man, dressed entirely in black. Severus Snape the Potions Master at Hogwarts, soaked through and wearing a distinct 'slapped arse' look on his face.
"Ahh Severus. Nice to see you." Said Dumbledore, who had taken a seat at the head of the table. "Right I think everybody is here. We might as well get down to business."
The meeting started. General news was talked over. What was going on at the Ministry and other goings on in the Wizarding world.
"Of course they still refuse to admit Voldermort has returned. I don't know if they're ever going to change their minds until he actually does something. More's the pity." Said Lupin bitterly.
Clara and Rose sat and listened. Joining in the conversation when they could. Listening eagerly to news that they had not heard. There was not much new going on it seemed lately. All the known Death Eaters, followers of Lord Voldermort, seemed to have been lying low or carrying on as normal as if all the talk of Voldermort's return was not happening. Conversation then turned to the new school year that would be starting in a few weeks time.
"I have been thinking." Said Dumbledore. "With Hagrid away, unable to teach Care of Magical Creatures, and no teacher as yet to fill the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts classes, it would be wise of us not to waste this opportunity to get some more of our Order into the school to be able to watch over things." He looked at Rose and Clara who were sitting to his left. "I was wondering, how would you feel about teaching?" Both the girls took a moment to let the question sink in. Then they looked at each other.
"Well, I wouldn't mind. If we had a little help that is." Said Clara slowly.
"Of course." Nodded Dumbledore. "We would not leave you to teach without guidance. Does that mean you accept the offer?" Again they both looked at each other and nodded. "Yeah. Yes we do." Said Rose with a smile.
"Excellent." Beamed Dumbledore, leaning back in his chair. "Now comes the question who wishes to teach what."
"I wouldn't mind teaching the Defence Against the Dark Arts." Said Rose. She didn't notice the irritated twitch of Snape's face. "I've had, err, first hand experience. Plus Clara knows about the Magical Creatures side more than me." And she looked at her friend who nodded in agreement.
"I could give Rose lessons. That's if she wouldn't mind?" Said Lupin quickly. Rose looked at Lupin across the table and didn't hide the grin that crept across her face unwillingly. "I'd be very grateful." No one noticed Clara roll her eyes.
"Well that's settled then. Is everyone happy with this?" Asked Dumbledore. There was a murmur of agreement but Dumbledore did not smile.
"Sirius?" He asked. "Would you like to say something." Sirius, who had not mumbled an agreement along with the others, looked up.
"I don't see why there should be more Members of the Order at Hogwarts. Wouldn't it be more useful for them to be out getting more information.?"
"Sirius. We already have people out collecting information." Started Mr Weasley but Sirius interrupted him.
"Not enough if you ask me."
"Well nobody did ask you." Snape's lip curled as Sirius gave him a fierce look but bit his tongue.
"Remember one of our main priorities is to look out for Harry." Said Lupin. "Voldermort," There was a slight shudder from some sitting at the table. "Will no doubt be trying to find a way to get Harry as he's always done."
"He's not a child." Snapped Sirius.
"No one's saying he is." Said Clara. "All we're saying is that it makes sense to have people being able to watch out for him."
"Oh who asked you?" Said Sirius sharply.
"No one." Replied Clara loudly. "But seeing as it's a matter that concerns me I think I have a right to have a say."
"Harry doesn't need people babysitting him." Sirius said, now looking angrily at Clara.
"And believe me." Replied Clara, her voice getting louder. "I have no intention of 'babysitting' him. I've more important things to do than follow him round like a minder."
"Well there's no point in you being there then." Said Sirius, rising to his feet and leaning forwards on the table. Clara determined she was not going to be intimidated by this stood up too to face him.
"I said I wouldn't follow him round like a minder." Her voice louder now. "I didn't say I wouldn't look out for him. That would be my point for being there."
"I'm just thinking of Harry." Sirius snapped back his face looking angrier by the minute his voice nearly a shout. "As his godfather I have the right."
"No one said you didn't have the right." Clara shouted back. There noses were almost touching, "We're thinking of Harry too otherwise why the bloody hell would be here?!" The rest of the group watched them in silence. Lupin and Rose looked at each other with such looks that they nearly burst out into fits of laughter, but instead managed to stifle it. But Clara and Sirius both heard and glared down at their friends beside them.
"What!" They said angrily.
"I think that's enough now you two." Said Mrs Weasley loudly as Sirius and Clara glared at each other again. "Sit down."
They continued to glare. Mrs Weasley coughed loudly. Slowly they sat back down in their chairs, folded their arms and looked away finally. Their faces were not so much dark as thunderclouds, as full-blown tornados.
"Right. Well." Said Dumbledore cheerily. "I guess that settles it. When the New Year starts, we'll have two new teachers joining our faculty. More wine anyone?"
