Author: Elora Dark
Title: Harry Potter and the Trials to Come
Rating: R for language and implied, not graphic, sex
Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling (because if I were I would not have killed Sirius in the first place), nor do I make any money from this story. All characters, except Roan Draven, belong to Ms. Rowling.
Chapter 3: The Meeting"Oh, I do hope Roan will keep her temper!" Hermione whispered as the gang slowly ascended the stairs.
"What do you mean, Hermione?" Ron asked.
"The meetings about Roan, whether she's…a liability in the Order." Hermione said faintly.
"What do you mean liability? She saved Sirius's life!" Harry almost shouted.
"I know that , I'm not the one that called the meeting. Besides she broke major magical laws when she brought Sirius back." Hermione said defensively.
"But he wasn't dead. The rest of them, they would have just let him rot there forever!" Harry spat. The others gave him a wider berth on the staircase, knowing that his temper was near its boiling point.
"Ladies and Gentleman, let us not fear that outcome of said meeting," George said.
"Here for your approval," Fred said.
"Extendable ears version 2.0, regularly 9 galleons, but for family," George said as he and Fred handed each what looked like a long flesh colored piece of string. A few moments later seven extendable ears descended down the stair railing and crawled under the dining room door.
"Those magiks have been outlawed for centuries! Anything could have come out of that veil, you stupid girl!" Snape's angry voice immediately broke through.
"It was the only way I could get to Sirius!" Roan yelled back.
"And I thank you again, it was dreadfully dark there," Sirius said in an off-hand tone.
"This is no time for jokes, Black. We're here to determine if this rash, ignorant child can be trusted to be a teacher at Hogwarts! I would think , being Potter's guardian, you would want to know if she's capable of teaching him anything important." Snape replied.
"I may be rash and young but I am not ignorant! I have seen the Dark Arts in action. I have fought against Voldemort and his followers since I was a child. I defied my parents and almost died for it…on more than one occasion!" Roan shouted.
"Calm down, kid." Remus's calm voice whispered to Roan.
"Oh, yes we all know who your parents were!" Snape sneered.
"I am not my parents! I thought I proved that on my FIRSYT DAY at Hogwarts!" Roan yelled, "I knew what would happen if I went against my parents, against Voldemort!" at this there were several sharp intakes of breath, "And I still begged…begged the Sorting Hat not to put me in Slytherin!" Ron turned to look at Harry with raised eyebrows.
"Ah, yes the bleeding heart story," Snape simpered.
"That is enough!" Dumbledore's calm, clear voice ensued silence. "We are here to discuss necessary precautions that must be made for Roan's return to Hogwarts."
"Well I'll tell you right now, Headmaster, I am not going back to the Shrieking Shack unless I have Sirius or Remus to keep me company," Roan interjected, there were muffled laughs that followed. As if Sirius and Remus had put their fists in their mouths to keep from laughing out loud.
"Yes, right-o. I'm almost back to tip top shape. I think the Shrieking Shack will be a lovely vacation from this place, eh Moony?" Sirius's amused voice broke the silence.
"Dumbledore, how can you trust this… schoolgirl to teach?" Snape's exasperated voice once again filled the extendable ears.
"Because Severus," Dumbledore spoke more loudly to make sure all in attendance were listening, "She does have the experience."
"She may have links to the Dark Lord that have not been discovered." Snape hissed.
"And if I do , I will leave at once. Voldemort wants me dead, he wants me dead because my parents gave me power, power that belonged to him and those he imparted it on.," Roan drew a long shaky breath, "I can't even describe the feelings of hate and disgust towards my parents. Night after night they would come home with other people's blood on them. They would tell me of the muggles and wizards they killed to please the Dark Lord. How one day I be at his right hand, a willing vessel through which he could spread his dark magic," Roan choked, disgusted with the memories.
"If there is some lingering connection, beside the dreams and feelings, that binds me to his will…I will kill myself before he ever takes me. Dumbledore, Severus believe me when I tell you that I will lay down me life to make sure the Dark Lord is defeated. The lines will be drawn and those kids need to know what's coming. This war is going to be a thousand times worse than his last ascension, many wizards will die and I will do everything in my power to make sure that Harry is not one of them." Roan finished.
"How very touching, I suppose you and Black will be his guard dogs," Snape said in a barely audible whisper. At this there was the sound of a chair crashing; Harry amusedly thought that Sirius had lost his balance while propped up on two legs of his chair and fallen backwards. Instead there was the sound of a fight breaking out.
"Watch what you say to her, Snivellus!" Sirius shouted. Then the hollow 'thowck' of a fist making contact with a face was heard.
"Oh, Sirius you fool!" Mrs. Weasley's voice broke over the fight.
"Shut up, Molly! You've been on Sirius's back since the minute he returned!" Roan shouted at Mrs. Weasley.
"Don't you talk to my wife that way!" Mr. Weasley shouted at Roan.
"Fuck the both of you, then!" Roan yelled back.
"Sirius, Padfoot! Damn it! Break it up!" Remus's voice echoed over the extendable ears as he pulled Sirius off Snape. A loud bang broke the sounds of the fight.
"Act…acting like a…like a muggle!" Snape gasped, "Haven't…enough strength…to…use…your…wand!"
"No…I just thought…you needed to learn…some manners, and a fist…to that…greasy face of yours…would teach…you!" Sirius answered, "Let go Moony, I'm done."
"Gentlemen, Ladies if we can remember why we called this meeting," Dumbledore once again spoke. "Roan you will be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher! Severus if you will be kind enough to brew the wolfsbane potion for her, it would be much appreciated."
"Yes, of course Headmaster," Severus answered.
"If you see anything, Roan, sense anything relating to Voldemort or Harry I am to be informed at once is that understood?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, Headmaster." Roan answered, she sounded very young and alone.
"Very well, meeting adjourned." Dumbledore said.
Seven pairs of extendable ears were retracted seconds before the dining room door was opened. "Hurry up, here comes mum and dad," Ginny whispered.
They separated and went to their rooms, just jumping under the blankets before Mrs. Weasley opened the door to check on them.