The Philosopher's Stone

Chapter Eleven

Interlude II

Meeting the Order

Hogsmeade

Hogshead

After months of putting, it off, Edward finally agreed to meet with a couple of members of The Order of the Phoenix. He still had his doubts but Remus and Severus both believed that, should certain members become informed of the intentions of their Leader they would join Edward's side on the matter.

Inside a dusty backroom in the rundown pub Edward and Severus waited for the arrival of Alistair Moody, Kingsley Shackbolt, and Minerva McGonagall. They were joined by Remus Lupin as well who had brought along Alphonse Elric. As the two entered Alphonse frowned at the small crowd, "Dad sent his best but felt it would be a poor idea to have both leaders gone from the country at the moment. He didn't explain, though I assume you know what he means."

"I do, don't concern yourself Al. The school is your priority." Edward nodded. "Everyone, this is my brother Alphonse Elric, Headmaster of the Xerxes Academy. I believe everyone has arrived now?"

"Yes, I believe so, let us begin I know we do not wish to linger away from Hogwarts for too long." Severus agreed.

"What is this about?" Minerva asked.

"Some time ago I asked Remus to arrange a meeting between us and the Elrics. It seems he finally passed on the message." Moody growled.

"Oh no, he passed on the message ages ago. I am a very busy man; it takes time to arrange my schedule for meetings." Edward said as he crossed his arms. "Perhaps we can get on with it, then. Severus and Remus seem to believe that I should inform you of the complete situation."

"That may be helpful." Minerva allowed. "I know you have suggested several times before that we don't know everything and have even suggested that you believe Albus to be an enemy. I assure you that he has the best intentions, even with his…personal issues."

"I used to believe that as well Minerva." Severus said quietly. "Then I learned the truth."

"Stop with the riddles and get on with it." Moody sighed.

"The Vow first. Everyone must take a vow not to repeat what you are told here today, for the safety of the child." Remus insisted and the other members reluctantly agreed.

"Very well." Edward stood so everyone was paying attention to him. "Eleven years ago, the Ministry of Magic asked for the aide of alchemists of Amestris in the matter of your war. I was the one selected to assess the situation and lend aide if possible. When I arrived, I was introduced to Albus Dumbledore. He proceeded to recite a prophesy. It was disturbing, even more so when I realized he had every intention of letting it play out and that my role was simply to LOOK like he had tried everything possible."

"No one has heard it. Only guesses." Moody protested. "We know that it's about the one who will defeat He Who Must Not Be Named, but not the exact wording or what it means."

"Dumbledore recited it to me directly, not expecting that I would understand what he intended." Edward said before shaking his head. "My primary duty as a research alchemist was to decipher riddles. It was not a hard one to decode.Either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. Do you understand what that means, what he intends?"

"What? What is it meant to mean?" Kingsley asked while Minerva and Moody paled.

"Is that an exact quote of the prophesy?" Moody demanded.

"It is a direct quote of what Dumbledore stated was the prophesy, yes. I haven't read the original. It seems to have been hidden away." Edward said.

"It would be in the Department of Mysteries, with all the others." Kingsley still confused.

"He can't mean to let it go as stated." Minerva said weakly.

"He does." Edward nodded. "I have confronted him with it. As have Severus and Remus. They are free to tell you, his intentions."

"He believes we have no choice but to allow the boy to die. He believes the boy to be a horcrux." Remus said, relieved that he could speak freely on the matter thanks to Edward's permission. "I have been in several arguments with him over the matter through the years, he has even threatened me more than once and limited me in my search for traitors to keep me from aiding in saving the child."

"The child is at risk in his care, though he feels a great deal of guilt over the matter, he is determined to allow the prophecy to play out as he believes it is intended." Severus added tiredly. "I and Remus are oathbound to keep the child's whereabouts and details hidden. It is to protect him from both Death Eaters and Dumbledore."

"If he truly believes this then why hasn't he gone after the boy?" Moody asked, on the fence on what to believe.

"Because many years ago, he made an agreement. Our Dad sent help with an attack on the school, in exchange Dumbledore cannot enter our borders." Alphonse said. "It was to keep Yuery safe. Despite several people telling him we already dissolved the tie mentioned in the prophesy he believes that it is still a threat and must happen."

"Tie?" Minerva asked.

"Horcrux." Severus said. "We have been hunting them down for years now, there are two left. Soon to be one, but Dumbledore believes Yuery to be one."

"Is that even possible?" Kingsley asked, growing steadily more frightened as the conversation had gone on.

"Of course, it is. Not advisable, but possible. How do you know he ain't" Moody said unhappily.

"Because, as we already said, that piece has been dealt with. Yes, Yuery did have a malignant soul piece attached to him, he no longer suffers from the affliction." Edward said. "He hasn't in years now, not since he was less than two. I can read souls, feel them…I would know if it had returned."

"Is that an alchemist thing?" Kingsley asked.

"Not exactly. Severus and I have both been taught to feel them as well, so that we can trace down the rest of the pieces." Remus said quietly.

"This is a lot to take in. We need time to think." Moody said.

"We will, of course agree not to speak of this meeting outside of those who were here." Minerva offered. She understood how important it was to keep this quiet. Moody nodded in agreement, already intending to bind himself to prevent anything from coming from him. As he did with any important secret meeting. After all, he knew that it was the only way to guarantee he couldn't be forced to pass on information.

"Not that you could, with the vow." Severus said with a nod. "I took it myself years ago."The others all nodded in agreement, disturbed by what they had learned tonight. Minerva knew she already believed them. It explained Albus' depression and self-destructive spiral in her opinion. He wasn't happy with what he had decided, but he had decided.

"What was this other matter? The one you say he has been blocking you from attending?" Minerva asked.

"Yes, and what does it have to do with Sirius Black?" Moody demanded. Everyone looked to Remus and Severus including the Elrics, who knew some of it but were not completely sure what it all meant.

"Sirius wasn't the traitor. He wasn't the Secret Keeper and Dumbledore knows it." Remus said tiredly. "Peter Pettigrew was their Secret Keeper, Sirius was a decoy, they believed me to be the traitor because of my condition and because Dumbledore had sent me to infiltrate the werewolves. I have been searching for a couple of years now a way to locate Pettigrew. He's still alive, I am certain."

"When we discovered this, we went looking for answers. Admittedly, we originally believed that Sirius was involved but had aide. It was then brought to our attention that he had been a decoy." Severus added. "We believe there to be other spies among the Order. Which would make sense, after all we were both Order spies in the Death Eaters."

"You cannot tell me you were always a double agent; I know you weren't originally." Moody grumbled.

"I wasn't. Then I learned what He intended, so I went to Dumbledore and begged his help. He agreed to help save them, the whole time intending to allow them to die and for that I can never forgive him…or myself for being foolish enough to believe him." Severus frowned. "I will not give excuses. I made a terrible mistake that cost me dearly."Minerva nodded along, and clearly sided with Severus on the matter. The Elrics both seemed to trust him as well, so Moody decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. Remus, aside from his condition, had not done anything to bring him into further question now that his secrets had been revealed here.

The meeting broke up shortly after that, with Remus and Alphonse leaving first, followed by Moody and Kingsley. Minerva, Severus, and Edward walked back to the castle together. As they walked, Minerva thought of one final question which she stopped them on the side of the road to ask. "If you are truly this concerned, and I believe you are, why are you and the boy here?"

"Severus convinced me it was the only way to get inside the castle. Dumbledore cannot be allowed to have a philosopher's stone. Not because I don't trust him, not that it is a question as far as that goes…" Edward explained as he looked around and reached out briefly to ensure they were alone. "No one can have a Stone. They cannot be, they are no better than a horcrux."

"Surely it can't be- Nicolas Flamel left it to him, surely it cannot be dark magic." Minerva asked.

"I do not think he truly knows what it is he's holding there…but yes, it is dark. It is forbidden." Edward frowned. "To make a stone, you need souls. Hundreds of souls."