Chapter 42 – The Order of the Phoenix

A/N – Okies, took longer than I'd hoped, 43 shouldn't be too far behind.  Sorry for the double post of 41 but hey!  This ff.net crisis has had us all confused right?… Okay, maybe I'm just dim, but that hardly matters when there's a chapter for you to read now does it?

This chapter is dedicated to rangerprincess for her extremely long reviews…

Chapter 42 – The Order of the Phoenix

When Dumbledore led Sirius and Lupin into the Gryffindor Chamber they were both surprised at how many people there were.

Dumbledore smiled at them.

"I was asked by the Diggorys about the Order after last year and when I told them about this meeting they insisted on coming, there are others who are new as well, but I'm sure you'll recognise them all."  He said quietly.

The general hubbub that occurs whenever many acquaintances meet in one room was generating quite a bit of noise in the chamber but it quietened as Dumbledore stepped up onto the small platform at the front.  Sirius and Remus had stayed at the back in the shadows not wanting to be recognised.

"Alright everyone, there's a lot to talk about, so can we get started."

Dumbledore's voice brought an abrupt silence and all eyes were on him.

"Okay, now firstly, in my letters to you all I have already explained this but I feel it should be repeated that our friend Sirius Black was indeed imprisoned for crimes which he did not commit.  He has been on the run for over 2 years and he is here today by my invitation."

Remus could feel Sirius shrinking back into the shadows waiting to see people's reactions.  People were glancing around for Sirius but all seemed calm and rational.  In the end Sirius and Remus emerged from their hiding place and Remus was relieved to see Sirius smile at everyone and that the smile was unanimously returned, although, mused Remus, it is rather hard not to smile back when Sirius grins at you.

Dumbledore was also smiling when he cleared his throat, re-catching everybody's attention before going on to describe their situation, and Harry's condition.

"Obviously the Anillia Equanimia is a very powerful spell, but it is not without a counter charm.  And that is what I wanted to discuss now.  The only way to guarantee Harry can remember everything is to perform a powerful memory restoring charm.  I am afraid that the other effects of the spell will have to be overcome by Harry himself, but it should be easier for him with his memory restored."

There was a short silence.

 "Is Harry's back repairable?"  Asked Arthur Weasley.

"Obviously we hope that more can be done to heal it, but I am afraid that the dagger which caused the damage was laced with anti-healing hexes.  In truth, Harry was lucky to survive it at all."  Said Dumbledore solemnly.

The chamber fell to silence once again.

Amos Diggory stepped forward from behind Professor McGonagall and said,

"What do you need us to do Dumbledore?"

Several others in the room seemed equally eager to help.

"It will take many of us to create a charm powerful enough to reverse the effects of the Anillia Equanimia, perhaps even all of us in this room."

~~~*~~~*~~~

Ginny sat watching Harry sleep.  They had succeeded in waking Fudge but he'd been in such a state of panic that they'd had to give him some calming potion, which had left him feeling too drowsy to cause any problems.  Madam Pomfrey was now giving Professor Inigma a last check over.  And Ginny had nothing to do.

She slowly realised how tired she was and listening to Harry's even breathing made her eyes start to droop.  Eventually she slept slumped over the table next to Harry's bed.  And when Mrs Weasley came in to see her, she didn't have the heart to wake her daughter.

Instead she went over to where Dawn Inigma and Madam Pomfrey were having a tense conversation.

"I would have known if that were the case!"  Insisted Inigma.

"Some poisons are barely detectable if you're looking for them!"  Argued Madame Pomfrey,

"Besides I've never misdiagnosed such blatant use of heart-snare poison in my career."

And with that, Poppy stormed away looking very put out.

Molly Weasley smiled at Dawn who already looked penitent.

"I didn't mean to upset her.  It's just… as an auror I was trained to detect poisons pretty thoroughly."  She said shifting beneath her sheets.

"Who do you think it was dear?"  Asked Molly gently.

Dawn frowned

"It could have been anyone at the ministry really.  I just can't believe that anybody would want to kill me, what would be the point?"

Molly looked shocked.

"There are plenty of people who would like to see the ministry loose another auror, would like to pick off one of Dumbledore's teachers, just like to hurt innocent people… And they all go around in black cloaks and masks."

Dawn shook her head in disbelief.

"You think it was a death eater?  In the ministry?"  She asked.

"From what I've heard there are several.  Besides, with all the chaos in the ministry at the moment it wouldn't have been so dangerous as far as being caught goes."

Dawn had to agree with that and she pulled her blanket protectively up to her neck.

"But you don't need to worry about it now dear."  Said Molly gently, "You're at Hogwarts, and no-one here will hurt you."

The two women looked over at where Harry and Ginny were sleeping.

"There's been talk going around that Harry might be Ginny's guardian."  Said Inigma sleepily.

"Yes, I don't know what to think of it all to be honest."  Said Molly.  "They're just kids, Harry's been like a sort of extra son to me since he and Ron became friends.  I can't imagine the sort of pressure he gets put under, and so young."

Dawn nodded in agreement.

"Well, he's got some peace for now it seems."  She mumbled before she too fell asleep.

Molly smiled, if loosing his memory and being stuck in bed was what constituted peace for Harry then it was a sad thing indeed.  Molly made a vow to herself that next summer she would make sure that Harry got some real peace.  Happy with that Molly Weasley left the hospital wing's sleeping occupants and with a small chuckle to herself she went to find her sons feeling a strong desire to hug them all tightly.

~~~*~~~*~~~

Ron Neville and Hermione had decided to make their way to the library.  They hadn't worried about meeting Filch in the corridors.  The annoying old caretaker had not been seen since the end of last year.  A wild variety of rumours had been circulating varying from ones that he had been eaten by the giant squid, to ones that he'd left to join Voldemort.

Hermione however had asked professor McGonagall who had eventually revealed with a slight frown that Filch had been caught stealing some of Snape's potions ingredients in an attempt to make a potion to enhance magical performance, which was not only illegal but also very dangerous.

Needless to say Filch had been forcibly retired and had fled somewhere a very long way away in fear of Lord Voldemort's return.

When she'd told Ron he'd appeared quite angry that Filch had escaped punishment for the illegal, if unsuccessful potion.  Hermione had explained to Ron that squibs would have very little hope of escaping the wrath of Voldemort and wouldn't even have their own magic to protect themselves.

When they reached the library they were glad to see that Madame Pince, the librarian was absent.

They set about looking at a variety of books to find out what they could about wandless magic, which was something that Hermione had been meaning to do ever since that memorable day by the lakeside.

~~~*~~~*~~~

The meeting had continued and eventually all of the members had agreed to the plan of action and most had turned to catching up on missed years.

There was a healthy babble of noise again by the time it happened.

There was a loud banging on the door of the chamber.  The noise persisted and everybody went quiet looking towards Dumbledore.

He strode across the room and opened the door.

There stood Severus Snape ashen faced and shivering.

"H-Horrible… I've n-never seen…"  He trailed off with a violent shudder.

The entire Order was staring at him through the small door way and Dumbledore, seeing this led Snape towards his office.

Part way down the corridor however Snape stopped him and hissed urgently.

"You have to come right away, out-outside.  It's probably too late… But."

"What is it?"  Asked Dumbledore concernedly.

"Hagrid."  Said Snape before he turned slightly green and shuddered again as if suppressing the need to vomit.

"Please c-come now."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A/N

Okay, I really am sorry.  I really don't mean to do these cliff-hangers, but I promise, next chapter I'll try very hard not to have a cliff-hanger… I promise I'll try.

Thanks to all reviewers.  You make this story worth writing!

Oh, and check it out!  New chapter of Auriellis…. 3 in total!  I amaze even myself, *puzzled look at self*  …what for I couldn't really say, seeing as 3 measly chapters is not much.

Love

Jona

xxx