HARRY POTTER AND THE BEGINNING OF THE END!
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Disclaimer- I don't own the likes of Harry Potter© and never will!
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CHAPTER THREE- THE NEW MEMBERS
The silence rang out through the stone kitchen, the only sound being Ron's happy whooping. Harry was staring into Dumbledore's blue, twinkling eyes. The headmaster of Hogwarts pointed one of his ancient hands to four spare seats at the left side of the table. His friends moved forwards and took their seats. Every eye was on Harry now. Every single gaze was upon him, looking at him, wondering. He took a deep breath, trying to lower his anger. He walked forward, never taking his eyes of Dumbledore's. He sat down between Hermione and Ron, thinking that now they were in the order they'd be safe. But, in his heart, he knew it wasn't for the best. They'd be more involved with Voldemort now. They'd be getting information about the dark side, and possibly even get assignments to do. No, this wasn't for the best.
"You don't have to join if you don't want to," came the soft voice of the headmaster in Harry's head, interrupting his thoughts. He looked away from those penetrating blue eyes, and turned them to Ron. He was grinning broadly and rocking with anticipation. Ginny was looking at her mum, who was still gazing sternly at them. Hermione was watching him, a concerned look in her eyes. Harry forced a smile, and nodded slightly. Dumbledore smiled.
"Good, good, now we have four new members who have joined us. They will be our eyes and ears amongst the students at Hogwarts. I'm sure to say that they will report any odd behavior to one of us if they see something or someone strange. Now, Remus, I believe you have something to share with us?" Dumbledore asked Lupin who was sitting opposite Harry. Harry noticed now that he was much paler than usual and an odd fire was blazing in his eyes. He knew that Lupin was now the last, true Maraulder now that Sirius was gone. He had lost two of his very best friends due to Voldemort, and that made Harry's stomach turn over inside. Lupin nodded and stood.
"I will be traveling very soon, to the places I know, home my kind," Harry knew that 'my kind' meant werewolves. "I am going to try and gather as many as I can to join us, before Voldemort does the same. I'm not sure if he has already recruited any, but that's what I am going to find out. The Second War will be much more terrible if Voldemort has got werewolves as some of his fighters. There will be many more lives destroyed if I do not go. I will be going to Mongolia, America, and I believe there are many werewolf treatment camps in the Amazon, Africa. I should be gone for most of the year, and I will need to go in silent. No one must know about it, as it is crucial that Voldemort doesn't get any ideas while I am good. I must go alone, as many will only listen to one of their kind. If you need to contact me for reasons unknown, go to Dumbledore and he will contact me." Lupin nodded once, than sat. Nobody spoke. Dumbledore stood.
"Thank you, Remus. The friendship of all magical creatures is very valuable, as we will need as many allies as possible to fight Voldemort. Our undercover worker is away right now and gathering information that will be of use to us. He should be back any day now. Kingsley, any word on what Fudge is doing?" Kingsley Shacklebolt stood, and everyone's gaze fell on him.
"The ministry is uproar at the moment," he said, "Reporters are coming in every day, wanting to know what happened at the end of last year at the ministry," Harry's stomach squirmed, "But Fudge is still refusing to speak. He is saying to everyone that what he saw last year was not the dark Lord, but a figure dressed and disguised as him, put together by Potter and you, sir." Harry's breath caught in his chest, how could Fudge!
"He is positioning Aurors in every Wizarding town, in extra caution in case you or Potter tries to create a public appearance. He has given orders to arrest either of you, if you are caught in one of those towns at a suspicious time. There has been no other talk, sir!" with that he sat down. Dumbledore's face was full of pent up anger. His eyes held no twinkle, they were cold, hateful.
"Thank you, Kingsley. Nymphadora Tonks will be taking the Defense Against the Dark Arts job this year at Hogwarts, just in case the need arises where an Auror will be of use." Harry, Ron and Hermione turned their eyes down the table, to where Tonks was beaming, her hair short and violet. "There will be another meeting early next week. Please keep me informed until then." With that everyone began to stand. Harry and his friends stayed where they were, Harry turned to see Lupin disappear out of the kitchen up the stairs. He rushed after him, weaving between the other Order members.
"Remus!" he said, slightly out of breath. He caught his old Professor pulling on a frayed traveling cloak. He smiled warmly at him.
"I thought I heard you come after me. Please be sure to keep out of trouble this year, wont you?" he said, patting him on the shoulder. He turned to open the door, but Harry stopped him by saying something.
"I know how much loosing Sirius meant to you. It must have hurt you more than me. You knew him your whole life, I only knew him a few years!" Lupin turned to face Harry; his grey eyes were sad and held unshed tears. He nodded and opened his arms. He gave Harry a fatherly hug, wiping away a solitary tear.
"It hurt us both, Harry, but he's still alive in all of us. Padfoot and Prongs both are, and they will ride again soon, you wait and see!" he smiled, touched his shoulder and disappeared out of the door he just opened. He gave a last look to Harry, smiled and disappeared with a pop.
"Good luck," Harry murmured, moving back to allow everyone else out of the door.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
Harry was once more back in the Black Library, reading the Defense book. He was up to chapter Thirteen- When You What to do, But Can't Think! He flicked the page over and still read. He had received the dream again, the same as before. It was almost two in the morning, and Harry was feeling slightly drowsy by now. He had only been asleep for an hour when he awoke in a cold sweat, the lingering cold chilling his bones and the picture of a rat in his head. That brought him here, determined to finish the book soon. The book tumbled to the ground, sounding a loud thud around the shadowy room. Harry had fallen asleep.
He was cold. So cold. His body was aching and sore. It was dark. Shadows leapt at him. Blood covered the floor. A rat scuttled across his hand. Water dripped steadily from a crack in the dark, cold, stone roof. He was so tired. Wind whipped overhead, howling through a crack in the ceiling. His head hurt worse than before, his hair fell about his face in bloody tangles. Footsteps echoed around the room above, coming closer. The stone door was unlocked. The clicked of bolts sliding met his ears. The door crept open, revealing a cloaked figure. He walked closer, and as he did, there was a slow increase in the pain in his head. Soon the figure loomed over him, and his head exploded with pain. It was Lord Voldemort.
Harry awoke, panting and clutching his head in agony. There were muffled footsteps and the library door was pushed open. Hermione and Ginny appeared, both in their night clothes and looking worried. Hermione spotted him first and practically ran over to him. Ginny scrambled after her.
"Harry, Harry, what's wrong? What happened?" she said softly, touching his hand with her own. He recoiled, still scratching at his head for the pain to stop. His breaths were cold and sharp. He just wanted it to stop. He wanted to be left alone; he wanted to be with Sirius. He wanted his parents. And it did stop. His scar stopped throbbing painfully and his breaths were still fast but they were warm and soft. He opened his eyes, to meet two pairs of soft brown. Hermione and Ginny knelt before him, both wearing looks of concern and worry. He smiled weakly.
"I'm fine, just-just a dream...." He scooped his book of the floor from between the two girls. Hermione arched an eyebrow, but said nothing. Ginny sighed.
"You're not fine, I'm gonna get my mum-!" Harry reached out and pulled her back.
"Don't" he said, a little too loudly. "I don't want you all to worry! It's nothing, just a dream!" he said plainly, pleading her to just leave it be. She moaned.
"Fine, fine, but you have to tell us about it!"
"Yes, Harry! What you were having last year was just a dream as well!" said Hermione, sitting cross legged on the floor. Ginny copied her. Both girls looked up at him with large brown eyes.
"Fine, but it's just a usual nightmare," he then went and told them about the dream he had, forgetting to mention he'd had it twice before. They cocked eye brows.
"So-so you-know-who was in it as well?" Ginny said unbelievingly. Harry nodded. "It's just a nightmare, nothing to worry about!" with that he stood up, stretched sat back down, and found his page again in his book. Ginny left. Leaving Hermione there, searching the shelves. Harry looked up.
"You don't have to stay up, you know, I wont just die of a dream!" Harry said, watching Hermione place her hands on her hips as an exact mimic of Mrs. Weasley.
"For your information, I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep!" she said, turning back to the shelves.
"And why would that be?" Harry asked, watching her pull a large book from the shelf.
"You aren't the only one having dreams," she said plainly. Seating her self in the study chair and propping the book open on her lap.
"Wanna tell me about them?" Harry asked, wanting to know what his best friend was having dreams about.
"Nothing much,"
"And that noting much is keeping you from sleeping?" he said cocking an eyebrow. Hermione turned her gaze to him and stared as if trying to see if he was trust worthy.
"Alright then. I keep dreaming I'm riding on a broomstick behind someone. We are flying over all this water, and then the person in front of me falls, and lands in the water. I don't know how to fly the broomstick and fall of too. I keep trying to get to the person who I was flying with, but they keep bobbing under the water. Soon I go under as well, and don't come up!" she sniffed, and kept staring into Harry's eyes. Harry was doing some fast thinking. Was this just a normal fear-fighting nightmare or something else?
"Umm-ok?" was all he said. Hermione smiled. "I'm sure it's nothing Hermione, just a nightmare about your fear of heights." He smiled, even though something was nagging at the back of his head. Hermione returned her smile then turned down to her book, as Harry did the same.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
The week passed quickly. Soon Harry, Hermione and the Weasley kids were running around in search of lost socks, quills or books. Harry had finished Kill or be Killed? Defend you Defenses and had found the books sequel- Kill or Be Killed? When Your Defenses Have Been Defended! And was up to the third chapter already. There would be an Order meeting that night, but Harry and co. weren't allowed to go to it, having been forced to pack for their return to school the next day, by Mrs. Weasley. Harry thought it strange that they weren't allowed to go to the Meeting, since they could be finished packing by then or could do it afterwards. Something must have happened.
Before everyone had gotten there for the meeting, Fred and George, having been out of touch when the other meeting had taken place, had turned up early. And they brought with them a new product- Invisible Ears.
"You can put them anywhere and no one can see them or find them unless you say Peeping Peter Says Show Yourself, and then they will reappear. But you have to say Peeping Peter says Hide Away! To get them to become invisible! They are much better than the Extendable Ears, because you don't have to have the other ear attached to it. You have a separate ear, which you put in your own ear to hear what's happening!" said Fred, handing over four Invisible Ears to Harry, saying they were a give since he had donated the money which had started their business off. They now had a shop in Hogsmeade, since their lot in Diagon Alley was too small and not many students went there, except when they were getting their school supplies. So they had moved it to Hogsmeade where all the students who visited the village could stock up each time they went there.
So that night, when Mrs. Weasley wasn't looking, Harry slipped the Invisible Ears into an old and rusty tin sitting on a shelf up near the roof. "Peeping Peter says Hide Away! Harry hissed quietly, watching the ears until he couldn't see them more. He just sat down in time, as Mrs. Weasley turned and placed their dinners in front of them. That night, after they were pushed out of the dungeon kitchen, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were sitting in the girl's room, their ears securely in place in their own lobes. They heard everyone take their seats then Professor Dumbledore speak.
His voice echoed around in the tin, it sounded distant and oddly voiced. "I have some bad news. I have owled Remus three times since he left for Mongolia, and the owls have all returned, letters still clasped to their feet. I have searched for him tirelessly in all the places were he said he'd be. But there is no word. I'm afraid we may have lost him. If we haven't heard from him in a week, I will have to send out a few of you to look for him. It may be too late. The werewolves may have already turned to Voldemort's armies and captured him. I'm afraid all we can do is hope he will be found perfectly fine, or he will write. I'm sorry for this news!" His voice echoed in the tin, and echoed in Harry's head. No, Lupin can't be gone! He can't be! Everyone was looking at his pale face, but they still listened.
"Is that why you didn't want the children to attend tonight's meeting?" came the shaky voice of Mrs. Weasley.
"Yes, it is, Molly. Harry has lost his parents and Sirius and if he hears that the last Maraulder has gone as well, I'd hate to think what he'd do and how he would act." Harry gritted his teeth. How many things was Dumbledore going to hide from him?
"And I have some more bad news. Our spy was meant to arrive back early yesterday morning, but he didn't turn up. He hasn't spoken or written to me for over a month. I'm not sure what to think of this. He hasn't done this before. I will give him time, Voldemort may have called him back for some reason and it may take him a while for it to be completed." Harry yanked the small fake ear out of his real one, and dropped it onto the bed. The others sis the same, all staring nervously at his friend.
"Lupin will be fine, Harry!" Hermione comforted her eyes wide and even though she said he'd be fine, Harry knew when he looked in her eyes that he wasn't. He'd lost another father. But he wouldn't give up! He wouldn't loose someone else dear to him. And what about Snape? He was that spy Dumbledore was talking about, what if Voldemort had found out he was a double-crosser. Harry hated to think what would happen to him.
"I wonder who that 'spy' Dumbledore was talking about?" interrupted Ron, looking at Harry curiously. He hadn't told them that he knew what role Snape played for the Order. Hermione rolled her eyes and moaned. "What?" Ron said, glaring at Hermione with angry blue eyes.
"Well, its obvious isn't it? Who was the one person who wasn't at the Meeting last week?" she said, looking at him. Ron's eyes lit up.
"Ah ha! I knew it, Moody!" Harry and Hermione tried to control their laughs, but Ron glared at Harry as well.
"If you think your so smart then, Harry then who is it?" he said, raising his eyebrows. Harry looked at Hermione, then to Ron. Should he tell?
"It's Snape." He said quietly, as if Death Eaters were lurking in the draw beside him. Ron snickered.
"As if Dumbledore would trust Snape to play spy! He'd probably give him all the wrong information!" he said disbelieving. Hermione sighed.
"It's Snape, Ron! It all makes sense! Snape never abandoned Voldemort; he just has switched sides and plays the double-crosser. So Voldemort still thinks Snape's his loyal servant, while he really is Dumbledore's spy!" Harry raised an eyebrow this time.
"Given this a lot of thought, haven't you, Hermione?" Hermione smiled happily.
"Yes, I have!" Ron huffed.
"Fine, then! But how come he didn't know about the Ministry thing!" Hermione snapped her eyes to Ron. "If he's the loyal Death eater then why didn't you-know-who tell him about luring Harry into a trap!" HA! How come then!" Hermione flicked her eyes to Harry. He was staring at Ron, anger in his eyes. He was growing paler, and his eyes were burning up.
"Harry-!" began Hermione. But he stood, and swept to the door. Hermione rounded onto Ron.
"Nice one?!" she yelled, running after her best friend.
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Words- 3,068
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Disclaimer- I don't own the likes of Harry Potter© and never will!
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CHAPTER THREE- THE NEW MEMBERS
The silence rang out through the stone kitchen, the only sound being Ron's happy whooping. Harry was staring into Dumbledore's blue, twinkling eyes. The headmaster of Hogwarts pointed one of his ancient hands to four spare seats at the left side of the table. His friends moved forwards and took their seats. Every eye was on Harry now. Every single gaze was upon him, looking at him, wondering. He took a deep breath, trying to lower his anger. He walked forward, never taking his eyes of Dumbledore's. He sat down between Hermione and Ron, thinking that now they were in the order they'd be safe. But, in his heart, he knew it wasn't for the best. They'd be more involved with Voldemort now. They'd be getting information about the dark side, and possibly even get assignments to do. No, this wasn't for the best.
"You don't have to join if you don't want to," came the soft voice of the headmaster in Harry's head, interrupting his thoughts. He looked away from those penetrating blue eyes, and turned them to Ron. He was grinning broadly and rocking with anticipation. Ginny was looking at her mum, who was still gazing sternly at them. Hermione was watching him, a concerned look in her eyes. Harry forced a smile, and nodded slightly. Dumbledore smiled.
"Good, good, now we have four new members who have joined us. They will be our eyes and ears amongst the students at Hogwarts. I'm sure to say that they will report any odd behavior to one of us if they see something or someone strange. Now, Remus, I believe you have something to share with us?" Dumbledore asked Lupin who was sitting opposite Harry. Harry noticed now that he was much paler than usual and an odd fire was blazing in his eyes. He knew that Lupin was now the last, true Maraulder now that Sirius was gone. He had lost two of his very best friends due to Voldemort, and that made Harry's stomach turn over inside. Lupin nodded and stood.
"I will be traveling very soon, to the places I know, home my kind," Harry knew that 'my kind' meant werewolves. "I am going to try and gather as many as I can to join us, before Voldemort does the same. I'm not sure if he has already recruited any, but that's what I am going to find out. The Second War will be much more terrible if Voldemort has got werewolves as some of his fighters. There will be many more lives destroyed if I do not go. I will be going to Mongolia, America, and I believe there are many werewolf treatment camps in the Amazon, Africa. I should be gone for most of the year, and I will need to go in silent. No one must know about it, as it is crucial that Voldemort doesn't get any ideas while I am good. I must go alone, as many will only listen to one of their kind. If you need to contact me for reasons unknown, go to Dumbledore and he will contact me." Lupin nodded once, than sat. Nobody spoke. Dumbledore stood.
"Thank you, Remus. The friendship of all magical creatures is very valuable, as we will need as many allies as possible to fight Voldemort. Our undercover worker is away right now and gathering information that will be of use to us. He should be back any day now. Kingsley, any word on what Fudge is doing?" Kingsley Shacklebolt stood, and everyone's gaze fell on him.
"The ministry is uproar at the moment," he said, "Reporters are coming in every day, wanting to know what happened at the end of last year at the ministry," Harry's stomach squirmed, "But Fudge is still refusing to speak. He is saying to everyone that what he saw last year was not the dark Lord, but a figure dressed and disguised as him, put together by Potter and you, sir." Harry's breath caught in his chest, how could Fudge!
"He is positioning Aurors in every Wizarding town, in extra caution in case you or Potter tries to create a public appearance. He has given orders to arrest either of you, if you are caught in one of those towns at a suspicious time. There has been no other talk, sir!" with that he sat down. Dumbledore's face was full of pent up anger. His eyes held no twinkle, they were cold, hateful.
"Thank you, Kingsley. Nymphadora Tonks will be taking the Defense Against the Dark Arts job this year at Hogwarts, just in case the need arises where an Auror will be of use." Harry, Ron and Hermione turned their eyes down the table, to where Tonks was beaming, her hair short and violet. "There will be another meeting early next week. Please keep me informed until then." With that everyone began to stand. Harry and his friends stayed where they were, Harry turned to see Lupin disappear out of the kitchen up the stairs. He rushed after him, weaving between the other Order members.
"Remus!" he said, slightly out of breath. He caught his old Professor pulling on a frayed traveling cloak. He smiled warmly at him.
"I thought I heard you come after me. Please be sure to keep out of trouble this year, wont you?" he said, patting him on the shoulder. He turned to open the door, but Harry stopped him by saying something.
"I know how much loosing Sirius meant to you. It must have hurt you more than me. You knew him your whole life, I only knew him a few years!" Lupin turned to face Harry; his grey eyes were sad and held unshed tears. He nodded and opened his arms. He gave Harry a fatherly hug, wiping away a solitary tear.
"It hurt us both, Harry, but he's still alive in all of us. Padfoot and Prongs both are, and they will ride again soon, you wait and see!" he smiled, touched his shoulder and disappeared out of the door he just opened. He gave a last look to Harry, smiled and disappeared with a pop.
"Good luck," Harry murmured, moving back to allow everyone else out of the door.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
Harry was once more back in the Black Library, reading the Defense book. He was up to chapter Thirteen- When You What to do, But Can't Think! He flicked the page over and still read. He had received the dream again, the same as before. It was almost two in the morning, and Harry was feeling slightly drowsy by now. He had only been asleep for an hour when he awoke in a cold sweat, the lingering cold chilling his bones and the picture of a rat in his head. That brought him here, determined to finish the book soon. The book tumbled to the ground, sounding a loud thud around the shadowy room. Harry had fallen asleep.
He was cold. So cold. His body was aching and sore. It was dark. Shadows leapt at him. Blood covered the floor. A rat scuttled across his hand. Water dripped steadily from a crack in the dark, cold, stone roof. He was so tired. Wind whipped overhead, howling through a crack in the ceiling. His head hurt worse than before, his hair fell about his face in bloody tangles. Footsteps echoed around the room above, coming closer. The stone door was unlocked. The clicked of bolts sliding met his ears. The door crept open, revealing a cloaked figure. He walked closer, and as he did, there was a slow increase in the pain in his head. Soon the figure loomed over him, and his head exploded with pain. It was Lord Voldemort.
Harry awoke, panting and clutching his head in agony. There were muffled footsteps and the library door was pushed open. Hermione and Ginny appeared, both in their night clothes and looking worried. Hermione spotted him first and practically ran over to him. Ginny scrambled after her.
"Harry, Harry, what's wrong? What happened?" she said softly, touching his hand with her own. He recoiled, still scratching at his head for the pain to stop. His breaths were cold and sharp. He just wanted it to stop. He wanted to be left alone; he wanted to be with Sirius. He wanted his parents. And it did stop. His scar stopped throbbing painfully and his breaths were still fast but they were warm and soft. He opened his eyes, to meet two pairs of soft brown. Hermione and Ginny knelt before him, both wearing looks of concern and worry. He smiled weakly.
"I'm fine, just-just a dream...." He scooped his book of the floor from between the two girls. Hermione arched an eyebrow, but said nothing. Ginny sighed.
"You're not fine, I'm gonna get my mum-!" Harry reached out and pulled her back.
"Don't" he said, a little too loudly. "I don't want you all to worry! It's nothing, just a dream!" he said plainly, pleading her to just leave it be. She moaned.
"Fine, fine, but you have to tell us about it!"
"Yes, Harry! What you were having last year was just a dream as well!" said Hermione, sitting cross legged on the floor. Ginny copied her. Both girls looked up at him with large brown eyes.
"Fine, but it's just a usual nightmare," he then went and told them about the dream he had, forgetting to mention he'd had it twice before. They cocked eye brows.
"So-so you-know-who was in it as well?" Ginny said unbelievingly. Harry nodded. "It's just a nightmare, nothing to worry about!" with that he stood up, stretched sat back down, and found his page again in his book. Ginny left. Leaving Hermione there, searching the shelves. Harry looked up.
"You don't have to stay up, you know, I wont just die of a dream!" Harry said, watching Hermione place her hands on her hips as an exact mimic of Mrs. Weasley.
"For your information, I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep!" she said, turning back to the shelves.
"And why would that be?" Harry asked, watching her pull a large book from the shelf.
"You aren't the only one having dreams," she said plainly. Seating her self in the study chair and propping the book open on her lap.
"Wanna tell me about them?" Harry asked, wanting to know what his best friend was having dreams about.
"Nothing much,"
"And that noting much is keeping you from sleeping?" he said cocking an eyebrow. Hermione turned her gaze to him and stared as if trying to see if he was trust worthy.
"Alright then. I keep dreaming I'm riding on a broomstick behind someone. We are flying over all this water, and then the person in front of me falls, and lands in the water. I don't know how to fly the broomstick and fall of too. I keep trying to get to the person who I was flying with, but they keep bobbing under the water. Soon I go under as well, and don't come up!" she sniffed, and kept staring into Harry's eyes. Harry was doing some fast thinking. Was this just a normal fear-fighting nightmare or something else?
"Umm-ok?" was all he said. Hermione smiled. "I'm sure it's nothing Hermione, just a nightmare about your fear of heights." He smiled, even though something was nagging at the back of his head. Hermione returned her smile then turned down to her book, as Harry did the same.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
The week passed quickly. Soon Harry, Hermione and the Weasley kids were running around in search of lost socks, quills or books. Harry had finished Kill or be Killed? Defend you Defenses and had found the books sequel- Kill or Be Killed? When Your Defenses Have Been Defended! And was up to the third chapter already. There would be an Order meeting that night, but Harry and co. weren't allowed to go to it, having been forced to pack for their return to school the next day, by Mrs. Weasley. Harry thought it strange that they weren't allowed to go to the Meeting, since they could be finished packing by then or could do it afterwards. Something must have happened.
Before everyone had gotten there for the meeting, Fred and George, having been out of touch when the other meeting had taken place, had turned up early. And they brought with them a new product- Invisible Ears.
"You can put them anywhere and no one can see them or find them unless you say Peeping Peter Says Show Yourself, and then they will reappear. But you have to say Peeping Peter says Hide Away! To get them to become invisible! They are much better than the Extendable Ears, because you don't have to have the other ear attached to it. You have a separate ear, which you put in your own ear to hear what's happening!" said Fred, handing over four Invisible Ears to Harry, saying they were a give since he had donated the money which had started their business off. They now had a shop in Hogsmeade, since their lot in Diagon Alley was too small and not many students went there, except when they were getting their school supplies. So they had moved it to Hogsmeade where all the students who visited the village could stock up each time they went there.
So that night, when Mrs. Weasley wasn't looking, Harry slipped the Invisible Ears into an old and rusty tin sitting on a shelf up near the roof. "Peeping Peter says Hide Away! Harry hissed quietly, watching the ears until he couldn't see them more. He just sat down in time, as Mrs. Weasley turned and placed their dinners in front of them. That night, after they were pushed out of the dungeon kitchen, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were sitting in the girl's room, their ears securely in place in their own lobes. They heard everyone take their seats then Professor Dumbledore speak.
His voice echoed around in the tin, it sounded distant and oddly voiced. "I have some bad news. I have owled Remus three times since he left for Mongolia, and the owls have all returned, letters still clasped to their feet. I have searched for him tirelessly in all the places were he said he'd be. But there is no word. I'm afraid we may have lost him. If we haven't heard from him in a week, I will have to send out a few of you to look for him. It may be too late. The werewolves may have already turned to Voldemort's armies and captured him. I'm afraid all we can do is hope he will be found perfectly fine, or he will write. I'm sorry for this news!" His voice echoed in the tin, and echoed in Harry's head. No, Lupin can't be gone! He can't be! Everyone was looking at his pale face, but they still listened.
"Is that why you didn't want the children to attend tonight's meeting?" came the shaky voice of Mrs. Weasley.
"Yes, it is, Molly. Harry has lost his parents and Sirius and if he hears that the last Maraulder has gone as well, I'd hate to think what he'd do and how he would act." Harry gritted his teeth. How many things was Dumbledore going to hide from him?
"And I have some more bad news. Our spy was meant to arrive back early yesterday morning, but he didn't turn up. He hasn't spoken or written to me for over a month. I'm not sure what to think of this. He hasn't done this before. I will give him time, Voldemort may have called him back for some reason and it may take him a while for it to be completed." Harry yanked the small fake ear out of his real one, and dropped it onto the bed. The others sis the same, all staring nervously at his friend.
"Lupin will be fine, Harry!" Hermione comforted her eyes wide and even though she said he'd be fine, Harry knew when he looked in her eyes that he wasn't. He'd lost another father. But he wouldn't give up! He wouldn't loose someone else dear to him. And what about Snape? He was that spy Dumbledore was talking about, what if Voldemort had found out he was a double-crosser. Harry hated to think what would happen to him.
"I wonder who that 'spy' Dumbledore was talking about?" interrupted Ron, looking at Harry curiously. He hadn't told them that he knew what role Snape played for the Order. Hermione rolled her eyes and moaned. "What?" Ron said, glaring at Hermione with angry blue eyes.
"Well, its obvious isn't it? Who was the one person who wasn't at the Meeting last week?" she said, looking at him. Ron's eyes lit up.
"Ah ha! I knew it, Moody!" Harry and Hermione tried to control their laughs, but Ron glared at Harry as well.
"If you think your so smart then, Harry then who is it?" he said, raising his eyebrows. Harry looked at Hermione, then to Ron. Should he tell?
"It's Snape." He said quietly, as if Death Eaters were lurking in the draw beside him. Ron snickered.
"As if Dumbledore would trust Snape to play spy! He'd probably give him all the wrong information!" he said disbelieving. Hermione sighed.
"It's Snape, Ron! It all makes sense! Snape never abandoned Voldemort; he just has switched sides and plays the double-crosser. So Voldemort still thinks Snape's his loyal servant, while he really is Dumbledore's spy!" Harry raised an eyebrow this time.
"Given this a lot of thought, haven't you, Hermione?" Hermione smiled happily.
"Yes, I have!" Ron huffed.
"Fine, then! But how come he didn't know about the Ministry thing!" Hermione snapped her eyes to Ron. "If he's the loyal Death eater then why didn't you-know-who tell him about luring Harry into a trap!" HA! How come then!" Hermione flicked her eyes to Harry. He was staring at Ron, anger in his eyes. He was growing paler, and his eyes were burning up.
"Harry-!" began Hermione. But he stood, and swept to the door. Hermione rounded onto Ron.
"Nice one?!" she yelled, running after her best friend.
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