Chapter 08 The Order of the Phoenix
When Harry woke up, he saw that the MNG room was empty. He checked his watch and saw that it was already lunch time. He changed his robes and took his books for the rest of the day's classes.
"Good morning, Harry." Said Albus Dumbledore entering in the room. He had a relieved look that surprised Harry.
"Good morning, Professor. I really needed the night of sleep." Said Harry tying the shoelaces.
"You'll mean three days of sleep, my boy." Said Dumbledore worried.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WITH 3 DAYS???" Asked Harry shouting in shock.
"Today's Saturday, Harry. You slept three days." Said the Headmaster giving to the teen a copy of the Daily Prophet of that day. It read Saturday, October 12Th.
"Oh shit! I missed the prank!" Said Harry with a big sigh.
"Was it your work?" Asked Minerva entering in the room and listening her Godson's words.
"Maybe yes, maybe not." Grinned evilly Harry petting Friegs.
"Mmmph." Was Minerva's answer.
"What happened during these days? Do we have new Minister now?" Asked Harry changing the subject and speaking in a serious tone of voice.
"Today there will be elections. All the students above fifth year will be allowed to go after lunch." Explained the Headmaster seriously to Harry.
"Who are the candidates?" Asked Harry with curiosity.
"Arthur Weasley and Robert Aspent." Said Minerva seriously.
"Where the Hell did I hear that name before?" Asked Harry to no one in special.
"He's very important in the Wizarding community. Pure Blood with long linage." Said Minerva about Aspent.
"I heard that name somewhere else. Just can't place it." Said Harry with a groan.
"While you remember it, why don't we go to lunch? The other MNG has been worried about you." Suggested Albus with a smile.
"Yeah, let's go." Said Harry leaving his school bag near his bed and following the Professors out of the room.
****
"The sleeping beauty woke up!" Laughed Fred when Harry took a seat next to the others.
"Shut up, Fred. I'm not in the mood for you right now." Said Harry with a groan before he kissed his girlfriend and began to eat.
"What's wrong?" Asked George noticing some worry in his friend's face.
"Aspent. I heard that name somewhere, but I can't place it." Sighed Harry before he remembered where he had read it: Rita Skeeter's folder about Fudge. His name appeared there many times. He went to the High Table and spoke in whispers with Dumbledore.
"Are you sure of that?" Asked the Headmaster seriously after listening his words.
"Very." Said Harry also in a serious tone of voice.
"Harry, come with me." Said the Headmaster to the Prefect before both of them left the Hall and went to Dumbledore's office where he fire called Alastor Moody and told him what Harry had said.
"This is very grave, Albus." Said the Auror when the old wizard explained him the situation.
"I know Alastor. What can we do about this?" Asked worriedly Dumbledore.
"Let's wait a while till the election finishes and the winner is known." Suggested Harry after thinking for a few minutes.
"Why?" Asked Moody shocked with the teen's suggestion.
"We can't stop the people going to vote. Although we tell this in the media right now, there are people who had voted him already, or who doesn't listen the news. We have to wait and pray that Mr. Weasley wins the elections." Said Harry seriously to both adults.
"He's right, Alastor. There's nothing that we can do right now." Said Dumbledore thinking in Harry's words.
"Very well. We'll have to wait before we do anything. I'll call you soon." Said Moody before he finished the communication.
"Where is the place to vote for Hogwarts' students, Headmaster?" Asked the teen when the call had ended.
"Hogsmeade. There is a special place to do it." Explained the Headmaster.
"I guess that I'll go to the kitchen to eat something before I go there. See you later, Professor." Said Harry leaving the Office with direction to the kitchens.
After a quick snack, Harry went to find to his friends and went the five together to Hogsmaeade. The place of the vote was near The 3 Broomsticks. The place was divided in many boxes where the people went to vote. Besides the five pranksters there were many other students of Hogwarts, including Malfoy and his gang of Slytherins.
"I want to speak with you." Said in a whisper the blonde to Harry when he spotted to the MNG.
"Find me in The 3 Broomsticks in an hour." Said Harry surprised by his words. Malfoy nodded before he returned with his gang.
When it was his turn, Harry went to one of the boxes and found two parchments with the names of the candidates. He took his wand and touched the one with Mr. Weasley's name and said his own name. A few moments later, in a third parchment appeared his name, although not the name of the candidate that he had voted. Instead, in Mr. Weasley's one, appeared a vote.
After that, Harry found his friends and went together to the local pub to drink something before his meeting with Malfoy. All of them were intrigued with this and wondered the reason of it. Like they didn't have any idea, they had to wait till the moment of it to know it.
When the blonde entered in the pub, he was alone without any of his companions. He made signals to Harry to follow him to a table far of anyone so they could speak quietly without disturbance.
"What do you want with me this time, Malfoy?" Asked Harry going straight to the point of the chat.
"A truce between both of us." Said Draco in a serious tone of voice.
"What do you mean with that??" Asked Harry not believing completely in the other's words.
"Potter, we've been enemies since the trip of our first year. Now the tables have changed. Voldemort is on power and all of us know that he wants your head. Since my father has been sent to the jail after your show, he wants me to follow his path in his ranks. The problem is that either me or my mothers want it. I'm in problems and I'm turning to the only person that can help me." Said Malfoy despaired.
"Why me and not Dumbledore?" Asked Harry after listening his words.
"I don't trust him a lot. And he'll listen more to you than to me. I need help. I'll do everything that is needed to get it." Said Malfoy with pleads.
"I'll speak with him later. I accept the truce." Said Harry extending his hand.
"Thanks." Said the blonde shaking it.
"Don't break my trust never. If you do it, I can be your worst enemy." Said Harry seriously before he stood and walked to the exit.
"What did he want?" Asked Ron leaving the pub with the other 3 MNG.
"I'll tell you later. Right now I need to speak with Dumbledore." Said Harry returning to the School.
When the five reached to the Castle, Harry told the other that he would be at the room in a while. After that he went immediately to Dumbledore's Office. He had to talk with him about what Malfoy had told him.
"Come in!" Said someone from the Headmaster's office letting him in.
"May I speak with you alone, Professor?" Asked Harry entering and watching that Dumbledore was with someone that he didn't recognize.
"Sure. Ken, we'll continue this chat later." Said Dumbledore to the man, who nodded and left the office through the fireplace.
"Who is he?" Asked the teen curious sitting in a chair in front of Albus.
"Ken Minkel, the Chief of the Aurors." Said Dumbledore before he asked: "What did you want to talk with me?"
Harry proceeded to tell Dumbledore the chat between him and Malfoy, his request of a truce and everything that the blonde had told him.
"He sounded truthful to me, Professor." Finished the Prefect.
"I'll take care of this, don't worry. I'll speak with Narcissa today and will make arrangement for her and Mr. Malfoy. Thanks for telling me this immediately." Said Dumbledore after listening his words carefully.
"No problem." Said Harry sensing that he would leave the Office to let Albus do whatever was necessary.
"Did you accept the truce?" Asked Dumbledore curious when Harry was going to leave the Office.
"Momentarily. If he breaks my trust, I can be his worst enemy. It goes also for you." Said Harry very seriously before he went to the secret room.
In the room, Harry found Hermione reading a book, while Fred was making a schoolwork and George and Ron were playing wizard's chess. He sat next to Fred and began to write an essay for Binns that was due for that Monday.
"What did Malfoy want with you, Blaze?" Asked Fred watching his friend while he was writing something.
"A truce." Said Harry going on in his essay.
"WHAT???" Asked the other four teens in shock.
"A truce between us." Said Harry before he explained them everything that Malfoy had told him before.
"He doesn't want to be a Death Eater?!" Asked Ron in disbelief.
"He asked help to you?!" Asked the twins at the same time with the same face that his brother's.
"Yes to both questions." Said Harry before he added: "I accepted the truce. Although it's momentary."
"Are you sure of that decision?" Asked Hermione not convinced with the idea of a truce between his boyfriend and the blonde Slytherin.
"Only the time will tell it." Said Harry before he returned all his attention to his schoolwork. His friends saw that he wasn't going to continue the chat about the subject and returned to their activities.
****
The next morning the results of the election were known and, for everyone's relief, the winner was Arthur Weasley. Half School congratulated the four Weasley children when it was known. The four teens had big grins in their faces.
In the Daily Prophet, the wizards' newspaper, there were two full page's notes about the result of the election, the history of the new Minister and information about the new things that were ordered by Mr. Weasley. One of them was the confirmation of Voldemort's return and the declaration of the war against him.
"For the new Minister of Magic!" Suggested Harry with a vase of pumpkin juice to make a toast.
"For the new Minister!" Toasted everyone in the Gryffindor Table. In the other tables, except in Slytherin's, seeing the toast in Gryffindor's, followed the example and toasted too.
"Finally someone competent for the position!" Said Hermione to the others making a new toast.
"I agree with it!" Said all of them toasting too.
"Luckily alcohol isn't served here! We would be drunk by now!" Laughed Harry after everyone toasted for the sixth time for some reason.
"I toast for it!" Laughed Fred raising his vase. Everyone burst out in laughter and did it.
"Imagine all of us drunk!" Laughed George.
"That's something that I can live with!" Laughed Ron along the others making a new toast.
"We couldn't!" Said McGonagall and Dumbledore seriously at the same time listening the new Minister's son.
"I toast for it!" Said Harry sending everyone in an uncontrollable fit of laughter.
The occupants of the other tables and the teachers too, looked at the Gryffindor's students confused as if they though that they were crazy. The students of said Table burst out in laughter with this and toasted once more, confusing everyone more and more.
"You are out of control!" Said Minerva looking to her House's students with a disapproving look.
"We know that!" Exclaimed all of the students at the same time with a new toast.
"Ahhh! You are crazy!" Said McGonagall rolling her eyes exasperated, while Dumbledore chuckled at a new toast of the table.
"Are you sure that this drink doesn't have alcohol?" Asked Arabella to Dumbledore who was amused with the students. The DADA Professor had gone to find out the reason of the laughter and toasts. "I'm not completely sure!" Laughed the Headmaster returning to his seat on the High Table.
When the meal had finished, in the Gryffindor's table the students had done at least 20 toasts for the most crazy and stupid reasons. Anything was a good reason to do it.
****
On sunday's night, In Dumbledore's office there was a meeting. In there, was the Headmaster; the four Heads of House: Professors McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick and Sprout; Remus Lupin and Sirius Black, the two ex-Marauders; the Half Giants: Madame Maxime and Rubeus Hagrid; the old Aurors Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody and Mudungus Fletcher, besides the chief of that department, Ken Minkel; the new Minister of Magic, Arthur Weasley, and his two eldest sons: Bill and Charlie; the Hogwarts' Professors Arabella Figg of DADA, Vector of Aritmancy, Madame Hooch of flight and Sinistra of Astronomy. All of them were the Council of the Order of the Phoenix.
The Order, whose leader was the Headmaster, had been created even before the School was founded and dedicated all their efforts to defeat the Dark Wizards of those times. The last time that the Order had been in activities had been before Voldemort's defeat at Harry Potter's hands when said wizard was only a baby. After the reborn of Voldemort, Dumbledore had convoked all of the old members and a few new ones to create the Order for this new menace.
On the meeting, they had discussed courses of action against Voldemort's attacks, his recruitment of new Death Eaters, Draco Malfoy's situation and the possibility of the entrance to the council of five new Members: Fred, George and Ron Weasley, sons of the Minister, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, the MNG.
Some members, especially Snape, had put some resistance to this arguing that they weren't matures enough to be members of the Order and much less of the Council.
"I must remind you that three of them have faced Voldemort more times than many of we and they are still alive. Besides, the trio will be in this war with or without us. And I must say that I prefer them with us." Said Dumbledore seriously. Many of the presents nodded in agreement to this.
"No one or nothing will stop them and all of us know it very well!" Added McGonagall in the same tone the Headmaster.
"Why the twins then?" Asked Snape not very happy with the argument, although he knew that both of them were right in their words.
"Their products can become excellent weapons in a fight. And they know the school better than anyone besides the Marauders." Said Albus with a twinkle in his eyes looking to Remus and Sirius. Both of them smiled innocently.
"Maybe we could find out the limits of Potter's powers and test them with this." Suggested Minkel after thinking a few minutes.
"Suggest it to him, and he'll hex you to oblivion!" Snorted Sirius while Remus and many others nodded in agreement.
"Sirius is right in it. Harry won't show us his powers or will not allow us to study them. We'll have to see them when he decides to do it." Said Dumbledore seriously to the others who nodded in agreement.
"Do you think that they could show it to everyone?" Asked Remus. Sirius, Albus and Minerva knew that he was talking about the room.
"Show what?" Asked all of the other confused with the werewolf's words.
"No, and I won't press them to do it. They'll show it ONLY if they want." Said the Headmaster to the three adults very seriously, meaning every word of them. Minerva, Remus and Sirius nodded in understanding and agreement.
"Show what?" Asked everyone again.
"None of our business." Said Dumbledore to the others. The MNG's Headquarters were of the teens and none of them had right to know the existence of it, how to enter or be there if the five of them didn't want to show it. Dumbledore knew it and respected their wishes. He, Minerva, Remus and Sirius were the only ones who had been there besides the teens and knew that it was their secret place for them.
"I have a question: Are they the MNG? Why those names?" Asked Sprout remembering the chat that she had with Harry the Wednesday's night.
"Yes, they are. Harry's Blaze, Hermione is Feather, Ron is Griffin, Fred is Wise and George is Ape." Explained Minerva with a smile.
"Why those names?" Asked curiously Flitwick.
"Nicks based on their Animagus forms." Answered Sirius with an evil grin.
"All of them are Animagus?" Asked Bill in shock almost falling from his chair. Everyone in the room was as shocked as him.
"Mr. Potter is the only Animagus fully trained. The three Messrs. Weasley and Miss Granger are in training with me in this moment." Explained Minerva to everyone.
"Which ones are their forms?" Asked Arthur a little shocked and surprised with the news.
"Fred is a fox, George is a monkey, Ron is a griffin, Hermione is a phoenix and Harry is a dragon. Well, it was the first of his forms that he showed to us." Explained Remus.
"What does MNG mean?" Asked Snape not sure that he wanted to know the answer to that question.
"Marauders Next Generation." Chuckled Albus with his eyes twinkling completely in joy.
"Oh God!" Said Snape with a groan that made everyone in the room laugh.
When the meeting had ended almost one hour later, it was decided the entrance of the five students to the Council of the Order. The three Weasleys and Harry had the permission of his parents and, in Harry's case, legal guardians. Dumbledore sent an owl to Hermione's parents explaining everything and asking their permission. No student could join it without their parents or legal guardian's permission. The five teens would be asked to join the Order in their next meeting, the next Friday.
****
"When will you open the new broom, Harry?" Asked Hermione to her boyfriend that Tuesday before the 5 MNG went to the Quidditch Practice.
"Yeah, you never did it!" Said Ron joining the chat of his two best friends.
"You are right in that!" Said Harry before he went to the room and took the broom and went with his teammates to the lockers.
When they reached there, Harry opened the package in front of everyone in the lockers. When the players saw the broom, there were a collective gasp and all of them had their jaws opened completely. It was the best and newest model of brooms: The Wind Rider. It was faster and more easy to maneuver than the Firebolt. It was the best one for Seekers of all the positions due to those qualities.
"Can I have a try?" Asked shouting many players at the same time when they recovered from the shock.
"I'll tell this only once: till the match's day, this broom doesn't exist on this team. It'll be a big surprise for everyone especially for Malfoy. Did I make myself clear or I have to start shooting memory charms to all of you?" Said Harry in a very serious and not joking tone of voice.
"Clear as the crystal!" Exclaimed all of the together agreeing with their Captain.
"Accio Firebolt!" Shouted Harry raising his wand. Moments later, the Seeker had his broom in his hands and went to the Pitch to train followed by the other players.
During the training, Harry made them work as hard as Wood used to. Many of the new players complained about this; but the eldest ones, the ones that had been in the team with Harry since his beginning on it, knew the reason: the match was Gryffindor-Slytherin. It was the more dirt and hard match of the season, and winning it, would mean half cup for them.
"It was really hard, mate!" Complained Mark Limop, the forth year's chaser, after the practice.
"This was nothing!" Snorted Alicia remembering her times with Oliver.
"Listen all of you, because I'll tell this only once: our first match is against Slytherin. Except Michael, all of you saw the last game between the two Houses. It was a war and the twins, the girls and I can tell it by own experience because we were playing that match. They are dirty, don't play with the rules and will foul every time that they want. I don't want any of you injured at the Hospital Wing. If you can't take the pressure, leave now. If you stay, get ready for training like these ones for the years that I'm Captain of this team." Said Harry in a very serious tone of voice meaning every word that he had told them.
"We stay here!" Said the five seventh-year players. They weren't going to leave the team now. It was their final year and had suffered the pressure with Oliver. Besides, for them, Harry wasn't as hard as the former captain was.
"Same here!" said the others after a few minutes of thinking.
"Good!" Said Harry with a smile before he turned serious and spoke again: "On this match, we'll play a new strategy. Like I said once, Oliver's philosophy of game on this matches were that the fiercest would be the winner. Taking in consideration what our former . . . " Said Harry and turned his attention to Fred, so the twin could say something about Wood.
"...Obsessive . . . " Said the Beater, along the other seventh year players, catching Harry's intention and turning to his brother.
"...Crank . . . " said George before he turned to Katie.
"...Sadistic . . . " Added the Head Girl before she turned to Angelina.
"...Insane . . . " Said the Chaser before she turned to Alicia.
"...Best Keeper in this house in the last 20 years . . . " Said Alicia returning her attention to the Captain.
"...And beloved Captain taught us, on this game we'll play on the same terms that Slytherin. This means that if their beater, Chasers, Keeper or Seeker play dirt, our beloved twins will send them to the Hospital Wing." Said Harry with an evil grin toward the twins and the other players.
"Alive?" Asked Fred with an evil smile.
"I would prefer that yes, alive. Although, it doesn't save you to hurt them a... little. You choose how little." Answered Harry with a mischievous smile toward the two beaters.
"At your orders!" Said the twins at the same time with a smile like Harry's.
"You are worse than Oliver!" Laughed Katie along the other two Chasers.
"I had the best teacher on it!" Laughed Harry before he said: "Fred, George, Katie, Alicia and Angelina, I want to speak with the five of you alone. The rest of you return to the School."
"See you!" said many of them going back to the Castle.
"Ron, take the brooms and put them on my trunk, please." Said Harry handing the two brooms to his best friend who nodded and went running to the Castle.
"What's up, Harry?" Asked Katie when the six of them were alone.
"Before anything, this conversation mustn't be told to any of the other players. Is it clear?" Said Harry seriously.
"No problem." Said the others with a nod.
"I want that the five of you take a good watch with Michael on the match. I'm afraid the Slytherins could try something against him. He's not Oliver and they'll try to take him off the game as soon as possible. Fred, George, watch him very carefully. Girls watch him as good as you can. Is it clear?" Said Harry with a little of worry about that problem.
"Sure. I agree with you, Harry. They'll try to harm him." Said Katie nodding in agreement with him on the subject.
"We agree with it." Said the other four at the same time thinking the same that the Seeker and the Chaser.
"Don't mention this to anyone. Let's return to the School." Said Harry leading the way of the team to the Tower.
****
During Transfiguration's class that Thursday, Harry finished the work before than anyone as always. Like Hermione was still working, they couldn't snog as always.
Bored as he was, he began to think in something to do to use the time before his girlfriend would be free to snog with him. He got an idea and looked for an old quill in his bag. When he didn't find any, he turned his attention to Hermione and asked her one.
"Why do you need it?" Asked Hermione with confusion when she gave it to him.
"You'll know later." Said Harry putting it over his desk while the girl turned her attention to her work.
He wanted to make a teddy bear just to get fun and see if he could return it to the quill. Although he wasn't completely sure if he would return it to the normal self or he would leave it like the bear.
First of all, he pictured the teddy bear like he wanted to be it: a Gryffindor Seeker with a broom and a Snitch in his hand. First of all, he transformed the quill in a little broom, not longer than a book. Then he changed it in a little robe with the Gryffindor's colors and the words "Gryffindor House Quidditch Team" written in the front, and "Seeker" in the back. The next one, was a Snitch. Before the little ball could fly out of the desk, he caught it using his Quidditch's reflexes.
Although he didn't know it, he was being watched carefully by his Godmother who caught sight of the broom first and decided to see it with curiosity. She was surprised by the robe and the Snitch and was wondering what he was planning to do, when she saw that the teen changed it to a Koala Teddy Bear. When he did it, Minerva began to suspect what he was planning and went on watching him with a little smile.
After the bear, he changed it in a pair of glasses and a drawing of a Panther, like the one that he had in his left shoulder, and another one of a lightning. When that transformation was finished, Harry pictured the Teddy Bear again and flicked his wand once more to finish his work.
Harry couldn't do nothing but smile when his work was finished: over his desk there was a Koala Teddy Bear wearing a robe of Gryffindor, mounting over a broom that read "Nimbus 2000" near the tail, a Snitch on his right hand, a tattoo of a Panther on his left shoulder, a pair of glasses and a lightning scar on his forehead. The bear was he.
"Nice work." Said Minerva with a smile taking the teddy bear and watching it carefully and surprising Harry a little.
"Thanks." Said Harry with a big smile, before he turned to Hermione who was watching him impressed, and said: "I owe you a Quill."
"I'll make you pay for it." Said Hermione kissing him.
"Before you start to snog as always, 50 points to Gryffindor for you job, Mr. Potter." Said Minerva returning to the front of the classroom knowing that nothing would stop the two teens from kissing.
"Thanks, Professor." Said Harry before he and Hermione went on kissing.
When the class had finished, everyone had seen the bear and the girls looked at it with a face that said "It-the-most-beautyful-thing-that-I´ve- seen." Minerva asked him a copy of the bear that she put on a box with Harry's name on it.
When he went to dinner, the whole table was talking about the bear and many asked him if they could see it. After it was handed to the whole table and all of them had seen it, it was returned to his owner and creator.
Suddenly he got an idea and asked a quill to Alicia saying that he had an idea to another one. The Chaser gave it to him and everyone watched him in silence expecting what he would do.
"Choose an animal." Said Harry to Hermione who was sitting next to him.
"A cat." Said Hermione after a few minutes of thinking.
"You want a cat, so you get a cat." Said Harry before he thought the form of the teddy.
First, he transformed it in a cat. Next in a robe like his, but this one said Beater instead of Seeker. Next one was a bat of the ones used in Quidditch and a Bludger, although the ball didn't have movement. Next he transformed it in a broom and lastly in a wig that had the color and form of her hair.
After he flicked his wand once more, in the table there was a teddy cat that was the image of Hermione as a beater. The broom was a Firebolt. She had a Bludger in her left hand and a bat in her right. She was wearing the Gryffindor robe. The fur had the color of her hair.
"For you." Said Harry giving it to his girlfriend while the rest of the table clapped by the work.
"Thanks." Said Hermione kissing him and putting the teddy in her pocket.
"I owe you a quill." Laughed Harry to Alicia.
"Make a teddy for me and I'll forget your debt!" Said Alicia giving him another quill.
"Like you wish." Said Harry before he made another teddy, this time with the characteristics of the Chaser. This time the animal was a lion like Gryffindor's.
After this, many students wanted one. Harry told them that if they wanted one, he would sell them by five Sickles. They should give him a quill and they had to tell him how they wanted the teddy: the animal, color of it, characteristics of it, things that it would have with it, etc. For the end of the dinner he had been asked to make other ten teddies for students from first to seventh year, mostly girls
This chat, transformations and making of teddies, was followed with curiosity by most of the Hogwarts' staff. Albus was surprised by this and saw everything with his usual twinkle in his eyes.
"It looks like he got a new and interesting hobby, eh Minerva?" Asked the Headmaster to the Head of Gryffindor with a smile, looking to the Professor's Godson, who was making Alicia's teddy lion in that moment.
"Thanks God it isn't dangerous!" Said McGonagall with a sigh of relief.
"It would be fun to see if he can make teddies of the Staff!" Chuckled Arabella with a smile to the Headmaster and the Deputy Headmistress.
"It would be very funny, Arabella." Chuckled Albus while Minerva looked shocked at that idea.
"I would like to see a teddy of Severus!" Laughed Flitwick joining the chat of his colleagues.
"I would pay for it!" Laughed softly Minerva.
"Which animal do you think that he would be?" Asked Sprout with a soft laugh.
"Knowing Harry and his feelings toward Severus? I would bet that he would make a zorrilla!" Laughed Albus causing every teacher that was in the chat to burst out in a soft laughter.
****
The Friday's was morning was almost uneventful for the MNG till Dumbledore told them to wait for him after the end of the last class in the room saying that he had to speak with them about something very important and serious. All of them nodded saying that they would be there.
"What do you think that he'll want this time?" Asked Fred to the others while they were waiting to the Headmaster in the room after their last class of that day: History of the Magic for the fifth years and Transfiguration for the twins.
"Did you plan any new prank?" Asked George to Harry suddenly.
"I have timed one for tomorrow, but not for today." Said Harry shrugging his shoulders in the moment that Albus and Minerva entered in the room.
"What do you have timed for tomorrow?" Asked his Godmother sternly listening the Prefect's last sentence.
"It would ruin the surprise if I tell it now," Said Harry with a mischievous smile.
"Who is the target of that surprise?" Asked Minerva knowing that she wouldn't get a straight answer from the teen.
"Same answer that the previous one, Professor." Said Harry with an evil grin before he asked: "Why did you want to talk with us?"
"Have any of you heard about the Order of the Phoenix any time?" Asked Dumbledore very seriously to the five students.
"Yes, dad and mum mentioned it once or twice. It's something secret that used to fight against You-Know-Who, right?" Asked Fred thinking.
"Yes, it is, Mr. Weasley." Answered Dumbledore with a nod.
"What does it have to do with us?" Asked Hermione with confusion. The others nodded to this with the same feeling that her.
"The five of you will be given the chance to join it tonight. We've received the legal authorization of your parents or, in Harry's case, legal guardians to do it.
"We are here to give you a little of information before you make you decision. If you decide to do it, you'll be tested about your loyalty to the light side with Fawkes. If you decide to not do it, this chat will be erased from your memory and you'll forget that we've had it with you." Explained the Head of their House to the five students in a very serious tone of voice.
"We would like to listen the information before we take the decision, if you don't mind." Said Harry after discussing it a little with his friends.
"Very well, that's what we'll do." Said Albus and began to explain everything about the Order to the teens: the History of it, the purpose of it, the members of the Council and some other facts and the reason why they wanted them in it.
"I will do it." Said Harry, Hermione and Ron very sure of their words at the same time.
"We'll do it too." Said the twins with the same tone that their friends.
"Very well." Said the Headmaster with a smile before he stood and motioned they to follow him and Minerva.
"Professor, I have two questions for you before we go to the meeting. First: do they know that we are the MNG? Second: do they know about the room? If they don't, do we have to show it to them?" Said Harry very seriously before the seven left the room.
"To your first questions, the answer is yes. To the second, they don't know it and you'll be the ones who decide if you want to show it or not. I won't press you to do it if you don't want." Said Dumbledore very serious to the five pranksters while they walked to his Office.
"It will be kept in secret then." Said Harry while the others nodded to this decision. Both Professors nodded in agreement and entered in the Office where the whole council was waiting for them.
Before any of them could say anything, in the Office entered flying Friegs who went to place herself in her master's shoulder and sang a few notes greeting him and Fawkes who sang too.
"I didn't know that she would be here tonight." Chuckled Dumbledore with amusement with the reaction of everyone besides the five teens, Flitwick and himself. All of them knew about and had seen the Rainbow Phoenix before and weren't surprised in the least with her.
"I think that she invited herself to the meeting." Laughed Harry while everyone watched the bird in awe.
"Everybody, this is Friegs and was Nicholas Flamel's pet before he died. Nowadays, like you've seen, she's Harry's Phoenix." Explained Dumbledore before he asked Harry: "Have you changed her name? I know that if a Phoenix finds a new Master, he or she can change it."
"I'm thinking in doing it, but I haven't done it yet." Said Harry petting his Phoenix.
"Tell me when you do it." Said Albus. Harry just nodded.
"Is it a Rainbow Phoenix?" Asked Charlie shocked with the bird going to check her closely.
"The last one on the Earth." Said the teen with a smile to his best friend's old brother.
"It's beautiful." Was the only thing that the redhead could say. All of the others nodded in agreement to this.
"I know it." Said Harry with a smile, before he asked sarcastically: "Could we go on or we'll stay here all the night watching her in awe?"
Albus and Flitwick, along the MNG, chuckled with this and watched that everyone reacted with his words and nodded leaving the chock produced by Friegs.
"Who's more mature Albus, Harry or the rest of us all together?" Asked Filius to the Headmaster with amusement in his voice.
"Do you want a truthful answer, Filius?" Said Albus with a chuckle.
"Yes, you are right: he's the more mature." Said the Head of Ravenclaw going to his seat leaving the Headmaster nodding with his eyes twinkling completely with joy and amusement.
"Who's more matured of whom?" Asked Minerva when Albus took his usual seat listening the chat between him and Flitwick.
"Harry than all of us together. And I agree completely to that." Said Dumbledore chuckling.
"Same here." Said Minerva agreeing to that, although she hated to admit it to anyone in the room besides Albus and herself.
Albus was going to say something to everyone when he caught something that Harry said to his friends: "Do you know what's the difference among all of them watching Friegs and a group of girls watching Viktor Krum last year at the School every day?"
"Which one?" Asked the four teens interested. Dumbledore listened this with the same interest than the MNG.
"The gossips. They act as stupid as the girls did last year wherever that Krum was." Said Harry with a little laugh.
The twins, Ron and Hermione, along Albus, couldn't help but burst out in laughter with that. Many adults looked at them confused, not understanding the reason of their laughter. The ones that had heard the joke looked amused because they knew that it was completely true, especially the teachers.
"Good joke, Harry." Said Dumbledore with a smile to the teen when the five of them could control the laughter again.
"Thanks, and you know it's true." Said Harry with an evil grin.
"It's 100% true." Said Dumbledore chuckling.
"What is true?" Asked many of the presents that hadn't caught or heard the joke.
"You don't want to know it. And the ones who caught the joke, know very well that what I said was true." Said Harry to everyone.
"It was." Said all of the with a sigh at the same time.
"What joke?" Asked exasperated and angry Snape.
"He said that the only difference between us watching Friegs and the girls that used to follow to Mr. Krum everywhere during the last year, was the gossips that the girls did, because we acted as stupid as them around him. And I must agree with it, because we did it." Said Minerva to the others. All the adults looked ashamed knowing that it was true.
"I'll return to sleep to the room. It's more quiet there. I'll see you later." Said Friegs in her language before she flew off Harry's shoulder and went in direction to the MNG room.
"Let's continue with the meeting please." Said Harry to his mentor in a serious tone of voice, bored with the adults looks toward him.
"Very well, let's start with this. Messrs. Potter and Weasleys and Miss Granger. You have been given the chance to join the Council of the Order of the Phoenix. Do you accept to do it?" Asked the Headmaster in a very serious and grave tone of voice.
"We do." Said the five teens at the time with a decided tone of voice.
"To join it, you will be tested by Fawkes. If he doesn't accept you or find any doubt about your loyalty or any though of betrayal to us, your memory will be erased and you'll never remember being here. If you try to leave before he decides you'll be killed. Is that understood?" Asked the Headmaster in the same tone of voice that before.
"Yes, it is." Said the MNG without changing their tone either.
"Miss Granger, if you would?" Said Albus nodding to Hermione to go near the Phoenix.
Hermione took a deep breath and stood in front of Fawkes and saw him straight to the eyes. For almost one minute nothing happened, but then Fawkes sang a few notes telling that she was trusty. Hermione gave a big sigh of relief before she went to sit to a chair with her name that appeared next to Charlie Weasley, who gave her a big smile. The next one was Ron. With him, happened exactly the same. Ron took a seat next to Hermione and his brother. Fred and George went to sit next to the MNG and his brothers and Harry next to them and Dumbledore.
"Be welcome the five of you to the Order of the Phoenix." Said Dumbledore with a smile to the teens. The five of them sent him back another one of relief and nodded to his welcome.
"All of you will receive training in case that you have to join in a battle. But you'll have another work here too." Explained Dumbledore seriously to the teens.
"Which ones?" Asked Harry seriously. "The five will help us discussing subjects as tactics, ways to stop the recruiting among students, help us in case of a disaster and keep control over the students in case of an emergency." Began to explain Dumbledore.
"With your knowledge," continued the Headmaster, this time watching Hermione, "powers," this time he talked to Harry, "strategy," this was said to Ron, "and products that you are inventing," this said to the twins, "added to the help of the Order can give to you and you to us, we hope that we can fight Voldemort till defeat him completely without many lives lost.
"This mix of forces will be very helpful to our side." Finished Albus.
"You have our help." Said Harry in the name of the five with a decided tone of voice.
"Messrs. Fred and George, I have curiosity of something: who's the investor of your company?" Asked Dumbledore curious to the twins.
"Tell him and you are dead." Threatened Harry to both twins in a whisper that was heard only by the twins and no one else in the room.
"He prefers to be kept anonymous, Professor." Said Fred listening Harry's threat and not wanting to raise his anger.
"We MUST know it." Said McGonagall very sternly to the twins, not very happy with their answer.
"Our Vice President, Co Owner and Principal investor . . . " Began George with an evil grin, but was cut by Harry's outburst.
"The WHAT?????" Asked Harry with a shout, shocked by the twin's words.
"Vice President, Co Owner and Principal Investor of our company." Said Fred with an evil grin toward the teen who had his head in his hands.
"We'll arrange counts later." Said Harry looking both redheads with a murderous look.
"That answered your question. He's the investor." Laughed George looking Harry's shocked look.
"What did I do to deserve this punishment?" Said Harry with a groan that made everyone laugh.
"Thanks for answering our doubt." Chuckled Albus.
"Don't be surprised if you become the main target of many pranks for a time." Said Harry to the twins with an evil grin. Both boys gulped at that uncomfortably.
"Luckily mom isn't here. She would kill the three of you right now for that!" Laughed Charlie.
"Yeah, luckily she isn't here." Said Harry with a sigh of relief.
The meeting went on for another hour where they discussed plans, the beginning of the teens' training and a possible shop for the twins in Hogsmeade for when they graduated from School. Fred and George agreed with this immediately with big grins on the face.
When the meeting had ended, the five pranksters returned to the room, looking very tired and just wishing to sleep for the whole weekend. The five of them fell asleep almost five minutes after their head touched the pillow.
When Harry woke up, he saw that the MNG room was empty. He checked his watch and saw that it was already lunch time. He changed his robes and took his books for the rest of the day's classes.
"Good morning, Harry." Said Albus Dumbledore entering in the room. He had a relieved look that surprised Harry.
"Good morning, Professor. I really needed the night of sleep." Said Harry tying the shoelaces.
"You'll mean three days of sleep, my boy." Said Dumbledore worried.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WITH 3 DAYS???" Asked Harry shouting in shock.
"Today's Saturday, Harry. You slept three days." Said the Headmaster giving to the teen a copy of the Daily Prophet of that day. It read Saturday, October 12Th.
"Oh shit! I missed the prank!" Said Harry with a big sigh.
"Was it your work?" Asked Minerva entering in the room and listening her Godson's words.
"Maybe yes, maybe not." Grinned evilly Harry petting Friegs.
"Mmmph." Was Minerva's answer.
"What happened during these days? Do we have new Minister now?" Asked Harry changing the subject and speaking in a serious tone of voice.
"Today there will be elections. All the students above fifth year will be allowed to go after lunch." Explained the Headmaster seriously to Harry.
"Who are the candidates?" Asked Harry with curiosity.
"Arthur Weasley and Robert Aspent." Said Minerva seriously.
"Where the Hell did I hear that name before?" Asked Harry to no one in special.
"He's very important in the Wizarding community. Pure Blood with long linage." Said Minerva about Aspent.
"I heard that name somewhere else. Just can't place it." Said Harry with a groan.
"While you remember it, why don't we go to lunch? The other MNG has been worried about you." Suggested Albus with a smile.
"Yeah, let's go." Said Harry leaving his school bag near his bed and following the Professors out of the room.
****
"The sleeping beauty woke up!" Laughed Fred when Harry took a seat next to the others.
"Shut up, Fred. I'm not in the mood for you right now." Said Harry with a groan before he kissed his girlfriend and began to eat.
"What's wrong?" Asked George noticing some worry in his friend's face.
"Aspent. I heard that name somewhere, but I can't place it." Sighed Harry before he remembered where he had read it: Rita Skeeter's folder about Fudge. His name appeared there many times. He went to the High Table and spoke in whispers with Dumbledore.
"Are you sure of that?" Asked the Headmaster seriously after listening his words.
"Very." Said Harry also in a serious tone of voice.
"Harry, come with me." Said the Headmaster to the Prefect before both of them left the Hall and went to Dumbledore's office where he fire called Alastor Moody and told him what Harry had said.
"This is very grave, Albus." Said the Auror when the old wizard explained him the situation.
"I know Alastor. What can we do about this?" Asked worriedly Dumbledore.
"Let's wait a while till the election finishes and the winner is known." Suggested Harry after thinking for a few minutes.
"Why?" Asked Moody shocked with the teen's suggestion.
"We can't stop the people going to vote. Although we tell this in the media right now, there are people who had voted him already, or who doesn't listen the news. We have to wait and pray that Mr. Weasley wins the elections." Said Harry seriously to both adults.
"He's right, Alastor. There's nothing that we can do right now." Said Dumbledore thinking in Harry's words.
"Very well. We'll have to wait before we do anything. I'll call you soon." Said Moody before he finished the communication.
"Where is the place to vote for Hogwarts' students, Headmaster?" Asked the teen when the call had ended.
"Hogsmeade. There is a special place to do it." Explained the Headmaster.
"I guess that I'll go to the kitchen to eat something before I go there. See you later, Professor." Said Harry leaving the Office with direction to the kitchens.
After a quick snack, Harry went to find to his friends and went the five together to Hogsmaeade. The place of the vote was near The 3 Broomsticks. The place was divided in many boxes where the people went to vote. Besides the five pranksters there were many other students of Hogwarts, including Malfoy and his gang of Slytherins.
"I want to speak with you." Said in a whisper the blonde to Harry when he spotted to the MNG.
"Find me in The 3 Broomsticks in an hour." Said Harry surprised by his words. Malfoy nodded before he returned with his gang.
When it was his turn, Harry went to one of the boxes and found two parchments with the names of the candidates. He took his wand and touched the one with Mr. Weasley's name and said his own name. A few moments later, in a third parchment appeared his name, although not the name of the candidate that he had voted. Instead, in Mr. Weasley's one, appeared a vote.
After that, Harry found his friends and went together to the local pub to drink something before his meeting with Malfoy. All of them were intrigued with this and wondered the reason of it. Like they didn't have any idea, they had to wait till the moment of it to know it.
When the blonde entered in the pub, he was alone without any of his companions. He made signals to Harry to follow him to a table far of anyone so they could speak quietly without disturbance.
"What do you want with me this time, Malfoy?" Asked Harry going straight to the point of the chat.
"A truce between both of us." Said Draco in a serious tone of voice.
"What do you mean with that??" Asked Harry not believing completely in the other's words.
"Potter, we've been enemies since the trip of our first year. Now the tables have changed. Voldemort is on power and all of us know that he wants your head. Since my father has been sent to the jail after your show, he wants me to follow his path in his ranks. The problem is that either me or my mothers want it. I'm in problems and I'm turning to the only person that can help me." Said Malfoy despaired.
"Why me and not Dumbledore?" Asked Harry after listening his words.
"I don't trust him a lot. And he'll listen more to you than to me. I need help. I'll do everything that is needed to get it." Said Malfoy with pleads.
"I'll speak with him later. I accept the truce." Said Harry extending his hand.
"Thanks." Said the blonde shaking it.
"Don't break my trust never. If you do it, I can be your worst enemy." Said Harry seriously before he stood and walked to the exit.
"What did he want?" Asked Ron leaving the pub with the other 3 MNG.
"I'll tell you later. Right now I need to speak with Dumbledore." Said Harry returning to the School.
When the five reached to the Castle, Harry told the other that he would be at the room in a while. After that he went immediately to Dumbledore's Office. He had to talk with him about what Malfoy had told him.
"Come in!" Said someone from the Headmaster's office letting him in.
"May I speak with you alone, Professor?" Asked Harry entering and watching that Dumbledore was with someone that he didn't recognize.
"Sure. Ken, we'll continue this chat later." Said Dumbledore to the man, who nodded and left the office through the fireplace.
"Who is he?" Asked the teen curious sitting in a chair in front of Albus.
"Ken Minkel, the Chief of the Aurors." Said Dumbledore before he asked: "What did you want to talk with me?"
Harry proceeded to tell Dumbledore the chat between him and Malfoy, his request of a truce and everything that the blonde had told him.
"He sounded truthful to me, Professor." Finished the Prefect.
"I'll take care of this, don't worry. I'll speak with Narcissa today and will make arrangement for her and Mr. Malfoy. Thanks for telling me this immediately." Said Dumbledore after listening his words carefully.
"No problem." Said Harry sensing that he would leave the Office to let Albus do whatever was necessary.
"Did you accept the truce?" Asked Dumbledore curious when Harry was going to leave the Office.
"Momentarily. If he breaks my trust, I can be his worst enemy. It goes also for you." Said Harry very seriously before he went to the secret room.
In the room, Harry found Hermione reading a book, while Fred was making a schoolwork and George and Ron were playing wizard's chess. He sat next to Fred and began to write an essay for Binns that was due for that Monday.
"What did Malfoy want with you, Blaze?" Asked Fred watching his friend while he was writing something.
"A truce." Said Harry going on in his essay.
"WHAT???" Asked the other four teens in shock.
"A truce between us." Said Harry before he explained them everything that Malfoy had told him before.
"He doesn't want to be a Death Eater?!" Asked Ron in disbelief.
"He asked help to you?!" Asked the twins at the same time with the same face that his brother's.
"Yes to both questions." Said Harry before he added: "I accepted the truce. Although it's momentary."
"Are you sure of that decision?" Asked Hermione not convinced with the idea of a truce between his boyfriend and the blonde Slytherin.
"Only the time will tell it." Said Harry before he returned all his attention to his schoolwork. His friends saw that he wasn't going to continue the chat about the subject and returned to their activities.
****
The next morning the results of the election were known and, for everyone's relief, the winner was Arthur Weasley. Half School congratulated the four Weasley children when it was known. The four teens had big grins in their faces.
In the Daily Prophet, the wizards' newspaper, there were two full page's notes about the result of the election, the history of the new Minister and information about the new things that were ordered by Mr. Weasley. One of them was the confirmation of Voldemort's return and the declaration of the war against him.
"For the new Minister of Magic!" Suggested Harry with a vase of pumpkin juice to make a toast.
"For the new Minister!" Toasted everyone in the Gryffindor Table. In the other tables, except in Slytherin's, seeing the toast in Gryffindor's, followed the example and toasted too.
"Finally someone competent for the position!" Said Hermione to the others making a new toast.
"I agree with it!" Said all of them toasting too.
"Luckily alcohol isn't served here! We would be drunk by now!" Laughed Harry after everyone toasted for the sixth time for some reason.
"I toast for it!" Laughed Fred raising his vase. Everyone burst out in laughter and did it.
"Imagine all of us drunk!" Laughed George.
"That's something that I can live with!" Laughed Ron along the others making a new toast.
"We couldn't!" Said McGonagall and Dumbledore seriously at the same time listening the new Minister's son.
"I toast for it!" Said Harry sending everyone in an uncontrollable fit of laughter.
The occupants of the other tables and the teachers too, looked at the Gryffindor's students confused as if they though that they were crazy. The students of said Table burst out in laughter with this and toasted once more, confusing everyone more and more.
"You are out of control!" Said Minerva looking to her House's students with a disapproving look.
"We know that!" Exclaimed all of the students at the same time with a new toast.
"Ahhh! You are crazy!" Said McGonagall rolling her eyes exasperated, while Dumbledore chuckled at a new toast of the table.
"Are you sure that this drink doesn't have alcohol?" Asked Arabella to Dumbledore who was amused with the students. The DADA Professor had gone to find out the reason of the laughter and toasts. "I'm not completely sure!" Laughed the Headmaster returning to his seat on the High Table.
When the meal had finished, in the Gryffindor's table the students had done at least 20 toasts for the most crazy and stupid reasons. Anything was a good reason to do it.
****
On sunday's night, In Dumbledore's office there was a meeting. In there, was the Headmaster; the four Heads of House: Professors McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick and Sprout; Remus Lupin and Sirius Black, the two ex-Marauders; the Half Giants: Madame Maxime and Rubeus Hagrid; the old Aurors Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody and Mudungus Fletcher, besides the chief of that department, Ken Minkel; the new Minister of Magic, Arthur Weasley, and his two eldest sons: Bill and Charlie; the Hogwarts' Professors Arabella Figg of DADA, Vector of Aritmancy, Madame Hooch of flight and Sinistra of Astronomy. All of them were the Council of the Order of the Phoenix.
The Order, whose leader was the Headmaster, had been created even before the School was founded and dedicated all their efforts to defeat the Dark Wizards of those times. The last time that the Order had been in activities had been before Voldemort's defeat at Harry Potter's hands when said wizard was only a baby. After the reborn of Voldemort, Dumbledore had convoked all of the old members and a few new ones to create the Order for this new menace.
On the meeting, they had discussed courses of action against Voldemort's attacks, his recruitment of new Death Eaters, Draco Malfoy's situation and the possibility of the entrance to the council of five new Members: Fred, George and Ron Weasley, sons of the Minister, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, the MNG.
Some members, especially Snape, had put some resistance to this arguing that they weren't matures enough to be members of the Order and much less of the Council.
"I must remind you that three of them have faced Voldemort more times than many of we and they are still alive. Besides, the trio will be in this war with or without us. And I must say that I prefer them with us." Said Dumbledore seriously. Many of the presents nodded in agreement to this.
"No one or nothing will stop them and all of us know it very well!" Added McGonagall in the same tone the Headmaster.
"Why the twins then?" Asked Snape not very happy with the argument, although he knew that both of them were right in their words.
"Their products can become excellent weapons in a fight. And they know the school better than anyone besides the Marauders." Said Albus with a twinkle in his eyes looking to Remus and Sirius. Both of them smiled innocently.
"Maybe we could find out the limits of Potter's powers and test them with this." Suggested Minkel after thinking a few minutes.
"Suggest it to him, and he'll hex you to oblivion!" Snorted Sirius while Remus and many others nodded in agreement.
"Sirius is right in it. Harry won't show us his powers or will not allow us to study them. We'll have to see them when he decides to do it." Said Dumbledore seriously to the others who nodded in agreement.
"Do you think that they could show it to everyone?" Asked Remus. Sirius, Albus and Minerva knew that he was talking about the room.
"Show what?" Asked all of the other confused with the werewolf's words.
"No, and I won't press them to do it. They'll show it ONLY if they want." Said the Headmaster to the three adults very seriously, meaning every word of them. Minerva, Remus and Sirius nodded in understanding and agreement.
"Show what?" Asked everyone again.
"None of our business." Said Dumbledore to the others. The MNG's Headquarters were of the teens and none of them had right to know the existence of it, how to enter or be there if the five of them didn't want to show it. Dumbledore knew it and respected their wishes. He, Minerva, Remus and Sirius were the only ones who had been there besides the teens and knew that it was their secret place for them.
"I have a question: Are they the MNG? Why those names?" Asked Sprout remembering the chat that she had with Harry the Wednesday's night.
"Yes, they are. Harry's Blaze, Hermione is Feather, Ron is Griffin, Fred is Wise and George is Ape." Explained Minerva with a smile.
"Why those names?" Asked curiously Flitwick.
"Nicks based on their Animagus forms." Answered Sirius with an evil grin.
"All of them are Animagus?" Asked Bill in shock almost falling from his chair. Everyone in the room was as shocked as him.
"Mr. Potter is the only Animagus fully trained. The three Messrs. Weasley and Miss Granger are in training with me in this moment." Explained Minerva to everyone.
"Which ones are their forms?" Asked Arthur a little shocked and surprised with the news.
"Fred is a fox, George is a monkey, Ron is a griffin, Hermione is a phoenix and Harry is a dragon. Well, it was the first of his forms that he showed to us." Explained Remus.
"What does MNG mean?" Asked Snape not sure that he wanted to know the answer to that question.
"Marauders Next Generation." Chuckled Albus with his eyes twinkling completely in joy.
"Oh God!" Said Snape with a groan that made everyone in the room laugh.
When the meeting had ended almost one hour later, it was decided the entrance of the five students to the Council of the Order. The three Weasleys and Harry had the permission of his parents and, in Harry's case, legal guardians. Dumbledore sent an owl to Hermione's parents explaining everything and asking their permission. No student could join it without their parents or legal guardian's permission. The five teens would be asked to join the Order in their next meeting, the next Friday.
****
"When will you open the new broom, Harry?" Asked Hermione to her boyfriend that Tuesday before the 5 MNG went to the Quidditch Practice.
"Yeah, you never did it!" Said Ron joining the chat of his two best friends.
"You are right in that!" Said Harry before he went to the room and took the broom and went with his teammates to the lockers.
When they reached there, Harry opened the package in front of everyone in the lockers. When the players saw the broom, there were a collective gasp and all of them had their jaws opened completely. It was the best and newest model of brooms: The Wind Rider. It was faster and more easy to maneuver than the Firebolt. It was the best one for Seekers of all the positions due to those qualities.
"Can I have a try?" Asked shouting many players at the same time when they recovered from the shock.
"I'll tell this only once: till the match's day, this broom doesn't exist on this team. It'll be a big surprise for everyone especially for Malfoy. Did I make myself clear or I have to start shooting memory charms to all of you?" Said Harry in a very serious and not joking tone of voice.
"Clear as the crystal!" Exclaimed all of the together agreeing with their Captain.
"Accio Firebolt!" Shouted Harry raising his wand. Moments later, the Seeker had his broom in his hands and went to the Pitch to train followed by the other players.
During the training, Harry made them work as hard as Wood used to. Many of the new players complained about this; but the eldest ones, the ones that had been in the team with Harry since his beginning on it, knew the reason: the match was Gryffindor-Slytherin. It was the more dirt and hard match of the season, and winning it, would mean half cup for them.
"It was really hard, mate!" Complained Mark Limop, the forth year's chaser, after the practice.
"This was nothing!" Snorted Alicia remembering her times with Oliver.
"Listen all of you, because I'll tell this only once: our first match is against Slytherin. Except Michael, all of you saw the last game between the two Houses. It was a war and the twins, the girls and I can tell it by own experience because we were playing that match. They are dirty, don't play with the rules and will foul every time that they want. I don't want any of you injured at the Hospital Wing. If you can't take the pressure, leave now. If you stay, get ready for training like these ones for the years that I'm Captain of this team." Said Harry in a very serious tone of voice meaning every word that he had told them.
"We stay here!" Said the five seventh-year players. They weren't going to leave the team now. It was their final year and had suffered the pressure with Oliver. Besides, for them, Harry wasn't as hard as the former captain was.
"Same here!" said the others after a few minutes of thinking.
"Good!" Said Harry with a smile before he turned serious and spoke again: "On this match, we'll play a new strategy. Like I said once, Oliver's philosophy of game on this matches were that the fiercest would be the winner. Taking in consideration what our former . . . " Said Harry and turned his attention to Fred, so the twin could say something about Wood.
"...Obsessive . . . " Said the Beater, along the other seventh year players, catching Harry's intention and turning to his brother.
"...Crank . . . " said George before he turned to Katie.
"...Sadistic . . . " Added the Head Girl before she turned to Angelina.
"...Insane . . . " Said the Chaser before she turned to Alicia.
"...Best Keeper in this house in the last 20 years . . . " Said Alicia returning her attention to the Captain.
"...And beloved Captain taught us, on this game we'll play on the same terms that Slytherin. This means that if their beater, Chasers, Keeper or Seeker play dirt, our beloved twins will send them to the Hospital Wing." Said Harry with an evil grin toward the twins and the other players.
"Alive?" Asked Fred with an evil smile.
"I would prefer that yes, alive. Although, it doesn't save you to hurt them a... little. You choose how little." Answered Harry with a mischievous smile toward the two beaters.
"At your orders!" Said the twins at the same time with a smile like Harry's.
"You are worse than Oliver!" Laughed Katie along the other two Chasers.
"I had the best teacher on it!" Laughed Harry before he said: "Fred, George, Katie, Alicia and Angelina, I want to speak with the five of you alone. The rest of you return to the School."
"See you!" said many of them going back to the Castle.
"Ron, take the brooms and put them on my trunk, please." Said Harry handing the two brooms to his best friend who nodded and went running to the Castle.
"What's up, Harry?" Asked Katie when the six of them were alone.
"Before anything, this conversation mustn't be told to any of the other players. Is it clear?" Said Harry seriously.
"No problem." Said the others with a nod.
"I want that the five of you take a good watch with Michael on the match. I'm afraid the Slytherins could try something against him. He's not Oliver and they'll try to take him off the game as soon as possible. Fred, George, watch him very carefully. Girls watch him as good as you can. Is it clear?" Said Harry with a little of worry about that problem.
"Sure. I agree with you, Harry. They'll try to harm him." Said Katie nodding in agreement with him on the subject.
"We agree with it." Said the other four at the same time thinking the same that the Seeker and the Chaser.
"Don't mention this to anyone. Let's return to the School." Said Harry leading the way of the team to the Tower.
****
During Transfiguration's class that Thursday, Harry finished the work before than anyone as always. Like Hermione was still working, they couldn't snog as always.
Bored as he was, he began to think in something to do to use the time before his girlfriend would be free to snog with him. He got an idea and looked for an old quill in his bag. When he didn't find any, he turned his attention to Hermione and asked her one.
"Why do you need it?" Asked Hermione with confusion when she gave it to him.
"You'll know later." Said Harry putting it over his desk while the girl turned her attention to her work.
He wanted to make a teddy bear just to get fun and see if he could return it to the quill. Although he wasn't completely sure if he would return it to the normal self or he would leave it like the bear.
First of all, he pictured the teddy bear like he wanted to be it: a Gryffindor Seeker with a broom and a Snitch in his hand. First of all, he transformed the quill in a little broom, not longer than a book. Then he changed it in a little robe with the Gryffindor's colors and the words "Gryffindor House Quidditch Team" written in the front, and "Seeker" in the back. The next one, was a Snitch. Before the little ball could fly out of the desk, he caught it using his Quidditch's reflexes.
Although he didn't know it, he was being watched carefully by his Godmother who caught sight of the broom first and decided to see it with curiosity. She was surprised by the robe and the Snitch and was wondering what he was planning to do, when she saw that the teen changed it to a Koala Teddy Bear. When he did it, Minerva began to suspect what he was planning and went on watching him with a little smile.
After the bear, he changed it in a pair of glasses and a drawing of a Panther, like the one that he had in his left shoulder, and another one of a lightning. When that transformation was finished, Harry pictured the Teddy Bear again and flicked his wand once more to finish his work.
Harry couldn't do nothing but smile when his work was finished: over his desk there was a Koala Teddy Bear wearing a robe of Gryffindor, mounting over a broom that read "Nimbus 2000" near the tail, a Snitch on his right hand, a tattoo of a Panther on his left shoulder, a pair of glasses and a lightning scar on his forehead. The bear was he.
"Nice work." Said Minerva with a smile taking the teddy bear and watching it carefully and surprising Harry a little.
"Thanks." Said Harry with a big smile, before he turned to Hermione who was watching him impressed, and said: "I owe you a Quill."
"I'll make you pay for it." Said Hermione kissing him.
"Before you start to snog as always, 50 points to Gryffindor for you job, Mr. Potter." Said Minerva returning to the front of the classroom knowing that nothing would stop the two teens from kissing.
"Thanks, Professor." Said Harry before he and Hermione went on kissing.
When the class had finished, everyone had seen the bear and the girls looked at it with a face that said "It-the-most-beautyful-thing-that-I´ve- seen." Minerva asked him a copy of the bear that she put on a box with Harry's name on it.
When he went to dinner, the whole table was talking about the bear and many asked him if they could see it. After it was handed to the whole table and all of them had seen it, it was returned to his owner and creator.
Suddenly he got an idea and asked a quill to Alicia saying that he had an idea to another one. The Chaser gave it to him and everyone watched him in silence expecting what he would do.
"Choose an animal." Said Harry to Hermione who was sitting next to him.
"A cat." Said Hermione after a few minutes of thinking.
"You want a cat, so you get a cat." Said Harry before he thought the form of the teddy.
First, he transformed it in a cat. Next in a robe like his, but this one said Beater instead of Seeker. Next one was a bat of the ones used in Quidditch and a Bludger, although the ball didn't have movement. Next he transformed it in a broom and lastly in a wig that had the color and form of her hair.
After he flicked his wand once more, in the table there was a teddy cat that was the image of Hermione as a beater. The broom was a Firebolt. She had a Bludger in her left hand and a bat in her right. She was wearing the Gryffindor robe. The fur had the color of her hair.
"For you." Said Harry giving it to his girlfriend while the rest of the table clapped by the work.
"Thanks." Said Hermione kissing him and putting the teddy in her pocket.
"I owe you a quill." Laughed Harry to Alicia.
"Make a teddy for me and I'll forget your debt!" Said Alicia giving him another quill.
"Like you wish." Said Harry before he made another teddy, this time with the characteristics of the Chaser. This time the animal was a lion like Gryffindor's.
After this, many students wanted one. Harry told them that if they wanted one, he would sell them by five Sickles. They should give him a quill and they had to tell him how they wanted the teddy: the animal, color of it, characteristics of it, things that it would have with it, etc. For the end of the dinner he had been asked to make other ten teddies for students from first to seventh year, mostly girls
This chat, transformations and making of teddies, was followed with curiosity by most of the Hogwarts' staff. Albus was surprised by this and saw everything with his usual twinkle in his eyes.
"It looks like he got a new and interesting hobby, eh Minerva?" Asked the Headmaster to the Head of Gryffindor with a smile, looking to the Professor's Godson, who was making Alicia's teddy lion in that moment.
"Thanks God it isn't dangerous!" Said McGonagall with a sigh of relief.
"It would be fun to see if he can make teddies of the Staff!" Chuckled Arabella with a smile to the Headmaster and the Deputy Headmistress.
"It would be very funny, Arabella." Chuckled Albus while Minerva looked shocked at that idea.
"I would like to see a teddy of Severus!" Laughed Flitwick joining the chat of his colleagues.
"I would pay for it!" Laughed softly Minerva.
"Which animal do you think that he would be?" Asked Sprout with a soft laugh.
"Knowing Harry and his feelings toward Severus? I would bet that he would make a zorrilla!" Laughed Albus causing every teacher that was in the chat to burst out in a soft laughter.
****
The Friday's was morning was almost uneventful for the MNG till Dumbledore told them to wait for him after the end of the last class in the room saying that he had to speak with them about something very important and serious. All of them nodded saying that they would be there.
"What do you think that he'll want this time?" Asked Fred to the others while they were waiting to the Headmaster in the room after their last class of that day: History of the Magic for the fifth years and Transfiguration for the twins.
"Did you plan any new prank?" Asked George to Harry suddenly.
"I have timed one for tomorrow, but not for today." Said Harry shrugging his shoulders in the moment that Albus and Minerva entered in the room.
"What do you have timed for tomorrow?" Asked his Godmother sternly listening the Prefect's last sentence.
"It would ruin the surprise if I tell it now," Said Harry with a mischievous smile.
"Who is the target of that surprise?" Asked Minerva knowing that she wouldn't get a straight answer from the teen.
"Same answer that the previous one, Professor." Said Harry with an evil grin before he asked: "Why did you want to talk with us?"
"Have any of you heard about the Order of the Phoenix any time?" Asked Dumbledore very seriously to the five students.
"Yes, dad and mum mentioned it once or twice. It's something secret that used to fight against You-Know-Who, right?" Asked Fred thinking.
"Yes, it is, Mr. Weasley." Answered Dumbledore with a nod.
"What does it have to do with us?" Asked Hermione with confusion. The others nodded to this with the same feeling that her.
"The five of you will be given the chance to join it tonight. We've received the legal authorization of your parents or, in Harry's case, legal guardians to do it.
"We are here to give you a little of information before you make you decision. If you decide to do it, you'll be tested about your loyalty to the light side with Fawkes. If you decide to not do it, this chat will be erased from your memory and you'll forget that we've had it with you." Explained the Head of their House to the five students in a very serious tone of voice.
"We would like to listen the information before we take the decision, if you don't mind." Said Harry after discussing it a little with his friends.
"Very well, that's what we'll do." Said Albus and began to explain everything about the Order to the teens: the History of it, the purpose of it, the members of the Council and some other facts and the reason why they wanted them in it.
"I will do it." Said Harry, Hermione and Ron very sure of their words at the same time.
"We'll do it too." Said the twins with the same tone that their friends.
"Very well." Said the Headmaster with a smile before he stood and motioned they to follow him and Minerva.
"Professor, I have two questions for you before we go to the meeting. First: do they know that we are the MNG? Second: do they know about the room? If they don't, do we have to show it to them?" Said Harry very seriously before the seven left the room.
"To your first questions, the answer is yes. To the second, they don't know it and you'll be the ones who decide if you want to show it or not. I won't press you to do it if you don't want." Said Dumbledore very serious to the five pranksters while they walked to his Office.
"It will be kept in secret then." Said Harry while the others nodded to this decision. Both Professors nodded in agreement and entered in the Office where the whole council was waiting for them.
Before any of them could say anything, in the Office entered flying Friegs who went to place herself in her master's shoulder and sang a few notes greeting him and Fawkes who sang too.
"I didn't know that she would be here tonight." Chuckled Dumbledore with amusement with the reaction of everyone besides the five teens, Flitwick and himself. All of them knew about and had seen the Rainbow Phoenix before and weren't surprised in the least with her.
"I think that she invited herself to the meeting." Laughed Harry while everyone watched the bird in awe.
"Everybody, this is Friegs and was Nicholas Flamel's pet before he died. Nowadays, like you've seen, she's Harry's Phoenix." Explained Dumbledore before he asked Harry: "Have you changed her name? I know that if a Phoenix finds a new Master, he or she can change it."
"I'm thinking in doing it, but I haven't done it yet." Said Harry petting his Phoenix.
"Tell me when you do it." Said Albus. Harry just nodded.
"Is it a Rainbow Phoenix?" Asked Charlie shocked with the bird going to check her closely.
"The last one on the Earth." Said the teen with a smile to his best friend's old brother.
"It's beautiful." Was the only thing that the redhead could say. All of the others nodded in agreement to this.
"I know it." Said Harry with a smile, before he asked sarcastically: "Could we go on or we'll stay here all the night watching her in awe?"
Albus and Flitwick, along the MNG, chuckled with this and watched that everyone reacted with his words and nodded leaving the chock produced by Friegs.
"Who's more mature Albus, Harry or the rest of us all together?" Asked Filius to the Headmaster with amusement in his voice.
"Do you want a truthful answer, Filius?" Said Albus with a chuckle.
"Yes, you are right: he's the more mature." Said the Head of Ravenclaw going to his seat leaving the Headmaster nodding with his eyes twinkling completely with joy and amusement.
"Who's more matured of whom?" Asked Minerva when Albus took his usual seat listening the chat between him and Flitwick.
"Harry than all of us together. And I agree completely to that." Said Dumbledore chuckling.
"Same here." Said Minerva agreeing to that, although she hated to admit it to anyone in the room besides Albus and herself.
Albus was going to say something to everyone when he caught something that Harry said to his friends: "Do you know what's the difference among all of them watching Friegs and a group of girls watching Viktor Krum last year at the School every day?"
"Which one?" Asked the four teens interested. Dumbledore listened this with the same interest than the MNG.
"The gossips. They act as stupid as the girls did last year wherever that Krum was." Said Harry with a little laugh.
The twins, Ron and Hermione, along Albus, couldn't help but burst out in laughter with that. Many adults looked at them confused, not understanding the reason of their laughter. The ones that had heard the joke looked amused because they knew that it was completely true, especially the teachers.
"Good joke, Harry." Said Dumbledore with a smile to the teen when the five of them could control the laughter again.
"Thanks, and you know it's true." Said Harry with an evil grin.
"It's 100% true." Said Dumbledore chuckling.
"What is true?" Asked many of the presents that hadn't caught or heard the joke.
"You don't want to know it. And the ones who caught the joke, know very well that what I said was true." Said Harry to everyone.
"It was." Said all of the with a sigh at the same time.
"What joke?" Asked exasperated and angry Snape.
"He said that the only difference between us watching Friegs and the girls that used to follow to Mr. Krum everywhere during the last year, was the gossips that the girls did, because we acted as stupid as them around him. And I must agree with it, because we did it." Said Minerva to the others. All the adults looked ashamed knowing that it was true.
"I'll return to sleep to the room. It's more quiet there. I'll see you later." Said Friegs in her language before she flew off Harry's shoulder and went in direction to the MNG room.
"Let's continue with the meeting please." Said Harry to his mentor in a serious tone of voice, bored with the adults looks toward him.
"Very well, let's start with this. Messrs. Potter and Weasleys and Miss Granger. You have been given the chance to join the Council of the Order of the Phoenix. Do you accept to do it?" Asked the Headmaster in a very serious and grave tone of voice.
"We do." Said the five teens at the time with a decided tone of voice.
"To join it, you will be tested by Fawkes. If he doesn't accept you or find any doubt about your loyalty or any though of betrayal to us, your memory will be erased and you'll never remember being here. If you try to leave before he decides you'll be killed. Is that understood?" Asked the Headmaster in the same tone of voice that before.
"Yes, it is." Said the MNG without changing their tone either.
"Miss Granger, if you would?" Said Albus nodding to Hermione to go near the Phoenix.
Hermione took a deep breath and stood in front of Fawkes and saw him straight to the eyes. For almost one minute nothing happened, but then Fawkes sang a few notes telling that she was trusty. Hermione gave a big sigh of relief before she went to sit to a chair with her name that appeared next to Charlie Weasley, who gave her a big smile. The next one was Ron. With him, happened exactly the same. Ron took a seat next to Hermione and his brother. Fred and George went to sit next to the MNG and his brothers and Harry next to them and Dumbledore.
"Be welcome the five of you to the Order of the Phoenix." Said Dumbledore with a smile to the teens. The five of them sent him back another one of relief and nodded to his welcome.
"All of you will receive training in case that you have to join in a battle. But you'll have another work here too." Explained Dumbledore seriously to the teens.
"Which ones?" Asked Harry seriously. "The five will help us discussing subjects as tactics, ways to stop the recruiting among students, help us in case of a disaster and keep control over the students in case of an emergency." Began to explain Dumbledore.
"With your knowledge," continued the Headmaster, this time watching Hermione, "powers," this time he talked to Harry, "strategy," this was said to Ron, "and products that you are inventing," this said to the twins, "added to the help of the Order can give to you and you to us, we hope that we can fight Voldemort till defeat him completely without many lives lost.
"This mix of forces will be very helpful to our side." Finished Albus.
"You have our help." Said Harry in the name of the five with a decided tone of voice.
"Messrs. Fred and George, I have curiosity of something: who's the investor of your company?" Asked Dumbledore curious to the twins.
"Tell him and you are dead." Threatened Harry to both twins in a whisper that was heard only by the twins and no one else in the room.
"He prefers to be kept anonymous, Professor." Said Fred listening Harry's threat and not wanting to raise his anger.
"We MUST know it." Said McGonagall very sternly to the twins, not very happy with their answer.
"Our Vice President, Co Owner and Principal investor . . . " Began George with an evil grin, but was cut by Harry's outburst.
"The WHAT?????" Asked Harry with a shout, shocked by the twin's words.
"Vice President, Co Owner and Principal Investor of our company." Said Fred with an evil grin toward the teen who had his head in his hands.
"We'll arrange counts later." Said Harry looking both redheads with a murderous look.
"That answered your question. He's the investor." Laughed George looking Harry's shocked look.
"What did I do to deserve this punishment?" Said Harry with a groan that made everyone laugh.
"Thanks for answering our doubt." Chuckled Albus.
"Don't be surprised if you become the main target of many pranks for a time." Said Harry to the twins with an evil grin. Both boys gulped at that uncomfortably.
"Luckily mom isn't here. She would kill the three of you right now for that!" Laughed Charlie.
"Yeah, luckily she isn't here." Said Harry with a sigh of relief.
The meeting went on for another hour where they discussed plans, the beginning of the teens' training and a possible shop for the twins in Hogsmeade for when they graduated from School. Fred and George agreed with this immediately with big grins on the face.
When the meeting had ended, the five pranksters returned to the room, looking very tired and just wishing to sleep for the whole weekend. The five of them fell asleep almost five minutes after their head touched the pillow.