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Angestone

Frida the hell goddess

Chapter 24 – Compassion

Dumbledore called a meeting the very next morning, and to Harry's delight he was included in the participants. He went up to Dumbledore's office and knocked on the door. Opening it, he found it full of people, though strangely enough not crowded. The office appeared to have expanded itself to fit all the people comfortably. Harry saw that his parents were present, as were Sirius and Buffy. The rest of the order was there too. Dumbledore smiled at Harry when he entered, and Harry saw that he looked tired, probably from having to be at the Ministry all of the previous day. He clapped his hands and the room quietened down, people taking seats in the various chairs littered around the room.
 "Thank you all for coming," Dumbledore said, looking round at all of them. "You must be wondering what is happening with regards to the Ministry. It is true that Cornelius Fudge was killed by a death eater. Though fudge and I didn't always see eye to eye, I mourn his passing." Harry looked around the room and from the incredulous looks on some people's faces, could see that they didn't agree.
 "However out of the tragedy we have some hope," Dumbledore said gravely. "Arthur Weasley was this morning sworn in as the new Minister for Magic." The group in the room broke out into applause and Dumbledore smiled and waited for it to subside.
 "I am very happy with the appointment, I think Arthur will make a fine Minister and may be more….comfortable in the job than Cornelius was." Many people around the room were nodding.
 "Our troubles are far from over," Dumbledore said seriously. "Despite the new influence the Order now has in the Ministry, there are many that are still loyal to the old ways. The Order must remain secret and must remain in action. The firepower of the ministry will be a powerful weapon, but the order I feel holds even more." Harry felt a swoop of pride that his parents and his godfather had been original members of the Order, and had worked hard in the first war and were still continuing to do so.
 "I think that is all I have to say," Dumbledore said, frowning slightly. "Any questions?" Buffy stood up.
 "What's the news on the Voldy situation?" Buffy asked.
 "We haven't got much information of late," Dumbledore replied. "Professor Snape, perhaps you would care to take the floor." Snape stood up, pale and greasy haired, scowling at Harry when he caught his eye.
 "I have been able to infiltrate the outer circle," Snape said. "I am not well trusted, understandably, and so I have not much knowledge of Voldemort's plans. However I have been able to keep a track of his movements." Tonks stood up.
 "What are the plans regarding Voldemort?" she said.
 "We are waiting for further information," Dumbledore said in reply. "What he's doing, what he is planning to do. Until then, we cannot take any action. Any more questions?" There was apparently none so people began to file out the room and Harry followed.
 "Harry?" Dumbledore said and Harry turned around.

 "Yes Professor?" he said, approaching Dumbledore.
 "I wanted to ask how your lesson with Willow went yesterday," Dumbledore said kindly, eyes twinkling at Harry. Harry grinned at him.
 "Really well," Harry replied thoughtfully. "We talked about the issues around killing someone and then we meditated. It was really relaxing." Dumbledore moved round to the back of his desk and sat down, motioning for Harry to do the same. The final person left the office and there was silence.

 "I also wanted to speak with you Harry," Dumbledore said, putting his hands in the arched shape Harry was so familiar to seeing. "Time is short, the prophecy is nearing. You will not graduate from Hogwarts before facing Voldemort I fear."

 "That soon?" Harry said nervously. Dumbledore nodded gravely.
 "I have no doubts of your abilities, your magical ability to kill Voldemort," Dumbledore said, surveying Harry over the top of his half moon glasses. "I just wanted to make sure that you are confident."
 "I guess so," harry said uncertainly, twisting his hands in his lap. "I mean, I know what Voldemort did, what he will do and that makes me angry. But I remember in the Ministry, after Sirius died I tried to do the Cruciatus curse on Bellatrix Lestrange, I was so angry. But I couldn't. She said I had to mean it, that I had to really want her to suffer. And when we caught Pettigrew in the shrieking shack. I wouldn't let Sirius and Remus kill him, I wanted to show him mercy and look where that got us, to the beginning of the second war. So what if I get there and find I can't do it? Then Voldemort wins because he has no trouble killing me." He broke off uncomfortably, feeling he had said too much.
 "No one can predict how things will happen," Dumbledore said, not ruffled in the least by what Harry said. "I have told you before that what you possess, compassion and love, is something beyond Voldemort's comprehension. It is the most powerful weapon in the world, stronger than all that we do here. And in the end, your heart will lead you to victory. Do not fear failure, it is that feeling which brings failure ever closer. Have faith."

Harry looked into Dumbledore's pale blue eyes, wizened, and filled with more knowledge than any could comprehend.

"Thank you Professor," he said quietly. "We'd be lost without you."

 "Oh that I doubt," Dumbledore said with a chuckle. "I'm just an old man, trying to keep up with a world that keeps escaping from me." He smiled at Harry who returned the gesture. Harry stood up and made to leave the office.
 "Bye Professor," he said as he walked out.

 "So what happened at the meeting then?" Ron asked as Harry caught up with him, Hermione and Dawn.
 "Dumbledore filled us in on the news," Harry said nonchalantly. "You know, that we haven't got much news on Voldemort, stuff about the order, how your dad is Minister for Magic, what Snapes been up to." Ron's eyes nearly bulged out of his head.
 "My dad's Minister?" he said, looking rather green and sickly again.
 "Apparently so," Harry said, still nonchalant. "Everyone's really happy about it, means we can finally get some changes in the Ministry." Ron feel silent, and clutched onto Hermione who had top help him walk down the hall. Harry slung an arm around Dawn's shoulders as they walked down the corridor.
 "Was there really much news?" she asked Harry.
 "Not really, other than that," Harry said, gesturing to Ron's green pallor. "No news on Voldemort, other than his movements. But Dumbledore reckons I'm going to have to face him soon."

 "Soon?" Dawn said worriedly. "How soon?"

 "Before the end of Hogwarts," Harry said seriously.
 "And how do you feel about that?" Dawn said, looking up at her boyfriend.
 "I don't know," harry said honestly. "Scared I guess, but not so much of a permanently terrified thing. More a numbness, I'm trying to keep it out of my mind. The whole 'if I don't see it, it can't hurt me' mentality. It's working quite well." Dawn laughed.
 "Well if you ever need anyone to talk to, you know where I am," she said more seriously.

"I'll be alright," Harry said sighing. "That's the breaks of being the boy-who-lived."