Chapter Twelve
Midnight Meeting
The topic of conversation all through the Great Hall at dinner was what had happened at the Quidditch match. Malfoy had made a grand entrance surrounded by a noisy escort of Slytherins, all treating him as a great hero. As he made his way triumphantly to the Slytherin table, the rest of the school stared at him and their voices were an angry buzz.
"Look at him, the git," said Ron. "You would think he won the Triwizard Cup."
"I don't understand," said Hermione. "Wasn't the match a draw? Not only didn't they win, but they have to play the match again."
"But they didn't lose" replied Ginny. "Malfoy made sure they would at least have another chance, if his cheating didn't give Slytherin the victory."
Hermione shook her head.
"But it's only a game. Why risk so much for something that's not even that important?"
Ron choked on a bit of food. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Leave it, Ron," said Harry. "You two will just get into a big argument. Hermione, I'll bet Dumbledore would say that Quidditch is something that unites us, and that's important."
"Well," Hermione began, "perhaps that's true. But," she continued quickly, "what about all this competition and rivalry? Doesn't that divide?"
"Hermione, what would you do if someone cheated in an academic competition?" said Ron.
Hermione looked shocked and offended at the idea.
"But that would never--I mean, who would--"
"All right, now that you can see each other's point, I hope, let's talk about something else" Ginny said quickly.
"Yeah, like Dumbledore's not looking too happy with Malfoy right now," said Harry.
They glanced at the Staff Table. Dumbledore indeed was watching the scene with Malfoy, and he wasn't smiling. Although he didn't look angry, he did have a look of disappointment on his face. The look deepened and mixed with sadness as he glanced around the Hall. It seemed the lines of division between the Slytherins and the rest of the school were deeper and wider than ever before. Once again Windrider leaned in to talk to Dumbledore. Dumbledore nodded sadly at whatever Windrider said.
For the rest of dinner Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny talked in quiet voices about what was bothering Dumbledore. As the hall emptied after dinner, Ginny went off to find Neville. Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged a look and went back to the common room. Harry went up to the dormitory to get his schoolbooks and hid his cloak under his robes while Ron kept a lookout. The three of them spent the evening in a corner doing their homework, and sneaking furtive glances around the common room as it began to empty.
Finally, at 11:30, the last person went up to bed. They quickly slipped the cloak over themselves. They had to stand very close together as they kept growing and the cloak did not. Ron and Hermione didn't seem to mind the arrangement, however. Harry had to quietly shush them as they were starting to giggle softly. They slipped past the portrait hole without incident. It seemed the Fat Lady was off visiting. They paused and Harry took out his map. Filch and Mrs. Norris were off chasing Peeves near the Ravenclaw tower, and the rest of the halls were deserted. Moving cautiously and quickly, they made their way to Hagrid's and knocked on the door softly.
"Who's there?" Hagrid's voice came through the door rather hushed and urgent.
"It's us" hissed Harry.
"Get in quick" whispered Hagrid. The door cracked open, barely wide enough to let the three of them in. They threw off the cloak and gasped in shock. Hagrid wasn't alone. Dumbledore, Lupin, and Mr. Weasley were standing around Hagrid's table, their faces grave. Fang, normally at his point drooling over all three of them, was lying in the corner by the fire. Fawkes was perched on the mantel.
"Righ' on time. Were yeh seen?" Hagrid asked.
All three shook their heads.
"And I know that they did not discuss it" said Dumbledore. "I would have heard it. Well done."
He smiled slightly at them.
"Miss Granger, do you have the envelope your parents sent you?"
Hermione nodded and handed Dumbledore the envelope. Dumbledore opened it and passed some of the clippings to Lupin and Mr. Weasley.
"As you will be able to tell, there have been some strange goings-on within the Muggle government. Besides the dementor presence which we have been curtailing, I call your attention to some of the new laws being proposed for 'national security reasons'. With the wrong people in power, they can be turned to great evil. Your task will be to stop, or at least delay Voldemort putting a puppet at the head of the Muggle government. Arthur, you have contacts in the Muggle law enforcement agencies and elsewhere. Remus, with the right wardrobe, you will be able to work more openly as no one in the Muggle world knows you are a werewolf. I will give you a list of people to contact. You must not mention Voldemort, of course. You will work in the context of raising public awareness and debate centered on what you will find within these articles."
He looked at them gravely.
"Good luck, then, my friends."
Lupin and Mr. Weasley nodded at Dumbledore, smiled at Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and each took hold of one of Fawkes' legs. With a flash of flame they vanished. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were left staring in awe at Dumbledore. After a silence, Hermione spoke.
"Professor," she began in a small voice, "why are we here? Why were we allowed to see and hear that?"
Dumbledore looked at the three of them gravely, not a trace of a smile on his face.
"You three have been brought here because the Order has need of you. You were permitted to hear this plan because what you will be asked to do partially concerns this plan."
He looked at each one in turn.
"You have been asked by the Order for your aid. You are under no obligation to say yes. Should you say yes, there will be no going back. You will be under a death sentence. Everything you do will put you at the gravest risk from all sides. You will live in danger until Voldemort and his followers are defeated. Should you say no, you will remain here with Hagrid. You of course will not be able to talk about what happened tonight, nor will any of you who say yes be able to speak of what you will see and hear to those who remain behind. You will not be thought of any less, nor will you be completely 'out of the loop', as they say. This choice is yours to make. I will give you a moment to think about it."
There was dead silence as each of the three looked at each other in fear. Ron was white as a sheet, and Hermione was close to tears. Harry swallowed hard. He was already under a death sentence, so he wasn't as bothered by that as he was bothered by living a life of constant peril and danger. Suddenly fighting Voldemort didn't seem like quite the adventure they had imagined. After a minute had passed, Dumbledore straightened, looked them in the eyes, and spoke very formally.
"Hermione Granger, will you answer the call of the Order of the Phoenix for your aid?"
"Yes."
"Ronald Weasley, will you answer the call of the Order of the Phoenix for your aid?"
"Y-Yes."
"Harry Potter, will you answer the call of the Order of the Phoenix for your aid?"
"Yes."
Hagrid breathed a great sigh of relief and beamed at them. Dumbledore flashed him a quick warning glance, then looked back at the three.
"Then prepare yourselves."
He waved his wand and muttered "portus" and the large bowl on the table gave a shudder. Dumbledore motioned to Harry, Ron, and Hermione and they took hold of the bowl. After a moment the bowl gave a lurch and they were pulled along into the darkness.
They landed with a bump and looked around. They were in a large room, but it was too dark to make out anything clearly. Suddenly there was a flash of bright fire, almost blinding after the darkness. When their eyes recovered, they saw Fawkes perched on Dumbledore's shoulder, his feathers shining in the darkness. From the darkness behind Dumbledore, a voice spoke. Harry started as he recognized the voice of Phineas Nigellus.
"Throughout the long years of History, the forces of Darkness have gathered time and time again. When they gather, like the phoenix we arise to do combat with them. It is to this end that those in the Order of the Phoenix have ever dedicated their lives, to the last full measure of devotion."
Another voice continued. It seemed vaguely familiar to Harry.
"You have been asked to aid the Order, and you have accepted. Prepare, then, to dedicate your lives to fighting the forces of Darkness wherever they gather. Prepare to join us."
Dumbledore waved his wand and a small table appeared between him and Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The table was draped in a gold cloth with a shimmering phoenix woven onto it. Two candles, one gold and one scarlet, appeared on either end of the table. Finally, three goblets appeared filled with a golden liquid. Fawkes hopped from Dumbledore's shoulder to the table and began singing softly. Dumbledore began to speak, his voice carrying over the soft singing of Fawkes.
"Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, do you reject the Dark Arts and all who practice them?"
Fawkes sang a high piercing note, which filled Harry with warmth.
"Yes" they said.
"Will you dedicate your lives to fighting the forces of darkness?"
Again Fawkes sang a high piercing note.
"Yes" they said.
"Are you prepared to pay the ultimate price to see the forces of Darkness defeated?"
This time Fawkes' song filled Harry to his toes, uplifting him.
"Yes" they said, this time a bit more hesitantly. Dumbledore continued.
"The bonds of friendship, loyalty, and love provide some of the most powerful protection from the forces of Darkness which seek to divide and destroy us. The phoenix is the living embodiment of those bonds. We now seal those bonds within you."
He motioned to the goblets. Fawkes hopped over to them and sang a clear sad song. He dipped his head and a silvery, glistening tear dripped into each goblet, turning the liquid from gold to shining silver.
"The tears of the phoenix, which bring healing and strength."
Fawkes then bit at his bare leg. The blood that welled up was the color of flame and just as bright. He let one fiery drop fall into each goblet. The liquid flashed as if flames were flickering just under the silver color.
"Phoenix blood, willingly given, which brings courage when things look darkest."
Fawkes' song gathered in strength and beauty, until it seemed it would break Harry's heart. Tears were streaming openly down Hermione's cheeks. Suddenly Fawkes leaped in the air, gave a great cry, and burst into flame. Hermione gasped. As the ashes drifted down and the newborn baby Fawkes croaked on the table, some of those ashes fell into the goblets. The goblets shook, and scarlet and gold flames shot up, then died down so they flickered over the rims.
"The ashes of the past life, bringing renewal and rebirth."
Harry stared at the goblet in front of him. The others were equally as nervous. Once before Harry had seen blood used in this way. Harry was struck by how similar the spells were, and began to see how thin indeed was the line between 'good' magic and the Dark Arts. He broke off his thoughts as Dumbledore began to speak again.
"Each of you take a goblet and raise it before you. Now repeat after me, and when you're done, drain the goblet."
They took their goblets, raised them, and said:
"Here do I stand, pledged to the Order of the Phoenix. I dedicate my life to fighting the forces of Darkness. I affirm the bonds of friendship, loyalty and love to all those with whom I share them, and to those whom I have yet to meet. As they give their lives for me, so I give my life for them. May these bonds always remain strong, reaching from this life to the next. So say I in front of you all."
They drained their goblets in one long drink. Harry felt himself stiffen as a feeling like liquid phoenix song went coursing through his body, filling him with fire. The others also stiffened, their eyes wide open and shining, as Harry's must have been. The intensity lasted only for a short while before it began ebbing, leaving only a slightly pleasant warmth behind like an echo of the song. Harry recognized this feeling. It was the same feeling he felt on the night of his birthday when all his friends gathered around him to be his family. He looked at Ron and Hermione. They were holding each other now, smiling, their eyes brimming with tears even as Harry's were. Harry looked at Dumbledore, who was now smiling.
"Those things you feel have always been there, Harry. You have felt them before. The potion merely brings them to the surface and shows you how powerful they truly are. And perhaps the greatest secret of all is that there is no limit to how powerful they can grow to be. For the power comes not from what your friends feel for you, but from what you feel for them. That is how the magic works that saved you the night your parents died. For is there nothing more powerful than the love of a mother for her child? Unless--"
He broke off and gestured to Ron and Hermione. He cleared his throat. Ron and Hermione separated and looked at Dumbledore, but they were still holding hands. Dumbledore waved his wand and lights came on to reveal the drawing room at Grimmauld Place. Harry's parents were looking down on them with pride, and Phineas Nigellus was back in his frame, idly picking at his gloves.
Harry looked over at Phineas.
"Why were you part of the ceremony? Did Dumbledore make you a member of the Order?"
Phineas looked highly affronted and he puffed himself up in annoyance.
"Weren't you listening, boy? Didn't I say that the Order has existed for centuries before Dumbledore? I was a member before Dumbledore was even born."
"You were? But, but, I thought most of the Blacks--"
Phineas rolled his eyes.
"And here everyone keeps talking about how intelligent you are. Hasn't Dumbledore said it's not what you're born as, it's what you do and the choices you make? I thought that Muggle was teaching you that one doesn't have to be a 'goody-goody Gryffindor' to have the right intentions, and that one doesn't have to be a 'slimy Slytherin' to have bad intentions. Pettigrew should have taught you that. I may have had my own sensibilities about Wizarding and Blood, but I have never gone to the Darkness. Honestly, it's density like that which makes me think about asking Dumbledore for a teaching job, but then I remember that it's that same density which made me loathe teaching. If I were Headmaster again--"
"That will do, Phineas," said Dumbledore. He winked at Harry.
"While everyone remembers him as the least popular Headmaster in Hogwarts history, they seem to forget that after the Founders he was perhaps the finest teacher in Hogwarts history, also."
"Hmmph. Including the Founders if anyone asks me, which they don't--" Phineas muttered.
Dumbledore silenced him with a look.
"Well. Now that you're officially in the Order, time for business. As you know, membership in the Order is limited to those Wizards of age and who are out of school. However, our plans require an active in school presence also. I have told your parents my plans for you and they have--reluctantly--given permission for you to be inducted into the Order. However, your participation will still be limited to the plans we will talk about here, unless you need to know any of the other plans we have."
He gathered the baby Fawkes into his pocket, made the table and goblets disappear, and they all sat on the armchairs in the drawing room.
"Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, your assignments directly concern Arthur and Remus. What they will be doing bends the Statute of Secrecy, so all caution is needed. They are forming a network of Muggles who have no connection to our world, and do not know it exists. We used to have a strong network made up of relatives of Muggle-Born Wizards, but a horrible disaster forced us to disband it."
Here he gave Harry a look of pity mixed with warning not to say anything.
"We dare not re-establish that network again. Voldemort is sure to know which Wizards have Muggle families. Only one family is aiding us, and that is where you come in, Miss Granger. Your parents' only assignment is to correspond with you. They will send you newspapers and such, and your task will be to summarize them so Remus and Arthur will not have to ask too many questions."
"Are Mum and Dad in danger?" Hermione asked in a very tiny quavery voice.
Dumbledore sighed.
"We have no doubt that Voldemort, through Lucius Malfoy, knows your relationship to Harry. We do not know if Voldemort has targeted your parents, although we cannot put it past him. We have taken steps to protect them, but no plan is totally infallible. But even if they were not helping us, we would still protect them, because Voldemort would think it delicious sport to attack Harry through his friends. It is his way, to break the bonds of friendship, to divide and destroy."
Hermione nodded and buried her face in her hands. Dumbledore turned to Ron.
"Mr. Weasley, you have been enrolled in the N.E.W.T. level Muggle Studies class."
Ron goggled at Dumbledore, his mouth gaping.
"As you will be the only student, you will be able to arrange lessons around your schedule. You will enthusiastically correspond with your father about all the wonderful things you are learning, and of course, you will answer all the questions I'm sure he will write you about."
Dumbledore smiled.
"The cover your father and Remus have devised, should any ask why they are spending so much time in the Muggle world, is that they are writing a book about how modern Muggles live and think and interact with the world around them. As your father is well known for his fondness of Muggles, most of the community will smile indulgently at his eccentricity, but do nothing. Not even young Percy knows how highly regarded your family is within the community."
Dumbledore now turned to Harry.
"Harry, you will have two tasks. First, you will reactivate the D.A. I will be giving you more detailed instructions on when the first meeting will be and what you will say. Your second task will be the hardest of all. You must set the example. You must work to increase and extend bonds of friendship to all the school, yes, even including Slytherins. You have felt how powerful they can be. Yes, you will face many rejections, but let them come from others, not from you. And I believe you may also be surprised at some who accept friendship. You must set the example, Harry, because others will follow you."
Harry nodded his head, although he didn't look too pleased at the prospect of having to make friends with the Slytherins.
Dumbledore sighed, and for an instant he looked his age. He spoke to all three.
"Now, more than ever, we must all work to stand united. While uniting Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff will be easy, we must also unite the Slytherins with us. Even if we only start with a mere handful of Slytherins, we are made that much stronger. And once that initial barrier falls, we may yet unite again as it was when the school was founded."
He rose and took from his pocket a small hourglass on a long chain. They recognized it at once as a Time-Turner. He handed it to Hermione.
"Use this to go back just after you left the common room and checked the map for the first time. I will put a Disillusionment Charm on you so you won't see yourselves. Harry, your cloak and map will be returned by morning. Oh yes--when you correspond, you will use Harry's phoenix feather quill. He will show you how to use it. If you would close the door on your way out, with Harry's permission I would like to sit and think a while. This excellent room is perfect for that. Good luck to all of you."
He sat back down as they were leaving. In the hall, Harry was closing the door, and Hermione was motioning them to come and slip under the chain of the Time-Turner when Harry, taking a last look in the room, saw a movement in the shadows, and a voice spoke--the same as the mysterious second voice they had heard before. Harry kept the door open a crack with his ear against it and motioned the others to be quiet and come and listen.
"Well," the voice said, "that went better than expected."
"Yes" replied Dumbledore. "We have made a very good start. Now the plan has every chance to succeed. Are you ready for your part?"
"I have been ready for this day for a long time, Albus. Are you ready?"
Dumbledore sighed.
"We always knew it might come to this, but now that it has, I'm afraid. There's still so much that could go wrong."
"Then we'll face it and overcome it."
They fell into silence. Harry shut the door quietly and turned to the others. His face, he was sure, matched theirs.
Midnight Meeting
The topic of conversation all through the Great Hall at dinner was what had happened at the Quidditch match. Malfoy had made a grand entrance surrounded by a noisy escort of Slytherins, all treating him as a great hero. As he made his way triumphantly to the Slytherin table, the rest of the school stared at him and their voices were an angry buzz.
"Look at him, the git," said Ron. "You would think he won the Triwizard Cup."
"I don't understand," said Hermione. "Wasn't the match a draw? Not only didn't they win, but they have to play the match again."
"But they didn't lose" replied Ginny. "Malfoy made sure they would at least have another chance, if his cheating didn't give Slytherin the victory."
Hermione shook her head.
"But it's only a game. Why risk so much for something that's not even that important?"
Ron choked on a bit of food. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Leave it, Ron," said Harry. "You two will just get into a big argument. Hermione, I'll bet Dumbledore would say that Quidditch is something that unites us, and that's important."
"Well," Hermione began, "perhaps that's true. But," she continued quickly, "what about all this competition and rivalry? Doesn't that divide?"
"Hermione, what would you do if someone cheated in an academic competition?" said Ron.
Hermione looked shocked and offended at the idea.
"But that would never--I mean, who would--"
"All right, now that you can see each other's point, I hope, let's talk about something else" Ginny said quickly.
"Yeah, like Dumbledore's not looking too happy with Malfoy right now," said Harry.
They glanced at the Staff Table. Dumbledore indeed was watching the scene with Malfoy, and he wasn't smiling. Although he didn't look angry, he did have a look of disappointment on his face. The look deepened and mixed with sadness as he glanced around the Hall. It seemed the lines of division between the Slytherins and the rest of the school were deeper and wider than ever before. Once again Windrider leaned in to talk to Dumbledore. Dumbledore nodded sadly at whatever Windrider said.
For the rest of dinner Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny talked in quiet voices about what was bothering Dumbledore. As the hall emptied after dinner, Ginny went off to find Neville. Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged a look and went back to the common room. Harry went up to the dormitory to get his schoolbooks and hid his cloak under his robes while Ron kept a lookout. The three of them spent the evening in a corner doing their homework, and sneaking furtive glances around the common room as it began to empty.
Finally, at 11:30, the last person went up to bed. They quickly slipped the cloak over themselves. They had to stand very close together as they kept growing and the cloak did not. Ron and Hermione didn't seem to mind the arrangement, however. Harry had to quietly shush them as they were starting to giggle softly. They slipped past the portrait hole without incident. It seemed the Fat Lady was off visiting. They paused and Harry took out his map. Filch and Mrs. Norris were off chasing Peeves near the Ravenclaw tower, and the rest of the halls were deserted. Moving cautiously and quickly, they made their way to Hagrid's and knocked on the door softly.
"Who's there?" Hagrid's voice came through the door rather hushed and urgent.
"It's us" hissed Harry.
"Get in quick" whispered Hagrid. The door cracked open, barely wide enough to let the three of them in. They threw off the cloak and gasped in shock. Hagrid wasn't alone. Dumbledore, Lupin, and Mr. Weasley were standing around Hagrid's table, their faces grave. Fang, normally at his point drooling over all three of them, was lying in the corner by the fire. Fawkes was perched on the mantel.
"Righ' on time. Were yeh seen?" Hagrid asked.
All three shook their heads.
"And I know that they did not discuss it" said Dumbledore. "I would have heard it. Well done."
He smiled slightly at them.
"Miss Granger, do you have the envelope your parents sent you?"
Hermione nodded and handed Dumbledore the envelope. Dumbledore opened it and passed some of the clippings to Lupin and Mr. Weasley.
"As you will be able to tell, there have been some strange goings-on within the Muggle government. Besides the dementor presence which we have been curtailing, I call your attention to some of the new laws being proposed for 'national security reasons'. With the wrong people in power, they can be turned to great evil. Your task will be to stop, or at least delay Voldemort putting a puppet at the head of the Muggle government. Arthur, you have contacts in the Muggle law enforcement agencies and elsewhere. Remus, with the right wardrobe, you will be able to work more openly as no one in the Muggle world knows you are a werewolf. I will give you a list of people to contact. You must not mention Voldemort, of course. You will work in the context of raising public awareness and debate centered on what you will find within these articles."
He looked at them gravely.
"Good luck, then, my friends."
Lupin and Mr. Weasley nodded at Dumbledore, smiled at Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and each took hold of one of Fawkes' legs. With a flash of flame they vanished. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were left staring in awe at Dumbledore. After a silence, Hermione spoke.
"Professor," she began in a small voice, "why are we here? Why were we allowed to see and hear that?"
Dumbledore looked at the three of them gravely, not a trace of a smile on his face.
"You three have been brought here because the Order has need of you. You were permitted to hear this plan because what you will be asked to do partially concerns this plan."
He looked at each one in turn.
"You have been asked by the Order for your aid. You are under no obligation to say yes. Should you say yes, there will be no going back. You will be under a death sentence. Everything you do will put you at the gravest risk from all sides. You will live in danger until Voldemort and his followers are defeated. Should you say no, you will remain here with Hagrid. You of course will not be able to talk about what happened tonight, nor will any of you who say yes be able to speak of what you will see and hear to those who remain behind. You will not be thought of any less, nor will you be completely 'out of the loop', as they say. This choice is yours to make. I will give you a moment to think about it."
There was dead silence as each of the three looked at each other in fear. Ron was white as a sheet, and Hermione was close to tears. Harry swallowed hard. He was already under a death sentence, so he wasn't as bothered by that as he was bothered by living a life of constant peril and danger. Suddenly fighting Voldemort didn't seem like quite the adventure they had imagined. After a minute had passed, Dumbledore straightened, looked them in the eyes, and spoke very formally.
"Hermione Granger, will you answer the call of the Order of the Phoenix for your aid?"
"Yes."
"Ronald Weasley, will you answer the call of the Order of the Phoenix for your aid?"
"Y-Yes."
"Harry Potter, will you answer the call of the Order of the Phoenix for your aid?"
"Yes."
Hagrid breathed a great sigh of relief and beamed at them. Dumbledore flashed him a quick warning glance, then looked back at the three.
"Then prepare yourselves."
He waved his wand and muttered "portus" and the large bowl on the table gave a shudder. Dumbledore motioned to Harry, Ron, and Hermione and they took hold of the bowl. After a moment the bowl gave a lurch and they were pulled along into the darkness.
They landed with a bump and looked around. They were in a large room, but it was too dark to make out anything clearly. Suddenly there was a flash of bright fire, almost blinding after the darkness. When their eyes recovered, they saw Fawkes perched on Dumbledore's shoulder, his feathers shining in the darkness. From the darkness behind Dumbledore, a voice spoke. Harry started as he recognized the voice of Phineas Nigellus.
"Throughout the long years of History, the forces of Darkness have gathered time and time again. When they gather, like the phoenix we arise to do combat with them. It is to this end that those in the Order of the Phoenix have ever dedicated their lives, to the last full measure of devotion."
Another voice continued. It seemed vaguely familiar to Harry.
"You have been asked to aid the Order, and you have accepted. Prepare, then, to dedicate your lives to fighting the forces of Darkness wherever they gather. Prepare to join us."
Dumbledore waved his wand and a small table appeared between him and Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The table was draped in a gold cloth with a shimmering phoenix woven onto it. Two candles, one gold and one scarlet, appeared on either end of the table. Finally, three goblets appeared filled with a golden liquid. Fawkes hopped from Dumbledore's shoulder to the table and began singing softly. Dumbledore began to speak, his voice carrying over the soft singing of Fawkes.
"Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, do you reject the Dark Arts and all who practice them?"
Fawkes sang a high piercing note, which filled Harry with warmth.
"Yes" they said.
"Will you dedicate your lives to fighting the forces of darkness?"
Again Fawkes sang a high piercing note.
"Yes" they said.
"Are you prepared to pay the ultimate price to see the forces of Darkness defeated?"
This time Fawkes' song filled Harry to his toes, uplifting him.
"Yes" they said, this time a bit more hesitantly. Dumbledore continued.
"The bonds of friendship, loyalty, and love provide some of the most powerful protection from the forces of Darkness which seek to divide and destroy us. The phoenix is the living embodiment of those bonds. We now seal those bonds within you."
He motioned to the goblets. Fawkes hopped over to them and sang a clear sad song. He dipped his head and a silvery, glistening tear dripped into each goblet, turning the liquid from gold to shining silver.
"The tears of the phoenix, which bring healing and strength."
Fawkes then bit at his bare leg. The blood that welled up was the color of flame and just as bright. He let one fiery drop fall into each goblet. The liquid flashed as if flames were flickering just under the silver color.
"Phoenix blood, willingly given, which brings courage when things look darkest."
Fawkes' song gathered in strength and beauty, until it seemed it would break Harry's heart. Tears were streaming openly down Hermione's cheeks. Suddenly Fawkes leaped in the air, gave a great cry, and burst into flame. Hermione gasped. As the ashes drifted down and the newborn baby Fawkes croaked on the table, some of those ashes fell into the goblets. The goblets shook, and scarlet and gold flames shot up, then died down so they flickered over the rims.
"The ashes of the past life, bringing renewal and rebirth."
Harry stared at the goblet in front of him. The others were equally as nervous. Once before Harry had seen blood used in this way. Harry was struck by how similar the spells were, and began to see how thin indeed was the line between 'good' magic and the Dark Arts. He broke off his thoughts as Dumbledore began to speak again.
"Each of you take a goblet and raise it before you. Now repeat after me, and when you're done, drain the goblet."
They took their goblets, raised them, and said:
"Here do I stand, pledged to the Order of the Phoenix. I dedicate my life to fighting the forces of Darkness. I affirm the bonds of friendship, loyalty and love to all those with whom I share them, and to those whom I have yet to meet. As they give their lives for me, so I give my life for them. May these bonds always remain strong, reaching from this life to the next. So say I in front of you all."
They drained their goblets in one long drink. Harry felt himself stiffen as a feeling like liquid phoenix song went coursing through his body, filling him with fire. The others also stiffened, their eyes wide open and shining, as Harry's must have been. The intensity lasted only for a short while before it began ebbing, leaving only a slightly pleasant warmth behind like an echo of the song. Harry recognized this feeling. It was the same feeling he felt on the night of his birthday when all his friends gathered around him to be his family. He looked at Ron and Hermione. They were holding each other now, smiling, their eyes brimming with tears even as Harry's were. Harry looked at Dumbledore, who was now smiling.
"Those things you feel have always been there, Harry. You have felt them before. The potion merely brings them to the surface and shows you how powerful they truly are. And perhaps the greatest secret of all is that there is no limit to how powerful they can grow to be. For the power comes not from what your friends feel for you, but from what you feel for them. That is how the magic works that saved you the night your parents died. For is there nothing more powerful than the love of a mother for her child? Unless--"
He broke off and gestured to Ron and Hermione. He cleared his throat. Ron and Hermione separated and looked at Dumbledore, but they were still holding hands. Dumbledore waved his wand and lights came on to reveal the drawing room at Grimmauld Place. Harry's parents were looking down on them with pride, and Phineas Nigellus was back in his frame, idly picking at his gloves.
Harry looked over at Phineas.
"Why were you part of the ceremony? Did Dumbledore make you a member of the Order?"
Phineas looked highly affronted and he puffed himself up in annoyance.
"Weren't you listening, boy? Didn't I say that the Order has existed for centuries before Dumbledore? I was a member before Dumbledore was even born."
"You were? But, but, I thought most of the Blacks--"
Phineas rolled his eyes.
"And here everyone keeps talking about how intelligent you are. Hasn't Dumbledore said it's not what you're born as, it's what you do and the choices you make? I thought that Muggle was teaching you that one doesn't have to be a 'goody-goody Gryffindor' to have the right intentions, and that one doesn't have to be a 'slimy Slytherin' to have bad intentions. Pettigrew should have taught you that. I may have had my own sensibilities about Wizarding and Blood, but I have never gone to the Darkness. Honestly, it's density like that which makes me think about asking Dumbledore for a teaching job, but then I remember that it's that same density which made me loathe teaching. If I were Headmaster again--"
"That will do, Phineas," said Dumbledore. He winked at Harry.
"While everyone remembers him as the least popular Headmaster in Hogwarts history, they seem to forget that after the Founders he was perhaps the finest teacher in Hogwarts history, also."
"Hmmph. Including the Founders if anyone asks me, which they don't--" Phineas muttered.
Dumbledore silenced him with a look.
"Well. Now that you're officially in the Order, time for business. As you know, membership in the Order is limited to those Wizards of age and who are out of school. However, our plans require an active in school presence also. I have told your parents my plans for you and they have--reluctantly--given permission for you to be inducted into the Order. However, your participation will still be limited to the plans we will talk about here, unless you need to know any of the other plans we have."
He gathered the baby Fawkes into his pocket, made the table and goblets disappear, and they all sat on the armchairs in the drawing room.
"Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, your assignments directly concern Arthur and Remus. What they will be doing bends the Statute of Secrecy, so all caution is needed. They are forming a network of Muggles who have no connection to our world, and do not know it exists. We used to have a strong network made up of relatives of Muggle-Born Wizards, but a horrible disaster forced us to disband it."
Here he gave Harry a look of pity mixed with warning not to say anything.
"We dare not re-establish that network again. Voldemort is sure to know which Wizards have Muggle families. Only one family is aiding us, and that is where you come in, Miss Granger. Your parents' only assignment is to correspond with you. They will send you newspapers and such, and your task will be to summarize them so Remus and Arthur will not have to ask too many questions."
"Are Mum and Dad in danger?" Hermione asked in a very tiny quavery voice.
Dumbledore sighed.
"We have no doubt that Voldemort, through Lucius Malfoy, knows your relationship to Harry. We do not know if Voldemort has targeted your parents, although we cannot put it past him. We have taken steps to protect them, but no plan is totally infallible. But even if they were not helping us, we would still protect them, because Voldemort would think it delicious sport to attack Harry through his friends. It is his way, to break the bonds of friendship, to divide and destroy."
Hermione nodded and buried her face in her hands. Dumbledore turned to Ron.
"Mr. Weasley, you have been enrolled in the N.E.W.T. level Muggle Studies class."
Ron goggled at Dumbledore, his mouth gaping.
"As you will be the only student, you will be able to arrange lessons around your schedule. You will enthusiastically correspond with your father about all the wonderful things you are learning, and of course, you will answer all the questions I'm sure he will write you about."
Dumbledore smiled.
"The cover your father and Remus have devised, should any ask why they are spending so much time in the Muggle world, is that they are writing a book about how modern Muggles live and think and interact with the world around them. As your father is well known for his fondness of Muggles, most of the community will smile indulgently at his eccentricity, but do nothing. Not even young Percy knows how highly regarded your family is within the community."
Dumbledore now turned to Harry.
"Harry, you will have two tasks. First, you will reactivate the D.A. I will be giving you more detailed instructions on when the first meeting will be and what you will say. Your second task will be the hardest of all. You must set the example. You must work to increase and extend bonds of friendship to all the school, yes, even including Slytherins. You have felt how powerful they can be. Yes, you will face many rejections, but let them come from others, not from you. And I believe you may also be surprised at some who accept friendship. You must set the example, Harry, because others will follow you."
Harry nodded his head, although he didn't look too pleased at the prospect of having to make friends with the Slytherins.
Dumbledore sighed, and for an instant he looked his age. He spoke to all three.
"Now, more than ever, we must all work to stand united. While uniting Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff will be easy, we must also unite the Slytherins with us. Even if we only start with a mere handful of Slytherins, we are made that much stronger. And once that initial barrier falls, we may yet unite again as it was when the school was founded."
He rose and took from his pocket a small hourglass on a long chain. They recognized it at once as a Time-Turner. He handed it to Hermione.
"Use this to go back just after you left the common room and checked the map for the first time. I will put a Disillusionment Charm on you so you won't see yourselves. Harry, your cloak and map will be returned by morning. Oh yes--when you correspond, you will use Harry's phoenix feather quill. He will show you how to use it. If you would close the door on your way out, with Harry's permission I would like to sit and think a while. This excellent room is perfect for that. Good luck to all of you."
He sat back down as they were leaving. In the hall, Harry was closing the door, and Hermione was motioning them to come and slip under the chain of the Time-Turner when Harry, taking a last look in the room, saw a movement in the shadows, and a voice spoke--the same as the mysterious second voice they had heard before. Harry kept the door open a crack with his ear against it and motioned the others to be quiet and come and listen.
"Well," the voice said, "that went better than expected."
"Yes" replied Dumbledore. "We have made a very good start. Now the plan has every chance to succeed. Are you ready for your part?"
"I have been ready for this day for a long time, Albus. Are you ready?"
Dumbledore sighed.
"We always knew it might come to this, but now that it has, I'm afraid. There's still so much that could go wrong."
"Then we'll face it and overcome it."
They fell into silence. Harry shut the door quietly and turned to the others. His face, he was sure, matched theirs.
