A/N - JKR owns everything familiar. Me --- not so much.
A/N -Read, enjoy, review. Most importantly though, enjoy!
Chapter 51
Appeasing Answers
Harry knew for a scientific certainty that his jaw had dropped and his mouth was hanging open but he didn't care. He continued to sit absolutely still and gaze at the Headmaster. He would have held the old wizard's gaze and remained perfectly still for an eternity if Sirius hadn't put his arm around his shoulder.
"Harry, are you ok?" his godfather asked of him.
Harry, for his part, nodded an affirmative response but still didn't remove his gaze from the Headmaster. He needed desperately to hear what was coming next. He needed to know that this wasn't some cruel dream. He sat there gazing at the elderly wizard behind the half-moon spectacles.
"Harry," the headmaster began. "Everyone in this room knows a part of this story. Some, better than others. No one knows the entire tale. I beg of you that you let us complete this story - as best as we know how - before you question us. I assure you that we will try to answer your questions when we are done."
Everyone in the office turned to watch for Harry's response. The fifteen year old boy nodded his almost imperceptible response. Fawkes flew over and landed on his shoulder apparently offering his support for what was to come.
"Harry, you come from a long line of pure-blood wizards." After this first sentence Harry spent nearly all of his self control not interrupting the head master. He knew his mother was Muggle born, didn't he? What he did know was that this was going to be longest Sunday of his life.
Dumbledore ignored or didn't notice Harry's reaction to the first sentence as he continued the tale. "The Potter's have a long history of good deeds and service throughout the wizarding world. Your grandfather, his father and indeed his father were all Minister's of Magic at one time or another. There is no doubt in my mind that James would have easily won this role for himself at an early age."
Harry didn't see all the occupants of the office nodding their agreements to Dumbledore's last statement. His gaze remained fixed on the headmaster.
"Your mother," he continued, "also comes from a pure wizarding family. They sent her to be adopted at an early age in a Muggle orphanage and she grew up believing that the Evans' were her natural parents. She didn't learn differently until after she came to Hogwarts when she received an anonymous letter telling her otherwise. After a long and thoughtful decision making process, she decided not to try to find the identity of her birth parents so all I can tell you is what was in the letter. Basically all it said was that she was born into a pure wizarding family but that she gave no signs of any magic ability. The letter said that the parents didn't want to risk her facing the torments of life as a squib so they sent her to live with Muggles without anyone being the wiser. The only other contents of the letter were that they were glad she had been accepted and enrolled in Hogwarts.
"When your parents were here they made quite the dashing couple. They had a magnificent wedding less than a year after they graduated. I was honored that they asked me to perform the ceremony, which was held right here at Hogwarts. Almost nine months later, Voldemort killed all four of your grandparents. They were vacationing together when Voldemort went after them. It was that revolting attack which finally convinced your parents to go into hiding using a rather specialized charm. I believe you already know the rest of that story so let me go back to their last few months at Hogwarts.
"Your father knew what he was going to do when he graduated since the time he was about five years old. The tradition of his family was to become an Unspeakable. Like you, your father also bore the weight of the wizarding world on his shoulders. It's an agreed upon fact among respected wizards that all of the best Ministers of Magic were once Unspeakables. You see, only an Unspeakable knows what an Unspeakable does. No one, not even a Minister of Magic, gets briefed on their mission. So unless the Minister of Magic used to be an Unspeakable, he or she could never use them to their utmost capabilities. Your father was expected to become a Minister of Magic. And therefore, because he was not capable of giving less than his best efforts, he always knew he had to become an Unspeakable after graduation."
Harry remembered his agreement not to interrupt the Headmaster. Even if he did there was no way he could possibly narrow down his questions to just one or two or even twenty. His head was spinning. He just sat their numbly waiting for Dumbledore to continue.
"Well, for her part, there was absolutely no way that your mother could survive not knowing what her husband did for a living. She didn't even think twice about it. I am certain that the second she accepted James' marriage proposal she knew what she would be doing after graduation. For her, there really was no choice just as your father had no real choice. That, as you know, bothered them greatly and they vowed to each other not to put you in the same position. And that is why we wouldn't tell you their job earlier. I'm not sure that they would even agree with my telling you now. However, you have endured and accomplished so much for our world that it just no longer seems appropriate to keep things from you."
Harry, as still as ever, waited for the Headmaster to continue. But he did not. Again it took Sirius touching his to wake him from his stupor. "Are you all right?" his godfather asked.
Oddly enough, Harry had to think about the question. He did not know how to answer it. The Headmaster broke into his thoughts.
"Harry, what questions do you have for us?"
He actually had hundreds of questions for these people. Finally he focused on something from early in the session.
"You said everyone here had their own part of the story. What are the other parts?"
Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling as much as ever. "An excellent observation, Harry. Minerva, why don't you start?"
"Harry, I met Lily's parents on a couple of occasions. The first time was soon after she got her letter. Every summer, someone is responsible for following the situation with the new students who receive their letters. For example, that's how we knew so quickly that you weren't receiving your letters." Here, Professor McGonagall paused waiting for some feedback. When she realized that Harry wasn't going to provide her any, she continued.
"They weren't sure that it wasn't some colossal joke." This statement rang true with Harry. He remembered his own reaction when he first met Hagrid. He made a mental note to ask Hermione later on about her reaction as well as that of her parents'. His Head of House continued.
"Anyway I went out to speak with Lily and her family about Hogwarts. They were the nicest people. I so hoped Lily would end up in Gryffindor. When they finally believed me, they were excited about Lily attending the school. All except Lily's sister, that is. She was jealous. Anyway I had occasion to meet with them a few more times during the years that Lily went to school here. You would have never known that she was adopted, the way they doted on her. They loved her so much, just as they would have loved you. The last time I saw them was at the wedding. They couldn't have been happier. They loved James and were very good friends with his parent's."
There was absolute silence in the room as the Transfigurations Professor wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her robe. Everyone was lost in his or her own thoughts. Finally Remus cleared his throat.
"I believe I am next." He glanced to the Headmaster for confirmation. After receiving a slight nod he began.
"You know how close James, Sirius and I were in school. Unfortunately all of us underestimated Pettigrew. When we came to find out, a few months after graduation, that one of us was a spy most people suspected me because of my. er. condition. I hate to admit it now but I suspected Sirius." He was looking at the floor as he said this last bit.
Sirius walked over and grabbed his arm. "It's okay Moony. Those were hard times for everyone. No one knew what to think. I don't blame you, not even a little bit." Lupin smiled and seemed to feel better about himself. Sirius crossed back to the other side of the room to be next to Harry.
Lupin continued speaking, "James and Lily, I think never really believed that any of their friends would betray them. Those two had a hard time seeing anything except the good in people. They obviously didn't suspect Sirius because they were going to make them their Secret Keeper. Since they ended up making it Pettigrew we know they didn't suspect him. As for me, since they let me baby-sit for you right until the end I believe that they trusted me.
"I spent the next thirteen years believing that Padfoot had betrayed James and Lily. You can't ever know what it was like for me during your third year thinking that Padfoot was after you. Every single day that year I awoke planning to tell Dumbledore that Padfoot was an unregistered animagus but I could never bring myself to do it. In the end, it was probably for the best that I didn't because everything worked out.
"Anyway, after Sirius was arrested, Dumbledore sent you to the Dursley's that very day. Although I protested with him, I ultimately saw that he was right. I certainly couldn't take of you because of the risk that would inevitably come every month with the full moon. The ancient magic all but guaranteed your safety. Dumbledore conceded that if Petunia or Vernon raised a hand to you that we would find new arrangements. Am I correct in saying that that never happened?"
It took Harry a few seconds to realize that everyone was waiting for him to answer. After his brain registered the question he nodded slightly.
Lupin nodded knowingly while he resumed his tale. "I, along with other wizards and witches, would check on you periodically of course. You were so depressed and lonely growing up that at times I wished that Vernon would hit you just once so that Dumbledore would permit us to take you out of there. Anyway, things had gotten so bad for you when you were in second grade that I was finally able to interact with you soon afterwards."
At these last words, Harry furrowed his eyebrows together and looked at Lupin sharply. Lupin smiled as he asked Harry, "You don't remember me from before your time at Hogwarts do you?"
Harry shook his head no. Lupin had his full attention.
"Harry, I don't mean to brag but who was your favorite teacher before you came to Hogwarts?"
Harry didn't even have to think about it. "My third grade teacher, Mr Wolfie. He was head and shoulders above anyone else I ever had. But he moved away at the end of the school year and I was never able to ."
Lupin's smile broadened as he saw recognition in Harry's eyes.
"But. but. you don't look like he did."
Dumbledore was the one to answer this time. "Ah yes, a simple charm if I recall correctly. We couldn't take even the slightest chance of any lingering Death Eaters figuring out who you were so I altered his appearance. However, I put a time limit on the charm so that he wouldn't be tempted to stay longer than he was allowed."
Lupin threw a quick glance at the Headmaster. "That's right Harry, the morning after I left I awoke looking like my old self. While I was at your school, I wasn't able to do much about your home life. except for not sending home any notes even when you threw that pie at Dudley."
Harry couldn't help but to grin at the memory. He had wondered how it was that no one at all had seen him do that. It made sense that people saw him and told Lupin who chose not to tell the Dursley's.
Lupin cleared his throat. "As I was saying. I couldn't do much except for trying to make sure you had a pleasant year at school. We just wanted to help you hang in there until you came to Hogwarts."
After a few seconds of silence, Sirius spoke up. "And that brings us to me."
Harry, along with everyone else in the room, shifted their gaze to the man beside Harry.
"I don't have any more information to tell you. The only thing else I can tell you is that I love you like you were my very own. Just like I loved Lily and James. and even Mr Wolfie here. Many people. including a few in this room. thought I would never grow up."
"Amen," Professor McGonagall allowed.
Sirius flicked her a quick scowl but continued. "But I was so honored when your parents asked me to be your godfather that it changed almost my entire life. As Dumbledore said when you came in here. it is time for you to know everything. That's the least we can do after everything you've done for us. I won't try to hide anything from you. I'll try to answer everything you ask me, now or later."
A silence fell over the room. After a minute passed Dumbledore spoke up again. "Harry, you have been extremely quiet through most of this. I can only imagine what it's like trying to take all of this in. Pray tell us, what are thinking right now?"
Harry was thoughtful for a few moments. "Is there more?"
Dumbledore chuckled. "I love how inquisitive young minds are. There is always more, Harry. But nothing else major about your family that I can think of at the moment."
Something about Dumbledore's choice of words gave Harry pause. He considered exactly what the wizard had just said to him. Finally he pinpointed and voiced what struck him as slightly out of kilter. "Nothing else major about my family. what about anything else major about me?"
Because Harry was holding the Headmaster's gaze, he didn't see the furtive looks that the other three occupants of the room exchanged.
Dumbledore paused a few seconds before answering, "Yes Harry, there is something else major about you that we haven't shared yet. Are you ready for it?"
"Yes"
Sirius put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Don't you even want to think about it Harry? You've learned a lot today. This isn't anything we can't tell you tomorrow or the next day or even next week."
"I'm sure."
Dumbledore took over again, "Very well then. It's about the Order of the Phoenix." Dumbledore paused to give Harry a chance to react in some way but continued quickly when he did not.
"You will be called upon this year to save the Order."
"You mean to join it?"
"Alas, no. You will need to save it."
"How will I do that sir?"
"I'm afraid that I do not know precisely. Harry, do you remember what all you learned from that book that you tumbled into earlier this year?"
Harry thought for a few seconds. "I think so."
"Then tell me, how long can I remain to be the leader of the Order?"
Harry thought back to that day in his DADA class when he entered the book. He remembered Flammel addressing the group. After casting his mind around for the memory he answered, "Every fifty years someone new has to become the leader."
"Excellent as always. For anyone in the room that has lost track or may not have known, my fifty years is up this year. That means that this year I have to hand the reigns over to someone new."
Harry was still a little confused. "Sir, what does that have to do with me?"
Dumbledore smiled and waited patiently for Harry to put everything together in his head. Harry was looking at the other three adults in the room. Professor McGonagall looked slightly sad. Sirius looked angry. Lupin looked somewhere in between the two. Their looks told him that he was right in the conclusion that was slowly forming in his head. as improbable as it seemed.
"You don't mean???"
"Yes, that's right. Harry, in a ceremony similar to the one you saw I will pass the reigns of the Order of the Phoenix to you. And then you will have to er. prove yourself to the Order. as it were."
"I'll have to accomplish a task?"
"Yes"
"What will it be?"
"I don't know."
"Pardon?"
"No one knows your task until the night of the ceremony. I will only know your task a few seconds before I publicly announce it."
The all too familiar sensation of his head bursting with questions was threatening to overwhelm Harry. Finally he settled on one. "What was your task?"
For the first time during the entire conversation, the twinkle was gone from the Headmaster's gaze. His expression was definitely one of sadness. "Harry, you should know that yesterday I would not have answered this question. But since we are trying to tell you everything you wish to know I will tell you what my task was. I had to defeat Grindewald."
Harry's eyes bulged.
"Does that mean I'll have to defeat Voldmort?"
"I do not know."
After a brief pause, Harry continued. "What happens if I fail my task?"
"The Order will be disbanded for a period of ten years. If two members get too close to each they will be forced to duel to the death."
The thought of this would have almost been too much for Harry to consider if he wasn't expecting it. He remembered this from the book. The ramification of the adults in the room not being able to get near each other for the next ten years was impossible to fully comprehend. Harry decided to start on another line of questioning.
"Why don't you choose someone else to lead the Order? Someone older?"
"It's not my choice to make. Indeed, it was from you that I found out that you were to be my successor."
"From me? I don't understand."
"The book shows itself to the next leader. It gives them a unique insight to the Order. When you told me about your experience that day, I knew that you were to be the next one in line."
"So the book chose me?"
"Yes, and no."
"The book reveals the chosen witch or wizard."
"How was I chosen then?"
"The leader of the Order will be the witch or the wizard who has contributed the most to the fight against the dark forces."
Harry thought about everything he had just heard. If that really was the criteria then even he had to admit that he probably did fit the guideline better than anyone else around except Dumbledore given his experiences the last few years.
"When is all this going to happen?"
"1 April. a week from Tuesday. After your last class go straight to the kitchens to eat. We'll leave around dinnertime to go to Hogsmeade and apparate from there."
"What do I need to do between now and then to prepare myself?"
McGonagall spoke up for the first time in a while. "You've been training hard in your advanced studies all year. Just keep it up. Don't overdo it though. There's no need to exhaust yourself. Just keep up your current pace."
"I agree Harry," Dumbledore added. Lupin was nodding. Sirius was remaining eerily still.
Harry's thoughts were interrupted once more by the elder wizard behind the half-moon spectacles. "I have no doubt that a mind as inquisitive as yours has many more pertinent questions but perhaps we should adjourn for a while and give all of this new information a chance to sink in."
More on autopilot than anything else, Harry got up and walked out of the office. At Sirius' suggestion, he and his godfather spent the next couple of hours flying around the school grounds. Harry had to admit that this was the first time in his whole life that flying around didn't clear out his mind.
Eventually they decided to go inside. Harry still had to finish his homework and he was getting a little hungry. He was so distracted that he wouldn't even have noticed except that he heard his stomach growling. He ate with Ron and Hermione but he didn't tell them anything about what he learned this morning. He just told them he needed some time to digest it and that he'd tell them later. They seemed to accept this and indeed were just grateful that he was up front with them instead of trying to hide something from them. Ron and Hermione chatted through the meal about various unimportant things and Harry would grunt a response every now and then.
With an extreme amount of help from Ron and Hermione he was able to complete his assignments before going up to bed at a very early hour. He drew his curtains closed and laid in bed for hours and hours reflecting upon everything that he had learned that very day. He could barely believe that it had been that same day that he had learned everything about his family and his role in the Order of the Phoenix.
The next eight days flew by for Harry. Somewhere during that time he had told Ron and Hermione everything he could but almost wished he hadn't. He couldn't tell them anything at all about the Order so they thought he was preoccupied about his family. His two best friends were wanting to have long and deep conversations about his family tree but he couldn't turn his thoughts from the Order. These conversations were ones he wanted to have, just not now. He vaguely was aware that Sirius was around almost all the time during those eight days. He spent the weekend having advanced lessons and flying around the grounds with Sirius.
Before he knew it, the calendar said 1 April. Later, Harry would have no recollection of going to class that day. After his last class, he went down to the kitchen as Dumbledore bade him but he didn't eat hardly anything. As he walked to Dumbledore's office, he tried to think about everything the book had shown him.
Dumbledore was waiting for him alone in his office. He explained that the others would meet them there. They walked to Hogsmeade in silence and apparated together to the same room Harry remembered from the book.
They entered a side office together. Dumbledore gathered a few things while explaining to Harry that this was to be his office and that he'd show him around more later, if Harry wished.
After quickly surveying the room Dumbledore announced, "It's time." He led Harry back into the main room.
Somehow the room that was empty a minute or two prior was now full with wizards and witches. Harry surveyed the group without really taking in the sights. He recognized a few faces. He couldn't be sure but he thought that most of the people watching him seemed sad or distant. He was vaguely aware of Dumbledore introducing Harry and announcing that he was to be the next leader. Dumbledore grabbed his hand and shook his hand briefly before releasing his grip. Again, there was no hint of a twinkle in his eyes.
It was the next few words that grabbed Harry's full attention.
"Harry, are you ready to find out what your task is?"
A/N -Read, enjoy, review. Most importantly though, enjoy!
Chapter 51
Appeasing Answers
Harry knew for a scientific certainty that his jaw had dropped and his mouth was hanging open but he didn't care. He continued to sit absolutely still and gaze at the Headmaster. He would have held the old wizard's gaze and remained perfectly still for an eternity if Sirius hadn't put his arm around his shoulder.
"Harry, are you ok?" his godfather asked of him.
Harry, for his part, nodded an affirmative response but still didn't remove his gaze from the Headmaster. He needed desperately to hear what was coming next. He needed to know that this wasn't some cruel dream. He sat there gazing at the elderly wizard behind the half-moon spectacles.
"Harry," the headmaster began. "Everyone in this room knows a part of this story. Some, better than others. No one knows the entire tale. I beg of you that you let us complete this story - as best as we know how - before you question us. I assure you that we will try to answer your questions when we are done."
Everyone in the office turned to watch for Harry's response. The fifteen year old boy nodded his almost imperceptible response. Fawkes flew over and landed on his shoulder apparently offering his support for what was to come.
"Harry, you come from a long line of pure-blood wizards." After this first sentence Harry spent nearly all of his self control not interrupting the head master. He knew his mother was Muggle born, didn't he? What he did know was that this was going to be longest Sunday of his life.
Dumbledore ignored or didn't notice Harry's reaction to the first sentence as he continued the tale. "The Potter's have a long history of good deeds and service throughout the wizarding world. Your grandfather, his father and indeed his father were all Minister's of Magic at one time or another. There is no doubt in my mind that James would have easily won this role for himself at an early age."
Harry didn't see all the occupants of the office nodding their agreements to Dumbledore's last statement. His gaze remained fixed on the headmaster.
"Your mother," he continued, "also comes from a pure wizarding family. They sent her to be adopted at an early age in a Muggle orphanage and she grew up believing that the Evans' were her natural parents. She didn't learn differently until after she came to Hogwarts when she received an anonymous letter telling her otherwise. After a long and thoughtful decision making process, she decided not to try to find the identity of her birth parents so all I can tell you is what was in the letter. Basically all it said was that she was born into a pure wizarding family but that she gave no signs of any magic ability. The letter said that the parents didn't want to risk her facing the torments of life as a squib so they sent her to live with Muggles without anyone being the wiser. The only other contents of the letter were that they were glad she had been accepted and enrolled in Hogwarts.
"When your parents were here they made quite the dashing couple. They had a magnificent wedding less than a year after they graduated. I was honored that they asked me to perform the ceremony, which was held right here at Hogwarts. Almost nine months later, Voldemort killed all four of your grandparents. They were vacationing together when Voldemort went after them. It was that revolting attack which finally convinced your parents to go into hiding using a rather specialized charm. I believe you already know the rest of that story so let me go back to their last few months at Hogwarts.
"Your father knew what he was going to do when he graduated since the time he was about five years old. The tradition of his family was to become an Unspeakable. Like you, your father also bore the weight of the wizarding world on his shoulders. It's an agreed upon fact among respected wizards that all of the best Ministers of Magic were once Unspeakables. You see, only an Unspeakable knows what an Unspeakable does. No one, not even a Minister of Magic, gets briefed on their mission. So unless the Minister of Magic used to be an Unspeakable, he or she could never use them to their utmost capabilities. Your father was expected to become a Minister of Magic. And therefore, because he was not capable of giving less than his best efforts, he always knew he had to become an Unspeakable after graduation."
Harry remembered his agreement not to interrupt the Headmaster. Even if he did there was no way he could possibly narrow down his questions to just one or two or even twenty. His head was spinning. He just sat their numbly waiting for Dumbledore to continue.
"Well, for her part, there was absolutely no way that your mother could survive not knowing what her husband did for a living. She didn't even think twice about it. I am certain that the second she accepted James' marriage proposal she knew what she would be doing after graduation. For her, there really was no choice just as your father had no real choice. That, as you know, bothered them greatly and they vowed to each other not to put you in the same position. And that is why we wouldn't tell you their job earlier. I'm not sure that they would even agree with my telling you now. However, you have endured and accomplished so much for our world that it just no longer seems appropriate to keep things from you."
Harry, as still as ever, waited for the Headmaster to continue. But he did not. Again it took Sirius touching his to wake him from his stupor. "Are you all right?" his godfather asked.
Oddly enough, Harry had to think about the question. He did not know how to answer it. The Headmaster broke into his thoughts.
"Harry, what questions do you have for us?"
He actually had hundreds of questions for these people. Finally he focused on something from early in the session.
"You said everyone here had their own part of the story. What are the other parts?"
Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling as much as ever. "An excellent observation, Harry. Minerva, why don't you start?"
"Harry, I met Lily's parents on a couple of occasions. The first time was soon after she got her letter. Every summer, someone is responsible for following the situation with the new students who receive their letters. For example, that's how we knew so quickly that you weren't receiving your letters." Here, Professor McGonagall paused waiting for some feedback. When she realized that Harry wasn't going to provide her any, she continued.
"They weren't sure that it wasn't some colossal joke." This statement rang true with Harry. He remembered his own reaction when he first met Hagrid. He made a mental note to ask Hermione later on about her reaction as well as that of her parents'. His Head of House continued.
"Anyway I went out to speak with Lily and her family about Hogwarts. They were the nicest people. I so hoped Lily would end up in Gryffindor. When they finally believed me, they were excited about Lily attending the school. All except Lily's sister, that is. She was jealous. Anyway I had occasion to meet with them a few more times during the years that Lily went to school here. You would have never known that she was adopted, the way they doted on her. They loved her so much, just as they would have loved you. The last time I saw them was at the wedding. They couldn't have been happier. They loved James and were very good friends with his parent's."
There was absolute silence in the room as the Transfigurations Professor wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her robe. Everyone was lost in his or her own thoughts. Finally Remus cleared his throat.
"I believe I am next." He glanced to the Headmaster for confirmation. After receiving a slight nod he began.
"You know how close James, Sirius and I were in school. Unfortunately all of us underestimated Pettigrew. When we came to find out, a few months after graduation, that one of us was a spy most people suspected me because of my. er. condition. I hate to admit it now but I suspected Sirius." He was looking at the floor as he said this last bit.
Sirius walked over and grabbed his arm. "It's okay Moony. Those were hard times for everyone. No one knew what to think. I don't blame you, not even a little bit." Lupin smiled and seemed to feel better about himself. Sirius crossed back to the other side of the room to be next to Harry.
Lupin continued speaking, "James and Lily, I think never really believed that any of their friends would betray them. Those two had a hard time seeing anything except the good in people. They obviously didn't suspect Sirius because they were going to make them their Secret Keeper. Since they ended up making it Pettigrew we know they didn't suspect him. As for me, since they let me baby-sit for you right until the end I believe that they trusted me.
"I spent the next thirteen years believing that Padfoot had betrayed James and Lily. You can't ever know what it was like for me during your third year thinking that Padfoot was after you. Every single day that year I awoke planning to tell Dumbledore that Padfoot was an unregistered animagus but I could never bring myself to do it. In the end, it was probably for the best that I didn't because everything worked out.
"Anyway, after Sirius was arrested, Dumbledore sent you to the Dursley's that very day. Although I protested with him, I ultimately saw that he was right. I certainly couldn't take of you because of the risk that would inevitably come every month with the full moon. The ancient magic all but guaranteed your safety. Dumbledore conceded that if Petunia or Vernon raised a hand to you that we would find new arrangements. Am I correct in saying that that never happened?"
It took Harry a few seconds to realize that everyone was waiting for him to answer. After his brain registered the question he nodded slightly.
Lupin nodded knowingly while he resumed his tale. "I, along with other wizards and witches, would check on you periodically of course. You were so depressed and lonely growing up that at times I wished that Vernon would hit you just once so that Dumbledore would permit us to take you out of there. Anyway, things had gotten so bad for you when you were in second grade that I was finally able to interact with you soon afterwards."
At these last words, Harry furrowed his eyebrows together and looked at Lupin sharply. Lupin smiled as he asked Harry, "You don't remember me from before your time at Hogwarts do you?"
Harry shook his head no. Lupin had his full attention.
"Harry, I don't mean to brag but who was your favorite teacher before you came to Hogwarts?"
Harry didn't even have to think about it. "My third grade teacher, Mr Wolfie. He was head and shoulders above anyone else I ever had. But he moved away at the end of the school year and I was never able to ."
Lupin's smile broadened as he saw recognition in Harry's eyes.
"But. but. you don't look like he did."
Dumbledore was the one to answer this time. "Ah yes, a simple charm if I recall correctly. We couldn't take even the slightest chance of any lingering Death Eaters figuring out who you were so I altered his appearance. However, I put a time limit on the charm so that he wouldn't be tempted to stay longer than he was allowed."
Lupin threw a quick glance at the Headmaster. "That's right Harry, the morning after I left I awoke looking like my old self. While I was at your school, I wasn't able to do much about your home life. except for not sending home any notes even when you threw that pie at Dudley."
Harry couldn't help but to grin at the memory. He had wondered how it was that no one at all had seen him do that. It made sense that people saw him and told Lupin who chose not to tell the Dursley's.
Lupin cleared his throat. "As I was saying. I couldn't do much except for trying to make sure you had a pleasant year at school. We just wanted to help you hang in there until you came to Hogwarts."
After a few seconds of silence, Sirius spoke up. "And that brings us to me."
Harry, along with everyone else in the room, shifted their gaze to the man beside Harry.
"I don't have any more information to tell you. The only thing else I can tell you is that I love you like you were my very own. Just like I loved Lily and James. and even Mr Wolfie here. Many people. including a few in this room. thought I would never grow up."
"Amen," Professor McGonagall allowed.
Sirius flicked her a quick scowl but continued. "But I was so honored when your parents asked me to be your godfather that it changed almost my entire life. As Dumbledore said when you came in here. it is time for you to know everything. That's the least we can do after everything you've done for us. I won't try to hide anything from you. I'll try to answer everything you ask me, now or later."
A silence fell over the room. After a minute passed Dumbledore spoke up again. "Harry, you have been extremely quiet through most of this. I can only imagine what it's like trying to take all of this in. Pray tell us, what are thinking right now?"
Harry was thoughtful for a few moments. "Is there more?"
Dumbledore chuckled. "I love how inquisitive young minds are. There is always more, Harry. But nothing else major about your family that I can think of at the moment."
Something about Dumbledore's choice of words gave Harry pause. He considered exactly what the wizard had just said to him. Finally he pinpointed and voiced what struck him as slightly out of kilter. "Nothing else major about my family. what about anything else major about me?"
Because Harry was holding the Headmaster's gaze, he didn't see the furtive looks that the other three occupants of the room exchanged.
Dumbledore paused a few seconds before answering, "Yes Harry, there is something else major about you that we haven't shared yet. Are you ready for it?"
"Yes"
Sirius put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Don't you even want to think about it Harry? You've learned a lot today. This isn't anything we can't tell you tomorrow or the next day or even next week."
"I'm sure."
Dumbledore took over again, "Very well then. It's about the Order of the Phoenix." Dumbledore paused to give Harry a chance to react in some way but continued quickly when he did not.
"You will be called upon this year to save the Order."
"You mean to join it?"
"Alas, no. You will need to save it."
"How will I do that sir?"
"I'm afraid that I do not know precisely. Harry, do you remember what all you learned from that book that you tumbled into earlier this year?"
Harry thought for a few seconds. "I think so."
"Then tell me, how long can I remain to be the leader of the Order?"
Harry thought back to that day in his DADA class when he entered the book. He remembered Flammel addressing the group. After casting his mind around for the memory he answered, "Every fifty years someone new has to become the leader."
"Excellent as always. For anyone in the room that has lost track or may not have known, my fifty years is up this year. That means that this year I have to hand the reigns over to someone new."
Harry was still a little confused. "Sir, what does that have to do with me?"
Dumbledore smiled and waited patiently for Harry to put everything together in his head. Harry was looking at the other three adults in the room. Professor McGonagall looked slightly sad. Sirius looked angry. Lupin looked somewhere in between the two. Their looks told him that he was right in the conclusion that was slowly forming in his head. as improbable as it seemed.
"You don't mean???"
"Yes, that's right. Harry, in a ceremony similar to the one you saw I will pass the reigns of the Order of the Phoenix to you. And then you will have to er. prove yourself to the Order. as it were."
"I'll have to accomplish a task?"
"Yes"
"What will it be?"
"I don't know."
"Pardon?"
"No one knows your task until the night of the ceremony. I will only know your task a few seconds before I publicly announce it."
The all too familiar sensation of his head bursting with questions was threatening to overwhelm Harry. Finally he settled on one. "What was your task?"
For the first time during the entire conversation, the twinkle was gone from the Headmaster's gaze. His expression was definitely one of sadness. "Harry, you should know that yesterday I would not have answered this question. But since we are trying to tell you everything you wish to know I will tell you what my task was. I had to defeat Grindewald."
Harry's eyes bulged.
"Does that mean I'll have to defeat Voldmort?"
"I do not know."
After a brief pause, Harry continued. "What happens if I fail my task?"
"The Order will be disbanded for a period of ten years. If two members get too close to each they will be forced to duel to the death."
The thought of this would have almost been too much for Harry to consider if he wasn't expecting it. He remembered this from the book. The ramification of the adults in the room not being able to get near each other for the next ten years was impossible to fully comprehend. Harry decided to start on another line of questioning.
"Why don't you choose someone else to lead the Order? Someone older?"
"It's not my choice to make. Indeed, it was from you that I found out that you were to be my successor."
"From me? I don't understand."
"The book shows itself to the next leader. It gives them a unique insight to the Order. When you told me about your experience that day, I knew that you were to be the next one in line."
"So the book chose me?"
"Yes, and no."
"The book reveals the chosen witch or wizard."
"How was I chosen then?"
"The leader of the Order will be the witch or the wizard who has contributed the most to the fight against the dark forces."
Harry thought about everything he had just heard. If that really was the criteria then even he had to admit that he probably did fit the guideline better than anyone else around except Dumbledore given his experiences the last few years.
"When is all this going to happen?"
"1 April. a week from Tuesday. After your last class go straight to the kitchens to eat. We'll leave around dinnertime to go to Hogsmeade and apparate from there."
"What do I need to do between now and then to prepare myself?"
McGonagall spoke up for the first time in a while. "You've been training hard in your advanced studies all year. Just keep it up. Don't overdo it though. There's no need to exhaust yourself. Just keep up your current pace."
"I agree Harry," Dumbledore added. Lupin was nodding. Sirius was remaining eerily still.
Harry's thoughts were interrupted once more by the elder wizard behind the half-moon spectacles. "I have no doubt that a mind as inquisitive as yours has many more pertinent questions but perhaps we should adjourn for a while and give all of this new information a chance to sink in."
More on autopilot than anything else, Harry got up and walked out of the office. At Sirius' suggestion, he and his godfather spent the next couple of hours flying around the school grounds. Harry had to admit that this was the first time in his whole life that flying around didn't clear out his mind.
Eventually they decided to go inside. Harry still had to finish his homework and he was getting a little hungry. He was so distracted that he wouldn't even have noticed except that he heard his stomach growling. He ate with Ron and Hermione but he didn't tell them anything about what he learned this morning. He just told them he needed some time to digest it and that he'd tell them later. They seemed to accept this and indeed were just grateful that he was up front with them instead of trying to hide something from them. Ron and Hermione chatted through the meal about various unimportant things and Harry would grunt a response every now and then.
With an extreme amount of help from Ron and Hermione he was able to complete his assignments before going up to bed at a very early hour. He drew his curtains closed and laid in bed for hours and hours reflecting upon everything that he had learned that very day. He could barely believe that it had been that same day that he had learned everything about his family and his role in the Order of the Phoenix.
The next eight days flew by for Harry. Somewhere during that time he had told Ron and Hermione everything he could but almost wished he hadn't. He couldn't tell them anything at all about the Order so they thought he was preoccupied about his family. His two best friends were wanting to have long and deep conversations about his family tree but he couldn't turn his thoughts from the Order. These conversations were ones he wanted to have, just not now. He vaguely was aware that Sirius was around almost all the time during those eight days. He spent the weekend having advanced lessons and flying around the grounds with Sirius.
Before he knew it, the calendar said 1 April. Later, Harry would have no recollection of going to class that day. After his last class, he went down to the kitchen as Dumbledore bade him but he didn't eat hardly anything. As he walked to Dumbledore's office, he tried to think about everything the book had shown him.
Dumbledore was waiting for him alone in his office. He explained that the others would meet them there. They walked to Hogsmeade in silence and apparated together to the same room Harry remembered from the book.
They entered a side office together. Dumbledore gathered a few things while explaining to Harry that this was to be his office and that he'd show him around more later, if Harry wished.
After quickly surveying the room Dumbledore announced, "It's time." He led Harry back into the main room.
Somehow the room that was empty a minute or two prior was now full with wizards and witches. Harry surveyed the group without really taking in the sights. He recognized a few faces. He couldn't be sure but he thought that most of the people watching him seemed sad or distant. He was vaguely aware of Dumbledore introducing Harry and announcing that he was to be the next leader. Dumbledore grabbed his hand and shook his hand briefly before releasing his grip. Again, there was no hint of a twinkle in his eyes.
It was the next few words that grabbed Harry's full attention.
"Harry, are you ready to find out what your task is?"