Chapter 12:

Halloween

The last week of September and then the entire month of October seemed to slip by in a blur. Harry balanced his time in between teaching the dueling club, practicing his Animagus forms, perfecting his swordplay, keeping up with his class work, and last but definitely not least, spending time with his beloved Ginny.

Over the past five weeks Harry had managed to work out his third Animagus form of a chameleon. Only Dumbledore knew about it, however. He continued to maintain the charade with his phoenix form, and spent a great deal of time with Ginny in this form. His schoolwork came much more easily since he had learned most of it through his time spent musing inside Voldemort's brain. He had honed his swordplay down to an art, and was now ready to begin instructing the dueling club members in swordplay. He decided to have the first meeting with the usage of swords on Halloween night. He went to Dumbledore's office to tell him of his plans. He entered the office to find Dumbledore sitting behind his desk with Fawkes on his customary perch beside the desk. Harry smiled, "Hello, Fawkes."

Fawkes trilled *Greetings, young phoenix-kin*

Harry continued to smile as he turned to the headmaster, "Professor, I came to talk to you about the dueling club."

"Is there a problem, Harry?" asked Dumbledore.

Harry shook his head, "No, Albus, there isn't a problem. I just thought that you would like to know that I plan on introducing the sword to the dueling club tonight. I was hoping that if you weren't too terribly busy, that you might drop by for a few minutes."

Dumbledore smiled, "Well, it is Halloween. I think that a break from some of my tasks this evening could be quite pleasant."

Harry grinned, and replied playfully, "Somehow I expected you to say that."

Dumbledore snorted, "I suppose you are trying to tell me that I am becoming predictable."

It was Harry's turn to snort, "No sane wizard or witch would ever use the word predictable in the same sentence with your name, Headmaster."

Dumbledore chuckled merrily, "I suppose not. Half the wizarding world believes me to be a little crazy."

Harry gave a loud, fake cough, "I think that you are being kind, sir. Half the wizarding world does think that you are a little crazy. The other half think that you are completely bonkers."

Dumbledore laughed out loud at this statement, "True. Very true. However, there are a select few that know the truth."

Harry nodded, "Yes, there are a few of us. We know that you are completely bonkers instead of just thinking it."

Harry made this statement so matter-of-factly that Dumbledore stopped and stared at Harry in amazement. He finally managed to find his voice, "Now, Harry, that isn't exactly nice."

Harry chuckled now, "No, professor it wasn't but a little jocularity is what people like us need once and awhile."

Dumbledore nodded soberly, "Yes, we do. Harry, you know that if I felt that things could have been different, I would have looked for the way to make it so."

Harry waved him off, "Don't worry about it. There are a lot of things that I would change about my past if I could, but for all we know the consequences of doing things any other way than we did could have been worse than anything we have had to face. I wish that Sirius were still here. I wish that my parents were still here. However, if they were, I might not be who I am. If I wasn't then Voldemort might have won. It was a heavy price that I have had to pay, but I am willing to follow the path to the end. I will die if necessary, but I will take Voldemort with me. That is an oath that I make to you, Albus. One that I must ask you to convey to the rest of the wizarding world if I fall in battle."

Albus continued to stare in amazement at the young man standing before him. Never before had he seen a child put through so much, or have so much expected of him. Yet, here stood a mere sixteen year old boy, that was ready to throw his life away if that was what was needed to save the world. The pure unselfish love that ruled this young man's heart must truly be the most powerful force on Earth. Dumbledore blinked and spoke, "If you are going to begin the dueling club meeting on time, Harry, we had better be moving."

Harry stood up and headed for the revolving staircase with Dumbledore on his heels. "Bye, Fawkes."

*Good-bye, phoenix kin. I will fly with you the next time you are out*

Harry laughed, "I would like that."

The two wizards walked down the corridor, and Dumbledore turned to Harry and asked, "What did you tell Fawkes that you would like?"

Harry looked around him to insure that no one was within earshot, and then replied, "He told me that the next time I was out flying, he would join me."

"Has he ever flown with you before?" asked Dumbledore inquiringly.

Harry nodded, "Yes, he has been out with me once. We flew over most of the Forbidden Forest. He told me about many things that have occurred in your office since you became headmaster."

Dumbledore asked quickly, "Like what?"

Harry grinned broadly, "I shall never tell. Secrets between brothers should never be uttered, and that is exactly what Fawkes and I are now. Brothers."

Dumbledore sighed, "I suppose that means that I'm not going to get anything out of you."

Harry nodded, "That would be correct."

The two of them walked into the dueling chamber to find the dueling club quiet and attentive waiting for Harry to begin. Dumbledore raised his eyes at Harry. Harry merely shrugged and then headed for the dueling platform. It was readily obvious why everyone was so quiet. Arrayed on a long table were various sized practice swords.

Harry smiled at everyone, "Tonight, we will begin studying methods of dueling that do not require magic. For the rest of the term we will be practicing swordplay. I will teach all of you the basics. You will be expected to practice forms and parries outside of dueling club time if you expect to become even remotely good at this. Once everyone has mastered the rudiments of swordplay, we will begin practicing combining swordplay with magical spells in dueling. The practice swords that are laid out behind me simulate the true weight and balance of a sword of similar size. They are blunted and padded, so that the only damage that you can really do to each other with them will be a bruise. I still want you to be careful and treat them as if they were a real sword, however. This will teach you proper safety measures, because some of you will be allowed to duel with real weapons before the end of the year. Now, I would like everyone to come up and test out different swords to find one that is best suited to you. You will be expected to keep up with your practice sword and bring it with you to dueling club meetings."

"Don't you think that it would be more interesting to have them see a real duel before they pick their sword, Potter?" came a snide voice from a corner.

Harry turned, "That would be quite educational, Professor Snape. I presume you have someone in mind to be participants in this duel."

Snape revealed that he was carrying a sword. It was a finely crafted blade, and had obviously been specially made just for Snape. It was just as obvious that he took painstaking care to keep the blade in top condition. "Well, Potter, since you claim to be able to instruct the students in swordplay, I think that they should get a taste of your skill."

Harry nodded, "Very well. I assume that since you have brought your own sword that you intend to be the challenger."

Snape answered coldly, "That would be a natural conclusion, Potter. I intend to show you what a true sword master is capable of."

Harry smiled patronizingly at Snape, "We shall see, Professor, we shall see. Until then, since you have challenged me, you may set the terms of the duel."

Snape stepped up onto the platform opposite Harry. "No magic. Sword only. First blood."

Harry nodded, and then pulled out his wand, "Wingardium Leviosa." He moved the table of practice swords back off the platform. Then, he turned and called out, "Accio sword." The sword of Godric Gryffindor soared over to Harry from a stand next to the wall. Harry pocketed his wand within his robes as the sword came to him. He caught it easily in his right hand, and then stepped back and swung the sword in a quick X shape in the air in front of him as he set his feet. Then, he set the sword to the en guarde position and smiled at Snape, "Whenever you are ready, Professor."

Most of the students realized quickly that Harry's sword was very finely crafted. However, very few people in the room recognized the sword for what it truly was. Snape was one of these few, though. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw the blade. They widened still further at the obvious ease with which Potter wielded the blade. He began to think to himself that perhaps this had not been the best idea. Potter seemed to be full of surprises this year. This may very well be another to add to his list. In spite of himself Snape found himself admiring the young man. He shook himself from his reverie and then advanced on Harry.

Harry waited for Snape with a smile on his face. He was going to enjoy this. Snape lunged to the attack. Harry parried easily, and then the fight began in earnest. The swords struck each other fast and furiously. It was completely apparent to everyone in the room that Snape had not been bluffing. He was a master swordsman. His form was basically flawless, and his skill was unprecedented. However, it was also immediately apparent that as good as Snape was, Harry was better.

After several minutes of blows being exchanged back and forth, Harry finally saw his opening. He caught Snape's sword high, and then circled it around low. Then, he flipped his sword around and struck straight up with all his might. This sent Snape's sword straight up, but to do Snape credit he managed to hang onto the sword. However, this moment was all Harry needed. He slipped past Snape's guard and rapped the flat of his blade against the back of Snape's sword hand. Harry quickly reversed his blade and knocked Snape's sword from his hand. It skittered across the platform, and before Snape could have possibly blinked Harry's sword tip was touching Snape's throat.

Harry smiled again, "Hold out your hand, Professor." Snape extended his right hand. Harry brought his blade down and across it. Blood began to well from the cut. "First blood." Harry then turned and threw his sword up into the air. He quickly drew his wand out and banished the sword across the room to its stand. By the time the class had watched the sword settle onto its stand, and turned back to Harry, he had pocketed his wand and was looking at the class expectantly. "Well, are you lot going to sit there, or are you going to choose practice swords?"

No on moved. Harry began to get mildly annoyed, "If anyone is still sitting by the time I count to five, they will have to fight me one on one with swords and magic, tonight. One.."

The group of students scrambled out of their chairs to head for the sword laden table so quickly that it was almost comical. Tonks walked over to Harry while the students were picking out their swords. She looked at him in awe, "Wotcher, Harry, I didn't know that you were that good with a sword."

Dumbledore walked up beside her, "Nor did I."

Harry shrugged, "I practice a lot."

The three of them heard Snape's voice break in, "That is obvious." He held out his sword to Harry. "By dueling rights, this blade now belongs to you."

Harry looked from the blade to Snape in surprise, and then he answered, "Keep your sword, Professor Snape. A blade that magnificent deserves an owner worthy of it. It has one right now."

Snape nodded curtly, and then walked from the room without another word.

Dumbledore looked down at Harry in absolute amazement, "Harry, your parents would be very proud of you. You do know that, don't you?"

Harry smiled and flicked a single tear from his eye, "Yes, Professor Dumbledore, I know."

The students all seemed to have picked out a weapon, and were standing around fidgeting. Harry smiled, "Well, I suppose I should teach them a bit before they start poking each other's eyes out."

Dumbledore chuckled at Harry, "I am going to return to my office. I will see you at the feast in a while."

Tonks and Harry both nodded to Dumbledore as he turned to leave. Tonks returned to her position as an observer, and Harry strode to the center of the dueling platform. "Now, everyone, pair off. I want you to attack in an overhand lunge like this." He demonstrated with one of the practice swords. "I want your partner to block like this." He demonstrated a high cross block. "You will take turns doing this for the next fifteen minutes and then we will change maneuvers. Begin."

The class paired off and completed his instructions. Then, he gave them a new attack and its corresponding block. They went through four different sets before Harry announced that it was time to quit. All the students filed out of the room, most of them talking excitedly about the lesson or the upcoming feast in about half an hour. Harry turned to his friends as they walked up to him, "So, what did you think?"

Ginny hugged him, and then placed a delicate kiss on his lips. "You were simply wonderful."

Ron looked at Harry in awe, "I had no idea you could do anything like that, Harry."

Harry grinned, "What do you think I've been doing when I keep slipping off by myself to practice?"

Ron shrugged, but Hermione asked forcefully, "So, this is what you have been spending all your time doing. You could have let us in on it."

Harry shook his head, "No, I couldn't. I'm not trying to be insulting, Hermione, but you are nowhere near my level when it comes to combat abilities. You would only be in the way. Besides, that isn't the only thing that I have been practicing."

Ron looked hesitant, but he decided to ask anyway, "Would you tell us what else you've been practicing? I'll understand if you can't."

Harry looked surprised, "Ron, you're learning. Yes, I'll tell you what else I've been working on. I decided to follow in the marauders footsteps."

Ron looked bewildered, "You decided to pull a lot of pranks."

Ginny snorted, and Hermione swatted Ron's arm, "I swear, Ron, sometimes you can be a bit slow. He means that he has been trying to become an Animagus." said Hermione.

Ginny spoke up proudly, "He hasn't been trying, he's been able to transform completely for awhile now."

Hermione shook her head, "That's impossible. It takes years to become an Animagus, and I know that Harry wasn't working on it before this summer at the earliest."

Harry looked at Hermione shrewdly, "Hermione, do you know what your problem is?"

Hermione bristled, "I wasn't aware that I had a problem."

"Well you do. You think too much with your head, and not enough with your heart. Don't trust your brain too far, its not always right, Hermione. You have to follow your heart sometime, even if it gets you into trouble. Sometimes the trouble your heart gets you into, makes you a much better person in the long run. That's something your brain, studying, and logic will never truly be able to do." continued Harry.

Harry started to walk away, but Ron stopped him , "Wait, aren't you going to tell us what form you take?"

Harry shook his head, "You'll just have to wonder until we're alone later. Then, I'll show you my form."

Ron smiled, but Hermione continued to frown as she thought about what Harry had just said to her. Ron nudged her from her thoughts, "Come on, Hermione. You can try to figure out if Harry's right about you later. Its time for the Halloween feast."

The Gryffindors entered the Great Hall and sat at the Gryffindor table. The feast appeared before them. The Hall was decorated with floating Jack-O-Lanterns, and bats flew throughout the hall. All of the students quickly tucked into the scrumptious meal. Conversation erupted all around the hall. It was immediately noticed by Harry and his friends that the majority of the conversations revolved around the dueling club meeting.

Hermione gazed over at Harry, "It seems that your dueling club is a hit."

Ron snorted, "That's an understatement. Everyone that goes to the meetings talk about them constantly. I get sick of hearing all the girls discuss how handsome Harry looks when he's teaching, or how smart Harry must be to be in charge of the dueling club, or how courageous he was to face the Dark Lord all by himself. It's all a load of dung anyway. Half the girls that are saying the stuff are the ones that talked about him behind his back last year because they thought he was crazy."

Harry blushed at the idea of girls calling him handsome, but Ginny's face was red for another reason, "Ron Weasley, exactly who has been talking about my boyfriend like that?" Ginny asked, a dangerous note to her voice.

Harry immediately tried to placate her, "Now, Ginny, don't go flying off the handle just because some goofy girls complimented me. It doesn't mean anything."

Ginny responded adamantly, "Oh, yes it does. It means that they are planning on making a pass at you."

It took all of Harry's willpower to refrain from smiling. He didn't want to row with Ginny. "Ginny, I don't think any of the girls are dumb enough or brave enough to make a pass at me."

Hermione and Ron giggled. Ginny rounded on them, "Just what is so funny?"

Ron stopped laughing, but he continued to smile knowingly, "Well, Gin, he does have a point. No girl that knows he's dating you would come near him. They wouldn't want to have to face you."

Hermione continued, "Besides, anyone that has seen the way Harry looks at you, Ginny, would know that he's off the market."

This somewhat mollified Ginny, "Alright, I guess I won't have to kill them."

Harry smiled, "Good, because I hate to think of how lonely I would be if you ended up in detention for the rest of term for hexing Pansy Parkinson or some other Slytherin."

Ginny slapped his arm, "Hey, that is not funny, Mr. Potter. I don't even want to think about that cow having her hands on you."

Harry shuddered at the mental image that came with that statement, "Good point. Neither do I. Its not a pretty picture."

All of the others laughed at the expression on Harry's face. They continued to eat, and talk for the next hour. When the feast was winding down to a close, an owl came flying in the window, and landed at the Head table next to Dumbledore. Harry watched in interest as Dumbledore removed the letter form the Owl's leg. He then unrolled it, and his eyes widened in alarm. He looked up and locked eyes with Professor McGonagall, who immediately got up and left the Great Hall. Dumbledore then looked out into the crowd of students and locked eyes with Harry, who had been staring at him. Harry raised his eyebrows in question. Dumbledore nodded firmly, and mouthed "one hour" to Harry. Harry bobbed his head to indicate that he understood and that he would be there.

The other three looked at him quizzically, "What was that all about?" asked Ginny.

"There has been an attack by the Death Eaters. For Albus to be this worked up about it, it must have been huge. I'll bet my Firebolt that it was against the Ministry."

"Why the Ministry?" asked Ron.

"Its obvious." replied Harry. "They've got seventeen Death Eaters locked up in the Auror division of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

Hermione looked surprised, "How do you know that?"

"Simple logic." answered Harry. "We caught five in Diagon Alley, and then ten more at Platform 9 ¾. They caught two in the attack on the Minister's home. They took them to the Ministry since they can't send them to Azkaban anymore. I've been watching the Daily Prophet quite closely, and there has been nothing to indicate that they have been moved to stand trial. It stands to reason that they are still there. It would be the best place for them under the circumstances."

The other three nodded. Harry continued on grimly, "Although if Voldemort has attacked the Ministry and managed to free them, then I'm going to have to propose something to Dumbledore that I don't think that he's going to like."

Hermione looked at Harry in concern, "What are you talking about, Harry? What are you going to propose?"

Harry shook his head, "Nothing that any of you need worry about right now. I may discuss it with you depending on what Albus' reaction is."

Ron finally asked, "Why do you keep calling Professor Dumbledore by his first name?"

Harry smiled, "I didn't realized that I was doing it."

Ginny looked at him appraisingly, "You wouldn't use his first name unless you were accustomed to doing it."

Harry continued to smile, "Very shrewd observation. When its just him and me, I call him by his first name, occasionally. I try not to make too much of a habit of it, and I especially try not to do it in front of other people. I guess you'll just have to keep my little secret."

Ron decided to interject playfully, "What if we don't want to keep it a secret?"

Harry drew his wand and pointed at Ron's forehead, "Ever had your memory erased?"

Ron paled, "Calm down, mate. I was just joking."

Harry continued to stare into Ron's eyes, "I know. I wasn't."

The three of them gulped at the obvious threat hanging in the air. This definitely was not the Harry of a year ago. He had grown up a great deal. They all had different feelings about this. Ron missed his best friend. Ginny swelled with pride that he had chosen her amongst all the girls that he could have had. Hermione, however, was concerned that his maturity was bought at too high a price.

Once dinner was over, the other Gryffindors headed for the tower while Harry made his way to the gargoyle in front of Dumbledore's office. "Acid Pops." The gargoyle sprang to the side, and revealed the spiral staircase up to Dumbledore's office. Harry climbed the stairs and walked in to find a great deal of the Order members already assembled. They included Professors McGonagall, Snape, and Tonks, of course. Also present were several of the people that had come to get him from the Dursley's the first time that he had went to Grimmauld Place. There was Elphias Doge, Hestia Jones, Dedalus Diggle, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Emmeline Vance. The core members such as Arthur Weasley, Alastor Moody, and Bill Weasley were also there. Dumbledore was not in evidence, but that really meant little where he was concerned. He could have been sitting behind his desk, and not a person in the room would have known it. However, it was apparent that he was not in the room, as several of the members seemed to have been waiting for awhile. Dumbledore burst into the room a moment later.

"I'm afraid that we will have to postpone the meeting for just a few minutes. If all of you will wait in my private chambers, I must deal with the Minister of Magic, who will be here in just a moment." stated Dumbledore quickly. He waved his wand and the bookcase on the far wall swung out. The group of Order members headed through the opening.

McGonagall stopped and asked, "Albus, what does the minister want?"

Dumbledore cast a quick glance at Harry, and then looked back at McGonagall, "I think that he is a little distressed by the attacks and is looking for someone to blame, Minerva."

McGonagall looked distressed for a moment, and then pressed her lips into a firm line. She followed the others into Dumbledore's chambers. Harry stood from his seat and cleared his throat, "If you don't mind, Professor Dumbledore, I would like to remain. If the Minister plans on accusing me of certain things, I would like to at least be present to hear what the fool has to say."

Dumbledore looked stern, "Harry, calling the Minister a fool is not going to accomplish anything."

"I'm aware of that, Professor. It doesn't change the facts of the matter, however. I'll stay over here in the corner." Harry pointed to a corner between two of the bookcases.

Dumbledore nodded, and then sat down behind his desk as the bookcase closed behind the other Order members. A minute later, Cornelius Fudge burst into the room. Dumbledore smiled up at him from his seat, "Good evening, Cornelius."

Fudge nodded curtly, "Dumbledore, I'm here to discuss your handling of the Potter boy."

"What is it that you wish to say about him, Cornelius?" asked Dumbledore mildly. However, there was a hint of steel beneath his words.

Cornelius seemed not to notice the warning in Dumbledore's tone. "There have been two attacks on my home, and now there was an attack at the Ministry this evening to free several Death Eaters that we had in custody."

Dumbledore nodded, "I am aware of all of these attacks, Cornelius. I fail to see what that has to do with young Mr. Potter."

Cornelius huffed, "Well, then, I will tell you, Dumbledore. It has come to my attention that the boy and Mad-Eye Moody ordered Dawlish to release one of the prisoners to take some ridiculous message back to You-Know-Who. That is the reason that You-Know-Who knew to send the Death Eaters to attack the Ministry tonight to free the others that we had captured. So, I decided to see what the boy has been getting up to at school. I have learned that you are letting him teach dueling to the other students, and that the boy has attacked a teacher. This is inexcusable. I, for one, will not allow you to give the boy a free run anymore. I am having the Misuse of Magic Office charge the boy with multiple counts of flagrant disregard for magical safety. I intend for him to be expelled from school."

Harry snorted loudly from the corner, "Well, Minister, you are of course entitled to do as you please. However, I would not recommend it."

Fudge spun around to gape at Harry. Then, he advanced slightly, "Boy, you would do well to remember who you are speaking to. You will address me with a proper amount of respect."

Harry smiled coldly, and stepped right up into Cornelius' face, "As I was saying before I was interrupted. I would not recommend the course of action that you are planning. I have read the by laws concerning an accusation of the sort that you are making. I am well within my rights to challenge you to a duel."

Fudge spluttered as he realized what Harry was saying. Then, he laughed, "If you think that you have a chance of defeating a fully trained Ministry official in a duel, then I encourage you to try."

Harry's smile grew broader, "Cornelius, I don't think that I could beat you in a duel. I know that I could mop the floor with an incompetent buffoon like you. I have faced Lord Voldemort in combat." Fudge winced at the sound of the Dark Lord's name. Harry continued, "Where as you can not even stand to hear his name mentioned. You are nothing more than a blustering coward. I released Lucius Malfoy, whom I might add would not have been captured and identified as a Death Eater if it had not been for me. You would still be pocketing his bribes, and be in the employ of the Dark Lord."

Cornelius paled as he realized the implication behind what Harry had just said. Harry began again, "I will keep my own counsel concerning Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. I suggest that you scurry back to your office and hide. If you ever bother me again, it will be as I told Dawlish in Diagon Alley. You will face the business end of my wand."

Fudge seemed to gain a little bit of composure, "I will not stand for this. After your transgressions concerning your use of magic outside of school last summer, the Misuse of Magic Office will have no choice but to listen to my view of matters."

Harry laughed in his face, "Considering the fact that I was cleared of the charge due to the presence of Dementors in Little Whinging, I don't see how that is relevant. I wouldn't advise dragging up that incident anyway, unless you want to be facing charges yourself."

Even Dumbledore was surprised at this, "What do you mean, Harry?"

"I mean that the order for the Dementors to come to Little Whinging and attack me, came from the Office of Cornelius Fudge. I have proof." answered Harry confidently.

Dumbledore rose from his desk and rounded on Fudge, "What is he talking about, Cornelius?"

Not even Fudge could fail to note the dangerous tone in Dumbledore's voice this time. "I don't know what he's talking about, Dumbledore. I didn't send Dementors after him. I wanted to discredit him, not kill him." Fudge continued to cringe before the furious stare that was in Dumbledore's eyes.

Harry interrupted, "He's telling the truth, Professor. Fudge had nothing to do with it. His beloved Senior Undersecretary Dolores Umbridge ordered the attack."

Dumbledore turned to Harry, "Are you sure?"

Harry nodded, "I've got witnesses to her admitting it, right before she was about to cast the Cruciatus Curse on me."

Dumbledore blazed with fury, "She cast the Cruciatus Curse on you?!!"

Harry shook his head, "No, she was about to. Hermione stopped her by telling her what she wanted to know."

By now Fudge was looking on in interest, "What was it that she wanted to know?"

"She wanted to know where Dumbledore was hiding the weapon he was developing to use against the Ministry." answered Harry.

Cornelius struck his thigh, "I knew it."

Harry looked at Fudge in disgust, "Are you really that stupid? There was no weapon. Hermione just made it up to get Umbridge not to cast the Curse on me. She figured that we would have more time to get the upper hand on Umbridge and get away if she thought we were leading her to the weapon. We did."

Fudge sat down into a chair heavily. "I would have never expected this."

Harry looked Fudge in the eyes, "Now, Minister, go back to your office, and stay out of our way. If you let the people that know what they are doing run this war, we'll let you keep your office. Otherwise, I will see you thrown out of the Ministry so fast that your head will spin. Do I make myself clear?"

Fudge nodded. Then, he got up and wordlessly walked from the room.

Dumbledore smiled at Harry, "I can't believe you just did that."

Harry returned Dumbledore's smile, "Someone had to put that idiot in his place. We need him out of the way if we're going to handle Voldemort and his followers."

Dumbledore waved his wand, and the bookcase swung open again. The Order members filed back into the office. Dumbledore saw the looks of bemusement on most of their faces. He looked disapprovingly at McGonagall, "I presume that you were listening."

Bill Weasley cracked a smile, "You can hardly blame us, sir. That had to be the funniest thing that I have ever seen."

Dumbledore smiled back, "Yes, I believe it was. Now, let us get down to business."

"Yes, what exactly happened at the Ministry this evening, Albus?" asked McGonagall.

"A group of Death Eaters invaded the Ministry's Auror department in order to free the Death Eaters that we captured in the events leading up to the beginning of the school year. They were successful. All of the captured Death Eaters were freed." explained Dumbledore.

Harry broke in, "How many casualties did we take?"

"You get right to the point don't you, Potter?" asked Kingsley grimly.

Harry shrugged, "I need information. Asking direct questions is the easiest way to get it."

Kingsley nodded, but it was Arthur who answered heavily, "We lost three Aurors, and one visitor was killed."

Harry nodded solemnly, "Did we get any of the Death Eaters?"

Kingsley shook his head, "We managed to stun several of them during the battle, but the other attackers grabbed them when they Disapparated."

Harry turned and looked directly at Dumbledore, "Sir, I think that it is time that we abandoned your way of doing things."

Snape interrupted, "What exactly is that supposed to mean, Potter?"

"Simply, that I think that it is time for us to fight fire with fire. If all we're going to do is take Death Eaters prisoner, then they will simply keep rescuing their fellows. More and more people will go to Voldemort's side, and we will lose this war. Its time to stop taking prisoners, and start killing Death Eaters on sight." said Harry determinedly.

Several of the people in the room gasped in surprise. Hestia Jones leaned forward, "You can't be serious, Potter. That would make us just as bad as them. To use the Dark Arts would turn us as well."

Harry snorted in response, "In essence, magic can not be divided into good and evil. It's the intent with which you use the spell that determines good and evil. Granted, there are some spells that you can't think of any use besides evil for, but there are precious few of those."

Elphias Doge interrupted, "What are you talking about, Harry. The Unforgivables are most definitely evil. There are many other curses that are totally evil."

Harry shook his head, "People consider being a Parseltongue a Dark Art. Do you think I'm evil just because I can talk to snakes."

"No one thinks that you are evil, Potter, but the fact remains that some spells are evil." responded McGonagall.

Harry looked her squarely in the eye, "I agree that there are a few spells that can only be used with an evil intent, but as I said there are precious few of them. The only one that I can think of right away is the Cruciatus Curse. The broad range of spells that people call the Dark Arts are nothing of the sort."

Dedalus Diggle stuttered, "Surely, you're not suggesting that you can find a use for the Killing Curse and the Imperious Curse that aren't evil."

"That is exactly what I'm suggesting, Dedalus. I can think of several situations where those two curses could be used for good." proclaimed Harry.

Dumbledore cleared his throat, "I fail to see a reason to use the curses that could result in good, however, I am prepared to be enlightened. So, by all means, continue, Harry."

Harry smiled, "I presume that all of you would consider Voldemort dying a good thing." Everyone but Dumbledore nodded in acquiescence. "I guess that covers the Killing Curse."

Diggle raised his hand, "Can You-Know-Who be killed by the Killing Curse?"

Harry shook his head, "I'm afraid not, but if he could, then that would be a good use for the spell. To take a life is a horrible thing, but to take a life to save a hundred is nobility."

The wizards around the room nodded in agreement. Dumbledore frowned, but refrained from comment. Tonks asked, "Okay, that covers the Killing Curse, but I'm interested to see what use you can come up with for the Imperious Curse."

Harry shrugged, "It's completely situational. Hypothetically, let's say that you're on the top of a tower, and its collapsing. The only way to survive is jump off. The problem is the person you're with is terrified of heights, and won't jump. You put them under the Imperious Curse and make them jump. You just saved a life with one of the horrible Unforgivable Curses."

Even Dumbledore raised his eyes in astonishment at this scenario. No one in the room had ever thought of magic in the light that Harry had just presented it.

"Furthermore, who's to say that the Stunning Spell isn't a Dark Arts spell. The Death Eaters use it all the time." said Harry plainly.

Hestia Jones protested, "We don't use the spell for the same reasons that the Death Eaters do, though."

Harry smiled, "Which is exactly what I'm trying to tell you about all spells. Everyone believes certain spells and abilities to be dark simply because dark wizards have used them. It all boils down to prejudice and ignorance. All that truly matters when you cast magic is what you're trying to accomplish. If your aims are good, then you won't step over into the Dark Arts." Harry took a deep breath, "That is why I think that it is time for us to start killing the Death Eaters. Its time that we fight fire with fire."

The room erupted into a mixed babble until Dumbledore cleared his throat. The noise died down instantly, "I believe that you are merely repeating yourself, Harry."

Harry shrugged, "Whatever it takes to make my point."

Dumbledore nodded, "I understand your feelings on the matter, Harry, but we can not stoop to the Death Eaters level in this fight. It is my feeling that to take a life whatever the circumstances is horrible. It must be avoided at all costs. Only in the most dire of circumstances should you kill another wizard."

Harry returned Dumbledore's nod, "I understand how you feel, Professor. What you seem to be missing is the fact that these dire circumstances that you keep espousing are at our door. If we don't take drastic action, people are going to start dying left and right. I, for one, have no intention of laying back and giving Voldemort a free run. Your feelings be damned, Professor. I don't know about the rest of the Order, but if I see a black cloak and white mask, the wizard or witch wearing them dies. I don't intend to compromise either. Its time to take this war right back to Voldemort. If the rest of you are too squeamish, then I'll take them all myself."

Professor McGonagall interrupted, "Come now, Potter. You are only a student. You can't be serious about fighting the Death Eaters. Its time you realized that even though you are exceptional, you are not a fully qualified wizard."

Harry looked at McGonagall in disgust, "You really don't get it, do you." He pointed at Dumbledore, "He is the strongest wizard alive. He can do magic that none of you can imagine being possible. He has accumulated all this power and knowledge over a long and full life. What you don't seem to see is that as strong as he is, he still can't beat Voldemort. In six months, I will be Professor Dumbledore's match in power. At the rate I'm increasing my power, in a year he won't even be able to touch me."

McGonagall's mouth grew quite thin, "Mr. Potter, you are being arrogant. It will be many years before you are a match for Professor Dumbledore."

Harry snorted, "You had better pray that it doesn't take me years to attain his power. According to the Prophecy, I'm the only one who can defeat Voldemort. To do that, I need to be Dumbledore's superior. So unless you want to be fighting Voldemort for a long time, you need to listen to me."

Several of the Order members began clamoring, "What does the Prophecy say? Is this true, Albus?"

Dumbledore stood up and raised his hands, "I'm afraid that everything young Mr. Potter has said is true. He will surpass me in power, and when he does I will be handing over the leadership of the Order of the Phoenix to him."

The room erupted at this statement. Harry seemed quite amazed, but merely smiled in response. McGonagall was the one that finally managed a coherent sentence, "Albus, you can not mean this. Harry is an exceptional boy, but he is still just that, a boy."

Harry didn't give Dumbledore a chance to respond, "Professor McGonagall, do I need to repeat the conversation I had with Molly Weasley this summer?"

McGonagall's eyes widened, "No, Mr. Potter, I don't believe that I need to hear that speech."

Harry nodded, "Very well, then, by what standard do you measure adulthood? Age or life experience or hardship?"

McGonagall cleared her throat, "I think that all three of them are measures of maturity."

Harry nodded, "I agree. I may be lacking in the first category, but I have the other two in spades. How many of you have faced the things that I have faced in my short life? How many of you have borne up under the scorn and ridicule that I have faced in my short life? How many of you lived the first eleven years of your life without even knowing who you truly were? Stuck in a cupboard, beaten by your cousin, insulted and ignored by the only family that you knew? Then, once I finally find out who I am, its not good news. I discover that I have a crazed Dark Lord, who's ultimate goal in life is to see me dead. How many of you could face that?"

All of the witches and wizards in the room paled at the idea of Harry's childhood. Even McGonagall seemed moved, "I had no idea that those Muggles treated you this badly."

Harry looked at her stoically, "It was worse. I would have rather faced Voldemort a thousand times over than to spend a minute in that house with the Dursleys. At least Voldemort was an enemy I could fight back against and feel like I was accomplishing something."

Everyone remained silent for a moment, and then Dumbledore broke the silence. "I think that it is time for those that are present to hear the Prophecy. Some of you have heard it before, but I ask that you indulge those that have not." Dumbledore opened one of his cabinets and withdrew his Pensieve. He placed his wand to the side of his head and withdrew the tendril of thought and placed in the Pensieve. The by now familiar vision of a younger Sybill Trelawney emerged.

THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD APPROACHES … BORN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THRICE DEFIED HIM, BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES … AND THE DARK LORD WILL MARK HIM AS HIS EQUAL, BUT HE WILL HAVE POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT … AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER FOR NEITHER CAN LIVE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES … THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD WILL BE BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES…

The members of the Order that were hearing this for the first time seemed to be in complete shock. Even the members that were hearing this for the second time still thought that it was amazing. Dumbledore finally spoke into the silence, "As you can see, Harry is the natural choice for me to pass leadership of the Order to. He will literally be the savior of the world."

Arthur stood, "I don't know about anyone else, but I've hear enough for the night. I don't think that any of us are in any condition to decide anything tonight. I say that we meet later. Its time for all of us to call it a night."

The rest of the Order members nodded in agreement. Harry and Dumbledore smiled indulgently at the rest of them, and Harry looked to Dumbledore, and then said, "I think that Arthur's right. It's time to call it a night. If we stay here any longer, they're going to want me to show off some of my skills."

Dumbledore nodded, and all of the others stepped up to Dumbledore's fire and began to disappear through the Floo Network. Soon, the only people remaining in Dumbledore's office were the Professors and Harry. Harry sighed, "I think I'm going to head back to the tower. I'm a bit tired."

Dumbledore smiled and nodded, "I understand, Harry. I will see you in the morning at breakfast."

Harry nodded, and left the office. He returned to Gryffindor tower, to find Ron, Hermione, and Ginny waiting for him in the common room. He sighed in trepidation.

They looked at him expectantly, and he shook his head resignedly, "The attack was against the Ministry. All seventeen Death Eaters escaped."

The three gasped, and Ginny asked, "Was anyone hurt?"

Harry nodded, "Four people were killed in the attack. Three of them were Aurors and one civilian."

Ron asked hesitantly, "Was it anyone we knew?"

"No. I'm tired, and I think that I'm going to go to bed." said Harry simply.

Hermione burst out quickly, "What did you propose to Dumbledore, and how did he take it?"

"I can't answer that question, Hermione. Its privileged information for the time being." responded Harry in a dead voice.

Hermione looked as if she was about to ask something else, but Ron grabbed her hand and squeezed it warningly, and she stopped. Ginny got up and walked over to Harry. "Go ahead and get some rest, Harry. I'll see you in the morning." She gave him a quick kiss on the lips and Harry climbed the stairs to his room.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Hermione rounded on Ron, "Why did you stop me from asking him some more questions?" she asked heatedly.

Ron shook his head, "Hermione, you weren't going to get any answers out of him. All you were going to accomplish was making him mad."

She got up and stomped around the room, "We deserve to know what's going on."

Ginny looked at her and asked, "Why?"

Hermione stopped and looked at Ginny in wonder, "What are you talking about?"

"I asked a simple question. Why do you deserve to know anything? What have you done that makes you so necessary? Harry is the key to all of this. I don't know how I know, but I know that Harry is going to have to be the person to face You-Know-Who. When you come up with something that can compare to that, then you can say that you deserve to know. Harry has a reason for not telling us about the Order. I don't know what it is, but I know that I love Harry, and that he loves all of us. If he doesn't want us involved, then that is good enough for me." Ginny walked up the stairs to her room.

Hermione looked to Ron for support, but Ron merely shook his head, "I'm sorry, Hermione. I don't like not knowing what's going on any better than you do. There's nothing that we can do about it, though. I have to agree with Ginny." Then, he got up and went up the stairs to the boys dormitories, leaving Hermione to fume by herself.

A/N: Josh Potter: Don't worry, there is going to be plenty more flirtation between those two.

Immortalwizardelf-fan: I like the conversations between Harry and Dumbledore in the canon works. I intend for them to continue.

James Potter's Lily Flowers: I got rid of a lot of the guilt in Harry's character. To me that is depressing. The change comes from the fact that I wanted to show that Sirius' death caused a profound change. The changes in the other characters are a reaction to the change in Harry.

Dustin-Coons: I'll check out your story as soon as I have time. Thanks for the review.

Mel B: I'm glad you've started reading. Thanks for the review.