Disclaimer: Still not mine, still don't sue.
A/N: My phone company is on strike so I have no phones and no DSL connection some of the time. Forgive me if I don't update that soon.
Chapter 3- Meetings and Mysteries
Harry and the others devoured the feast of a lunch that Mrs. Weasley had prepared for them. He stared at the remains of food on his plate. The spectacular meal had consisted of: Roast beef with boiled potatoes and green beans, a fruit salad, pound cake, and butterbeer. Harry put his hand to his abdomen, as it felt as though it were about to burst. Ron and Hermione followed suit; it was clear that they had enjoyed the meal as well.
"When are the others supposed to arrive dear?" Arthur Weasley looked at his watch that was made up of many hands that Harry couldn't figure out.
"About, six. Why so worried?" Mrs. Weasley walked over to her husband and put a hand on his shoulder. It was true. He did look peculiarly anxious. He had kept rubbing his hands together nervously and looking at his watch during lunch.
"It's better if we do not discuss such matters at this time darling," His eyes darted toward Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny.
"You have got to be kidding me! We," Ron gestured at the four of them, "Fought Death Eaters last year! Death Eaters! LAST YEAR! Why can't you tell us anything?" Ron pounded his fist on the table and stuck his large nose towards the ceiling.
"I will tell you why Mr. I—need—to—be—informed—of—everything! It is very dangerous and children such as yourself do not need any part of it!" Mrs. Weasley's face had gone red.
"Don't tell ME about danger! AND WE ARE NOT CHILDREN!" Ron stood up irately. He had grown at least another inch since Harry had seen him last. He was starting to resemble a very tall toothpick.
"DO NOT RAISE YOUR VOICE TO ME RONALD WEASLEY! ARTHUR!" She looked away from Ron and expected her husband to deal with him from there.
"That will be quite enough Ronald. Now off to your rooms you lot, and stay there until after the meeting is over!" He was rather cool, not one to become enraged easily, and he nodded in the direction of the staircase. The other three rose, scooted their chairs in toward the table and headed toward the stairs.
"Can you believe it?" Ron turned to Harry, "You'd think we were nine again by the way they treat us. Like we're criminal traitors who are supposedly going to give all the information we had to you-know-who or something. Honestly!" He shook his head as he clambered up the first stair.
"Maybe they are right Ron. I mean, you just never know what they could be planning to do now that…" She looked at Harry.
"What?" Harry looked up and down his robes thinking he might have something spilled on him, and then looked back at Hermione. "What?" He repeated confused.
"I never thought they would keep something like that from you Harry," She looked at the ground with a distressing look apparent in her eyes.
"What!?" Harry was starting to grow agitated.
"They didn't tell you mate? But I thought sure they'd," Ron was interrupted by Harry, who was furious now.
"If someone doesn't tell me what is going on I will…"
"Relax Harry! I'll tell you. Let's go in here," Hermione stepped through the door leading to Ron and Harry's room. She climbed over the birthday presents that had been brought up from downstairs and sat down on Harry's bed. Ron and Ginny did the same, but Harry remained standing. He began to pace back and forth across the room in anticipation.
"Harry, you have to listen to me and promise not to get angry with me for telling you," Hermione continued to stall.
"I will be angry with you if you don't start talking," said Harry as he walked away across the room again to shut the door.
"Harry," she began, "He, er, they, er…" she tried to find the words.
"He's started killing again Harry. I overheard Moody saying something about a battle. He has killed a few foreign wizards, and he kidnapped two muggles." This time it was Ginny who spoke. Harry stopped in his tracks. Hermione and Ron looked perplexed.
"Yes, well. I wasn't going to be that blunt, but," Hermione looked at Harry who had put his hand to his head, thinking.
"He has killed one of the muggles." Harry rubbed his hand over his scar, which had begun tingling at the thought.
"What! How did you—no one—couldn't have!" Ron stuttered.
"How did you know that Harry?" Hermione squinted her eyes while she surveyed him looking for answers.
"One turned up dead near London." He continued.
"Harry, no body was supposed to find out about that." Ginny looked around the room and spoke this in a barely audible tone.
"Well I didn't realize it until just now. It has been all over muggle news and--wait an minute! How did you three know about it then?" Harry questioned.
Hermione, Ron, and Ginny each held up a familiar utensil used by Fred and George Weasley.
"Extendable Ears? I thought they sealed their meetings up now!" Harry did a double take to make sure he was seeing what they were holding correctly.
"Well there is a pipe in the kitchen that connects to the stove, Ginny found it. If you dislodge it from the stove, you can hear parts of their conversations. Well you could, anyways, until a few nights ago. Professor Lupin found us and sealed that up to. Now the ears are useless." Hermione tossed hers aside and pushed off of the bed. She began to pace as Harry had been doing earlier. "I just don't understand Harry. He is just randomly attacking people, just attacking. Not even killing anymore. It doesn't make any sense. There is usually a pattern that one can figure out about his attacks, but all the witches and wizards he has attacked this summer and all the ways he attacked them, have no similarities, not a single thing in common between all of them. It is like he is…"
"Looking for something?" Harry plopped himself down on Ron's bed where nobody was currently seated and stared up at the ceiling that looked clean and new. He had expected her to bring this up. Hermione and Ron stared at him. Ginny looked indifferent to what he had just said. She looked as though she didn't understand what he meant.
"Harry," started Ron but was cut off.
"Isn't it obvious? I am the only one who has defeated him face to face. He wants to get rid of me first thing, no matter whom he has to torture along the way. He is going around random wizarding homes to get information on me. I would be willing to bet my life." Harry had not shifted his stare from the white ceiling.
"No you wouldn't." said Hermione bluntly.
"How do you know what I would or wouldn't…" his statement was cut off by the ringing of the doorbell and the shrieks and wails of Mrs. Black's portrait.
"FILTH! ALL OF YOU! GET OUT OF MY HOME!"
Ron looked at his watch, "You have GOT to be kidding me! The meeting doesn't start for another three hours!" He sighed and opened the door of the room allowing more of the wailing to infiltrate into it.
"DIRTY HALF-BREED! HOW DARE YOU COME NEAR ME! I WANT YOU OU…" The shrieks stopped. Obviously Lupin had gotten the curtains closed. Harry could hear footsteps coming down the hall in which Ron was now standing.
"Ron, I believe you need to stay in the room now. We will have guests starting to arrive for the meeting." Harry still did not look toward the door, even when he heard Lupin talking outside it. He was concentrating on what he would do if Voldemort received the information he needed. He heard Ron protest against Lupin's last statement.
"Three bloody hours before it starts? What are they going to do? Rehearse?" Harry heard the door slam and lock and decided to look over to where Ron was now standing rubbing his nose vigorously. "No, bloody way in hell! I don't believe it." He walked over to the place where he had thrown his Extendable ear next to Hermione's. He picked it up and shoved it in his ear as he threw Hermione's to Harry.
"Hey!" protested Hermione.
"Hey nothing! You tossed it away!" Ron proceeded to the door quickly followed by Harry who pushed his Extendable Ear under the door. Whoever had just arrived had not gone far from the door yet. He could detect most of the conversation between Mrs. Weasley and the stranger.
"Good day. I was just stopping by to check that the meeting scheduled for today was indeed going to happen." Said the strange voice. Harry could tell that it was the voice of a woman, but he couldn't tell much else as the person was trying desperately to talk in whispers.
"Indeed it is. We are eagerly awaiting your report. We have not heard you speak much since you joined. Are you sure you will not have a cup of tea." Mrs. Weasley sounded keen on the guest staying.
"Quiet sure, but thank you. I have—ehem—certain," There was a long pause. Over a minute Harry figured. "Business to attend to," there was a mysterious ring to this voice that Harry could not decipher.
"Right. Yes, well. Naturally." Mrs. Weasley sounded hasty in her reply.
"I will arrive at precisely five minutes until six, and we will most likely have to leave early to—er—right, you know," Harry listened intently for the woman to reveal her identity without any luck at all.
"Of course. So you will not be staying for dinner then." Continued Mrs. Weasley.
"I'm afraid not, but I do hope I will one of these days, I've heard great things." Harry could picture a sincere smile on the stranger's face as she said this.
"Well I do hope so as well. See you later dear," and with that, the door closed and Ron retracted his extendable ear. Harry did the same.
"What a waste of time. She didn't even say her name. I'm fed up with fishing for information," Ron threw his Extendable Ear back on the ground and sat down on the bed releasing a heavy sigh. Harry looked back at the door and pulled out his wand eyeing the lock.
"It's no use mate, they charm it into ignoring that spell when they lock us in here." Harry quickly replaced his wand and started to pace once more.
"I wonder who that was back there," Harry thought aloud. Hermione was still looking rather disdainfully at Ron who had given her ear to Harry, but seemed faintly interested.
"Don't know. She didn't reveal much did she, the sneak! Doesn't she realize that we're starving for information up here?" Harry recognized this as one of Ron's complaining fits.
"I suspect that's one thing that didn't cross her mind Ron." Said Harry, a look of empathy on his face. "Whoever she was, we know two things. One, she's new and two," Ron interrupted.
"And two she can't stay for dinner?" Harry shot him one of those let—me—finish—or—you'll—be—sorry looks.
"And two, she's doing something important. Maybe helping Dumbledore track Voldemort's movements," Harry knew the woman could be doing any number of things for the Order, but he took a stab at some of the most plausible ones.
"OOO, or she could be working in the ministry trying to recruit people," Ron was now obviously having fun imagining the possibilities.
"E-excuse me but, could you possibly share what you just heard?" Hermione glanced from Ron to Harry almost pleading to be informed. Harry recalled the conversation exactly as there was not much to remember. Hermione and Ginny seemed to take every bit of it in. "It's a bit strange isn't it?" Hermione scratched her head.
"Oh here we go. What's strange Hermione?" Ron was in a bad mood, and would probably have no trouble admitting it.
"It's odd RON that she was inside the Order, but still couldn't talk about what she was doing. She seems paranoid. She's doing something dangerous."
"Okay, well, I could have told you that!" Ron stood up and walked towards Hermione.
"Could you?" Hermione stood up and took a step towards him.
"Yeah,"
"Really?"
"Yeah!" The two were nose to nose now and the fight wasn't gong to progress. Harry saw Ginny step between them.
"Honestly you two!"
Ginny pushed Ron over to his bed and Hermione walked on her own over to Harry's where she mouthed 'Really.' Harry transferred his gaze to Ron who mouthed 'Yeah.'
"Have they been doing this all summer?" Harry asked Ginny.
"All summer." She said shaking her head. Harry wasn't much at breaking up fights, as he most often caused them, but as Hermione and Ron continued their silent bickering, he decided to change the topic.
"So, what did you get on your O.W.L.s?" He flashed half a grin at the two. Ron was quick to reply, which Harry thought odd.
"I got twelve O.W.L.s Harry! Twelve! ME!" A gigantic smug grin swept over his face, but was quickly whipped away when Hermione announced her score.
"I got Eighteen." She cheeks went somewhat rosy.
"Can you believe this one," Ron threw his thumb towards Hermione. "A perfect score. Makes me sick sometimes." Harry gawked at the now noticeably blushing Hermione.
"A perfect score?! Hermione!" He was at a loss for words. He couldn't assemble the correct words to express his congratulations.
"NOT perfect. I only got an 'E' in Astronomy," Harry shook his head at this.
"Let's just say I'm really happy that you are my friend right now," Harry smiled then walked over to Ron and held out his hand. Ron shook it, "And if it makes you feel any better I got twelve O.W.Ls as well." Ron smiled.
"Well done mate! I got an 'A' in potions! Can you believe it? In potions!" He had not let go of Harry's hand until Harry's complexion turned pallid. "What?"
"Nothing," spouted Harry.
"No, it's something. You did badly on the potions portion did you? Aw well, it's ok we all have our faults." Ron actually looked quite happy when he had said this, but Harry was about to make him unhappy once more.
"Actually, I got an 'O' in potions" said Harry indifferently.
The sound of three voices screaming "What," simultaneously rang in Harry's ears long after the sound had faded from the room.
"How did you manage that Harry?!" Ron looked dumbstruck.
"I have no idea. I know for a fact that a messed the potion up. I also know there is no plausible way I did outstanding on my written exam,"
"Weird," Continued Ron, "You must have some admirers," he laughed, but Harry smiled vaguely. He knew that people recognized him, there was no doubt, but he felt in an odd way betrayed by whoever had graded him; he couldn't remember what their name was. Clenching his fists he thought about how unfair that was to the other students. He had messed up, on both exams, but still received a perfect score. He felt himself become hot with rage.
Reading his mind, Hermione said, "Don't think on it Harry. You want to be an auror, you might just get you wish. Think about it that way."
"Thanks Hermione," Her words had comforted him and his rage disappeared.
They talked and joked about random things for about two and a half hours before people started showing up for the meeting. They were surprised that the time had gone by so quickly. It was eerie really. It had seemed like just five minutes ago Ron and Hermione were having their silent feud.
"I really hope they don't…" at that moment Mrs. Black's Wails filled the house. Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione pressed their hands to their ears to block out some of the sound.
"NASTY HALF-BREED FILTH! YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE! YOU SHOULD BURN IN…" the sound died again and the four let their hands drop to their sides once more.
"I swear, if one more person rings the…" The four of them replaced their hands over their ears as Mrs. Black let out more screams, that were getting progressively louder.
"I HATE YOU FILTHY MUDBLOODS AND HALF-BREEDS. DON'T YOU TRY TO TOUCH ME YOU BLOODY…" Ron opened his mouth furiously to scream irately, but Hermione put her hand over his mouth. You could hear muffled curses being emitted from Ron's covered mouth. Only when he stopped, and his face had returned to a normal color, did Hermione let her hand drop.
"You know, your screaming can wake her just as easily as the door bell ringing." She made an excellent point and Ron sat down. Then, Harry had a wonderful idea. He walked over to the two extendable ears on the floor and shoved it in his ear.
This time Hermione grabbed Ron's and before he could protest she said rather sarcastically, "What? You tossed it away," She tilted her head and smiled semi-sweetly. Ron's lips were thin and he seemed to be holding his breath as Hermione and Ginny shoved theirs into their ear. Harry was already on his knees listening to the hustle and bustle downstairs. He soon found out that he should have done this when the doorbell first rang. There were now so many people talking, it sounded similar to a crowded Diagon Alley. However, he and the others could pick up bits of conversations.
"—going to speak---"
"—really curious—"
"—Was killed by---"
"---Dumbledore's report---"
Harry gave up. He withdrew his extendable ear.
"Well it seemed like a good plan," said Harry to Hermione and Ginny as they did the same as he had. "Couldn't translate any of that rubbish for us could you Hermione," he asked hopefully.
"Not this time," She pocketed her Extendable ear this time and gave Ron a try—to—steal—it—now sort of look. "All I got from it was that Dumbledore was giving a report." She sat down on her bed.
"But that doesn't make any sense. That new person is supposed to be giving a report," said Harry mystified.
"Yes but didn't you say that she said she had to leave early? Maybe Dumbledore is going to speak after she leaves." Leave it to Hermione to sort things out.
"Duh, Harry!" Ron rolled his eyes sarcastically. Just as Ron was about to make another witty remark, the doorbell rang.
"Oh here we go," said Ginny stuffing her fingers in her ears. Mrs. Blacks shrieks were now extremely vociferous.
"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! WHO IS LETTING IN ALL THIS MUDBLOOD, HALF-BREED FILTH? I WOULD HAVE KILLED THE…" Harry could hear the struggle to close the curtains come to an end.
"I hope that's the last of them," said Harry hopefully.
"It is mate." Ron replied thankfully, "They come in three groups, now that there are so many of them," Ron was right, the doorbell didn't ring and the commotion in the living room died down. Harry closed his eyes and imagined lines of people filling into the back room where the meetings were held. He found himself feeling quite grateful, but at the same time a little astonished that he had not been allowed into the Order as it was only he who could actually kill Voldemort. He had told no one about the prophecy that he had been informed of last year, not even his truest friends. He feared that he would be betrayed like so many others had in the previous dark days. He looked at Ron and Hermione and smiled. He knew he could trust them with anything, but somehow found himself biting his own tongue. People would find out in time, he expected, and that's when he would have to worry. At the present time, he was at a high point in the year, being out of the Dursley's house and back with the people who really care for them.
They passed the time by talking and daydreaming about the coming year at Hogwarts. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny had all received their class schedule with their O.W.L. results, but strangely enough, Harry had not. He just smiled and nodded as they spoke of the classes. They also talked about whom their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher would be.
"I bet Dumbledore gives Snape the job this year." Said Ron forlornly.
"It would ruin his cover Ron. What would—" Hermione stopped when she saw Ginny looking at them with squinted eyes.
"Ruin his cover for what," Harry, like the rest of them had completely forgotten that Ginny didn't know what Snape was doing for the Order.
"Er—his—erm—blow his cover for being a wretched, biased professor. I think defense against the dark arts would force some good out of him." Hermione looked pleadingly at Harry who could think of nothing better to cover up her mistake with.
"Oh. I suppose it might," Hermione sighed deeply when Ginny had given her this reply. She knew she had made a horrible mistake by bringing this up.
"So if it isn't Snape then who is it?" Ron inquired. "Moody? Or Lupin?"
"I suspect it will be someone from the Order, most likely an auror," Hermione looked at Harry and Ron who were looking at each other.
"Tonks?" They asked together.
"No, my bet is on Moody. We haven't seen him around much this summer, perhaps he is busy planning his lessons."
"Fat chance! Moody is one of the most important people in the Order. He won't be teaching if he is doing one of Dumbledore's deeds." Ron was pleasantly surprise that he had put this together, but of course Hermione had to contest it.
"That's exactly WHY he would be teaching. If he's Dumbledore's right hand man, that would keep the two close. If Dumbledore needed something done he could just walk down to Moody's quarters." Harry just sat back and watched the two argue. He knew what this was going to lead to.
"The what would be the point of him being the teacher if he was going to be doing stuff for Dumbledore all the time. What are we supposed to do when we are in class? Some of us have to learn by doing, not reading Hermione." Ron was shouting now.
"Well I'm sorry you're too dim to figure things out on your own RON!" She had crossed the line now. Rom was seething and the two were nose to nose again. This time Harry was the one to push them to opposite sides of the room. In doing so, he heard Ron mutter something to the effect of 'Go shove a book up your nose.' Even though it was his two best friend fighting, he found it rather amusing to observe. Then a thought struck his mind, but he quickly waved it off because he knew it couldn't be true.
"Come OFF it you two. Now WHO CARES who's going to be the teacher, we will find out in a few weeks." Ginny was always pretty good at breaking up Ron and Hermione's fights, but Harry knew that the two probably wouldn't talk directly to each other for the rest of the night.
Harry stared down at his watch when he heard the voices of a few people in the living room. They had probably come out of the meeting during the shouting match that had just taken place. He didn't need the Extendable ears this time, as they were talkig in normal voices and they seemed to be right at the foot of the staircase. Harry recognized the two voices immediately. One was that of Mrs. Weasley and the other was of the mysterious woman that had come to the door earlier that same day. He listened keenly to the conversation.
"Well here you go, that should hold you over for the trip. That was an amazing report you gave today. Most informative." Mrs. Weasley's voice was soft and kind.
"Thank you Molly. All in a days work I must say. Well we must be off, you say the next meeting is in a month or so?" The woman's voice was soft again, but not so soft that Harry couldn't hear.
"Yes dear but will you be able to come?" There was a hint of confusion in Molly Weasley's voice.
"Oh—that—right. I suppose not. Well we must be off. G'night Molly." Harry heard the sound of footsteps headed away from the staircase and one set of footsteps headed up the stairs. He listened more carefully and didn't understand what he had heard. There were two sets of footsteps headed for the exit of the Order. There had been three people in the living room. One had been Mrs. Weasley, one had been the stranger, but the other one had kept most quiet. As the door to the Order slammed shut, the door to their room swung open. Mrs. Weasley stood in the doorway wearing her nicest robes, which were still patched up in several places.
"It is about time for dinner you lot," She looked at Ron, "That is unless you are too grown up to let other's fix your meals for you." She looked back at the others. "We will be having house guests tonight an I'm afraid you will have to sleep in the same room," She waved her wand and two old sleeping bags appeared on the floor. "Ron, Harry, you are to let the girls sleep in the beds if that is quite alright. I will come back when dinner in ready to be served." She gave a hasty smile and closed the door once more.
"Did you hear them?" asked Ron as soon as the door had closed.
"Yes, they must be doing something really important if they can't make it to the next meeting," Said Hermione.
"They?" Ron and Ginny looked puzzled, this time Harry answered instead of Hermione.
"There was another set of footsteps going away from the stairs besides the woman's." He was still trying to fit it all together, but decided to give up.
"I still think she is helping Dumbledore track V-Voldemort's movements. It is the only logical thing. I don't think we should worry about it." So it was settled, they spoke no more of the stranger the rest of the time in the room.
About a half hour later Mrs. Weasley retrieved them for dinner. They descended the stairs and what they saw almost made Harry collapse. There had to be at least fifty people shoulder to shoulder at the expanded dinner table. He could see all different types of witches and wizards. Some even looked foreign and spoke with a strange accent. He turned to Mrs. Weasley who looked flustered and exhausted. With a wave of her wand, the table expanded a few more feet and four more chairs appeared pushed neatly into the table.
"Go on then dears, have a seat. The dishes will be passed down to you….eventually." He heaved a deep sigh and shook her head as she was walking off.
The four took their chairs and had to pull their shoulders in to fit.
"Can you believe this many people stayed for dinner?" Ginny raised her voice slightly so that she could be heard over the other conversations.
"Just imagine how many people showed up for the meeting and didn't stay! Mum will be cranky tonight." Ron joked. Harry gave a grin and looked up and down the table for familiar faces. He picked out Kingsley, Lupin, Mr. Weasley, Amos Diggory, and as his eyes followed the people lined up at the table, he spotted Dumbledore seated in the very center of the crowd.
"Look, Dumbledore is here!" He semi-shouted to Hermione.
"But he never stays for dinner!" She looked stunned. "Well, he did give a report, and he didn't have that long of a time to give it in either. Perhaps he stayed to discuss it further."
"Yeah I suppose," Harry turned back to the Headmaster at Hogwarts. He looked paler than usual, and he had a grim look on his face. He was speaking to Amos Diggory now. Harry thought they might be speaking of Cedric's death. He tried not to think on it for to long, but it was too late. His scar started searing with pain. Pressing his hand against it, he tried to keep a straight face.
Finally dinner reached their end of the table. The consumed speedily it without speaking and made their way back towards the staircase. Before they reached it, Harry felt a cold hand on his shoulder. A chill ran up his spin, but as he turned around, he was greeted by the now smiling face of Albus Dumbledore. With out speaking to him, the old man placed an envelope in Harry's hand and sent them on their way upstairs.