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Chapter Four: Surprise Revealed and a Welcome
"S-S-Sirius?" stammered Harry, pulling his jaw back up off the floor and reaching up to rub his eyes unable to believe what he was seeing.
"Come on Harry, I'm not that bad looking as a ghost am I?" asked Sirius.
"No, its-its just that its such a surprise" said Harry as he gradually recovered from the shock "but, how?"
"I'm not sure about that one Harry, all I know is that I'm going to do whatever I can to look after you."
"I'm glad to have you here, even as a ghost" said Harry with a grin. This brought a large smile to Sirius's ghostly face.
"Let's get this party started" shouted Ron and Lupin turned the Wireless Wizarding Network up on the radio that was sitting in the corner. Everybody got into the party mood quickly and the entrance hall was soon filled with the sound of laughter and conversation. To everyone's surprise even Snape could be found enjoying himself on the make shift dance floor.
The party continued through the morning and afternoon. As the light faded outside the radio changed to playing slow tunes and as the first of these wafted through the air Ron dashed to Hermione and asked her to dance. With a wistful look at Harry Hermione accepted Ron's offer and moving back onto the dance floor the pair began to dance.
Harry noticing Hermione was already dancing with Ron sought out Ginny, however, before he found her Mrs. Weasley was guiding him back on to the floor and leading him in a slow dance. Once the first song had ended Harry spun around to search for Hermione, but just as he spotted her Ginny asked him to dance. While Harry and Ginny were dancing Ron begrudgingly danced with his mother and Hermione with Lupin.
The second the second song had finished Harry released Ginny and dashed across to Hermione and offered her a dance. Accepting gratefully Harry and Hermione moved very close together and began to dance. Seeing how close his best friend and best friend that he had a crush on were dancing brought a scowl to Ron's face. Stomping off towards the stairs Ron was stopped by his sister who forced him back on to the dance floor to dance with her.
As the evening wore on Harry and Hermione didn't stop dancing and neither of the pair noticed as people once again wished Harry a happy birthday and moved off up the stairs. Soon enough only the dancing pair and Ron remained in the entrance hall and after many unsuccessful attempts to tell Harry and Hermione goodnight Ron stormed off to bed with a disgruntled look on his features.
An hour later Harry and Hermione finally realised that everybody else had disappeared off to bed and stopped dance deciding it was probably time they did the same. Turning off the radio Harry and Hermione slowly walked together to the rooms without saying a word to one another. Going into their separate rooms both teenagers could be seen with a look of utmost contentment on their faces.
Harry awoke the next day with a content smile still on his face. Ron on the other hand awoke still angry about the events of the previous evening, but Ron had a sudden thought, " Hermione was just doing that to make me jealous, yeah that's it" and Ron was quickly cheerful again.
Over the next three weeks Harry and Hermione spent most of their time round each other just gazing at the other when they thought the other person wasn't looking. Whenever Ron saw this occuring he just told himself that Hermione was just trying to make him jealous and Harry was in on it.
The morning of the 22nd of August was just like any other morning over the past three weeks. The afternoon of the same day appeared to be going the same way until 2:00pm when the first of many people began turning up at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. As soon as the people passed through the door they would hurry off down a passageway that was not there previously. At five minutes to three the gradual flow of people stopped and five minutes later Dumbledore summoned Harry, Hermione and Ron into the entrance hall and said to them "quickly, this way, follow me, we are ready to start."
Hurrying along Dumbledore lead them down the strange blank walled passageway and stopped outside of an old rotting wood door that had a gold knob. Turning to the trio Dumbledore pulled out his wand and tapped each of them on the head in turn. Once the last had received the tap all of the three's clothes had changed into orange and red wizard robes. "These robes are your official Order of the Phoenix uniforms, they are used during special events rather than missions although there is the odd occasion when they will be worn during operations", having said this Dumbledore turned back to the door and turned the golden knob.
Stepping into the room all three of the trio were amazed at the sight that greeted them. Looking around they saw that the whole room was made from orange and red marble and looked very much like the inside of a large roman temple. A loud squawk brought Harry's attention away from peering around the room. "Hi Fawkes" voiced Harry as the phoenix settled itself on his shoulder.
"This way Harry" stated Hermione as she tugged on Harry's arm to get him to follow Dumbledore, Ron and herself. Reaching the altar at the front Harry, Ron and Hermione turned around and realised that there were at least a few hundred people there all dressed in the same coloured robes as themselves. Everybody took his or her seat as Dumbledore walked up and stood behind the altar.
"Welcome" bellowed Dumbledore to the assembled crowd.
"Today is a special day for the Order of the Phoenix, today we welcome three new members to our ranks."
"These three may be younger than the normal new recruits, however these three have already had great success fighting evil, namely, Voldemort", only Ron flinched at the mention of Voldemort's name.
"Harry, repeat after me."
"I, Harry James Potter."
"I, Harry James Potter" echoed Harry.
"Do here by swear"
"Do here by swear"
"To destroy evil wherever it may lurk"
"To destroy evil wherever it may lurk"
"And assist those in need whenever possible."
"And assist those in need whenever possible." As Harry finished repeating the last word of the oath an orange and red badge rimmed in gold that was shaped like Fawkes appeared upon Harry's new robes. Taking a closer look Harry observed that the tail "feathers" of the badge moved like the tongues of flames.
Hermione and Ron then took their turns at the oath and both received their phoenix badges. "On this day we, the Order of the Phoenix, welcome Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley among our number" continued Dumbeldore. As Dumbledore fell silent all of the assembled members of the Order of the Phoenix rose from their sits and applauded as one. One by one the crowd went up to the front and welcomed the trio to the Order.