"Arthur dear, where are you going?"
"Emergency at the Ministry, I have to go in and see if we can't this whole mess straightened out," he managed a weak smile for his wife, which didn't fool her in the least.
Molly wanted to protest, but knew that as the Minister of Magic her husband had little choice in times of crisis. "Just be careful, and..."
But she was cut off as Fawkes popped in and out, leaving a letter behind. Arthur picked up the parchment and scanned the contents quickly. "I can't go; I have to be at the Ministry. But you best go Molly; they're going to need all the help they can get."
"Where is the meeting going to take place Minerva?" Severus asked as he strode down the hall with Minerva, Morgan trailing along behind.
"In one of the lower dungeons. I have set up a system of wards, hopefully it will be enough."
The three of them paused in front of a tapestry of Circe hanging at what appeared to be a dead end to one of the many dank corridors in the dungeons.
The woven figure of Circe smirked down at the three people standing in front of her; she took her time examining the contents of the embroidered wine cup in her hand before looking up completely, "can I do something for you?" she asked as she tossed her curls over her shoulder.
Minerva scowled at the embellished woman, but decided it wasn't worth her time, "Mnemosyne," she said clearly, giving the password.
Circe shrugged, "fine, have it your way, but I was rather hoping someone might want to stick around for awhile. No one ever stays with me..." but the figure in the tapestry obligingly gave a wave of her hand and revealed the passageway hidden in the wall at her right.
They followed a long twisting hallway, dimly let by sporadic sconces, until they came to a heavy wooden door. "Good, it appears everyone that needs to be here for the time being has already arrived," Minerva swept her gaze over the gathered group, noticeably present were Charlie and Meg Weasley, Bill Weasley, Molly Weasley, Zach, Eva, Alberto, Remus and Kalliope, Morgan and Severus, Sirius, a handful of other people, and herself. And of course Albus Dumbledore, from one of his portraits that had been moved down to this obscure room. Minerva nodded in satisfaction, this at least was a start, "the Order of the Phoenix has been reinstated. We consider the recent acts of the dark forces to be nothing short of all out war. In the days to come certain changes will be made to protect the safety of our members and the students of this school. But first, any survivors found in the wreckage that is left of Hogsmeade who have nowhere else to go will be brought here to the school until other arrangements can be made."
Kamen hesitated for only a moment before making his way down to his father's office. It was one of the few rooms in the school that was on the floo network, something he was in desperate need of for what he was going to do next.
He would have liked to have William here for support, but he wasn't back at the school yet. Taking a deep breath Kamen threw the floo powder into the fire and clearly said, "The raven's nest." He felt the familiar whirling sensation the accompanied floo travel and stumbled out of the fireplace at the other end. Straightening up he nodded at the dark man who met him, "the raven flies at midnight."
"And leaves a shadow across the moon," the dark man responded as he took Kamen's hand. "Welcome to the headquarters of the Grigorian Brotherhood."
"Bloody hell..." Harry observed the dismal scene of Hogsmeade. It was hard for him to believe that this smoking, dark, deserted place was where he had spent so many happy weekends during his school years and after. "They've destroyed it." He hadn't gotten back to the school in time for the Order's meeting, but was now combing the burnt out town with Severus and several other members for any survivors.
"It could have been worse," Severus said as he kicked at a charred board.
"How?"
"You probably don't want to know."
"Professor, is that you?" Madame Rosmerta, who was looking rather worse for wear, appeared, leading a small girl by the hand and followed by a small cluster of witches and wizards. "Thank goodness, it is you, and Mr. Potter, I was worried that it might be them back again."
"Are there more survivors Rosmerta, or are you all of them?" Severus asked, his face an emotional mask.
Rosmerta sighed, "I simply don't know. I think I saw another group of people, but it could have been Ministry members, they're starting to show up now. Too bad they didn't get here in time to protect us," she spat.
"I'm going to take them up to the school for now, think you can handle yourself here Potter?" Severus snarled.
"Of course," Harry was not put off at all by Severus' angry tone. He only wished he could mask the horror he felt over this situation as well as the potions master.
Severus gave a curt nod in acknowledgement before falling in next to Rosmerta for the walk to Hogwarts. The group was a silent one, each person trying to absorb what had happened that day.
"There you are," Morgan rushed out from the school's entrance to greet the group, relief evident on her face at seeing her husband return unharmed. "This can't be all of the survivors," she whispered sucking in her breath, but she noticed that her husband wouldn't quite meet her eyes. She sighed looking over the straggled group, her eyes finally resting on the girl clutching Rosmerta's hand, "this one isn't yours Rosmerta, who is she?"
Rosmerta sighed wearily, "I found her."
"Her parents?"
Rosmerta sadly shook her head.
"What's your name sweetie?" Morgan knelt down in front of the tiny child.
"Olivia," the girl stuck a grimy finger in her mouth as she shook her black curls further into her face, trying to hide behind them.
"Poor dear," Morgan whispered as she took the girl's free hand in her own, "come inside we'll get you all cleaned up and find you something to eat, does that sound alright?" She looked up, "We'll get all of you settled for the night, anyone who is injured will be shown to the infirmary."
"What should we do with her?" Rosmerta nodded down at the child, who she guessed couldn't be much more than five.
Morgan pursed her lips, "I don't know." She sighed, "Rosmerta you're hurt, I can clearly see that. Take care of yourself; I'll watch her for now."
"There's nothing like being put to work as soon as you show up is there," Zach turned to Eva as they patrolled the school hallways together.
She shrugged, "es ist mir egal. I would rather have something to do than just sit around."
"What was the first thing you said?"
Eva smiled a bit, but winced at the way that pulled at the bruises that still covered one side of her face, "something along the lines of 'I don't mind'. Sorry, I'll try to watch that, but it's a hard habit to break."
"Zach, who's the doll?" Alberto came around the corner; he captured Eva's hand in his own and brought it to his lips.
Zach rolled his eyes, even in a time of crisis Alberto had a one track mind, "This is Miss Eva Bhaer. You already met her at the meeting Alberto, so unless there was anything else you needed...?"
Alberto instantly sobered, "yes, if you two are done with your patrol rounds Pomphrey needs all the help she can get patching people up in the infirmary."
Zach sighed, "Yeah, we're done here. Are you coming Eva?"
The petit blond shook her head, "in a bit, I think I should check on Clara first, make sure she hasn't managed to get into any trouble yet."
Severus sat on one side of the Hospital Wing, a scowl on his face.
"You look awfully cheerful," Harry commented as he dropped into a chair next to the potions master.
"We are in the middle of a crisis, the start of a war, and that's all you can think of to say?" Severus snapped, his scowl darkening.
"Sorry," Harry muttered, "it was just you were sitting over here, and I thought..."
"Gryffindors do not think Mr. Potter."
Harry sighed, looking for mutual ground, "more survivors keep trickling in, it looks like the death count won't be nearly as large as we originally thought."
Severus gave a nod of acknowledgement but continued to glare across the room, his gaze lingering on where Morgan was sitting with the child, trying to coax her to eat something.
Harry followed his gaze, "it's too bad about her parents," he said softly.
"In more ways than one."
Harry looked up, "what do you mean."
Severus sighed, "look at them," he nodded towards his wife and the child, "I have the distinct feeling that I'm going to hear the plea, 'she followed me home, can I keep her?'"
"Would that be so bad?" Harry thought of his own Lily, "They're awfully cute at that age."
Severus merely frowned and stood up, "I have to go patrol," he said as he swept from the room, his black robes billowing behind him.
"Do I have to stay here tonight?" Olivia sniffed as she clutched at the blanket wrapped around her shoulders. "I want my Mama and Daddy..." several tears spilled over.
"Come here darling," Morgan wrapped her arms around the girl, it was hard to believe that she was six, or nearly seven as she insisted, she was such a little thing, "you have to stay at the school, but you don't have to stay here in the Hospital Wing if it scares you, we can find someplace else for you. Would that be better?"
The little girl nodded miserably, "yes please."
"Then we'll do that," Morgan pressed her cheek against Olivia's tear streaked one, "now, will you please eat something for me dear?"
"Not hungry..."
"Alright, we'll try again later," Morgan held the girl close, "now let's find a place for you to stay tonight, you need to get some sleep."
"Stay with you..." Olivia mumbled into the folds of the blanket.
"What do we have here?" Harry asked as he joined them, sitting on the edge of the hospital bed.
"Harry this is Olivia. Olivia, can you say hello to Mr. Potter?"
The girl shook her head and buried her face against Morgan.
"Maybe later then," Morgan said, running her hand over Olivia's tangled curls. That sat in silence for several minutes before Morgan realized that the girl had fallen asleep against her.
"Where are you going to put her for the night?" Harry asked softly.
"In Severus and my quarters, we have a spare room."
Harry tried to cover his look of surprise, "does Severus know?"
Morgan shook her head, "no, but he won't mind."
"Here, let me carry her for you," Harry took Olivia out of Morgan's arms and held her carefully so as not to wake her as they headed down towards the dungeons.
"How's Ginny?" Morgan asked.
"Things are getting better," Harry understood the unasked question, "I think things will work out fine."
"Is she going to be participating in the Order?"
Harry sighed, "We discussed it, for now no. One of us needs to stay uninvolved for the children's sake, especially with Lily still at home.
"It would be nice if you two could spend some time together..."
"I know, and I am trying Morgan, really I am. It's just... I don't think she's ever forgiven me for that night with Cho..."
"Oh Harry, surely she knows that nothing happened!"
Harry sighed and shifted Olivia in his arms as they continued down the hallway, "she says she does, but I know it broke her heart to ever doubt me. I don't blame her for not wanting me back..."
"Harry James Potter stop that right now! She does want you back, she's told me so herself. Just keep trying and you two will get it right. She loves you desperately and you love her too. But if the two of you are more concerned about getting hurt than simply loving each other, than you're not going to get anywhere, I know that only too well."
"Thanks Morgan," Harry said as they reached the entrance to the Snapes' chambers and Morgan opened the door, letting them in.
"Not at all. You two are meant for each other, I have to do my meddling part to make sure you stay that way," she smiled as she led him to the spare bedroom and turned back the covers so he could lay Olivia down.
"I better get going," Harry said as he ran a hand through his perpetually messy hair, "not only will your husband hex me into oblivion if he finds me down here, but they probably need more help patrolling tonight."
"Why did Daddy have to leave?" Willow looked mournfully up at her mother.
"Because sweetie, some bad people attacked several villages today, Sirius had to go back to Hogwarts to help protect the students."
"Oh... can't he stay here and protect us though?"
Elizabeth held her daughter close, "no sweetie, we can look after each other, and he'll be back to check up on us as often as possible."
"And where's Will, did he go to Hogwarts too?"
Elizabeth frowned; she hadn't seen her son for a couple of hours now. She tried not to panic as she thought about what might have happened to him.
"For those of you that are new to us, my name is Armand. I am the current leader of the Grigorian Brotherhood. I welcome our new members, and those who have been here before," the dark man looked out over the group of men gathered in the large room. Most of them were young; there were only a handful of them that were over the age of thirty. "I won't lie to you, we are a militant group. But, we only have the wizarding population's best interests in mind. That includes the defeat of Voldemort and any forces that support him."
There was a collective cheer from the assembled members at the last statement.
"I give you fair warning now," Armand said raising his voice, "if you want out this is the time to do it. Your memory of this meeting will be obliviated and you can go on with your life. However, if you choose to stay there will be no backing out at any point further down the line. You will be one of us."
The bright morning sun seemed to contrast sharply with the burnt out wreckage of Hogsmeade as Ministry members combed through the remains for anything that was salvageable.
"Bloody hell..." Ron muttered as he scouted the area with a contingent of aurors, "they sure did a thorough job..."
"It's only going to get worse from here I'm afraid," Arthur pulled his cloak closer around him.
"Have you found anything useful?" Severus said as he approached the two Weasley men.
Arthur shook his head, "nothing that will lead us specifically to who did this," he sighed, "and unfortunately, I must be returning to the Ministry, its not even safe there these days..."
"Arthur, a word before you go, if you have the time."
"Of course Severus, Order business?"
"I think that we can safely say the Hogsmeade trips are canceled until further notice," Minerva addressed the staff. "And, we are going to have nightly patrols; I don't want to risk anything happening to the student body."
"What about the quidditch matches?" Remus asked.
"For the time being they will continue, however, that is subject to change should there be increased threats, and I want a member of the staff present at all practices. I would like to remind you that curfew must be strictly enforced, and no students should be out of the castle after dark. I will compose a list of all the new enforcements and precautions, and will have the Heads of House review them with the Houses when the term restarts."
Morgan gave Severus a worried look as she slid her hand into his, the last time she could remember security being this tight was during her seventh year when everyone though Sirius was a dangerous convict. She had hoped that these dark days were behind them forever, but it was not to be. "How much longer do you think this will last?" she whispered to her husband, she was thinking of Olivia, who had been left asleep in their chambers in the care of Misty.
"Not long," Severus gave her hand a squeeze.
"Severus," Minerva cut into the couple's interlude, "a word before you leave. I received another letter from Eric."
"What do you think will happen?" Dierna asked, as she lay on her bed in the dorm room.
"No idea," Serena answered from her own four-poster. "Bet you anything the school's going to come up with about a hundred more rules."
"Probably."
"It's too bad about what happened to Hogsmeade..."
"Do you think Stefan will be alright?"
"What?"
"I mean," Dierna rolled over onto her stomach, "I just have this feeling like he's somehow involved with all of this. No one has told me what exactly he's doing on this secret mission for the Ministry, but I think it has something to do with the dark forces. I'm worried about him..."
"Don't worry hon; I'm sure Stefan can take care of himself. The Ministry wouldn't have forced him into an assignment he couldn't handle."
"I wish I was that confidant..." Dierna muttered to herself.
Severus peeked into the bathroom when he finally managed to escape from Minerva to find Morgan wrapping Olivia in a large towel, and a stuffed rabbit sitting on the counter already wrapped in a towel.
Morgan looked up at him and gave him a small smile at his questioning look, "the rabbit's name is Tristan, we were afraid something might happen to him if he was left alone so he joined us for a bath."
Severus raised an eyebrow, but chose not to comment on what he felt was a ridiculous concept of bathing a stuffed rabbit, "a word with you Morgan when you get a chance," and he swept back out.
"He's kinda scary," Olivia whispered to Morgan as she was helped into her nightgown.
"Hmmm... well I promise he doesn't bite," she gave the girl a wink, "most of the time." She pulled the Olivia close to her for a hug. She hadn't been with her for two days yet, but Morgan had already lost her heart. This little girl was trying so hard to be strong in light of all that had happened to her, and Morgan knew that she missed her parents dreadfully. But she was also encouraged by how the girl seemed to cling to her, perhaps the girl would accept her as a mother, if only she could talk to Severus about it...
"Will you read me a story? It will help me go to sleep, and I don't want to cry myself to sleep like last night..."
Morgan was struck by how serious the little six year old was, "of course sweetie, but I want you to remember, its ok to cry. I know you loved your parents very much, and they loved you. It's alright to miss them."
Olivia nodded thoughtfully, she had in fact spent most of the day clinging to Tristan and crying, but the events of the last few days had left her a new seriousness, that contrasted sharply with her young age. "Will I ever see them again?" she asked as tears filled her eyes.
Morgan knelt down in front of her, "they can't come back, do you understand that Olivia?" she waited for the girl to nod, "and no one really understands what happens when people die, but I like to believe that they're waiting for you and that you'll see them again someday, but not for a long time. Can you understand that at all sweetie?"
Olivia nodded again and sniffed as she wiped at her tears, "I just miss them."
"I know you do. Let's get you into bed now, it's been a rough couple of days for you and you need to get some sleep."
She picked the little girl up and carried her towards the spare bedroom, but paused for a minute in the warm living room, "Sev, would you like to join us for a story?"
Severus looked up from his book, and couldn't help thinking that Olivia, who Morgan was already so attached to, could easily pass as their own daughter, "I think not, I have some work to get done."
Morgan nodded but felt her heart dropping; she took Severus' lack of interest to mean that he would not be open to adopting the girl. She tried to fight back her own sorrow as she put Olivia to bed and read to her until the little girl drifted to sleep with Tristan clutched tightly in her arms.
"What did Eric have to say?" Morgan asked as she joined her husband on the sofa, she leaned against him.
"The usual, a lot of nothing, and that nothing is not what I want to hear."
Morgan would have giggled at her husband's cryptic response if she wasn't feeling so miserable. She was terrified. They were entering a war and she didn't know if their family would make it through unscathed, but she still desperately wanted to add on to the family. She sighed as she wriggled her way into her husband's embrace. "Do you think we'll make it through this?"
Severus laid aside his book, "you know I can't answer that."
"I don't know if I can handle any more losses to this family."
"And yet I can tell you're allowing yourself to become attached to that little girl in the next room. That would only be one more person to worry about."
"I suppose so... but I did a little checking on my own, she has no other family, she'll end up in an orphanage..." Morgan laid her head on his shoulder.
Severus shifted his hold on his wife as he reached for something on the end table, "I got you something."
"What is it?" Morgan looked up at him questioningly.
"Look for yourself," he handed her a stack of parchment.
Morgan felt tears filling her eyes, "Adoption papers?"
Severus nodded.
Morgan threw her arms around his neck and sobbed openly, "I didn't want to ask you. Thank you Sev."