Note from Nikki
Alright guys, one more chapter and I am officially done with this story! There is this one and I will post the next one next week sometime. No time for reviewer notes. sigh I will do final ones next time! THANKS to those of you who have reviewed. You're all wonderful. Thank you! hugz
--
Dorcas left her house early the next morning, completely bored out of her mind. She missed James and Lily and baby Harry. She missed Sirius and his witty jokes that always seemed to make her happy. Now she was all alone and she hated it.
There was an Order Meeting that had just been called, an emergency one. So Dorcas walked to Headquarters, got the leaf, and went inside the building, still feeling rather gloomy. She took a seat next to Remus and Peter.
"Hi," she said dimly.
"Hey," Remus replied, just as sadly.
"What's with all the long faces?" Peter said cheerfully.
Dorcas rolled her eyes. "Peter," she said. "I know you're slow but even you must know that James, Lily, and Sirius AREN'T HERE."
Peter's eyes narrowed and Dorcas was surprised to see that he wasn't very happy with her joke. On the contrary, Peter looked very angry. "You have no right to call me stupid Dorcas. I am a very powerful wizard you know."
Dorcas snorted, not sure whether he was being serious or not. "Okay Peter, sure."
Peter was still looking very angry. "I wouldn't get on my bad side if I were you."
"Geez Peter, what is with you today?" Dorcas asked, rolling her eyes.
Peter stopped with his scowl and grinned. "Nothing! It's a wonderful day!"
"There is something seriously wrong with you," Remus said, shaking his head. "You've been acting weird all morning."
Dumbledore cleared his throat and the three of them turned to face him. "Many of you will notice a member missing from our Order," he began sadly.
Everyone looked around, whispering to one another.
"Caradoc Dearborn, our good friend, has disappeared," Dumbledore announced over the whispers. "We don't know where he is or if he is alive but he stopped reporting to work yesterday and we have searched for him with no luck."
Dorcas felt her heart drop. How many more members would suffer? How many more would die? How many more would turn up missing and never be found?
Dumbledore raised his hands for silence. "We all must be on the lookout and our spies," he stared pointedly at Severus and Dorcas, "should try to find out as much of what happened as they can."
Dorcas nodded before everyone stood up and began making their way out of headquarters, mumbling quietly.
Suddenly the ground beneath their feet began to tremble. Dorcas frowned and grabbed onto Remus who looked confused, just like everyone else.
"What's going on?" she asked before she fell to her knees.
"We're being attacked!" someone yelled.
Dorcas froze. "WHAT?" she yelled.
"Death Eaters! Outside Headquarters!"
"But they can't possibly see us!" Dorcas screamed.
"They're throwing torches! The house is catching fire!"
Everyone began to panic, screaming and searching for Dumbledore. He came into view, his eyes blazing with fury. Dorcas took a step back. She had never seen the cool, collected, calm Dumbledore look so utterly angry. His very eyes were smoldering and power radiated from his body.
"Disapparate!" Dumbledore shouted. "To the front of the building! We won't let them get away with this!"
Cheers rose through the creaks of the burning Headquarters and everyone immediately Disapparated. "Dorcas! Severus!" Dumbledore called.
They turned around, their eyes reflecting the fire that was now engulfing the upper levels of the house. "Hide in the forest! You can't be seen!"
They nodded and disappeared moments later. Dorcas found it amusing to discover that both she and Severus reappeared in the same spot. They were in a known hiding spot behind Headquarters. They both dashed to a fallen tree and peered over its dead branches to see what was going on.
All members of the Order were dueling with Death Eaters. Missed spells shot passed them and screams filled the air as the Cruciatus Curse was used. It was a full out war filled with different colored spells and violent endings. People used boulders as protection and some used shield charms. All the while Order Headquarters was becoming more and more visible as fire enveloped it.
"How did this happen?" Dorcas whispered.
Severus shrugged. "They must have tortured Dearborn."
"But he can't say the location of Headquarters."
"No," Severus agreed. "But he can say that a tree is in Godric's Hollow when asked the question. All Master needs to do is throw torches around until one catches fire on the invisible house."
Dorcas shuddered but quickly drew her wand when a voice said behind them, "Well, well. What have we here?"
They both turned quickly and found themselves face to face with a Death Eater. They couldn't see who it was because his hood was hiding his features. Dorcas and Severus reacted at the same time. They both performed the Avada Kedavra and the Death Eater keeled over without another sound.
Without saying a word they turned back to the war, acting as if they hadn't seen a thing.
"We can't just sit here," Dorcas whispered. "They're dying!"
"We can attack from here," Severus agreed. "Make sure your spell hits the target. If someone sees we will be caught."
Dorcas nodded and took aim. She shot a curse and it hit an unsuspecting Death Eater square in the chest. Severus followed her lead and together the two of them tackled quite a few Death Eaters.
Suddenly everything became silent.
"What's happening?" Dorcas whispered, trying to get a good look.
"He's here," Severus whispered back.
Dorcas felt her heart stop beating as she saw Voldemort walk slowly and carelessly through the destruction before the Headquarters.
"Well, well," he said coldly. "Here we have Dumbledore's little army. Looks as if we hit a sore spot with this building, haven't we?"
The Death Eaters chuckled while the Order members looked terrified.
"Very good, Tom," a voice said. Dorcas sighed in relief as Dumbledore emerged suddenly. Voldemort took an involuntary step backward and Dorcas was satisfied to see that he wore a terrified expression.
"That is not my name," he hissed angrily.
Dorcas frowned. Tom? She had never known that Voldemort had once been a Tom.
"No, I suppose it isn't anymore," Dumbledore said calmly. "You didn't want anyone to recognize you."
Voldemort growled and raised his wand so quickly that Dorcas didn't see the movement. All she saw was a flash of green light which somehow bounced of Dumbledore and hit a Death Eater in the stomach. He fell to the ground and was silent.
A tree behind Voldemort suddenly came crashing down but was turned into razor blades that went spinning toward Dumbledore. The blades transformed into pointed stones and hurtled back toward Voldemort. Voldemort didn't react fast enough so he could only perform a shield charm. Dumbledore began hurtling the stones at Voldemort and he slowly began to sink to his knees.
"Argh!" he yelled. "We will meet again old man!"
Suddenly Voldemort Disapparated and the stones lodged themselves into the body of a Death Eater. She screamed aloud before collapsing to the ground. The rest of the Death Eaters panicked and they all Disapparated quickly.
"That was too easy," Severus muttered.
Dorcas shook her head. "He was scared. He didn't want to duel with Dumbledore."
Severus nodded, helped her up, and then walked quickly to the clearing. There they watched as the rest of Headquarters burned to the ground.
"What now?" Dorcas asked quietly.
"We start anew," Dumbledore said softly. "We will never stop. We will find new Headquarters and start over again."
Someone groaned. "Dumbledore," she said, "Is it worth it? So many of us have died, so many of us will die. Families have been lost, friends have been killed. Now we don't even have a place to meet."
"If anyone no longer wishes to be a part of the Order, you are more than welcome to leave," Dumbledore said kindly.
Dorcas frowned and stepped forward, especially when she saw looks of resignation on other people's faces. "And then what?" she asked quietly. "We all just wait for him to come to our homes? Wait for him to kill us one by one anyway? We wait for him to destroy all that magical people have worked for for millions of years? If that's what you all want, you are all cowards."
"But he'll kill us anyway!" someone shouted. "He'll kill us one way or the other, why not spend time with our families while we still have the chance?"
Dorcas shook her head. "Will you hear yourself? You've already accepted resignation. You're ready to let your children die, never giving them the chance of a home and of a future. We fight because we might be able to save their generation! We might be able to stop this so that they don't have to die! If we all just quit, that will never be a possibility."
"She's right," Remus said smiling. "We'll get no where just standing here. We started as the Order of the Phoenix and we will end as the Order of the Phoenix!"
Cheers rose from this, first starting low and then picking up volume and sound. Dumbledore winked at Dorcas and Remus. "Go home for tonight. We will find a new Headquarters. One that Voldemort will never find!"
Everyone cheered once more before wearily Disapparating. No one knew what tomorrow would hold. No one ever knew. But that was part of life for these people. It's what they learned to expect and experience every day of their lives. They were all heroes in their own way and even the unnamed ones would forever be remembered.
Alright guys, one more chapter and I am officially done with this story! There is this one and I will post the next one next week sometime. No time for reviewer notes. sigh I will do final ones next time! THANKS to those of you who have reviewed. You're all wonderful. Thank you! hugz
--
Dorcas left her house early the next morning, completely bored out of her mind. She missed James and Lily and baby Harry. She missed Sirius and his witty jokes that always seemed to make her happy. Now she was all alone and she hated it.
There was an Order Meeting that had just been called, an emergency one. So Dorcas walked to Headquarters, got the leaf, and went inside the building, still feeling rather gloomy. She took a seat next to Remus and Peter.
"Hi," she said dimly.
"Hey," Remus replied, just as sadly.
"What's with all the long faces?" Peter said cheerfully.
Dorcas rolled her eyes. "Peter," she said. "I know you're slow but even you must know that James, Lily, and Sirius AREN'T HERE."
Peter's eyes narrowed and Dorcas was surprised to see that he wasn't very happy with her joke. On the contrary, Peter looked very angry. "You have no right to call me stupid Dorcas. I am a very powerful wizard you know."
Dorcas snorted, not sure whether he was being serious or not. "Okay Peter, sure."
Peter was still looking very angry. "I wouldn't get on my bad side if I were you."
"Geez Peter, what is with you today?" Dorcas asked, rolling her eyes.
Peter stopped with his scowl and grinned. "Nothing! It's a wonderful day!"
"There is something seriously wrong with you," Remus said, shaking his head. "You've been acting weird all morning."
Dumbledore cleared his throat and the three of them turned to face him. "Many of you will notice a member missing from our Order," he began sadly.
Everyone looked around, whispering to one another.
"Caradoc Dearborn, our good friend, has disappeared," Dumbledore announced over the whispers. "We don't know where he is or if he is alive but he stopped reporting to work yesterday and we have searched for him with no luck."
Dorcas felt her heart drop. How many more members would suffer? How many more would die? How many more would turn up missing and never be found?
Dumbledore raised his hands for silence. "We all must be on the lookout and our spies," he stared pointedly at Severus and Dorcas, "should try to find out as much of what happened as they can."
Dorcas nodded before everyone stood up and began making their way out of headquarters, mumbling quietly.
Suddenly the ground beneath their feet began to tremble. Dorcas frowned and grabbed onto Remus who looked confused, just like everyone else.
"What's going on?" she asked before she fell to her knees.
"We're being attacked!" someone yelled.
Dorcas froze. "WHAT?" she yelled.
"Death Eaters! Outside Headquarters!"
"But they can't possibly see us!" Dorcas screamed.
"They're throwing torches! The house is catching fire!"
Everyone began to panic, screaming and searching for Dumbledore. He came into view, his eyes blazing with fury. Dorcas took a step back. She had never seen the cool, collected, calm Dumbledore look so utterly angry. His very eyes were smoldering and power radiated from his body.
"Disapparate!" Dumbledore shouted. "To the front of the building! We won't let them get away with this!"
Cheers rose through the creaks of the burning Headquarters and everyone immediately Disapparated. "Dorcas! Severus!" Dumbledore called.
They turned around, their eyes reflecting the fire that was now engulfing the upper levels of the house. "Hide in the forest! You can't be seen!"
They nodded and disappeared moments later. Dorcas found it amusing to discover that both she and Severus reappeared in the same spot. They were in a known hiding spot behind Headquarters. They both dashed to a fallen tree and peered over its dead branches to see what was going on.
All members of the Order were dueling with Death Eaters. Missed spells shot passed them and screams filled the air as the Cruciatus Curse was used. It was a full out war filled with different colored spells and violent endings. People used boulders as protection and some used shield charms. All the while Order Headquarters was becoming more and more visible as fire enveloped it.
"How did this happen?" Dorcas whispered.
Severus shrugged. "They must have tortured Dearborn."
"But he can't say the location of Headquarters."
"No," Severus agreed. "But he can say that a tree is in Godric's Hollow when asked the question. All Master needs to do is throw torches around until one catches fire on the invisible house."
Dorcas shuddered but quickly drew her wand when a voice said behind them, "Well, well. What have we here?"
They both turned quickly and found themselves face to face with a Death Eater. They couldn't see who it was because his hood was hiding his features. Dorcas and Severus reacted at the same time. They both performed the Avada Kedavra and the Death Eater keeled over without another sound.
Without saying a word they turned back to the war, acting as if they hadn't seen a thing.
"We can't just sit here," Dorcas whispered. "They're dying!"
"We can attack from here," Severus agreed. "Make sure your spell hits the target. If someone sees we will be caught."
Dorcas nodded and took aim. She shot a curse and it hit an unsuspecting Death Eater square in the chest. Severus followed her lead and together the two of them tackled quite a few Death Eaters.
Suddenly everything became silent.
"What's happening?" Dorcas whispered, trying to get a good look.
"He's here," Severus whispered back.
Dorcas felt her heart stop beating as she saw Voldemort walk slowly and carelessly through the destruction before the Headquarters.
"Well, well," he said coldly. "Here we have Dumbledore's little army. Looks as if we hit a sore spot with this building, haven't we?"
The Death Eaters chuckled while the Order members looked terrified.
"Very good, Tom," a voice said. Dorcas sighed in relief as Dumbledore emerged suddenly. Voldemort took an involuntary step backward and Dorcas was satisfied to see that he wore a terrified expression.
"That is not my name," he hissed angrily.
Dorcas frowned. Tom? She had never known that Voldemort had once been a Tom.
"No, I suppose it isn't anymore," Dumbledore said calmly. "You didn't want anyone to recognize you."
Voldemort growled and raised his wand so quickly that Dorcas didn't see the movement. All she saw was a flash of green light which somehow bounced of Dumbledore and hit a Death Eater in the stomach. He fell to the ground and was silent.
A tree behind Voldemort suddenly came crashing down but was turned into razor blades that went spinning toward Dumbledore. The blades transformed into pointed stones and hurtled back toward Voldemort. Voldemort didn't react fast enough so he could only perform a shield charm. Dumbledore began hurtling the stones at Voldemort and he slowly began to sink to his knees.
"Argh!" he yelled. "We will meet again old man!"
Suddenly Voldemort Disapparated and the stones lodged themselves into the body of a Death Eater. She screamed aloud before collapsing to the ground. The rest of the Death Eaters panicked and they all Disapparated quickly.
"That was too easy," Severus muttered.
Dorcas shook her head. "He was scared. He didn't want to duel with Dumbledore."
Severus nodded, helped her up, and then walked quickly to the clearing. There they watched as the rest of Headquarters burned to the ground.
"What now?" Dorcas asked quietly.
"We start anew," Dumbledore said softly. "We will never stop. We will find new Headquarters and start over again."
Someone groaned. "Dumbledore," she said, "Is it worth it? So many of us have died, so many of us will die. Families have been lost, friends have been killed. Now we don't even have a place to meet."
"If anyone no longer wishes to be a part of the Order, you are more than welcome to leave," Dumbledore said kindly.
Dorcas frowned and stepped forward, especially when she saw looks of resignation on other people's faces. "And then what?" she asked quietly. "We all just wait for him to come to our homes? Wait for him to kill us one by one anyway? We wait for him to destroy all that magical people have worked for for millions of years? If that's what you all want, you are all cowards."
"But he'll kill us anyway!" someone shouted. "He'll kill us one way or the other, why not spend time with our families while we still have the chance?"
Dorcas shook her head. "Will you hear yourself? You've already accepted resignation. You're ready to let your children die, never giving them the chance of a home and of a future. We fight because we might be able to save their generation! We might be able to stop this so that they don't have to die! If we all just quit, that will never be a possibility."
"She's right," Remus said smiling. "We'll get no where just standing here. We started as the Order of the Phoenix and we will end as the Order of the Phoenix!"
Cheers rose from this, first starting low and then picking up volume and sound. Dumbledore winked at Dorcas and Remus. "Go home for tonight. We will find a new Headquarters. One that Voldemort will never find!"
Everyone cheered once more before wearily Disapparating. No one knew what tomorrow would hold. No one ever knew. But that was part of life for these people. It's what they learned to expect and experience every day of their lives. They were all heroes in their own way and even the unnamed ones would forever be remembered.