P.S. Sorry it took so long to get this out. I was MOVING! LoL. I know! AGAIN! But trust me, this is the last time…Actually, I lied. It isn't. Two more, THEN I'm done. Haha. ANYWAYS! I hope you'll all bear with me while I get readjusted to trekking to the library to update my stories. I'll try to update in chunks to make the gaps more bearable. Ok, well, ENJOY!
He was running. The journey only took a matter of seconds this time. He stood on the edge of the forest, looking down to see the very faint patches of sand. He sprinted straight into the trees, feeling them get thicker and thicker as he ran. Cuts began to bleed on his face and arms, but he kept running. Abruptly he stopped. He held his hand up to the dim trickles of light, seeing deep crimson. He looked down and a body lay in his way. Then it vanished. He continued to run, faster, faster. The branches were whipping his skin more violently than before, as if they wanted him out of their midst right now. Then, from a far off distance, he heard it. The screaming. He dashed along the path faster, feeling his lungs burn and sweat sting his cuts painfully. Then he stopped, the path with him. For there, directly infront of his feet, were two sanded trails leading right or left. Somehow closer by, the screaming continued. He listened, straining to hear which way it came from, when it silenced as suddenly as it started. Then sharply, two distinct different screams came barreling at him through the darkness. No...No...there were two...There were two....
"NO!"
The entire class turned and peered quizzically at Harry.
Harry whipped his eyes around him, finally registering that he was in Potions and had simply dozed off. Now the whole class was staring at him like he was psychotic. But who could blame them? He thought to himself as they began whispering amongst themselves.
Draco reached over and lightly put his hand on Harry's shoulder."You ok?"
Harry opened his mouth to reply, then saw his reflection in the liquid contents of their cauldron. His skin was pasty white with dark circles under his eyes. His hair was more unruly than usual and his eyes held a certain insanity in their fading green. Needless to say, he was a mess. Harry quickly grabbed his bag and tore out of the class, leaving baffled classmates and a concerned Professor in his wake.
Harry sprinted through the dungeons, feeling cold tears trickling down his face and neck. He hastily picked to go right instead of left, heading deeper into the dungeons. Choosing the first door he came upon, Harry ducked inside it and found it was conveniently empty. He dropped his bag and sunk down against the dusty wall, hugging his knees close to him. He was shaking again, and he felt like all his energy had been sucked from his body. He let himself sob. Painful, gasping sobs.
Try as he might, he couldn't escape from the nightmares. From the memory of discovering Pansy Parkinson. It felt like it was just yesterday, when infact it had been over a week and a half ago.
He remembered picking her lifeless body up, feeling his stomach lurch at the scent of all her blood and decay mixed with the perfume she had worn before she was killed.
The sight of her wide-opened eyes staring blankly up at him in an eternal state of horror soon wiped him of everything good. He had been screaming all the way to the castle, catching the attention of many students. They had all backed away from him, some running to get a teacher like he yelled.
Snape had reached him first, and somehow his face had gotten paler than it already was. He led Harry into the infirmary, still carrying the dead girl, and instructed him to place her on a cot. Madam Pomfrey was horrified and soon Snape had brought all of the teachers into the hospital wing, locking the doors from all curious eyes.
Harry had told them how he'd found her, but left out the part where he knew something was wrong from a dream he had had.
Dumbledore then took him away, saying nothing until they reached the Prefects bathroom, and opened it for him.
"Wash away your woes, Harry," Dumbledore had said and left him.
It was at this moment Harry had finally looked at himself in the mirror. His robes were covered in blood, so much infact it seemed almost impossible it all came from one person. His face was pale and there was horror and disgust in his features. Impulsively, Harry had ran to the nearest toilet and got sick into it over and over. Scrub as he may, he couldn't seem to get the smell or memory of blood from his skin.
He ended up burning those clothes and hadn't since had his skin return to its original color or his appearance regain its normal carelessness.
And here was his result. Crouching down in an unknown room in the middle of the freezing dungeons, crying over the girl he couldn't save. The one who wasn't spared. He shouldn't be blaming himself, but he was. Voldemort wanted HIM dead, and in the process so many had to die.
"It'd probably be easier if I just gave myself over and let him kill me...."
He knew that was nonsense, but it still somehow lightened his heart knowing he COULD do something about it all. That he wasn't as helpless as he felt right this second.
Suddenly, muffled voices came from down the corridor, bouncing off the stone walls.
Harry roughly wiped his face dry and strained to hear who could be wandering the halls during class hours. Unfortunately, he could only make out bits and pieces of the conversation.
"Yes, its all coming into play...."
"...But will he know?...."
"No. He has no...."
"...Then he'd suspect? Wouldn't he?"
".....But then again, he's more clever than we thought..."
"What of the girl?"
"Wake up call...the Dark Lord will be pleased with..."
Soon, they were almost directly outside his door. Harry held his breath and pressed himself against the wall, a fear growing in his chest at the mention of 'The Dark Lord.'
"What are we to do until then?"
"Prepare him. He must be ready to receive the Dark Lords assault."
"When will that be? And where?"
"Soon enough...The Dark Lord is taking the necessary actions to prepare the enclosure.."
"Does he suspect an attack from him? Or you?"
"Course not...He's too wrapped up in his loves and his self-pitying to realize whats going on right under his very nose."
"And you will stay loyal under the spell?"
"The Dark Lord has made sure of it...I am his to control now."
"Let us hope so...Harry Potter will surely die this time if all goes according to plan."
"And it will...He won't even suspect a thing...."
Harry heard them taper off down the hall and carefully opened the door a crack. He saw their cloaks disappear round the corner and he quickly scrambled to his feet. Sprinting to the end of the hall ,he peered around the wall. Nothing. There was no one there.
Harry frowned and looked down all four directions of the corridor they could've taken.
"W-what? Where....Where did they go?"
He gave up searching and retrieved his bag hastily. He had bigger things to worry about now than his guilt. Things that included a plot made by Voldemort himself...A plot to kill Harry, for certain this time. And from what the two mysterious voices said, Harry wouldn't even see it coming.
//------------
"Harry? Are you all right? You look dreadful."
Harry looked up sharply from his thoughts," Huh?"
Ginny and Draco frowned at him.
"Haven't you been getting any sleep lately?" Draco asked, eyeing Harry over intently. His appearance alone gave Draco his answer.
"Um...well.." Harry mumbled.
"No, right?" Draco finished for him with a sigh.
Harry nodded.
Ginny leaned forward and pressed the back of her hand against Harry's cheek. "God, Harry! You're cold as ice! What's wrong with you??"
Harry jerked away from contact with her. Though her skin was warm, Harry didn't want a reminder of anything pleasant or happy. Besides, for all he knew, one of the owner's of the voices he had heard earlier that day could be lurking about, watching Harry and noting that Ginny Weasley cared about him, then attack her.
"Harry, honestly...You've got to eat something. You're looking even skinnier than usual.." Draco said softly to him, glancing around at the nosy eyes that kept looking over at them through aisles of books or over tops of chairs. The library was full of them today, but Harry didn't care.
"Look...I got some good news. I got a reply from my Dad a couple of days ago. I couldn't tell you because you took off like a nutter that one night and didn't come back till the crack of dawn, even then you show up with Pansy and I couldn't get near you for almost a week," Draco said, pulling a rumpled piece of parchment from his robe's pocket. He unfolded it and smoothed it out."It pretty much says that Cherrywood was a necessity to the Dark Lord, they needed him for research and to tame...well, to tame a beast that was created for your demise.."
At this, Ginny and Draco looked sorrowfully at Harry, who in turn was staring blankly at the floor.
"So, that's how you're going to do it, huh?" Harry muttered to himself. His eyes narrowed." You're going to get some animal to do your dirty work for you..."
Draco frowned harder, not being able to hear what Harry was uttering about," A-and...um...he says I should be lying as low as I can, and not to tell any of this to Crabbe and Goyle, since they're too thick to keep their mouths shut about something so important."
Harry licked his lips," What else does it say?"
Draco stammered, looking down at the letter in his hand, "Um...Just some useless stuff…er...He's going to ask the Dark Lord if I can come and watch…uhh...He's sending me some money for our Hogsmeade trip tomorrow, and, umm...He's sorry for Pansy, and says I can find someone more useful anyway."
Draco peered up at Harry, shocked to see him looking so calm. Well, his body language was calm, but his eyes were flaming. There seemed to be actual flames licking at the usually cool emerald, making his gaze look dangerous, almost mad.
Harry jumped to his feet and walked out of the library, saying nothing to the bewildered Draco and Ginny.
A few hours later found him sitting on his bed, cross-legged and poised for an action he had yet discovered upon. Suddenly, a loud rapping came from the window making Harry snap his head towards it and aim his wand. He exhaled loudly and mumbled a spell to open the window, letting Hedwig flutter in and land atop his knee.
He sighed and stroked her gratefully," Hey girl. Haven't seen much of you, have I?"
Hedwig nibbled on his finger affectionately, and held her leg up producing a note tied to it.
Harry took the note and gave Hedwig a piece of his toast to munch on as he opened and read the small piece of parchment.
" Meeting. Dumbledore's office. 10 past Midnight. Wear the cloak there.
-Mince Pie "
Harry frowned and turned the note over, wondering who could've wrote it. What did this mean?
"Wear the cloak there....Wait. Am I invited?"
"Invited where?"
Harry jumped and jerked his head up to see Ron cramming a piece of tart into his mouth and walk over to his bed. After Harry's heart settled itself back into his chest cavity instead of his throat, Harry showed him the note.
Ron frowned once he read it and looked to Harry," Think its for real?"
"Yeah, I think so.."
"Who could be meeting in Dumbledore's office?" Ron asked, sitting down on the edge of Harry's bed.
"I'm not sure...but I'm going to find out," Harry replied, eyeing the note over again and again.
"Let me come," Ron said suddenly.
Harry looked up at Ron, seeing the mix of pleading and encouragement in his face."It might be dangerous though."
"Oh, come off it. ALL our adventures end up being dangerous, so I'm used to it. Besides, you're going to tell me anyways, might as well let me come along so you can save the trouble of telling me later," Ron said.
Harry sighed and scrunched his mouth to the side. He had to admit, Ron was good in crisis's, even though sometimes Harry had to save HIS skin. It made Harry feel important and braver having Ron and Hermione behind him. So, Harry nodded and soon they were chattering about what the meeting would be about and who would be in it.
//------------
11:30 finally strolled around and Harry and Ron found themselves in the common room, pretending to be doing homework.
"You know, I hope its someone important...Oh! Wouldn't it be great if it was ol' Fudge? Wouldn't he have an interesting thing or two to say!" Ron said excitedly as he scribbled a few lines for his D.A.D.A. homework.
Harry smiled lightly, finding it easier to be his old self around Ron than anyone else. And he was very grateful.
"I'm really glad you let me come. Harry.. I kinda felt like we weren't really friends anymore.." Ron mumbled, keeping his eyes on his paper.
Harry glanced over and felt his stomach clench. It was true, they HADN'T spent anytime together for awhile. Barely realizing it now, Harry felt awful. Just because he had his relationship with Hermione, than Cienna then Draco, he didn't have to push Ron aside."I'm sorry, Ron...I really shouldn't take you for granted."
Ron smiled looking over at him," No, you shouldn't. Who else is going to deflate that big head of yours?"
Harry laughed as the big grandfather clock started to chime with deep, mournful gongs. It was midnight. He scanned the room, seeing it contained only two other students, both of whom were buried in their books. Harry stood and quickly slipped out of the room, hearing Ron at his heels. Once they had exited the portrait, Harry glanced down both ways of the corridor, making sure there were no students before he unfurled the silvery Invisibility Cloak and swept it over himself and Ron.
Together, they quickly shuffled down the hallway, pausing as they past teachers and prefects. Soon as they were clear of running into people, they sprinted off towards Dumbledore's office. They reached the gargoyle and Harry muttered to it," Mince Pie."
They quickly scuttled onto the rotating stairway and made sure to stay clear of the first few steps.
The staircase stopped, leaving them standing in the doorway to their Headmaster's office. Stepping in, they quickly noticed no one was there, unless you counted Fawkes, Dumbledore's beautiful phoenix.
Harry lead the way to a secure corner behind a chair, where they had a clear view of Dumbledore's desk, the staircase and the chairs infront of his desk. Fawkes followed them with his gaze, cocking his head curiously as to why they wanted to remain hidden.
Ron gazed around the office, Harry hearing breaths of amazement as he found something new at each shift of his stare. He smiled. But their leniency of making noise soon ceased as they heard the staircase jumping to life.
Before they knew it, people started to file into the room. But not just any people, as Harry soon realized. It was infact The Order of the Phoenix. Harry saw Lupin, Tonks, Snape, McGonagal, Moody, Mr. Weasley, Kingsley Shacklebolt and finally, Dumbledore.
They all settled into the chairs provided as Dumbledore circled to stand behind his desk. It seemed everyone was on edge , fidgeting this way and that on the cushions.
"Lets get on with it, " Kingsley suddenly said, probably equally anxious as the rest of them.
"We must be patient, Kingsley. All will come out in due course, " Dumbledore said as he settled down into his huge armchair." I simply need to make sure we are all here."
And with this, he gave a casual glance in Harry and Ron's direction.
They both blushed, and Ron gave a feeble wave. Dumbledore smiled and then glanced at Moody, who was also looking at the two boys in the corner. He simply gave an almost inaudible grunt and nodded slightly.
"Well, then, we can get started now," Dumbledore said, placing his hands atop his desk.
"Are the rumors true?" Professor McGonagal inquired, her mouth thin and tight with concern.
"Yes, I'm afraid they are..." Dumbledore answered.
"Is it wise to keep Harry here then? When we know for a fact now that Voldemort is so near?" Lupin asked immediately.
"As long as Dumbledore's here, Voldemort won't dare attack Harry," Tonks put in.
"True, but still...Albus. What are we to do about Potter?" McGonagal asked.
"We will decide Harry's fate at the end of this meeting, for now there are more urgent matters to attend to," Dumbledore replied, then looked at Kingsley.
"Yes, well, I've heard numerous rumors going around the Ministry, but none are as solid as these; Buckman Cherrywood WAS abducted specifically for his profession, and Voldemort is indeed hiding out in the Forbidden Forest."
Harry felt his breath catch in his throat. Voldemort's in the forest?? RIGHT now!?
"We must act," Snape said.
"Yes, we must," Tonks agreed with a nod.
"Yes, we must, but not at this moment. We will leave him be for now," Dumbledore said, sitting perfectly calm and still in his chair.
"What!? Why!?" McGonagal cried.
"We know he's out there! We should act at ONCE!" Lupin exclaimed, looking as shocked as everyone else felt.
"We will act my dear Minerva. We shall do something about it at once, Remus. " Dumbledore replied simply.
"What is to be done other than marching over there at once and destroying him?" Kingsley questioned, sitting anxiously on the edge of his seat.
"We are to take the foremost and crucial step towards the destruction of Voldemort," Dumbledore said as if Kingsley hadn't said anything.
"And what is that?" Lupin pressed, staring intently at the headmaster.
"Yeah, what? " Ron mumbled very lightly into Harry's left ear.
"We are to admit Harry Potter into the Order of the Phoenix."
He was running. The journey only took a matter of seconds this time. He stood on the edge of the forest, looking down to see the very faint patches of sand. He sprinted straight into the trees, feeling them get thicker and thicker as he ran. Cuts began to bleed on his face and arms, but he kept running. Abruptly he stopped. He held his hand up to the dim trickles of light, seeing deep crimson. He looked down and a body lay in his way. Then it vanished. He continued to run, faster, faster. The branches were whipping his skin more violently than before, as if they wanted him out of their midst right now. Then, from a far off distance, he heard it. The screaming. He dashed along the path faster, feeling his lungs burn and sweat sting his cuts painfully. Then he stopped, the path with him. For there, directly infront of his feet, were two sanded trails leading right or left. Somehow closer by, the screaming continued. He listened, straining to hear which way it came from, when it silenced as suddenly as it started. Then sharply, two distinct different screams came barreling at him through the darkness. No...No...there were two...There were two....
"NO!"
The entire class turned and peered quizzically at Harry.
Harry whipped his eyes around him, finally registering that he was in Potions and had simply dozed off. Now the whole class was staring at him like he was psychotic. But who could blame them? He thought to himself as they began whispering amongst themselves.
Draco reached over and lightly put his hand on Harry's shoulder."You ok?"
Harry opened his mouth to reply, then saw his reflection in the liquid contents of their cauldron. His skin was pasty white with dark circles under his eyes. His hair was more unruly than usual and his eyes held a certain insanity in their fading green. Needless to say, he was a mess. Harry quickly grabbed his bag and tore out of the class, leaving baffled classmates and a concerned Professor in his wake.
Harry sprinted through the dungeons, feeling cold tears trickling down his face and neck. He hastily picked to go right instead of left, heading deeper into the dungeons. Choosing the first door he came upon, Harry ducked inside it and found it was conveniently empty. He dropped his bag and sunk down against the dusty wall, hugging his knees close to him. He was shaking again, and he felt like all his energy had been sucked from his body. He let himself sob. Painful, gasping sobs.
Try as he might, he couldn't escape from the nightmares. From the memory of discovering Pansy Parkinson. It felt like it was just yesterday, when infact it had been over a week and a half ago.
He remembered picking her lifeless body up, feeling his stomach lurch at the scent of all her blood and decay mixed with the perfume she had worn before she was killed.
The sight of her wide-opened eyes staring blankly up at him in an eternal state of horror soon wiped him of everything good. He had been screaming all the way to the castle, catching the attention of many students. They had all backed away from him, some running to get a teacher like he yelled.
Snape had reached him first, and somehow his face had gotten paler than it already was. He led Harry into the infirmary, still carrying the dead girl, and instructed him to place her on a cot. Madam Pomfrey was horrified and soon Snape had brought all of the teachers into the hospital wing, locking the doors from all curious eyes.
Harry had told them how he'd found her, but left out the part where he knew something was wrong from a dream he had had.
Dumbledore then took him away, saying nothing until they reached the Prefects bathroom, and opened it for him.
"Wash away your woes, Harry," Dumbledore had said and left him.
It was at this moment Harry had finally looked at himself in the mirror. His robes were covered in blood, so much infact it seemed almost impossible it all came from one person. His face was pale and there was horror and disgust in his features. Impulsively, Harry had ran to the nearest toilet and got sick into it over and over. Scrub as he may, he couldn't seem to get the smell or memory of blood from his skin.
He ended up burning those clothes and hadn't since had his skin return to its original color or his appearance regain its normal carelessness.
And here was his result. Crouching down in an unknown room in the middle of the freezing dungeons, crying over the girl he couldn't save. The one who wasn't spared. He shouldn't be blaming himself, but he was. Voldemort wanted HIM dead, and in the process so many had to die.
"It'd probably be easier if I just gave myself over and let him kill me...."
He knew that was nonsense, but it still somehow lightened his heart knowing he COULD do something about it all. That he wasn't as helpless as he felt right this second.
Suddenly, muffled voices came from down the corridor, bouncing off the stone walls.
Harry roughly wiped his face dry and strained to hear who could be wandering the halls during class hours. Unfortunately, he could only make out bits and pieces of the conversation.
"Yes, its all coming into play...."
"...But will he know?...."
"No. He has no...."
"...Then he'd suspect? Wouldn't he?"
".....But then again, he's more clever than we thought..."
"What of the girl?"
"Wake up call...the Dark Lord will be pleased with..."
Soon, they were almost directly outside his door. Harry held his breath and pressed himself against the wall, a fear growing in his chest at the mention of 'The Dark Lord.'
"What are we to do until then?"
"Prepare him. He must be ready to receive the Dark Lords assault."
"When will that be? And where?"
"Soon enough...The Dark Lord is taking the necessary actions to prepare the enclosure.."
"Does he suspect an attack from him? Or you?"
"Course not...He's too wrapped up in his loves and his self-pitying to realize whats going on right under his very nose."
"And you will stay loyal under the spell?"
"The Dark Lord has made sure of it...I am his to control now."
"Let us hope so...Harry Potter will surely die this time if all goes according to plan."
"And it will...He won't even suspect a thing...."
Harry heard them taper off down the hall and carefully opened the door a crack. He saw their cloaks disappear round the corner and he quickly scrambled to his feet. Sprinting to the end of the hall ,he peered around the wall. Nothing. There was no one there.
Harry frowned and looked down all four directions of the corridor they could've taken.
"W-what? Where....Where did they go?"
He gave up searching and retrieved his bag hastily. He had bigger things to worry about now than his guilt. Things that included a plot made by Voldemort himself...A plot to kill Harry, for certain this time. And from what the two mysterious voices said, Harry wouldn't even see it coming.
//------------
"Harry? Are you all right? You look dreadful."
Harry looked up sharply from his thoughts," Huh?"
Ginny and Draco frowned at him.
"Haven't you been getting any sleep lately?" Draco asked, eyeing Harry over intently. His appearance alone gave Draco his answer.
"Um...well.." Harry mumbled.
"No, right?" Draco finished for him with a sigh.
Harry nodded.
Ginny leaned forward and pressed the back of her hand against Harry's cheek. "God, Harry! You're cold as ice! What's wrong with you??"
Harry jerked away from contact with her. Though her skin was warm, Harry didn't want a reminder of anything pleasant or happy. Besides, for all he knew, one of the owner's of the voices he had heard earlier that day could be lurking about, watching Harry and noting that Ginny Weasley cared about him, then attack her.
"Harry, honestly...You've got to eat something. You're looking even skinnier than usual.." Draco said softly to him, glancing around at the nosy eyes that kept looking over at them through aisles of books or over tops of chairs. The library was full of them today, but Harry didn't care.
"Look...I got some good news. I got a reply from my Dad a couple of days ago. I couldn't tell you because you took off like a nutter that one night and didn't come back till the crack of dawn, even then you show up with Pansy and I couldn't get near you for almost a week," Draco said, pulling a rumpled piece of parchment from his robe's pocket. He unfolded it and smoothed it out."It pretty much says that Cherrywood was a necessity to the Dark Lord, they needed him for research and to tame...well, to tame a beast that was created for your demise.."
At this, Ginny and Draco looked sorrowfully at Harry, who in turn was staring blankly at the floor.
"So, that's how you're going to do it, huh?" Harry muttered to himself. His eyes narrowed." You're going to get some animal to do your dirty work for you..."
Draco frowned harder, not being able to hear what Harry was uttering about," A-and...um...he says I should be lying as low as I can, and not to tell any of this to Crabbe and Goyle, since they're too thick to keep their mouths shut about something so important."
Harry licked his lips," What else does it say?"
Draco stammered, looking down at the letter in his hand, "Um...Just some useless stuff…er...He's going to ask the Dark Lord if I can come and watch…uhh...He's sending me some money for our Hogsmeade trip tomorrow, and, umm...He's sorry for Pansy, and says I can find someone more useful anyway."
Draco peered up at Harry, shocked to see him looking so calm. Well, his body language was calm, but his eyes were flaming. There seemed to be actual flames licking at the usually cool emerald, making his gaze look dangerous, almost mad.
Harry jumped to his feet and walked out of the library, saying nothing to the bewildered Draco and Ginny.
A few hours later found him sitting on his bed, cross-legged and poised for an action he had yet discovered upon. Suddenly, a loud rapping came from the window making Harry snap his head towards it and aim his wand. He exhaled loudly and mumbled a spell to open the window, letting Hedwig flutter in and land atop his knee.
He sighed and stroked her gratefully," Hey girl. Haven't seen much of you, have I?"
Hedwig nibbled on his finger affectionately, and held her leg up producing a note tied to it.
Harry took the note and gave Hedwig a piece of his toast to munch on as he opened and read the small piece of parchment.
" Meeting. Dumbledore's office. 10 past Midnight. Wear the cloak there.
-Mince Pie "
Harry frowned and turned the note over, wondering who could've wrote it. What did this mean?
"Wear the cloak there....Wait. Am I invited?"
"Invited where?"
Harry jumped and jerked his head up to see Ron cramming a piece of tart into his mouth and walk over to his bed. After Harry's heart settled itself back into his chest cavity instead of his throat, Harry showed him the note.
Ron frowned once he read it and looked to Harry," Think its for real?"
"Yeah, I think so.."
"Who could be meeting in Dumbledore's office?" Ron asked, sitting down on the edge of Harry's bed.
"I'm not sure...but I'm going to find out," Harry replied, eyeing the note over again and again.
"Let me come," Ron said suddenly.
Harry looked up at Ron, seeing the mix of pleading and encouragement in his face."It might be dangerous though."
"Oh, come off it. ALL our adventures end up being dangerous, so I'm used to it. Besides, you're going to tell me anyways, might as well let me come along so you can save the trouble of telling me later," Ron said.
Harry sighed and scrunched his mouth to the side. He had to admit, Ron was good in crisis's, even though sometimes Harry had to save HIS skin. It made Harry feel important and braver having Ron and Hermione behind him. So, Harry nodded and soon they were chattering about what the meeting would be about and who would be in it.
//------------
11:30 finally strolled around and Harry and Ron found themselves in the common room, pretending to be doing homework.
"You know, I hope its someone important...Oh! Wouldn't it be great if it was ol' Fudge? Wouldn't he have an interesting thing or two to say!" Ron said excitedly as he scribbled a few lines for his D.A.D.A. homework.
Harry smiled lightly, finding it easier to be his old self around Ron than anyone else. And he was very grateful.
"I'm really glad you let me come. Harry.. I kinda felt like we weren't really friends anymore.." Ron mumbled, keeping his eyes on his paper.
Harry glanced over and felt his stomach clench. It was true, they HADN'T spent anytime together for awhile. Barely realizing it now, Harry felt awful. Just because he had his relationship with Hermione, than Cienna then Draco, he didn't have to push Ron aside."I'm sorry, Ron...I really shouldn't take you for granted."
Ron smiled looking over at him," No, you shouldn't. Who else is going to deflate that big head of yours?"
Harry laughed as the big grandfather clock started to chime with deep, mournful gongs. It was midnight. He scanned the room, seeing it contained only two other students, both of whom were buried in their books. Harry stood and quickly slipped out of the room, hearing Ron at his heels. Once they had exited the portrait, Harry glanced down both ways of the corridor, making sure there were no students before he unfurled the silvery Invisibility Cloak and swept it over himself and Ron.
Together, they quickly shuffled down the hallway, pausing as they past teachers and prefects. Soon as they were clear of running into people, they sprinted off towards Dumbledore's office. They reached the gargoyle and Harry muttered to it," Mince Pie."
They quickly scuttled onto the rotating stairway and made sure to stay clear of the first few steps.
The staircase stopped, leaving them standing in the doorway to their Headmaster's office. Stepping in, they quickly noticed no one was there, unless you counted Fawkes, Dumbledore's beautiful phoenix.
Harry lead the way to a secure corner behind a chair, where they had a clear view of Dumbledore's desk, the staircase and the chairs infront of his desk. Fawkes followed them with his gaze, cocking his head curiously as to why they wanted to remain hidden.
Ron gazed around the office, Harry hearing breaths of amazement as he found something new at each shift of his stare. He smiled. But their leniency of making noise soon ceased as they heard the staircase jumping to life.
Before they knew it, people started to file into the room. But not just any people, as Harry soon realized. It was infact The Order of the Phoenix. Harry saw Lupin, Tonks, Snape, McGonagal, Moody, Mr. Weasley, Kingsley Shacklebolt and finally, Dumbledore.
They all settled into the chairs provided as Dumbledore circled to stand behind his desk. It seemed everyone was on edge , fidgeting this way and that on the cushions.
"Lets get on with it, " Kingsley suddenly said, probably equally anxious as the rest of them.
"We must be patient, Kingsley. All will come out in due course, " Dumbledore said as he settled down into his huge armchair." I simply need to make sure we are all here."
And with this, he gave a casual glance in Harry and Ron's direction.
They both blushed, and Ron gave a feeble wave. Dumbledore smiled and then glanced at Moody, who was also looking at the two boys in the corner. He simply gave an almost inaudible grunt and nodded slightly.
"Well, then, we can get started now," Dumbledore said, placing his hands atop his desk.
"Are the rumors true?" Professor McGonagal inquired, her mouth thin and tight with concern.
"Yes, I'm afraid they are..." Dumbledore answered.
"Is it wise to keep Harry here then? When we know for a fact now that Voldemort is so near?" Lupin asked immediately.
"As long as Dumbledore's here, Voldemort won't dare attack Harry," Tonks put in.
"True, but still...Albus. What are we to do about Potter?" McGonagal asked.
"We will decide Harry's fate at the end of this meeting, for now there are more urgent matters to attend to," Dumbledore replied, then looked at Kingsley.
"Yes, well, I've heard numerous rumors going around the Ministry, but none are as solid as these; Buckman Cherrywood WAS abducted specifically for his profession, and Voldemort is indeed hiding out in the Forbidden Forest."
Harry felt his breath catch in his throat. Voldemort's in the forest?? RIGHT now!?
"We must act," Snape said.
"Yes, we must," Tonks agreed with a nod.
"Yes, we must, but not at this moment. We will leave him be for now," Dumbledore said, sitting perfectly calm and still in his chair.
"What!? Why!?" McGonagal cried.
"We know he's out there! We should act at ONCE!" Lupin exclaimed, looking as shocked as everyone else felt.
"We will act my dear Minerva. We shall do something about it at once, Remus. " Dumbledore replied simply.
"What is to be done other than marching over there at once and destroying him?" Kingsley questioned, sitting anxiously on the edge of his seat.
"We are to take the foremost and crucial step towards the destruction of Voldemort," Dumbledore said as if Kingsley hadn't said anything.
"And what is that?" Lupin pressed, staring intently at the headmaster.
"Yeah, what? " Ron mumbled very lightly into Harry's left ear.
"We are to admit Harry Potter into the Order of the Phoenix."