A/N: I can't thank hphotshot and Brady enough for the invaluable feedback and advice they have given me to help add to the story's richness. You can also thank them for the quicker update which is also the result of his feedback. I also want to thank all of those who review each chapter. You give me the moral support I need to press on. :) And on a more usual note, there's this Yahoo Group listed in my author profile. . . check it out.
After an intense day of studying magical theory and spells sometime in mid-November, Harry sat slumped back in the chair behind his desk in his office. "I think that I'm about to suffer from a splitting head-ache," he announced to Ginny.
Ginny smiled as she studied the snowy Hogwart grounds from the windows in the office. Winter had always been her favorite time of year. "You're the one who studies too much. At this rate you'll run out of stuff to read and study before the end of the year."
"I just can't help it," Harry said as he looked longingly at a stack of textbooks on his desk. "I want to learn and know as much as possible. I want to learn how to apply what I know from being the High Lord."
"You're also worried," Ginny commented as it began to lightly snow again. She absolutely adored the scene of a white landscape with a full moon. The lake also added nicely to the effect. "If you didn't have to worry about Voldemort and Tesmethlin you'd take it a little easier.
Harry stood up, joined Ginny at the window and gently took her hand. "I'm afraid that we'll lose. The Order is beginning to seem incompetent to me. Ron and Hermione should be very effective tools yet they are hindered. I could also distribute more power and more authority. That would strengthen everybody.
"You'll have to do what you think is best," Ginny said. "You know about fighting wars and performing extraordinary magic more than I do. I suspect I could learn though." Ginny gave Harry's hand a light squeeze.
"Re-organization is the key," Harry said. "I need to put those with the power on the top."
"Good idea," Ginny said quietly.
Harry nodded and they silently enjoyed the peaceful scene for several minutes. After a long while they sat down and began to plan their next move. . .
*
Ron, Hermione, and Ginny sat through another meeting of the Order listening to various reports and decisions concerning the resistance efforts against Voldemort as they sat in the dining room of Phoenix Manor. The Order had taken to changing the meeting place every now and again. Mrs. Weasley was beginning to strenuously object to Ron and Ginny's membership to the Order and other tended to agree.
Ginny raised her eyebrows cooly at her mother's latest comment directed towards her and Ron. "I'm old enough and powerful enough to be a member of this Order thank you very much." It was the fifth time the had subject come up and it seemed that this time the issue was going to explode into debate.
Dumbledore was just about to step in to alleviate the tension when there suddenly was an explosion of flame and color above the long table. Everyone gaped at the spectacle above them excepting for Ginny, as the intense blue and gold flames formed the shape of a phoenix.
In a voice of thunder that carried the feeling of absolute power and authority and that struck to the depth of every person's soul, the apparition spoke. "I AM THE HIGH LORD OF PHOENIX. HEAR ME."
Ginny leaned back casually as she examine the expressions on everyone's faces. Dumbledore seemed fairly calm, but surprised nonetheless. Ron and Hermione were almost near to trembling. They must not have realized that Harry was so powerful. Mrs. Weasley's eyes were bulging out in shock as she stared at the light. The most interesting expression, in Ginny's opinion, was that of Mad-Eye Moody's. His face bore a look of awed reverence. Snape was looking distinctly un-comfortable and the rest of the Order's faces were somewhere between awe, surprise, and almost fear. In her opinion, Harry was slightly over doing it.
"YOUR CONCERNS FOR OTHER THINGS THAN MY PURPOSES HAVE HINDERED MY PLANS AND SERVANTS. THEREFORE, I CREATE A NEW HIERARCHY FOR MY ORGANIZATION TO FIGHT THE DARK LORD."
"How precisely would you have us do it my Lord?" Dumbledore asked carefully, not sure as to what Harry had in mind.
"A COUNCIL THAT ANSWERS DIRECTLY TO ME IS HEREBY CREATED." The High Lord announced in the intense voice. "EVERY PERSON WHO IS ON THE SIDE OF GOOD WILL ANSWER TO A SPECIFIC PERSON ON THAT COUNCIL THROUGH A CHAIN OF COMMAND. EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WILL HAVE SPECIFIC DUTIES AND WILL ANSWER TO ME AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL WILL BE KNOWN TO YOU AS THE ORDER OF THE GRIFFIN."
Everyone exchanged glances nervously. Others shifted uncomfortably. Ginny noted that her mom was especially interested. She was obviously hoping to be named to the council. That way she could more easily protect Harry. Ginny resisted the urge to laugh.
"ALBUS DUMBLEDORE WILL OVERSEE THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX AND WILL BE A MEMBER OF THE GRIFFIN ORDER. HE WILL WORK IN ACCORDANCE WITH RONALD WEASLEY AND HERMIONE GRANGER WHO WILL SIT UPON THE COUNCIL AND OVERSEE ALL ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST THE DARK LORD. NEXT, NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM AND ELIZABETH FAWCETT WILL OVERSEE MEDICAL CARE AND OTHER SUCH CONCERNS.
"Who is the director of the council?" Dumbledore asked for the Order, already knowing and guessing the answer.
"VIRGINIA WEASLEY WILL DIRECT THE COUNCIL AND REPRESENT MY WILL AND POWER. LOOK TO HER FOR YOUR ORDERS." With that, the spectacular show of fire and acoustics faded away.
Mrs. Weasley gasped loudly as she stared at Ginny. "He has to be kidding!"
"He isn't," Dumbledore said as he began to realize that Harry had made a very wise move indeed. "Miss Weasley does now represent the High Lord and her word is his."
"Our ickle Gin-Gin," Fred and George said in mock teary voices. "All growing up and joining the Order and fighting You-Know-Who!"
"Very funny," Ginny said as she appraised the attitudes of the Order members. They were all extremely surprised but would probably accept her as the director of the Griffin Order. "If you would kindly excuse me," she said standing up. "With the exception of one thing I won't interfere in Dumbledore's responsibilities."
"What is that one thing?" Dumbledore asked in a highly amused tone.
"So long as the High Lord has his power Harry does not need to fear for his safety. Leave him alone." Ginny said. "Lastly, the High Lord wanted to have a quick meeting later this night in your office, so if you, Neville and Elizabeth could meet up with Ron, Hermione, the High Lord and I it would be appreciated."
"I will be there," Dumbledore replied as Ginny walked out. Ron and Hermione quickly stood up and scrambled out to see where she was going.
Ginny smiled and strode down the hall as Ron and Hermione caught up with her. "Were you expecting that?" Ron panted.
"Yes, I even helped him plan it." Ginny answered.
Hermione's voice trembled as she asked a question, "Is he as strong as I felt?" Apparently, Hermione had not know that Harry was even close to that powerful.
"Even more so," Ginny replied as they strolled into Harry's study to find him sitting at his desk staring at the family crest ring on his hand. Obviously he was listening in. "That was rather cheeky to do from the other side of the house you know," Ginny told him.
Harry grinned, "How else would you have me do it?"
"How are they taking it then?" Ginny said as she motioned for Ron and Hermione to come over as Harry stood up.
"They're confused," Harry stated. "Not only that, they can't believe that you are now ranked higher than Dumbledore. They could put two and two together almost any day now. I think it will work though. Dumbledore has reassured them that they'll be doing the same things.
Everyone touched Harry and he used his ring to transport them to Dumbledore's office to wait for the quick meeting. About a half-hour passed as they sat and waited before Dumbledore arrived with Neville and Elizabeth in tow.
"I presume that you're here to clarify things a bit?" Dumbledore said as he sat down and motioned for Neville and Elizabeth to take seats.
"Not quite," Harry said, "I'm just here to bestow upon you special powers that I've been holding back." He looked at Neville and Elizabeth and said, "I hereby bestow upon you the elemental powers of wind and water. Learn how to use them well in your future assignments. Ron, Hermione, I hereby bestow upon you the powers of fire and earth. Lastly he turned to Dumbledore, I bestow upon you the powers of light and life."
"These are very valuable and powerful gifts Harry," Dumbledore said in a very shocked voice. "What have you kept for yourselves?"
"We can use all of the elements that we have given to you," Ginny responded. "The two that are exclusive to us though are the elements of magic and spirit."
"I see," Dumbledore said slowly. "The elements are still yours but you have delegated the authority to use them to us."
"Basically," Harry said. "It's up to you to develop them though. I think that I've covered everything for tonight. Ginny will be organizing the Griffin Order to her liking later."
"I'll be in touch," Ginny said, smiling. "Ron, Hermione, could you stay after everyone leaves? Dumbledore wanted to talk to you about something."
"Sure," Hermione said in a slightly puzzled tone as she glanced at Ron who merely shrugged.
*
Dumbledore smiled and watched as Harry, Ginny, Neville, and Elizabeth departed leaving Ron and Hermione who took the two seats right in front of his desk. Harry was growing into his position of authority and power yet he still left this interesting task for him to do. Obviously he didn't feel comfortable being the High Lord among his friends.
Hermione peered at Dumbledore before asking the question that was also undoubtedly on the tip of Ron's tongue as well. "Why did you want to talk to us Professor? It doesn't have to do with the Order or the Griffin does it?"
Dumbledore quickly ran through his rehearsed conversation with them before responding in a steady but soothing voice. "As you two may have noticed, your new powers have also helped to mature your bodies to help you cope with your challenges that lie ahead. You have aged but yet are still young."
"I don't understand. . ." Ron said.
Hermione turned to him, "Basically we're only seventeen years old but we've matured. We're the equivalent of a young adult now and unless I'm incorrect, we'll stay that way for quite some time." She turned back to Dumbledore to see if she was right.
Dumbledore nodded, "Yes, precisely Miss Granger. You've obviously been doing your research. Have you stumbled upon the universal laws yet?"
Both Ron and Hermione shook their heads.
"I won't bore you with them then," Dumbledore continued. "Anyway, as you know, you're both Lieutenants and people of similar ranks within the Phoenix nobility tend to be connected to each other. More specifically, a Lord and a Lady. By the power connected to one of those universal laws, it is possible for a Lord and a Lady to be married and to greatly increase their power and effectiveness."
"How is that?" Hermione asked very slowly. Dumbledore sensed that her thoughts were rushing in a torrent trying to get to the center of what he was trying to tell them.
"If you're married by that power, then your thoughts with each will be connected, you will be able to draw on each other's strength and power. Every person thinks or sees from different perspectives and when you combine two perspectives it's almost impossible to miss something. This is only scratching the surface, it goes much deeper. What I'm trying to tell you is that. . ."
Dumbledore was interrupted by Hermione before he could finish. "You mean that we're mature enough to be married and that we should because it would make us even more powerful!"
"I'm just pointing out the possibility Miss Granger," Dumbledore said. "If you marry but don't love each other then you're better off not married at all."
"Of course I love her! I've always loved her." Ron said loudly. His face quickly turned to scarlet as he realized what he had just admitted for the first time. He darted a few nervous glances to Hermione.
Hermione turned to look at him and beamed with happiness. In a moment she had stood up, gone over to Ron, dragged him out of his chair, and hugged him fiercely. Without letting go she turned her head to Dumbledore. "When can we have the wedding?"
"What's Mum going to say?" Ron said wonderingly to himself.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
For the past week or two I've been slowly co-authoring another piece of fan-fiction that will be published under my name shortly before this chapter itself is added. It's called 'Fugitive,' takes place after GoF and throws the Book 5 canon out the window. You might spare it a glance and if you feel like it should continue review. I promise that it won't detract time from this fic. :)