Disclaimer: I own I tic-tac and a piece of string, nothing more.
A/N: Review and you will be blessed for the rest of your days. Wow, I sound like a fortune cookie, and if anyone is feeling the urge, please read my songfic I just uploaded. It's called Ordinary.
It was to be that night, the night before Hogwarts started, that Harry would become the youngest member of the Order of the Phoenix. That night, he would be working to end Voldemort. He wouldn't just sit around and wait for Voldemort to attack him; he would be part of the group to attack him. It was his choice now. He had the power, and he would use it. The anger and determination inside of him surpassed his fear. Once he was inducted into the Order, there was no going back, and there was a fair chance that he would be killed, but he didn't care. Not anymore.
He was still trying to make sense of the dream he had had of Sirius. It was surly just Voldemort messing with him again. Sirius was dead, and no magic could bring him back, even dark magic.
He spent the rest of the day sitting in the room he had shared with Ron last year. Thoughts of Ron made Harry remember their fight. Harry didn't want to be an angry person, he really didn't. Lately though, things happened and there was nothing he could do. He was just mad.
He was mad at Ron for being a complete git.
He was mad at Hermione for the same reason.
He was mad at Dumbledore for everything.
He was mad at Snape for being Snape.
He was mad at Bellatrix for killing Sirius.
He was mad at Voldemort for trying to kill him year after year.
He was mad at himself for being so stupid and letting Sirius die.
He snapped himself out of it before he got on the trail of self-pity. He had done enough of that, and he hated it. He was no longer going to mope around about his problems. He was going to do something about it.
Harry sat nervously in the same room he had been in all day. He had hoped that the empty portrait on the wall would fill up with Phineas Nigellus; it would be at least someone to talk to.
Someone would come up to get him, when the Order was ready to induct him. Until then, Harry would just have to wait...and wait...and wait... "Albus, he's much to young!" Molly Weasley hissed to the Headmaster of Hogwarts.
"Though he may be young, you know as well as anyone that he is capable to handle it. Besides, the Order has voted, he will be one of us tonight, so long as he passes and he still wishes to. He knows what he's getting himself into, and can anyone really blame him for wanting to join us?" Albus Dumbledore asked calmly.
"Yes, well him wanting to join and us letting him are too entirely different things!" The rest of the Order had started to stare. Many had ever seen Molly Weasley loose her temper, but usually with Fred and George, never with Dumbledore, "He's only sixteen, he doesn't know what he's getting into."
"We shall see," Then to the whole group, he said, "And as long as no one else has any objections, I believe it is time to get Mister Potter. There were seventy-five tiles in the ceiling. Six of them were cracked. Three of them had a missing spot of white paint. Seventeen of them had some sort of green fungus on them.
Harry was driving himself mad. There was nothing to do but wait and count and think. He tried to refrain from the latter.
Footsteps. Harry sat up from the bed he was lying on just as the door opened.
Remus Lupin walked in the room.
"It's time."
Harry nodded and followed him downstairs, and into the meeting room. "Ah, Harry," Dumbledore said when they entered, "Please take a seat, and we shall begin."
Harry sat down in a chair in the first row.
"Now what will happen is that Harry will come here and say the oath, with one hand on his heart and the other on Fawkes. If Fawkes finds him worthy, then he will deposit a feather and Harry will be officially a member of the Order of the Phoenix. Harry, if you will," he motioned for him to come up and stand in front of everyone. Fawkes flew over from a perch in the back that Harry hadn't noticed. Dumbledore continued, "Now, put your right hand on your heart and-"But he was cut off by Fawkes who flew down onto Harry's shoulder.
"Now repeat after me. I, Harry Potter."
"I, Harry Potter."
"Do hereby swear."
"Do hereby swear."
"That until my death."
"That until my death."
"I will serve the order of the Phoenix."
"I will serve the order of the Phoenix."
"I will not be tempted by the dark side."
"I will not be tempted by the dark side."
"I will not take the easier road."
"I will not take the easier road."
"I will help those in need."
"I will help those in need."
"I will not be afraid to do the right thing."
"I will not be afraid to do the right thing."
"And I will, if the consequence be death, torture or worse."
"And I will if the consequence be death, torture or worse."
Dumbledore sighed, "And now we shall see..."
The words were no sooner out of his mouth when a golden feather fell down. Harry caught it and beamed. He looked up and saw that most of the other people in the room were doing the same thing. They started clapping, and Harry was welcomed into the Order of the Phoenix.
After the clapping had ceased, Dumbledore cleared his throat, "Now we have figured out your responsibilities, Harry. You will attend all meetings. We will figure out arrangements for you during the school year. You will continue with "Dumbledore's Army," since those involved are the most likely to need those skills. Keep an eye on those students you think are most likely to turn to Voldemort, such as Mister Malfoy and his circle of friends. You will need to alert us of anything suspicious. Also, do not tell anyone about your involvement in this organization, or anything about this organization, unless they have been cleared. Do you accept?"
"Yes."
"Good, well than dinner is about ready. Our next meeting will be next Wednesday at Seven." Harry stayed quiet during dinner. He looked around at everyone. Moody was concentrated on his dinner with his normal eye, but his magic eyes searched everyone in circles- obviously looking for someone to stab him with a string bean. Remus looked worn, and Harry made a note to see when the full moon was that month. Remus looked up at Harry and smiled encouragingly. Mrs. Weasley said little the whole time. She didn't seem to particularly support Harry entering the Order. When she looked up, Harry turned his eyes back to his own plate.
"Harry," a voice said from his right, It was Dumbledore," I hope you don't mind, but well there's going to be no one here the day you need to get on the train, so is it alright if you come to school with me tomorrow? You'll only be by yourself for a day at school."
"Sure," said Harry, indifferent.
"So," said Dumbledore, trying to prompt him into conversation, "Have you decided if you are going to be captain or not?"
"Yes."
"And...?"
"I'm going to."
"I think you will be a wonderful captain. You're a good leader."
"Thank you, sir," said Harry, who turned back to his meal, and remained silent the entire night. Harry slept in the same room as always- well, if you could call it sleeping. It was more like tossing and turning and flipping on the hard mattress that never seamed hard before.
It was cold. Harry could have sworn that if it had been light, he would be able to see his breath. His dreams didn't help either. Three guesses what they were about.
He finally gave up when light crept in through the curtains. He walked downstairs to find Dumbledore eating waffles.
"Ah, good morning, Harry," he said smiling.
"Says who? I mean, sorry sir, I didn't get much sleep last night."
Dumbledore nodded, "Understandable. Please thought, have some waffles."
He gave him a plate. Harry gave a weak smile and picked at the food. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Dumbledore looked at his watch.
"Merlin's beard! Is that the time? Well, Harry, we best be off." He flicked his wand and the plates cleaned themselves off and flew back into the cupboard, "Here," he handed Harry some pocket lint.
"Port key?" Harry asked, uncertain.
"Yes and it should be leaving right about-."
Harry felt the familiar jerk and looked around, they were in Dumbledore's office.
"Now. All right, well your stuff is already in the Gryffindor tower. I'm sure you'll be able to occupy yourself."
"Yes, sir."
"Good."
He was about to leave when something caught his attention.
"Sir, um, what happened to the Gryffindor sword?"
"I'm not sure. It was there one day, and gone the next. Oh, no, I don't believe someone took it. I think it just went back to wherever it was before you pulled it out of the Sorting Hat. Now, run along, Harry."
Harry obeyed and went to the familiar common room. It felt good to be home, but it would be better if he had any friends to share it with. But he didn't need them...right?
No, if they were going to say those things to him, then they weren't his friends. He punched the wall in frustration.
Instantly the stones in the wall started to rearrange themselves to make a doorway with a tunnel after it.
After a few seconds, Harry decided to follow the path. He stepped inside and instantly torches ignited. It was a long tunnel, and it was old, very old.
Harry took one of the torches off the wall and followed the winding passage. After what seemed like miles, he was about to turn back when he reached the end.
It was an ancient door, closed tight. It was made of stone. Off to the left was a red handprint with golden fingers.
He tried to open the door, but it was stuck tight. He touched the handprint, but instantly withdrew. His fingers were tingling. He finally did the only thing that made sense. He pressed his hand up against the handprint.
The effect was instantaneous. The doors shot open and more torches ignited inside the room.
Harry stepped inside and walked around. There were rows of chain mail and armor on the left, all gold with encrusted rubies. On the right Harry saw all sorts of ancient weapons. Tons of bows, arrows, quivers, crossbows, knives, short swords, longs swords, and –
"The Gryffindor sword," Harry breathed as he went to examine it. It indeed was the very same as the blade he had drawn from the sorting hat to defend himself against the basilisk.
He gazed in awe as he further inspected the ancient Gryffindor armory.
Suddenly, the torch he was carrying flickered and went out. Harry was puzzled for a moment, for there was no wind, and the torch gave the appearance of being magic. Before he could give it a good thought, the ground started to shake.
Harry was thrown to the ground and tossed about like a rag doll. He tried to make it to the wall, to support himself, but the tremors were too strong.
Then just as suddenly as it had started, everything went still again. Harry got to his feet, still in the dark.
He pulled out his wand and said, "Lumos," and a shock shot through his wand arm to the rest of his body, as he passed out.
To be continued...