A/N: I've finally plotted it all out. …portkey'ers…rest easy. Also--guess what-- the italics are working!!! Yay!!
Chapter 20. PerspectivesI just knew Albus knew something like this. I just never imagined it would be this! That sly old dog…Merlin knows what else he knows that he keeps from all of us! Although it does now explain why he insisted on sending poor Harry off to live with those muggles all those years ago…
And Harry! No wonder he's been so willing to work so hard this summer! And to think, I was worried about him bouncing back from his godfather's death in time to pull himself together to lead the quidditch team!
Minerva McGonagall threw off her traveling cloak as she entered her office back at Hogwarts. She had just returned from the meeting at Order Headquarters and now, finally after losing her traveling companion, Professor Snape at the Entrance Hall, was able to concentrate on her own thoughts rather then his constant, irate grumblings.
And to think—Severus… I never knew… all these years. And Sibyll! Merlin! Well, at least I now know why Albus has insisted on keeping those two around. And why is Albus doing this now? Potter must have insisted on joining the Order after he found out the prophecy… I don't blame him a bit—but if Albus knew this would happen now… There is just no pinning that man!
She pulled out several books from the shelves behind her desk and then tapped her wand on the calendar on the wall.
Well, I promised Potter I'd help him be an Auror if it was the last thing I'd do and I'm still bound to that—now it also means making sure he can survive that long. No wonder Albus was calling this training 'Life Preservation Skills'! All right, let's see what I can add to this training for him…he definitely has power enough, but what would he need for me to be willing to follow him? Would I? He's brave and courageous to a fault—the consummate Gryffindor. He's loyal enough and even very resourceful and quite intelligent—but… he can be reckless, and may lack forethought…he needs better strategizing skills—maybe it is a good thing I named him quidditch captain after all.
She set about mapping out a plan to strengthen his faults and weaknesses and to help him to best utilize his strengths. She was not about to let him down nor lose the one and only chance they had at finally defeating You-Know-Who. Not to mention the Slytherin Quidditch team.
* * * * * * *
'Her-mione!" Harry nearly squealed.
Through giggles, Hermione spat out, "Apparently the Boy Who Lived, is also the Boy Who is Quite Ticklish—best hope Voldemort doesn't glean that and use it against you!"
She dove in again to go for his ribs and Harry meeped and flew off the side of the bed, landing with a "thwump!"
"Is everything all right in here—Hermione? Where is Harry?"
Harry groaned from his spot on the floor on the other side of the bed in response to Remus. He slowly moved to a kneeling position and peeked over the top of the bed.
"Er, Harry, is there a reason your groaning on the floor over there? Does this have anything to do with why Molly stormed out of here a while ago with the kids?"
Hermione, still giggling, threw the invisibility cloak at Harry, who was acutely aware now that all he was wearing were his boxers. He wrapped the cloak around his body, leaving only a disembodied head to float in the air as he stood up.
"Er, are they gone then?" Harry wasn't quite sure he wanted to know what Mrs. Weasley had told Remus and asked with some trepidation, "Did she say anything?"
But Lupin never got to answer because Moody limped to the doorway, "Lupin—are you ready to go finally? I can't believe Molly, I had to memory charm three muggles in the street that saw her come out of a non-existent doorway when she left the house," he stopped abruptly and both of his eyes trained on Harry's invisible body,"—what in the name of Merlin are wearing under that thing, Potter?"
Harry felt himself flush red as he recalled Moody's ability to see through invisibility cloaks.
Harry stammered and then remembered it was his room after all, "Er, well, if people would leave me alone for just a few minutes,' he shot a glare at Hermione, "then perhaps I could get properly dressed, already!"
Hermione's eyes were shining with laughter and Harry could see her fighting back another bout of giggles and tears. "Don't even say it," he threatened her, "or else I'll hex you."
"You got your wand pointed at me then under there?" she asked impishly.
"I might," he hedged. He didn't have anything, including trousers, much less his wand. (The real wand, you dirty-minded scoundrels.)
She struggled to maintain a straight face and say, "Funny, I seem to see your wand over on the nightstand," and then sniggered and dodged the pillow he tossed at her as she left the room.
Harry glared at the door where she had left and then turned back to see Moody and Lupin watching him. He pulled the invisibility cloak around him tighter (as if it might make a difference) and asked, "What?"
Lupin just answered airily, "And to think, I was trying to prepare a So-You've-Got-to-Save-the-World talk when all you really seem to need is," his voice dropped a few octaves and one eyebrow raised, "The-Talk."
"Harry, hurry it up," said Hermione as she tapped her foot impatiently in the doorway.
"Why are we in such a hurry anyway? Tonks isn't coming over until afternoon," said Harry as he futilely tried to flatten his hair. He sighed and gave up, settling for the just-lost-a-pillow-fight look (he had, after all, in fact just lost a pillow fight).
"Honestly, Harry!" he heard her roll her eyes. "Don't you remember the plans we all made last night?"
"Er…" Uh-oh. "No?" He heard her sigh exasperatedly. "But I saw you taking notes—just tell me."
Hermione stooped and wheeled about on her heel and stared at Harry, "Harry Potter! You mean to tell me you paid absolutely no attention at all to absolutely nothing last night?"
"Er, well no, I paid attention to some things…like Crookshanks had this mat in his fur and I…" he trailed off as her stare turned into a glare. "Sorry," he mumbled.
Harry saw Hermione pull herself up in preparation of one of her rants. But before she could start, Harry said, "Listen, wait—I just didn't want to have to hear everything all again. I heard it before and that was enough. It was overwhelming enough to hear it all when I did—much less to have to watch and listen to the lot of you try to believe it and understand it. I've had little else to fill my mind for most of this summer, but that damned prophecy." He sighed and said, "Besides, I knew you'd be the one I could count on to tell me anything and everything I've missed. It's one of the reasons I chose you—I knew I could count on you."
He saw her face soften considerably at this. "Oh, Harry, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean—"
Harry waved her apology away and grinned, "Forget it. Now just tell me what went on and what's now going on."
"Well," they finally started to walk again to go down to breakfast, "McGonagall and Moody both agreed they would up your training to at least twice a week with each of them. Professor McGonagall is coming here today at eleven—that's why we need to hurry up—we've only an hour to eat.
"Moody is treating you like the prize asset now and wanted to go to Hogwarts and begin checking out the current security at Hogwarts and around Gryffindor Tower—we just saw him and Remus leave to go. He took Remus with because of his extensive knowledge of the castle and grounds."
"Wait up then," Harry dashed back into his room, rummaged through his trunk and pulled out the Marauders Map. "Here Hedwig," he called his owl over from her perch and tied the rolled up map to her leg. "Take this to Remus Lupin—he shouldn't have gotten too far," and he sent her out the window and into London.
"Good thinking, Harry," said Hermione from the doorway.
They headed again out and down for breakfast. "So," continued Hermione, "everyone seemed a little skeptical at first last night. When Dumbledore first off just showed us the pensieve of the prophecy—did he show you that, too? With Trelawney? Amazing, really—and she doesn't even know she gave it! No wonder he wanted to keep her around Hogwarts all this time.
"I think Moody and McGonagall suspected Dumbledore knew something—I think Remus was most shocked. But—oh—Snape! Oh my god, Harry! I've never seen him so pale as when he realized that Dumbledore was going to tell everyone what he had done! I can't believe it!! He must really be a superb Occlumens!" Harry shot her an incredulously annoyed look at this. "What? It's true! Oh, you should have seen him glaring daggers at you, Harry!"
"Like that's new?"
"Like this it was—it only grew worse and worse as the night went on—it's probably a good thing you didn't notice, really."
"Whatever, he's always hated me and I'm sure he always will. Bastard," Harry grumbled.
"Harry! If you think about it, I can kind of see why he might resent you even more now—"
"What? Why—give me one good reason why—"
"Harry! Because look what he has to do now! He is back in the same situation he was last time—he knows the secret Voldemort wants and he has to keep it from him. It's probably even worse now though, I imagine he has to be closer to him more often now with there only being a few Death Eaters out there now and he's probably constantly testing Snape's loyalty. Snape will have to create and maintain an alternate reality to present to Voldemort to deceive him from knowing what he knows. From what I've read in the book that Dumbledore gave to you, having to maintain and put forth deceptions like that can be very draining and even test one's sanity!"
"Yeah, well, I'm not about to feel sorry for him."
"But Harry—"
"Just forget it!" Harry stayed standing even as Hermione sat at the kitchen table, "If Snape would have just kept it to himself all those years ago—my parents would still be alive, I wouldn't have this bloody scar and he wouldn't be the damn potions master who makes my life hell!"
Hermione countered weakly, "But it only worked to fulfill the prophecy to an extent."
Harry threw himself into a chair, "I don't care. There could have been other ways for it to have been fulfilled." Harry shook his head to clear his thoughts as food was placed before them. "What else?"
"Well, Dumbledore explained how he knew you would be chosen as the new Lead Light," Harry's head perked up at this. "He told us how the sword belongs to the Lead Light, whomever it is, and that you actually were chosen when you first pulled it out years ago in the Chamber of Secrets. He said he had only seen the sword previously at his own induction when he was named the Lead and that he knew as soon it left him in our second year and went to your aid, that you would be the next chosen."
Harry was listening raptly, "He never told me that."
Hermione rolled her eyes yet again, "He did last night, Harry. You just weren't listening."
Harry ate ravenously and listened to Hermione ramble on, commenting about everyone's reactions and on several points she found interesting about the previous night's meeting.
"Hermione," Harry broke in when she finally paused to eat, "what about you? What do you think about it all?"
She looked, wide-eyed, at him for a moment and shifted, but never got to answer when they heard Professor McGonagall come in through the kitchen door.
* * * * *
He's our weapon. The only weapon we can hope to have. It's up to us to train this weapon and hone it so it can be used effectively.
He's just a kid! Wide-eyed, brash and still young and in denial of his own mortality, he is. Then again, he is the Boy Who Lived—I guess if anyone should have reason to be in denial of his mortality—it's him.
'Either must die at the hand of the other.' Does that mean the victor becomes immortal? Is it even possible for someone else to kill the boy? Let's hope we don't find out…but still…I wonder…
Moody trudged along from the Practice Hall where he, Lupin, Shacklebolt and Tonks had been giving Potter and his girl, Granger, one hell of a workout.
She's not too bad of a witch…they work well together and would make excellent partners as Aurors. Then again, Potter tried to protect her when he should have stuck with his primary objectives of his own defense. That's why you never get involved with a partner…it's obvious there's something between those two. I wonder what Albus is thinking to have them living so close this summer like that…reckon he figures if Potter has to take on the responsibilities of adulthood and beyond, then he should get some of the benefits, too…well…last thing he needs is more burdens, they'd better know what they're doing. I ought to tell Minerva to make sure they have proper education on these things…they are both in her house, after all.
The weathered ex-auror chose a seat next to Minerva McGonagall and waved her near for a private conversation, before the start of the first regular, weekly Order meeting since the previous week's inductions.
* * * * *
Remus Lupin shifted in his seat as Albus Dumbledore called the meeting to order. He had been working with Harry even more vigorously this past week than he had the rest of the summer. He knew that if Harry had one weakness as a leader, in his eyes, it was his tendency to lose confidence in himself as others expressed their doubts in him. Lupin knew tonight might be difficult for Harry to hear others protesting their beliefs in his abilities. He was determined to make sure that everyone would leave here tonight open to the idea that Harry would soon, not only be a capable leader, but the best leader they could hope to have; and most importantly of the people he had to make sure knew this, was Harry himself.
He's definitely not like James in that aspect. James would take the role of leader whether he was offered it or not. If I remember correctly, I seem to recall he—and Sirius—took over plenty of meetings back in our day… Harry's more like Lily in that way: he only really gets defensive if you insult him or his friends and then—well, then you'd better watch out.
After they got together, if one of us took the mick to James, she would have had her wand ready to hex us—and we were his friends! After she finally stopped detesting him, they were so in love…*fiercely* in love.
The sound of Dumbledore's voice cut off Lupin's reverie, "The first order of business tonight is to settle the matter we left off with last week: the matter of the acceptance of the newly inducted and chosen Lead Light."
Lupin could see that nearly every single member—nay—every member of the Order of the Phoenix was present tonight. He saw even Hagrid, Aberforth Dumbledore, and both Bill and Charlie Weasley crowding into the kitchen of Grimmauld Place. He also saw Harry noticing the full room as Tonks playfully pulled on a lock of his messy hair that was even more rumpled after their late afternoon workout.
"There really is no procedure for us to follow," Dumbledore went on and nodded to Harry, "the Lead has been chosen and the light is now in him. There is no voting or choice to accept or decline this change that any members can now try to exercise." Lupin saw Dumbledore look pointedly at Molly. "However, it is essential, for the best interests of the Order and our goals, to settle this matter expediently and with a majority.
"The worst mistake we could make at this point in time is to not gather and express support for this change. It is inevitable, that I may not always be around. I am, after all, an old man," Dumbledore smiled benignly and Lupin was amazed that the thought that Albus Dumbledore may not always be around, had never before occurred to him. "It would be most detrimental to the functioning of the Order to not have a clearly chosen and supported leader to assume this role in my absence. It is for the future, that this matter should now be put to rest."
Lupin could see many people nodding in belief that the actual change of Leads would not be happening nor functional occur now, but in the future. It was true enough, but not the whole truth. Being in on one of Albus's secrets and then watching him spin half-truths and rhetoric, is sure an enlightening experience.
"There are many of you here tonight who missed last week's event. I rest quite assured anyone who missed it, has now heard about it detail from at least one other person—so I will not recap that now. As you are all aware, I am sure, I stand to support the selection that was made and I move to have all grievances against Harry Potter as the named successor to the role of Lead Light of the Order of the Phoenix, be aired and put to rest tonight. There was also, as we discussed last week, a group of individuals whom Harry selected, to take into his confidence on certain matters concerning his appropriateness for this role. Since last week, these individuals, Harry, and myself have all met and you will now be hearing from each of these members as they offer their advice to you. Alastor? If you may…" Dumbledore took a seat next to Harry, in front of Lupin.
Lupin's exceptional hearing allowed him to hear Tonks lean in to Harry and say, "You know, the reason everyone thinks Albus makes such a good Lead Light is because he has that bright white hair. If we just dyed your hair a bit—maybe platinum blond—then you'd be Light material…"
He saw Harry turn to her with an incredulous look and whisper indignantly, "Do I look like a Malfoy?!" Remus chuckled quietly to himself.
"What I want to know," Moody boomed out, catching the attention of everyone in the room as he switched to a low whisper, "who here needs to be convinced, eh? I don't play the little game Albus will here—I want to know who here would hesitate to follow the—well, Potter…eh? Raise your hand now! Don't just sit back and be skeptical! Who?" Remus glanced around and could smell the fear in those who felt they would hesitate, but were too scared to say anything about it to old Moody. "Argh! I said those who would hesitate—not those who wouldn't follow him at all!! I just want to know why it is you'd hesitate—what are your reservations—I'll then tell why each one can be thrown out!"
Leave it to Moody to put it all out in the open. "Come on Molly, we all know you were against this last week—why?" Lupin knew he was sure glad that Moody was going after her now. Better him than me.
Molly Weasley flitted from looking startled and uncomfortable to be put on the spot like this, then she drew herself up straight and stood up. "Well, Harry dear," she smiled at Harry and Lupin saw him give her a tentative, pained smile in return, "I don't doubt you would be willing to do this nor do I even doubt, dear, that you could. My hesitations, Alastor, thank you for remembering me, are because I am not sure if he should do this-- whether we should do this. Whether he has to actually do anything now or ten years from now is not the issue—he would still have to live with knowing he must so this. He should not be given these added burdens when we can help prevent them. Children are growing up far too fast these days and I am beginning to wonder just who all has Harry's best interests in mind." She looked defiantly at Moody, Dumbledore and then around the room to see who might support her. She locked eyes with Remus and he knew she was challenging him on her last comment.
"Well," Moody growled, "good then. 'Cuz whether he should really isn't the issue, now is it. The Order has made its decision and 'should' is no longer an argument. Now who's got an argument based upon 'could'?" Moody trained his swiveling eye around the room looking for anyone to voice their opinions.
"Alastor, I'll say perhaps what I would be saying if I had not been working the past few weeks with Harry," Remus turned to see Kingsley stand up from the chair beside him in order to speak. "Most of you know I was one person who volunteered to help in providing training to Harry this summer. I know if I had never seen someone wave a wand or behave under pressure and get a chance to know his character, then I would hesitate to have that person be my leader in anything.
"But I can say, that after having been working with Harry, that he's not what you'd expect a wizard his age to be. He surprised me the first day I worked with him and he's been making so much progress each week that I never know what to expect of him next. He's getting to be a fair match to me now at dueling and I'd bet he could not only hold his own against nearly anyone here but whip more than half of you, if he tried. He's nearly got many of the skills and physical requirements met or in the works to pass Auror qualifications. He's more fit and capable to fight than the majority in this room. I'll support him. And anyone whom I bring in to join from the MLES will support him as well.
"They're all in awe that he was at the Ministry, fighting on the night of the captures. They've already been talking about the Ministry making a show of recruiting him now to demonstrate that they'll get the best to head up and help the Ministry's defense against the Death Eaters." Kingsley sat down and Lupin looked at him and nodded in appreciation.
"Excellent points, Kingsley! Now what else?" Moody looked about the room. "No one? Well, he just took half of my speech but I'll say this: half the lot of us are old. That's right—admit it. We are. The Order was working for over ten years last time and who knows how long this next war will take. We're going to need a lot of fresh blood in here soon. It's only a matter of time before the dark side starts building up its forces. And those people we do bring in to help us and fight with us—they all know who Harry Potter is. They've read the papers now and know he was the first one to see the Dark Lord rise again and that he was there the night he and his followers broke into the Ministry. They know he was there when a dozen followers were locked up. They think he's the one to lead the fight. That's the general public's view, and they're not at all wrong. We are the fight here—this Order and we're working like hell to make him a man who's physically capable of besting any one of us. He's physically and politically positioned to take on this role and be the best one for the job." Moody stood for a just a moment longer before thumping his way back to his seat next to McGonagall who was now rising and striding to the spot beside the door to speak.
"Thank you, Alastor. I cannot argue with any of what has been said by Kingsley nor Alastor," in a lower voice she grumbled, "Although I might say were not all bloody ancient." She gave a stern look to Moody and went on, "Mr. Potter has been my student for the past five years and I should say I can also a test to his upstanding moral and ethical standards." Lupin saw her meet Harry's surprised face for a moment and then add, "I'm not talking about when you slugged Mr. Malfoy, Potter." She arched an eyebrow and said, "Nor when you snuck out of bed, nor used a time—nevermind… all right, I never said you were one for following rules. But really, that's a true test of one's character: you've proven your moral compass is true enough to lead you through rules when you must get the job done." She paused a moment and Remus knew he was personally, quite shocked to hear stern Professor McGonagall extolling the virtues of one her students tendencies to break rules. Prongs would be so proud right now. He thought he even saw Harry straighten in front of him with some pride. Like father, like son.
"If it weren't for Harry breaking his rules and following his instincts, then it might have been 5 years ago that this Order was called to reconvene, then Ginny Weasley may surely not be alive today and Hogwarts might still be closed, or perhaps Sirius Black would have died a few years ago and we surely wouldn't all be seated here in this kitchen tonight. He's the reason we knew when to reconvene and he's a good part of the reason that were not the only ones now who believe there is a war to be fought. Not to mention, the reason I am not in the market for a new job for fear of returning to work for a tyrannical, incompetent sycophant. But besides that, I think it's abundantly clear that Harry has already been in the lead, with us just following." She looked around, held her head high and then strode back to her seat.
Remus looked over at Snape, sneering his usual sneer and radiating his usual cheeriness. He gave Lupin no signal to go before him, but Remus knew the fact that Snape had not just strode up to speak was the only indication he would get that he should go next. He rose and walked around to the spot from where everyone had been speaking.
"Well, I was thinking we might be hearing all kinds of reasons why Harry would not make a god Lead. I couldn't think of too many myself but I guess I'm relived to see no one else seems to be coming up with any either." Remus was seeking to maintain eye contact with Harry so he might see how sincere he felt, however, Harry had looked down and seemed to be studying his shoes as soon as Remus began to talk.
"After listening to Alastor and Minerva speak tonight, I think I can also say much of what's already been said. I can also say that if you're not as sure as we are, then you just don't know Harry like we do." Harry was still studying his shoes and Remus figured all the praise being heaped upon him was just embarrassing him. "The purpose of selecting and identifying a new Lead before he is required to take the role, such as Harry here, will serve to give the rest of you time, who don't know him that well, to get to know him. Trust and respect are earned and the edict of a hat, no matter how notorious will never give you the assurance your own heart can. Time and proximity will give you all the opportunity to allow Harry to earn your trust and respect equal to a level of our Lead. Of this, I have no doubts." Remus saw several nodding with this as acceptable and he turned to Snape and gestured for him to finally take the floor, before he walked back around to his seat.
When Remus sat down he saw that Snape had not moved to take the floor but was still leaning against the pantry wall, with his arms crossed and sneering as always. Several people turned to look at the surly spy.
He never moved from his spot but spoke with as much contempt and loathing as he ever did, when the subject was Harry Potter. "Yes, Potter has never been one to back down from a fight, hesitate to hex one who's wronged him, be stopped by silly things like rules nor common sense, even."
Remus turned back to watch Harry from behind; he could see Harry still leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and staring down at his feet but with a notably stiffer posture than before.
"None of that matters," Snape's voice was a deadly whisper. Remus knew he loved to try to intimidate anyone he could with his voice; it was a trick he tried to use not only on students. "I can assure you all that Potter will remain a target of the Dark Lord's until he is dead. He doesn't need to lead any fight nor war; the war will lead to him." Silence fell and Snape gave a poignant smug sneer to Harry, who had turned and was now glaring daggers back at Snape. Succinct, to the point and as scathing as can be—not bad considering the source.
Dumbledore rose up to break the silence and said, "Well then, does anyone have anything else to add?"
A voice clearing his throat caught Remus' attention and he turned to see Bill Weasley, looking tentative but still wishing to speak, "Er, I have something to add, I think. You all know we—well, I've been going round and round with the Goblins trying to get them to commit to a side or at least to commit to not turning against us…well, er there's been some progress there." This was huge news. The Goblins were an incredible ally if one could sway them to help. It usually involved large sums of money to sway a goblin to do anything, but if they could get them to take a position to help cut off funds to known Death Eater's and their accounts, that would severely limit Voldemort's resources.
Remus saw Dumbledore hold up a hand and say, "We can move on to new business in just a moment William, I want to make sure our first matter is put to rest."
"Well, that's just it sir, this is about Harry." Harry whipped his head around and stared at Bill. "Whatever it was that you did last week, Harry, when you were at Gringotts… they now will talk with us. But on one condition—they want Harry's word on any deals we make with them."
"Excellent," Dumbledore beamed. What? What just happened? What…??? "Well, may I now make a motion that all members present, and we all nearly are here, pledge acceptance and support to the newly chosen Lead Light?
"Seconded," chorused Moody and McGonagall.
"All in favor?" Dumbledore queried.
"Aye!" was the resounding chorus throughout the room, with Hagrid's voice being heard above all the rest.
* * * * * *
Harry felt a wave of relief wash over him at the resounding sound of Aye's in the room.
"Opposed?" Harry closed his eyes and heard not a sound. "Excellent!" Dumbledore said.
Harry exhaled again and opened his eyes. He blinked a few times and focused on Dumbledore standing in front of him and facing everyone.
"Now, for some real business…"
The meeting finally got going as several people made updates. The first was Bill, who was asked for any more details on the Goblins and their intentions. "Well, they haven't said much. Just asked if Harry was part of the group I was working for and when I finally admitted he was, they conferred for a few minutes and then declared they would only negotiate with him there and if they had his word on any deals we strike."
Harry wasn't sure whether this was good news or bad. Perhaps he had actually done something right that had ingratiated himself with the goblins. Or, perhaps, they knew he was so gormless as to trust them with his vault-full of gold that they thought he was an easy one of which to take advantage. Either way, he agreed to make a trip into Diagon Alley to meet with Bill and a few goblin representatives as soon as it was set up.
Bill, on behalf of Fleur, and Charlie made statements assuring the situation in concealing and imprisoning the captured Death Eaters was well under control. Harry wondered where exactly they were all being kept and also wondered how and why Charlie and Fleur would be involved with this. It seemed, however, that the update given by Bill and Charlie was innocuous and many others seemed to not know the real details of which they spoke.
Emmeline Vance reported that she had hedged on making a decision about the Ministry's dealing with the Hogwarts Express this year and had been hoping to receive guidance from tonight's meeting. She said the issue was even more pressing now that one home of a muggle-born student had been attacked. Mr. Weasley commented that he had thought they had reached a solution on this and reiterated Harry's suggestion, which was widely agreed upon as the best course of action. Emmeline said she would run the committee to send notifications and queries to the students and their parents about selecting optional alternative transport, personally, as soon as she returned to the Ministry.
Kingsley updated everyone on the MLES perspective. He said he had had to hold off his boss, Amelia Bones, yet again in questions about his pursuit of the fugitive Sirius Black. "I assured her that I can confirm that Black was not a threat to society at the present time and that I was working towards producing evidence to support the Ministry's efforts to make public showings of 'making a difference'." Harry knew the ruse to have Kingsley still appear to be searching for Sirius meant he would have more time to devote to the Order. Part of him hated that his godfather's name was still known as an escaped convict.
"Excuse me," Hermione asked, "would the Ministry even accept the true story of what happened to him? There is no body to speak of…perhaps this has already been discussed?"
"Well that's one thing, Hermione," Kingsley answered, "they wouldn't be able to declare him dead nor captured without a body. However, I did overhear something interesting this week-- I heard one of the undersecretaries talking to Amelia about the Ministry's budget being stressed and there is pressure being put on the MLES to drop the reward amount for Black. As I'm sure you've noticed, there hasn't been any mention of the rewards being paid out for the escapees captured recently-- there're problems with cash flow in the Ministry-- or lack thereof, it seems. Strictly, unofficial and merely overheard, mind you."
Dumbledore spoke, "We've been playing this out to allow you time, Kingsley, to feel out your fellow coworkers and which of them may be suitable additions to our ranks. I believe you spoke last week saying you already a few in mind?"
"Yes, Albus, I do. I'd even recommend Amelia herself."
"Well, perhaps it is time you had a talk with her. I also believe she may be a fine addition to the Order. Let me know if you would like some support with this, Kingsley."
Kingsley nodded, "Well, and as I said before, the push is desperate to put forth the appearance of MLES mobilization. The Prophet has been flaying Fudge daily and he's pushing, like Emmeline said, to make the public feel like we're moving and taking actions to protect them. Which, of course, there's little to be done without the exact location of the last few Death Eaters and You-Know-Who himself." Harry snuck a glance at Snape, who surely had to know this.
"Hmm, yes," Dumbledore said. "We'll talk a bit later, I may have some ideas. Severus? Have you had any intelligence on the whereabouts of the Dementors?"
Snape straightening up at this, "None. He is trusting nearly no one with everything."
Dumbledore looked troubled at this, "That remains one of your top priorities. New business anyone?"
"Aye!" Moody called. "Lupin and myself have taken up assessing the current security and wards at the school. We began earlier this week and have quite a few improvements we might like to suggest. We may want some volunteers familiar with the castle and grounds to help us for a few days. Anyone interested?"
"We'll do it!" The twins chorused enthusiastically.
"No one knows the castle and grounds as well as we do!"
"No one--'cept maybe Moony, et al."
Harry saw McGonagall giving the twins a dubious look but then she said, "Indeed, if anyone knew more ways about since--well, that sounds tailored for you Misters Weasley."
"Brilliant." The twins looked enthused to have their first assignment. Harry smirked at them and then back at Remus. "Hey Harry," one called out, "can we use the you-know-what?"
Harry smirked even more now and just nodded, chuckling to himself.
The rest of the meeting flew by in a blur. There was an inquiry about who the new DADA professor would be at Hogwarts but Dumbledore just smiled and refused to comment. Several others just began gossiping about the rumors that were flying about this and that. It informally broke up after about an hour and a half. Hermione, who had had her bewitched quill working furiously throughout the meeting, gathered up her notes and Harry helped her collect them.
The twins came over and one asked, "Harry, the map? You still got it, right?"
"Ooh-- we'll have to make sure and stop by and say hello to Filchy boy," the other half said with glee.
Harry laughed and gathered the last of Hermione's notes in his arms and said, "Actually, you're going to have to ask Moony for it." He pointed with a look to just behind the twins as he had seen Lupin come up behind them. With that, Harry left them alone and headed up stairs for bed, after a long day.
* * * * *
August 11
It's been the most exhausting week of my life. I swear I haven't stopped but to sleep since McGonagall arrived Tuesday with her new improved, no-room-for-rest training regimen. I barely have time to think my thoughts, much less do anything else. Hence this journal now actually being used as a journal. If I try to just sit and think, then Hermione thinks I'm depressed or something and insists on talking about something or takes to cheering me up. Okay, I really don't mind that part—it's the only time I don't just want to fall asleep during the day.
She's sitting there right now, next to me on the sofa here and reading. She thinks I'm working on my Occlumency stuff—which I guess I am. She still hasn't given me any reaction to hearing the prophecy and all. I think it might actually be best. If I even think about her knowing it, then *that* feeling swells up inside. I think she might know that or suspect, at least. It's the reason I couldn't listen and watch as Dumbledore told the story again last week—I knew I'd get all—well, let's say "emotionally overwhelmed", shall we? Gah! Not to mention at the meting and having to sit there while they all played 'What's not to like about Harry?' Amazing how Snape can find a way to berate, insult and yet, support me all at the same time. Got to admit the bastard has some talent.
I haven't even had a chance to miss Ron being here, I've been so busy. I can't say I don't mind not having to worry about someone knocking on the door in the morning to find us together. Nah—now I have to get up by eight o'clock every damn day. I'd never manage it if it weren't for Hermione taking quite seriously the role of my alarm clock. I'm sure Remus knows. I know he knows we're--*doing things*--or at least something. I imagine he even knows that she slips out of her room every night and into mine still. I think that's one of the reasons even he has taken to working both of us so hard—he wants to make sure we are too exhausted to do anything but sleep. But (ha!) it's the full moon tonight and he left yesterday afternoon to a safe house and won't be back until tomorrow evening. Moody was here last night working with us until nearly eleven at night. I swear I could feel him watching with that damn eye even after he claimed to have left. Now, today, Tonks had to leave early and it's just the two of us until tomorrow.
Wow, this is actually helping me sort out like the million thoughts in my head. Basically, the one that keeps running about and won't let me concentrate on anything else is the thought of being in the house alone tonight. With her. This is mad. I'm mad. Completely, one hundred percent nutters. I've got the Dark Lord of the century after me, a prophecy declaring I'm the only one who can stop him, and all I can think about is if I can get her shirt off again. Yup, definitely the thought of the day for me. She's looking at me—I can feel it.
I swear she can read my mind sometimes—like just now, she looks at me with that questioning, innocent look and just seems to know I was thinking some randy thought about her. Definitely need to find a privacy charm for this book—I'll have to ask what she used on the parchments sheets of notes she took on the prophecy and the meetings. I know those are charmed so only she can see them—even I can't see them.
"Harry, have you heard from Ron or Ginny since they left?" Harry shook his head.
"Hmm, well, maybe their mum is not letting them send us any post. We should get Ginny a gift for covering for us. I imagine she got quite the lecture from her mum."
"Hmm," Harry said.
I'll wait and see how big a gift a get her when I find out just how thankful I am. Damn, I am randy today. Maybe I should just excuse myself and go take a quick shower so I can actually focus on something other than her. Maybe she would shower with me…
Okay, so if I ever need to put forth deceptive images through Occlumency, I have a large store of conjured images of her showering. Yup, I need to excuse myself. Best be careful when I leave, lest I poke out a house-elf's eye on the way out.
"I'm heading to take a bath before dinner," Harry said and then carefully closed his journal and gingerly rose from the sofa, with his journal strategically placed before him. He saw Hermione nod and then felt her watching him as he walked out of the drawing room to go upstairs.
Figures, I finally could have found Dudley's old baggy pants useful, and now they're gone.
* * * * *
A/N: Did you know…that when you are trying to read a newly posted chapter on ff.net and you get an error message saying, "chapter does not exist", that there is a trick to getting the chapter to display? In the web address bar, where it says, "…&chapter=7" (an example for chapter 7 of a fic) just retype the end to say "…&chapter=7/6". You want to prompt the link from the previous chapter to the newly uploaded one. I love this trick!!