Chapter 6 The Order of the Phoenix

Harry walked slowly toward the doors of an old mansion that looked like it hadn't been lived in for about a hundred years and was about to fall down. The mansion was huge and Harry imagined that if it was restored it would look magnificent. Maybe there is some way I can move the Order out and live here? Harry thought, probably not but it's something to think on anyway. Harry imagined living in the fully restored mansion and wondered if their was a way he could. Maybe sometime. As he walked along the path his irritation grew at his own inability to walk any faster. The medi-witch had healed his back after the Quidditch game a week ago but it was still somewhat stiff, the reason Harry was walking slowly. He was amazed at the raving newspaper reports and the fan mail he had received. What could be a better job than playing Quidditch and getting paid truckloads to do it?  Before the game a few people in his team and critics had speculated that he would be a flop and was only in the team because he was Harry Potter. He was glad to silence his critics and gain respect from his teammates.

Although Harry had never been to the Order headquarters he knew quiet a bit about it from Ron and Hermione. They had stayed there for part of the summer before their 5th, 6th and 7th years. Harry remembered Dumbledore refusing to allow him to stay there, instead forcing him to stay at the Dursley's before his 5th and 6th years. He had spent that final miserable summer with them and had vowed to never again. At the end of his 6th year he had bought an apartment without Dumbledore's knowledge and lived there ever since. When Dumbledore found out he was very angry and tried to move Harry back to the Dursley's house but Harry had flatly refused and being of age (17) there was nothing Dumbledore could legally do. The ministry would have found out about anything illegal so Dumbledore had no choice but to let him stay there. This didn't stop him from constantly trying to convince Harry to change his mind but Harry hadn't budged. The memory still brought a smile to Harry's face. The time when Dumbledore couldn't control him.

When Harry entered the meeting room he found a number of witches and wizards standing around or sitting and many were talking. Every few minutes a new arrival would come in. Nobody he knew noticed him come in so Harry took a seat and looked around at all the other members. Finally everyone came in and took seats. They were sitting at a long table in a room that had obviously been decorated recently in an attempt to look cheerful. The cheerful look was at odds with the somber moods of all those in the room and felt disgustingly cheerful to Harry who most definitely wasn't in a cheerful mood. Dumbledore stood up at one end of the table and coughed to get everyone's attention.

'Hello and welcome to the meeting. Before we start however I'd like to introduce our newest member, Mr Harry Potter.' Harry felt the eyes of everyone in the room focus on him, many with admiration on their faces. Harry looked back with a blank expression. He looked round at the faces around the table and if he had not spent so long practicing to hide his feelings he would have sneered with contempt at their at their foolish hope and mindless following of Dumbledore. He was the only student in his year that was joining today. He knew Ron couldn't join because after his father's death Molly withdrew from the Order and forbid any of her children from joining. He didn't know why Hermione wasn't there; he had thought she was joining the Order. Dumbledore gave Harry a smile and then continued his speech, ' Severus would you share with us what you have learnt recently please.' He sat down and Snape stood up and scowled round at everyone, his eyes lingered briefly on Harry and his glare got fiercer. Well who had a bad night with Voldy? Harry flashed back to the night before when Snape had been tortured for a particularly long time and almost smirked back at him.

' Voldemort plans to launch a small attack on muggle London to cover his major attack…' Harry soon tuned out to Snape's speech already knowing it all and instead studied the man. Voldemort thought that Snape was his spy while pretending to be Dumbledore's spy. Dumbledore thought that Snape was really his spy but pretended to be Voldemort's spy. So who's right? Even though Harry saw Voldemort's visions he knew that Snape didn't really tell Dumbledore anymore than Voldemort had allowed but in turn didn't tell Voldemort all that much useful information. I wouldn't put it past the greasy git to be playing them both so whoever wins he will be safe. Harry was jerked out of his thoughts to hear someone calling his name.

'Sorry what did you say?' he asked.

'Do you agree with Kingsley?' they asked. Huh?

'Yes I do.' Harry said. What have I just agreed to? What if it was to make Dumbledore a God or something, if that can even be done. What could be worse? I sure hope I haven't. Harry tried to listen to the rest of the meeting but didn't say anything except to answer questions when he was asked.

After a long time the meeting seemed to be drawing to a close. Before he left Dumbledore stopped Harry,

'Harry can I speak to you after this to discuss something?'

'Sure,' he replied, 'I needed to ask you something anyway.' The room slowly emptied. A few people Harry knew called out goodbye and some he didn't know stopped him briefly to congratulate him on the Magpies win or to tell him how glad they were that he had joined the Order. Finally the room was empty and Dumbledore turned to Harry.

'Harry it's great you've joined the Order,' Dumbledore started. Like you gave me a choice Harry thought sarcastically. 'Now we need to talk about when you will beat Voldemort. I have organised some intensive defensive training and then we plan to lure Voldemort into a trap that –'

'No.' Harry cut in firmly.

'Sorry, what do you mean no? Don't you like an aspect of the plan? I'm sorry but we've already decided what to do and it's the best option.'

'I mean no I won't participate in your plan. I will never do anything you tell me again. I will not follow you anymore.'

'Harry what are you talking about…you can not mean…' Dumbledore mumbled looking at Harry thoroughly confused.

'I mean what I say and I won't have anything further to do with you.' Harry said firmly, his voice brooking no argument.

Anger came over Dumbledore's face and he returned once more to his confident self. 'You will do what I say Harry, whether I force you to or not,' he said, anger and power radiating in his voice. He drew himself and the anger in his face would have left most people begging on the ground or running away. Harry laughed.

'Then we will duel. To the death.'