Chapter 2: Master Plan and a Birthday Revisited

"HARRY!!!" they shouted in unison. They were about to run at him but Dumbledore stood and raised a hand at them.

The time for welcome shall come later, but right now we must discuss Voldemorts plan, for it envolves all of you, and namely.....Hogwarts."

All eyes were on Dumbledore as he sat down slowly, Ginny, Ron, and Hermoine followed suit and took seats around the table. No one spoke for a moment then Dumbledore continued. "Our intelligence has given us the shrewed idea that Voldemort is planning an attack on the school, right now his Death Eaters are hitting targets outside of the country to try and draw the attention of the Ministry away from the school and away from England itself. They plan on a large scale invasion on the school, the precise date of attack is unknown, but we do know before the end of the school year there will be an attack on the school." Everyone sat there silently, the news of an attack on one of the most protected magical places in England slowly dawned on the four students that no matter where they go, they may not be safe.

"Professor, if we know this information, why don't we cancel the school year." Ron said hopefully.

"No, if we cancel the school year, no student will be prepared for individual attacks. Also if we cancel that will bring attention to Voldemort that there might be spies in his mists, we most go as planned." Dumbledore responded. "I'm telling all of you this to put you on alert, in case you see anything suspicious, you'll need to tell me immediately."

"The Ministry will help though right, I mean we're gonna have aurors there.....right?" Ginny asked.

Dumbledore sighed, "Unfortunatly Cornelius Fudge isn't listening to reason, and will not sacrafice his Aurors to supervise the school when there haven't been any attacks by Death Eaters before."

"So, if there is going to be a battle at the school, and we'll just have the order there to protect us??? There aren't enough members, we'll be outnumbered!" Ron said with slight worry in his voice.

"It seems that way young Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore hung his head, as if defeated. Harry just stared at everyone, the gloom that has taken over the room astounded him, they haven't seen the obvious solution to this problem.

"Sir, it won't just be the order." Harry stated shortly.

Dumbledore rasied his head, the twinkle coming back into his eye. He stared at Harry as if not to give away that he knew what he was going to say, "what do you mean Harry?"

Everyone stared at Harry, "Hogwarts is our home. It's said that a man fighting to protect his home will fight harder then a man that is willing to destroy it, the students will stand with the order. The students will fight!" Harry stood as he was speaking, a fire seemed to be lit inside of him. Ron and Hermoine looked at each other and then at Harry, they seemed to have felt the same fire rise inside of them, and they stood. Ginny smirked and stood as well.

"Dumbledore, we'll fight and we'll win!" Ron said enthusiastically, "but one question....who are these people?" Everyone but Hermoine, Ron, and Ginny laughed at the quick change of topic.

"These, Ron, are some of the new guards of Hogwarts. Tim Gregory and Annabella Sullivan are going to be in Gryffondor to watch after Harry, kinda like bodyguards," he indicated Tim and Annabella to the trio. "Monique and Gabrielle are going to be our spies inside of Slytherin house for I believe there are spies for Voldemort at the school. Unfortunatly they will have to pretend to hate all of those who are not in their own house."

Monique sighed, "how I pulled this duty I'll never know." She started to laugh after that statement.

"And finally we have Mr Albert Casey, he shall be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." Dumbledore said.

"You kids can call me Al till we get to school, then it's Professor Casey.....or Al, whatever." he said with a laugh and a smile.

"I must head back to Hogwarts now, I need to finish the protecting spells around the castle, but first, Harry can I speak with you for a moment out in the hall." Dumbledore took the lead and led Harry out into the hall and then closed the door, "Harry, this year is going to be a turning point in this generation, and people are going to be looking towards you as their leader. Are you ready for such an important roll?"

Harry stared into his Professors eyes, and in them he found such hope and determination that Harry was inspired, he felt that defeating Voldemort was possible, "If I'm looked to as a leader, then I shall lead." Harry stated simply.

Dumbledore smiled, "You're a man wise beyond your years Harry. I've never been prouder of a student in all of my years at Hogwarts." Dumbledore turned to leave but quickly went back to Harry, "I forgot one thing, you'll be needing this." He handed Harry a shiney silver badge and then disapperated. Harry opened his hand to see the Hogwarts Shield with the letters HB in the center. Harry was made Head Boy.

They trooped up the stairs and onto the second floor landing, Hermoine, Ron, Ginny, Gabrille, Harry, Monique, Tim and Annabella made there way to the room that Harry and Ron slept in every time they stayed at Grimmauld place, except when they got there, there was only three beds in the room, Harry turned to Tim, "Are you guys staying here?"

Tim looked at Harry, "Yeah, I guess they just haven't gotten around to bringing an extra bed up for us yet."

"Actually," a voice from the door said, "Tim will be staying in here and since Harry is of age the house is legally his, and he gets the master bedroom."

Everyone turned to see a tired looking man, in very shabby patched up robes, his graying hair hung shaggily around his head. Remus Lupin looked at the group and smiled.

"REMUS!" Harry yelled, and ran and hugged one of his fathers best friends.

"How have you been Harry?" Remus asked while pulling out of the the hug.

"I'm fine, just glad I'm back here with everyone."

"That's great to hear. As I said, Harry you'll be staying in the master bedroom on the next floor up since you're master of the manor." Lupin said with a wink.

The group started to head out of the room and towards the stairs to the third floor landing, they walked down the hallway and into the master bedroom. It was at this point when Harry opened the door that he realized who was in this bedroom before himself, Sirius, his godfather. Sirius Black who until last year was suspected for the murder of several muggles and one wizard, escaped from Azkaban, the wizarding prison, and sought out Harry. It was revealed that Peter Pettigrew, the one wizard that was "killed" framed Sirius for these crimes and was alive and well, he was also responsable for the rebirth of Voldemort. Harry looked around the room and all the memories of his godfather flooded into his head, when he first laid eyes on him as a dog, when he saved him from the dementors, and all the times that he advised Harry and counceled him through very difficult times. A tear formed in the corner of his eye when a hand was laid upon his shouldar.

Harry turned suspecting to see Remus or Hermoine, but was shocked to see that it was Monique, "I know how you feel, Harry." She gave him a soft smile and Harry seemed to feel a little bit better. He dragged his trunk over to the foot of the bed and looked around the room. It seems the room was cleaned, repainted, and refurnished since his godfather died, there was a kingsize bed with sheets and blankets of red and gold. Besides the bed it was a very simple room, with a closet, wardrobe, and a bathroom that was connected to it.

"Whelp, we still have some things to do downstairs, Ron, Ginny, Hermoine do you guys wanna help?" Remus asked them.

"Wait, Remus don't we have the sur..OUCH" Ron started but Hermoine stamped on his foot and gave Harry a smile.

"Harry you can stay here, it's ok just some cleaning that needs done, you've had a long enough day as is. Tim, Anna you guys can help too." and with that everyone walked out the door and left Harry in the room on his own....or so he thought.

"I take it you knew Sirius pretty well." a voice asked.

Harry was startled to realize that Monique was still in the room with him. He regained his composure and shook his head, "he saved my skin on many occasions."

"I wish I could've met him, he sounds like a good guy." Monique said as she took a seat in the chair that was near Harry's bed.

"Sirius was one of the best, he was one of the few connections to my mother and father I had. When he died, it was like losing them all over again."

She looked into his eyes, "That must have been tough."

"It was at first, but it took alot of convincing to realize that every one is responsable for their own destiny, even though some peoples destinies are planned out for them." Harry looked away and frowned.

"You mean the prophecy."

Harry whipped his head around and stared at Monique, "How do you know about the prophecy?"

She looked at him and smiled, "There isn't much I don't know about you Harry Potter. Oh by the way we should go downstairs, birthday boy." she said with a wink and made her way out the door and down the stairs, leaving Harry sitting confused in his room.

Harry followed Monique down the stairs and into the dark drawing room, "Why are we in here?" Harry asked sarcastically as if he didn't already know the answer. All of a sudden the lights flashed on and before him stood all the inhabitents of number twelve Grimmauld Place yelling out "HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY". The Weasleys were all present, even Percy who at the end of last year finally came to his senses and apologized to his parents, and to Harry himself. Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks were standing in a corner away from prying eyes, but when Harry spotted them they seemed to drift further apart and they smiled at him. Professors McGonagall, Flitwick and Sprout were all present and beamed at Harry. Kingsley, Moody, and Tim were in a corner discussing tactics while Ginny and Hermoine were discussing something with Annabella and Monique. Ron and his twin brothers, Fred and George, walked over to him.

"Happy Birthday, mate." Ron said with a smile.

"Thanks," Harry said as he looked around at everyone present, "I see Charlie got time off from Romania to be here."

"Yeah, well he's on a year long sabadical at the moment. Apparently, Dumbledore has him on what is going to be called 'castle duty'. Those are gonna be for the members of the order that are keeping watch over the castle." Ron responded.

"Yeah, and he has me and George looking after the tunnels and secret passageways." Fred said, "the only people that know them as well as we do would be the Maruders themselves!"

Harry laughed about this. Back when his father was in school he and his friends, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew were known as the Marauders, and they were famous amongst the who's who of Hogwarts Pranksters. They were the ones who discovered most of the secrets of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and created the Marauders Map, which showed the location of everyone at the school at any point in time. Very few people knew about the map.

At that moment Mrs Weasley came in floating all sorts of different foods in front of her and onto a table. When they were all sat down everyone began eating a variety of dishes, from pasta to different pies. Everyone seemed to be laughing and having a good time, except for one person, that Harry noticed, was not including themself in the festivities. Gabrielle Murphy was missing. Harry walked over to Tim, "Hey, have you seen Gabrielle?"

Tim looked at Harry, then scanned the room, "Now that I think about it, I haven't. He's probably upstairs, I'll go get him."

"Na, don't worry about it I'll do it." Harry said then headed out of the room and up the stairs. He walked into his old room when he found Gabrielle sitting at the desk, several different weapons laying around him, Gabrille turned around and held up a shotgun pointing it directly at Harry.

Authors Notes: I bet some people are gonna think I'm weird for including weaponry in this story, but it's my story so HA!