Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling. If I was, I wouldn't be writing fan fiction, would I?

A/N: Howdy ever'body. I decided to post two chapters today. Sorry that the first three were so short. They get longer, I promise. Skye keeps telling me to tell you all what flan is, so I guess I'll humor her. (Note the absence of the second u, Skye.) Flan, for those of you who don't take Spanish in school, is a Spanish dessert. It's like crème brulee only Spanish. That's it, really. Skye, do you need to say anything?

S/N: Yes, actually, I do. The English translation of flan is caramel custard dessert. Oh, and Flan isn't lying, the chapters really do get longer.

A/N: Thanks to all my new reviewers. I love you all!

Chapter 4: Fudge and Explosions

The Black House, in its better years, had had an elegant hall where parties had been held. When the Order had cleaned out the house, the children had deliberately emptied all the room's contents because it was ideal for playing Quidditch in.

"You've never been on a broom, right Hermione?" Ginny asked.

"No, never, apart from flying lessons with Madam Hooch," she answered apprehensively.

"It's okay," Ron said encouragingly, "we'll teach you."

Ron, Ginny, and Harry soon had Hermione up in the air. She was hovering with her feet dangling several inches from the ground.

"Look! I'm flying!" she beamed.

The others mounted their brooms. Harry felt some of his worries melt away as he soared through the air. It was great to be on his Firebolt again. They tried some drills and warm-ups since they hadn't flown in a while. They took turns throwing golf balls for Harry and a soccer ball for the rest. Hermione turned out to be an okay Chaser, and Ginny was a good teacher. After 3 hours of Quidditch they obtained some butterbeers, 4 apples, and a bag of potato chips from the kitchen. They talked about Hogwarts, about what classes they would be taking, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and the fun they would have playing Quidditch together in the future.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny ate dinner alone that night. The members of the Order were having a meeting elsewhere in the house. The children rarely saw any members other than Mr. and Mrs. Weasley these days. None of them stayed long anymore, not even for dinner. Harry and Ron were discussing the recent replacement of the Chudley Cannons' Keeper while Ginny and Hermione were talking about the OWLs that were coming at the end of the year for Ginny.

It was then that what could only be described as an explosion broke out from a room several floors above them. Mrs. Black's portrait would have started screaming, but they had finally figured out how to shut her up when Tonks had expertly painted a pair of earmuffs over her ears.

"I'm going to find out what all the shouting's about," Ron said as he dropped his fork. When he got up, Harry noticed a flesh-colored string dangling from his pocket.

"Did Fred and George give you a discount?" Hermione asked, noticing the Extendable Ear too.

"No," Ron stated, "but as soon as Ginny and I found out we'd be spending our summer at headquarters, I figured it was worth it," he finished with a grin.

While Ron was gone, the other three cleared the table and went to their usual place to discuss what they learned from the members' meetings – the Quidditch Hall.

"Okay," Ron said as he hurried toward them. Ginny noticed that her brother was looking a little shaken, as if he'd heard something he wished he hadn't.

Hermione must have noticed it too because she said, "Ron, if whatever they're all fighting about up there bothered you, you don't have to repeat it."

Ron cast a warm look at Hermione, who blushed, but he continued, "All I know is that they think Fudge might be under You Know Who's control–" Harry and Hermione both let out annoyed sighs, "– and someone suggested spying on Percy to find out. Well, you can guess how happy Mum was about that. I honestly feel sorry for whichever poor bloke thought that up."

"They really think Fudge is under Voldemort's Imperius Curse?"

"Do you really have to say it?" Ron asked, rubbing his arm. (Ginny had shoved him when he'd flinched.)

"Yes," Hermione snapped, "for Heaven's sake, Ron, it's only a name."

Ron looked sheepish, and Harry thought he saw the beginnings of a blush creeping up Ron's face.

"Hey, Hermione," Harry tried to cover up for his friend's obvious embarrassment, "didn't Lupin mention last year that the Order expected something like this to happen if Fudge kept ignoring the truth?"

"That's just it, Harry. It seemed like Fudge had finally accepted that Volde– shut up Ron – that Voldemort was back..."

"Exactly!" Ginny literally exploded, "And now he's totally ignoring it again... Maybe that's what Voldemort told him to do."

"It's an idea," Harry said thoughtfully.