Chapter Four: Trust
"You're kidding?" George breathed.
"No," Harry said quietly, looking around the group at the stunned faces of his friends.
"That kind of news could seriously mess with your day," Fred said.
"You're telling me," Harry smiled. Having just told them of the prophecy, he knew that he had to tell them of his confrontation with Dumbledore, but held back. He hated confrontation, and he was more than a little ashamed of himself right now.
"Harry?" Ginny said, laying a hand on his arm. "What is it?"
He looked up at her, and smiled. "Can't get much past you, can I?"
"There's more?" Ron asked.
"Well, rather a lot, actually," Harry admitted.
Hermione looked shell-shocked. "What?"
"Well, when I went downstairs, Dumbledore was down there..."
"...and?" Ron prompted.
"I lit into him about lying to me... again," Harry said quietly.
"You told off Dumbledore?" Hermione said, her eyes round with shock.
"And I told him I wasn't going to be kept out of things any longer, or I would assume that he, and anyone who supported him in lying to me, was working against me," Harry's voice got even quieter.
Hermione squeaked. Ron looked at him like he was out of his tree. Ginny smiled.
And the twins were silent. This was more surprising to Harry than any of the other's reactions. A speechless Fred and George was unheard of.
"And..." Harry glanced nervously at Hermione. "I sold Kreacher."
"You sold a house elf?" Hermione squealed.
"I didn't want to, Hermione," Harry blushed. "But Dumbledore wouldn't just take him, he said a house elf can't be given away. And I figured you'd rather I sold him than killed him."
Hermione glared at him.
"And I'm afraid that those were the only options, as I wasn't about to let the little bastard out and about, knowing what he knows about the Order and..." Harry sighed. "I'm sorry."
Hermione took a deep breath. "I probably would have done the same thing, Harry."
"I wouldn't have," Ginny stated darkly. "Bloody little git. He's lucky it wasn't me, or his head would be on that wall of shame as we speak."
"Gin..." Hermione began, only to be interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Harry?"
"Come in, Mrs. Weasley," Harry turned to the door.
Molly entered, and stopped, surprised for a moment to see all of them there, and the twins, as well.
"Oh, you're all here..."
"Yes, Mum," Ron said quietly. "Harry's just been telling us...well, telling us a lot of things we didn't know."
"Oh," Molly looked at her brood, then sighed, and came forward to sit on the edge of the bed beside Hermione where she leaned against the headboard, a pillow clutched tightly against her chest. Looking around at them, Molly shook her head.
"You're all growing up so fast. Too fast," she had tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry."
"Mum?" Ginny crawled over to her, taking her hand across Hermione's knees. "Don't, Mum."
"You're all going to want to join the Order now. And it's out of my hands, isn't it?"
"Mum, we're not children any more," Fred began.
"But you are, and I wish you could stay that way for a little longer."
"Mum, when you were my age, you and Dad were already married," Ron pointed out.
"Yes, Ron, but those were different times. We didn't know how long we had," she smiled, then the smile faded as she realized what she'd said.
"Neither do we, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said softly.
"I know, dear," Molly nodded. "I don't like it, you know. I'll have a few things to say to Albus Dumbledore when he gets here tonight... but..."
She turned her eyes to Harry. He returned her look levelly. She knew what he had to do, and she knew that these people around him were the ones that would stand beside him as he did it. Four of her own children. Six if you counted Charlie and Bill, which Molly was sure they could. And Percy... well, when it came down to it, Percy would choose the right path.
All of her children, central to this. What were the chances of all of them coming through unscathed?
Slim to none, she realized. One in five wizards had died during the previous war. She knew it might be even worse this time, and with seven children in the middle of it... and Harry.
"I'm going to lose at least one of you, I just know it," she cried. "And I..."
"Mum..."
"But I know this," she blinked away her tears and nodded. "You wouldn't be the people your father and I raised you to be if you stood back and let things happen around you. The Order meeting is at seven, in the War Room, Harry. You have my blessing, if you feel you need it."
"Of course I do, Mrs. Weasley," he said, his eyes not leaving hers. "But not for me."
Molly looked around at her children, and Harry, and Hermione, and nodded. "You all have it. I may not like it, but I can't change it."
As she stood and moved to the door, she smiled back at them. "Dinner at six, mind. And Harry, you will let me know if I'm to expect any others?"
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley."
"Very good, then."
As she closed the door behind her, they looked around at each other in stunned silence.
"Wow," said Fred.
"Never saw that coming," said George.
"I'm scared," said Hermione quietly. Harry turned to look at her and smiled a very small smile when he saw Ron scoot up beside her and put his arm comfortingly around her.
"We're all scared, Hermione, but at least now the only one we'll be fighting is Voldemort," Ginny said. "We can handle him."
"So, the Order meeting is tonight," Harry said, getting the instant attention of the others.
"You're going?" Ron asked.
"Of course," Harry nodded, looking Ron in the eye. "Are you?"
"Me?" Ron looked surprised for a moment, then grinned at his friend. "Wouldn't miss it, mate."
"Hermione?" Harry turned his eyes to her, taking in her pale face and dark eyes.
"I'm in, Harry. Of course I'm in," she said quietly, moving closer to Ron.
Harry turned to the twins, "You?"
Identical grins.
"You know it, mate."
"Wouldn't bypass an opportunity such as this!"
And finally, Harry turned to Ginny. "Gin?"
"Me?" she looked at him. "Really?"
"It's got to be up to you, Ginny," Harry shrugged. "It's okay if you don't want to. Your mum and dad would probably prefer it, but..."
"But?"
"But you were great in the Department of Mysteries. I had no idea..." Harry swallowed. "I don't want you to get hurt."
"I won't, Harry," she smiled. "Thank you."
"We need to get hold of Neville and Luna, too... Ron, where's Pig? Hedwig hasn't returned..."
And at that moment, the great snowy owl flew in the window and hooted, as if to say, you called?
"I think she heard you, Harry," Fred grinned.
"Hermione?"
"Yes, Harry?" her wide eyes met his.
"Your parents will never, ever require an invitation to visit here. Owl them and tell them to come whenever they like."
Her eyes lit. "Thanks, Harry."
"We'll get Hermes," Fred said, standing and heading for the window. "There are going to be a lot of letters for Pig and Hedwig to carry. We might as well use the prat's owl, too."
"Percy's owl?" Ron asked. "How?"
"Oh, we've been using him for ages," George said dismissively. "He likes the owl treats we give him better than the ones our git of a brother supplies, apparently."
"Guys?" Harry stood hesitantly.
Fred and George both looked at him enquiringly.
"I don't know that that is such a good idea," Harry said softly.
"What do you mean, Harry?" Fred turned.
"I mean..." Harry took a breath. "I'm sorry, I..."
"Haven't you heard a word Harry has said?" Ginny demanded. "Anyone who isn't with us, we have to assume is against us."
Fred and George looked stunned, and glanced at each other, then back to Harry.
"I just don't want to run the risk of anything being intercepted." Harry said quietly.
"No," Fred stepped away from the window. "You're right, Harry. Absolutely, I should have thought..."
"Fred, you don't really think..." George looked pale.
"We... we've been using Hermes for everything, Harry... Merlin, I hope..." Fred sat down on the desk chair.
"I'm sure it's okay," Harry said gently. "It's just that we have to be able to trust everyone who the people we trust... trust. If you know what I mean?"
"Yes, of course."
"And I don't trust Fudge," Harry continued. "I can't. You know my history with him. I know Percy trusts him, but... well. Right now, besides Luna and Neville and certain members of your family, everyone I trust implicitly is in this room."
"Harry, it's okay," Ron said. "I think, at this point, most of us would be hard pressed to trust Percy again. After what he did to Mum and Dad..."
"Trust is hard earned, and easily lost, and never fully regained," Ginny said. Harry's eyes moved to her, to find her looking at him.
"I can't take lies," Harry said, his eyes moving around the room. "I just can't. I know... I know sometimes it's hard to not... when you want to believe something yourself. But I can't. I promise you all, I'll never lie to you."
When his eyes found Ginny again, he was startled to see that her face had gone very, very pale, and her eyes were wide and shocked.
"Gin? You okay?"
"Yes, Harry," she nodded. "I'll be fine, really."
"Gin?" Ron said softly.
"Don't, Ron," she replied, dismissing her brother's concern, or so it seemed to Harry.
After dinner and before the meeting, the Weasley clan, minus Percy, and with the addition of Harry, Hermione and Remus Lupin, sat around the huge kitchen table. Harry had asked Molly to have Bill and Charlie come early, as he knew they would be at the meeting that night, and he wanted to talk to them all.
He now sat, looking into the crystal blue eyes of the eldest Weasley siblings. Harry was surprised to realize that each of the male members of the Weasley family had the same crystal blue eyes as their father, yet Ginny had somehow gotten Molly's soft brown eyes. She was so different from her brothers in so very many ways.
A lot of very interesting ways, he thought, before he caught himself and redirected his attention back to the group around the table.
"Harry? What's going on?" Bill said.
"I found out today that Sirius left me Grimmauld Place," Harry stated bluntly, his eyes moving from the Weasley daughter directly to her elder brother, and hardening in the process.
"Oh," Bill leaned back in his chair, and Charlie shifted uncomfortably in his. Remus coughed.
"I know that you all knew. I want to assure you that I had no idea until today," Harry said. "I know I wasn't supposed to find out, but I did. Things are going to... change."
"Change, how?" Charlie said, eyeing the younger man.
"I'm not going to be lied to any longer, Charlie," Harry said quietly. "I can't. I just can't. I've spoken to Dumbledore, and I think that he understands that things need to... change. Tonight I'm joining the Order of the Phoenix."
Charlie, Bill and Arthur all sat straighter in their chairs.
"Harry..." Arthur began, obviously about to try to dissuade him.
"Arthur," Molly spoke from her end of the table. "Harry isn't the only one that has been lied to."
"Molly?"
"Albus hasn't told us everything, Arthur. Please, just listen to Harry for a moment."
Arthur, his eyebrows reaching into his hairline, stared at his wife for a moment before turned surprised eyes back to Harry.
"Alright, then, Harry. Go on."
As clearly and unemotionally as he could, he told them of the prophecy. All of it, not just the part they'd been allowed to hear. When he finished, there was silence.
"So you understand why I have to join, why I have to be part of this. Why I can't tolerate being lied to and manipulated any longer."
"Harry..." Remus spoke. "I am so very, very sorry. I had no idea."
"I understand, Professor," Harry said. "And I'm certain that Dumbledore felt what he was doing was for the best, but it's not what is best for me, and I'm not going along with it any longer. I told him today that I would have to consider anyone not working with me to be working against me, that went for him, and that goes for everyone here. I care a great deal about you all, but I have a lot to think about right now, and I can't be concerned with who is on my side, and who is trying to stop me from doing what I have to do, for whatever reason, good or bad. I need to know where you each stand before I walk into that room tonight."
"Harry..." Charlie began. "Are you going to attempt to take over the Order?"
"Not at all," Harry denied. "But I certainly expect to have a larger role to play."
"I can see why," Bill said quietly. "You're central to everything we've been doing. No wonder..."
"Bill?"
"I always wondered why the extra security. I mean, you're the boy who lived, but I never really understood..." Bill suddenly realized what he was saying. "Well, now I understand why it is imperative that you continue to be safe, Harry."
"So..." Harry began.
"Maybe..." Arthur turned to his younger children. "Maybe it would be best if you left us to talk, Ron, Ginny... Fred and George?"
"I'm sorry, Dad, but I'm not leaving," Ron said firmly.
"Ron?"
"Where Harry goes, I go," Ron said, meeting his father's eyes. "We're a team. I'm joining, too."
"Ron..." Arthur began.
"Dad..." Fred said, glancing at his twin. "The six of us had a talk this afternoon. Ron and Ginny and Hermione and Harry... and us. We're all going to join the Order tonight."
"Fred..." Arthur began, expecting Molly to cut him off. When she didn't, he turned to her, surprised. "Molly?"
"They're older than we were, Arthur," she said quietly.
"Mum?" Bill looked at her, his shock obvious.
"Ron is the same age I was when I was carrying you, Bill."
"Mum!" Bill turned to her. "I can understand the twins, and even Ron, seeing as it's Harry in this situation, but Ginny...?"
"What about me?" Ginny said.
"You're... only fifteen, Gin."
"I'll be sixteen in no time," she said. "Besides which, I've told Harry I'm joining. And I am."
"Ginevra..." Arthur began.
"No, Daddy! Harry came down into that Chamber for me when he was just twelve! I'm nearly sixteen, of course I'm with them!"
"You're too young!" Charlie said, turning to Harry. "And you should have told her so!"
"It's not up to me, Charlie," Harry said. "I'd do anything to keep her out of this. But I can't. It's as much her destiny as it is mine."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Charlie yelled.
"Tom Riddle targeted Ginny for a reason," Harry shrugged.
"And that was?"
"I don't know," Harry said. "I wish I did, but I don't. But the fact remains, he did, and Ginny is as much a part of this as I am. I can't stop her, Charlie, and neither can you."
There was silence at the table for a moment, and then Molly stood. "Come, girls, help me with the dishes so that we can be ready for the meeting."
Ginny and Hermione stood to help Molly, and Harry and Ron followed, helping to clear the table as Molly set the spells for washing the dishes and putting them away. Before they knew it, it was nearly seven, and the other members of the Order began to filter in.
Harry followed Hermione into the hallway as the kitchen became more crowded.
"Mione?"
"Harry..." Hermione had jumped at the sound of his voice, not realizing she'd been followed, but relaxed after a moment.
"Did you send a note with Hedwig to your parents?"
"No, not yet... I..."
"What?" he asked, seeing how upset she was.
"Oh, Harry!" she threw her arms around him and began to cry. "I'm frightened. I've never been so frightened before!"
"Mione, it's going to be okay, really!"
"Harry, it's going to be dangerous. Really, really dangerous. I think I thought that so long as we weren't in the Order, the others were protecting us... I guess I needed that. Maybe I'm a coward..."
"Mione... you made it into Gryffindor somehow. If you were just smart and not brave, you'd have been sorted into Ravenclaw."
"I suppose..." she sniffed.
"I know."
"And I'm concerned about my parents traveling alone here... I don't know...."
"I'm sure your parents are capable of getting themselves to London."
"Well, yes."
"Then we'll have someone meet them."
"But..."
"Or better yet, we'll have someone go to them with a Portkey. Much better. They can Portkey directly here."
"Harry..." she smiled up at him through her tears, and Harry pulled her close in a brotherly hug. "Thank you."
"Oh! I'm... sorry..." the door to the kitchen had opened, and closed so quickly that they barely had time to register the red head before it was gone.
"Ginny..." Harry sighed.
"Ginny?" Hermione smiled. "You need to watch yourself, Mister Potter."
"What?"
"All these protective Weasley men around and you're not hiding your feelings very well."
"What?" Harry colored. "What are you talking about?"
"It's okay, Harry, I'm just teasing," Hermione said quietly. "I think I'm the only one who had noticed."
"Mione..."
"Are you telling me you haven't noticed her?"
"Of course I've noticed her, she's Ginny!"
"She's more than just Ginny, Harry," Hermione smiled in that annoying girl way again. "But I'll keep your secret for you."
"No secret, Hermione. There are not secrets in this house any longer."
"Oh, I think you might be surprised, Harry," Hermione smiled widely, turning and heading for the War Room.
Well, another one down. I actually have the whole darned thing outlined, it's just a matter of sitting down and getting the writing done, and praying my muse doesn't abandon me!
I have received a few comments re the characters here. I'm glad that so many of you like "Harry with a backbone" -- to put it politely... some of you described it in rather different ways, of course! Remember, Harry is SEVENTEEN in this one. His trust has to be earned, especially by those who have betrayed him, or misled him, in past.
I hope you all enjoy this chapter. It seems that there was quite a lot of interest in the twins' reaction, and even questions about why, exactly, Harry was summoning them. I hope that this chapter cleared up a few things... and maybe raised some different questions!
CQ
Sabine Strohem-Moss: I tend to update fast. When I get in "the groove" as it were, I write in huge chunks, rather like a purging (blush!). Lupin wasn't told everything, either. Dumbledore has a habit of playing things close to his chest, and Harry isn't the only victim of this.
Dkandmax: Ginny is... well, unique! I love her character, and love writing her. She's always on the periphery... which I think came from growing up the youngest in a house of boys. All of the canon characters are lovely to write. I even enjoy writing Snape and Malfoy... it's fun to play "evil" every once in a while!
Treck: I try to respond to all of my reviewers. I figure that if someone takes the time to review, the very least I can do is respond! I love to hear everything people have to say, good or bad. It's nice to get feedback on something that really feels like a part of you. And don't worry, Harry's time with Snape and Mrs Black is just around the corner. And as for Dobby... well, we'll have to wait and see, huh?
Shotgunn: You're just spoiled. Even my short chapters are generally longer than those to be found in other fics. Well, I hope this one is long enough for you – there are a few longer ones coming... and possibly a few short ones. And James is a lovely beta. He tells me what is crap, in no uncertain terms, and keeps me from making a total fool of myself by screwing with canon. And he hasn't cut anything yet... it's just me and my muse! BTW -- don't worry, Hermione's time is coming. In spades!
Merlindamage: Everyone has motives, but they're not always dark. We'll have to see how it pans out here. At the moment, Harry is just trying to figure out (again) who he can depend on.
Jlatmill: You're right, James is the best. If it weren't for him, I would probably have quit writing HP fanfics about four chapters in on The Power of Truth. I tend to have rather unique ideas when I write fanfics. People have responded well to my efforts so far, so I guess I'll probably keep it up!
RealityIntrovert: Hmm, supertraining, huh? You know, one of the things I DON'T like about some fanfics is the whole "uber-Harry" thing, that makes him somehow, sub-human. Assuredly, there will be training, and has been training throughout his years at Hogwarts, but I think the most important thing needed to defeat Voldemort is something that Harry already has, but hasn't recognized yet. We'll see.
RadcliffeRox24: It's got nothing to do with the Matrix... when Harry is referred to as "the One" it doesn't mean he's some uber-God... simply the person whom fate has chosen to either defeat or be defeated by evil in THIS particular form. I certainly don't see Harry as some Neo wannabe... I don't even particularly like the character of Neo... although it could be just Keanu Reeves in that role (can't get over the whole Bill and Ted thing, I guess!)
Kordolin: Plenty of Harry and Ginny coming, I assure you. This fic has an R rating for a reason (grin).
Ginny 22: Thanks! I update pretty regularly, so hope to see more reviews from you!
GiGiFanfic: Harry with a spine... yes, you could say that! Now, you have to remember, Harry is now seventeen, an of-age wizard. And he's coming closer to his destiny. As he does, he's recognizing more and more just what he needs to find within himself to complete the task he's been given. Harry will have his moment with Snape shortly... (And James is wonderful!)
CQ