I have a present: it is the present.
You have to learn to find it within you.
If you can learn to love it,
You just might like it.
You can't live without it.
There's a million open windows.
I'm passing these open windows
September 9th 1AM Friday
Blood…Khalida crying out in pain. Gunshots! Why isn't anyone helping us? Cracks…pops…yelling…falling…
The sound of angry whispers brought me out of my nightmare. I decided against opening my eyes immediately. My thoughts and memories were a jumbled mess. For some reason I couldn't remember where I was or how I got there. A soft blanket was covering me and my head was resting on a fluffy pillow. I shifted slightly and felt something hard against my back. I assumed that I was lying on a couch.
"Draco," Dumbledore pleaded softly, "you must leave now, there is no other choice."
"I'm not leaving Jenny here," Draco growled.
"And what would you have me do," Dumbledore whispered, "Would you rather if I went instead and left you here alone with a slightly injured vampire, a muggle police officer and a young witch who, at this moment, is plagued by an illness which we know nothing about." There was a silent pause.
"No," Draco admitted quietly, "You're right. If Jenny wakes while I'm gone tell her that I will back soon." I could hear a door open somewhere off to my left. "I don't want her to think that I abandoned her," Draco added.
"I will explain everything to her," Dumbledore stated and the door closed quietly.
"I'd like to thank you for feigning sleep Jenny," Dumbledore said to my surprise. I slowly opened my eyes and found him staring down at me, lips twisted into an amused grin. "I've been trying to convince Draco to leave for the last half hour."
"Where did he go?" I asked as I attempted to sit up. Dumbledore laid a hand on my shoulder and shook his head.
"You are very ill," he explained, "You need to rest for now. I'm afraid you will need all the strength you can muster in a few hours. We are in a safe house in New York. Draco has gone to track down Fred and George Weasley who, according to Draco, are currently staying in New York for a trade show."
"Is Khalida okay?" I asked quickly, "And Officer Wilkes, is he alright?"
"Relax my dear," Dumbledore replied softly, "Khalida is resting upstairs in one of the bedrooms and the current situation has been explained to Officer Wilkes, as well as a bit of background information so everything will make sense."
"My father, is he here too?" I questioned hesitantly. Dumbledore nodded slowly and turned toward a couch against the wall directly across the room from us.
I paled in shock as my eyes took in the sight of the prone figure lying there. I scrambled to rise from the couch and Dumbledore attempted to push me back down. With a growl I pushed him away and swung my legs around so my feet were flat on the floor.
The room spun around me as I slowly pushed myself up. I took a few small steps before my legs gave out and I fell to the floor. Dumbledore rushed to help me up but I pushed his hand away once again. Gritting my teeth in determination I rose to my hands and knees and gradually made my way across the room. My knees groaned in protest and my palms ached as I crawled across the rough carpeting beneath me.
I kept my eyes firmly planted on the floor as I neared the couch. When I finally reached my destination I shakily pulled myself up to gaze at my father. Tears rose up from within me as I noticed that his appearance had not changed since I had seen him last, lying silent and cold within in his casket.
"You are just sleeping," I whispered as I leaned down to kiss his forehead. His skin was still pale and cool. The round wire-rimmed glasses perched on his nose were crooked and I straightened them carefully.
"Draco will inform the Weasley twins of our predicament," Dumbledore explained as he stood behind me, "It is my hope that they will be able to contact Mr. Wood and make arrangements for our quick departure."
"What about Wilkes?" I asked as I slowly ran a hand through my father's hair.
"We cannot leave him here," Dumbledore admitted sadly, "He will have to come with us."
"It's not fair," I stated without turning around, "He's only a muggle, he shouldn't have become involved in all of this."
"But I am involved," Wilkes interrupted. I turned around to find him standing halfway down the staircase, looking down at me over the railing.
"You probably have family though," I said sadly, "Your life is ruined now. Perhaps it would have been better if you were obliviated." Wilkes shook his head fiercely and descended the steps to stand beside Dumbledore.
"I have no family so there's no need to feel guilty," Wilkes stated, "and I don't think I like the idea of someone tinkering with my memories." He knelt down beside me and his gaze shifted to my father. "Besides," he added, "I may only be a muggle but I can be useful in tight situations, and this is definitely one very tight situation."
"I'm sorry," I said apologetically.
"Like I said," Wilkes continued, "there's nothing to feel guilty about. I'm sure after all of this gets sorted out I'll probably thank you for letting me accompany you on such a grand adventure."
"It doesn't feel like a grand adventure," I stated coldly.
"No," he said as he reached out to gently lay a hand on my father's own, "but right now it's the only way I can think about things and still convince myself that I'm not insane."
"Where did everybody go!" Khalida called out from upstairs.
"We're down here!" I yelled back. Khalida came bounding down the stairs a moment later.
"Why does everyone look so upset?" she asked as she crossed the room to stand behind me, "Soon we will back at Hogwarts, Gilgamesh will wake from his nap and everything will be okay."
"I'm afraid it will not be that easy," Dumbledore stated, "Unless Draco returns quickly with news from Mr. Wood, we may have to make another daring escape."
"But this is a safe house, isn't it?" I asked in confusion, "Doesn't the name imply that we're safe here." Dumbledore shook his head.
"We are safe for the time being but the wards will not hold forever," he explained, "I'm afraid that if the authorities wish to find us, then eventually they will locate this place."
"What then?" I asked nervously.
"We fight our way out of course," Wilkes stated grimly.
"I don't even know how to use a wand," I protested, "Besides that, do I need to remind you that you are a muggle and I know you're powerful Dumbledore but I doubt that you'd be able to take on a whole group of aurors all by yourself."
"That is true," Dumbledore admitted, "but you forget that if the worst should happen I do have my own allies to rely upon." Khalida, Wilkes and I stared at him with matching looks of confusion.
"Do you mean the ministry?" I asked, "Do you really think that it's a good idea to involve them in this?" Dumbledore grinned mischievously and I groaned in frustration. "It could start a frickin' war," I added, "You do understand that right?"
"I was not speaking of the ministry," Dumbledore chuckled.
"Then who?" Khalida asked curiously.
"Those in the ministry have never been my true allies," he explained, "If we need protection there is only one group that I can trust."
"The Order of the Phoenix," I said with an excited gasp. Dumbledore shook his head once more and now I was truly confused.
"I know of whom you speak," Khalida interrupted, "and I can't believe that you would even consider it."
"Who is it?" I asked angrily.
"A group formed to fight beside Harry during the second war," he explained.
"But I thought that was the Order of the Phoenix," I stated.
"The Order of the Phoenix fought during the war as well," Dumbledore said with a nod, "They also gathered information and helped in the capture of many of Voldemort's followers."
"During the second war," he continued, "I formed a second group. The sole purpose of this group was not ending the war or destroying Voldemort. The group existed to protect Harry Potter and assist him in every battle."
"They live and breathe for your father," Khalida hissed, "and they are dark."
"What do you mean dark?" Wilkes asked with a frown.
"Dark wizards and witches," Khalida said and then added, "as well as dark creatures."
"Each one of them is blood bonded to your father," she continued, "They would follow him blindly to death if he ordered them to."
"What's this group called?" I asked hesitantly.
"The Brotherhood of Eanna," Dumbledore stated.
"So if there's this group that lives only to protect my father, then why haven't they shown up yet?" I asked in confusion.
"Your father sent them away after Voldemort died," Dumbledore explained, "If we require their assistance we will need to summon them back."
"But Gilgamesh is the only one that can summon them," Khalida growled and Dumbledore shook his head.
"There is another who can call them," he stated as his gaze leveled on me, "It was his blood that bound them and it his blood that can bring them back."
"Why didn't you mention this before?" I snapped, "Don't you think we could have used the help before this?"
"We should not call upon them," Khalida said warily as she knelt down beside me. "They are bloody thirsty demons."
"Now Khalida," Dumbledore warned.
"It is true and you know it old man," she hissed.
"They did what they were ordered to do," he said sternly and then added, "unlike some." Khalida jumped up from the floor to stand in front of Dumbledore. She barred her fangs at him but he stood his ground.
"I did what I had to do," she growled, "and I didn't do it for you, I did it for Gilgamesh. The only reason I am here now is for him and Jenny so I would watch what you say."
"And you need to remember exactly who you are dealing with," Dumbledore replied coolly as he glared down at her.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop as the two remained locked in silent battle, neither one showing signs of giving in anytime soon. Officer Wilkes glanced at me nervously, questioning me with his eyes as to what we could do to subvert the impending disaster.
"If we call upon the Brotherhood," Khalida ground out, "you are aware that they will not follow your orders. Do you truly think that Jenny will be able to retain control over them?"
"They know what it is they need to do," Dumbledore stated, "Beyond that they need few orders."
"O yes," Khalida said sarcastically, "Perhaps you should explain to Jenny what they will do if they are not given proper orders."
"They fall back to the first orders given to them," Dumbledore stated innocently.
"And what are those orders?" I asked anxiously as Dumbledore and Khalida both turned to stare at me. Khalida walked over and helped me up off the floor.
"Search and destroy," she said sadly. I turned around and glanced down at my father.
"My father would never order someone to do something like that," I said angrily and Khalida shook her head.
"Your father would not," she explained, "But Harry Potter would, and he did."
"Then if we must, we will summon them here," I stated firmly as I glared up at Dumbledore. "I am not my father," I added, "and I'm not Harry Potter either, so don't think you can manipulate me as you did him. If I call upon the Brotherhood then they will be my army and they will follow my orders."
I pushed past Dumbledore angrily and stumbled toward the staircase. Khalida moved to follow me but Dumbledore held her back. I stopped halfway up the stairs as Dumbledore called out to me.
"You are ill Miss Riddle," he said sadly, "Perhaps when you are feeling better we can discuss this further." I shook my head and rolled my eyes.
"You just don't get it do you Dumbledore," I said calmly, "You may have had some kind of father-son bond with my father, but I hardly know you and you definitely do not know me. The only thing I want right now is to see my father alive once again and I will do anything to make sure that happens."
"Even if you have to kill to do it?" Dumbledore asked in concern. I continued to walk up the stairs and answered his question without turning around.
"By whatever means necessary," I replied simply, "and you should know all about that."
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Where did I get the idea for the Brotherhood of Eanna?
I came up with the idea for the Brotherhood while thinking about the way people become obsessed with famous people. Just look how obsessed I am with Harry Potter, enough to spend hours writing a fanfiction story apparently. Now imagine if someone actually was responsible for saving the world, what kind of fans would that person have.
I have to admit that I am not religious but even I can see the similarities between Harry Potter and Jesus. And since Jesus had followers I have given Harry followers as well. A group that has gone from simple fanaticism to blind worship, following Harry as if he were a God himself...or a messiah.
The name, Brotherhood of Eanna, is a reference to the story of Gilgamesh. It was said that the temple of Eanna was constructed by Gilgamesh and was dedicated to the worship of Ishtar.
NEXT CHAPTER: The Great Escape, the Brotherhood returns (I think you will be shocked by a few of the members), and Jenny finally opens that damn box.