Chapter 12 Reactions
There was no single sound in the Great Hall as Harry and Tonks left.
Dumbledore looked disbelievingly after them with eyes wide as saucers.
The students were the same, only the Slytherins began to snicker.
Hermione looked deep in thought, Ron looked dumbstruck but Ginny looked sad after them and sighed deeply.
"Now we know who his love is." she whispered.
Hermione took her hand gently and tried to lighten her mood.
"Ginny, did you see them? Did you see the love in both of their eyes?"
Ginny nodded and a single tear rolled down her cheek.
"This may hurt you now, Ginny, but if you really love him, and we know you do, then you must wish to see him happy. And he is happy with Tonks."
Ginny smiled sadly but nodded, "You are right, as always, Hermione. And I wish them both luck. If one deserves to be happy, then it is Harry."
Hermione smiled reassuringly, "That's the spirit! And you know, you will find another man who is going to make you happy."
"You know what?" asked Ron, "I think Harry is the first one who really shocked Dumbledore. Hi is still standing with his mouth open." joked Ron and broke the tension.
Both girls looked to the teachers table and grinned.
"Harry wasn't joking as he said, Dumbledore had another thing coming." agreed Ginny now grinning.
"Yeah! I hope Dumbledore is sensible enough to treat Tonks with respect. Otherwise is Harry going to be angry and I don't really want to know what then is going to happen." said Hermione seriously.
Ron looked back to Hermione, "Do you think, Kingsley is going to be punished?"
Hermione gulped, "I don't know, Ron. Harry had a point, you know. He stands up for his friends, this year more so then ever. But that is nothing against that, what he would do for his love and he seemed really angry about that all."
"Yeah, he was frightening." Ginny whispered.
"And he had another point. He didn't do anything. He only pointed out a fact to the aurors, Ron." Hermione continued, "Kingsley made a secret known and that in front of their eyes. I don't think Harry has anything to do with the consequences. But one thing puzzles me."
"What?" asked Ron eagerly.
"From where did he know was a level-omega-secret is? Even I have never heard of anything like this." she said.
Neville came out of his stupor and answered quietly, "There are some different levels of secrecy. I only know that, because my parents were aurors. The higher the level the less people know about that and the higher the sentence. But even I have never heard of a level Omega. That can only be from the Unspeakables. But I do know one thing, the highest level I have ever heard of was a level Gamma and the sentence for betraying that secret is the kiss."
Hermione and Ginny blanched, "The kiss?"
Neville nodded.
"And now that we are in war, there will be no leniency." Hermione said sadly, "Adding to that... even if he doesn't like it but Harry is the savior,a hero if there ever was one. Kingsley has betrayed one of the most famous wizards and alone for that he is going to pay."
Ron nodded, for once without any sign of envy.
"Hey, look. Dumbledore is moving again." said Ron grinning.
"Yeah, he is whispering something to Snape and McGonagall. I bet there is going to be a meeting of the... you-know-what." Hermione said.
Ginny and Ron nodded.
"And I bet, we are special guests now." added Hermione and gulped.
"Oh shit!" Ron said.
Hermione was right of course and even before the breakfast was over, McGonagall came to them and summoned them for a meeting after lunch.
"Could you please invite Miss Tonks too?" she added.
"We don't know, Professor. She is probably in Harry's quarters now and nobody of us has the password." Hermione said.
McGonagall looked surprised, "He didn't give you the password?"
"No. We wondered about that too but now it makes sense." Ginny said deep in thought.
"Could you explain that?" asked the elderly professor.
"If you think about it, it is clear. Harry wanted to keep his relationship secret and he was right about that as we all could see," she added with a cold voice, "His quarters were one place where they could meet. He didn't give us the password so we couldn't surprise him and uncover his secret."
McGonagall nodded, "That makes indeed sense. And I assure you, I am not happy with the headmaster at the moment. Harry was of course right, Professor Dumbledore should respect his privacy. But otherwise he is right about a teacher-student-relationship." she sighed.
"If you ask me, professor, as long as Harry is happy I would say nothing against it. And she isn't so much older than he is." Hermione said seriously and sent also a fuming glare in the direction of the headmaster.
"While I agree with you it is still against the school rules. Now, remember there is a meeting after lunch, kids." She left the Gryffindor-Table.
The friends got up and left too, already thinking about what they were going to say in the meeting.
The members of the Order were waiting anxiously that the meeting would begin. The most of them hadn't a clue what this was about because the meeting was unscheduled.
Molly looked nearly afraid as the kids came in.
"Where is Harry? Has something happened to him?" she asked.
"Mum! Keep cool. Harry is fine. He is..."
Dumbledore interrupted Ron and called the meeting to order.
"Why are we here, Albus? And where is Harry?" Molly asked and disregarded all rules of the proper opening.
"That is the point, Molly." Dumbledore said without his well-known twinkle in his eyes.
"He is missing and he endangered the life of a fellow member."
"He did nothing of that sort!" Ron interrupted him fuming, "You were the one who betrayed Harry and you were the one who told this level... what was it?"
"Level Omega." Hermione helped and sent the surprised headmaster a cold look.
"Yeah, this level-Omega-secret. You screamed it through the whole school. Harry did nothing. You endangered his life."
"Mr. Weasley!" Dumbledore bellowed disbelievingly.
"Is that true, Albus?" Moody asked seriously.
"Yes it is." answered McGonagall strictly.
"Minerva!" said a disturbed Dumbledore.
"Even I would never spill a level Omega-Secret, Albus not even to you." Moody said with a steely voice, "If Kingsley was so dumb to to this and even more so in front of witnesses, then he has deserved the sentence for high treason."
"Alastor! You can't be serious."
"I am, Albus. Nobody betrays a level-Omega secret, nobody. And if you bellowed this information through the whole school, then you are the one who betrayed the thrust of Kingsley and so you are partly responsible as well as him. And if Mr. Weasley was right your betrayed Harry too. This level is only for the most protected secrets of the Unspeakables. Even the minister is not informed of anything with this security-level. The question is, what has Potter to do with this mess?"
Dumbledore fell back in his seat and buried his face in his hands.
"And where is he?" Molly asked white as a sheet.
"That is the question why we are here. To answer your question, Alastor," said Dumbledore a bit calmer as before, "Today came four aurors in the Great Hall. One of them was Kingsley. The were sent to collect Mr. Potter and bring him to the ministry, seemingly to the Department of Mysteries. Kingsley informed me that there is more than a friendly relationship between Harry and Nymphadora."
Tonks growled and sent him a cold stare but he ignored her.
"Of course I couldn't allow a teacher to date a student. So I asked her if it was true. And it was."
"Yeah and nobody deserves a punishment more than Potter." Snape growled.
"Keep your mouth shut, Snape." Remus said in an icy voice.
"So he is at the ministry now?" Molly asked hopefully after she mustered Tonks.
"That I can not answer Molly. That is the reason why the kids are here now. I hoped, they could tell me was Harry was up to."
"We don't know, Professor." Hermione answered truthfully, "We knew he was up to something serious. He declined Quidditch, he dropped all classes that seemed unimportant to him and he did nothing more than studying. We don't know anything more."
"Nothing more?" Dumbledore asked and locked his gaze with her, then with Ron and finally with Tonks.
"It seems to be true. Miss Tonks, what can you say us about his whereabouts?"
"Nothing." she answered coldly.
"Nymphadora, that is more important than a little grudge. If it helps you, I am sorry how I treated you and your relationship." Dumbledore said harshly.
"As Moody said, no one spills a level Omega secret, Headmaster not even to the Order."
Dumbledore stared disbelievingly at the young witch.
"Besides, I don't know where he is right now." Tonks added.
"Tonks, please. Tell us what you know. I am worried about him." Molly pleaded with tears in her eyes.
Tonks rolled her eyes, "If Dumbledore did not disturb his plans to badly, then he should be fine at the moment. But Harry said, that he believes that this cowardly action will change his plans drastically but even he didn't know anything more."
Most of the members gasped at the remark about Dumbledore but the cold glares of the teens and Remus silenced every argument.
"Why did he leave in the first place? He has to take his NEWTS!" Molly reasoned.
"That he did right after Christmas. And it seems he passed." Dumbledore sighed.
"He did what!"
"Yeah, mum and he passed with flying colors too." Ron grinned.
"But what is he going to do?" she was near a breakdown. Dumbledore's twinkle came back. For him couldn't this meeting go better. Molly with her protectiveness of Harry interrogated the involved people more than he ever could. However he wasn't satisfied with the information.
"Remus, do you know something about it?" he asked.
Remus looked as peeved as Tonks. He shrugged coolly and answered, "I won't betray Harry's thrust. And Molly, he is fine."
"Remus! Please!" she begged.
"Molly, all I know is, that he is training. I don't know more." Remus sighed.
"Training?" Snape laughed.
"Shut up!" Tonks bellowed.
"But with whom? I... I thought he would learn from you, Albus or even Tonks." Molly asked.
"But he learned from me, Molly. We trained together since summer." Tonks tried to ease her mind.
"It seems we get no more information. Harry seems to be quite secretive about his plans." Dumbledore gave in. He had of course used his Legilimancy but he got nothing out of Tonks who was an average Occlumens and he got also nothing from Remus or the kids. He knew however that all were saying the truth.
"It is imperative the we find him. Keep your eyes open, please and inform me immediately if you find him or some clues." he ordered his followers.
"The same goes for you three!" said Dumbledore with a look at the kids.
"I won't tell you anything, Headmaster with all due respect. I will not betray Harry and honestly I am more then angry with you now. What is between Tonks and Harry is nothing you have anything to say about and you had no right to spill that to the whole school especially to the Slytherins. They are going after Tonks now and all only because you can't keep your nose out of Harry's life." said Hermione to an flabbergasted headmaster.
"Granger, twenty points..." Snape bellowed.
"...for Gryffindor. Because she is right." McGonagall interrupted the potions master and glared at him.
"Way to go! And for me it's the same." Ron congratulated a blushing Hermione.
"Yeah for me too." Ginny supported them.
"Thank you guys." said Tonks and grinned.
"That is outrageous!" Dumbledore bellowed.
"That maybe. But if you make us choose between the Order and Harry, we support Harry. Besides you don't give us any information and we are no members of your order. So what? That has nothing to do with school so you can't order us to do it. If Tonks and Remus say he is safe, then he is safe. Harry has changed Professor if you like it or not. He seems to know, what he is doing now and if he deems his actions right then thats enough for me." Ron said boldly.
Then he looked to his mum, afraid he offended her but all he got was a proud look and a smile.
"You are certainly right, Ron. Harry has changed, he is more mature. If he went voluntary, then we shouldn't worry too much." she agreed and seemed finally to calm down.
"If that's your decision you should go!" Dumbledore was fuming now.
"Finally! The inquisition is over." said Ginny joyfully and skipped out of the office, followed by an grinning Ron and a relieved Hermione.
"Now to you Tonks! You swore an oath to help the Order. You have to relay all information regarding Harry. The same goes for you Remus." said Dumbledore sternly.
"I know that and I will tell you all I get to know even if it is against my will. But I will tell you nothing with a level-Omega-secrecy. I swore an oath to the ministry too and that is exactly the point where I have to choose and here's my life at stake for nearly worthless information."
"And you are damn right about that. I would skin you personally if you spill any secret above level beta, Tonks." Moody agreed and that put a stop to all objections. If he as the second in command in the order agreed to that then there was no arguing.
"Tonks, if you get a message from Harry, please tell him not to contact me and not to tell me anything." said Remus with a smug look.
"Will do, Moony." she answered grinning.
Dumbledore gasped and his eyes blazed with anger.
"Stop it Albus!" Moody demanded, "If you go on with this bullshit you will loose half of the order. We keep our eyes open and that is enough. I will contact my friends in the ministry if they know something."
"Thank you, Alastor. At least someone is loyal to the cause."
"That has nothing to do with the cause, Albus." Moony disagreed promptly.
"Stop it! All off you!" Moody bellowed.
"Alright. Meeting adjourned." Dumbledore sighed.
As they left, Moony took Tonks aside.
"Why did you agree to spill any information?"
Tonks grinned, "Because I have the distinct feeling that nearly all information I am going to get from him or about him is under a high secrecy-level. Did you notice, that all the bits of information about his abilities or plans seemed to have a security-level? He seemed exactly to know what he was allowed to tell me and what he was allowed to tell you."
"You're right. He did that already all the time." he replied with a mischievous grin.
"I assume he is training under the Department of Mystery?" he asked her.
"I could answer that but then I would have to kill you and that would make a very unhappy Harry. He would punish me and not kiss me for at least an hour. No, not good." she answered grinning.
"Only an hour? If you kill me?" he asked incredulously.
"One and a half at most. I am sure. Any time longer he would punish himself."
"Then better kill me not." Remus answered and laughed, "Besides he asked me to watch your back. If you kill me, I can't and that would make him also unhappy. So lets keep peace."
"Yeah, Peace." she said and made the peace-symbol with her fingers. Both laughed loud and went to their rooms.
"I only hope that doesn't change his plans." she sighed before she went in her bed.
AN: Thanks for all your reviews. For your information, I wrote this chap just this hour and it was not part of my original story. It was David M. Potter who got me the idea. The reaction of Dumbledore and his order as well as the reactions of his friends were amiss in my original story. So thanks, David. I hope you like it all. That is also a reason for my weekly update-cycle. If I get a nice idea for the story or you point me out a grave error, I can react. I think I will also write some lines about 'my Dumbledore' as some of you thought him ooc. But this comes after the revs. I decided to overgo the beta-reader as we are now more then half through the story. I will get one if I ever write another English story. I hope you can bear with me. Thank you again and keep it up!
Ah, is Kingsley kissed or not? What are you guys getting peeved at me? I said nothing that he is indeed going to be kissed. I only said it is the sentence for High Treason! And it wasn't Harry who sentenced him, he only pointed his treason out to the aurors. But I will tell you what, that riddle is only solved in the last chap! But who knows me and my stories can take a good guess at the answer to that question. So don't judge me until I judged Kingsley! grin
David M. Potter: As mentioned above, this chap is thanks to you. I really forgot the reactions. I hope you like it.
ThewiseSirIvanTheShadowLo: What a name! grin I will add a English part to my user page. Thanks for the hint. It should be up before the next chap goes online.
Chibi Trix: I am going to read your story, maybe not now but I will do it. As for my view of Dumbledore, see below!
beast210: If somone tells you, you have to kill to save your friends or to be killed and doom all your loved ones, how would you react? He made a decision to fight. To reach his goal, he had to change his demeanor. He is colder, yes, but he lost a loved one only through the errors of judgement by Dumbledore. I think I would become colder too. Before he was only a student with a lot of bad luck. But now he has a destiny and he works to survive it. Is that really ooc? As for Kingsley see above!
athenakitty: Questions and more questions. grin Yes he did extremely well on his NEWTS. He is going to keep his friends... for now at least. Dumbledore is in no trouble other than he lost his weapon. Of course he is a little bit peeved about that. Dumbledore didn't read his mail because he didn't think it important and was shortly after he got it distracted by the aurors. I think as headmaster he has many documents to read each day. Of course Kingsley knew it was a high-level secret because he himself wrote the letter to Tonks. Dumbledore will never stop meddling ;-) As for the kiss and the leak you have to wait. But the leak is not a leak ber se, but someone who wanted to protect Harry and made it a Level-Omega-Secret. He didn't 'leak' it intentionally, he gave the order about the security-level simply to the wrong person. Oops, I already told to much. Get your answer in the next chap ;-)
uten: Why didn't he shrink his trunk? sigh details! I overlooked it. It's not important. The only thing is, he takes it with him wherever he is going to land after the portkey ;-)
Max88: Stört mich nicht im geringsten, wenn du auf deutsch reviewst. Wenn du meine anderen Geschichten kennst, weißt du, dass mein Harry immer etwas zu sehr 'befähigt' ist, selbst, wenn ich versuche das zu vermeiden ;-)
Ja, Harry ist kälter in dieser Story, aber das ist meiner Meinung nach durchaus eine mögliche Entwicklung von Harry. Grund genug hat er jedenfalls. Zu Dumbledore, ihn kann man so oder so sehen. Ich sehe ihn in dieser Story als Manipulierer. Mehr etwas weiter unten.
My view of Albus Dumbledore (at least for this story):
Albus Dumbledore, Defeater of Grindelwald and some other titles. One can look at him from two sides. Until book 4 you have only seen him as gently old man who has only the interests of the students at heart. That may be so and his actions maybe only dictated by his worries about Harrys safety. But for this story I go for option two.
He is a manipulating old bastard! A bit harsh you think? Maybe, maybe not. He did distance himself from Harry and said it was to keep himself and the Order safe from Harry and a possession through Voldy. But I ask why would he then chose Snape of all people to teach him? Snape, whos position as spy was at stake? I don't believe that at all. Voldy knew that Dumbledore opposes him and I think he knew that there is 'the order' But he knew not about Snape. What if he had got the info that he is the spy through Harry?
Then he admitted indirectly, that he sent Harry to the Dursleys to keep him level-headed (or maybe even down with a broken spirit to appear as the savior from his hateful relatives?). The means to me he knew how he was treated there. Not much for the 'well-being' of Harry, or is it?
Also in all books he gives him little pieces of information to reach his goal for this 'book' so to say. He encourages him to follow the trails to an adventure (remember the cloak for instance or the scene at Hagrids hut).
I bet if he had wanted it, he could have solved all the mysteries himself without Harry being injured. He always know everything what is going on in the castle. The best hint for that is the whole thing with the Time-Turner. He knew exactly what was when to do. In my opinion he does only one thing, he formes his weapon and I also think, Harry is nothing more than that for him (at least in option two grin).
And now in this little story he loses his weapon, so he is peeved.
Also about his reaction to Tonks/Harry. In my story he feared to loose his influence over Harry if Tonks and Harry stay together. He kept Harry in the dark about all, Tonks would surely not, at least if she loves him and Dumbledore knew that. That is why reacted to harshly about that in Sirius' house and later in the Great Hall. That maybe the same reason why he restricted Sirius and didn't free him. I am sure, as head of the Wizengamot he could have arranged a trial with veritaserum for him. But he didn't even mention it. Sirius would also had have a great influence on Harry. But he effectively kept them separated.
That should give you at least a hint on my view of Dumbledore, at least for that story. You could even go further and try to look at him as power-hungry. Why became Riddle so cold? Maybe Dumbledore manipulated him too. If there is a powerful dark wizard to whom go the people? To Dumbledore. He can do whatever he wants as long there is a dark bastard outthere. He could very well play the ministry and Voldemort to keep influence over the whole wizarding world. And if he treat Harry a little more harshly or pulls some more tricks, he could even get Harry to the dark side, of course after he defeated Voldy, so there, another Dark Bastard and a 'Holy Savior' Dumbledore. Well, a little bit abstract, but you get the idea grin
Also, I know Dumbledore is the chief warlock and I can't get around that one. But I think, it is only a title, the same as super mugwump, whatever that is. Even if he was a warlock once (he has enough power for that and he battled Grindwald, so it would fit in the image) he is no longer an active one. I hope that you can go with me there and follow my plot so far, that he has no connection to the actual warlocks.
So, sorry, not as in depth as I thought I would get it, but I hope it is enough. If you have special questions, I think I will answer then. Bye folks!