A/N: I like this chapter especially... Harry and Jax have their first encounter... OOOO! Suspense!

One by one the members of the Order piled in, greeting one another and discussing their day's work. But there was a huge weight that was hovering over their heads; and that was each and every one of them knew who sat in the dining room, waiting for each of them to come and greet her.

The dining room door had been closed when McGonagall and Dumbledore had appeared at the house, and soon after everyone anxiously waited outside in the dark foyer, all of them keeping one eye on the door.

"Do you remember when the two were babies? Less than a year old-"

Kingsley Shacklebot and Arthur Weasley were having a conversation about the two Potters when Mr. Weasley saw a pair of Fred and George's extendable ears reach inches from the two. Arthur took the two ears and twisted them together, tying them in a knot. Kingsley and he then heard screams from upstairs, and all they could do was laugh.

Sturgis Podmore was the first to the see the door creak open, and he quickly made a beeline towards it as everyone else quickly followed. They all stood on their toes, craned their necks, and some even cast charms on themselves to grow taller.

Jax looked toward everyone, actually somewhat frightened. They all made a makeshift queue in order to see her, each one of them taking a minute to shake her hand.

"Sturgis Podmore, dear. So honored to finally have you here."

"Kingsley Shaklebot, Miss Potter."

Jax didn't flinch at being called Miss Potter, she knew that it was something she'd have to get used to.

"Hestia Jones, Raye. Such an honor to finally meet you."

Jax also took being called Raye the same way, it was what people knew to call her.

"Arthur Weasley, dear. I work for the Ministry of Magic in the Muggle Artifact department; I have so many questions to ask."

"Shove over, Arthur! You're hogging the poor child!"

The woman pushed over Mr. Weasley in order to shake the girl's hand.

"Emmeline Vance, Miss Potter. You'll have to excuse Arthur's rudeness; he can be quite the hog sometimes."

"Eliphias Doge, dear. I'm sure you're hungry, so I won't take up your time like that pair over there."

Eliphias motioned to Mr. Weasley and Emmeline Vance sitting next to each other a couple of seats down.

"It's fine. Thank you. Very pleased to meet you."

Jax found a smile somewhere in her, wishing she was anywhere but where she was at the moment.

"You should have seen them when they first met Harry. You got lucky, Jax."

Dumbledore had sensed her uneasiness once again. Jax smiled, grateful for the old man's kindness.

"Don't mention it," Dumbledore whispered discreetly.

She smiled again, truthfully this time.

***

Dinner had been exactly what Jax had smelled on Mrs. Weasley earlier that afternoon. Baked chicken with roasted potatoes, green beans with almonds, and a delicious apple pie. It was some of the best food she had ever eaten.

Mrs. Weasley and Tonks had finished charming the plates to wash themselves; and started serving seconds of pie and warm Butterbeer, when Shacklebot brought up the issue of school safety. Mr. Weasley was shocked that he would bring up such a dead topic.

"Kingsley, we discussed this quite sometime ago, if I recall right. We all know how safe Hogwarts is, there's not a safer place! Voldemort won't even step foot on the Quidditch grounds!"

There were laughs and grins all around the table for Arthur's Quidditch statement. Jax was the only one who didn't do either of those. Who was Voldemort?

She looked to Dumbledore, but he hadn't caught that one.

"Who's Voldemort?" she asked Tonks quietly.

It obviously hadn't been quiet enough; for the whole table had gone silent. Every person turned to the other, amazed at the question.

"You don't know who Lord Voldemort is, dear?" asked Emmeline Vance.

"Not even a clue?" piped Shacklebot.

"It's impossible! How in the world could she not know?" inquired Hestia Jones.

Nobody would answer Hestia's question, because no one knew it. All fingers pointed to Dumbledore, even his own.

"Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen. I think Miss Potter and I need to talk for a minute."

Dumbledore led Jax outside into the hallway, sitting on a trunk by the staircase. He patted the empty spot beside him, beckoning for her to take it. Jax was blushing from head to toe, obviously embarrassed by what she had just asked.

"They must think I'm some half-wit, right?"

"On the contrary, they all think you're amazing. It's not your fault that I didn't explain this to you sooner. But better late than never, right?"

"Right."

"Lord Voldemort.... I guess you could say is the reason that you have that scar on your forehead. He's the reason that your parents are dead, and the reason that you are here, in this place. He's responsible for a lot Jax, and he needs to be destroyed."

"No lie?" Jax asked.

"No lie."

"And Harry and I- we're the only ones who can end it all? End- him?"

"In a certain way. I can't exactly say that... but you're a huge part of it."

"So, to make it short, Voldemort is this really evil guy that we all want to kill?"

Dumbledore chuckled.

"Exactly."

Jax started to shiver, and she rubbed her hands up and down her forearms to keep herself warm.

"Would you like to go back? A butterbeer might warm you up."

"Alright."

Dumbledore started to rise when Jax interrupted him.

"Professor?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you. For everything you've done."

"You're welcome, dear. I know that you didn't want to be taken away- but, Jax, this really is your world. This is where you belong."

"I know that."

"I know you do."

Dumbledore smiled, and Jax smiled back. He offered her a hand, and helped her up. The two went back into the dining room, welcomed by a heavy and loud conversation.

"We all know that, Arthur! What we don't know is what Voldemort has up his sleeve! Spies, perhaps? He's already tried it- pardon me, Alastor- so why shouldn't he try it again? It worked!" Doge and Mr. Weasley were still going at it, shouting at each other.

"If Hogwarts isn't safe, then what IS, Kingsley?"

"Nowhere is safe! This very room is probably filled with charms and such, considering that house-elf still lurks around!"

"Kingsley! There is a child in the room!"

Mrs. Weasley gave Shacklebot a scowl. Everyone's head turned towards the doorway, all of them just noticing that Dumbledore and Jax were back. Jax didn't seem to have been very startled by Shacklebot's remark, but still everyone copied Mrs. Weasley's fashion and gave him a scowl.

Shacklebot, obviously offended, pushed his way through chairs scattered everywhere and angry witches and wizards to the door. He laid his hand on the doorknob and turned back to Dumbledore and Jax.

"My apologies, Albus."

He twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open and walked out into the front hallway.

"Accio coat," he murmured as he continued his way out the door.

Tonks quietly moved towards Jax, taking her by the shoulders.

"Come on, Jax. We have a long day tomorrow- you need some rest."

The rest of them were quiet as Tonks led Jax out of the room. Only Dumbledore whispered a 'goodnight' in Jax's ear.

Tonks put a finger to her mouth, indicating that Jax needed to be silent. Tonks took Jax's hand and led her up the stairs, barely managing to scrape by without a creak. Tonks took her wand out of her pocket, pointed it at the doorknob, and muttered an incantation. The door immediately swung open, and Tonks put her finger up once again, but this time to signify for Jax to wait. Tonks turned her back, trying unsuccessfully to smooth out some of the quilts with her wand.

Jax leaned against the wall, silently chuckling at Tonks' sweet, but ineffective attempts. Jax looked around the dark hallway, and stared at the door to the right of hers. And then it happened; all in an instant.

Harry and Ron's doorknob quickly twisted, Jax still standing inches from it. Her brother emerged from it, his hair messier than ever. He had one hand over his mouth, covering his yawn. It immediately dropped when he saw Jax, his emerald eyes making direct contact with her light-purple ones. Jax was stuck in time; she could literally not move. Her brother had very intense, dark eyes.

Then Jax felt her arm being jerked in the direction of her doorway, her eyes not leaving Harry's. She did a double-take when Tonks slammed the door behind her.

"What the hell was THAT?" Tonks hissed. "You know perfectly well that he's not to even know of your existence until the train ride to Hogwarts!"

Jax looked down at her feet, to her shoulder, and then to Tonks' crazy eyes.

"I-I'm sorry. He just came out of the door, and looked at me. I couldn't take my eyes off of his. A girl wonders, you know?"

Tonks let go of Jax's arm, which she had been tightly gripping. Her expression softened, and she looked at Jax, who was obviously on the verge of tears.

"This is so confusing!" Jax exclaimed.

Her back slid down the door, and she buried her head in her knees. Tonks sat down next to her, sympathetically. She wrapped an arm around Jax, doing what she could to comfort her.

"I mean, two days ago I completely understood my life! How am I supposed to understand it now?"

Tonks hadn't a clue how to answer her question, so she said the only thing she knew to say.

"You really need to get some rest, Jax. I bet you didn't even sleep last night, did you?"

Jax chuckled.

"Well, I wouldn't have if Dumbledore hadn't placed a sleeping charm on me."

"Come on, you've had a rough day. It will all get better, Jax. I promise. It's all downhill from here."

Jax nodded, and walked over to her bed. She got under the covers and quickly drifted off to sleep. Tonks closed the door quietly, and put her back to the door. She knew that what she had just said was a load of bull. The moment Jax had gotten onto that broom earlier that morning; she had barely begun her journey. And the going "uphill" part hadn't even started.

A/N: Review, Please!