AN: Yo! We plan on switching off on the whole author's note business, so y'all don't get confused. So everybody give us some feedback and we'll keep giving you good stuff to read!
nosiddA
Chapter 2: The Headline
"Order uses Dark magic to aid criminals!"
The room was completely silent except for the crackling of the fire, and everything still looked just as tattered and unkempt as the first time Harry had visited it back in his fifth year in Hogwarts. Everyone sat in a circle around the table in the middle of the room, waiting for the reason they were all called to 12 Grimmauld Place on a Sunday morning.
Without so much as a word, Harry tossed the tabloid in the middle of the table for everyone to see. "What is this?" said Adalbert Colbert, a thirty-five year old knight in the Teutonic Order.
"Yeah, what the hell is it!" exclaimed the young woman seated next to Ron. Salam Boushra, at 20 years of age, was the newest and youngest member of the Order. She was also the most outspoken.
Harry, who hadn't been able to stop pacing around the circle, picked up the tabloid once more and addressed everyone. "This," he said firmly as he crossed the room toward the fireplace, "Is the largest heap of bullshit I've ever seen."
Ron came to stand next to his best friend, grabbed the paper out of Harry's hand, and threw it into the fire. "I never cared much for bullshit." He shot Harry a look that communicated his feelings perfectly. This was no joking matter, and they both knew just how much they could lose.
Harry walked to his seat as he tried to maintain his confidence. He knew what was coming and that it was his responsibility to establish control. "Thankfully this is just a tabloid, so it's not as bad as it seems. We don't need to panic." Wait for it… wait for it…
"What do you mean 'Not as bad as it seems?' How could it be any worse, Harry?" Tonks demanded. Tonks was one of the original members of the Order who had decided to remain when Harry and Ron continued it.
Dimitri Kostenka, a 28 year old chemist, spoke up. "Now that we've been discovered the Ministry is going to be on our trail more than ever. Now there's a witness running about."
"It's not that bad, Dimitri. Even if there is someone out there, they could be blowing smoke. It is a tabloid, after all. I'm sure there's money involved somehow." Harry said, trying to produce some form of damage control. "The ministry couldn't possibly justify using a tabloid to open an investigation."
"Since when does the Ministry need justification?" Asked Ron, who had always questioned the reformation the Ministry was undergoing. "And besides, it may be a tabloid, but it sure as hell is a start."
"It's the fucking Ministry, Harry. They can do whatever they damn well please. And they will." Salam said. "Personally I've always wanted to see Azkaban. I hear the rides are to die for." She added sarcastically.
Ginessa Olivera, who never cared much for Salam, rolled her eyes at the younger woman. "We are not going to end up in Azkaban over some silly claim."
"Yes, well that 'silly claim' as you call it needs to remain just that." Conall Olwyn said forcefully. "What we need to do now is lessen the amount of interaction we have with the Ministry."
"That sounds great, Conall. We might as well quit right now." Gwyneth Casey replied. "As much as we may like to deny it, we need those bastards in order to punish these guys."
Then with one sentence the dynamics of the argument changed completely. "Well then we need to find a contact that isn't so committed to their work and their chances for advancement. Then we won't have to worry about their loyalties."
Although the room was filled with argument, Harry focused on the last speaker. "What are you saying Ron? Can you not trust your own friend? Are you questioning my judgment?"
"Maybe I am!" Ron yelled. "You know how much she wants to advance. She'll do anything to get where she wants to be. How do you know she won't go as far as to turn us in? Can you imagine the praise she'd receive?"
"Seriously, Ron. Listen to yourself! She's our friend! She's been our friend for over eleven years. Do you honestly think eleven years of friendship mean that little to her?"
"What if they do? Hermione is close to getting that job, you said it yourself." Ron argued back. "I don't trust her anymore Harry! I think there's a good chance she'll turn us in, every one of us."
Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. "How can you say that? How can you even think that? She trusts us and I trust her."
"Harry, I know you care about her. But she's manipulating your feelings, Harry! She's using you, don't you see that! You say you trust her completely, but have you ever considered that it's exactly what she wants? Hermione does everything in her power to get what she wants, and that's exactly what's happening here! She's using you Harry." Ron stopped to catch his breath and slowly noticed that the entire room was silent. All arguments had stopped long ago and the others were focused on the two friends who had started everything together.
Ron's eyes met Harry's as he stood still in disbelief. Harry tried to collect his words; he tried to slow his racing mind. The only words he spoke were aimed directly at Ron. "I don't even know you anymore." And with that Harry turned and walked out of the room.
The other members watched in awe as Harry walked out on them, and then eventually they began to leave, and shortly Ron was the only person left in the room. As he stood next to the table in the middle of the circle he thought to himself, He doesn't see it.
