A/N: Sorry for the wait! I've been busy with the real world sadly and just got a new job, so my writing got pushed off a bit. The next chapter of this story should be up soon, but no promises.
This is the beta-ed version. I just got a new beta, Xirleb70, who will be beta-ing when she has time. Thanks, Xirblet!
CH30: Orbs and Orbitals
Previous Chapter: "Albus! I need your-" He stopped abruptly, staring at Harry in shock. Another figure emerged from the fireplace behind him, ramming the unmoving Minister in the back.
"Oomph!" The new arrival said, but Fudge didn't hear him.
"Hello, Mr. Minister. How delightful it is to see you." Harry picked up a small jar from Dumbledore's desk. "Lemon drop?"
"Mr. P–Potter?" the Minister stuttered out, eyes widened in disbelief.
There was a gasp as two more people emerged from the fireplace, the arrivals collapsing into a heap on the floor.
"A very graceful entry," Harry noted, snorting derisively. "I commend you." Harry applauded politely, the expression on his face claiming it as anything but polite.
Fudge glared up at him from the floor, eyes wild. "Arrest him!" Fudge bellowed, his face turning an unattractive shade of purple.
"Arrest me... why?" He sounded bored.
A final person fell from the fireplace before the fire died back down.
"What is going on in here?" said the man on the top of the pile. Smiling in recognition, Harry extended a hand to help him up.
"It's good to see you again, Mr. Newmon."
Andrew grinned and accepted the help. "Mr. Potter! What a lovely surprise!"
There was a skeptical grunt from the floor. Harry didn't even bother to look down.
"That isn't very dignified, Cornelius."
"GET OFF ME!" the Minister shouted and there was a scramble around the small office.
"Sorry, sir, so sorry," a young man squeaked and jumped away from the crumpled so-called-leader. He was wearing a neatly pressed Auror's robe that was now covered with soot and as he jumped back, he collided with a similarly dressed man, causing them to tumble over again. 'And this is who the safety of the world is dependent on.'
Fudge brushed himself off and fixed Harry with an angry stare.
"What do you think you are doing here?"
"Well, I was enjoying a fairly pleasant conversation until you barged in."
"That is not what I meant," he growled. "You know you are not welcome here any more."
"I'm not?" He glanced over at Albus inquiringly.
"I will never turn away young minds in need of learning, Cornelius," he replied benignly. He appeared to be enjoying the situation immensely.
"But – but-"Fudge fumbled for words, scanning the faces of the room. "He is a Death Eater!"
Harry calmly rolled up his sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark and paused for the intake of breath to go around the room. He raised an eyebrow. "And your point would be...?"
"For Merlin's sake! Am I the only one who remembers what he is?" He turned his attention back to Harry. "I know you were involved in the attack on Holliston." Dumbledore shot Harry a concerned look, but Fudge plowed on. "Well, do you deny it?"
"No," Harry replied quietly. "I was there. And not a day goes by that I don't regret what happened there."
"So, you admit it, you-"
"Cornelius, stop."
Harry's eyes widened slightly as he saw who had interrupted the Minister: Marvin Thirstin, the Deputy Minister of Magic.
"What?"
"No. Leave him alone. You know why he did it, just ... stop." The man looked weary and for the first time Harry felt a pang of sympathy for him.
"Very – very well." He took a stiff breath and looked over at Albus. "We need to talk."
Harry was slightly startled by the sudden change in topic, but it seemed Albus was, as always, unflappable.
"I know we do," was all he answered.
"So..." The Minister shot a not-so-subtle glance over at Harry.
"Harry should stay. This may concern him as well."
Fudge's forehead scrunched up. "I don't see how it could."
"The reason will become obvious in the coming days, I should think."
"Stop talking in riddles, Albus!"
"I think Mr. Potter needs to leave, Headmaster," said Thirstin reasonably. "This is classified information, after all."
"Very well then. Harry? I will see you at dinner tonight."
"But-" Harry glanced between the men, feeling very confused.
"Harry." There seemed to be no room for discussion and Harry quietly slid out of the office.
As the door slid shut, Harry distinctly heard:
"There is a problem with the Orb."
Harry stormed down the path into the town of Hogsmeade. He hated the feeling of being treated like a child. He was not a child. He had never been a child. No one had ever given him the chance.
He shook those thoughts out of his head as he neared the civilization. No need to scare the townspeople like that. He could just imagine the headlines of the Daily Prophet the next day if anyone saw him in his pissed off state:
Dangerous Boy-Who-Lived Terrorizes Small Children and Puppies! (Pictures included on page...)
He chuckled ruefully to himself. Oh, well. It didn't really matter anyway; he had a more important place to be. And, plus, as soon as he got back he would be included again. Everyone would listen to what he had to say.
'At least my opinions matter somewhere-'
Harry stopped abruptly. Had he just been thinking fondly of going back to the Death Eater Headquarters?
Yeah, there will be snowball fights in Hell tomorrow.
"Close your eyes, Harry."
"Why does that sound so foreboding to me?" he asked as he walked blindly down a corridor, led by Marigold. John stood behind him, snickering.
"Just trust me, okay?" She pulled him through a door on the end and slowly inched him forwards. "Open them ... now."
Harry cautiously opened his eyes and gasped. It was wonderful. They were standing on a ledge, overlooking a large round room filled with bustling people. They rushed back and forth, shouting to each other, solving problems. Maps were tacked up all along the walls, as well as news articles from around the world.
Here it was. His brain child. The Order of Fire.
"Well, what do you think?" Marigold crossed her fingers behind her back. She and John had put a lot of work into this the past couple months, ironing out all the details so it would be ready when Harry got back.
And now was the moment of truth.
"It's absolutely... perfect."
She breathed a sigh of relief. "Great. And you were worried he wouldn't like it," she said, nudging John in the ribs with her elbow.
"I know. What was I thinking?" he said wryly.
"Oh!" Marigold clapped her hands together, delighted. "You haven't even seen my favorite part yet!" She grabbed his arm and yanked him into a small room to the left. Inside was a beautiful mahogany desk, covered with quills and parchment. A bay window in the front overlooked everything and a smaller one in the back was currently showing a mild snowstorm. Harry looked at her, an eyebrow raised questioningly.
"It's charmed to show whatever you want it to show," she shrugged.
"What is this place?" he asked curiously, looking around.
"Your office, of course!"
"I have ... I have an office?" He sat down in the chair and spun around. "Wow. This – this is too much. You didn't have to – "
"But we did. Now say thank you, shut up, and let's move on."
"Thank you, shut up, and let's move on," he repeated.
She smacked him. "Twit."
"Seriously, thank you," he said sincerely. "All of this ... it seems so real now."
"It is real," said John. "Now, what's your first command as the official Head of the Order of Fire?"
Harry thought for a moment, his face twisting into a wicked smirk. "What do you know about the Orb of Tenus?"
Beta note: Devonny did a nasty thing, bless her cunning widdle heart, and stole my be-damned lemon drop line. - glares accusingly at Dev - Anywho. Yeah. So. Bow down! - smirk -
A/N: Yes, yes, I am a horrible person who forgot to thank you once again. Please, don't flay me alive. - cowers -
