Whispers in the Wind

Disclaimer: All of this is based upon the lovely J.K. Rowling's work.

(…): Random thoughts or ideas

Italics: Thoughts and emphasis

Warnings: Character Death

"Well, she's dead Remus."

I turn to look at Remus as I hear this statement. Intellectually, I know that he should feel something: hate, anger, grief … relief. Yet, somehow as I watch him I realize that he couldn't really bring himself to care either way. Tonks was dead and he just couldn't bring himself to be happy nor sad about it. He was just sort of … blah. That same feeling you have just after you wake up and can't seem to find the energy to actually get out of bed. He just felt … well, he didn't seem to actually feel anything.

And that's what probably made my heart wrench. Anger, I can understand. Grief, I can understand. Relief, I can understand. But, numbness… no, he shouldn't feel that. He shouldn't still feel numb. Not about Tonks. He shouldn't still feel numb about his entire experience under Albus' spell. I had thought him more recovered than that… Perhaps I should mention it Fawkes; he is our resident Healer after all.

"And, she's not the only one." Sirius continues, interrupting my reverie. "Two more members of the Order are dead. Six are critical and might not make it. The rest of the lot have some bruises and curse-marks but are basically fine."

"Well, that's just so sad and too bad." Moody sarcastically comments as he inserts himself into the conversation. Clearly, he doesn't feel the least bit sad about the Order's predicament. "That's what they get for not following basic safety protocols." He rolls his natural eye. "Imagine," He mumbles more to himself than to us, "Not even putting their new Headquarters under Fidelius." He snorts gruffly. "Anyone could just waltz right in…"

"…And that's exactly what the Death Eaters did." Sirius adds somewhat seriously, eliciting uneasy murmurs from the other people at the table.

"And where was Albus during all this?" The Sorting Hat questions suspiciously, his brim flaring.

Sirius looks a slight bit aggrieved. Yet, at the same time he somehow manages to also look hostile. "Well, supposedly he had just left to return to Hogwarts for some reason or another." He snorts disdainfully, "But I don't buy it. We all know that he is a slippery, slimy bastard; so, for all we know, he might have been in on it."

The others nod and seem to be thinking over what he had just said.

"True," I comment, adding my three Knuts in. It all seems a bit dodgy to me… not that I am one to talk as I am not currently being the most honest person in my given profession. I have been lying to my employer (and to the rest of the Wizarding World) about my abilities for the last nineteen years.

"Why was there even an Order meeting?" Luna asks gently, again interrupting my thoughts.

"Hmm," Moody states articulately, "Well, the nearest I could discern from our little spy is that they were discussing a recent rise in Death Eater activity."

"What?" Remus questions with confusion. His expression clearly asking, 'What Death Eaters… much less, what activity.'

"What rise in Death Eater activity?" He asks again, fearing that he had missed something significant during his … er… captivity. "I thought that they were all but completely gone, either dead or in prison."

"That's what I thought, as well." The Sorting Hat interjected. "Unless it was all a lie," It adds. "Unless the Order only said that the Death Eaters were gone."

"Well, there have been whispers lately, rumors that the Order did lie about the Death Eaters." I state (with what to my employer would be surprising intelligence, though it is not surprising to anyone who really knows me).

I am far cleverer than anyone had ever given me credit. I have all but a trusted few fooled into thinking that I am nothing but a crock, a false Seer. I have even duped one of the most powerful wizards in the world into believing my act. I managed to even convince the wily old Headmaster that the prophecy I gave him over nineteen years ago was my first true prophecy. And I still have him fooled, for even now I remain a trusted member of the staff of Hogwarts (as does Filius). Though I have to admit it has been difficult and actually quite amusing (as least to me), as Harry can attest much to his chagrin. All those delightfully funny false prophecies I have spewed over the years (about his early and young demise) are still a source of much amusement to his father Sirius.

Remus looks at me as though he is also thinking about my successful subterfuge. I notice his glance and smile back at him.

"… My contacts in the Circle told me that they have heard whispers of an evil rising in the East." I continue and everyone else nods at my statement, knowing that I am referring to the Circle of Circe (an underground network of Seers, Druids, and other workers of unusual magics).

"Yes, we have heard that from our friends there as well." Harry indicates both he and his girlfriend Luna.

"What else have they told you?" Moody asks, his beady natural eye gleaming.

They shrug, "Not much. Everyone simply talks of whispers. You know, the rumors." Luna comments softly.

I remain silent throughout the entire exchange, an odd remembrance coming to mind. I finally open my mouth to speak, my voice taking on (what Sirius refers to as) my "I'm about to make so kind of cryptic comment" tone. "Whispers," I murmur, trying to remember. "Whispers … whispers in the wind; a Dark blight and evil in the East are forming. Betrayers and murders teamed with Light in the West are meeting."

Luna, apparently making a connection with my words that other don't, adds, "Old foes thought dead or conquered are returning…"

"With only the Shadows in the middle to save us all." Harry completes, also contributing to the exchange.

Yes, they both know it. Good.

I smile widely at both of them. "You two have seen the connection as well."

Both Harry and Luna nod.

"What connection?" asks a completely confused Filius Flitwick.

I just laugh. "What we three have just recited," I indicate Harry, Luna, and myself, "was an old … saying," I hesitate with the word, "of my great-grandmother."

"Great-grandmother?" Remus question. "Cassandra Trelawney …" Something occurs to him in that moment and he seems not to really like where it leads him, "Wait, your great-grandmother is Cassandra Trelawney. The infamous Seer."

Sirius' eyes widen in understanding and he looks at me suspiciously, "Saying … you mean prophecy don't you." Sirius questions, clearly not liking where this was going. Everyone else waits for my answer with baited breath.

I smirk wickedly, "But of course." My words ring out and bring silence to the rest of the group. The significance of what I had just said not lost on anyone.

"Damn, just what we need," Moody states gruffly and rather sarcastically, interrupting the mounting quiet, "Another blasted prophecy."

Ever Hopeful,

Azar