A/N: just about the ministry and stuff. kind of short and boring but the next chapter is already up
Disclaimer:Everything about Harry Potter that JK Rowling owns, I don't own, because I am not JK Rowling... In fact, I don't own anything! Not even my computer!
"Ah, yes, of course," Dumbledore sighed heavily, "Follow me."
Lily found herself walking once again down the narrow stone passageway which she had arrived in. Torches were burning in their brackets, but the flames seemed to give off little light. Although the flames were a cheery orange, the passage seemed to give off a sort of blue tint, making Lily even more gloomy and depressed than she had been when she had arrived.
"It's not fair," she whispered to herself, though Dumbledore obviously caught her words.
"No, it's not fair," he agreed quietly, "In fact, it may well be the least fair thing anyone in this world will have to go through, and I cannot express the sadness it brings to my heart to see that this awful experience has chosen you, of all the people in the world."
He paused and drew breath, as though the words he had uttered may well have been the most depressing words he would speak in his life. "It does seem that the most difficult circumstances to endure are bestowed upon the kindest of people."
As Dumbledore spoke, they began to climb a long spiraling staircase, where they finally emerged into what seemed to be a dungeon; though it was quite obvious whoever the dungeon belonged to had tried to make it as cheery as possible. Dumbledore crossed the room to sit at a rough wooden table, beckoning Lily to take the seat across from him.
"Gideon, would you be kind enough to make Lily here a cup of tea?" Dumbledore said kindly in Lily's direction. Lily turned to see Gideon Prewett busying himself at a makeshift stove; he simply nodded and began to make tea.
"Now Lily, I know this is a difficult day for you, and this all seems to be happening at once, but I am going to take you one more place, and I hope that you will understand later why I must put all of this on you now. Until you are ready to leave, of course, I am free to answer any questions you may have."
Lily couldn't believe it, of course she had questions. Thousands of questions were swimming in her head. She knew, though, that Dumbledore was not likely to have the answer to many of them, including: why would people want to cause other people pain? Why do I have to be the one this is happening to? And, worst of all, why didn't they just kill me? Lily, however, knew that Dumbledore would not, even if he knew the answer, be able to give a straight answer to these questions, so she settled for a question not so prominent in her mind, but burning all the same.
"What is this place?" she had meant to ask what the organization Dumbledore had mentioned earlier was, but she couldn't remember the name, and knew Dumbledore would probably explain that as well.
"Of all the questions you could have asked me, that was the one I least expected," Dumbledore said, a faint trace of a twinkle in his eye. "I am glad you did, though, because that is a question I can actually answer.
"This is the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. As much as I would love to tell you our exact location, this is information you can simply not know yet, though I do not doubt sometime in your future you will. For now it will suffice for me to tell you we are in a place quite hidden from the rest of the world, and precious few have had the opportunity to come here.
"You probably wonder, as I know I would, had I been placed in your position, what the Order of the Phoenix is. Have you, by chance, heard rumors of this secret order in your school?"
"No," Lily said, confused, but she then realized that she had, in fact, heard of a small organization of people, united in the fight against Voldemort, though she had thought at the time these rumors were simply fantasies, superheroes of sort, and it had never been named as the 'Order of the Phoenix.' "Well, yes, I have heard of it, but I didn't really believe it existed, although I wanted it to, and I don't understand everything that it involves…"
At this, a real smile broke on to Dumbledore's face, and the twinkle in his eye Lily had always remembered returned. "The Order of the Phoenix is, simply, an organization I instated about two years ago to fight Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters, as the ministry has been making a rather mess of it." Gideon, who, of course, worked for the ministry, chuckled at this, and Dumbledore paused, resuming when Gideon had muttered an apology and handed Dumbledore and Lily each steaming cups of hot tea, "We are, however, seriously behind in our work, but do not fear, because you could never be in a safer place than you are right now."
Lily nodded, then, after an uncomfortable silence, asked another question, "Professor, could you tell me more about this prophecy?"
Dumbledore sighed yet again, then began to speak, "Lily, that is the question I feared you would ask, and the answer, I am sorry to say, Is quite vague, but I will tell you what I can.
"About two hundred years ago, years and years, in fact, before I was born, two prophecies were made. As neither of these prophecies concerns me, I have not heard either one, but I will tell you what I have been told by learned men at the Department of Mysteries.
"Both prophecies were made in succession by an accomplished seer, by the name of Aislin Trelawney. Some, in fact, regard them as a single prophecy, though, after careful consideration, those at the Department of Mysteries who have researched these prophecies thoroughly regard them as separate prophecies foretelling different aspects of a similar event.
"The first of these foretells the arrival of a powerful Dark Lord, just when the wizarding world is rejoicing over the conquest of another Dark Lord. The Department of Mysteries has decided this is referring to the presence of Lord Voldemort, who, although he did not gain power until some years after, began his quest as Lord Voldemort about 10 years after my defeat of Grindelwald, just as things for the wizarding world were getting back to normal.
"The second prophecy is much harder to decipher. It speaks of a muggle-born witch, with emerald eyes and hair like fire. There is little doubt in my mind, and the minds of those who have studied this prophecy, that it is referring to you. It also speaks of a destiny the subject is meant to fulfill. I, however, will allow you to listen to the prophecy and form your own ideas about it, before I taint your thoughts with an old man's theories." Dumbledore paused and examined Lily's face, as if looking for a sign of fear or resolve, but he found neither, and after a short breath, continued,
"Now, if you are ready, I think it is time we take a look at this prophecy. I am right, I think, in assuming you have not yet visited the ministry of magic?"
Lily shook her head and muttered something to the effect of "No, I haven't."
Dumbledore laughed and simply said, "That is probably for the best, now, if you would follow me to the fire, I will floo first, and you will kindly go after me."
Lily just nodded, and followed Dumbledore over to the fire, where he scattered a pinch of sea green powder over the flames, stepped in, and called, "Ministry of Magic, London." In a rush of emerald flame, he disappeared, and the fire returned to normal.
A bit nervously, lily reached into the small jar and took out a bit of floo powder for herself. True, she had traveled by floo before, but it was always quite a nerve wracking experience. She scattered the powder over the flames, and quickly stepped in, not wanting to waste time. With a slightly anxious "Ministry of Magic, London," she felt herself begin to spiral.
After what seemed like ages of whirring emerald flame and dozens of glimpses through unfamiliar fires, Lily was thrown from the fire, trying her best to be graceful, but failing dismally at it. For the second time in a day, she grasped the aged hand of Dumbledore, who kindly pulled her to her feet.
When she had gotten over the shock of traveling hundreds of miles through strange chimneys, Lily chanced a look around the room she had landed in. She was standing on a grand oak floor, and the walls on each side were lined with at least a dozen magnificent fireplaces. Looking up, she saw a bright blue ceiling, with golden symbols moving dreamily across it. In the center of this magnificent room, some sort of construction was taking place and she heard shouts of wizards arguing over whatever it was they were building.
"No, we don't want a leering goblin!"
"But I thought it would be more—"
"Well you thought wrong! Look at this house-elf; we need a goblin who admires the wizard!"
"Yes, sir. I will get on it right away, and if I may make another suggestion—"
"No you may not make another suggestion! What do you think I am? a comment box!"
"No, sir."
"Well get on with your work, and fix that goblin!"
Lily chuckled to herself; she couldn't picture a goblin admiring a wizard. She agreed with the second man. A leering goblin would be far more appropriate.
"If you will follow me," Dumbledore said, steering her toward a small desk with a large sign labeling it "Security."
"Wand," The man behind the desk said from behind The Daily Prophet, holding out his hand. Lily quickly checked her pockets. Did she have her wand? She never went anywhere without it, surely she had brought it along…
"I don't have it," she said quietly. The wizard eyed her suspiciously, but Dumbledore assured him that she was telling the truth, and steered Lily from the desk.
Suddenly Lily was standing in front of a series of lifts, one of which immediately opened, and she found herself being ushered to the rear. The lift inched steadily downward, witches and wizards exiting at their respective floors. Finally, she and Dumbledore were the only people left. The words 'Department of Mysteries' flashed quickly before the lift opened.
Lily followed Dumbledore down a long corridor, at the end of which there was a single black door. At the front of the door he paused and turned to Lily.
"Ms. Evans you need to listen to me. You are about to enter the Department of Mysteries. Precious few witches and wizards have set foot behind this door, and I would strongly advise you not to delay. Stay close by me and, whatever you may see, do not pause."
Lily nodded. She didn't plan on pausing for any reason. Just the words Department of Mysteries sent a chill through her spine. What mysteries could possibly be housed here?
A/N: mmm.. don't you love cliffhangers when the next chapter is already posted?