Eye of the Storm

Chapter 9 Privet Drive

Harry woke up alone in the dormitory and put his glasses on. The sky outside was a dark grey and the open window let cold air in. Pulling the blanket up around his chin Harry felt comfortable and content; something he hadn't felt since he stepped into Hogwarts for the first time. He heard Ron coming up the stairs and tried to relish, for one more moment, perfectness.

"Harry? Hey mate, you awake?"

"Yeah."

"Well, my mum's here to take us to breakfast then to headquarters."

Harry sat up, his legs dangling over the side. Headquarters, he was about to go back to his old life of worrying about Voldemort and if he was going to die the next day. Sighing, Harry stood up and pulled on his robe before heading downstairs.

Molly Weasley was sitting on one of the couches in the common room when Harry came down. She saw him and pulled him into a hug.

"Harry my dear, how are you?"

"Fine Mrs. Weasley, just wonderful."

'Liar.' He thought to himself

"Great. Well children let's go get some breakfast before we leave." She said, hurrying the three out of Gryffindor's common room.

The only time Harry had ever seen the castle this empty was during the Christmas season when it felt like he was the only student left in the whole school. Even then, one or two students could be found. Now, walking the endless halls he felt as if there was no one else but them on the entire earth. It almost scared him.

The silence was hurting his ears and Harry caughed, startling Ron and Hemione.

"Well, here we are." Molly said and they walked into the Great Hall. One table was out and Harry saw everyone who was a member of the Order in the area. At least one hundred witches and wizards sat around the table.

Dumbledore sat at one end. "Welcome. Please have a seat and we will begin."

They did and enormus amounts of food appeared on the table. They were unusually quiet as they ate, no one had much of anything to say; at times the silence was uncomfortable. Harry was about to get up when the doors opened and a women came into the great hall.

"Ah, Pende, how nice of you to join us. Please." Dumbledore said, motioning to an empty chair.

"Thank you sir."

Severus's head snapped up at the sound of her voice. She was indeed familiar, but he couldn't place her. There was something in the way she carried herself, almost proudly. He had seen her before, but where?

"Go now and pack what you need for the days we will spend away from home. Then we must get to headquarters." Dumbledore said and stood, following Arabella Figg out of the great hall.

Mundungus followed next, then one by ne other members left the hall. Severus, however, stayed behind, watching Pende.

"Come om Harry, let's get our stuff."

Ron pulled Harry out of his chair and ran out of the hall, Hermione on their heels.

"What's the matter Ron?"

He turned around, red hair flying in his face.

"Did you see Snape? I couldn't be in the same mile radius with him."

Harry raised his eyebrows and Hermione scrunched up her face, deep in thought.

Harry finally broke the silence. "What are you talking about Ron?"

"His stare, something that I've seen believe me. But, something seemed darker."

Hermione shivered and looked at Ron, "Who was he staring at?"

'Um, that new order member. Penny or something."

Harry looked up, "Pende?"

"Yeah, that's it."

Hermione dismissed it saying Snape hates everyone and that he just wants everyone to think he was a terrible person. Which he was.

Harry however, remembered having to leave Kling Court because of a traitor, possibly, and most likely, a spy. He remembered McGonagall telling him about Snape being a death eather and now a spy for the order, but what if Snape was decieving Dumbledore and not Voldemort? What if he is the dangerous one and Pende was suspicious?

Harry made a mental not to talk to Ron and Hermione about it when they were alone.

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The sickening feeling he had in his stomach the night he left the Dursley's returned as Harry realised that headquarters was on Privet Drive. 'Probably one of Snape's sick ideas.' Harry thought to himself and followed Ron into Mrs. Figg's house which seemed to triple in size.

Dumbledore and many of the members, including Lupin, had been there the night before, putting extra protections around the house and even around the street.

Dumbledore welcomed them and Molly told the three to go upstairs while they had a metting. Harry was already heading up the stairs before being told, he needed to talk to Ron and Hermione.

Turning the knobs on a few of the locked rooms Harry found and open study and went in. Ron and Hermione followed.

"I think Snape is the spy."

Ron sat down on an overstuffed couch and dug some Bertie Bots Every Flavored Beans out of his pockets.

"You know he's a spy for the order right?" Hermione asked, looking from Ron to Harry.

"Yeah." They both said in unision.

"But what if he's decieving us? The whole order, Dumbledore? What if he's truely loyal to Voldemort?" Harry asked Hermione who had made her way over to the window which overlooked the drive.

"I don't think so Harry." She said thoughtfully, "I mean, if he was you think he wouldn't have saved you last year."

Ron nodded in agreement, since his mouth was still full of jelly beans. Harry sighed silently and went to sit on the top of the desk that sat up against the wall. Before he even got close, it moved suddenly, scaring all of them.

Harry looked to Hermione. "What's in it?"

"I don't know."

"You don't think it could be dangerous do you?" He asked.

After a moment Hermione shook her head, "no, I don't think so."

"Leave it alone Harry." Ron yelled, swallowing the candy. "You don't know what's in it. Better safe then sorry."

Harry agreed with him and walked to the couch, away from the desk, and whatever was inside.

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"We must figure out what to do with Harry the rest of the summer." Dumbledore said, looking at Severus.

"I couldn't care less what you do with Potter." The potions professor said, crossing his arms infront of him. Then, too late, he realised his mistake. Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling viciously.

"No."

"Severus, Harry needs to be protected. You can provide that protection, besides, Voldemort and his death eaters wouldn't suspect you."

Snape was walking toward the door.

"No."

"Severus consider this your next mission." Dumbledore said and not another word was spoken about it.

TBC