Two days after the wedding, Harry and his friends found themselves back at 12 Grimmauld Place. They had all enjoyed the time spent at the Weasley's but Lupin had advised them that they would be safer to continue their stay at headquarters. Harry had already informed the Order that they had completed their mission and the only thing left to do was to finally kill Voldemort and his snake once and for all.
Three days after they had returned to headquarters, Lupin informed them to please where their dress robes to dinner that night as McGonagall had an announcement to make as newly appointed head of the Order. Hermione questioned Lupin as to what the announcement was about, but he shook his head and said that she would have to wait until dinner to find out.
The four friends were still puzzled as they made their way to dinner that night. They were further surprised to find every member of the Order present for dinner. After everyone had eaten dinner, McGonagall stood up and tapped her water glass.
"It's not often we have reason to celebrate in these trying times." McGonagall began. "First, we were fortunate to be able to celebrate Bill and Fleur's wedding. And tonight, we also have reason to celebrate. But before I tell you four what what we are celebrating, I would like to tell everyone here tonight about a visit I paid to Dumbledore- or rather his portrait at Hogwarts. I asked him what this mission was he sent you four on and said that you would let us know when the time was right, Harry. He said that he had every confidence that you four would be successful and that the Order should trust that you all know what you're doing. As it stands, the members of the Order of the Phoenix have talked it over and taken a vote. It seems that you all have more than earned your membership into the Order and tonight we will induct you into the Order.
The four friends looked at each other and grinned.
"Now, if everyone will follow me into the next room for the induction." McGonagall instructed. Once everyone was in the other room, she continued. "Harry, Ronald, Hermione, and Ginerva, please come stand here."
The four friends stood and walked to where she had instructed.
"Now, before we begin, I want each one of you to know the responsibilities of being a member of the Order. Being a member means that your first priority is to the Order and when you are asked to do something or go somewhere, you do it. Our main goal is to strip Voldemort of power and we do everything we can to that end. So it may very well mean that you four will end up fighting in a very dangerous war between our side and his. Now, knowing all the responsibilities and risks, do you want to be a member of the Order of the Phoenix?" she asked almost sternly.
No one hesitated to answer yes to the loaded question.
"Very well, then." McGonagall said with a thin smile. McGonagall drew a wand and tapped each of them lightly on their right shoulder. Golden cords bound the four inductees with McGonagall. "From this point on, you will be a fully pledged member to the Order of the Phoenix. You will serve and protect the Order even unto death, if it is required of you. You will work with the best interests of the Order in mind. Having previously agreed to these statements, I, as Head of the Order of the Phoenix, do hereby declare you a member of the Order." McGonagall stated. She tapped them on their shoulders again, and the cords disappeared.
There were cheers all around as the other members rose to congratulate the new members. An hour passed, and as some people made a move to leave, Harry shot his friends a glance. They nodded as they knew just what he was asking of them. Harry cleared his throat nervously and everyone looked at him.
Before you all go home for the night, I think it is time for you to know what our mission was all about. I think that Dumbledore would agree with me." Harry said, his eyes misting a bit as the thought about Dumbledore. Blinking furiously, he continued. Last summer, Dumbledore informed me that he wanted to have private lessons with me at school that year. That year, when I would visit his office for those lessons, he and I would use the Pensieve to view his and other peoples memories. One in particular, confirmed a theory of his. Harry took a deep breath. Dumbledore believed that the reason Voldemort did not die when he tried to kill me is that he had preserved his soul in a horcrux.
Harry heard someone take in a sharp breath of surprise, and he could tell that everyone was clearly surprised. He continued, "However, what we discovered was that he had indeed created a horcrux, but not just one. Voldemort had created six horcruxes, outside of the soul in his own body. One horcrux was Tom Riddle's diary, which was destroyed in the Chamber of Secrets.
Harry further explained about the night in the cave, as well as the horcruxes he and his friends destroyed. "So, with the diary, ring, locket, cup, and raven destroyed, there are only two left. Dumbledore believed, as we do, that Voldemort's snake, Nagini, is a horcrux. We must kill Nagini before we can kill Voldemort and the bit of his soul he has left in him." Harry finished.
The members of the Order sat in stunned silence for a couple of seconds. For the next several minutes, the foursome were busy answering questions about everything that had happened over the past couple of weeks. The excitement had just begun to die down when the group heard the front door open. Everyone exchanged glances and immediately drew out their wands to none other than Severus Snape.
"You!" Harry yelled, his face contorted with rage. "How DARE you come back here!
Lupin pointed his wand at Snape and chains bound him to a chair. "I know you're angry, Harry, we all are. But I want some questions answered first." Lupin said firmly. "Start talking, Snape."
"I know what you all think of me." Snape said in his usual cold voice. "But you're mistaken."
"Well, why don't you tell us just what we're mistaken about then." McGonagall ordered, in an equally cold voice.
"Last summer, the Dark Lord gave Draco Malfoy the job of killing Dumbledore. His mother came to see me and asked me to make the Unbreakable Vow that if he were to fail, that I would do it for him. How was I to keep my cover as a Death Eater and disagree? Seeing no other option, I agreed and took the Vow. As soon as the school year began, I informed Dumbledore of everything. He agreed that I had made the right choice. He made me agree to kill him if it came down to it. He did not want a murder on Draco's conscience."
"That's an awfully convenient story!" Harry interrupted.
"Well, that's the way it happened, Potter." Snape replied with a sneer. "If I really was on the Dark Lord's side, why would I have blocked a killing curse for you that night? And when you and your little friends were snooping around his parents house, did you not think the dementors would tell us? It was lucky for you that I was the one they informed or else you would not be here today. But, that is not the important thing. I came here to warn all of you that Voldemort and the Death Eaters are planning to seize Hogwarts tomorrow night!"