Disclaimer: All things Ats, BtVS, and Harry Potter belong to their respective owners, Joss Whedon and JK Rowling. However, the plot is mine as far as I can tell, so please ask if you want to use it.
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Cordelia was sitting in the Gryffindor common room listening to the six students talk. After they woke up from their nap, Remus had somehow managed to convince her that he would not, in fact, fall apart if she left him long enough to get a decent night's sleep in her own bed, eat something, maybe take a shower. Now that she was here, and had done all of those things, she was very glad she had listened to him. Even after resting in her bed for several hours though, she was still exhausted, and was having a very hard time not falling asleep in her very comfortable easy chair. Suddenly, the portrait hole burst open with a loud bang, effectively rousing her, and making her slightly annoyed as well.
One of the Weasley twins stepped into the room, a big grin on his face. "Hello, little students!" he said.
With the help of his sweater, Cordelia had now correctly identified him as Fred.
"How are you doing? Hermione, read any good books lately? Saved any lives, Harry? You're looking exceptionally lovely today Cordelia, may I call you that?"
Cordelia raised an eyebrow at him and Fred gave her a sheepish grin before flopping down on a sofa next to Ron and saying, "Ah, Ickle Ronniekins. Doesn't it seem like just yesterday George and I were ruling this room?"
"Bugger off, Fred," Ron said through gritted teeth.
"No can do. I've come to tell you that there's an Order Meeting in Dumbledore's office in five minutes."
Cordelia and Harry stood up and headed for the portrait hole, and the others called after them, "You'll tell us what happens, right?"
This seemed to delight Fred who pulled both of his siblings into tight hugs and faked sobbing. "Oh, my babies are growing up so fast!" he blubbered. Then he turned serious. "They won't have to tell you. Dumbledore says you've all got to come."
"Brilliant!" cried Ron, pumping his fist in the air.
Ginny had a big grin on her face and Hermione had closed the book she was reading and had a small, pleased smile on her face.
"Us too?" Neville asked, gesturing to himself and Luna.
"Everybody," Fred confirmed. "Now let's go, or we're going to miss it."
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"This meeting of The Order of the Phoenix will come to order. First order of business, we have some new members to induct," Dumbledore said from his position behind the desk. He fixed Neville and Luna with a stare and said, "I am correct in assuming both of you know all about the Order and its mission?"
"Y-yes, sir," said Neville.
"We thought-" Ginny began, a bit hesitantly, but Dumbledore cut her off.
"It is quite all right, Miss Weasley. I assumed you would have informed them already. I was merely ascertaining whether I needed to explain. In fact, I am rather glad I will not have to. It's a rather tiresome speech." He chuckled, but then turned serious. "I will however, have to request that none of you tell anyone else. Can you all promise me that, please?'
"Yes, sir." the six younger members chorused together.
"Now, students, there are some things I want you to understand. You will not be on active duty. You will not be doing reconnaissance, there will be no missions of any kind. You will not even attempt to recruit new members, no matter how 'certain' you are that you can trust them. You will, however, attend every meeting, without exception, and will be partial to the same amount of information as everyone else. If there is an assignment that requires research you will help to do it. You will not miss classes unless specifically ordered to do so by myself, however, what goes on in here is more important than classes, Quidditch, or your duties as a Prefect, and may, at times, require you to spend more time tending to your duties as a member of the Order rather than those as a student."
"Good grief, it's the Scooby Gang: British Division," Cordelia muttered under her breath.
After this he leveled them all with a hard stare that they had not known the usually gentle Headmaster was capable of. "Now, most importantly of all. You will tell no one outside of those in this room now about the Order. If you do, you will be immediately expelled from the Order and your memories regarding it will be obliviated. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir," the six students said in unison, causing the Headmaster to smile kindly at them.
"Good. Now Tonks, please report your findings regarding the Azkaban prison break."
Tonks made a disgusted noise then, and said, a touch bitterly, "There wasn't one."
Dumbledore's eyebrows hit his hairline. "I beg your pardon?"
"There wasn't one," she repeated and then began digging around in her bag. "Aha!" she said, pulling out a very wrinkled piece of newspaper. "Here, sir. This explains what happened."
Dumbledore took the paper and read it, a frown forming on his face and his eyebrows knitting together. "This is very bad news," he said, before passing the paper around the room. When the clipping reached Harry, he almost fell out his chair in shock at the headline.
Lucius Malfoy Innocent, Dumbledore Senile
Lucius Draco Malfoy emerged four days ago from Azkaban Prison, starving, dirty, and grateful to have finally escaped the terror of the dementors. Despite the horrors he undoubtedly faced in prison, he held his platinum head high, and even stopped to offer a few words to The Daily Prophet regarding his unfortunate incarceration.
"I deeply regret that this happened, more so because it proves what I have suspected for some time: Albus Dumbledore is senile. To think that he could not tell that a student he taught for seven years was under the influence of the Imperius Curse is a frightening notion. I would, of course, never follow You Know Who willingly, and to even suggest otherwise is not only an insult to my pride, but my sense of morality as well."
Mr. Malfoy is now calling for the resignation of Dumbledore as headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft, as are several of his associates, all of whom are prominent citizens of the Wizarding World.
"That's complete crap," Cordelia said after reading the article. To her surprise, no one admonished her.
"Yes, Ms. Chase, it is," Dumbledore agreed. "However, it may well accomplish what Voldemort wishes it to."
"Which is?" Ron asked. "I mean, I would think V-V-Vol-Voldemort would be pretty angry with Malfoy for denying him like that."
"He may indeed be, Mr. Weasley. However, I tend to believe that Voldemort instructed Lucius to take this course of action, and that this is merely the beginning of a much larger plan. What do you think, Severus?
"I have heard nothing of a plan like that Headmaster, however, I believe you are right. Lucius out of prison and in good favor with the public is a very large asset."
"Why?" Cordelia asked, for once not being hostile with Snape. "I mean, I know he's saying he was under the Imperius, but wouldn't people still be suspicious of him?"
"You underestimate the Malfoy charm," Remus said. "He'll come out of this smelling like a rose. In fact, chances are very good that people will believe him that Dumbledore is, begging your pardon sir, senile."
"Quite all right, Remus. You are right after all."
"You won't resign, will you Professor?" Hermione asked.
"No," said Dumbledore said. "After last year, I am more determined than ever to remain at Hogwarts, no matter what the public chooses to believe."
"Can't the Ministry force you to resign?" Cordelia asked.
"I believe, Ms. Chase, that in the coming days, the Ministry will find that that itdoes not have nearly as much power as they think they do where Hogwarts is concerned."
"Well, what are we going to do about Malfoy?" Bill Weasley asked
"Nothing. At least, not at the moment. While this is certainly a pressing situation, and one that we must discuss more fully another time, there is another matter which I feel warrants our attention more immediately. Percy Weasley has informed me that Voldemort attacked and kidnapped him in hopes of gaining information about Ron. It is my belief that Voldemort intends to kidnap Ron and use him to get to Harry. Severus?"
"This I can confirm. Voldemort was informed of the second task in the Triwizard Tournament, probably through Draco. He knows that Ron is what Harry values most, and I believe he intends to try to take him soon, and use him to either get Harry or yourself to trade information, or perhaps surrender to him."
"Oh, by Merlin!" exclaimed Molly. "Professor, what are we going to do?"
Dumbledore thought for a long moment and at last said, "There is not much we can do, except perhaps impose a few restrictions on Mr. Weasley. Ron, you will begin attending an extra hour long defense course every day, in addition to your regular classes and your extra-curricular defense course that you are already taking with your friends. In fact, I believe the other five of you will sit in on those lessons as well, at least until term begins. It may help you someday, and it certainly won't hurt"
Ron looked vaguely sick at the thought of so many extra classes, but he nodded resolutely.
"Also, Mr. Weasley, you will not leave Hogwarts at all, except to go to Headquarters if it becomes necessary. In addition, from the moment you leave this room, you are not to go anywhere without at least one adult, and as many of your friends as will accompany you."
Ron nodded, and then looked at Cordelia and grinned. "Guess we'll be spending a lot of time together, Cordy."
"No," said Dumbledore. "I do not doubt that Ms. Chase is more than capable of handling herself in a crisis situation. However, against a group of fully trained and armed Death Eaters she would not stand a chance. I will require you to be in the presence of an overage member of the Order at all times."
"Professor, Cordy's fought demons, I'm sure-"
"Chase's experience 'fighting' the supernatural has no doubt been exaggerated to stoke her already inflated ego," Snape sneered. "I have no doubt that, were she to come up against even one Death Eater, she would be completely useless."
"I came up against you," Cordelia pointed out scathingly, her earlierattempt to be civil to Snape disappearing instantly as sherose to her feet to glare at the Potions Master.
"Yes, and passed out after my first spell."
"I had a vision, Batman. They tend to feel like someone's ripping your brain out through your nose, and, considering that I was already reeling from your little mind invasion trick, it's a wonder my head didn't explode. You could have killed me, you know."
"Well, wouldn't that be a tragedy?"
"Severus, Ms. Chase. If you would please desist-"
"No, we will not desist!" Snape thundered. "I'm sorry, Headmaster, but I have had enough of this impudent woman's nonsense. I could have killed you, you say? Well, has it occurred to yet that it was I who carried you to the hospital while Weasley there ran off screaming 'Oh, Harry, help me,' just as he always does?"
"Hey!" Ron cried.
"Well, thanks so much for being considerate after you forced me to relive my worst memories."
"Cordy-"
"Shut up, Remus! Darth Severus wants to duke it out, that's fine with me! Look, I don't know what your beef with me is. You know I didn't kill those women."
"That is of no consequence to me. You were once friends with one of the greatest mass murderers in history, and instead of staking that base vampire on sight as you should have done-"
"You really like calling the kettle black, don't you? You're no saint either, you know."
"My crimes are nothing compared with those of Angelus."
"Whatever. I'm not Angel, okay? He's just a friend. Deal with it. Now, try to be an adult for five seconds and tell me what's really bothering you."
"You have lied repeatedly since your arrival-"
"I had to lie, dumbass-"
"If you could please refrain yourself from the childish practice of name calling-"
"You want childish? I'll give you childish! How's-"
"Ms. Chase, Severus, please-"
But they were on a roll now, and not even Dumbledore could stop them.
"What's your problem, Snape, seriously? Let's get it all out in the open right now. Been too long since you got some?"
Snape finally lost control of his temper and with a wave of his wand sent Cordelia soaring across the room where she crashed into Bill Weasley and they both fell to the floor. She stood up and brushed her hair out of her eyes, glaring fiercely at her opponent.
"And to think you called me childish, you great over grown- AGGGHH!" Cordelia grabbed her head and immediately fell to the floor again, where she spent several minutes writhing on the ground and screaming. When the vision finally ended, she opened her eyes to find Harry hovering nervously over her.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked worriedly.
Cordelia did not answer. She pushed the crowd that was slowly gathering around her aside and stood shakily to her feet, smiling triumphantly at Snape the whole time.
"Nothing compared to the crimes of Angelus, huh? You sure about that?" Snape blanched then, and watched in horror as she turned to face Dumbledore. "Has he ever told you what happened the night he switched sides?"
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Doyle sat in front of a newly blank television and stared at Jenny with admiration. "I cannot believe you just did that!"
"Yeah, well that whole holier-than-thou attitude was pissing me off," she said, nonchalantly. "Besides, he deserved it."
"You do realize that was probably totally against the rules, right?"
Jenny shrugged, unconcerned, and Doyle's face broke into a wide grin.
"You know, I think this whole being in charge thing is going to your head. I love it."
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To the reviewers: Wow, you guys are amazing! Sixteen reviews in less than a day! Do you know how good that makes a girl feel? Well, after that amazing response I will at least attempt to post a chapter a day. However, I have a new rule. Nothing gets posted until the chapter after it has been written, which is why there was a delay between this one and Chapter 12. That way, there is less risk of one month delays between chapters. Also, the reason I say attempt is because, what with doing the outline and the writing a chapter a day, I've been thinking about pretty much nothing but this story for a week now, and it's starting affect me in unpleasent ways. Yesterday, I called two different people Cordelia in the span of about a minute. Now, I don't know about y'all, but I find that frightening. . . .
Thanks to: Arano Hanou (I'd be insulted too! And ignorance is most definitely bliss. Thank you for reviewing), angel-cordy (Thank you! I'm glad you think it's good. As for your question. . .wait and see. . . . Sorry, I hate answers like that, but if I tell you, it will give too much away. . .which actually kind of answers it anyway. Damn it:), Lillian Riguel (Thank you for reading; I'm glad you love it), CT Malone (Relative normalcy? Eep! That wasn't supposed to happen! Guess I'd better go shake something up. No, wait. I think this chapter took care of that), TriquetraWarrior (Well, thank you for reviewing now! I truly appreciate it! And thank you for your praise! 'A joy to read?' You do know that you're my new favorite person, right?), Raggedygal (Thank you for reviewing. And, no worries, I've got some good stuff planned for Snape. Well, not good. . .), Harm Marie (Thank you!), Wickedmoemoe (She made an idiot out of herself by traumatizing an already grieving man even further. Thanks for reviewing. By the way, I love your alias. Where'd you get it?), dedanaan (I'm glad you like it! Cordelia is my favorite character too (obviously). It pissed me off what they did to her then too, not so much because I didn't like the story, but more b/c if S4 was the last we were going to see of her, it should have at least been the real Cordy. But I guess they couldn't help it when Charisma got pregnant), Moony'sMate (Thank you! My goal with this story (and any future stories) isn't so much not to use the old cliches, but rather to put new twists on the ones I do use), boo (Thank you for reviewing! It was cute, wasn't it? In fact, it was almost sickening:), MischievousPuck (Outlines are evil, aren't they? I'd tried to write one several times and just couldn't, but I finally forced myself. Doyle will be in the whole story, there just wasn't really a place for him in the last few chapters), Maker of Mischief (No, I'm not at all sure I can do it, at least not while keeping my sanity, as evidenced by yesterday's Cordelia Incident(s)! But, I'm damn sure gonna try. Thanks for reviewing), Kat Hawkins (I just meant that I'm really proud of my story. However, it is a little creepy. I didn't even realize that until you pointed it out. Which makes it even creepier.), cyndur (I'm not a Percy fan either, but I wanted to have a go at making him likable. Thanks for reviewing). jt4702 (I'm glad you found my story. I enjoyed your review. . .nice and long! Thanks!). LoverFaery (I do appreciate you! Thanks for reading, and I'm glad you think this is a good crossover), DramaQueen4eva (Well, if life support won't do it, I guess I'll just have to keep you in good supply now, won't I? Thanks for reviewing).
One Last Author's Note: You know, I'm going to start just e-mailing people review responses, because these author's notes are getting too long, and I'm starting to feel guilty about making you guys think there's a page more of the story than there actually is. Anyway, there was something I wanted to say before I end the chapter. In the reviews of the last couple of chapters, people have mentioned that there are quite a few grammar and spelling mistakes in this story. This is very true, I notice it every time I re-read to make sure I'm not making continuity errors. If you notice an oopsie, please feel free to email it's location to me, and when I edit the story after it's finished, I will go back and fix them all. E-mail address: