Chapter 26: The Order of the Phoenix
A/N: Hey guys! I love all of my reviews! Keep them coming!
No matter what was occurring in her personal life, Ebony still had training to do. Every Saturday night she was in Snape's classroom or bedroom. When she wasn't there she was in the Forbidden Forest perfecting her hunting and killing skills. Thus Ebony's abilities greatly improved with each passing class. There was little Snape had yet to teach her.
After Valentines Day, Snape had noticed a change in Ebony. She seemed more distracted, not as focused. Snape knew the cause, but had yet to find a way to keep Ebony's mind off of Draco and on her studies. While this annoyed him to no end, he knew better than to open his mouth.
Three weeks after Valentines Day Snape had scheduled a training session for a Friday night. It was unusual for him to change their weekly rhythm, yet Ebony didn't seem to mind. As she opened the door to the potions classroom she was surprised at who she discovered present.
Dumbledore and Harry stood next to Snape. They seemed to be in deep conversation about something. As Ebony watched them more people seemed to come out from the shadows. One was clearly recognizable as Mad-Eye. The man to his left was shaggy and his clothes seemed dusty. Ebony remembered Lupin well and smiled. To Moody's right was a woman with purple hair. It only took Ebony a second to realize it was Tonks. Her image was slightly altered but her signature style was unmistakable.
"Albus, what are we waiting for?" Mad-Eye croaked his voice raspy as ever.
"My dear old friend, have some patience" Dumbledore responded lightly.
"Ah, here she is." He pointed to where Ebony stood.
"Who is she?" Lupin asked.
"Ebony." Harry answered, just as shocked and surprised to see Ebony as she was to see him.
"The answer and key to our survival." Snape commented, causing all heads to turn towards his general direction.
"What does this girl have to do with us?" questioned Tonks. Her annoyance permeated the room.
"She," Dumbledore noted,
"Is not just a girl. She is a vampire and an extremely powerful one at that."
"A vampire?" Harry's eyes widened. He gaped at her for the next few minutes, then said:
"Well, you are pale." This seemed to break the ice as the company broke peals of quiet laughter.
"But what do vampires have to do with us?" Moody chimed in as the laughter died down.
"This girl, this vampire has been prophesied about. Her powers will be legendary. She has not only been trained by a powerful vampire, she has shown promise and will soon surpass ever her teacher.
"Who is this teacher?" Remus searched the room with his eyes, as if looking for another personage in the room.
"Me." Snape once again commanded the attention of his visitors,
"I was given a
prophecy that I was to train a vampire with unlimited strength. Until
this year I had yet to find her."
"You mean-"
"Yes Remus, the one vampire who has been called to overthrow Voldemort is standing right before you." Dumbledore smiled,
"Meet Miss Ebony."
"Hello." Ebony spoke finally. A murmur of greetings was her only response.
"The reason I have called you here tonight, Ebony, is very important." Snape told her.
"And that would be?" she cocked her head at him.
Would she dare defy me in front of them? He questioned.
"Because, the people here are part of an elite group called the Order of the Phoenix. We are devoted to bringing down Voldemort." He knew that Hermione had known this and had even been a member of the Order, but Ebony had yet to be informed.
"We would like you to join. We know as a vampire you can choose to have no alliances-as many have. But your situation is different."
"My spies have led me to know that Voldemort is aware of your existent at Hogwarts and is planning your demise at this very instant." Dumbledore stated.
"For your safety and protection we ask you to join."
Ebony realized the momentous task before her. As a vampire she could be a rogue, have no alliances, belong to no one.
But I'm not just a vampire, she mused, I'm the vampire. After contemplating her other options she finally spoke:
"Yes, I will join the Order. I understand the consequences of my actions and am well prepared to make sacrifices if necessary."
"Well, good. Now that that is out of the way, you can inform these people who you really are."
"What is he talking about?" Harry spoke. His puzzlement mirrored the others' perfectly.
"You need to tell them." Snape told Ebony,
"Now."
As Snape spoke the easy and relaxed aura which had cast itself upon the group was now torn with curiosity and worry.
"You best speak up girl, 'lest you wish to lose the friendship you just gained." Moody spoke, sending shards of the shattered silence everywhere.
Ebony, not knowing what to say and quite taken aback, said,
"My real name is not Ebony. My former name belongs to my former life. You all once knew me as Hermione Granger."
The shocked intake of breath was clearly audible as Ebony proceeded to tell them all of what happened to her in the last summer and during this school term. She left out most of the 'Draco drama', except for bits and pieces that needed to be explained to help the story.
As Ebony told the others what happened to her, she gauged their reactions. Lupin looked stunned, shocked by what he was hearing. Tonks looked sullen, as if her journey had been a travesty. Only Moody seemed amused and smiled at her.
When she was finished, Ebony glanced over at Harry. The hurt in his eyes was clear. He looked as id someone had just ran over his car and them someone else had told him his cat had come back to life. There was a glint of happiness, yes, but the overwhelming sense of sadness that surrounded it was too much for him to bear. Quickly, Harry darted out of the classroom, despite Snape's protests.
"Just let him be, Severus. He's just had a terrible shock. Ebony dear, go after him. This is something you two must work out on your own." Nodding, Ebony left the crowd of adults to find her once-best friend.
"Wait! Harry!" Ebony heard herself call after Harry's blur of person.
"Don't you mean 'Potter'?" he snapped back, stopping in his tracks.
"Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I couldn't." she had finally caught up with him and could now catch her breath.
"Yes, you could have. I would have kept your secret. How many times-"
"It's not that. I wanted a whole new life. I convinced myself that you had been using me. I felt bad about abandoning you, but after killing my parents I wasn't the same. I'm not Hermione anymore. I don't know how to be her."
"I just can't believe you let me believe you were gone! Do you know the hell I went through! I mean, damn. And Ron-"
"You can't tell him!" Ebony cried.
"Why not? He deserves to know as much as I do. He loves you, Hermione."
"Don't call me that." She snapped, then, seeing the look on his face, said:
"Sorry, but like I said: I'm not her anymore. But the fact that Ron loves me is precisely why he can't know. Look at what happened to him when he thought I had left. I mean he's not even part of the Order anymore. Finding out I am alive would kill him." she explained.
For the first time that day Harry agreed with her,
"I guess you're right…It must have been lonely for you." Harry stated, trying to reform the bond they had once had and had lost.
"Yeah, but I have Draco."
"I was wondering about that/ Why him? He's such a jack-ass."
"I guess I've always been attracted to him but didn't want to admit it. When I came back to Hogwarts I guess I figured it was time to see if the attraction was mutual."
As Ebony and Harry continued to speak a comfortable familiarity began to engulf the two friends. What they once had would never be again and they both knew this. But a new bond could and would be formed. And this knowledge was enough to make them both smile.
A/N: Hey guys! Hope you liked…more soon...I promise as long as you R&R