Chapter Eleven

The Meeting

"So," said Dumbledore finally. "You have all gathered information from me - sparingly I may add - about what you are doing here. And I assume you have wondered why we are having this meeting so late into your stay as well".

"The thought had crossed our minds," said Willow.

"Well, the lateness for this meeting is because I wanted the order here and they have been all over the country gathering information in the past few months. And the reason for secrecy, is If I announced to the world that the champions for the powers that be were going to be working in my school, voldemorts plans would be put into effect much sooner then we're prepared for. And you wouldn't just have to worry about him. I'm sure you have a list of enemies that would want to track you down. And as for Harry…" Dumbledore sighed. "I admit freely and selfishly that I don't want him to worry about his part in all this until he has to. He is already coping with the death of a friend and his godfather and a looming prophecy.".

"But imagine how his going to feel when he learns all of this," said Cordelia, much to everyones surprise. "Wouldn't it be better just to tell him who we are? I mean, no one else has to know…"

Remus lupin smiled at her. "I agree with you. Harry has a right to know. But it wouldn't just be Harry. Knowing him as well as I do, he'll find out eventually on his own. And he'll be mad we've kept this from him. But as soon as he knows, his friends will find out. Then in less then the time it takes you to blink, the school will know - and then the ministry of magic and then the wizarding world".

"So what are Voldemort's plans exactly?" asked Wesley.

"It doesn't look good," said Arthur Weasley grimly. "There have been sightings of Death Eaters again around the country. They seem to have come out of hiding again since there attack on the ministry".

"More signs of violence everywhere you look," said Mad Eye seriously. "It's even effecting the muggle world. Although they act stupid most of the time, people are starting to notice. The Death Eaters are using the mind controlling curse to take over muggles to add them to His army".

"Army?" asked Paige.

"Why does there always have to be an army?" muttered Angel.

"He has been gathering dark forces for sometime now," said Snape, who hadn't said anything in a while since Pipers remark about him now seeming like a good guy. "I learned that he has the trolls and giants on his side. But that's not all. He has a spell to control dragons now as well".

"Bad tidings indeed," murmured Dumbledore. "He knows we will use everything in our power to protect Harry before the time comes that…."

"Wait," said Dawn. "You keep saying protect Harry. I thought we were here to stop the bad guys. It's what we do".

Dumbeldore looked at her sadly. "I'm afraid that isn't possible".

There was a shocked silence. The Members of the Order looked at Dumbledore in horror. "What are you talking about?" said Arthur. "I thought - if the slayer…if these people can't stop Voldemort then who can?"

"Is there something you've been keeping from us?" asked lupin quietly.

"There is only one person who can defeat Voldemort".

Buffy noticed that nobody at this table seemed to flinch at his name - except perhaps Mr Weasley.

"Harry Potter," answered Snape. For once his voice didn't seem to drip with hatred at the name.

"Yes," said Dumbledore. The reaction was as predicted. All the members of the order looked shocked at this news and the forces of light looked stunned that there was an enemy they couldn't beat.

"This has been written in a prophecy," Dumbledore said loudly over the sudden noise in his office. "He will have power the dark lord knows not. Either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives" There was a silence at this.

"Prophecies aren't always set in stone," said Giles hopefully. "Buffy herself has defied them a number of times….."

"And I still hope that is the case," Dumbledore answered him. "But this prophecy is as accurate as I can make it. And our prophecies usually come to pass. I have tried to find a - how would you put it? A loop hole. A flaw. Something that can change the future. But there's nothing".

"Us being here has got to count for something," said Piper. "Otherwise why were we summoned here at all? There has to be some reason you've heard of us. Some reason that you're pasts are linked with some of our members. There's always a reason".

Buffy had been unusually silent throughout the meeting, something nudging her memory that she wished would stay at the back of her mind. "it's worse then that," she said quietly, so quietly that she hadn't been heard at first.

"Buffy?" asked Willow in concern.

"I've…." she hesitated. "I've been having dreams. Ever since I got here. But things kept happening that made me forget them. I'm not sure if they've come to pass yet, but in one of my dreams Voldemort had summoned an army - and he seemed to know I was there. He was looking at me".

"Why didn't you say anything?" asked Angel.

Buffy shook her head. "I don't know. I kept forgetting".

"This is nothing but a nightmare," said Snape.

"The dreams of slayers are often prophetic," explained Wesley. "They can predict future events. Buffy - is that all you remember?"

She nodded unhappily. "I'm sorry. There's just been so much on my mind….what with things at home as well…I …"

Angel gave her a confused look, as if to say he wanted to know what else she was worried about. She tried hard to ignore him, just like she was trying to ignore thoughts of how friendly Spike had been towards her and Dawn lately. It had never been easy to ignore either of them. Focus buffy, she told herself. Thoughts like that are why your in this mess now.

"Of course," said Dumbledore. "Don't worry, we haven't expected you to adapt to our world just like that. We have to assume that these dreams are of future events. We must start to make more secure plans of our own. That is part of the reason I called you here. Not to - defeat the bad guys, but to protect".

" So maybe voldemort knows that we're already here," said Piper. "We told you what we felt at the village yesterday…."

"Yes. We shall have to be on our guard," said Dumbledore. "if he does know, then secrecy is of no more use. But until we have further proof of that - our plan continues. Now, I think we should all get some sleep".

The meeting was suddenly over. Buffy exchanged good byes with the Order, feeling sad that the next time they met, they would be at war. It was even more saddening to know that some of them may not survive the coming battle. Buffy had to remind herself that that was the case for her and her friends. Things may seem magical here on the outside, but the reality was that they had a job to do. It was why she had been called here, why she felt she had to leave her duties on the Hellmouth. If Voldemort succeeded, there wouldn't be much of a home left to defend. It was something she had seriously been forgetting.

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Buffy and the others came down from Dumbledore's office in separate groups to avoid suspicion. Buffy was feeling very anxious about upcoming events.

"That didn't solve anything," said Dawn. "I mean, it told us more details bout the facts and we met the order of the Phoenix, but it didn't tell us what's going to happen or what we're going to do about it". She was speaking in a whisper, not expecting anyone to be in the corridors this late.

Buffy sighed. "Well, we just have to do whatever we can to help Harry when the time comes". she answered tiredly.

"As long as we get to tell him soon," muttered Dawn after a brief silence. "I can't keep this up much longer. You know how I am with secrets".

Harry sat in the shadows and listened to them in shocked silence. His anger was hardly in control at all, but somehow he managed to remain hidden.

" Well, I guess whatever's coming won't be as bad as anything else we've faced right?" Xander was saying now. "I mean, this Voldemort guy can't have anything on Glory. She was definitely worse".

Buffy smiled slightly. "I don't know Xand. For once you could be wrong".

"Buffy will save the day though," said Willow proudly. "She always comes through for us in the end".

Buffy shook her head sadly. "Maybe not this time. Sure, I'm the slayer, but you heard Snape. The events foretold can't be stopped".

"It just seems like maybe we've met our match this time," said Angel a few minutes later. "You always say that," said Cordelia. "Always. And every time I end up saying I told you so. What's with the defeatists attitude guys? We'll beat this thing. I mean, it's not just us, we've got The charmed ones as …."

"keep it down," hissed Wesley.

She winced and nodded. "Right. All I'm saying is we've got back up, that's all. Things would be much worse if we were on our own".

A few minutes later Piper, Phoebe and Paige came out of Dumbledore's office. "Wow, that was long," Paige commented. "And not the least bit encouraging".

"Well, we've stopped prophecies before," Piper reminded her sisters. "This time won't be any different".

"Your so stubborn," said Phoebe. "think about it, have you ever seen this dark lord in the Book of…"

"Shhh……" said Piper.

"The you know what?" finished Phoebe, looking around. "I mean, it's just strange. And Leo's never mentioned any of this to us before".

Piper chose to ignore her sister as they walked off into the shadows of the school.

Once they had disappeared, Harry stood up. It was the early hours of the morning, so it was too late to wake the others. But it was clear to him now. Dumbledore had sent for more protection against Voldemort, but even these people - whoever they were - might not be enough to stop events from taking place.

Why couldn't he have just told Harry what had been going on? Didn't anyone know that he could handle it? That he could look after himself? Was that so much to ask for, a little respect? What was even worse was that the Order were here. They were in the castle at this very moment. Lupin, Mad Eye, everyone. He hadn't seen them all summer and now he wasn't even allowed to know they were here.. He remembered Remus's last words to him. "if you ever need us then call…" that was a joke.

He needed them all. Right now. He needed them to be straight with him and give him answers. He was so angry that he lashed out and hit the statue, bruising his knuckles in the process. It stung slightly, but he barely noticed.

Finally feeling tired, he headed back to Gryffindor Tower.

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Harry had been in such a state, that he hadn't noticed who else had been hiding out side the door that led up to Dumbledore's office.

Draco Malfoy stepped forward, a grin on his face. He had been out near the kitchens with Crabbe and Goyle, watching in amusement as they tried to steal some cakes. He had heard the raised voices of Mr Giles and Mr Price saying something about a meeting and had decided to follow. He had always had his suspicions about the new teachers, and this new information confirmed it.

He knew several people who would love to know what he had just overheard. This could only get better for him…and it might finally get Harry Potter out of his life for good.