Harry Potter and the Mind Mage
By James Milamber
A/N: Heh, sorry folks, but I'm feeling a bit Douglas Adams-y today. Enjoy!
Within the office of Albus Dumbledore stands a very nicely crafted mahogany bookcase. Normally, such a thing would not be open to any form of speculation; indeed, since there are four identical units scattered about the office, it would usually earn no more than a cursory glance, if even that.
So it was that Harry and his friends were quite shocked when the bookcase turned out to be not a bookcase at all, but rather a very elaborate multi-function Portkey, dating back to the days of the founder's themselves. Of course Harry knew that Salazar Slytherin had built his own secret places within the castle, the Chamber of Secrets. What he did NOT know was that Godric Gryffindor had done the same.
'The key is the sword,' Dumbledore explained, placing the Sword of Gryffindor into a groove in the side of the bookcase, which glowed momentarily with scarlet light. 'I knew the room was there long before Harry recovered the Sword in the chamber, but had no way to access it.'
'So now it's a meeting place for the Order?' Hermione guessed as the bookcase began to waver. Finally it disappeared entirely, leaving an opaque mass of swirling energy.
'Not quite,' Dumbledore chuckled, then stepped forward and vanished. Harry and his friends shared along glance. Finally Harry shrugged and, with Ron right behind him, stepped through the portal.
He was not at all prepared for what lay on the other side. Dumbledore's use of the word 'room' was very, very loose.
It was actually a massive meeting hall, easily rivalling the size of the Great Hall. The floor was made from what looked like whole squared off trees, and a single table ran the length of the room. The walls were covered with intricate tapestries, depicting some of the wizarding world's greatest battles; Harry recognised many from his History of Magic lessons, which in itself was surprising (he pinned it on Hermione's extensive notes rather than Professor Binn's teaching effectiveness). The roof was made from black marble, shifting in the flickering light from a hundred torches set at regular intervals along the walls.
Sitting at the table, which was easily capable of seating a couple of hundred, were a handful of people. Harry recognised them all as members of the Order.
'What are they doing here?' Snape asked suspiciously as Isabelle, the last to step into the portal, appeared beside Ginny. 'Surely you're not going to actually listen to Milton?'
'As a matter of fact, Severus,' Dumbledore said, 'I do indeed intend to act upon Mr. Milton's suggestion.'
'Albus!' An older woman Harry recognised from Grimmauld Place said in scandalised tones. 'They are all underage!'
'So what?' Ginny cut off Dumbledore's reply. 'We're not as old as you, big deal. Have any of you come face to face with Voldemort and survived?' She pointed at Harry. 'He has, five times! So you don't let him join the Order out of principal?' She shook her head. 'Maybe Professor Milton was right about you.'
'Well, really!' The woman huffed. 'I was just saying…'
'You all know the Prophecy,' Dumbledore cut in, his piercing gaze locked onto the woman, who was now squirming in her seat like a schoolgirl being scolded. 'Will you knowingly defy it?'
The woman sighed and dropped her gaze. 'Of course not,' she muttered.
'Then it's settled,' Dumbledore clapped his hands together. 'Harry Potter, Ginevra Weasley, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, Alexander Milton, Cassandra Milton and Isabelle Lestrange…' a few people gasped as the Headmaster said Isabelle's name, but the ex-Slytherin stared stonily at the far wall and refused to acknowledge them, '…will join the Order of the Phoenix this night. Does anyone present object, in light of what has been revealed?' His words were met with silence, although Snape looked like it was taking him a great deal of effort to remain that way. 'One last thing. Every member of the Order carries with them an identifying mark at all times. This is usually something inconspicuous, personal, so as not to garner suspicion. I trust you all have something of this nature with you at the moment?' Seven nods. 'Very well, come forward Harry.'
Harry took a nervous step forward as the Headmaster drew his wand. 'You are entering into a binding magical contract by agreeing to join, Harry,' he said gently. 'Do you confirm before these witnesses that you enter said contract of your own free will?'
'I do,' Harry was surprised by how firm his voice was.
'Then let your motives be made known,' Dumbledore touched the tip of his wand to Harry's forehead. After a brief second the wand tip emitted a brilliant white light so bright that all present had to shield their eyes. When the light faded, Harry found himself staring into Dumbledore's eyes, which looked more alive than Harry had seen them for a long time.
'He is more than fit,' Lupin said, his voice tinged slightly with awe.
'So it would seem,' Dumbledore said, and everyone laughed a little nervously. 'So, Mister Potter, what would you like to use as your identification?'
'This,' Harry said, pulling the medallion Ginny had given him, and later Gryffindor had changed, from under his shirt.
There were several sharp intakes of breath from around the room. 'Where did you get that, Potter?' Snape asked harshly.
'Now is not the time, Severus,' Dumbledore said sternly, touching his wand to the amulet. It glowed a pale gold colour briefly.
'All done!' Dumbledore said, flourishing his wand. 'Miss Weasley, you next please.'
The process was repeated on each student. Ginny's light was almost as bright as Harry's, although it was tinged with pink, and she used a silver ring as her identification. Ron's light was a fiery red with an indigo core, Hermione's a very deep blue, almost lavender, surrounded with yellow.
There was a slight snag when they tested Alex, however. His light was so intensely red that for a moment Harry was sure Dumbledore's wand would catch alight.
'We cannot allow such a one into the Order,' the woman who had spoken before said in a troubled tone. 'He will surely cause trouble.'
Dumbledore raised his hand for silence. 'He joins regardless,' he said flatly. 'Remember the Prophecy, you cannot deny it. He has his purpose, as do we all.'
Cassie's light was a light blue, almost the same shade as her eyes. Finally, Dumbledore tested Isabelle. A mass of green erupted from her forehead, surrounding a black shape that seemed at once to have form and yet remain formless.
Dumbledore blinked. 'Well, that wasn't expected.'
'What?' Isabelle crossed her eyes in an attempt to see. 'All I can see is green, what's wrong with that?'
'I'm sorry Isabelle,' Dumbledore said sternly, 'but it's time to come clean. Abilities such as yours can be of use to the Order.'
Isabelle sighed. 'Fine,' she said resignedly, then turned to face the rest of the room. 'I'm an Animagus,' she said flatly.
'What?' Alex stared at her incredulously.
'I'm a born Animagus,' she repeated. 'I don't know why I never told anyone, probably for the same reason your father didn't, Harry.'
'You're not registered?' Harry guessed.
Isabelle nodded. 'When I found out, my father was dead and my mother in Azkaban. Who was there to register me? My aunt was a Muggle.'
Harry was about to ask her about her aunt, as he realised it was the first time Isabelle had let anything slip about her life before Hogwarts, but Ron beat him to the punch. 'What's you other form?'
Isabelle smiled slightly, then spread her arms like wings. She seemed to melt downwards, towards the floor, and in only a second she was no longer human.
The pure black raven launched herself from the floor, flapping her wings gently as she circled the room once, then came to land on Alex's shoulder. He stared at her in astonishment as she cocked her head slightly to gaze into his eyes. Tentatively he raised a hand and stroked her feathered head, and she closed her eyes and leaned into his hand slightly, making soft cawing noises.
Suddenly her eyes snapped open and Alex jerked his head back with a startled oath. Isabelle launched herself off his shoulder and in a second she stood before them again, smiling impishly.
'You bit me!' Alex exclaimed, holding out his finger. Indeed, a droplet of blood had formed on the end of the offending digit.
Isabelle tossed her head haughtily. 'Serves you right,' she smirked.
Dumbledore cleared his throat pointedly, and everyone jumped, having forgotten where they were after Isabelle's surprise. 'Now that is over with, I believe we should get on with this meeting, hmm?'
'Of course, Headmaster,' Isabelle smiled sweetly, firmly taking Alex's hand and leading him to a seat. Cassie followed, smirking at her brother. Harry and Ginny shared a grin as they took their own seats, with Ron and Hermione next to Harry.
'To business,' Dumbledore leaned his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers. 'Remus, would you mind giving us an update on the progress you've made finding alternate accommodations for those displaced during the attacks a few months back?'
'Certainly, Headmaster,' Remus said politely, and launched into a detailed analysis of his efforts. Harry remembered many months ago, standing in his bedroom at Privet Drive, receiving a note from Ron telling him about the attacks, including the one on the Burrow. The very same day that Ginny had come so explosively into the middle of his existence.
'Thankyou, Remus,' Dumbledore said when the werewolf had finished. 'I believe Severus has something to tell us about his work finding a potion to counteract the effects of Dementors?'
Snape nodded, and his face lost a small amount of its usual haughtiness as he spoke. 'As you all know, a standard Cheering Charm or Potion has little to no effect on a Dementor's primary weapon, the ability to suck the happiness out of you. These do not create happiness, rather they amplify any emotions already present. I believe…'
'Get to the point, Snape,' Kingsley Shacklebolt said in his quiet voice. 'I have to be back at the Ministry before six.'
'Very well,' Harry was surprised to see Snape nod in agreement. 'To summarise, I believe that I may be able to synthesise a version of the common Cheering Potion that may work to counteract the effects of nearby Dementors, or at least make it easier to fight.'
'How long?' the elderly witch asked.
Snape shrugged. 'I have no idea. A month? Two? It all depends on how many combinations I have to go through before I find one that works.'
Dumbledore clapped his hands together. 'Excellent work, Severus, thank you. Now, I believe –'
His words were cut off by the abrupt arrival of non other that Charlie Weasley, who seemed to step straight out of the wall.
'Sorry I'm late, Headmaster,' he smiled. 'Norbert saw Hagrid's hut, and apparently recognised it. He couldn't seem to understand why he wouldn't fit in there anymore.' Then he caught sight of Harry and his friends sitting at the table. 'Hey, hang on, what are you lot doing here?'
'Charlie!' Ginny cried, almost throwing herself into his arms. Harry remembered the last time they had seen her older brother clearly, the day they had gone to Diagon Alley, and Charlie had been in St. Mungo's.
'Nice to see you too, Snapdragon!' Charlie enfolded his little sister in a hug. 'I'd still like to know what the bloody hell you're doing here, though.'
'Harry and his friends have joined the order,' Lupin said.
'Against the wishes of some,' Snape muttered.
Charlie let out a low whistle. 'Mum's not going to be happy,' he said. 'You remember what she was like when the twins were trying to join last year.'
'I'll deal with Mum,' Ginny said confidently, releasing her hold on Charlie and stepping back. 'Just leave her to me.'
'Glad you're going to be the one,' muttered Ron, earning him an elbow in the ribs from Hermione.
'Well then,' Dumbledore stood, 'since Norbert has finally arrived, we had best be off before the students begin to panic. Harry, if you and your friends would like to come down with me?'
'Of course, sir.'
'Excellent, meeting dismissed.'
The Order members began to file out of the room, each seeming to vanish into the wall. Snape was the last to leave, and the look he sent Harry's way just before he vanished made Harry doubt his sanity.
The look was filled with near-hatred, true, but curiously intermingled with it was the faintest traces of hope.
A/N: Everything has its purpose, people. I don't do anything for the hell of it.
Before you ask, you will find out what the others used for their identification…eventually.
Review Responses:
gpotter: No harm in just guessing. Lots of people said Wormtail, for some peculiar reason. Honestly, do they really think I'm going to kill off two of the main villains in as many chapters?
Whimsical Firefly: And a new twist enters…you can start an Alex/Isabelle fan club if you like, but I doubt you'll find many members, for some reason.
sunni07: Umm…you know, the Aborigines could sue you for calling it Ayers Rock…it's Ularu, now. You HAVE to be American, only American's could not know what the word 'mate' means (it's a friend, by the way). No offence, but: bloody Americans…oh yeah, and my best friend plays inline hockey, so I have much access to hockey sticks.
Merusa: You know, I think this is the first chapter in ages that has no James. Bugger. As for what's in store for the Dursleys…you'll see…
Saerry Snape: Hmm…the expression 'Up shit creek without a paddle' springs to mind for some utterly bizarre reason…
CreativeQuill: Friction between Hermione and Cassie? Where on earth did you get THAT idea? Hmm…as to the twins, their relationship will become crystal clear in the last few chapters. Till then…mwahahahaha! Millie says hi, by the way. /WILL YOU STOP CALLING ME THAT RIDICULOUS NAME?!?/ Umm…no.
Larna Mandrea: Just…back away…very slowly…crazy reviewers…
Maruada4eva: End of the year? Close…Christmas will be in about five or six chapter's time, I reckon.
siriusfanatic: Heh…homework is bad…
Melindaleo: Where the hell did the whole 'Virginia' thing come from, anyway? People just assumed, Rowling NEVER said that was her name.
athenakitty: Possibly, and you'll see. (Now that's cryptic…)
