-- In Memory of Harry Potter --
Authors Notes: Hopefully now that I have finally got this chapter out I will be able to finish this story with the same ending that I originally intended. I am aware that the content is now rather outdated, and perhaps once its finished I'll update it to be further in line with the story. Thank you to all those people who have supported me thus far. I know that it has been a long time and I hope that the ending will be worth the wait! Sarah.
There are millions of words that could describe the reactions of the people sitting around the old table at that moment. Hundreds of synonyms that could explain the gravity of the expressions and reactions from the members of the Order of the Phoenix, but only one word could have caused it all, and that word had now been spoken after years of silence. Voldemort, the word built from Tom Marvolo Riddles names half a century before hand still created as much fear as the Dark Lord himself and because of this, Harry found himself, disappointed.
"It's not possible" Tonks started
"The boy's here isn't he, it has to be possible" Moody snapped
"I refuse to believe that…" Mundungas Fletcher began only to be cut off by Harry.
"Silence!" he roared drawing his power around him. The display of power had its desired effect as even the men in the paintings that circled above their heads would not dare whisper. "I would have thought that the Order of the Phoenix would have been less ignorant than Fudge regarding this issue, but now I believe that I have a better chance with the pathetic excuse for a minister." Harry said angrily as he looked at the members one by one. The boy who lived, now aware he had the attention of everyone in the room, sat back into his seat. "My presence should be proof enough for you that the war that has dragged on for far too long now is not just against the Death Eaters. The dark lord has been sitting in the corner watching, as I have for the past years and now it seems he is ready to return."
"But we searched the Riddle Graveyard for hours, Magical reactor spells were used everywhere, people died in the graveyard that night." Moody told the dark haired young man.
"When do you think I died?" Malfoy asked rolling his eyes.
"And Death Eaters" Harry revealed, "Do you really think we didn't put up a fight. Voldemort and I were both injured and powerless by the end of the battle"
"Powerless?" Hermione questioned looking at Harry
"Not like last time, he still had them it's just" He paused, "He wouldn't have been able to cast a simple stunning spell by the end of the night, although, neither could I" Harry explained
"What happened?" Moody asked.
Harry took a deep breath and launched into the story of the "final battle".
--o--
"When I woke up Malfoy was hanging over me and I knew that he was still alive, as I…" Harry stopped when the sound of two teens yelling insults interrupted the silence that surrounded him.
"Let go of us you stupid ghost!"
"No No You Naughty Boys, No No I won't let you go" A haunted Voice sang one that everyone in the room recognised as Peeves.
"Damn" Harry muttered "I forgot about them" He sighed as he rose out of his seat and walked towards the exit of the old office. "Excuse me for a moment" He said distractedly although as he pulled the door shut behind him he couldn't ignore the eruption of noise that began behind him.
"Where are you off to?" Draco asked poking his head through the door.
"Forgot about Weasley and Jordan, just keep an eye on everyone can you" Harry asked the ghost who nodded in response. Harry stopped in front of a mirror and watched as he moved his magic around him, changing back into James.
As soon as he stepped past the gargoyles he was welcomed with the most hilarious sight that he had had the pleasure of seeing in a long time. Casper Jordan and Micheal Weasley were hanging in the air covered head to toe in what looked like green jelly. Circling them like a shark was Peeves who was dressed in what looked like ancient knights armour. "I could have sworn that I left you two in the trophy room, what was it you said about Harry Potter's school service award?" James said a bright smile on his face.
His voice snapped the boy's attention away from the ghost and as soon as they realised who the owner of the voice was they began begging, "Please sir, we really didn't mean to leave, it's just we er…" Wesley looked at Jordan for help
"We finished!" Jordan exclaimed finishing Michael's explanation.
"That's right! Harry Potters award is sparkling, really Professor" Michael agreed enthusiastically
James rose an eyebrow, "How long before they left the trophy room Peeves?"
"Five minutes, sir!" Peeves said saluting James.
The boys' mouths dropped open and Harry smiled smugly. "Detention tomorrow night, and don't even consider pranking me – otherwise it will be with Professor Snape – understand"
"Yes sir" The said in unison.
"Let them down now Peeves, they can go back to their dormitories". The ghost saluted and the boys slowly descended to the ground. James smiled at the boys. "You should never underestimate your Professors boys" He said his eyes sparkling, "You never know when they will surprise you". With that he cast a spell and the boys went zooming back down the hall towards the Gryffindor Dormitories. He smiled as he heard a crash before a loud, echoing shout "That was bloody brilliant!"
--o--
As Harry let go of the charm that hid his features he sighed. He was standing outside of the door to Dumbledore's office, which, he was entirely positive, was now a war zone. The volume of the voices inside the room had long ago gone from hushed to all out shouting and Harry was bothered by emotions he could feel radiating inside. Anger, fear, and even sadness filled the people inside, hiding them from the awful truth of War. Harry sighed as the images that came with the three letter word filled his head. Friends dying, late nights, movements, ambushes, death, life, hope. The last word settled in his heart, once again he was hope, he was the saviour, the one they would remember long after He and Voldemort were gone. With that thought he turned the doorknob and entered the office for the second time that evening.
"It's Impossible" Mrs Weasely said, trying for one last time to wake up from the nightmare that had just been forced upon her.
"No, it's not" Harry said, "And it's really important that all of you accept that before leaving tonight. Voldemort is back, and whatever happens from now on in must be seen as a movement in war, not just another death eater trying to avenge his master's death."
"So I suppose you have a plan" Moody said looking directly at Harry.
"Hundreds, but not one that I want to attempt alone" Harry replied looking at the group of people who had long been his friends.
"We better get comfortable then" Tonks noted and the group shifted in their seats, preparing themselves for a long night.
The meeting carried on long into the early hours of the morning as plans were disguised, priorities were sorted and ideas were placed upon the table. Although it wasn't until the Guardians were discussed that the members of the party were ready to accept that Hogwarts may be the only place where Voldemort would be defeated, where the final battle would have to be held.
"But Hogwarts!" Molly objected, "There are too many, too many to protect, and what about all the students, all the children"
"Perhaps it's almost time that we sent everyone home" Dumbledore said, his tone tired.
The group went silent at this comment, most looking surprised. "Do you think that's wise, knowing that Voldemort is back?" Ginny said, speaking for the first time since seeing Draco
"No, but knowing that Voldemort is coming here…" Dumbledore replied.
"Personally I think we would just be turning away our allies" Draco said looking specifically at Harry who looked pensive. "Maybe it's time to see just how strongly the people believe in the cause they are fighting for." The ghost said darkly reminding Harry of the serious general Draco had been when the war had been going badly in the past.
"I agree" Severus said.
Hermione sighed, "So do I" She muttered still thinking over what she was saying as though it had been a hard choice to make. "Too many of the people here are sitting on the fence while we fight to keep them safe… it's time to offer an ultimatum"
"Not yet" Harry declared as the group looked to him for a final word. "We are not in that deep yet" he said but he did not explain any further leaving the other of the members looking confused but they all nodded.
"Then what do you suggest our next move is Harry?" Moody said, his patience obviously tested by the length of time they had spent discussing matters without coming to any solid decisions.
"We need to start with the Wards" he said ignoring the ex-auror's cold tone
The members of the Order of the Phoenix were caught of guard by this. Of all the things Harry had brought up that night, the School's wards had not been mentioned once. While Ron gaped at his best friends ability to take everything into consideration Moody grunted at Harry's choice.
The boy who lived just sighed, "Alright Moody, I'll bite, what is wrong?" He muttered, the simple sentence pointing out that Moody's cold attitude had not gone unnoticed, but instead had been pushed aside by more important matters.
If Moody had been surprised by Harry's comment he did not show it, instead he came out and said what was on the mind of many of the occupants of the room. "You can't come back and tell us that the way we've been doing things is wrong" he spat
Harry's eyes lit momentarily with flames of anger, but they disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. "I'm not" he stated simply, "I've come back to tell you that the way you've been doing things has to change".
