Repercussions
Boy-Who-Lived Lives No More
Early in the morning, on one August 24, the Meiji Academy of Magical Talent was found to be burned down to the ground. There were no survivors, though Headmaster Himura Kenshin, in his last dying breath, was able to say, "Protect Ha-", before he died from the deep puncture in his throat. Reporters couldn't make sense of it, except that he wanted to protect someone.
Unfortunately, Harry Potter, the "Chosen One", who was sent to the Meiji Academy, also perished in the fire. His body was found burnt near the Headmaster's office. Professor Dumbledore has not been available for comment, but-
The newspaper slipped out of numb fingers as Hermione went bone white. She started shaking violently. "No, no, no…" she mumbled, moving her head slowly from side to side. "No…."
Ron came up to her. "What's the matter?" he asked, rubbing a soothing hand in small circles on her back. In the months after Harry left, he had finally gotten up the courage to ask her on a date. Now, they were officially together.
Hermione wordlessly shoved the newspaper in front of his face. He paled drastically, and just sat there, staring. Suddenly, he pushed himself up, his whole body radiating anger.
Hermione looked fearful. "What are you doing?" she asked sharply. "Where are you going?" Ron made no move to answer, as he swiftly swept down the halls to the Headmaster's office.
When he got there, he curtly spoke the password (Dumbledore had deemed them responsible enough to know) and rushed up the stairs two at a time, with Hermione scampering behind.
Ron burst into the old man's study without so much as a knock, and started shouting, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU PLAYING AT, OLD MAN! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS!" Ron was breathing heavily as he finished his verbal assault, and shoved the newspaper article under Dumbledore's long, crooked nose.
Hermione watched as the old man's aged face saddened, and the twinkling of his eyes died down. "I know…" was the soft reply as the elderly man ran a hand over his face.
Ron's face grew even angrier at the soft statement. "YOU KNEW! SO WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU GOT TO SAY FOR YOURSELF!" Hermione considered scolding her boyfriend for such inflammatory language, but decided to hold herself in check to see what Dumbledore had to say.
Just then, Ginny Weasley burst in with tears in her eyes. "YOU BRING HIM BACK! BRING HIM BACK!" She yelled, banging the desk as she stormed past Ron and Hermione.
Dumbledore looked, if possible, even sadder at this. "……"
"SAY SOMETHING!" Ginny screamed. The tears ran even faster now, with rage burning in her eyes.
Dumbledore sighed softly. Then, "I can't…."
Everyone froze at that statement. Ginny panicked. "Of course you can! You have to! YOU HAVE TO!" Ron and Hermione watched her warily. She didn't even seem to notice she was there.
Dumbledore looked down, so that his eyes were out of view. "You have to accept that he wont come back…." Ginny stared at him, then broke down completely, sobbing loudly as she sank to the soft floor, and lay there, moaning and crying. Hermione quickly went to wrap her arms around the small girl, then glared at the old man sitting behind the desk.
Ron fell into a chair, staring blankly ahead. Some time passed like this. Finally, Ron said, "Let us join the Order." Dumbledore looked surprised.
"Your parents wouldn't let you. You have to take it up with them." Ron just glared at the old man.
"I don't care anymore, " he snapped. "Just let us join the goddamn Order!" Hermione and Ginny, who quickly dried her tears, stood up and stepped on either side of him, backing him up, and nodding.
"Yes," Hermione agreed, "we have to join the Order now." Ginny nodded.
"We need to take active participation in this war." Ginny's voice was firm, and her eyes blazed with fire. "We have to. We can't just sit around while everyone gets hurt."
Dumbledore regarded them for a moment, then, nodding his head, he stated, "I think that it would be best. However, you may only help on weekends. We don't want people getting suspicious." When they all agreed, Dumbledore pulled out a smooth, flawless crystal. "To join the Order, you must swear and oath, and put your hand on the indentation."
He turned it around, so that they could see a small hollow on the side of the stone. "The oath is, 'I swear to never betray this Order. I will pledge myself to its cause, and no other. I will work for the benefit of the Light, and the protection of the people. This I promise, this I will uphold.'"
All three of the students nodded, and Ron stepped forward confidently. Placing his right hand in the groove, he firmly stated the oath, and stepped back. The gem flashed a bright gold for an instant. Nodding approvingly, Dumbledore then proffered the gem to the other two.
After Ginny was sworn in, they all stood next to each other and stayed that way for a while. Something felt different between them now, as if a certain aspect of themselves had changed. They had just entered into a world that they had never been in before, but they were determined to survive in it.
Just then, the door once again blasted open, as a very rumpled-looking Malfoy stumbled in, gasping. "Professor Dumbledore…." he started to say, then trailed off as he realized what company he was in. He looked back at the professor, and saw a large gemstone on the table in front of him.
Looking at the three other students with obvious dislike, though not as much as usual, he turned to the Headmaster and said in a low voice, "Um…can I talk to you…..alone?" He stressed the last word, looking pointedly at the other three students.
Dumbledore looked amused. "Whatever you can say in front of me, you can say in front of them," he stated calmly, earning a confused look from the blonde.
"O-okay." Malfoy cleared his throat. "I-I….. I want to join your Order!" He voiced his request in such a rush, that to the other teens, it sounded like a mess of garbled words. Dumbledore, however, understood them.
"And what is your reason for wanting to join the Light?" he asked mildly, as the other three gasped.
All at once, the three started talking. "What the"-"You can't be"-"Why would he"
Dumbledore watched with interest as Malfoy looked uncomfortably at them, seeming saddened at their distrust, but hiding it well. Dumbledore decided to let the pale boy talk, and quickly quieted the trio with a sharp, "Quiet! Let the boy talk!"
Malfoy took a deep breath, then said in a low monotone, "I have decided to join the Order of the Phoenix, for reasons that I wish to keep to myself until I wish to share. All I will say is I do not want to be my father!" The last words were bitter and cold, but with a dreadful conviction. "I want to fight Voldemort-" he spat out the name-"and burn his flesh in a cauldron of boiling pitch!"
Everyone was shocked at the tone of his voice as he talked about destroying who all of them thought was his master. Malfoy's mercury eyes were cold, but the other four could still see the anger and vengeance that shined through.
Ron's voice broke the silence. "What about your father? Well? Why don't y-"
His protests died down as the blonde paled drastically and turned his way, anger seeping through his every movement, and cringed. "Don't you dare speak of that thing as my father. Don't you ever dare, Weasley. I'm going to make this clear right now: the monster is NOT MY FATHER!" His voice was dangerously soft, like a snake's hiss. Hermione and Ron shivered, but Ginny's eyes widened in realization.
Turning back to the Headmaster, Malfoy questioned in a cold voice, "So, will you let me join?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled madly as he brought up the crystal, and told the boy what to say and do. Placing his hand in the impression, Malfoy said the oath, staring straight into Ron's eyes challengingly as he spoke.
Finishing the oath, he stepped back, and the crystal flashed a bright gold light for the fourth time that morning. It's a good thing today is Sunday, or they would all have been in trouble by now.
Dumbledore nodded in satisfaction, then the crystal vanished as he waved his wand. "Now, I'm sure you are all very busy. If I am not very much mistaken, you sixth years have a six foot long transfiguration essay due Monday." He winked suggestively, then smiled as they all rushed out of his office to get rid of work for the day.