Unveiling to the Public

Harry and Namiko trailed behind the group of people in front of them as they enjoyed each other's presence. Harry always felt calm around Namiko. She gave off an air of peace and contentment (unless angered or in battle) that soothed Harry no matter what. He breathed in deeply. She smelled of white plum.

As they reached the Great Hall of the magnificent castle, Harry let go of Namiko and stood up straighter. The Order was already there. Apparently, they were all very eager to know what all the news was about, as most of the ones already there had been hurt badly and sent to St. Mungo's before the identity of the "mysterious people" was revealed.

Dumbledore walked to the teacher's table in the Great Hall, along with all the other higher Order members (a.k.a. McGonagall, Snape, Moody, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Draco). The rest of the members all took the seats that had been left empty for them. Harry and Namiko walked behind Draco with emotionless faces and took to standing behind Dumbledore. Harry was impressed. The Order had grown to at least triple its size when it started.

Dumbledore cleared his throat as all eyes turned to him and the two teens that stood in the shadow behind him. "Welcome, once again, my fellow Order members. As you all should know already, this meeting was called to reveal some very important news. For years we have struggled with little hope against the Dark. Now, our Light has returned, and Hope has been restored!" He beckoned to Harry, and he stepped forward, brushing Namiko's lips lightly before going.

Standing next to Dumbledore, he stared right back at the people who were so openly gaping at him. Though his appearance was quite different than how it was three years ago, he was still easily recognizable by everyone, as his pictures were all over the Daily Prophet the day he "died".

A hushed silence had fallen over the crowd of people in front of him, as Dumbledore once again cleared his throat. "Now, as you can see, this is a very important man in front of you now. He may be one of our only hopes to win this war, and kill Voldemort forever. Now if anyone has any questions for Harry, you may-"

"Who is the other person you were with?" the question came from a young member, who seemed only about 23 years old.

Namiko confidently stepped up next to Harry, and a wave of hushed whispers assaulted her ears. It was surprising enough that Harry had come back from the "dead", but now, he brings a girl, one who seems more fitting as a princess living in luxury than fighting.

Namiko looked at them coolly as the crowd stared at her, some with awe, some the hate, anger, and disappointment, that the person that they hoped would help shift the war in their favor more was a seemingly petite girl.

Harry glared at them all for doubting Namiko. Though they said nothing, their emotions rolled over Harry, courtesy of the Psyche gift. He sensed disbelief, disappointment, awe, but mostly- anger. Why they should be angry he had no idea, but they were.

One particularly bold man suddenly jumped up and shouted, "Albus, you said that these people would be helpful to us in the war. Granted, Potter would help a lot, but the girl! I don't see how she could help! You dumped us a useless one!"

Murmurs of agreement swept through the room at his words. Namiko grew stony. She spoke in a deadly calm voice. "You doubt me, do you?" The halls were silent at her words. There was an unspoken dread in her voice, and they shivered.

"You doubt me. Would you like to put those doubts to a test?" The same man glared at her and confidently stated,

"Fine! You'll just humiliate yourself! There's no way a frail creature like you could do any harm!" Harry seethed at the disrespectful tone the man said these words in, but he know that Namiko could handle it better then he could, and that she was the one that had to do it.

Namiko raised a hand, and pointed at the man. A bolt of lightning surged from her hand to the man's face, only to stop short a centimeter from his nose, quivering. The man himself spat on the ground. "Just an old magician trick!"

Namiko stayed calm as she flicked her wrist up, and the lightning flew at the ceiling and exploded. Still with an impassive face, she raised both hands, and an almighty gust of wind blew through the hall, blowing people and chairs over. By now, most were convinced that she was pretty good.

But she kept on going, her eyes still on the frozen man. Literally. The man was now blue and shivering, as ice formed around his body, encasing him in a cocoon of frozen blue mass. Everyone watched as his body was slowly covered with icy frost…. Then they would see no more. Everything around them went dark and cold. A gusty wind blew through the room again, though not as powerful as the last one.

This went on for a few more minutes. Then they could see again. They blinked and looked around squinting in the light after that total darkness. Only Harry seemed to not be affected by this display of power. He walked up to Namiko and planted a firm kiss on her lips.

Dumbledore looked amused by their actions, but continued with the meeting.

"Okay, now that you are all fully convinced that they are worthy, we have some more important matters to deal with. Voldemort has gathered followers up to the ten thousands. We will have to deal with the new recruits as quickly as possible, and maybe revert them to our side, as they are probably not yet sure that what they do is the right thing. Does anyone have any suggestions for battle plans?"

Moody spoke up. "Someone should attack Malfoy Manor some time in the near future." He raised a gnarled finger and pointed at Harry, Namiko, and Draco. "And I think that only they could do it."

There was an instant uproar from Ron and Ginny, Hermione just sputtered incoherently, and everybody else was looking at Moody curiously. "Why do you say that?" Dumbledore asked with a twinkle in his eye.

Moody grinned slightly. "Well, if you're going to go to the Malfoy Manor, then you need someone who knows where they're going, because it is so huge. Malfoy fits that position. Harry has a right to go, considering that he is the only hope of winning, and he would be very effective at getting people out of tight spots with Apparation wards, seeing that he doesn't apparate."

Dumbledore looked at Moody expectantly for Namiko's reason, but when it was forthcoming, he asked, "And what of Namiko?"

At this point Moody looked like a cat that had just a caught a particularly juicy mouse. "Namiko has the means of being unseen without actually disappearing. She would be very efficient for spying on any Death Eaters, and hiding Harry and Draco if any Death Eaters appear, considering that she has the power over Darkness and Shadows." (A/N: Dumbledore told all of the high Order members about Harry's and Namiko's powers. )

Dumbledore nodded his agreement with Moody's logical plan, then turned to the three mentioned. "Will this be satisfactory for you?"

Harry and Draco merely nodded, but Namiko got a strangely hungry look in her eyes and a twisted smile before nodding as they disappeared just as quickly as they came. Most did not notice it, but Harry and the rest of the team did.

Oh no, Namiko. Don't let it control you……

hey, guys, i am really sorry bout the late update. my parents grounded me from the computer because of a "big, important" piano test until today, so i hope that you understand why this chapter is so short. i just wanted to keep it going and expect a longer chapter next!

review replies for chapter 7!

Beth5572: hopefully you like this chapter, and thank you!

anon: thanks!

HerFathersJoy: oh, no...its not going to be HarryGinny, its HarryNamiko, DracoGinny, and RonHermione. Thank you for reviewing! whoops! sorry about the screw up!

flower123: yeah, i just wanted to have harry have someone that is kind and they really love each other...he's been through so much...and as the summary said, this is PreHBP, so the HarryGinny thing never happened...sorry to all the HG fans!

momocolady: thx!