Makings of a Leader (or Two)

Chapter 52

Sirius and Hestia Side-along Apparated to her house and the two of them made their way towards it in relative silence.

Hestia was still crying albeit quietly. Sirius did not have words to console her. Nothing could be said at the moment, not after seeing Dedalus like that. He was still having trouble trying to erase the picture from his mind, even though he knew it was not something one could forget easily.

Besides, he still had a job to do.

"I have to get the Order," said Sirius, halting just outside the front door. "We need to take his… him away from there."

Hestia sniffled and brushed away the fresh tears seeping down her cheek. Her eyes were bloodshot when she turned to look at Sirius. He wished he could do or say something to comfort her although he had no clue what had to be said.

For a second, her lips parted and she took in a breath as if she wanted to say something. It was only a moment in time, but Sirius would acutely remember it in the days to come for there was something intangible and heavy in the air – something that felt like a weight on his chest.

But the next instant, she simply nodded and turned to leave.

Sirius didn't know what came over him, but he reached out and gripped her shoulder. She stopped and turned halfway around, looking up politely puzzled.

"Are you—" he began but amended, "Will you be okay?"

Her lips quirked upward ever so slightly yet there was nothing light-hearted about her expression. "I'm going to my sister's. I have to let her know."

It was not the answer he wanted to hear but he let her go and nodded. "You take care of yourself."

Hestia returned an imperceptible nod, her eyes gaining a faraway gaze that worried him.

"If there's anything you need," said Sirius, with sincerity, "I'm just a Patronus away."

He was rewarded when Hestia looked at him properly.

"Thank you."

With a final nod, he turned her back on her and walked out to the gates before Apparating away, wishing he had done more.

oOo

Saturday, August 9

The once empty mansion of the Abbotts was now teeming with people. Besides Ron and Hermione, Remus, Dora, and the twins, Catherine and Angelina had also taken refuge with them as soon as the new law against the Muggleborns was enacted almost immediately once Thicknesse had been sworn in.

The idea of a Muggleborn Registration Commission was ridiculous and could only mean that almost all of the higher-ups were Imperiused. Blood traitors too were being watched and they had not heard from the Weasleys since the last Patronus they had received the day after the wedding – that they were safe and not to contact them.

Remus was glad he and Dora had been tasked with keeping Ron and Hermione safe in the house. With Dora wanted for supposedly aiding Sirius in Scrimgeour's death, it was a good thing they had not headed home straight from the wedding.

Fred and George had escaped ambush in their own flat only because Fred had spotted a boot-print on their threshold that had warned them a split second sooner of the presence of intruders inside. Dedalus hadn't been so lucky and Remus wondered if his injury had made him unable to escape. He shuddered at the memory of Sirius, Kingsley and himself trying to collect his body. He hadn't been able to sleep for days with the image of Dedalus' dismembered body etched in his mind.

With Arthur, Bill and Charlie incapacitated, and Mad-Eye and Dedalus dead, the Order was stretched thin. They had no resolve to spy on Death Eaters now anyway. Even after Dumbledore had gone, Mad-Eye had unswervingly stepped into the role of leader. Now they greatly lacked a guiding voice and the fear created by the Ministry's new laws meant nobody wanted to venture out of their houses for anything other than work.

The residents of the Combe Abbott had nothing but time on their hands and with the twins in company, Remus almost enjoyed their stint at their temporary home. Almost.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" asked Angelina doubtfully peering at the odd contraption in Fred's hand that Remus thought was one of their signature fireworks.

"Of course it is," said Fred with easy bravado that reminded Remus a lot of a young James. "Our plan is ninety-nine per cent effective."

"I don't think it's a good idea," said Hermione with knitted eyebrows. "He isn't bothering anyone and we do have another door we can use to enter and leave."

"You might as well ask us to give up our houses to ghouls too," said George, discourteously.

Hermione looked affronted. "Of course not! I'm just saying this plan could cause serious injuries. What if he got hurt?"

"He's a ghoul," said Fred matter-of-factly, raising both his eyebrows at her as if he thought Hermione was dull for even thinking so.

"I'm not part of this nonsense," announced Hermione loudly before traipsing upstairs. Ron glared at Fred who scoffed. "We don't need any more naysayers. Hurry along to your little girlfriend."

"Sod off!" threw Ron behind his shoulder, flipping the bird before leaving.

Remus knew he had to intervene but he was thoroughly distracted when he turned to find Dora leaning invitingly against the open door that led to their room.

Her hair was a vivid purple that matched the Muggle clothes she was wearing. Remus felt his mouth go dry when his eyes found her.

It still astonished him some times to know that he was married (married!) to a woman he loved whole-heartedly. If anything, she was one of the only things he had done right by in his life.

Dora's smile widened and she raised an eyebrow seductively, clearly enjoying his attention. "All that trouble for moving that ghoul?" she wondered aloud casually, like she hadn't just turned off his brain with her mere presence. "Don't they realize it won't work because it isn't actually –"

"No, and they don't need to," said Remus, entering the room and shutting the door behind him.

Dora said something that sounded like, "—put a stop to them before anything worse happens?"

Remus groaned, "In a moment," before he kissed her, pinning her to the wall. He relished the strength that was his own during the new moon. She moaned delectably and things were just getting steamy when loud bangs erupted from outside their room followed by deep grunts.

Remus growled at the interruption while Dora sighed in exasperation. "I told you."

"No wonder Arthur is balding despite his age," he grumbled under his breath making Dora snicker.

He stepped out of the room, running a hand through his messed up hair, trying to look presentable before he gave a lecture. These were his former students after all.

The magnificent ruckus outside made Remus give the boys an earful for the better part of fifteen minutes. The ghoul was making loud grunts and moans, but it had predictably been unharmed by the fireworks. By the time he was done, the Order members had arrived for the meeting and Dora looked disgruntled as she plodded out of their room.

Remus was miserable himself. He should have listened to her, but could she actually blame him when she looked that enticing? He shook his head as he made his way to the meeting room, planning to make it up with her that night.

oOo

"Urgh."

Hermione looked up from the book she had just picked out and watched Ron stomp into the room morosely before plopping onto the foot of Angelina's empty bed. Hermione and Angelina shared a room in the Combe Abbotts and the latter was currently spending her time with the boys trying to scare away the ghoul.

"My brothers are absolute gits," proclaimed Ron before flopping onto the bed, with his long legs dangling by the end. Hermione almost didn't hear his muttered, "I miss Harry."

She felt her worry heighten and closed her book before putting it aside. "What do you think he's doing now?"

"I don't know." Ron stared at the ceiling, lost in his thoughts. "The prat didn't get to celebrate his seventeenth birthday. I even had his gift picked out for him."

"Me too," said Hermione. They remained quiet when she whispered, "I'm scared for him."

"Harry's tough," said Ron confidently, sitting up and turning to look at her. "He's been through so much; he's done fine until now. I'm just mad he abandoned us."

"Nobody can stay strong forever, Ron," said Hermione, worrying her lip to keep herself from breaking down. "Harry was with those awful aunt and uncle for years, but now he has us and Sirius and the whole Order. You'd think if he was tough, he would have come to us."

Ron frowned, his blue eyes revealing his concern for a moment before being replaced with conviction. "I don't reckon he would think that way. If I know him at all, he must've left because he felt he wasn't making much difference sitting at home. I know I feel useless doing nothing too."

"But that's irresponsible of him!" exclaimed Hermione. "He could've joined the Order like we did. Sirius and Mad-Eye already planned everything to cover up the fact that we were going into hiding. And since we're officially part of the Order now, we should be able to go on missions too."

Ron arched a ginger eyebrow. "Do you think any of that would have happened if Harry hadn't left?"

Hermione stared out the window before speaking slowly, "Your mum would've never let us within five yards of anything that had to do with the Order."

Ron nodded sagaciously before standing up and moving towards the open window through which a cool breeze blew into the room, ruffling his hair. "And Sirius might've proclaimed Harry should be allowed to join in the Order before he was freed. But he's as bad as mum when it comes to keeping Harry in the house away from everything."

"It's for his own good," stated Hermione but Ron immediately put forth a question. "I suppose you think we should stay inside doing nothing too?"

Hermione couldn't answer that without sounding like a hypocrite. Of course, she wanted to contribute to the Order. But Harry was much more important to the war than she ever was and she could understand why Sirius would want to be more careful with him. It was of no use now however, because it had done exactly the opposite of what Sirius had intended.

"I just wish he'd come back to us soon," she murmured and Ron looked despairingly out the window.

There was a knock before the door was opened and Hermione saw Sirius glance at both of them suspiciously before shutting the door behind him. He waved his wand and there was a loud click.

"We need to discuss about our plan," said Sirius bluntly, skipping all introductions.

"What plan?" Ron wondered aloud.

"We know Harry left to find the Horcrxes. He's taken the locket with him. If we need this all to end, we need to find each of them soon."

"The locket was a fake," said Hermione. "Harry said so after Dumbledore's death."

"It was, but we found the real thing."

Ron and Hermione's eyes widened in shock and Sirius told them briefly of how they had found the locket in Grimmauld Place and who had kept it there.

"If Harry can somehow destroy it, we'll just have to find two more Horcruxes besides Nagini," said Sirius.

"But Harry can't destroy it on his own!" exclaimed Hermione, gaping. When Sirius and Ron looked at her puzzled, she reluctantly told them about the books she had stolen from Dumbledore's study, all the while fearing they would think the worst of her.

Ron and Sirius ignored her efforts to prove she hadn't been stealing and asked her to get to the point. She pulled out the worn leather book, Secrets of the Darkest Art, and told them everything she had learned so far about the Horcruxes.

"Hang on," said Ron, frowning. "The bit of soul in that diary was possessing Ginny, wasn't it? How does that work, then?"

Sirius looked up in interest when Hermione answered, "While the magical vessel is still intact, the bit of soul inside it can flit in and out of someone if they get too close to the object. I don't mean holding it for too long, it's got nothing to do with touching it," she added before Sirius could interrupt her. "I mean close emotionally. Ginny poured her heart out into that diary, she made herself incredibly vulnerable. You don't want to get too fond of or dependent on the Horcrux."

Sirius sighed in relief and nodded, even though there was still a crease of worry in his eyes. She understood he had been troubled as Harry was likely in close contact with one. She didn't think it would be any trouble. How could you possibly become emotionally vulnerable to a locket?

Ron was saying, "So we just need a basilisk fang to destroy a Horcrux?"

"There are other ways too," said Hermione, "spells that can do irreparable damage. But they're terribly Dark Magic. Fiendfyre, for example..."

Immediately, Sirius shook his head. "I'll have none of that. We'll just resort to the basilisk fang—"

"—if we find a Horcrux," finished Ron dubiously. "Which should take forever."

"That can't be," said Hermione. "We know it's Hufflepuff's cup and something of Ravenclaw's. I think I can read up on famous relics or artefacts…"

"Yeah, that's how we're going to finish off You-Know-Who," sniggered Ron. "By reading books."

Before Hermione could become properly annoyed, Sirius agreed with her. "It's a start. Something which can't be said about whatever Dumbledore left in his will."

The sour expression on his face said everything of what he actually thought about it. Hermione was inclined to disagree when Ron fished out his Deluminator from his pocket. "At least Dumbledore knew I would have hated it if he left me children's books."

Hermione huffed. "We should be glad Dumbledore left anything at all!"

"I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but I would have appreciated if he gave us something useful against You-Know-Who instead," said Ron, clicking the Deluminator which put out the nearest gas lamp.

"I'll have to agree with Ron," said Sirius, staring at the ball of light hovering above the Deluminator in Ron's hand. "What does he want Harry to do with a Snitch and a sword?"

Hermione's eyes widened in surprise. "You don't know what a Snitch does?"

"I do, Hermione," said Sirius. "Snitches have flesh memories. Thank Merlin, Harry wasn't there to take it directly from Scrimgeour. But one does wonder what could be so important that could fit into a Snitch? I know we shouldn't be deceived by appearances but I still can't think of anything that small that could help us in any way."

Hermione had no answer to that. Unbidden to her, she began questioning the wisdom of Dumbledore having left her a children's book now, one that she had read three times already as soon as she had laid her hands on it. It seemed like an ordinary wizarding fairy tale and Sirius was right. How was it going to help them?

Kenny, the squat house-elf, appeared at that moment announcing the start of the Order meeting. With no leads or information, they left together to the meeting room.

oOo

With fewer Order members than usual, their meeting began with the pressing matter of appointing a Head for the Order.

To Sirius' surprise, more than half of the members wanted him as their leader.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Sirius stared at them, wondering what on earth gave them the idea.

When had he ever shown any sort of leadership quality?

"If it's any consolation, you were not our first option," said Tonks, a wry grin on her lips.

"Well, who was the first option and why can't they be the leader?" asked Sirius looking around in puzzlement.

"Kingsley is still working under the Minister," said Doge. "He cannot be involved full-time as you can, Sirius."

"I'm taking offense to that," muttered Sirius, albeit with some levity. In truth, he was growing tired of the implication from everyone pointing out that he had nothing else to do besides the Order.

It wasn't by his choice, you know, seeing as he was 'Undesirable No.1' for apparently murdering the former Minister. He would have been gratified if he really had done the murders he was getting accused of in his life.

"I apologize if you did," said Doge, bowing his head. "But the point still stands. Nobody here can give it their all like you, Sirius."

Just for that, Sirius decided he would forgive Doge his previous statement. But he wasn't ready to take the offer up just yet.

"Remus and Tonks are in my club now too," said Sirius, turning to the pair of them. They were both conveniently staying in Headquarters full-time.

Remus laughed. "When was I out of this club?"

"For a year, Professor," said Fred, beaming. "Don't forget that glorious year."

Remus laughed good-naturedly. "I would not be inclined to do that, Fred."

"So why can't one of you do it?" asked Sirius, bringing them back to the subject in hand.

"Are you thick, Sirius?" Remus's expression morphed into seriousness. "This isn't just a position you fill up for despite lacking any qualification and hope to do your best. You would be accountable for every single person in this room. We don't want just anybody taking responsibility of our lives. We want someone who will give us a fighting chance. And I know certainly that's not me."

Sirius opened his mouth to argue, when Tonks cut in, uncharacteristically grave. "You, Remus, and Doge are the last members of the first Order. The rest of us have no clue what the Order was subject to by the Death Eaters back then. Doge can't get around like he used to. It's only you left."

It looked like she had already had some sort of conversation behind closed doors with Remus regarding the matter, if she wasn't backing him up.

Every face in the room stared at Sirius, while he weighed the situation in his head. He did think he was one of the few options left besides Kingsley. But he didn't like the idea one bit. Being responsible for the lives of fifteen people? Hell, Sirius couldn't even protect Harry when it came down to it.

How was he going to live with the decision of leading a group of people against a man who was as surely immortal as time itself?

"It is the best option available," pressed Kingsley. "You are the only one with the knowledge of Dumbledore's plans for the Order."

And Sirius had to rationally agree to that. Merlin's beard, he had a niggling feeling that the old man had actually set him up to inherit his duties somehow.

That's a stupid idea, he argued with himself. Dumbledore couldn't have known Moody would die or himself for that matter. He might have made plans but there was only so much one could do from beyond the grave. It really did fall to his hands now.

The war was going to be brutal – Sirius had already known and experienced that – but it was jarring to realize they were truly on their own. The people in this room were all that were willing to fight against Voldemort. Yes, maybe, there could be some others, but Sirius didn't know about them. And so he could not rely on them to save each other's backs.

Sirius looked up with his jaw set and nodded.

"All in favour," said Tonks, beaming.

Sirius was surprised when everybody raised their hand as one and he bit back the choke that threatened to engulf his voice when he said, "I won't let you down."

The Weasley boys cheered as did Harry's friends. It was always an incredible feeling – Sirius had loved that when he had been in the Order the last time and nearly forgotten the hope it gave him. Something about banding together always left you feeling exhilarated and fearless, ready to take on anything.

As uplifting as it was, he also dreaded what was to come.

Quickly, Sirius brought everyone back to the crux of the meeting – which was discussing their next plan of attack. Everyone agreed that it was not safe to spy or tail Death Eaters at the current time, not when all of them had escaped Azkaban after they had gone through so much trouble to put them there in the first place. They would be better off saving themselves and the people in need, but in a more clandestine manner.

"How?" asked Hestia. Sirius was unhappy to note she had shadows under her eyes like she hadn't slept properly in days. Her family had held a private funeral for Dedalus and Sirius hadn't seen her for two weeks after, until now. "How can someone communicate with us if they need our help?"

"We'll have to come up with something," said Edmund Abbott.

"Hermione developed a cool way to communicate with the DA," piped in Angelina.

"Yeah!" agreed Lee. "I think I still have my Galleon somewhere."

"That won't work," said Hermione, firmly shutting down the idea. "We need a method for people other than the Order to communicate with us and maybe even vice versa."

Catherine said, "You mean like a radio that Muggles use —"

"George, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" interrupted Fred loudly, looking like the cat that had spotted the flitterby.

"You didn't even have to ask," said George, grinning before turning to announce, "Leave this to us. We have the perfect plan."

"Not again," groaned Ron.

"It's going to be brilliant! You'll see."

Both the boys were fidgeting excitedly, looking like they wanted to run straight to their rooms and get to work.

Sirius smirked at the pair of them. "Alright, you'll have 'til the end of the month to find a solution."

That was just three weeks but with the way the twins were grinning, they seemed to have taken it on as a challenge.

"The next matter on hand is Hogwarts," said Sirius, grimacing. Snape had been reinstated as the Headmaster. It would have been terrible enough to imagine without the added detail that he was a Death Eater too.

Kingsley spoke up with worry in his deep voice. "Muggleborn children around the country will be planning to go back to Hogwarts, with or without the knowledge that they will be targeted."

"Not to mention the first-year kids," said Tonks with wide eyes.

"And the Prophet paints the Registration Commission in a positive light," grunted Doge, lighting his pipe with his wand. "Muggleborns won't even know what they're getting into."

Edmund frowned in worry. "The adults can take care of themselves, but the children?"

"We need to warn them and their families before it's too late," said Sirius. "Make sure they go into hiding before the Death Eaters come knocking."

"How are we to track down all the Muggleborn children first?" asked Edmund.

There was a beat of silence as everyone stared at Sirius who looked around at each face in the room with a sombre expression, before his gaze landed on Proudfoot and Percy. "You know what this means, don't you?"

Percy stared agape while Proudfoot grimaced like he had swallowed a lemon, clearly understanding Sirius' words better than most of the people in the room.

"We're going to infiltrate the Ministry."

oOo

Friday, August 15

To say he was afraid was a huge understatement. Patrick Proudfoot was terrified.

He knew he was better off than Weasley and Abbott who were both being watched as they came from blood-traitor families, but he could not shake off the feeling that something was going to go extremely wrong by the end of the day.

The Order of the Phoenix had come up with an emergency plan in record speed – to infiltrate the Ministry and gain information on the Muggleborn children who would be attending Hogwarts this year. They had to move fast because they needed to make sure the families of the children understood just what was happening in the Wizarding world before they could board the Hogwarts Express on September the first.

Sure, it sounded all righteous and Patrick was glad in some corner of his heart that he was making a difference.

But at the cost of his own life? He didn't realize he had signed up for so much when he had made the choice to be part of something bigger.

Still, there was no time to be contemplating his life choices when he was sharing a lift with You-Know-Who's puppet, Pius Thicknesse.

Percy Weasley steadfastly refused to meet his eyes lest they give away what the both of them were about to do. Patrick was beginning to feel queasy with the sheer magnitude of it all.

Yet Catherine had received "The Form," as they were prone to calling it at the office, just yesterday and she was wanted for a trial on September the third.

His blood boiled to imagine what would happen to her and it gave him the fire he needed to summon his nerve.

"Level One, Office of the Minister of Magic and support staff," the cool voice announced as the doors to the lift jangled open.

Proudfoot and Weasley got off along with the Minister, trailing behind him wordlessly. They reached his office at the end of the corridor and Proudfoot waited outside, taking up his new post which he had been assigned to just the day before. The other Auror who was also part of the Minister's security did not trade a word with him beyond a nod in greeting. Proudfoot was grateful – he didn't think he could open his mouth without throwing up.

Ten minutes later, Weasley left the office, wiping his sweaty brow. Proudfoot felt as anxious as he did but his training helped him to at least try to act calm and collected even when he wasn't.

Shacklebolt had told them to wait till the lunch hour to break into Mafalda Hopkirk's office. It was the only opportunity to corner her without the presence of her secretary. They would Stun her and make a copy of the school records and resume their post again. They couldn't go straight back to Headquarters as soon as they had finished – it would look too suspicious.

Thus, Proudfoot would be resigned to a day that would leave him high-strung throughout.

When lunch hour rolled around, Proudfoot knew the time had come.

He went up to Level 2 and walked along purposefully to ward off suspicion. It was one thing that was required in his Stealth training. Act like you belonged.

He was making his way to Hopkirk's office when a voice called out to him.

"Proudfoot!"

Proudfoot spun around, startled. It was Albert Runcorn, Junior Undersecretary, carrying an arm full of scrolls and seemingly heading towards the office of Denner, the current Head of the DMLE.

"Where is Weasley?" he asked in a deep, gruff voice that managed to be intimidating without even raising his volume. "I need the documents from Hopkirk on my table, now!"

Without waiting for Proudfoot's reply, he hurried inside Denner's office.

Proudfoot rushed to the Office of Improper Use of Magic and knocked once before bursting into the room without an answer.

Weasley jumped in alarm, dropping the files he had been holding. Mafalda Hopkirk was slumped on her chair under a light doze.

"Runcorn was just asking for you," whispered Proudfoot despite the lack of eavesdroppers. "Is it over yet?"

"Almost," hissed Weasley. He was muttering under his breath and waving his wand over a stack of files, duplicating it in the process.

Proudfoot levitated the fallen files, which flew back onto the table neatly, making a total of seven piles. One for each year's list.

Weasley then pulled out a small bag that he had slung around his neck, while Proudfoot shrunk them to fit into it. They had just finished piling it all, when someone knocked on the door.

Both of them exchanged horrified glances and Weasley stuffed the bag underneath his robes. Instinctively, Proudfoot Disillusioned himself and moved to a shadowed corner of the wall. There was a knock again when Percy glanced at him with an expression of panic before following suit.

This was it. Proudfoot knew they would be buggered when the intruder saw Mafalda slumped on the chair.

But at that moment, Mafalda came to and blinked bemusedly. At the more insistent knock, she stuttered, "C-Come in."

Proudfoot stifled his gasp when he saw Runcorn barging in, pale but also livid.

"Where are the documents?" he hissed. "The meeting has begun already and the Minister's waiting for it in Denner's office!"

"I meant to give it to you sooner but Weasley was summoned urgently," said Mafalda flatly.

"Blasted Weasleys! I'll have a word with him! Give them to me."

Mafalda stared at him blankly before clearing her throat. "Er—of course."

She stood up and walked over to a cabinet just a few feet from him and rummaged through it. Proudfoot stood stock still. He daren't even turn his neck, lest the resulting ripple in illusion caused Runcorn to spot him. From his position, he could clearly see Mafalda's eyes – unseeing and empty.

"Hurry up!" snapped Runcorn.

Mafalda did not even twitch as she continued to look through the cabinet without actually looking.

"What is it that Thicknesse needed?" she asked vaguely.

Runcorn raised his voice now in frustration. Proudfoot was fascinated by the relatively stoic man losing his cool – for fear of the Minister or because of respect, he wasn't certain. "The amendment draft for the Muggleborn Registration Commission! Have you been Imperiused or something, you daft woman?"

The stirrings of emotion crossed Mafalda's face as she pulled out a stack of parchment and gave it to him with a glare. "Watch who you're taking to Runcorn," she said coldly. "I might be a half-blood unlike you, but I have served the Ministry longer than you have. I certainly won't mind pulling a few strings with the Wizengamot and have you out of your new position. It would be a shame if you were fired just a week after your promotion."

For the first time, Runcorn appeared to be startled and a crease of worry marred his forehead. He muttered something unintelligibly and left without another word.

Just when Proudfoot thought he actually liked Hopkirk, she abruptly slumped into her chair again.

Understanding dawned on Proudfoot who stared as Weasley lifted the Disillusionment charm off of himself and Proudfoot did the same.

"Did you just Imper—" began Proudfoot, almost in awe, when he was cut off by Weasley.

"I didn't mean to! I panicked!"

Proudfoot could understand where he came from; he would have done the same too.

Now Proudfoot came from a pureblood family and he had second cousins who were directly working under You-Know-Who. Unforgivable curses weren't new to him, but it was still not something he would condone in any situation.

But if Weasley had not used the spell just this once, Runcorn would have raised the alarm as soon as he had spotted Mafalda unconscious.

If they had revived her and let her be, she herself would have raised the alarm. Proudfoot knew both options were not favourable for them. It was still a miracle that Runcorn had not spotted the two of them standing in plain sight, albeit Disillusioned. And besides, when the enemy wasn't afraid to use it on them without mercy, he could only think that they were justified in using it this time. They hadn't harmed anyone, had they?

"That was bloody brilliant though," said Proudfoot, not concealing his appreciation at the flawless effort.

Percy's ears turned red and he smiled sheepishly.

"Our job is done," said Proudfoot. "Let's just get out of here."

"Patrick," blurted Weasley and Proudfoot was startled by the sudden familiarity that he paused to turn around.

"Don't tell the others," he said. "I never meant any harm—"

"Relax, Percy," said Proudfoot, grinning easily. "You were lucky you thought of it quickly. We would have been caught red-handed otherwise."

Percy seemed relieved by his reassurance and smiled gratefully.

oOo

"You do realize we're buggered, don't you?" said Hestia casually over her cup of tea.

In a moment of overwhelming uncertainty, Sirius pressed his lips and nodded, conceding her point.

"Good," said Hestia, with a returning nod. "Just wanted to make sure you understood how this plan might never work."

"There's no harm in trying," said Sirius, shrugging a shoulder before amending his statement on seeing Hestia's raised eyebrows. "Nope, my mistake. There's all the harm in trying."

Hestia snorted and Sirius cracked a smile.

The meeting had ended half an hour ago and everyone had left to their rooms and homes respectively, leaving only Hestia and Sirius, who sat at one corner of the long table adjacent to each other under the dim candlelight. Neither of them had made any move of wanting to leave and had wordlessly taken it as consent to keep chatting with the other.

"It will be a miracle if we pulled this off," said Hestia.

"There are sixteen of us and we need to warn three hundred students within a fortnight," said Sirius raising his eyebrows as if thinking Hestia was mental for suggesting it.

"Hey, it's your idea!"

"And I'm thoroughly second-guessing that now," sighed Sirius. "I hadn't imagined there would be so many! There was only a little more than a hundred Muggleborns when I was in school."

There was a soft clink as Hestia set down her cup. "Then why would you give everyone the go-ahead just minutes ago if you weren't sure yourself?"

"I couldn't drop this plan just because of the sheer number of students." Sirius ran his hand through his hair in exhaustion. "If we save even half as many of these kids, that's still a victory in my books."

Hestia smiled with something akin to sympathy. "Then what's the worry?"

Sirius sighed. "That I won't save the rest of them and that will be solely my fault."

Hestia shook her head, still smiling. "It won't be your fault, Sirius. There is only so much a handful of people can do in a war this big."

They lapsed into silence when Sirius spoke in a hoarse whisper, "Sometimes, I think I was too hard on Dumbledore."

He had been upset at Dumbledore for many shortcomings on his part: not doing enough to protect Lily and James, not caring enough about Harry's well-being at the Dursleys nor at Hogwarts, not investigating enough to find out if Sirius had been guilty at all before carting him off to Azkaban. But could he really blame him now? There was only so much he could have done. Being the Headmaster of Hogwarts and the Chief Warlock of the ICW would have turned anyone grey, but with the added responsibility of fighting against Voldemort and running a secret organisation?

He was astounded the man hadn't gone up sooner.

And Sirius had been blaming Dumbledore for the past weeks for the less than obvious directions he was giving them from beyond the grave. They had no idea as to where the rest of the Horcruxes were or how to destroy them. But maybe, Dumbledore had been just as clueless as he was now.

It was time for Sirius to decide for himself and the others, what had to be done next and face the full responsibility of it. He had to decide what the Order did next, how to proceed with finding and destroying the rest of the Horcruxes and also how he should go about protecting Harry from Voldemort till the end.

Sirius nodded unaware that he was doing so. "I shouldn't have always expected Dumbledore to solve my issues for me. It's my own to look after."

And so was Harry.

oOo

A/N: I'm back! I do apologize for this unplanned hiatus. My new job is super taxing and I barely get enough time for myself. But I still do have plans for this story and I can't wait to get back to my rhythm. (Sigh) Gone are the days when I could churn out a chapter every week. It's all thanks to the occasional alerts I get from you guys that finally motivated me to get back into writing. Do continue to review if you're enjoying it!