I do NOT own HP or any other characters from the story. They are entirely JK Rowling's genius and I am simply borrowing them.

Chapter Five: A Meeting of the Order

Several more meetings of the DA brought them to mid-July. There was much improvement in all the members' defense skills, and by now every person was fully proficient at communicating through their patronuses. This made communication about the meetings and Order activity much safer. Finally, Harry was able to pull the whole Order together for a meeting. A new Fidelius Charm was performed at Headquarters with Harry as Secret Keeper, so each member of the Order could access 12 Grimmauld Place for the meeting.

As predicted, many adult members of the Order were confused and not too happy to have many young students join their ranks, with Harry as its leader, to boot. Molly Weasley was naturally unhappy seeing both of her youngest children join the Order, but since she had known about it before the meeting, she had time to get used to the idea. Others took a little more persuasion. A long speech from Professor McGonagall finally convinced everyone that this was exactly what Dumbledore had wanted.

Once everyone was on board, Harry made a few assignments. "Remus, I don't think it best to have you return to the werewolves right now. I'd like for you, and Tonks if she's willing, to move in here at Headquarters. Some improvements must be made, including cleaning out the attic and other spaces where Dark objects might still reside. I'll talk to you more about specifics, later."

"Next," Harry continued, "I'd like to tighten up our search for Snape and Malfoy. I don't particularly think Malfoy is too dangerous, considering he couldn't bring himself to actually kill Dumbledore, as he was originally supposed to. Still, we know Voldemort is bound to be angry with him, so he might be desperate enough to do something that would get him back into his good graces. Snape is, of course, dangerous. He betrayed the Order of the Phoenix and the side of good by killing Dumbledore."

"Harry?" questioned Hermione.

"Yes?"

"Don't get me wrong, but how do we know Snape betrayed the Order, and wasn't simply acting on Dumbledore's orders?"

First of all, Harry couldn't believe that after all that had happened over the last month or so, Hermione still didn't believe that Snape was rotten. Damn, she is persistent! He thought. Secondly, he was annoyed she had just questioned him in front of the entire Order, when she easily could have asked this question at another time. Hence, he barely managed, through gritted teeth, and in not-quite-polite tones, to ask, "What, precisely, are we expected to think, when he kills the leader of this organization?"

"Harry," put in Professor McGonagall, "I am also quite upset at Professor Snape, but maybe we do have him wrong. Dumbledore always did trust him, and hinted he had a very strong reason to do so. Maybe we should check the roll of the Order—remember, a member's name is taken off in the event of death or betrayal. If Snape's name is gone, then we'll know he has turned traitor."

"Well, I'm inclined to think we won't find his name there, but I suppose there's no harm in looking," said Harry. He called Fawkes into the room and asked him to produce the roll of names. He began perusing it while the whole room waited anxiously. He himself received the surprise of his life when there, about a quarter of the way down the scroll, was plainly written the name "Severus Snape."


For a minute, dead silence encompassed the room. Then, chatter broke out. Harry, meanwhile, continued to stare at the parchment, while his friends looked at him nervously.

After a couple minutes of deep thinking, Harry faced the Order. "This evidence seems to suggest that we change direction. Obviously, there is something that went on between Snape and Dumbledore that we don't know. I still would like to continue our search for Snape—he has a lot of explaining to do. Kingsley and Tonks, and those others of you in the Ministry, this shall be your task, since your regular work gives you a cover. Professor McGonagall, I would like you to assist when you can, because as Snape's colleague, you probably know more about him than the rest of us."

"The final order of business for this meeting is a report from Ron Weasley, one of the new Order members, who will give a report on the DA's progress." At this point, Harry switched places with his best friend. Ron's skin had a green tinge to match his nerves at speaking before such a large group comprising of mostly adults, but he looked straight into Hermione's eyes to steady himself. Finally, he was able to glance at other people around the room, including his parents, who looked both proud of and nervous for him.

He began, "A few weeks ago, Harry approached Professor McGonagall with the idea to restart an organization we began in the fifth year—a defense club called the DA. The club was formed to give its members a stronger background in Defense, and an opportunity to actually practice it. While we didn't reform to combat an idiot teacher from the Ministry, we did reform to combat the growing evil the Wizarding world faces." Ron had the full room's attention, and frankly, even Harry was impressed. He had had no idea Ron had this in him. Hermione, however, looked immensely proud, and Harry had a feeling that she had been coaching Ron for this.

Ron resumed after taking a big breath, looking slightly less nervous. "After the professor agreed to let us start again and also to allow its members to join the Order, all that was left for the planning stage was to get in touch with the eligible sixth and seventh years. We also chose to include a few older people, but decided to exclude the Slytherin students. However, at our first meeting of the DA, Johanna Jones of Hufflepuff asked us to reconsider this exclusion in a few select cases. Figuring that she could be right, we contacted a few people who were thought could possibly be on our side. Unfortunately, none of the Slytherins we talked to felt like they could openly join our side, because of their families and friends. Still, they expressed interest in our cause, and promised to help us if they could. They even allowed us to give them oaths of secrecy concerning what we had talked about."

One of the adults interrupted here. "Who were the Slytherins you contacted?"

"We talked to Philip Connor and Tom Langdon, both upcoming sixth years at Hogwarts. Their families aren't pureblood, but seem pretty loyal to You-Know-Who. Probably been threatened by the Death Eaters a few times…" said Ron. "So, anyway, we tried on that front."

"Since then, we've been holding regular meetings of the DA. We have learned several important spells and shields, and most importantly, we have all mastered our Patronus charms so we can communicate with all of you."

That concluded Ron's report, so Harry stood up again. "If there is no other business, I would like everyone in turn to do a quick introduction and a demonstration of their Patronus for future recognition." When no one said anything, Harry said, "All right, I'll begin by demonstrating my Patronus."

Soon, a silver stag erupted from his wand. Next, Ron showed his bear, and then Hermione gave her sleek otter his turn. On around the room, everyone introduced him or herself and showed his or her Patronus form. When all had spoken, Harry adjourned the meeting.


When most of the Order members had filed out of the room and left the house, Harry turned to the few who waited. First, he needed to talk to Lupin and Tonks about Grimmauld Place.

Lupin began speaking first. "Harry, are you sure you want me to live here? I don't want to be any trouble or get in the way of the Order or anything…though I do admit I'm none too happy to be getting away from the werewolves…"

"Don't be silly, Remus," replied Harry. "Your staying here will actually benefit the Order, and me, because if you live here you'll have to do some cleaning up. What the Weasleys did two summers ago was mostly temporary work, and there is still too much to be done. Like I mentioned, the attic still needs cleaning out, as do many other rooms in here."

"All right, well I will accept in that case," said Remus, putting his arm around Tonks. "And actually, your asking Tonks to stay here as well is quite convenient. We were meaning to tell you this, but we've decided to get married sooner rather than later."

"Really?" asked Harry, "That's great!" The others still around joined him in the congratulations. Ginny, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasley were all particularly excited to see if Tonks had a ring. When they asked, Tonks was eager to take the ring, which she had been hiding in her pocket, and put it on her hand where it belonged.

"So," asked Mrs. Weasley, "when will you be getting married, sooner rather than later?"

"Well," said Tonks, "we haven't quite decided. "We were thinking about just slipping into the Ministry sometime and doing it there…"

"Oh, goodness, you mustn't do any such thing," replied Molly. "Why don't you join Bill and Fleur in their ceremony at our home?"

Harry privately thought that maybe this wasn't such a good idea, considering Fleur, so he was much surprised when Fleur acquiesced to the plan. "Zat would be a wonderful idea, Tonks; we would be such beautiful brides togezzer."

Tonks also looked surprised to have Fleur make such a generous offer, but then, she had really changed since Bill's attack. "That is so nice of you, Fleur, and you too, Molly. If Remus and Bill agree, I think it's a great idea!"

Of course, Remus and Bill were ready to agree with whatever their brides wanted, so it was set. The double wedding was approaching in only a week, so the girls made plans to go shopping for Tonks' wedding gown and for bridesmaid gowns for Ginny and Hermione, who would now be added to the bridal party. Amazingly, Harry found himself being dragged into the affair as Remus' best man.

"Harry, I would be so pleased if you would agree to be my best man," Remus had said. "Your father and godfather were my best friends, and I cannot think of anyone more suitable to take their place."

Harry was quite touched, and agreed to do the job.

All the wedding talk brought Mrs. Weasley to the task of reminding the three friends that they would need to take a break from their search in just a few days to join the crowd at the Weasley house for wedding festivities. There is so much going on in the few days leading up to the wedding, you know, parties and showers and the like…why don't you all just come on Wednesday?"

Harry and Ron agreed reluctantly, while Hermione, who was much more excited than they to be in the middle of wedding preparations, agreed enthusiastically.

The time finally came for everyone except Tonks and Remus to leave Headquarters, but all left with the security (or as much security as they could have in those troubled times) of seeing each other again very soon.