A/N: Hey to all! I know the last two chapters have been tear-filled, but I'm trying not to make you all—and myself—cry writing this chapter. So, that being said, on with the hopefully less grief-inspiring chapter.
Harry had no idea whether anything in the journals would be of any further use, but he wanted them with him. It made him feel closer to Sirius and his parents through Sirius. Holding Ginny's hand as they walked down the stairs, Harry asked, "How'd things go with your mum?"
Ginny grinned, "I won."
Harry smiled back at her with admiration, "I knew you would."
"Unbelievable! I'm older and wiser and yet, you're the only one who can win an argument with Mum," Ron grumbled behind them on the stairs.
"Oh, older, yes, but I was older than you when I was three, Ron. Wiser, absolutely not."
Hermione giggled, and Ron glared at her, "Aren't you supposed to be on my side?"
"Ron, I'm always on your side," she laughed, "It's just that she's right."
"Let's not start, you two," Harry said.
They were silent as they reached the bottom of the stairs and stared at the doorway to the meeting room.
"You should knock, I guess," Ginny said.
"I can't," Harry whispered, "I don't know how much I should tell them. I mean, Dumbledore told me not to."
"You can only do what you think is right, Harry," Hermione said.
Harry nodded, and before he could knock the door was opened. McGonagall stood there waiting to admit them into the room. Harry walked silently past her followed by Ginny, Ron, and Hermione.
Sitting around a table were Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Lupin, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Tonks, and…Snape.
Harry's insides boiled with anger, and he felt Ginny tremble with it herself. He stopped himself from launching across the table at the man who had cause him so much pain, and he spoke calmly but with unsuppressed bitterness.
"What. Is. He. Doing. Here?" Harry managed.
"Harry, dear," Mrs. Weasley began, lost for words. She didn't know how to explain this to Harry, "I know you're upset, but--"
"UPSET? OF COURSE I'M UPSET! THAT MAN KILLED DUMBLEDORE! HOW CAN YOU SIT THERE WITH HIM?"
Mrs. Weasley's eyes filled with tears, and Harry felt a stab of regret for yelling at her. He wasn't really angry at her. He was angry with whoever allowed this traitor back into the Order.
"Potter!" McGonagall's voice barked, "You will desist with your rant this instant or I will no longer allow you to be a part of this meeting."
Harry was tempted to say, "Fine, whatever. I don't want to be here with him, anyway," but Hermione laid a hand on his arm and gave him a look that said, "We should see what's up." Written on her face, however, was the deep loathing that Harry felt in his gut. So he nodded. If Hermione and Ron—who was looking at Snape as though he were thestral dung (which, incidentally, Ron would not be able to see)—could hold their emotions in, he could try to as well. Ginny was still shaking with rage, and Harry took her hand in his, giving it a small squeeze. He then took a seat as far away from Snape as he could get.
When he was settled with Ginny on one side and Hermione on the other with Ron next to her, Harry said, "Will someone please explain to me what's going on?"
"Potter," McGonagall said, sitting at the other end of the table, "You have spoken to Albus, or so I come to understand, through his portrait in my office. I remember the night well. In this conversation, I believe you two discussed Severus."
Harry remembered Dumbledore speaking about Snape being in love with his mother. He had thought it was absurd at the time, and he still believed it to be now. He had, nonetheless, had the conversation so he nodded.
"Perhaps Albus mentioned the fact that Snape was innocent to you as well."
"Does it matter?" Harry blurted, "HE STILL KILLED HIM? IT DOESN'T MATTER WHY HE DID IT!"
"Potter!" McGonagall began, but Snape interrupted her.
"If you would allow me, Minerva," Snape's slimy voice said, "Potter, it does not matter in the least to me whether or not you like me. But you will understand that I am loyal to Dumbledore."
"He's dead now, though isn't he?" Harry said, "You killed him. How loyal can you be if you kill the man you're supposed to be behind?"
"Potter, I don't care what you think of me, but these people trust me."
Harry glanced around the room and thought that, perhaps this was not true. Mr. Weasley, Lupin, and Tonks were all looking at Snape with uncertain expressions, but he did not point this out. He decided that the only way he was going to be able to restrain himself from killing Snape was to pretend he was not there, so, not bothering to listen to anything else he had to say, he turned to McGonagall.
"Fine, so, any other surprises you'd like to spring on me?" Harry asked.
"Potter, you are here because you would be mad to think that we at the Order would allow you to go on these missions alone."
"What missions?" Harry feigned dumbness. Dumbledore had not wanted him to share the knowledge of his responsibility with anyone but Ron, Hermione, and then Ginny. Surely McGonagall had not told the entire Order of his intentions.
"I have told these members of the Order of your intentions, Potter."
Harry's stomach sank, "How could you have done? You know Dumbledore didn't want that-"
"POTTER!" McGonagall's voice began shrill and laced with such emotion that Harry felt himself stop speaking, "Do you think, for a moment, that I would defy Albus Dumbledore's wishes? Would I ever do anything that would insult his memory? Well, Potter?"
Harry could not believe the shame he felt coursing through him. He had never heard such emotion from McGonagall except for the night when Dumbledore died. He couldn't speak. Luckily Hermione spoke up.
"Please, Professor, he's just upset. He knows you'd never do anything that you believed Professor Dumbledore wouldn't have wanted."
Harry managed to nod his agreement to Hermione's words. McGonagall nodded in return and cleared her throat.
"Very well, then. As I was saying, these select members of the Order, as chosen by Albus, know the truth of the Horcruxes and of your status as 'The Chosen One.' You can trust that each and every one of them will guard these truths with their lives."
Harry glared at Snape. He could not help but think that, perhaps, they had handed Voldemort the very information that he needed. There was nothing he could do about it, however. If, even after murdering him, Dumbledore believed Snape to be on their side, then Harry had no choice but to accept it. But he would not do it willingly.
"Right," Harry said briskly, "So, they know. What of it?"
"Well, Potter, I realize that you view these missions as solitary things, but you are a fool if you do not accept the help of seven highly trained witches and wizards in your search."
Harry opened his mouth to say that he would not, under any circumstances, lead more people to their deaths. Well…maybe Snape. Just as he began to speak, however, Ginny placed a hand on his arm. He bit back the words with frustration.
"What, Ginny?"
"Don't take that tone with me, Harry. I have something to say."
"Sorry," he said, not really sorry at all.
"Sure you are. But now's not the time for that fight. Right now you should consider that Professor McGonagall is right. The Order can provide access to knowledge that even Hermione may not have. Maybe. I don't know how much knowledge is out there that Hermione doesn't already possess, but nonetheless, they can help, Harry. I mean, do you know how to get rid of a Horcrux once you find it?"
"We'll figure it out," Harry grumbled.
"Harry, now you're just being stubborn," Ginny hissed, "I know this has its roots in working with Snape, but—as much as I hate him, too—we're going to have to get past that. Just take a minute to think about this, Harry."
The two were conversing as though no one could hear them, but this illusion was shattered as McGonagall said,
"Miss Weasley is right."
"Yes, Harry, dear. Please let us help you," Mrs. Weasley pleaded with teary eyes.
Harry looked around at Hermione and Ron.
"Well? Everyone else is putting in their opinion. I know you have them, so? What do you have to say?"
"I think Ginny's right, Harry," Hermione said fervently.
"Of course you do," Harry said.
"I hate to say it, Harry, but I think we're outnumbered. It seems as though the sensible thing has outweighed personal preferences," Ron glared in Snape's direction.
Even though Ron had more or less agreed with the rest, it was comforting to know that Ron had initially been with Harry.
"Fine," Harry said, "What now?"
"Now," McGonagall said, "I have to brief the rest of the Order on the specific nature of the Horcruxes. They have only been told that You-Know-Who created them. They are not aware of what has already been apprehended and what remains to be found. You may do it, if you like, but I thought that you might not want to, Potter, considering how close you are to the topic."
She was right. Harry did not want to tell them all about Voldemort's Horcruxes. But he also knew that they would not be painted the whole picture if he did not tell them.
"No, it's alright, Professor. I'll tell it," Harry said, resigned.
"Very well, Potter. You have the floor."
With this, McGonagall sat down, and Harry began to speak. But before he could get a word out, Hermione was pushing up on his arm.
"What, Hermione?" Harry said, exasperated.
"Stand up," she whispered.
Harry rolled his eyes, but he stood and began, "TO understand Voldemort's need for the Horcruxes, umm…I guess I'll have to start where Dumbledore started with me."
That being said, Harry launched into the retelling of all the scenes he had witnessed in the Pensieve in Dumbledore's office. He was continuously shocked to see how attentive the full grown witches and wizards of the Order were to a teenage boy's words. When he had finished, McGonagall nodded, signaling that Harry could resume his seat.
"Right, then. I believe that's enough for now," she said, "I want you all to take this in. We'll meet again tomorrow."
"Wait, Professor," Harry said, "We think we've found another Horcrux."
"What?" McGonagall said, "Why didn't you mention this before?"
"Well, there wasn't exactly an opportune moment," Harry said sarcastically, "Why did you think we were here?"
"We just assumed you would come here at some point, Harry. To look through Sirius's things," Lupin spoke for the first time.
Harry nodded, "I guess so, but, honestly, I never wanted to set foot in this house ever again."
"I know," Lupin said softly, and Harry thought that perhaps Lupin was the only other person who felt as much pain for Sirius's passing as he did, "There are some journals of Sirius's upstairs that I think you might like to have, Harry," Lupin said.
"I already found them," Harry said, trying not to let his voice break as it so wanted to.
Lupin nodded.
McGonagall cleared her throat, "I'm sorry, Remus, but I have to be back at the school in the next five minutes, so I need to get this information from Harry. What Horcrux?"
Harry launched into the tale about how Hermione had remembered the locket being at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, and their fears that Mundungus had stolen it.
"Oh, believe me, Potter, we'll find it. You four are returning to The Burrow. You will come here everyday so that we can strategize the retrieval of the remaining Horcruxes."
Harry would have laughed at the hilarity of the circle they seemed to travel in—The Burrow to school to a mission and back to The Burrow—except that the idea of being based at The Burrow while they unraveled the mystery of the Horcruxes sounded like heaven.
He pulled Ginny up and Hermione and Ron followed.
"Is that all, then?" Harry asked.
McGonagall nodded, "Remus, Nymphadora, Kingsley, would you comb the place for any strong, dark magic. If you find the Horcrux, do not destroy it until we are all on hand. Severus, I believe you have somewhere to be as well."
Even with all of her defensive words for Snape, Harry heard a deliberately bitter tone in McGonagall's voice as she spoke to Snape. He showed no signs of hearing it, however, and turned to leave. McGonagall moved toward the door as well, when something occurred to Harry.
"Professor, how did you know to assemble everyone here? I mean, it was as though you knew we were coming."
"We did," McGonagall said, "Albus led Miss Weasley to the thestrals for more than just the fact that she cannot Apparate. Hagrid can keep track of every thestral that lives in the Forbidden Forest. We knew you were coming. Oh, that reminds me, Hagrid knows what's going on, as well. But, seeing as he has no magic of his own, he could not make it here quickly enough to be a part of this meeting. He will be here tomorrow, however."
And she swept from the room leaving Harry shaking his head. Lupin, Tonks, and Kingsley moved towards the door as well. Kingsley gave the four a nod and Tonks hugged Hermione and Ginny and spoke to them saying, "I'm so glad you're all ok. Had me worried there for a spell."
Lupin moved behind her, putting an arm around her waist and speaking to the group as well, "You four remind me of how we used to be when I was young. James, Sirius, and I would have jumped at this chance at seventeen. You say you have the journals, Harry?"
Harry nodded, "I have them."
"Read them. They won't have any impact on our mission now, but they may bring you closer to Sirius and your parents. Just know that I'm here in the flesh should you need me."
Harry smiled, "Thanks Moony."
He did not know what had possessed him to call Lupin Moony, but he knew it felt right. Lupin smile broadly, "It's been a few years since I've been called that. I must say, I missed it."
He clapped Harry on the shoulder and spoke to the group at large once more, "I'll see you lot tomorrow then. Try not to get into too much trouble before then."
This left the four alone with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley shuffled them off to the fireplace so that they could Apparate to The Burrow, and Harry felt as though, just maybe, things could work out. Maybe Moony, Tonks, and Kingsley would find the locket, and that would shorten their search. Maybe it would all be so easy with the powerful magic that the Order would bring. But then would come the Final Battle, and no one could fight that battle except Harry.
A/N: Ok, so there you go. I hope there was less sadness here than in past chapters. I saw GoF today for the fifth time, so I'm on what I like to call a "Harry High." Make it even better by reviewing!