OLD MAGIC
Chapter 64: Meeting of the Order of Phoenix
Despite his best efforts and as he had warned Snape would happen, the meeting of the Order had to wait until Thursday night but it was well attended, Dumbledore was pleased to note as he waited for the members to settle.
"So any good news, Albus? At least I hope that's the reason for this meeting," Remus was the first to ask.
"I am pleased to say there is, but first we have other guests arriving who need to attend this meeting as well," Dumbledore said enigmatically. He then spoke a spell that enlarged the parlor into a banquet hall with no table but with many comfortable chairs instead.
The Order blinked in surprise but didn't have long to wait for why such a space was needed before suddenly a large influx of people entered from the front door. It took over thirty minutes for all to arrive and take their seats but by that time there was a loud muttering of unhappiness from the Order at seeing just who the guests were.
Last to arrive was Amelia Bones who took a stance beside Dumbledore along with Snape and Hagrid.
"Simmer down everyone. You will have your answers in a moment," Dumbledore commanded. It took a few minutes more before he had total silence.
"Most of you know Madame Amelia Bones. She and her agents are here for a very important reason. The Council of Elders for the forest people have set in motion a plan to end this war. Some of you know what is gong on, others don't. The purpose of this gathering now is to get everyone on the same page. Once that's accomplished, then we all will be meeting with the Elder Council themselves. At that meeting we will be told where they are located and their names, and when we Join on as part of an army already formed by the council."
Voices raised immediately in outrage, confusion, anger, and most of all surprise. Madame Bones merely crossed her arms across her chest and waited. Her agents had already seated themselves while she stood beside Dumbledore. Some of her own agents were voicing their displeasure at these proceedings as well even though they had been briefed somewhat. But she knew the full story would be better received coming from the Order.
"Silence!" Dumbledore roared pushing his power into his words. Everyone shut up immediately. "The explanations will take some time so unless you want to be put under a silence spell, I suggest you hold your questions until the briefings are over." Dumbledore swept his gaze around the room to see if everyone was listening. Once he felt he had everyone's attention, he continued.
"Good. Now I will let Professor Snape and Hagrid take over this briefing and tell you what has been going on. Listen carefully." He nodded at the pair.
Severus deferred to Hagrid since all of this had started with the Elders. Hagrid went over all that had transpired covering the decision made at the Elder Council, the actions taken since then, and where they were now.
At he was talking, Severus went over what he had gotten accomplished before this meeting. The most important of which was notifying Jason of what had transpired with Bones, Shacklebolt, and Dumbledore. And just that morning, he received a very informative letter in response from Jason. It had been very enlightening.
He played back that message in his head, tuning out Hagrid's voice. He had received the missive in the early hours just after he had risen for the day. It came by way of Fawkes surprisingly, who chirped a happy greeting before disappearing without further explanation.
He unrolled the parchment. A smile began growing on his face as he read through what it said. Nearly cheering, he let the parchment roll back up with a snap and hurried his dressing. He had someone to show this to and he couldn't wait. As a matter of fact, he realized he should tell two someone's. He hurried out of his quarters and up to the main landing. Turning toward the huge exterior doors, he pulled one side open and slipped outside into the frosty air. Immediately chanting a warming spell to ward off the cold, he then sent out a strange caw and within a few minutes a crow appeared.
"Tell Hagrid I need to see him immediately before breakfast begins. I'll wait for him at the entrance to the Headmaster's office," he told it. The crow bowed it's head then flew off toward Hagrid's cottage but then veered off into the forest telling Snape, by it's actions, that the half-giant was already out and about.
He stepped back inside and walked toward the statue that hid Dumbledore's staircase but he didn't say the password as he wanted to see the headmaster with Hagrid by his side.
It took some fifteen minutes and Snape was growing a bit concerned but sighed in relief when the huge doors opened and in strode Hagrid. The man hurried to Snape's side, a questioning look on his shaggy face.
"What has you so excited this morning, Severus. Good news I hope," Hagrid asked in a soft voice.
"You guess correctly but I want to tell you and Dumbledore at the same time. Come on let's be up to see him." Snape turned to the statue and said 'Cadbury', realizing when he said it that Dumbledore was reusing passwords again. He sighed mentally about the continued security risk and let it go. It wasn't worth annoying the man about it right now.
The statue jumped aside and the two men hurried up the stair. At the top Snape skipped knocking and opened the door, stepping through with Hagrid on his heels.
Fawkes had already arrived and chirped at the pair in greeting. Dumbledore was not in his office. "Wait a moment and I will retrieve him," Fawkes told Snape then vanished from his perch.
"Seems we caught the headmaster not yet up," Hagrid said a bit amused. Snape merely smiled and rocked impatiently on his feet, waiting making him antsy.
Surprised by his early morning visitors, Dumbledore looked rather disheveled as he appeared suddenly, raking his fingers through his long white hair to straighten it a bit.
"Has Kreacher been summoned?" He asked, frowning as he stopped before the two men.
"No not as yet, unfortunately. But sir, I do bear some good news that I just received from Jason a few minutes ago," Snape said, smiling which surprised the headmaster as the man wasn't given to smiling much at all.
"Then why don't we have a seat and a cup of tea while you tell me what this good news is," Dumbledore suggested putting action to words by making a circle of chairs appear then summoning a house elf to bring them a tea service, which appeared promptly.
The three sat down, prepared their tea to their liking then Snape reported what the message said while giving the actual parchment to Dumbledore to read as well.
"Jason reports that the Death Eater's army has been found and is presently under watch until our own army is ready to take them down."
"That is exceptional news. So now we must wait until the meeting of the Order. Waiting is the worst thing, I know having had to do a great deal of that recently," Albus said, giving Snape a knowing look.
Snape had the good grace to blush a bit at that admonishment. "Yes sir, that is the most trying thing right now. Lots of waiting and hoping for positive answers."
"Well this be a very positive answer I am glad to be receiving this early morn. Was there naught else, Severus?" Hagrid asked, finishing his tea.
"No, I just felt this needed to be delivered before we met with the others," Snape told them.
"And it is a nice lift to the spirits for the start of the day. Thank you for telling me and now I think we should get ready for another busy day," Albus said, finishing his own tea.
"Aye, I'll take my leave then as I have much to do. Have a productive day gentlemen," Hagrid said with a smile as he departed ahead of Snape.
That message had eased much of Dumbledore's mind on their future success and now they were here bringing all the pieces together and taking the last step toward ending this war.
He tuned back into the briefing at hand and heard Hagrid answering the many questions being shot at him. He sighed mentally and joined back into the conversation. He sighed as the first complaint of why they were doing this began. It was going to be a long meeting.
There was some serious upset when it was announced by Hagrid that Shacklebolt had been requested to take a co-leader position of the council army and not Dumbledore. Even when they were told the reasoning behind the decision, none of the Order was pleased. Surprisingly, it was Shacklebolt, himself, who settled everyone down especially Moody and got them to agree this was for the best.
His most telling statement was what finally got them to agree. "Don't you want to see the end of this war?" He demanded, glaring around the room.
"Yes!" Was the roared response.
"Then stop arguing about who is in charge and go with it. The Elder Council has done all the leg work for this so we should do our part in simply following their lead and we all will get the ending we've been waiting and fighting for these many years!" There was still a bit of grumbling but finally everyone conceded.
"I do have some good news if that will make everyone happier ..." Dumbledore began which made everyone settle down and listen. "The Elder Council's hunters have found the Death Eater Army."
There was a roar of surprise and pleasure from everyone.
"What is the plan to capture them, then?" Moody demanded.
"The hunters have been ordered to wait and watch. What must happen first is meeting with the Elder Council and being integrated within their army. Then the tentative plan at the moment is to finish the identification of the infiltrators within the ministry. Madame Bones must write up warrants for all of them before we move in to make a massive sweep all at once. Aid to do this so none escape our net will be coming from the ministry house elves..."
"What!? House elves? Are you mad?" Moody roared in anger. Many others also voiced their dismay and confusion.
Dumbledore was becoming quite irate by all the interruptions. "I swear I will curse your mouths shut if one more person interrupts me!" He said frostily. Moody, still angry wasn't stupid enough to speak again and sulkily leaned on his staff waiting.
"Thank you. Now as I was saying, the house elves of the ministry have already made it clear they want the undesirables gone so they will help round them up. You'll hear more about this at the Elder Council meeting so I'll say no more about it. Meanwhile, the house elves of Hogwarts are also identifying the enemy and will round them up once they are given the go ahead. Their assistance will go a long ways toward a bloodless end to the depredations of our enemy. As for the inner circle, there is a possible plan in play that may or may not work so I can say no more about that. Finally, once all have been taken into custody, I assume we will then take out the army as well. All of this may take place by the end of the week if everything goes as well as we hope it does," Dumbledore finished. "Now, I know there are a lot of holes and maybes in what I just said so please do not question me on it now. Hopefully, we will have all the answers we are looking for by the time we meet with the Elder Council which should be within days so remain nearby and listen for the call from Madame Bones and I."
So despite the unhappiness of everyone at the start of the meeting by the end with the added good news of moving closer to ending the war, all were finally in agreement and ready for the next step … meeting the Elder Council.
This, however, had to be done with the utmost care as despite wanting to join forces, the Elder Council still did not want wizarding kind to know of their hidden base. That was when Blayrock's new spelled tech would be used for the first time.
Snape was anxious to see the new devices and hoped they worked as efficiently as Blayrock had promised at that long ago meeting. And within a moment of thinking about this, Shacklebolt brought that subject up.
"So if we are doing this, how do we meet? I am assuming the Elder Council still does not want we wizards to know their whereabouts so do they have a meeting place in mind?" He asked. There were nods all around wanting an answer to that too.
That's when Snape spoke up. "Yes, there is a specific place and a special spelled device the Dwarves have invented and tested to provide a way to take you all to the meeting place without you knowing the destination. It's very efficient and causes less discomfort than portkeys do. I need to get with Jason to know when this meeting will take place but I can assure you it will be soon. Stay in reach if it is within days of happening."
"I suggest we stay in our groups and transport out that way," Dumbledore said.
Snape concurred that he saw no problem with that. With no more questions, the meeting that had run well after midnight, finally broke up and all departed to await news of the next even more important meeting to come.