Harry's Orders
It was late March now and Harry was sitting in his Double Potions class with Ron and Hermione. Today they were brewing the Desino Cruor potion. The purpose of this potion was to stop the drinker from bleeding. If brewed properly it could stop the bleeding of an amputated limb, but wouldn't guarantee survival. If brewed improperly it would cause the drinkers blood to clot in their body. Ron was reading the ingredients on the board out loud.
"Two crushed beetles, three large diced leeches, one fairy wing, one unicorn hair, and three drops of dragon's blood," Ron was beginning to look sick, "Harry, never, and I mean never, let me drink this stuff. It sounds as bad as the Polyjuice Potion."
Harry laughed as he filled his cauldron with water and began to boil it. He took two beetles out of his supplies and began to crush them. Once the water was boiling he waited the instructed five minutes before adding the beetles, then another three minutes to add two of the leeches. While he was waiting for those to brew for ten minutes he put three drops of the dragons blood on a piece of parchment and allowed his third leech to drink it.
"So are you and Ginny going to Hogsmeade this weekend, Harry?" Hermione asked while she waited for her leech to drink the blood, "only one more trip for the year after this one."
"I hadn't asked," Harry answered honestly while he laid his fairy wing on the table, "I guess I just assumed we were going to."
"You should probably ask mate," Ron spoke while Hermione gave him a surprised look, "from what I understand, girls don't like it when we assume."
"You, Hermione," Harry said laughing, "you have taught Ron well."
"Thank you," Hermione said with a wink to Ron.
Harry picked up his remaining leech and made sure that all of the dragon's blood was gone. He saw that it was so he diced the leech on top of the fairy wing, then rolled it up in the same wing. Finally when it was rolled up tightly he tied it all together with the unicorn hair. Harry slowly put the bloody bundle into the potion and stirred. Harry could see that his potion was slowly turning blood-red like it was supposed to.
"Mr. Potter," Snape's voice came from behind Harry, "once again your potion looks to be brewing perfectly. How many times must I insist that you do not have your know it all friend help you with your potions. Ten points from Gryffindor."
Just as Snape was to vanish Harry's potion the dungeon door opened. Professor Dumbledore came walking in and whispered something to Snape.
"Class," Snape spoke to his students, "Professor Dumbledore will be finishing the period with you."
Snape grabbed an empty potion bottle and filled it with some of Harry's potion and left the room.
"Ah, I see that you are brewing Desino Cruor," Professor Dumbledore spoke while looking at Harry's thick blood-red brew. "A very potent potion if brewed correctly, which you three seem to be doing a wonderful job, ten points to Gryffindor."
The three Gryffindor's smiled as Professor Dumbledore gave them a coy wink. At the end of the class everyone bottled their potions and left a sample on Professor Snape's desk before they cleaned up their desks.
"Harry, would you please wait after class for me?" Dumbledore asked from behind Snape's desk.
"Yes sir," Harry said as he waited for the room to empty, "Is everything ok, Professor?"
"Yes, Harry, everything is fine. I wanted to talk to you about the DA. How are they meetings going?"
"They are going great sir," Harry spoke, he had an idea why Professor Dumbledore wanted to know, "everyone is learning quickly."
"That is good to hear, Harry, very good. Who would you say are your star pupils? Aside from the four new Marauders?"
"Well," Harry smiled when the Professor referred to him and his friends as the new Marauders, "Robert Tooker, the third year from America is probably the strongest of the new members, and some of last years. Kaylee Rose is a very good second year. Neville has come a long way with his new wand, actually I would say anyone fifth year and up would be a very formidable fight. I wouldn't want to meet any of the members on the wrong terms though."
"Excellent, Harry, I have learned that Voldemort is very seriously planning an attack on Hogwarts. We need to develop a plan to protect the students here."
"But, Professor, that is why we have the DA."
"I know, Harry, but I can't risk letting the students fight. If anything were to happen to the students it would not go over well with the Ministry or the parents at all. But that leaves me in a predicament."
"How so, sir?"
"Well first, Voldemort and his followers coming here really is a great opportunity for the Order. The down side is that students are here, we could move them all to an undisclosed location, but we don't know when the attack will be. And this is really the safest place to be until the fighting begins. Which means that once the fighting starts, how will we keep the students safe?"
"I understand, sir. I can issue standing orders at the next meeting. Once the fighting begins my fifth year and younger members will gather up all of the non members and move them to a safer place in Hogwarts. They will stay there to protect them. I think you will find it very difficult to keep most of the sixth years from fighting, but I will give them orders to stay in the castle and defend the route to the other students. The seventh years are technically of age but I will give them orders to stay in the castle and be a back up support for the Order."
"Good, Harry, thank you. You really will make a great leader some day."
"Thank you, sir."
When Harry walked out of the room Ron and Hermione were waiting for him. Ron was about to ask what that was about when Harry put his finger to his lips and shook his head. They walked in silence to their common room where they found it empty except for Ginny. Harry pulled a galleon out of his pocket and set the date and time for tonight at seven P.M.
"Harry, what's going on," Ginny asked as she pulled her coin out of her pocket, "did something happen?"
"Not yet, Gin," Harry said, "But by end of term expect Voldemort to be here."
"Oh my," Hermione gasped, "what about all the students?"
"Well that is what the meeting tonight is for. I'm going to be giving some standing orders on what to do."
"When is this going to happen," Ginny asked quietly, "will we be able to hide the students?"
"Not until the fighting begins. We don't know when Voldemort will attack. It will probably happen sometime near end of term."
That night Harry had the Room of Requirement set up with one single large table with seats for all of the members around it. The table was empty except for name plates in front of each seat. Harry was placed in the center with Ginny, flanking to his left and Hermione on his right, Ron was next to Hermione. The rest of the table was set up according to year.
The four of them sat at their places and waited for the members to arrive. All of the members had confused looks on their faces when they saw the large table. They each took their seats and sat quietly waiting for Harry to talk. Once the entire table was full Harry called the meeting to order.
"I have called you all here tonight to discuss some strategy," Harry spoke with a loud authoritative voice, "Voldemort has been quiet since his attack on my relatives. That means he is planning something, I have a feeling that something is an attack on Hogwarts."
There was a collective gasp from the group as Harry spoke.
"This is what I want done if there is an attack here. Members in their fourth year or below; I am appointing Mr. Tooker as your leader, Ms. Rose, you will be his assistant. You will be responsible for finding all non-members of the order and taking them to a secure location. That includes Slytherins, but don't be surprised if some refuse to go, don't force the issue. Protect those who are willing to go. Mr. Tooker are you willing to take this responsibility?"
"Yes sir," Robert spoke as if he were in a true Army, "Where will we go?"
"There is a corridor on the fifth floor that is very seldom used. To get the stairs to take you to the corridor all you have to say is protection. The stairs have been set to listen to only Mr. Tooker or Ms. Rose, so it won't work for anyone else. If for some reason you two aren't able to lead the group there, I want the group to go to the astronomy tower and stay there. Oh, and please I don't want you two using those stairs at anytime other than an attack. At the top of the stairs follow the corridor and stay in the room it leads you to, you will be safe there."
"Yes sir," both of Harry's newest Officers said in unison.
"Fifth and sixth years," Harry began issuing his new orders, "You will be lead by Ms. Weasley, Mr. Creevey, will be her assistant. Your job will be to defend the route to the younger students. I want half to be on the route to the fifth floor corridor, the other half defend the astronomy tower."
"Yes, sir," Ginny and Colin both answered.
"Seventh years," Harry said with a sigh, "You are all of age and can fight if you wish. I would request though that you remain in the castle and back up the teachers and staff that are fighting. Ms. Chang you will be in charge of the seventh years."
"Yes, sir," Cho said quietly.
Harry looked around the table and smiled. The members all were willing to follow his orders without question, he knew they could win the battle if they all did what was asked.
"That will do for tonight, thank you for coming."
The crowd all rose and shuffled their way out of the room, Harry remained seated and didn't speak until everyone was out of the room except Ron, Hermione and Ginny.
"Ron, Hermione, I can't ask you but I would like the two of you with me when the battle happens."
"We'll be there, mate," Ron answered for them both.
"And what about me?" Ginny asked hurt, "I am your girlfriend and deserve to be at your side during a fight too!"
"Ginny," Harry replied knowing she would be upset, "I need you to lead the defense group, you are the strongest fifth year I have, and stronger than most sixth years. And I could never forgive myself if something were to happen to you."
"Harry James Potter! I do not need to be protected and made to stand by while I watch the man I love fight in a war," Ginny's face turned a red to rival the color of her hair, "How do you think I would feel if something were to happen to you while I wasn't at your side?"
Ron and Hermione had snuck off and left the room while Harry and Ginny discussed his orders.
"Ginny," Harry pleaded, "Please, just promise me you will respect my decision."
"I will not!" Ginny was at her boiling point, "I hate the decision you made, I can't believe you. You are being so selfish, Harry."
"Ginny, I am sorry," Harry spoke quietly, "I have made my decision. I don't want you on the battlefield when the time comes."
Ginny stood up and stormed out of the room leaving Harry sitting in his chair alone. Hermione had followed Ginny to attempt to calm her down while Ron came back into the room. He sat next to Harry and searched for something to say.
"Mate," he finally settled on, "I respect what you are trying to do for Ginny. I even appreciate it. But she is a Weasley, we have a habit of being loyal, and what's more Ginny loves you mate. She would do anything for you and you making her stay in the background hurts her."
"I know, Ron," Harry said quietly then he took a deep breath, "it's just. Remember the night of the Start of Term Feast? How me and Ginny met Merlin?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Well, Professor Dumbledore told me how Merlin is usually summoned."
"How?"
"Well you trace his name on the plaque and if you meet the criteria he will appear. He will only appear if the person that summons him is going to sacrifice themselves for someone they love within a year."
"And you summoned him?"
"No, Ron, Ginny did. That's why I don't want her on the battlefield, I am trying to stop that from happening."
"Does she know?"
"No, only you, Remus, and Dumbledore know."
"You had better go talk to her then mate, at least try to make up with her."
Harry nodded his head and left the room, Ron followed him out. Harry went back the common room and saw Hermione sitting on the couch in front of the fire place. Harry asked her where Ginny was and she told him that she was in her dorm and that she did not want to talk to him at the moment.
Ron interrupted and told Hermione that Harry had his reasons for what he did. Harry shot Ron a glare then decided to tell Hermione what he had told Ron. Hermione's coldness towards Harry quickly subsided and she said she would go see if Ginny would come down.
Smoke came running down the stairs as Hermione disappeared from view. Smoke came straight to Harry and stopped in front of him and hissed and growled at Harry. Smoke then turned around and went back upstairs.
"That cat," Ron said with a grin, "Is definitely part Kneazle."
Harry nodded his head in agreement when Ginny came down the stairs, she sat on the couch and looked into the fire. Harry cleared his throat, took a deep breath and walked to the couch, he sat down next to Ginny who looked at him, her face was stained with tears.
"Ginny, I am so sorry I upset you. There is a reason why I did what I did."
"And that would be?" Ginny said with a sob.
Harry decided it was best to explain his reason. She listened quietly then nodded her head when he was done. She threw her arms around Harry and sobbed louder.
"Ok, Harry," Ginny said into his chest, "I'll lead the fifth and sixth years."
"Thank you, Ginny," Harry kissed her on top of the head and held her close.