Disclaimer: Nothing important is mine

Chapter 3.

"- I just don't get it."

"Weasley, just because your feeble brain has reached previously uncharted depths of incompetence, doesn't mean that the situation is incomprehensible."

"Oh, go throw yourself off a cliff, Snape!"

"Gentlemen, please!"

"I hereby declare this meeting of the Order of the Phoenix open!" announced a commanding voice.

Everyone quieted, some more reluctantly than others.

"Thank you, now, the first subject up for discussion is the attack on our colleagues, the Longbottoms," said Dumbledore, his voice weary. The war had changed everybody. All the listening faces were pale and drawn, and straining to hold on to hope. Others were missing, killed by deatheaters. No one had been left untouched by Voldemort's machinations. But for once there was good news to report. "I am happy to announce that there were no fatalities. Neville was visiting a friend, and Alice and Frank managed to activate their emergency portkeys just in time. However, it is still vital to know how their whereabouts were discovered."

"Probably another leak in the Ministry," offered Kingsley, wincing as his speech tugged at a newly formed scar on his cheek.

"Huh, the ministry is so full of holes that one could use it as a sieve," said Mel Bradley morosely.

"Adequate safety measures must be taken," said Arthur Weasley, sitting next to a group of subdued red-heads. It had been weeks since the Weasley's had received the news that Charlie was missing, presumed dead, and they had yet to recover from the blow. "Neville's our last hope."

Everyone was silent for a while.

"Poor boy," murmured Molly Weasley, her motherly instincts coming to the fore.

"He's an idiot," drawled Snape dismissively. "Our Saviour can hardly hold his wand straight, and any potion he touches immediately explodes. Completely incompetent."

"Really, Severus, the boy is only just sixteen," said Minerva disapprovingly.

"But think of all the things other great wizards have accomplished by that age."

"I agree with Severus, Minerva," said Lupin quietly. "His skills need to improve; right now he's only just above average.

"Moony! You're agreeing with him?"

"Yes, Sirius, I am. If Neville is to be capable of defeating the Dark Lord, he must be taught. Right now he's close to the bottom of his year, and wouldn't last seconds against even a vaguely experienced Deatheater."

"Well, yes, but still, agreeing with him," grumbled Sirius, not willing to completely back down.

"Well, this can be discussed between his teachers at Hogwarts," decided Dumbledore from his seat at the head of the table. "For now, Kingsley, could you try to discover how the information got to the Dark Side? The rest of you, keep on the lookout for spies. Voldemort's information network must be broken."

"I will," nodded Kingsley, "but it'll be slow work."

"Everything is nowadays," sighed Sirius. "Lily hasn't emerged from her lab for weeks. She's still messing around with that bloody charm, but not getting anywhere."

There was a commotion outside, then the door to the room was opened.

"Hello everyone, it's just me," greeted Arabella Figg, causing the few drawn wands to be lowered. "Sorry about the noise, I knocked over that bloody umbrella stand again."

"Ah, Arabella, glad you could make it."

"Sorry I'm late Albus, I was caught up at the Ministry."

"Who died?" asked Mad-Eye Moody at once from his seat in the corner.

"No one," retorted Figg, rolling her eyes. "Do stop being so morbid."

"Constant Vigilance!"

"Of course. Anyway, I have some interesting information to share," said the Auror, slumping down in a free chair.

"Well, get on with it, woman," snapped Snape, tapping his fingers impatiently.

"Today a young man came in for his NEWT exams. I think he was home schooled or something, as I didn't recognise him. The examiners were very impressed with his abilities and, for a change, asked if I'd be prepared to duel him. Just to determine his level and whatnot."

"Well, what's so diverting about that?" asked Fred Weasley curiously.

"Well for a start, he won."

Everyone goggled.

"Constant Vigilance! Can't let your guard down around a young whipper-snapper just because you feel confident!"

"But I've seen you duel, you're amazing."

"You captured Bellatrix Lestrange single-handedly!"

"Well, he's better than me, though it took him a good fifteen minutes to win," Arabella said shortly. She was an experienced auror, and admitting she had been beaten by a teenager was quite embarrassing.

"What else is there? I assume you wouldn't bother mentioning him if he was just a good dueller," said Fred.

"He doesn't have a wand."

"Huh?"

"You mean he had to borrow one? Well, maybe his parents don't have that much money," theorised Minerva McGonagall. "The prices nowadays are scandalously high."

"No, I mean he performed everything wandlessly," explained Arabella with ill-concealed irritation in her voice.

"Impossible," stated Molly Weasley flatly.

All eyes turned to the headmaster and leader of the Order.

"This is an unsettling development," admitted Dumbledore resignedly. "He must be uncommonly skilled to be able to accomplish such a thing, especially at such a young age."

"But, Albus how is it possible? Even you yourself cannot perform anything more than a simple first-year spell wandlessly," Arthur Weasley pointed out. It was Remus Lupin who answered.

"Throughout history there have been cases of highly skilled individuals with wandless powers. This young man would not be the first."

"But those were myths or exaggerations, surely," said Mel Bradley sceptically.

"No smoke without a fire," Sirius reminded her.

"Regardless, we must find out more about him," said Dumbledore. "If he turns dark it could be very dangerous. What was his name?"

"Hadrian Morrigan," supplied Arabella. This caused new eruptions.

"I thought the House of Morrigan died out generations ago?" said Lupin, looking to Dumbledore for confirmation.

"Indeed, but only because women are not allowed to inherit. He must be the first son born to that house since the last Lord Morrigan died," said the old wizard thoughtfully.

"Morrigan is one of the Fourteen Families, right?" asked Mel Bradley, glancing around for confirmation.

"That is correct, and they are related to Rowena Ravenclaw. Descended from her cousin, I believe," supplied Snape languidly, but his dark eyes flickered around his surroundings attentively. For Slytherins, paranoia is inbuilt.

"I will instruct young William Weasley to investigate Hadrian Morrigan's ancestry. Maybe the Goblins will reveal something."

"No chance, they hate our guts," snorted Sirius.

"As do all magical beings," added Mel.

"The Werewolves are holding a Moot after the next full moon. I fully expect them to declare their total allegiance to Voldemort," said Remus softly.

"Hah, and the Vampire Elders are just about ready to declare war on wizarding England. How stupid can the Ministry get?" asked Sirius rhetorically. "We'll be wiped out within months at this rate."

There was a sombre silence.

"We must not give up hope," said Dumbledore firmly. "The Light will triumph, in the end."

A tapping noise behind him made him turn around, drawing his wand, only to relax when seeing the cause of the disturbance. With a flick of his wand, a window opened and an owl fluttered in, dropping a letter in front of the Headmaster before taking off once more.

All eyes were on the powerful wizard as he broke the seal and skimmed the short note inside.

"Hmm, interesting," he murmured to himself.

"What is it, Albus?" asked Minerva inquisitively.

"A letter from Lord Hadrian Morrigan," replied Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling.

"What? What does it say?" demanded the others at the table.

"He's applying for the vacant Divination post at the school."

"But… that job is utterly ridiculous. If he's so powerful, why would he sink that low?" asked Sirius. "Merlin, if he's another Trelawney I may just kill myself."

"Are you sure he's the one that won against Arabella?" said Mel doubtfully. "Divination is awfully woolly if you ask me."

"It's him, and now it makes perfect sense," exclaimed Figg. "He always seemed to know in advance what spells I would cast. If he's got the Sight that would explain it!" She seemed relieved to have discovered an explanation for losing the duel.

"I've never heard of the Sight being used in that way," put in Remus dubiously. Figg glared at him.

"We must not disregard the supposition that he might just want a way into the castle," said Dumbledore, his voice clearly heard over the babble. "A teacher is allowed free reign to wander."

"You think he might be a spy?" said Arthur Weasley.

"It is a possibility."

"Will you still give him the position?" asked Remus. Everyone paused for the answer.

"I will meet with him," determined Dumbledore.

A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I hope you guys like this new chapter.