She quickly stepped out of the fireplace and dusted off her robes. 'It could be worse I suppose' she thought to herself as she dusted herself off. Charlotte looked around the room to see the faces of her former headmaster, her former head of house, her former Potions Master, and the portraits of several headmasters long since passed. She noticed with some sense of agitation that everyone was staring at her. She gave herself a quick glance to make sure she looked presentable enough. She did. She smiled nervously at all the occupants of the room. Finally, Albus Dumbledore broke the silence.
"Miss Stratford! So good of you to come on such short notice. Lemon drop?" Albus said, offering her a piece of candy. She politely declined.
"I suppose you wonder why I have called you here at such a late hour," the headmaster began again. "As you are already aware of, Voldemort and his ranks are on the rise again."
Charlotte merely nodded, and the headmaster took this as a cue to continue.
"As I was saying, the reason I have asked you to meet us here is to ask a favor. You are a very powerful witch, Miss Stratford. I would greatly appreciate your help in trying to bring Voldemort down. But there are of course certain risks entailed if you decide to help us." Dumbledore continued. "What I am going to ask of you will not be easy. In fact, it will be quite opposite. But I have great faith in you. And if you wish to help us, it will be greatly appreciated.
If you decide not to help us..."
"I want to help, headmaster, you know that. After what that evil...thing...done to my family.." Charlotte replied, closing her eyes. She willed herself not to dwell on the past, as it only brought up bad memories."But I haven't really done any magic in a couple of years..." she finished.
"Ah but that is not a problem, my dear girl!" Albus exclaimed, his blue eyes twinkling. "Magic is something that a witch and wizard can never truly forget. Of course we can get you a refresher if you wish."
Charlotte nodded again, wondering if she could be the "very powerful witch" that her headmaster remembered. Professor McGonagall kept looking from Charlotte to Dumbledore, at a loss for words. Albus, ever the talker he was, began to speak again.
"Miss Stratford, of course you remember Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape?" Dumbledore gestured to the two silent figures in the chairs.
"Of course I do headmaster. Professor McGonagall, nice to see you again!" Charlotte said, truly meaning it.
Professor McGonagall smiled warmly. "It is indeed a pleasure to see you again too, Miss Stratford. The wizarding world has missed you."
Charlotte smiled back and turned her gaze to her formal Potions Master. She noticed he was staring at her, trying to figure her out perhaps.
"Professor Snape, its good to see you." Charlotte finally spoke.
Severus Snape merely nodded in her direction, his eyes not leaving her.
Charlotte smiled again and turned back around to the headmaster, still feeling the eyes upon her.
"But before we begin anything, I must ask you. We have been forming an army of sorts, your parents were in the first one we ever made. The Order of the Phoenix.
do you recall it?" Albus asked.
Charlotte smiled momentarily at the mention of her parents. Then her expression became solemn.
"I do remember, headmaster." she replied, closing her eyes. "I remember my parents being so thirlled to be able to help bring down the Dark Lord..."
Albus could sense the heartbreak in her voice. He smiled softly and began speaking again. "That they were. Fantastic witch and wizard, your parents. Would you like to be a part of the Order of the Phoenix?"
Charlotte nodded, suddenly becoming very interested in a gadget on the headmaster's desk.
"Fantastic!" Albus said, clapping his hands together. "I will need two witnesses. Severus, Minerva, would you both gladly witness this?"
Professor McGonagall sighed, but agreed. Professor Snape merely nodded again.
"Ah wonderful!" Albus exclaimed. Turning to face Charlotte, he held his hands out. He waited until she took his hands before he continued. When she had finally lay her hands in his, he told her the instructions.
"You must repeat what I say, Miss Stratford. Word for word, that is very important. Do you understand?" the headmaster asked.
"Yes, headmaster, I understand." Charlotte replied, smiling.
Albus smiled and and closed his eyes. "I volunarily wish to join the Order of the Phoenix. I gladly extend my services in any way I can to those who truly need help. I will not tell its secrets to any soul, on pain of death."
Charlotte gathered her courage and repeated "I voluntarily wish to join the Order of the Phoenix. I gladly extend my services in any way I can to those who truly need help. I will not tell its secrets to any soul, on pain of death."
Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall both waved their wands, and a pink glow surrounded Charlotte's and Dumbledore's clasped hands. After a few seconds,
the glow faded.
"Congratulations, my girl! Welcome to the Order of the Phoenix." Albus gladly said. Then he handed her a piece of parchment. Charlotte looked closely at the writing on the parchment.
"No. 12 Grimmauld Place, Kings Cross" she read silently to herself.
"Have you read the information on that piece of parchment, Miss Stratford?"
"Yes professor...but why...?" Charlotte began to ask, but the paper was immediately taken from her fingers and turned to ash.
"It is where the Order is located. Reveal its location to no one." Albus said gravely.
Taken back by his tone, Charlotte answered "Of course not, headmaster."
Albus smiled again and exclaimed "Brilliant! Now, we shall get your possessioned moved into the headquarters at once..."
"Pardon, headmaster? Move my things, why?" Charlotte asked, clearly startled.
"My dear, you will be living there of course! We can't take a chance on you not being protected. The headquarters will be the safest place, and it is roomy enough besides. Do you have any objections?" Albus replied.
Charlotte thought back to her house--her family's house. Of course she had wonderful memories there...but she had not so wonderful memories there. Living there day after day was a constant reminder. Of course she would miss the house, but she would be stronger without it.
"No headmaster, no objections. I was just taken back I suppose." Charlotte said.
"I shall send a few trusted house-elves to fetch your things. Dobby, Minny, Emmy..." Albus began. But no sooner he spoke those names did 3 small house elves appear before her. "Would you three please go to 14 Canterbury Court and fetch Miss Stratford's possesions, shrink them, and bring them here please?" Albus asked, offering each house elf a galleon. The 3 house elves immediately nodded, taking the offered galleon and apparating. Albus smiled and turned his attention back to the three remaining people in the room.
"If you will excuse me, I have to send a letter to Sirius and a few other members, alerting them of Miss Stratford's decision." Albus said with a nod, going back to his desk to write. "Oh, and Minerva, could you please show Miss Stratford to her private room? It is late and I am sure she would like to rest."
"Of course, Albus. Follow me, Miss Stratford." Professor McGonagall said, leading the way out of the headmaster's office, Charlotte following behind.