Disclaimer: This claim's hers. (You know whose)
Warning: M for slash (HP/TMRLV), Post-GoF, slightly insane and definitely dark Harry
"Normal dialogue"
*Parseltongue*
'Thoughts'
Writing (Letters, news clippings, etc.)
Oh, yes, Barty had been counting.
One (recently-returned) Dark Lord; nine (nervous) Death Eaters; two (clandestine) meetings a week; one new (and highly suspicious) member on the fourth meeting; seven meetings since with eleven attendees: A final count of eleven meetings, ten Death Eaters, and one Dark Lord.
Tonight there were only ten wizards in the room.
Stoirm was nowhere in sight and Barty highly doubted that he was the only one who noticed his absence. After all, the empty seat at the Dark Lord's immediate right was far from inconspicuous.
But so far, no one had asked about Stoirm.
"-recruiting members. Not that they're having much progress," Snape droned.
"The Daily Prophet's been doing a good job," Macnair mumbled and some of the others nodded in agreement.
"There's also talk of increasing guard somewhere," the Hogwarts professor pressed on, ignoring Macnair's comment. "Besides being told that it involves Potter," here he paused, spitting the boy's last name like it left a bitter taste in his mouth. "I know nothing further about the matter. I've been deemed... unworthy of such delicate information."
Snake-like, fully-red eyes, without whites and with black slits for pupils, perused Snape. The Dark Lord probed the onyx depths, detecting lies and truths. For his part, Snape didn't blink, didn't even show any outward sign of discomfort. Lord Voldemort leaned back in his chair, seemingly satisfied.
"How about you, Lucius? How goes things at your end in the Ministry?" he hissed, gaze fleeting over the man he directed his question at.
The long-haired blonde sat up straighter in his seat.
"The Order members are getting less subtle, my Lord," Lucius answered. "They've been closely monitoring us, following us everywhere. I-" he faltered, then lowered his eyes. "I'm afraid it's getting harder to sneak away."
Lord Voldemort contemplated this bit of information. He reached for his wand and twirled it between his bone-white, spidery fingers.
Lucius flinched.
The Dark Lord's lipless mouth curved in a cruel smile before he flicked his wand at the Malfoy patriarch's direction. Lucius closed his eyes and inhaled sharply, the sound masking the subtle pop of conjuration. The previously empty long table now had ten gold coins, a galleon each for every one of them.
Barty couldn't help it - a snort escaped him. And even though it wasn't loud, it seemed very much so in the silent room.
Lucius's eyes snapped open and he glared at Barty. Then he caught the golden glint of galleons on the table and his ire was momentarily forgotten. He joined the others and looked at the Dark Lord in confusion.
"Stoirm made these." A thin hand gestured at the coins, giving them permission to examine the pieces of metal.
Barty moved first. The rest were still wary of their newest ally and they waited if anything would happen to Barty before they touched the objects themselves. Sure, these past few weeks, Stoirm wasn't as silent as he had been during his first few meetings - in fact, the Death Eaters had learned to respect this mysterious wizard who never failed to keep the Dark Lord's temper in check. But it takes more than that to make Dark wizards trust you, the feat even harder to achieve if you insist on hiding your face and using a voice-changing spell like Potter.
'What is he playing at?' Barty wondered once again as he studied the coin's protean charm. Somehow, the fact that the boy knew advanced magic didn't surprise him anymore. He held the fake galleon closer. It really did look authentic, from the intricate etchings up to the light scratches.
He was (grudgingly) impressed.
"Keep them near - it will heat up to alert you of a meeting," the Dark Lord said. "Around the edge, the serial number will change to display the time and date of our next gathering a few hours in advance. That should give you sufficient time to lose your pursuer."
Everyone was now examining the coins, seeing that nothing had happened to Barty upon contact. Goyle in particular was holding the galleon a little closer than necessary, completely hiding his right eye from view.
"Do not lose them," the Dark Lord added in a dangerous hiss.
Goyle jerked and his coin fell, bouncing on his chin before he caught it with both hands.
"Good save," Barty sneered.
Goyle grunted. "I didn't lo-"
"Silence."
Goyle's jaw clicked shut and Barty had the decency to at least look apologetic.
"We will be dropping our bi-weekly appointments in favor of more irregular, unpredictable ones. Does anyone have anything important to add?"
Lord Voldemort looked each and every one of his Death Eaters square in the eyes.
"Very well."
He smoothly rose from his seat and everyone followed suit. They bowed low and shuffled towards the exit.
Everyone but Barty.
He remained rooted on the spot.
Nobody threw him a second glance and after a few seconds, it was only him and the Dark Lord in the room.
The door swung shut on its own.
"Bartemius," the Dark Lord said, managing to sound questioning and threatening at the same time.
Barty licked his lips nervously.
"Master, about Stoirm..."
Dear Mr Potter,
We have received intelligence that you performed the Patronus Charm at twenty-three minutes past nine this evening in a Muggle inhabited area and in the presence of a Muggle.
The severity of this breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery has resulted in your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ministry representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand.
As you have already received an official warning for a previous offence under Section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that your presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9 a.m. on the twelfth of August.
Hoping you are well,
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic
'Aghhh, stupid, stupid, STUPID.'
Stoirm repeatedly hit his forehead with the heel of his palm. He watched the bright white light gallop away from him.
He turned around in a futile attempt to see something, anything that could tell him why Dementors were in Little Whinging.
'Damnit.'
With his wand still in hand, he closed his eyes and took a large breath.
Harry –
Dumbledore's just arrived at the Ministry and he's trying to sort it all out. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE. DO NOT DO ANY MORE MAGIC. DO NOT SURRENDER YOUR WAND.
Arthur Weasley
"I knew that you knew, Bartemius."
"I figured as much, my Lord."
"He's on our side."
"On our side like I am or like Severus Snape?"
Before the Dark Lord could reply, a bright four-legged creature burst through the wall. The stag stood proudly in front of them and opened its mouth.
A distinctly familiar male voice poured out:
"Was attacked by Dementors. Used registered wand. Ministry is threatening to expel me, break my wand, all that rubbish. Anyway, do not attempt to contact me. FUCKING DON'T, I'm telling you. I'm being closely watched. I doubt I'll be able to make the meetings, so... See you next year, Tom. Toodles!"
And then, just as fast as it came, it vanished.
The atmosphere tangibly shifted and Barty's mouth suddenly felt dry.
'Oh I shouldn't have stayed behind.'
Dear Mr Potter,
Further to our letter of approximately twenty-two minutes ago, the Ministry of Magic has revised its decision to destroy your wand forthwith. You may retain your wand until your disciplinary hearing on the twelfth of August, at which time an official decision will be taken.
Following discussions with the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Ministry has agreed that the question of your expulsion will also be decided at that time. You should therefore consider yourself suspended from school pending further enquiries.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic
"...you have been short-listed for the All-England Best Kept Suburban Lawn Competition-'"
Harry burst into laughter.
"Couldn't they have thought of something less suspicious?" he exclaimed, browsing the contents of the letter once more.
It had been delivered that day through muggle post and he could only shake his head at the Order's transparency. They wanted the Dursleys away.
And their wish was his command.
He grinned at his relatives.
"You three are going on a trip."
Harry heard a crash in the kitchen below.
He sat bolt upright, listening intently. There was silence for a few seconds, then voices. He snatched up his wand from under his pillow and stood facing his bedroom door. Next moment, the lock gave a loud click and his door swung open.
Harry stood motionless, staring through the open doorway at the dark upstairs landing, straining his ears for further sounds, but none came. He waited for a moment, then moved swiftly and silently out of his room to the head of the stairs.
There were people standing in the shadowy hall below, silhouetted against the streetlight glowing through the glass door; eight or nine of them, all, as far as he could see, looking up at him.
"Lower your wand, boy, before you take someone's eye out," said a low, growling voice.
He knew that voice, but he did not lower his wand. "Professor Moody."
"I don't know so much about 'Professor,'" growled the voice. "Never got round to much teaching, did I? Get down here, we want to see you properly."
Harry lowered his wand slightly but did not relax his grip on it, nor did he move. He had very good reason to be suspicious. He told Tom not to contact him but the man could've sent a Moody-fied Barty again.
But before he could make a decision about what to do next, a second, slightly hoarse voice floated upstairs.
"It's all right, Harry. We've come to take you away."
Harry knew that voice, too, though he hadn't heard it for over a year. "Professor Lupin?"
"Why are we all standing in the dark?" said a third voice, this one completely unfamiliar, a woman's. "Lumos."
A wand-tip flared, illuminating the hall with magical light. Harry blinked. The people below were crowded around the foot of the stairs, gazing up at him intently, some craning their heads for a better look.
Remus Lupin stood nearest to him. He was smiling broadly at Harry, who tried to smile back.
"Oooh, he looks just like I thought he would," said the witch who was holding her lit wand aloft. She looked the youngest there; she had a pale heart-shaped face, dark twinkling eyes, and short spiky hair that was a violent shade of violet. "Wotcher, Harry!"
He bit back a sneer.
"Yeah, I see what you mean, Remus," said a bald black wizard standing furthest back – he had a deep, slow voice and wore a single gold hoop in his ear – "he looks exactly like James."
'Calm, calm, calm. Water flowing, birds chirping...'
"Except the eyes," said a wheezy-voiced, silver-haired wizard at the back. "Lily's eyes."
'...chirp...'
Moody, who had long grizzled grey hair and a large chunk missing from his nose, was squinting suspiciously at Harry through his mismatched eyes.
"Are you quite sure it's him, Lupin?" he growled. "It'd be a nice lookout if we bring back some Death Eater impersonating him. We ought to ask him something only the real Potter would know. Unless anyone brought any Veritaserum?"
"Harry, what form does your Patronus take?" Lupin asked.
"'Something only the real Potter would know,'" Harry mockingly repeated in his head.
"A stag," he answered.
Lupin smiled at him.
"That's him, Mad-Eye."
'Merlin's beard. I'm surrounded by idiots.'
"Here," Alastor Moody said, pushing a piece of parchment towards Harry's hand and holding his lit wand close to it, so as to illuminate the writing. "Read quickly and memorize."
Harry looked down at the piece of paper. The narrow handwriting was vaguely familiar. It said:
The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London
He stifled his smile.
The "secret" headquarters wasn't so secret anymore.
Tom would be pleased.
A/N: Next stop, Hogwarts!
I'm trying to follow canon as much as possible so if some parts sound familiar, that's probably because I copied it from the book. (I claim nothing)
Btw, to those who have taken the time to follow, favorite, leave reviews or simply read this so far - you guys are very much appreciated. Really. Thank you!