Chapter Twenty-Nine.
A meeting with the Order.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George arrived at Mcgonagall's office within five minutes to find Lupin waiting for them. "Good to see you could make it you three." Lupin smiled. "Just one thing before we go, Harry you failed to mention Mr Malfoy was in hiding at Grimmauld Place. I trust you did give him permission to be there?" Harry who had completely forgotten about Draco being at Grimmauld Place gasped.

"I'm sorry Professor; he just came to me and asked…"

"You have no reason to apologise. Grimmauld Place is yours and if you wish to let him stay there then that's your choice. Mr Malfoy is on strict orders to stay upstairs while the meeting is in session and various spells have been put on the room to make sure that even if he wanted to, he couldn't listen in." Lupin informed them. He picked up a dish on the desk and Harry saw inside what was unmistakeably floo powder. "Everyone else is present and seated at Grimmauld place waiting for us. Let's go, I presume you all know how to travel by floo powder by now?" He looked around at everyone who all nodded. "Good." Lupin said holding the dish out towards Harry who uneasily took some of it in his hands and threw it inside the fireplace. Floo powder was not Harry's favourite way to travel.

"Number twelve Grimmauld Place." Harry said clearly closing his eyes and felt himself been spun around up what felt like a small tube but slightly larger. After a few minutes he felt himself being thrown out of it and landing on a cold hard floor.

"Harry!" Harry opened his eyes and saw he was now back inside Grimmauld Place and Mrs Weasley had helped him up off the floor and embraced him in a tight hug.

"Good to see you Mrs Weasley." Harry said with a slight smile. She finally let go of him and began to wipe the ash off his arms and shoulders. Harry heard a thud and turned around to see Ron landing out of the fireplace, then came Hermione, then Fred, George and at last Lupin. Mrs Weasley hugging them in turn as they came out.

"You teenagers get thinner every time I see you, before you leave I must make you a proper meal. Now come on, everyone's waiting." Mrs Weasley said looking over each of them as if checking they were healthy. Harry who was still wiping ash off himself followed Mrs Weasley through to the kitchen where at least twenty witches and wizards were sitting around a table that was now larger than it had been before. He saw the new additions to the order, sitting next to Bill Weasley, was his wife, Fleur. And on the opposite side of the table sat next to Julian Eccledon was now former seeker Viktor Krum. Lupin took a seat next to Tonks and Mcgonagall drew up five more chairs for Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George. Harry felt all eyes on him as he walked towards his chair; he saw some of them giving him warm smiles, and some of them were even waving. He wondered why the order wanted them here and looked up eagerly. When they were all seated Mcgonagall finally spoke.

"Well, now we can begin. As you know Harry, I have been very lenient with you over what I let you do as a student at Hogwarts this year. I haven't questioned you and I've supported you all the way. But with the recent deaths of Neville Longbottom and Hestia Jones we all feel that it is time you let us know what exactly you are doing." Mcgonagall paused.

"Harry rest assured we don't all feel that way." Arthur Weasley said with a grim look on his face.

"Arthur let her speak!" Mrs Weasley scolded her husband. Harry who was dead certain he would never tell anyone but who he had already told about the horcruxes now felt that this was a waste of time. And that the order had some nerve to ask him to break Dumbledore's word. Hermione who seemed to know what he was thinking gave him a look of warning.

"Let them finish." Hermione hissed into his ear as Harry opened his mouth to say something.

"Harry it's just that, we were attacked when we were guarding Hogwarts. Then Bellatrix Lestrange apparently came out of nowhere with you chasing after her, and we have a feeling you know what they were doing there. There weren't enough of them for a full attack. That's not what they were there for. If you could just shed some light for us on what happened." Julian Eccledon spoke up.

"Or I'm sure Ron and Hermione will know." Sturgis Podmore nodded his head towards Ron and Hermione. Harry remembered Sturgis Podmore as the order member who was falsely sent to Azkaban two years ago. He was a square jawed man with thick straw-coloured hair. Harry who had so far not been able to get a word in finally spoke.

"Look, I know it must be frustrating. But what me, Ron and Hermione are doing is between us and there's no way I'm going to break my word to Dumbledore and tell you." Harry said firmly.

"And were not breaking our word to Harry either." Ron said fiercely.

"All were saying is we might be able to help you." Tonks said calmly.

"Like you helped us the day Neville died? You let two death eaters just walk into the castle! If it hadn't been for us realising they were there, this whole war would be lost right now!" Harry shouted angrily banging his fist on the table.

"Harry, calm down." Hermione said softly, gripping onto his arm.

"What do you mean it would be lost?" Kingsley Shacklebolt asked curiously.

"And believe me Potter, we were more n busy with those death eaters." Moody growled.

"By lost I mean it would be over. Hopeless." Harry told them.

"Now Harry what's with all the negativity?" Fred piped in.

"And that temper. We said he should see someone about it before remember Fred?" George said to his twin brother.

"Fred, George, if you can't take these meetings seriously then I'll have to –

"Mum, you know what there like." Charlie said reasonably interrupting Mrs Weasley from shouting at Fred and George and giving them both a slight smile, which they returned.

"More people are getting murdered every day. You know who is getting stronger, getting a bigger following." Eccledon said.

"Don't you think we know that?" Harry said defiantly.

"Unless you succeed in what your doing, if it's as important as you say it is. This is going to get even worse. So save us all some time and just tell us so we can help. Dumbledore trusted us, so why can't you?" Lupin said ignoring Harry's angry tone.

"If he trusted you all so much,why did he tell none of you what he told Harry." Ron spoke boldly.

"Our sweetheart has a point there." Fred said smiling mischeviously. Ron turned to face Fred, his ears turning red.

"You know aswell? I'm going to murder Ginny!" Ron cried. Hermione had the same confused look as when it was mentioned by Ginny some time ago and Harry tried to suppress a grin.

"That's no way to talk about your best mate's future wife! Thump him Harry." George said.

"Fred, George. Honestly i've never seen such disrespect. If you do that again boy's i'll escort you out of here myself!" Mrs Weasley snapped looking furious.

"Aw mum you know what were like." Fred grinned. Mr Weasley coughed and went back to the subject they were supposed to be discussing.

"Well, I think they've all made up their minds. We can't force them to disclose the information." Mr Weasley said looking around the table. "But you three should know, if you ever need any help from us it's always here." Harry who appreciated this felt a little bit calmer.

"It's getting late. I'll escort the three of them back to Hogwarts. Remus, Hagrid and Alastor I'll see you in my office when you arrive." Mcgonagall said getting up. She didn't look happy at the meetings results. Everyone started to get up and Dedalus Diggle approached Harry shaking his hand.

"A pleasure to meet you again Harry Potter. I hope we shall see each other soon." Diggle sounded quite excited at speaking to Harry not letting go of his hand for at least a minute until Elphias Doge, an old wizard with a wheezy voice and silver hair also wanted to shake hands with Harry. Mrs Weasley hugged them all goodbye and Mr Weasley shook Harry's hand and patted him on the back. Finally Harry, Ron and Hermione turned to walk towards the fireplace, with Mcgonagall handing them the bowl with floo powder inside. Ron went first and then as Hermione walked towards the fireplace George spoke.

"Hermione, you were just going to leave without saying goodbye?" George said pretending to look devastated with half a grin still on his face. He suddenly grabbed Hermione's hand and kissed it. Hermione pulled it away from George's grip quickly, looking half exasperated and half amused.

By the time they arrived back inside the common room it was dark and they were all tired. Harry found Ginny waiting for him. Ron and Hermione went to bed and Harry sat down next to Ginny.
"Where did you three go today?" Ginny asked.

"Meeting with the order at Grimmauld Place. Don't worry you didn't miss anything they just wanted information about what me, Ron and Hermione are up to." Harry told her. Ginny got up out of her own armchair and sat down with Harry in his, burying her head into his chest and closing her eyes.

"Have you attempted to destroy the wand yet." Ginny yawned.

"No, not yet." Harry said now closing his eyes. He felt nothing but relaxation as he sat there with Ginny. It was as if all his problems had faded away and there was nothing in the world but him and her. The fire next to them was slowly burning out making the room darker every second. "We should go up now Gin, or we'll fall asleep right here." Harry said.

"That sounds good to me." Ginny replied lifting her head and looking at Harry. He kissed her gently.

"I love you Ginny." Harry whispered.

"I love you too Harry." Ginny smiled kissing him again and getting up. "Remember your potion." Harry nodded and with one final kiss they both walked slowly up separate staircases. The next morning Harry awoke early and after a few minutes of sitting in the common room in silence he was joined by Hermione who always awoke early anyway.

"Your awake early, I'm guessing you got a good nights sleep last night." Hermione grinned at him. After a few more minutes Aberforth's owl Fallon arrived at the window once again. This time Hermione let him in and untied it from his leg. "I'll go and get Ron shall I?" Without waiting for an answer Hermione turned around and marched up the boy's dormitory stairs. Harry opened the letter and read.

Harry,
I've considered what you said in your last letter and I too would feel better if you three could contact me at anytime. So for now you can keep Fallon and I will use another owl. Don't worry it shouldn't be too difficult for me to get one. About the you know what, try and destroy it as soon as you can. We don't want to risk them coming back for it and succeeding in the attempt. I will be seeing you very soon.
A.D.

Harry looked at Fallon who was perched on the table in front of him. Harry felt calmer that he now could contact Aberforth anytime he needed him. Harry waited and Hermione came back down the stairs, laughing as she sat down. "Ron's just getting dressed and he'll be down."

"What's so funny Hermione?" Harry asked her curiously.

"Remember yesterday when Fred and George were talking about who would get married first." Hermione paused as Harry nodded. "Ron was acting strangely, well…stranger than usual. He thought I expected a proposal. Honestly only Ron could be that stupid." Hermione laughed again and was now joined by Harry's laughter.

"And what did you say?" Harry said grinning.

"I said I did expect one." Hermione said quietly. Harry looked up in shock at Hermione's now serious face.

"Hermione…I mean…marriage. A bit too soon isn't it…you can't expect Ron to …" Harry spluttered trying to get the words out.

"Harry, you should see your face." Hermione smirked. "Of course I don't expect him to propose!"

"That's a cruel joke Hermione." Harry smiled back now handing her Aberforth's letter, which she opened and read. Harry sat back waiting for her to finish and wondering what would happen when they tried to destroy another horcrux that day, now feeling slightly more anxious.