Chapter Thirty-Six.
The Orders Decision.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were all seated in Mcgonagall's office around a table that had been made bigger by magic. There were five more chairs around the table for Lupin, Mcgonagall, Hagrid and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Harry had agreed that those were the order members he trusted most and wanted them all there. After waiting for less than a few minutes Mcgonagall returned with the others. All of them were looking curiously at the four teenagers as they walked in and took their seats. Ginny immediately rose out of her seat as she saw her parents and Mrs. Weasley hugged them one by one.

"This had better be good Potter." Mcgonagall said from opposite Harry with a slight frown as she looked over her glasses. When Harry had arrived at the office, he had not told Mcgonagall much at all, other than he needed to speak with certain order members as soon as possible, and that it was important. Knowing Ron and Hermione were there to back him up all the way, Harry began to speak.

"Now I can't go into full detail of why I'm going to ask you to do what I'm about to ask you. But just one thing I ask of all of you, and that's to trust me. Not just me, Ron, Hermione and Ginny too." Harry cleared his throat and felt Ginny's hand gently touch his shoulder as if urging him to go on.

"Just one thing. Why should we do anything that you ask of us if you can't even trust us with full information of why?" Lupin said.

"Let the boy speak. Carry on 'arry." Hagrid made a hand gesture as if telling Harry to continue and Harry gave him a slight appreciative smile.

"Since last summer, with the help of Ron and Hermione… even Ginny. I've been carrying on Dumbledore's work of destroying Voldemort, I couldn't tell any of you about it because I made a promise not to. But I feel maybe now it's the time to tell you more." Harry paused again.

"Harry, you're changing your mind about telling the order?" Hermione asked surprised.

"Not exactly. The fact is, Dumbledore's gone, and I think he would support the fact I have to make my own decisions. Anyway… before, Voldemort could not be destroyed even if we sent a thousand killing curses at him. It doesn't matter how, what matters is we've been breaking him down piece by piece and now we need to destroy the last one before we can get to him." Harry had just realised that never had people been paying so much attention to his words before. He turned to Hermione. "Well, this is your plan. Go ahead."

"Me?" Hermione looked rather flustered but nonetheless sat up straight in her chair and placed her hands onto the table. She repeated her plan just as she had told Harry and Ron but with no interruptions from the order as they listened carefully. "… So basically all we need to do is destroy the snake first. But…I'm afraid killing Voldemort is Harry's job." Hermione glanced at Harry apologetically.

"Harry's job?" Mrs. Weasley repeated now looking alarmed.

"The prophecy. I heard it in Dumbledore's office and I'm the one who has to do it." Harry said dully, deciding that the order would need to know this but not looking forward to there reactions.

"So you are the chosen one? Merlin's beard." Mr. Weasley said with his mouth wide open in astonishment.

"That's an awful burden on a teenage boy." Mcgonagall finally spoke.

"Well, I've handled it ok so far haven't I?" Harry said now feeling rather annoyed they were once again acting like he was just a child.

"That's why you knew the killing curse." Lupin stated thoughtfully.

"Look, I know I'm asking a hell of a lot of all of you. To risk your lives in a battle we will most likely lose. But it's the only way. We need that snake before I can even try to finish off Voldemort." Harry said frustrated. "And well, if you don't want to do it, I understand. I'll go alone I want this over. There's no point waiting around for nothing while he's off killing every muggle that exists. We may not have much of a chance but I know we have to try."

"Yes Potter you are asking a lot from us. We can't say we understand why the snake is so important, but if you're sure then we have no choice but to trust you. Don't think you're the only one who wants this over with. I'll call a meeting with the order tonight to discuss it. As you know, if we don't have full support from everyone, it will be useless even trying to go into a full on battle which yes, doesn't look promising considering the new circumstances." Mcgonagall now had a fixed frown on her face as she spoke.

"And we won't be able to inform anyone that can't be trusted either. If it get's back to Voldemort were planning a full on attack on him. He might decide to get us before we can prepare." Lupin said.

"Er professor what do you mean by… new circumstances?" Hermione asked uneasily sounding as if she didn't want to hear the answer to the question she just asked.

"Remember Aragog the spider in the forest that died last year. His children have been getting restless, not able to find food as easy. They turned against Hagrid, he can't even go anywhere near that part of the forest anymore." Mr. Weasley informed them as Hagrid gave a light sniff.

"Yeah, Hagrid told us before. But what does that have to do with this?" Ron said bewildered.

"Noticed the forest bein a lo' quieter didn' I. Spiders 'ad all gon' " Hagrid banged his fist on the table angrily and the whole thing shook as Mrs. Weasley patted him on the arm.

"We guess Voldemort is trying to get as many people or creatures on side as possible. Let's just say I bet he feeds them spiders well." Lupin shook his head regretfully.

"Wait a second. Voldemort has got them on side?" Ron whispered looking extremely worried.

"That's right Weasley. Now, we must get to Grimmauld place. The rest of the order will be meeting us there. As soon as we have a verdict, an owl will be sent to you in the common room." Everyone stood up from there seats and Harry made his way back up the staircase with the others. Ron had not said a word since they had left the office, and Harry had the feeling he couldn't take his mind of what they had just been told about the spiders. Even if the order agreed, how would they ever win now?

"He knew about my fear of them didn't he? When they took me that is. He realised spiders could be a good weapon." Ron shuddered looking around as if one was about to jump out at him at any second.

"Don't be stupid Ronald." Ginny said rolling her eyes. The four of them waited in the common room, Hermione read a book while Ron seemed to feel better after eating a lot of chocolate frogs. Harry couldn't bring himself to do anything. He felt tense awaiting the response from the order and he could feel Ginny watching him closely.

"Harry look!" Hermione exclaimed suddenly, making him jump as an owl flew towards them and she unraveled the letter quickly. Her face was full of anticipation.

"Well?" Harry said impatiently trying to read Hermione's expression as she read the small piece of parchment in her hands. After a few seconds she looked up wide-eyed and taken aback.

"They agreed."