Chapter 15
I had been hoping to go back to the Burrow. I had planned to go in smiling at everyone around me, say how lovely the Montagues had been, how polite their guest, who would remain unnamed, had been. What I had been doing during my stay: which would include walks around the garden, Quidditch in the stadium etc. I couldn't tell them the whole truth.
Harry and myself had been living with the Weasleys permanently since after our first year. We were just another two in the huge Weasley brood. We were loved by everyone, a feeling I was used to - having grown up with loving parents. However, Harry had not been so fortunate and had been sent to our evil aunt and uncle's house. The Dursley's had treated him badly and, before his entry to the wizarding world, he had not known family love.
However, instead of setting on upstairs to the room I unfortunately shared with Ginny, I was instructed to finish packing my belongings with Molly's help and put them in a large rucksack. Apparently the entire family had relocated for safety reasons.
We were done within half an hour. Molly, who I had begun to know as 'mum', had shrunk my belongings so they all fitted in the bag. Then, leading me downstairs, she turned to me and handed me a note from within her robes.
It read I The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld place, London. The flow address is: The most Noble and Ancient House of Black. /I I stared at it, not recognizing it.
"Go on love," mum reassured me, handing me a handful of flow powder as she did so, "I'll follow you."
I nodded before throwing the powder into the red flames in the large fireplace, they instantly became green, "The most Noble and Ancient House of Black," I instructed, stepping into the flames. They began to lick against my skin as I spun into the network of chimneys.
When I stepped out of the fire I felt slightly dizzy. After a few moments, when the room finally came into focus, I noticed I was in a small room. It looked reasonably clean but was void of any furniture. I waited only a few minutes more before my foster mum came through. She then turned and did some complicated spell work over the fireplace,
"Blocks it off to unwanted visitors," she explained hushly, "follow me."
I followed her out the door and down a short hallway, "there's an Order meeting going on at the moment," she explained hurriedly, her eyes darting towards another door, "the others are upstairs."
I nodded before turning to my right and following the stairs into the higher levels of the house.
My ears could pick up the faint sounds of whisperings from one of the rooms, deciding it must be them, I knocked on the door before pushing it open.
"Hi guys," I greeted, smiling at Hermione, Ron, Harry and the twins, "how are you all?"
They all sat in silence for a few moments, I had a funny feeling their previous conversation had been about me. However, Hermione broke the sober mood by walking over and giving me a hug,
"Hello Hun," she replied, "How was Montague's?"
I smiled politely, "It was brilliant. His parents were so nice! They have the largest library that I have ever seen! Last night they hosted a ball in honour of my birthday!"
It had been a truly amazing evening, though I had turned in early so I could pack. Montague had brought me the most wonderful black sparkly ball gown and we had danced the night away.
"So did you meet any Death Eaters?" snarled Ron.
That was quite out of character for him, we usually got on really well, "No Ron," I lied, "Of course not. The Grey's are respectable wizarding nobility. They wouldn't get involved in such things!"
"So Montague isn't lined up to be a Death Eater then?" questioned Harry, looking uncomfortable.
I hated lying to my twin, but my real mother - Lily - had told me to follow my heart, "No Harry! I'm offended you'd say such a thing! They murdered our parents!"
He nodded and muttered an embarrassed apology before hugging me. The air, once again, froze into a tense silence.
"Where is this place?" I asked the twins, who had remained silent, curiously.
"The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, it's an organisation that worked during the first war to overthrow Voldermort. Dumbledore revived it after the rebirth," explained Fred.
"They always have these secret meetings down in the dining/kitchen room. We're not allowed to attend because we're still at school," continued George.
"But we've invented an earpiece that allows us to hear what's going on!" exclaimed Fred excitedly, "They're all planning on protecting something, not sure what yet. Even Professor Snape's involved."
At this point I brightened up, I liked that man, "is he here now? Do you recon he'd have time to check over my potions essay?"
The room shot me a strange look, "Can't believe our foster sister made Slytherin, O the shame!" announced Fred, 'fainting' into his twin's outstretched arms.
"Kids!" Shouted Molly from downstairs, "Dinner!"
Everyone forgot the conversation, concentrating instead on our empty stomachs. I hadn't eaten for hours! When we reached the bottom of the steps I spotted Professor Snape in the crowd of people mulling around the front door.
"Hi Professor!" I greeted when he spotted me.
He seemed to freeze for a moment, I looked at him in confusion for a second as he beckoned for me to follow him into a side room. I nodded and slipped inside the small space as he carefully shut the door behind us.
"I know what you got up to at the Grey's house and I know that Montague has taken the Dark Mark," hissed Snape.
I flushed red from embarrassment and my palms became sweaty, what would he do?
"I assume you have not told anyone of this?" I shook my head, "good. Then we must use this to our advantage. Only myself and Dumbledore know of this…"
"Dumbledore knows!" I exclaimed, I was really in deep cauldron sludge now.
"Of course he does!" hissed my head of house, "but we can use this to our advantage. I understand that you have informed Voldermort that you have no intention of fighting for his cause?" I nodded again, "well then, though I am shocked you survived that encounter, I believe he still thinks he can persuade you. Especially with your romantic involvement with Mr Grey."
"What shall I do, Sir?" I asked, "I'm not breaking my relationship with Montague, but I don't want to get recruited by Voldermort either."
"Has he been looking into your mind?" I shook my head, my memories had remained completely private.
He looked thoughtful for a second as he whipped out his wand, "Legimens," he hissed.
Nothing happened.
"You can naturally barricade your mind," he whispered in disbelief, "that's very rare, however, as I will not have any time to teach you, this will prove very useful. You instructions are to remain within this building until you receive instructions from Dumbledore or myself. These will remain private, the rest of the Order and your friends must not know. However, I recommend your normal regular correspondence with Montague, but inform him you have been 'dragged off to Romania' to see your elder brother Charlie. That will remove suspicions as to why the entire family has disappeared. "
I nodded, I obviously had no choice in the matter. Finally the inevitable had happened, my life had been taken out of my own hands.
We both froze when someone burst through the door. It was my Godfather,
"We'd thought you'd both died or something," he muttered, "I was sent in to rescue my goddaughter."
"Black," I hissed angrily, "I haven't heard a word from you all year, though Harry has, I don't need your protection. I've coped just fine without you." With that I stormed past a gob smacked Sirius Black and a slightly shocked Severus Snape.
A/N: How's it going? Like it? Hate it? Love it?
TBC…..