Chapter Sixteen

Arcas was sitting in the sitting room of his quarters, talking to his mother, when an owl flew into the window, making quite a bang and scaring Nebi into crying.

"What on earth was that noise?" A scruffy looking Charlie asked, yawning widely as he walked out of the room he shared with Arcas and went to pick up Nebi, settling him down.

"An owl just flew into the window." Arcas said looking at the window with amusement.

"What?" Charlie asked, yawning and scratching the back of his neck.

"I said—"

"I know what you said, I just didn't quite believe it." Charlie interrupted before Harry could repeat himself. Harry shrugged and went back to playing with Nebi.

"Shouldn't someone let it in then?" Altair asked, looking up from the newspaper he was reading.

"Oh for the love of—" Callista stood up from her seat on the sofa and walked over to the window, passing a still somewhat confused and sleepy Charlie.

Callista opened the window and held out her arm for a small owl to hop onto. Attached to it's leg was a letter with familiar script on it. Taking the letter from the owl, the owl hooted cheerfully at her then flew back out of the window.

"Who's the letter from?"

"B."

"B? Who's B?" Arcas asked, looking up from Nebi.

"Our eyes and ears within Voldemort's troops."

"Ooh, what does he have to say?" Altair asked, sitting up and looking at Callista eagerly.

"It says—oh no."

"What?" Charlie asked, sitting down next to Arcas and ruffling Nebi's hair.

"It would seem Voldemort has taken an interest in Nebi."

"What?! Why?" Arcas asked, hugging the little werepanther close to his chest and almost smothering the child if Charlie hadn't gently tugged him away from Arcas. No one noticed the rat ran to hide underneath the chair nearest the portrait entrance.

"I have no idea why."

"He might know who you were." Charlie muttered, calming down a whimpering Nebi.

"What? Why would he care who I am?"

"You were Harry Potter. He is quite pivotal in this war, or so many think. Voldemort is one of those many." Charlie told him.

"But I'm not Harry Potter anymore."

"Doesn't seem to matter to Voldemort."

"What do we do?"

"There isn't much we can do except not leave Nebi alone, which is what we are doing anyway. Don't worry Arcas, I doubt Voldemort has anything planned." Callista soothed.

"Right then! Who wants breakfast?" Altair asked, jumping up from his seat.

"I'm staying here with Nebi." Arcas said, holding onto Nebi's stuffed dragon.

"I'll stay with Arcas and Nebi." Charlie said, holding Nebi close to him.

"Fair enough, I'm going down and maybe take some bread to Deneb." Altair said with a smirk, getting a chuckle from everyone else in the room.

"Well I'm coming down to Breakfast with you." Vega said, standing from her chair and stretching. "Come on."

"See you four in a bit. Arcas you are teaching later right?"

"Yes. I can't ignore my duties. Plus Charlie and mum will be here with Nebi."

"Okay. Will it be okay to tell Deneb to come on up to visit? I think he's getting bored being a swan."

"Sure, I have a free period first thing anyway."

The stars nodded and then left the room, once again not noticing the rat that ran out of the room with them.

--

Peter scurried through the hallways of Hogwarts, sticking to the shadows and alcoves, all too aware of Remus Lupin residing within those very walls.

He stopped and watched as Dumbledore hurried past him towards the Great Hall, followed closely by McGonagall.

"Headmaster, when are you going to call another Order meeting, it has been quite a while now since the last."

"I was letting them calm down about the whole Shaklebolt mess before calling a meeting."

"Well I think you need to call one soon. I know some members have some things they want to say."

"In that case my dear, I shall make sure that I will call one as soon as is possible. I also have a meeting with the Minister. He has some questions about the war and Harry Potter."

"Headmaster, when are you going to call the poor boy by his name? He is older than even you and yet you treat him like he is younger than a first year."

"My dear, that boy has to learn his place in this war and this world. I am just one trying to get him to see this."

Peter twitched when Dumbledore seemed to look towards his hiding place, and then let out a sigh when the two teachers carried on walking, soon out of hearing range for Peter.

After sitting in a shadow for a couple of minutes to ensure that the two teachers had indeed left and then carried on his journey out of the school and to his master.

--

"Where is young Mr Orsini this morning?" Dumbledore asked, leaning over to talk to Altair.

"He's hardly young. He's in his room anyway, he wanted to have breakfast with his family.

"Will he be teaching today, do you know?"

"He said he would be." Vega said vaguely.

"Will you two be teaching with him?"

"No, I don't think so. He hasn't got as far back as we remember, yet. He has no need for us in his classroom."

"Well it has been lovely talking to you Headmaster, but we have a swan to feed. You know how it is." Altair said, grabbing some bread and then standing and walking out of the hall, Vega following closely behind him.

--

"Wormtail! What did you find out?"

"M—my lord, I have found out where they keep the child."

"Where?"

"In their quarters, the child is not to be seen by any of the rest of the school, especially the students."

"Do the students know about the child?"

"It is my belief that they do my lord.

"What else have you learnt?"

"I know where the rooms are, so I can lead whoever it is you decide to take the child."

"Very good Wormtail."

"My lord. There is one more thing." Wormtail said, looking around the empty room nervously.

"What is that?"

"You have a spy, My Lord."

"What?"

"A spy. The Stars know of your plans regarding the child."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that we will have to be even more careful with regards to taking the child."

"Did you find out who the spy is?"

"No my lord, they didn't say a name."

"Did they give any clue?"

"All they gave was a letter my lord."

"And what letter was that?" Voldemort asked through clenched teeth.

"B. My lord." Pettigrew stated quickly, noting the way Voldemort seemed to be stroking his wand.

"B? Is there anyone you think it may be?"

"My Lord, Severus is very close to Dumbledore. He is suspicious."

"Indeed, you are right. Well done for bringing me this news Pettigrew."

"Thank you My Lord."

"You may leave me now Pettigrew."

"Yes My Lord."

"Oh and Pettigrew?" Peter stoped and tensed, knowing what was coming next.

"Yes My Lord?"

"Crucio!"

--

"So then Deneb, excited about seeing little Nebi?" Vega asked, walking next to the tall white and brown haired, blue eyes male.

"Yep! Come on! I haven't seen little Arcas for ages!"

"He's not so little anymore, having a mate and a child now. He's certainly ahead of you, mature Star wise." Altair pointed out.

"I have a mate."

"And yet you haven't cut your hair yet."

"So we're taking things slowly!"

"A century is more than a little slow." Altair said, nudging Deneb with his elbow.

"Let's go find Arcas."

"Fine, fine. Do you know how things are going?"

"No. Alrisha's mate, Sebastian, is with the elves, so Ev' has no need to be with them. He's staying in the constellation. Though, like the other mates, he has stated that he will come down once the place final battle has been stated." Deneb told them.

"We all know it will be here. Why both waiting?"

"We are waiting for Voldemort to choose. I heard that the vampires had chosen Voldemort's side."

"No. Not all of them. Only a few. Most of those supposedly on his side, are in fact on ours. Nero is one of them." Altair told them.

"Cool. So they will turn on his in battle?"

"Yes, they're also discreetly turning some of his followers to use as cannon fodder. Not all of them though. No need to make him suspicious."

"Do you have any clue as to who Callista's spy is?"

"Not a clue. I think he's the mate of another star."

"How'd you get that?"

"Who else would be this loyal to the stars?"

"True."

--

"So then Deneb, how are things with you and Ev doing?" Arcas asked, looking at Deneb who was sitting across from him, next to Callista.

"Why does everyone want to know about my relationship?"

"Maybe because you still have brown hair even after having been mated for over a century." Callista deadpanned.

"Well, maybe I like my brown hair."

"Doubt it." Vega muttered, getting a glare for her efforts.

"Anyway. How is the war effort going on?"

"Actually, I don't know if Altair told you about the Vampires."

"Yes, we know about them. Anything else, Dragons have joined us. Do you know whether or not the Centaurs have joined us?" Callista asked, looking at Deneb.

"Well Equuleus and Menes tried to get them to join, but it would seem they have decided to stay out of this war, which is fair enough. What have the humans ever done for them?"

"What have the humans done for any of the species fighting this war? Hopefully it will change the views humans have about some of these species."

"So do we have a clue as to where the final battle will be held?"

"Here." Callista stated sharply, glancing at Arcas.

"Why here? There are children here? Shouldn't it be somewhere safer for them?"

"He will come here because he wants you Arcas."

"Do you want me to go out and tell the others this?"

"Both you and Altair actually. Split who you are going to tell up and tell them to be prepared."

"Do you know when it will take place?" Altair asked, standing up with Deneb.

"Not exactly, but it will be soon. In fact, actually, I may have an idea to move it away from here."

"Where though?"

"What if we hit him first? That way, we can decide where the battle will take place."

"Where if not here?"

"Arcas is right, there are children here. Tell them to be ready by the end of the week. We're moving this war up."

"Where though?"

"Riddle Manor of course."

--

"My followers! I have been informed that there is a spy within these ranks! Tell me where is Barty Crouch?"

"My Lord. No one knows where he is. He disappeared earlier today." A Death Eater told him, kneeling in front of him. Voldemort scowled and then looked around him at the rest of the Death Eaters.

"No matter. However, there is still the worry that the spy may be one of you! So tell me, Severussss, ssstep forwardsss." Voldemort hissed, anger making his speech even more snakelike.

"Yes my lord?" Severus knelt in front of Voldemort, holding his head up high.

"It has come to my attention that you might be the spy. What do you say to this?"

"My lord, this is not true. I have shown nothing but loyalty to you."

"This is true. However, I want to be sure."

"Of course my lord."

"I have a task to show your loyalty to me."

"Anything my lord."

"I want you to kidnap the Stars child."

"Yes milord."

"You have until the end of the week, work with Wormtail to kidnap the brat."

"Yes My Lord."

"That is all. You are all dismissed. And Severus?"

"Yes My Lord?"

"Crucio!" Voldemort held the curse for a couple a minutes before dropping it, looking at the now panting Potions master. "Don't fail me."

--

"Order! I call this meeting to order!" McGonagall looked at those gathered, once more without Dumbledore to head the meeting.

"Why are we meeting?" Percy asked, getting nods from around him.

"I thought I should just warn you that, first, the Stars have replied. They have given us their support in this war. In fact they have told Sirius of their plans. Sirius?"

"Yes, um... they are upping the stakes. The war will be over by the end of the week." This was followed by an uproar of voices all talking at once.

"Quiet! Silence!! Order!!!" McGonagall shouted, sitting back down once everyone had quietened and were now looking at her in shock. " Thank you. Now, Sirius, if you would continue?"

"Yes, as I was saying, the Stars have made plans to end the war by the end of the week. This is because You Know Who has shown an interest in someone on their side. They have decided to hit before You Know Who does."

"Have they said where they will be hittin?" Mundungus asked, looking somewhat sceptical.

"Yes. They said they would be hitting Riddle Manor. You Know Who's headquarters." Once again this brought about an uproar with the other members.

"Order! Thank you." McGonagall looked at the members in front of her. "There is nothing we can do about this. The Stars have a much larger force on their side. Now. One other matter I have brought you here for is Dumbledore. What are we going to do with him?"

--

A/N – Well that's another chapter done... Things are now moving up. In fact, I think there is only another chapter or two left. For those who read my other fics, you know I'm not a very good writer of long stories... I think if this went on much longer than I have planned, that it will start to get boring. Plus I have ADD and get bored with too long stories! Lol! Sorry to those who wanted something longer! Please do review though and don't hate me!!