--Chapter Two--
The Order of the Phoenix
Harry had no time to look at whatever Hermione gave him because he was in a hurry, so he just put it in his pocket and continued running towards the Dursleys' house.
When he reached the house, he saw the Dursleys' car so he ran quietly at the backdoor but it was locked. He had no choice but to enter the main door. He opened the door quietly and entered softly so the Dursleys could not hear him. But as Harry took another step, he saw Uncle Vernon's round grumpy face turned red, his temper had risen up in his head.
"Where have you been, filthy little git?!" asked Uncle Vernon whose large protuberant eyes were gazing at him with much anger.
"Sought for some fresh air." said Harry calmly, expecting his Uncle to believe but unfortunately he was not convinced. It just made him looked like a tomato monster because of his red face.
"Don't you dare lie to me, Potter?! I know you're up to something. Where have you been?!" asked Uncle Vernon angrily.
"I've already told you, I—I just sought for fresh air." demanded Harry, looking up at Uncle Vernon's monstrous face and gazing at his Aunt who's unpacking the goods they bought. She turned to Harry for a second then turned away. Harry's expecting for some help but no one dared to.
"Let's see then, boy. Hadn't I told you to stay here and not to leave the house, had I? Why on earth did you leave and air-seeking for some nonsense?" bellowed Uncle Vernon, watching Harry's sweaty face.
"Yes, I—I was told—but—" said Harry but he was interrupted by his Uncle whose face is now half-smiling and said, "So, in other words, you broke my rules."
With a sudden Harry got to his feet and said firmly, "I only did that because—" but before he could finish his sentence he was again interrupted by his Uncle who's almost laughing.
"Because of what? Because of another long lost old man? What did you do, brought him to the place he ought to be? I'm sorry, Potter but this time you haven't prepared a well-rehearsed story." said Uncle Vernon sarcastically.
"Fine, I only did that because I want to have freedom. You know, the thing that everyone deserves, that I didn't even have." mumbled Harry not looking to his Uncle, instead gazing down to his feet.
Uncle Vernon stopped dead, and for a few second he looked at Harry firmly, giving him an arrogant smile and said, "Freedom? I see. You're not yet contented with the little freedom I gave you, eh? With the fact that you were already sneaking out of the house every time we're not around? Piers had just told us what you've done to him last week in the play ground!"
Yeah. I'm not denying it. But you see, I'm not a prisoner!" said Harry clutching his hands as he stare at his Uncle.
"Before." Uncle Vernon blurted out, with his hands on his waist and laughed. He grabbed Harry's arms. Harry had made an unpleasant movement that made Aunt Petunia and Dudley bothered. They watched Harry as Uncle Vernon pulled him up in his room, so they followed.
For a few seconds, Harry was dropped on his bed and the Dursleys were standing near the door with Uncle Vernon in front.
"What are you trying to do?" asked Harry, having a deep breath, as he watched the Dursleys staring up at him.
"Didn't I tell you that bad boys deserved punishments? You are hereby penalized for being one of them." said Uncle Vernon indignantly.
"No. Please, don't do this. It wouldn't be happen again. Please!" said Harry beseechingly gazing up at his Aunt expecting for some help, but Aunt Petunia just gave him a blank expression and mumbled, "I'm sorry Harry, because you know deep down, you deserve to be punished."
"Few moments later, Harry found himself locked up in his room. Windows were sealed by grills. No means of communication can be found. Harry lied down on his bed, tears suddenly filled his eyes. With a split second, Harry remembered that Hermione had given him something before they broke apart. He pulled it in his pocket, hoping it could help. He opened the piece of parchment that says:
Telephone: 62-44-26. Keep in touch, Harry.
Harry had once realized that it was the Grangers' telephone number. Hermione wanted him to call her, but it was useless. All means of communication were banned by Uncle Vernon in Harry's room.
***
It was a large dim-lit room. There were delicate silver instruments stood on the spindle-legged tables, puffing and whirring serenely. The portraits of the headmasters and the headmistresses were snoozing in the frames, heads lolling back in armchairs and against the edge of the pictures. There was a cool line of pale green along the horizon: the break of dawn was approaching.
Albus Dumbledore was striding serenely across the room, wearing midnight-blue robes and a perfectly calm expression. His long silver beard and hair gleamed in the Pensieve as he drew level with a long-limbed pallid faced and pointed nose man wearing black robes, entering the room.
"You wished to see me, Headmaster?" said the pallid faced man, glaring at Dumbledore.
"Yes, yes, Severus. I'd like you to do me a favor, if you will." said Dumbledore flatly. There was a short pause between them and Severus Snape nodded.
"Very well, I want you to inform all the teachers that there will be meeting of the Order at 7 o'clock this evening." said Dumbledore, looking over Snape.
"Would you like me to inform the others as well, Headmaster? How about Horace Slughorn?" snapped Snape, looking serenely at Dumbledore.
"It will be my job." said Dumbledore flatly. He moved forward across Snape and pulled out his wand to cast a spell. Within seconds, a silver phoenix turned up in the midair. Dumbledore whispered to it as it flew away through the window. "I think my Patronus will do for the rest of the Order. Horace knew that there will be a meeting at seven. I informed him yesterday." Dumbledore added, now facing Snape.
Silence fell between them. Snape waited for some additional instructions but Dumbledore didn't add anything more. "Is that all, sir?" added Snape coldly.
"Yes. That would be all, Severus. Thanks." said Dumbledore in a low voice, watching Snape went out of his office, as he put off his half-moon spectacles.
The phoenix patronus traveled through the winding road. The sun had risen before it could reach its first destination: The Burrow.
There was a woman: squat, pale-skinned and red haired, standing in the kitchen, cooking breakfast. Beside her was a tall, wounded faced man wearing a shabby old coat with white shirt inside and jeans, who had probably just arrived minutes ago.
With a precise moment, the door swung open and a silvery smoke of a phoenix sprouted, uttering something: Order's meeting. Seven o'clock this evening. Same place. And the phoenix vanished.
"Ah yes, it's just a month before the start of term." said the woman calmly, putting some toasts on the plates.
"Yeah, I guess Dumbledore will be putting us in mission again." replied the man who was sitting on the bench beside the dining table. "And I think, another Weasley will now set his feet to Hogwarts as well. Where's Ronald, Molly?" added the man calmly.
"Upstairs. They'll be here in a minute, I expect." said Mrs. Weasley delightfully, preparing the table for breakfast. The man sitting beside stood up and help Mrs. Weasley put up the plates on the table.
Suddenly a loud cry was heard from upstairs. "What's that about?" said the man worriedly. Looking up at Mrs. Weasley whose expression did not seem to change. "It's just Ronald, I suppose. Come upstairs, children stuffs!" said Mrs. Weasley irritably as she and the man went up.
They entered the room and saw three red-haired kids. The two of them were twins with both freckles on their faces. The other boy, who supposed to be eleven years old in height, was crying loudly with a giant spider toy in front of him, handling by one of the twins.
Mrs. Weasley moved towards the crying boy and shouted at the twins, "PUT THAT THING OFF TO YOUR BROTHER!" she turned to the man standing beside her and said, "Remus, could you please bring Ron downstairs, I'm afraid he needs some drink before he collapse."
"Uncle Lupin, spider, spider! It's killing me, it's killing me!" cried Ron as Lupin approached him and brought him in the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley was left with the twins upstairs.
"Now, tell me. Where did you get that stupid thing?!" said Mrs. Weasley in a high pitch, eyeing on the twins.
"Dad brought us that. The last time he went into Zonko's Joke Shop." panted one of them.
"So why on earth you two, used that to your brother?" snarled Mrs. Weasley, still looking up closely to the two.
"Well, we're just trying to put off his fear on spiders." said the other one
"Fred, George, you just made it worst!" shouted Mrs. Weasley, her hands were on her waist. "Now, go downstairs and put that thing off to your brother's sight!"
Fred and George went in the kitchen. They saw Ron eating beside Lupin and laughed softly to each other. They sat across Ron and Lupin, both of them picking some toasts.
Moments later, Mrs. Weasley together with a little red-haired girl emerged from the stairs. "Come on, Ginny dear, kiss your Uncle Remus." Said Mrs. Weasley, beaming at Ginny.
"Ginny moved towards Lupin and gave him a kiss. She sat beside Ron, who's now eating a shepherd's pie and got a toast. Mrs. Weasley sat across Ginny, assisting her.
"So Arthur's in the Ministry already?" asked Lupin taking a glass of juice in the table.
"Yeah, I bet he had received Dumbledore's order." panted Mrs. Weasley giving Ginny a piece of bacon and pumpkin juice.
"I've never seen dad arrived last night, and now he's already in the Ministry? Does he still go home?" asked Fred, taking a spoonful of porridge.
"Dad's quite busy now, Fred. Loads of work in the Ministry gave him a difficult time—" uttered Mrs. Weasley softly.
"He's not Fred. I am!" growled George sarcastically, interrupting his mother.
"Honestly, Mum. You call yourself, our mother." said Fred steadily, casting a furtive look at George who's almost laughing.
"Oh, sorry George." said Mrs. Weasley as she turned pink, looking up embarrassed.
The twins laugh hardly. "We're just joking. I'm Fred!" said Fred giving Mrs. Weasley a delightful smile.
"Oh! SHUT UP, the pair of you!" snarled Mrs. Weasley, ignoring Fred and George.
***
It was a very long and splendid hall with a highly polished dark floor. The peacock blue ceiling was inlaid with gleaming golden symbols that kept moving and changing like some enormous heavenly notice board. The walls on each side were paneled in shiny dark wood and had many gilded fireplaces set into them. Every second a witch or a wizard would emerge from one of the left hand fireplaces with a soft whoosh. On the right-hand side, short queues were forming before each fireplace before it departs.
Halfway down the hall was a fountain. A group of golden statues, larger than life-size stood in the middle of a circular pool. Tallest of them was a noble-looking with his wand pointing straight up in the air. Grouped around him were a beautiful witch, a goblin and a house-elf. The last three were all looking adoringly up t the witch and wizard. Glittering jets of water were flying from the ends of their wands, the point of the centaur's arrow, the tip of the goblin's hat and each of the house-elf's ears, so that tinkling hiss of falling water was added to the pops and cracks of the Apparators and the clatter of footsteps as hundreds of witches and wizards, most of whom were wearing glum, early-morning looks, strode towards a set of golden gates at the far end of the hall.
One of them was a tall man with a large stomach but a small face with short red hair entered an office:
Misuse of Muggle Artifacts' Office
Head: Arthur Weasley
He was busy scanning his works when the window in his office swung open: at last the phoenix patronus reached its second destination – The Ministry of Magic. It told Mr. Weasley about the said meeting this evening and the patronus died away in his sight.
"Dumbledore organized a meeting?" he said, thinking deeply and finally remembered, "Ah, yes. Hogwarts' business." And he pulled out his copy of the things needed by Hogwarts students – in any year level – and put it in his pocket for safe-keeping.
As the patronus disappeared from Mr. Weasley's office, it traveled through the hall. It passed through:
Level Seven: Department of Magical Games and Sports – incorporating the British and Irish Quidditch League Headquarters, Official Gobstones Club and Ludicrous Patents Office. Various posters of Quidditch teams tacked lopsidedly on the walls.
Level Six: Department of Magical Transportation – incorporating the Floo Network Authority, Broom Regulatory Control, Portkey Office and Apparition Test Centre. Several paper aeroplanes swooped into the lift. They flapped idly around the wizard's head; they were pale violet color and the 'Ministry of Magic' title stamped along the edge of their wings. Witches and wizards of Wizengamot use them as substitutes for owls, because owls' mess was unbelievable with droppings all over their desks.
Level Five: Department of International Magical Co-operation- incorporating the International Trading Standards Body, the International Magical Office of Law and the International Confederation of Wizards, British Seats. Two of the memos zoomed out with a few more of the witches and wizards, but several more memos zoomed in, so that the light from the lamp flickered and flashed overhead.
Level Four: Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures – incorporating Beast, Being and Spirit Divisions Goblin Liason Office and Pest Advisory Bureau. There was a wizard carrying the fire-breathing chicken and left the lift pursued by a little flock of memos.
Level Three: Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes – including the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad, Obliviator Headquarters and Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee.
The phoenix strode fast, the doors opened and the voice made its announcement:
Level Two: Department of Magical Law Enforcement – including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters and Wizengamot Administration Services.
A lopsided sign on the nearest cubicle read:
Auror Headquarters' Office
Head: Alastor "Mad-eye" Moody
The Aurors had covered their cubicle walls with everything from pictures of wanted wizards and photographs of their families, to posters of their favorite Quidditch Teams and articles from the Daily Prophet.
There were a couple of Aurors in the office. Alastor Moody, who had a long grizzled grey hair and large chunk missing from his nose. One of his eyes was small, dark and beady, the other was large, round, and electric blue – a magical eye that could see through walls, doors, and even at the back of Moody's own head. There also stood a violet-haired young witch, enjoying the changing of her look and hair color transforming from one to another, wearing her violet-pink robes.
"Stop it, Nymphadora." snapped Moody.
"Don't call me Nymphadora." said the woman hastily, as she changed her hair color from turquoise to velvet red impatiently.
"Okay, Tonks." said Moody irritably.
Across them was Kingsley Shacklebolt, the tall black wizard; Elphias Doge, the wheezy-voiced wizard; Dedalus Diggle with his violet-coloured top hat; Emmeline Vance, a stately-loo-king witch in an emerald green shawl inclined in her head; Sturgis Podmore, a jawed wizard with thick straw-coloured hair, and Hestia Jones, a pink-cheeked and black-haired witch.
Suddenly, the door swung open and the phoenix patronus emerged with its bright silvery smoke that almost covered the whole office ceiling as they heard Dumbledore's voice, Order's meeting. Seven o'clock this evening. Same place.
"New stuffs for the Order of the Phoenix, I guess." said Kingsley calmly, getting himself a cup of tea from the office's dining table.
"Yes. Couple of missions." snarled Moody.
***
It was almost seven o'clock in the evening. The Order members arrived by twos and threes, entering their secret meeting headquarters: Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, in London.
Remus Lupin and Mrs. Weasley darted forward in the dark living room and tried to tug the curtains shut over an old woman's painting, but the woman in the painting screeched and screeched louder than ever, brandishing clawed hands as though trying to tear at their faces.
"Filth! Scum! By-products of dirt and vileness! Half-breeds, mutants, freaks, be gone from this place! How dare you befoul the house of my father's –"
"You horrible old hag! Shut up!" roared Lupin, seizing the curtain Mrs. Weasley had abandoned.
"YOU!" howled the woman, her eyes popping at the sight of Lupin. "Filthy Half-breed, abomination, friend of my shameful son!"
"I said— Shut up!" roared Lupin, with a stupendous effort he and Mrs. Weasley managed to force the curtains closed again.
CRASH!
"Tonks!" cried Mrs. Weasley in exasperation, turning to look behind her.
"I'm sorry, Molly!" wailed Tonks, who probably just arrived seconds ago, was lying flat with scattered umbrellas on the floor. "It's that stupid umbrella stand, that's the second time I tripped over—"
But the rest of her words were drowned as Lupin offered his hand at Tonks and helped her get up.
"Just be careful next time." said Lupin flatly, letting go of Tonks who's now standing in front of him with her cheeks turning red.
"Yeah, thanks." replied Tonks, beaming at Lupin.
"Ehem. Let's now get inside, I bet the others are already there." snapped Mrs. Weasley smiling slightly from Lupin to Tonks, as they strode along, entering the meeting room.
Inside were Severus Snape; Minerva McGonagall with her green and black robes; Filius Flitwick, an elf wearing black tuxedo; Horace Slughorn, a large man with spectacles wearing long brown robes; Pomona Sprout, a chubby middle-aged witch wearing her green yellowish ragged robes; Sybill Trelawney, the squib-like witch wearing big round magnified glasses and grungy dress robes; Rubeus Hagrid, a half-giant with scratches on his mustached face in his ragged old robes; Alastor Moody; Dedalus Diggle; Elphias Doge; Sturgis Podmore; Emmeline Vance; Hestia Jones; and standing in front was the head of the Order of the Phoenix – Albus Dumbledore.
"Good Evening." said Mrs. Weasley in a low voice gazing up at Dumbledore and the others as Lupin and Tonks joined them, "Arthur isn't here yet?" she added, taking her seat beside Tonks.
"Arthur and Kingsley are fetching Mundungus. Not informed about the meeting. They'll be here in a bit." said Dumbledore calmly, looking at Mrs. Weasley.
They waited for minutes and suddenly the door in the room gave a loud bang and Mr. Weasley and Kingsley, together with a long black-haired man with bruised skin, wearing old ragged robes entered.
"Mundungus, bit late." said Dumbledore flatly. "How are you?" he added.
There was a long pause in the room. No one dared to speak; their eyes were focused on Mundungus and Dumbledore. Suddenly, Mundungus gave Dumbledore a wide smile, and said in a low cold voice, "I'm fine, an' i's good 'o see you 'ere."
"Precisely. But as far as I'm aware, I have sent a patronus in Hogs Head so you'll know about this meeting. But as I can see, you were not informed." said Dumbledore quietly but clearly.
Mundungus didn't speak but his smile did not fade. Silence fell again and suddenly, Mr. Weasley muttered, "Dung had been in Knockturn Alley. Drunk. I supposed he drank lots of butterbeers in Hogs Head before he went there."
"And that's the reason why we're late." Kingsley added in an unpleasant tone while glaring at Mundungus.
"I think that's enough now, Kingsley." Dumbledore interrupted with his calm expression, barely moving his half-moon spectacles and turned to everyone who are now gather in a long rectangular table, seriously facing each other as though they are now ready to listen. "Well, it seems everybody is here. So, can we start?" Dumbledore continued.
Within the ringing silence, all of them nodded enthusiastically except Mundungus, who's now apparently leaning slowly on the table probably due from his drunken condition. But Severus Snape who's sitting beside him, stared badly bothered and gave a strong quiet nudge which let Mundungus screamed. "Ouch! Why?"
"Why?!" Snape said sarcastically, still looking steadily at him, making himself perfectly aware that he's on a meeting as everyone stayed calm and silent.
"Oh! Alrigh' m'sorry." Mundungus said without looking to anyone and just focused his eyes on the ground.
But Dumbledore just gave him a slightly grin and ignored him at once.
"Now, members of the Order of the Phoenix, I assumed that you were all aware why you're here." Dumbledore said
Mr. Weasley, who was sitting across Dumbledore, took a deep breath and muttered, "Missions."
"Quite clever, Arthur." Dumbledore replied, "And I expect that you'd brought the list I intended you to bring?"
"Yes, here." Mr. Weasley turned out his pocket and handed the rolled piece of parchment he had got from his office to Dumbledore.
"Very well. Thank you Arthur." Dumbledore said as he made a glance and checked every line written on the parchment. "It's just a month before the start of term, and I want some of you to be part of this month-long preparation, while the others will be stationed to Azkaban, and the remaining ones will be focusing on some Ministry matters."
Dumbledore made a short pause expecting someone to react about what he said. But no one dared to interrupt him; instead they seem to be more serious and waited for Dumbledore to continue his words.
"Now, regarding the Ministry matter, our Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge had just told me that he would need three Aurors to go with him in Bulgaria for the upcoming Quidditch World Cup next year as he meets up with Igor Karkaroff, the High Master of Durmstrang Wizarding School."
"Blimey! Bulgaria." For the first time, Tonks had broken the silence with her surprised scream. "Well, Headmaster, I think I should go for it." She said eagerly, almost standing on her seat.
At this juncture, Dumbledore remembered that Tonks would really love to go because of being a great fan of the 'Weird Sisters' of Bulgaria. But he just managed to give it a laugh.
"Oh, Nymphadora, I'm glad you're willing to go, but I'm afraid it's not my plan for you." Dumbledore said. "'Cause I decided that Sturgis, Elphias and Emmeline should do it."
"Right then." Sturgis said giving Dumbledore a proud and confident look, tapping Elphias and Emmeline gradually at their shoulders. "Just leave it to us."
Tonks shared an envied look as Dumbledore gazed up, until she whispered, "Alright."
"Another Ministry matter," Dumbledore continued, getting another piece of parchment and pulled out a quill from the table. Everyone seemed so eager to know what was he writing, that made the movement of his quill the only sound to be heard within the dark dim-lit room. "Cornelius had also requested me to find someone who would look after and serve as guard to the muggle Prime Minister."
"Yeah. He had also told me about that." Moody said in an undertone. "But since all Aurors have their own guarding stations, it's hard for me to just appoint someone out there."
"I had also thought about that, Alastor, that's why I decided to choose someone who's not an Auror, yet I know, have knowledge and very good enough to be."
Dumbledore had dropped down his quill, hold the old parchment and handed it over to Lupin, who looked rather surprised as he read it.
"Me?" said Lupin nervously as he turned to look up on her sister, Molly, who seemed to be very pleased grabbing the parchment from Lupin.
"Oh, Remus! This is wonderful." said Mrs. Weasley delightfully.
"Wait—Headmaster, but—are you sure about this? Why me?"
"Of course, Remus. No other better, knowing that you're supposed to be an Auror." said Dumbledore firmly. "and that letter will testify Cornelius that I'm hereby appointing you to be the guard of the muggle Prime Minister.
"Good job for you, Remus." said Mr. Weasley, beaming at him as Lupin replied with a small smile.
"And that would be enough for the Ministry matters." Dumbledore said. "Let's proceed to the Azkaban stuff."
"Is there something to do about Black?" Kingsley asked sharply, staring from Lupin to Dumbledore.
"Precisely, Kingsley." Dumbledore replied flatly.
"What? I—I mean wha' abou' 'im?" Mundungus had made a ridiculous movement, as though he spoke for the first time seriously, looking bewildered. "He's a crim'nal!"
"You're taking another ridiculous line on this, Dung. Of course not. We all know that Sirius is innocent ever since." Lupin muttered hastily.
"You're jus' sayin' tha' coz he's you' friend!" roared Mundungus, standing up from his seat, as he glared badly at Lupin.
"Mundungus, it's not the time for us to talk about that." Moody interrupted, "and will you please take your seat? Or else I'll gonna knock you out."
Mundungus, had made a little screram and cast a scary look on Moody, as Moody continued to narrow his eyes on him.
"Thank you, Alastor." Dumbledore said as he started his next words. "We know that Sirius was accused and locked up to Azkaban, almost ten years ago, and being a known member of the Order ever since, I would like to double the security on his chamber, for his safety."
"But that's impossible, Headmaster. There are so many Dementors surrounding his chamber, and no one will have the chance to get even near him." Kingsley muttered. "Even the Aurors who were stationed there are just patrolling the corridors, entrances, and exits."
"Yeah, and the rest of the whole prison were guarded by the Dementors." Tonks added, giving Kingsley an approval nod.
"As far as I know, the Aurors can patrol near the corridors." Dumbledore said, turning back his eyes on Moody. "If only their Head in the Ministry will allow them."
"But—that's—" Moody snapped clutching his hands.
"Alastor, I'm not letting the Aurors to be the ones who will guard each chamber. I just want them to be able to see and check the prisoners, especially Sirius who's not supposed to be there."
There was a long pause.
"Okay. Being the Head of the Auror Department, I'm now allowing it. Effective today." Moody said steadily glancing up to his co-Aurors.
"Very well said Alastor. Thank you." said Dumbledore. "But I've received an intelligence that it's only Nymphadora who's an Order member that is stationed in Azkaban."
"I've got your point again, Albus. Don't worry, I'll be appointing Kingsley to be with her." said Moody.
"But I would be requesting you for to give another one for Kingsley to have his companion." said Dumbledore pleasantly.
Moody didn't understand what Dumbledore meant, knowing that Tonks is already there to be with Kingsley.
"What?—But I'm already—" Tonks broke up.
"Okay. Hestia will do." said Moody, ignoring Tonks, even though he still don't get what Dumbledore supposed to mean.
"Good. And I think that would be all for this stuff."
Dumbledore had grabbed again the rolled parchment which Mr. Weasley gave him a while ago.
"And now, Hogwarts business." Dumbledore said, as he put his attention on the Hogwarts professors.