Getting Answers

Dinner was a pleasant meal.

At Ron and Hermione's request, I told them of what had happened the night I left the Dursleys and how I was living with Cedric for two weeks. Ron said it was brilliant, Hermione was just glad I had someone of age to protect me. Everyone else had different reactions. When dinner ended, I cleared my throat and looked at Sirius.

"Yes, Helena, your answers as I promised," said Sirius.

"Sirius, you really mustn't—" Mrs. Weasley began, but Sirius cut her off.

"Molly, we agreed to tell them everything if they agreed to come here! No, wait, I correct myself. We—minus you and Dumbledore—agreed that they've earned the truth and are old enough to handle it," said Sirius, sternly. "Considering how we've been treating them, it's a wonder they even came here at all! Frankly, I wouldn't have blamed them if they had chosen to refuse our invitation in the first place!"

"Sirius," I said, warningly, not wanting a fight. "Can we please just not fight for once? Can we get on with this? What is going on?"

"Have you two been getting the Daily Prophet?" asked Moody.

"No, we quit reading it last year after Skeeter's articles got printed. Why?" asked Cedric.

Sirius handed us today's issue of the Daily Prophet. The headline read, Helena Potter, the Girl Who Lies? Cedric Diggory, Possible Paramour of Potter and Her Partner In Crime. "What is this rubbish?" I demanded.

"Fudge is using all his power to discredit you and Cedric and Dumbledore as well," said Sirius. "After the Third Task, Fudge fell under the belief that Dumbledore is after his job."

"That's insane," said Cedric. "Dumbledore's not on my best friends list, but for heaven's sake, no one in their right mind would think Dumbledore wants Fudge's job."

"That's just it, Fudge isn't in his right mind," said Lupin. "He's been twisted and warped by fear. Now fear makes people do terrible things. The last time Voldemort gained power he almost destroyed everything we hold most dear. Now he's returned and I'm afraid the Minister will do almost anything to avoid facing that."

"Even becoming blind to the truth," I said, angrily. "But how could he? How could he really just make everyone think Cedric and I went to Tartarus and back out of our own free will and we're just liars?"

"He's scared, Helena," said Sirius. "It's no excuse, but true nonetheless."

"So, do you have any idea of what Voldemort's up to now, besides trying to murder Helena?" asked Cedric.

"We think that Voldemort wants to build up his army again," said Sirius. "Fourteen years ago he had huge numbers at his command. Not just witches and wizards but all manner of dark creatures. He's been recruiting heavily and we've been attempting to do the same. But gathering followers isn't the only thing he's interested in. We think he's after something he didn't have last time, something dangerous."

"What, like a weapon?" I asked.

"Possibly, but we're not sure," said Lupin. "We just know that its in the Department of Mysteries. But the problem is, there are countless things in there and none of us have access to that department."

"Now, as the two of you were the ones to see Voldemort come back, we're going to let you be a part of the Order. You can fight, but only of your choice. We won't make you," said Sirius.

"Thank you, but there isn't any choice," I said. "If Voldemort's building an army, then I'm going to fight."

"Same here," said Cedric. "No one gets to do what they did to us last June and get away with it. Voldemort has to be stopped."

Sirius smiled. "There you have it."

"What else is going on?" I asked. "Do some people believe us?"

"Some, but not all," said Mr. Weasley. "Some who read the Daily Prophet on a regular basis believe Fudge's words and chose to stand with the Ministry. Percy, for one."

I stared. "Percy? You've got to be kidding."

"I'm not," said Mr. Weasley, as Mrs. Weasley's eyes reddened with tears. "After last June, he got a promotion from Fudge, a special one for someone with just one year out of school, Junior Assistant to the Minister. He came home, expecting us to be all happy, except we weren't."

"Why?" asked Cedric.

"Because of Dumbledore," said Ron. "Dumbledore's name is mud with the Ministry these days. Fudge's made it clear that anyone still in league with Dumbledore can clear out their desks. Dumbledore's lost his position in the Wizengamot, half the respect of the Wizarding World, and his Order of Merlin First Class."

I didn't reply. I felt a bit of pity for Dumbledore, but then I remembered he didn't care about power, so that feeling was lost.

"So, how does Percy fit in this?" asked Cedric.

"We think Percy only got the job so he could spy on us and Dumbledore," said Sirius. "That was when the fighting started."

"Percy said a lot of horrible stuff. He said he'd had to deal with Dad's reputation ever since he joined the Ministry, and it was because of Dad's lack of ambition that we'd never had much money," said George.

My hand clenched into a fist. Percy had been my least favorite of the Weasleys, but to say all that to his father was just crossing the line. Ginny also looked furious as well as I asked, "What else happened?"

"He said Dumbledore was an old fool, you two were crazy and if we were going to stand with you and Dumbledore, then Percy was going to make sure everyone knew where his true loyalties lay—with the Ministry—and that he didn't belong to our family anymore," said Bill. "He packed up his things and moved into a flat in London that same night."

"I'm sorry," I said.

"It wasn't your fault. Percy's made it clear where his loyalties lie," said Mr. Weasley. "And we've made it clear where our loyalties lie."

"Thank you," I said. "Do you honestly believe I'll be cleared at my hearing tomorrow?"

"If Dumbledore has anything to say about it, then you will," said Sirius. "He said he's planning to attend and Cedric's a witness."

Cedric and I exchanged looks. Was Dumbledore really going to stand up for me after all we'd done and said? I didn't know what to say.