Chapter Thirty One: The Order Reconvenes
Monday 5th July 1995
"Well?" Sirius leaned back against the wall with his arms crossed, looking quite bored.
"You've passed," Kingsley Shacklebolt replied as he walked back into the practicing room within the Ministry for trainee Aurors.
"Good," said Sirius, nodding at Kingsley. "Will it be enough to convince our esteemed Minister of Magic to allow me to become an Auror? I know he renewed my licence a year ago... but considering what has happened lately I doubt he would accept me back with open arms."
Kingsley chuckled. "I do think he will try his hardest to prevent you entering the Aurors, therefore I will be assigning you to my team as a compromise. The Minister cannot disagree with that. Even Scrimgeour agrees that you'll be an asset to the Aurors. Cornelius really has no choice to agree with us, but he won't like it though. You have the power, the skills and the temperament to be an Auror."
Sirius snorted, "Yeah right. I do have a temper and have a tendency to do things before thinking them through. I highly doubt I've learnt to control that, especially when it concerns my friends or family." The raw memory of how he had blindly dashed off to kill Pettigrew still haunted him. He had acted without thinking of anyone else but himself. That rash decision had cost him twelve years of his life.
"That doesn't matter. You have the skill and the power. Everyone makes mistakes that they regret from time to time."
"Not in the magnitude which I did though," Sirius commented. "Got myself thrown in Azkaban didn't I? Not the smartest thing I've ever done mind you."
Kingsley shuffled his feet, looking uncomfortable. "Sorry. My intention was not to remind you of that."
"That's alright," shrugged Sirius. "What's done is done. One man can't change the past: if I could I would but only for the right reasons." He clapped his hands together and stuffed his wand into his robe pocket. "Well then, shall we go and see dear old Cornelius?"
Since he was an ex-convict the Minister of Magic did not trust him, despite his relative innocence. Sirius watched as Kingsley and Fudge spoke quietly together discussing him. Despite the fact that Sirius had done a good job in leading the Aurors to Harry's whereabouts after the Third Task, Fudge did not believe that he was capable of being an Auror and had demanded that Sirius be tested for the right qualities. Each task he had been given he had performed admirably well in.
Even from afar Sirius could see Fudge trying to convince Kingsley that they didn't need him. It seemed like hours had passed since that conversation with Shacklebolt but had really only been fifteen minutes earlier.
Why is he so stubborn? He's beginning to think that I've 'duped' the Aurors into believing that Voldemort has returned. He's such a fool .Fudge wouldn't be able to see the truth even if it stepped blindly in front of him. Regardless of that at least he made the announcement that Voldemort has returned.
"Black," Fudge stated coldly.
"Minister," Sirius replied, trying to prevent anger from slipping through in his dulcet tone.
"According to Kingsley you have the acquired skills to re-join the Auror department. Despite my misgivings on this I am authorising you to join Kingsley's team, but if you take one step out of line I won't hesitate in sending you back to Azkaban."
"Now that would be a bit unfair considering I've done nothing wrong," noted Sirius, glaring at Fudge. "I'm sure you remember the day when Pettigrew was brought to you. Is his confession not enough for you to believe I'm innocent? Or is it to do with the fact that my whole family were involved in the Dark Arts and therefore you are prejudiced against me for that reason alone?"
"I know what you are Black," snarled Fudge.
Sirius raised his eye-brows but refused to take the bait. He had dealt with this issue for most of his life. Fudge was getting on his nerves but he reigned in his temper and stayed still, waiting.
"Here." Fudge thrust a card into Sirius' right hand. "I'm keeping an eye on you."
"Are you?" whispered Sirius so that the Minister did not hear.
"Come on." Kingsley led Sirius away from the Minister's office and back towards Auror Headquarters.
"Is it just me or does he have a problem with me?"
Kingsley chuckled. "Oh, the Minister believes what he wants to believe. Lack of evidence of Voldemort is highly convincing to him that you charmed the Aurors to believe that. I don't think he's ever got over the fact that you were innocent."
"What. An. Idiot," Sirius stated.
Kingsley chose to ignore this and proceeded talking, "You being innocent ruined his reputation to an extent. He doesn't want a repeat of the last war. If he can he will attempt to undermine you, Harry and Dumbledore. If Voldemort doesn't show himself soon then you may find that Cornelius may twist the truth."
"Can he really do that?" asked Sirius.
"He's the Minister. He can control what is printed in the press however there were a lot of witnesses to that. Whatever he may announce he will have a hard time convincing others. He can't deny the fact that there were witnesses but he can threaten them with their jobs."
"He'd be that ruthless?"
Kingsley nodded. "To avoid a war and to keep his job, yes he would."
"What we need," began Sirius as he scratched his chin, "is for that bastard to show himself. Trouble is he's gone into hiding. So, where is he?"
"Don't know – and that's what we need to focus on. Dumbledore has asked me to arrange small teams to look in desolate areas. Problem is Fudge may become suspicious of our activities, so we'll going to have to tread carefully until he is given more proof other than our word for it."
Sirius sighed, running a hand through his shoulder-length hair. "I know. Trouble is how do we obtain that proof stealthily without the dear Minister knowing? I'm certain that old hag known as Umbridge will be keeping an eye on us or to put it more accurately – me."
"Don't worry, we'll find a way," assured Kingsley, shaking Sirius' shoulder.
Wednesday 7th July 1995
They hid amongst the bushes watching the surrounding area with interest. They had received a report from a suspicious Witch claiming that there were odd happenings in the house across from her. She had said that flashes of green light kept appearing and several screams had rent the air. Since the situation seemed bad the Minister had dispatched Kingsley Shacklebolt with his team to investigate the problem.
This was the first mission that Sirius had been assigned to.
He crouched beside Kingsley peering carefully through the bushes, clutching his wand in his right hand, ready to defend himself if need be.
Kingsley held up two fingers and pointed towards the house, while he cautiously moved forward as quickly as he possibly could without making much noise. Sirius followed, hiding himself behind a tree as his boss knelt once more to peer through the bushes. Other Aurors followed suit, hiding amongst the trees and watching the house with caution.
"This way," Kingsley spoke. Running beside Sirius they drew up right beside the house. All the curtains were closed allowing them to plan a surprise attack, though Sirius had the distinct impression whoever had been there was now gone. Since they had arrived no sound had emerged.
With a nod from Kingsley, Sirius bolted to the front door, his wand pointing right at the lock and muttered: "Alohomora!" He heard a click and waited for Kingsley to approach him. Other Aurors rushed round the side of the house to find the back door and easy windows they would be able to climb through.
Once everyone was in position Kingsley pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The house was completely silent.
"Looks like they may have vacated the premises," whispered Sirius.
Kingsley nodded as he proceeded through the house. Two Aurors who had gained access through the back door approached them, shaking their heads indicating that there was nothing there.
"Check up stairs Sirius," ordered Kingsley.
Sirius transformed into Padfoot, quietly padding up the stairs, sniffing for any signs of life. At the top of the landing he transformed back and shook his head, "Nothing."
Kingsley joined Sirius on the top floor and together they opened up each closed door. Nothing was found until they stepped into the last room.
On the floor lay a family of four: Muggles, killed by the Killing Curse.
A small boy clutched his teddy bear in his right hand lay beside his father, both their eyes open, with no soul reaching out of them. Sirius approached them and closed their eyes, doing the same to the mother and little girl, who looked to be only a month old.
All four bore the markings of torture. The Cruciatus curse had been used before death had been delivered. As Sirius turned away from the four bodies he noticed red writing on the wall and he felt his heart skip in his chest.
Give me the boy-who-lived or this will be the price the Wizarding World pays.
"Damn," Kingsley muttered. He motioned to the two other Aurors. "Get back to the Ministry and inform the Minister that there is something he needs to see."
As the two Aurors obeyed, Sirius turned to Kingsley, "Do you think this is enough to convince Fudge that Voldemort really is back?"
"We can only hope so."
Two days later the entire Order of the Phoenix reassembled at Grimmauld Place. Harry had been sent to the Burrow under the watchful eye of his cousin Andromeda Black and her husband Ted. Though they were not involved with the Order, Sirius didn't want Harry to know about what they were discussing and upon contacting Andromeda she had agreed to 'baby-sit' on the condition that the house was magically secured from penetration.
With Harry and the Weasley children safely away, the meeting could commence.
"Today we are reforming the Order of the Phoenix, a unique society that helped defeat Voldemort in the first war. We lost many members who dedicated their lives to preventing our world from falling into the grip of darkness. Please raise your glasses," instructed Dumbledore as he gripped a glass of Butterbear, "to those that lost their lives but are forever remembered through honour and love: Marlene McKinnon, Edgar Bones, Caradoc Dearborn, Dorcas Meadowes, Benjamin Fenwick, Gideon and Fabian Prewett, Lily and James Potter, Frank and Alice Longbottom."
Every member of the Order drank the liquid, each remembering those that had lost their lives in a war that should not have been.
"Their memory is sacred to us. It is not only for their sake, but for the sake of every living witch and wizard, and their children that we, the survivors, must and will again take up the fight against evil that we had hoped to have defeated fourteen years ago. Voldemort has returned. But so have those who will never rest until he is destroyed forever. The Order of the Phoenix is reborn!"
"First things first," Sirius was the first to speak after the toast to those that had died or suffered a fate worse than death, "what is Voldemort after?"
Genuine chatter broke out as the members began to make suggestions to Dumbledore, however he raised his hand for silence and clasping his hands together spoke once more.
"As you are all aware Lord Voldemort captured Harry Potter through his participation in the Triwizard Tournament, it is my belief that Voldemort will do anything in his power to kill Harry and those closest to him." Dumbledore's eyes shifted to Sirius but then returned to sweeping the group at large. "There is an object in the Department of Mysteries that Voldemort may attempt to steal or send others to do so for him."
"What is this object?" A small witch leant forwards and Sirius recognised her as Hestia Jones.
"A prophecy that was made in June 1980 shortly before Harry's birth, Voldemort could believe that this prophecy holds the key to killing Harry and it is my intention to not allow him to have it. That is what we must keep safe."
"How are we meant to do that"? Elphias Doge asked, standing behind Alastor Moody's chair.
"Isn't that obvious?" Moody replied, looking annoyed. "We patrol the corridor to the Department of Mysteries using an Invisibility Cloak, day and night!"
Dumbledore nodded, his eyes twinkling slightly. "That is the method to which we will use. This prophecy is important to us. Voldemort knows some of its content but not all of it. Harry does know what it contains for it is about him and him alone."
Sirius shot him a look. Partially tell the truth but not all of it.
Murmurs erupted around as the members discussed how guarding the prophecy would work. Kingsley promised to look through Ministry schedules (for those that worked at the Ministry) and he and Mad-Eye would create a time-table for when each person willing to perform the task could do their duty.
With no more else to say to the general audience, Dumbledore dismissed the meeting and stood up, receiving nods and smiles in return to those that filed out of the kitchen and out of Grimmauld Place, carefully so that they did not disturb the portrait of Walburga Black.
"Sirius, could I have a word with you?"
Sirius sipped his drink, placed the cup on the table and walked over to Dumbledore who stood waiting for him by the kitchen door. "I must warn you to be careful when you are out on missions and when you are guarding the prophecy. Voldemort knows that you are the closest thing to a father Harry has and he will not hesitate to use you to get at Harry."
"I know," he replied. "If you could I'd bet you would keep me under lock and key."
"If Pettigrew had escaped the night the truth was revealed and you were still on the run then I would order you to stay here, but you are a free-man and I cannot take your freedom away from you. I am just asking you to watch out for yourself. Voldemort will make you a target: either to kill you and leave the path to Harry open, or use you to ensure Harry comes to rescue you. Voldemort will not hesitate to take you alive if he can. Having Harry watch your death would be a victory for him, because in Harry's anger he would step blindly into it. We need both of you to fight. I am imploring for you to stay out of harm's way. Harry will need you in the end that I am sure of."
"So," Sirius leaned back against the wall, "it looks Harry and I just took the two spots on Voldemort's must-die-list."
"Do not even joke about that, Sirius."
With that the headmaster turned on his heel and left Grimmauld Place.
To be continued...