AN: Harry belongs to JK
Chapter 3 - A Meeting of The Order of The Phoenix
Saturday arrived and Harry, Ron and Hermione had spent many hours talking about and thinking over the information that Dumbledore had shared with them, as well as the whole Draco Malfoy as a member of The Order situation.
They made their way down to the main entry with everyone else, heading for Hogsmeade. It was only once they reached the bottom of the stairs that Hermione, playing her role, suddenly claimed to have left her purse in her room, before turning and running back up the stairs. Harry and Ron stood waiting, while all the other students left, presuming that they were waiting for Hermione. It had taken some persuasion to get Ginny to go with Luna, and Harry and Ron had had to promise that they'd meet them in the Three Broomsticks later, knowing that there was going to be hell to pay when they didn't turn up.
Once all of the students had left, Hermione came back down and together the three headed to the Headmaster's Office.
Once they arrived, Dumbledore asked them to floo to Grimmauld Place.
As they arrived in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place they saw various members of the order already sitting around the table. Sirius jumped up and hugged Harry, while Mrs Weasley hugged Ron, and then Hermione.
Lupin, Tonks, Mad Eye, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Bill Weasley and Mr Weasely were all sitting around the table. Dumbledore appeared out of the fire, followed by McGonagall.
Molly Weasley began to fuss and get more food and drinks as everyone sat down, exchanging greetings and general conversation. The volume in the room had increase as everyone caught up with each other and discussed those things that they could only discuss when the Order was together. The room had quite a cheerful and calm feel, just like a big family dinner.
It was due to this that no one heard the floo, until Snape and Draco then appeared out of the fire. There was suddenly tension in the air, and the conversation stopped. Everyone took their seats, with Draco and Severus sitting at the opposite end of the table to Sirius and Harry. The room no longer felt like a happy family dinner, it suddenly felt much more like the serious meeting that it was.
"Well as we are all here," Mad Eye said, getting everyones attention, "lets get started".
The meeting began and it became clear that planning had been underway for a while and were quite far advanced. Hermione, Harry and Ron were having trouble keeping up with some of the discussions, as they were at their first meeting. Between them they were trying to pick up on the important parts, sharing glances and looks when something took their interest or caught them off guard.
"So Draco, have you passed the message on" Dumbledore asked
"Yes" Draco said "I have informed the Dark Lord that the vanishing cabinets have been fixed, and that they will be used to allow Death Eaters to enter the castle and assist me in my escape".
"You're still inviting them into Hogwarts" Harry said, while Ron just sat with his mouth open, as neither of them had actually thought that Dumbledore would go through with his plan to willingly let Death Eaters into the school.
"We have our reasons." Dumbledore answered, but the boys still looked confused.
"Its a secure location" Hermione said quietly, "The Order can control who gets in and who gets out, to a certain extent. Plus there will be no muggles or innocent bystanders around. It actually makes perfect sense."
"Everything Hermione has said is right, and it was not a decision the Order took lightly Harry", Lupin told him, "but we have to use any advantage that we can, and Hogwarts provides us with just that".
"Now Kingsley, do we know how many we can count on yet?" Mad Eye asked, trying to get the meeting back on topic.
"Numbers are still being finalised Mad Eye but we have a fair few ready to fight." Kingsley responded
"And plans for the school Dumbledore?"
"They are progressing. We have the teachers on side, all ready to help where needed. Professor Flitwick has developed a charm that will lock the students into their rooms and cannot be broken either by them or by any others. This should keep them safe during any battle. However we do have to consider those who will want to fight, for both sides, and are of age."
There were nods around the table. Despite their desire to keep the students out of the war, it was becoming more and more apparent that certain students would have a role to play, and that for the most part they should be allowed to do so.
"We could ask those in Dumbledore's Army" Hermione said quietly.
"Well we were hoping that you would be able to help us in this area" Lupin answered, "as well as you Draco. I'm sure you will know which students from Slytherin have sided with he-who-must-not-be-named and are intending to fight in the war".
Draco nodded, "I can give you a rough list".
"I can also assist" Snape answered, "there are some Death Eaters already trying to push the case of their children with the Dark Lord".
It was not long after this that the students were sent back to school with Professor McGonagall, while the meeting continued without them. All four had received their tasks to try and suss out which students planned to be involved in the war. They had been returned to the school, so that they were back before the first students returned from Hogsmeade. They were all acutely aware that they needed to avoid suspicion of any kind.
As they left the Headmaster's Office McGonagall turned to the four of them and said "I'm sure I can trust you all to keep up the necessary appearances, but please do not to kill each other in the process" before turning and walking towards her office.
Draco turned started to walk away too, not wanting to risk getting into a confrontation with the Golden Trio. He had more to loose now, and with no one else around he didn't need to.
"Malfoy" Harry shouted, Draco stopped and turned to look at him.
"I don't know why you have done what you have done, and I'm not totally convinced that you are completely changed, but thank you for helping us with the information that you have shared".
Draco nodded, before turning and walking away.
AN: Okay so I know Sirius died in Order of the Phoenix, but its my story so I decided to ignore that.
Chapter Four is the Final Battle, and I hope to have it up in the next day or so...
PS pls review and tell me what you think...