Author's Note:
"Howzabout an update NOW, instead of next month or whenever you thought about this story next... Probably woulda been in 2017, considering your hatred of writing!" – A review by NowImLovingIt on .
I sincerely apologize for the delay. My Gin and Tonic document crashed and I had to rewrite everything. To make up for it, please have three chapters.
Chapter Nineteen
"I DON'T ANSWER TO YOU, ALBUS!"
Ginny stirred awake.
She saw two eyes blinking at her from the other side of the room.
"What's going on?" Ginny whispered.
"I dunno," Hermione admitted, "But Sirius is really upset."
Ginny stood up and pulled on her new dressing gown.
"Ginny, wait!" Hermione cried, "What are you doing?"
"He's stood by me all throughout the summer," Ginny pointed out, "It's high time that I returned the favor."
Hermione hesitated but didn't stop her.
Ginny followed the sound of Dumbledore's voice.
In the end, she found herself descending the kitchen stairs.
"—as long as you're in the Order," Dumbledore was saying, "You will answer to me."
Ginny paused and crouched down on the third step, shamelessly eavesdropping.
"Am I in the Order?" Sirius shot back, "Because, lately, I'm not so sure."
"Sirius—"
"I've barely gone on any missions," Sirius pointed out, "I'm barely allowed to have a say at the meetings."
"I understand that you're frustrated," Dumbledore gently began.
Ginny's frown deepened. She never liked that tone. It always seemed warm and friendly but there was always something…hollow about it.
Sirius seemed to agree with her thoughts, for he angrily snapped, "Don't use that tone on me, Albus. It's never worked. I grew up with Orion and Walburga. I can detect manipulation from a mile away."
Ginny smirked.
"Sirius," Dumbledore quietly said, "I know that you aren't my biggest fan."
Sirius snorted.
"However," Dumbledore continued, "You're a member of the Order and therefore you will follow the rules of the Order. Is that understood?"
Ginny burst through the door and coolly said, "It's funny that you brought up the Order of the Phoenix's rules, Professor."
The adults exchanged glances.
"You see," Ginny continued, "The other day, Sirius told me what the first rule of the Order of the Phoenix is; what it's been since the Original Order formed."
"And what is that, Miss Weasley?"
Dumbledore's tone was demeaning.
Ginny stood her ground and growled, "Leave no man behind."
Sirius smiled as he realized where she was going.
"Yes," Dumbledore replied, "That is the rule."
"So," Ginny snarled, "Why didn't you ever bother to get Sirius a trial?"
Dumbledore looked as though he had swallowed a particularly tart lemon drop.
"Miss Weasley," Dumbledore eventually said, "There was nothing that I could do."
Ginny refrained from comparing his sentence to a pile of hippogriff dung.
Instead, she quietly said, "We had to do a History of Magic essay on you last term. I might not be as smart as Hermione but I do remember reading that you were on the Wizengamot during the time that Sirius was arrested."
Sirius raised his chin and said, "Well, Albus?"
"Alas," Dumbledore sighed, "It is one of my greatest mistakes. I regret that I was not able to do more for you, Sirius. However, at the time, I was much too preoccupied with—"
"—the greater good?" Sirius haughtily finished.
Dumbledore's eyes hardened.
"What does that mean?" Ginny curiously asked, "You've said it before."
Before Sirius could explain, Dumbledore quickly said, "Miss Weasley, I do believe that it's past your bedtime."
Ginny indignantly huffed.
"You don't have the authority to kick me out, Professor," Ginny snapped, "The last time that I checked, this house doesn't belong to you! It belongs to Sirius! And honestly, seeing as how this is Sirius' house, I'd be a bit more considerate! He doesn't have to tolerate rude guests! He could kick you out at any moment! He could kick the entire bloody Order out!"
"Don't think that I won't," Sirius warned, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you, Albus."
"An interesting analogy, Sirius," Dumbledore replied, "Seeing as how your freedom lies in my hands."
Sirius let out an outraged scream. He furiously raised his wand. Meanwhile, Ginny had whipped her own wand from the sleeve of her dressing gown.
Before either one could do anything, the door opened.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley entered, casually talking to one another.
They screeched to a halt as they took in the scene.
"What's going on?" Mr. Weasley demanded.
"Ginevra Molly Weasley!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked, "Lower your wand! AT ONCE!"
Ginny reluctantly complied.
"I'll leave you to think about our conversation," Dumbledore gently said, "Goodnight."
He turned on his heel and walked away.
"That manipulative old goat," Ginny growled.
"Ginny," Mr. Weasley gasped, "What has gotten into you? Must I remind you that you will treat Professor Dumbledore with the utmost respect?"
"The day he earns it," Ginny snarled.
Sirius came to her defense, "Trust me, Arthur, Albus Dumbledore does not deserve your respect. James, Lily, and I spoke to Bathilda Bagshot a few months before…"
He broke off and looked troubled.
He quickly shook his head and continued, "She told us all sorts of things about the old goat. Things that would make your heads spin. Dumbledore manipulates fools into blindly following him."
"I happen to trust Albus Dumbledore," Mr. Weasley firmly said.
"My point exactly," Sirius muttered.
Ginny watched as her father's ears turned as red as his hair.
"You think that I'm a fool, Sirius?" Mr. Weasley growled.
"I think that you have done foolish things," Sirius admitted, "Your economic situation is the perfect example."
"How dare you?" Mrs. Weasley screeched, "We can't all be born with a silver spoon on our mouths!"
"Besides," Mr. Weasley quietly said, "There have been rumors for decades that the Black family fortune was built on lies and deceit."
"Don't forget thievery and blackmail," Sirius replied, "I'm not arguing that. My biological family certainly isn't the best example of honest economic choices. On the other hand, my surrogate family is. Along with being the nicest man that I've ever met, Harry's grandfather was also the hardest working man that I've ever met. He climbed his way into a high position in the Auror Department strictly on his hard work and honest ethics. And every galleon he made was wisely invested. The Potters made great economic decisions that helped their wealth grow."
He took a deep breath and continued, "You, on the other hand, have made terrible economic decisions that have caused your wealth to deteriorate into little to nothing. And there's no reason for that! From everything that Ginny has told me, you should have a considerably comfortable amount of money. You have enough food for seconds or thirds at every meal. You vacationed to Romania a few years ago. You used your Daily Prophet winnings – seven hundred bloody galleons – to vacation to Egypt two years ago. Don't you think that you could have invested that money into something more important? You went to the Quidditch World Cup last year. You have an entire shed of Muggle items that you've purchased. I know for a fact that some of them aren't cheap. For Merlin's sake, Ginny told me that you purchased a classic car a few years ago. How much did that cost?"
Mr. Weasley glanced at the floor as he mumbled, "Five hundred galleons. But—"
"But nothing!" Sirius exclaimed, "Speaking of Muggles, I know that you love them, but that's no reason to remain in your dead-end job. I know for a fact that you've had opportunities to move up into higher positions. But you haven't. Why? Because you're too obsessed with Muggles! And speaking of jobs, what the hell are you doing all day, Molly? You're just sitting around, doing absolutely nothing! Your children are out of the house for three-quarters of the year! There's no reason for you to stay home. Have you ever once thought about looking for a job? They're always hiring for secretarial positions at the Ministry. It wouldn't pay much but it would be enough to make a difference! And another thing—"
"Pardon me?"
The group looked up.
Kingsley Shacklebolt was standing in the doorway.
"What is it, Kingsley?" Sirius impatiently asked.
Kingsley hesitated before saying three words:
"Harry's in trouble."