This chapter is dedicated to the100th reviewer! I hope you like it!!
Something was pounding on Harrys head, a loud tapping noise that jarred his body with each rap. Slowly he opened his eyes, but everything was blurry. The tapping continued until Harry groaned and tried to roll over. That's when Harry realized that he wasn't actually lying on the ground, once again he was trapped to the iron chair sitting in front of a very plain iron table; at least it seemed that the pounding in his head was gone. Almost at once the pain was replaced by images of his latest vision. Harrys stomach clenched and the remaining color in his face quickly departed.
"Sleeping beauty awakes." The voice of Cornelius Fudge floated around Harry and sharply grated on his nerves.
Taking slow deep breaths Harry tried to force the images back and think of only where he was at the moment. He was sitting on a hard chair, chained to it actually, in a small stone cell that had one glass side, where his professors and other order members sat watching. There was a table in front of him and Fudge circled around him like a hawk hunting its prey. A strong stench filled his nose reminding him of weeks old trash and caused him to lift his head, trying to get as far away from the smell. Looking down his nose Harry tried to find the source of the smell and choked realizing that it was he, Harry, that smell so atrocious. Fudge made himself irritably present by tapping Harry sharply on the head before returning to his own seat across from Harry.
"Now that you've sat on this subject for a couple of days, I think its time that we resume our little chat."
'A couple days?' Harry thought to himself, 'but I only remember being in there for a night, I must have been passed out.' He looked to the Minister, but could find that he didn't really have the energy to argue.
Fudge placed his elbows on the table and leaned forward, "I'm going to bring in someone to write down everything said in here. I trust now that you'll tell us the whole truth and this can go much easier." Fudge smiled a sickeningly sweet smile that reminded Harry of Umbridge.
The smell from Harrys shirt was really getting to Harry so he spoke up, "Since we made a bargain about my cooperation I still have a few request that I'd like to make, before I give you any information."
Fudge narrowed his eyes a little, "what are they."
"One, I need a least a clean shirt." Fudge waved his wand and instantly his old ratty shirt was replaced with a fresh cotton one that actually fit. "That's much better-."
"And that will be all for now." Fudge interrupted, he looked to the ever present mirror and nodded. A couple seconds later the door was opened and in came none other than Percy Weasley.
"Percy?" Harry asked slightly shocked, he thought that even he would believe that Voldemort had returned.
Percy pointedly ignored Harry and spoke to the Minister, "Minister Fudge where do you want me?"
"Here Weasley, sit next to me, you'll be able to write everything down perfectly." The Minister made another chair for Percy and moved his over slightly.
Harry tried to search Percys' face for anything but his face was in a controlled neutral. He took out a plain piece of paper and a green quill. "I'm ready when you are Minister." Percy said seriously.
"Good, good, Mr. Potter do you know the crime charged against you and your cohorts?" Percys quill scratched quickly against the paper.
"Actually now that you ask Minister, you haven't ever really told me exactly what charges are against me. Though I can guess." Harry smiled as a light flush came across the Ministers cheeks.
"Conspiracy against the Ministry of Magic."
Harrys mouth made and 'o' shape and he nodded his head. "That's good to know."
"How do you plead?"
"How do I plead? I didn't know this was a hearing or a confession." Harry said cheekily.
Percy glanced up at Harry once then continued writing, Fudge sighed angrily, "I'm trying to make this as professional as I can for you Harry."
"That must be quite a difficult task for you then, and I've told you before it's Mr. Potter."
"Stop writing for a moment Weasley." Fudges eyes flashed as he looked at Harry "I'm trying to work with you here Potter, we could lock you away without even getting all of this."
"So you've said Minister, but then you wouldn't get any information that you want, and I know that you want to prove that we're continuously plotting against you." Harry looked at Percy who was now watching Harry without emotion. "We have a deal, just ask the right questions and stop trying to act like you know how to interrogate properly, its shameful to the Ministry."
Fudges face was turning red either from embarrassment or anger, Harry couldn't tell, "Fine Mr. Potter, we'll play your way. Weasley start writing again and don't leave out anything he says." Percy nodded and resumed his position with his green quill above the paper. "What is the Order of the Phoenix?"
Harry opened his mouth to answer but paused when he was Percy tense up, did Percy know what it was, his parents and older brothers were apart of it. "The Order of the Phoenix," Harry started, Harry glanced to the mirror on the wall, "is a group that is training me against Voldemort."
"Potter–!" Fudge started angrily.
"NO! Minister Fudge you know that Voldemort has come back, you saw him with your own two eyes. How you can possible deny the fact to yourself is unbelievable and naive!"
"I've been around longer than you, and You-Know-Who isn't back, he disappeared when you were a baby and he killed your parents!"
"You're right about that, he did kill my parents and many others, and he did disappear when I was little, but he didn't die. He has returned and your ignorance to that fact is going to end up getting countless others killed! You are pathetic, you can't even say his name. A name cannot hurt you and to fear just saying a name shows that you Minister are weak!" the Minister was momentarily speechless so Harry continued, "You asked me what the Order of the Phoenix is, and I've told you twice now, and I will only tell you once more. It is a group of people who are training me in different areas of magic so that when I face Voldemort once again I'll be able to defeat him. Its nothing more and nothing less! I hope you got all of that down Percy." Percy finished with a flourish of his quill and looked up at Harry shocked.
The Minister was glaring at Harry vehemently and he spoke through clenched teeth, "Unbelievable! I refuse your answer, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, HAS NOT RETURNED!"
"HE HAS AND –!" but harry was silenced when Fudge waved his wand and cut off Harrys voice.
"Listen to me now Mr. Potter, I will have no more of your lies, you are a child and don't know the ways of the real world. If the Order of the Phoenix is really just training you to defeat You-Know-Who, then I feel bad for you, because its you who will disappointed in the end. Nobody will be able to defeat him again, if he has the power to come back then he is stronger than a 15 year old boy!" The Minister was practically shaking with anger.
"Minister, are you alright?" Percy asked looking worried for his boss.
Fudge shook his head once, his eyes seemed far away for a moment then came back to reality. "I'm fine Weasley, lets proceed." He waved his wand and Harry had use of his vocal cords again.
Harry coughed and swallowed a couple times, "You do realized that you just admitted that Voldemort has come back." Fudges eyes widened and he looked to Percys paper.
"I–I"
"You know that its true," Harry watched as Fudges face went slack, "you have to accept it if you ever want him gone for good. You made a statement only a couple months ago to the public about his return, if you back out again now then the people will lose all respect for you. Then you will be taken out of office." Harry spoke the harsh reality to the Minister who only now seemed to finally be coming to terms with the inevitable fact that Voldemort has come back. It didn't seem fitting for Harry to be speaking these things, he was only 15, almost 16, and the Minister had to be at least 50 years old even more; Harry couldn't think of how someone could really turn a blind eye to something so threatening to the community that he was in charge of. Harry shook his head and returned his attention back to the Minister.
"That's what you want isn't it?" Fudge asked suddenly, "you want me to be taken out of office, oh ho ho Mr. Potter what a tangled web you weave." Fudge laughed harshly and looked to the mirror, "bring his Head of House."
Harry was confused, "I don't know what you are talking about Fudge, and I don't know how we can get it through to you. We. Do. Not. Want. To. Take. Over. Your. Position!" Harry said putting emphasis on each word. Fudge just smiled knowingly and got up to open the door.
Minerva McGonagall came into the room flanked by two Aurors, her hands were magically bound together and her mouth was in a very tight thin line that bordered on disappearing. "Professor McGonagall," Fudge greeted her, "Please take my seat." They forced McGonagall to sit where the Minister had previously been. As soon as she touched the chair, her hands were unbound and bound again to the armrests.
Minerva's eye bore into Harrys with such intensity, as if she was trying to speak to him though her mind. Harry had to admit it was quite unnerving the way she was looking at him and made him look away. Fudge opted not to sit and leaned against the wall opposite from the mirror. "Mr. Potter has just been telling us all about the Order of the Phoenix." He said smugly.
"Has he?" Minerva asked in a tight voice.
"Oh yes," Fudge continued not catching onto her tone, "all about it, I think there is actually nothing left for him to tell us that would help your case at all. We could send you all to Azkaban right now."
Harry looked at Fudge, "are you absolutely brainless, they were just sitting behind that mirror." Fudge looked astonished that Harry knew there were people behind there, "what do you think when you put us back together, we're going to sit there and talk about tea?"
Fudge regained his composure, "they weren't behind there today Potter!" He switched back to his casual voice and spoke again, "isn't it true that last year we caught Dumbledore trying to make an army composed of students."
"Well I really can't say that I remember anything of the kind." Minerva replied in the same voice Fudge was using. Harry smirked at his Professor. Percy sat with his quill poised over the paper looking from the Minister to McGonagall waiting for someone to speak next.
Fudge slammed his hand onto the table, "I don't want anymore of these indirect answers!"
"I'd say Minister Fudge that you really do have a short temper problem," Harry said with a smile. In a quick movement Fudge had backhanded Harry across the face, making his headache return and his glasses to slip of his face. Harry heard them break when they his the stone floor.
"Cornelius!" Minerva cried.
"Don't." Harry said venomously. "I cannot see if I don't have my glasses Minister Fudge, unless you want me to sit here blind, I would like them back." Harry heard Fudge summon them and roughly place them back on his face. "They are cracked," Harry ground out.
"That's the price you pay for being insolent." Fudge said smugly.
Harry glared at the Minister and then glaring at Percy for being there and when he looked to McGonagall he could tell that she was holding back her comments, so he closed his eyes and sighed. They needed a way to finally get out of here and quickly, even though they hadn't been here that long Harrys patience was running short. "Why did you bring Professor McGonagall in here, I see no point."
"That's because you are a child and I am an adult, I see things that you don't."
Harry held back his laughter. "Percy, I hope you got that slap in your report, let the rest of the Ministry know that their Minister likes to hit, 'children'."
"Don't push me Potter." Fudge warned.
McGonagall looked as vicious as ever, her eyebrows were drawn and her mouth was in a tight line, "or you'll what Cornelius?"
Harry gave his head of house the best, don't-stick-up-for-me look, "I wont answer another question until you make Professor McGonagall leave, and you don't bring anyone else in." Harry stared hard at the wall behind McGonagalls head.
"There will be no more demands for you Potter."
"Then you wont get anymore answers!" Harry shot back.
"If you hadn't noticed I can question anyone else from your little group." Fudge said smugly.
"Then why haven't you," Harry asked narrowing his eyes still staring at the wall, "or are you too afraid to question anyone else?! You know that they are more powerful than you, you know that I'm your only chance at getting answers, so I'll make my demands as I see fit and you'll give into them if you want information!" Fudge once again struck out at the end of Harrys sentence, but this time it wasn't Harry who suffered the blow, but McGonagall. This forced Harry to looked directly at McGonagall, when she turned her head back to Harry a small trickle of blood escaped the corner of her mouth, and the side of her face was rapidly getting red. Anger sparked in Harry, "you bastard!" he screamed and tried to get out of the restraints holding him to the chair. As he squirmed Fudge laughed and got very close to Harrys face.
"See I wont need you fulfill your demands, you have a weakness for others Potter, you can't stand by and see them suffer. You'll tell me what I want to know if you don't want them to get hurt." Fudge smiled smugly again reminding him of Umbridge and how much he hated the both of them.
McGonagall glared at the Minister then at Percy, but when she looked at Harry it was again as if she was trying to speak to him telepathically. Her eyes didn't hold a trace of hurting, but only strength and some secret she was trying to tell him.
Percy however didn't look like he knew how to react, his boss just hit his former head of house, even if he didn't believe in what Dumbledore was doing it was obvious that he still held respect for his Professor. "Minister," he said hesitantly, "do you really think its wise to strike Professor McGonagall, she did just get out of St. Mungos only a few months ago."
"Are you questioning me Weasley?" the Minister asked threateningly.
"Of course he is." Harry replied before Percy could answer, a sudden thought came upon him. If Fudge thought that the Order wanted to take over, his paranoia would float to anyone who wanted to take over his job, even someone on his staff. "Percy is saying exactly what you don't want to hear so that you'll do it, and once the public finds out you'll be sacked. Everyone knows that Percy wants to be the Minister one day, and you're just giving him the perfect opportunity." Harry felt no remorse for Percy in using him as a way to focus attention off himself and McGonagall.
Fudge looked taken aback and stared at Percy as if he was Voldemort himself. "You wouldn't do that to me Weasley."
"Yes he would, think about it, if you are thrown out he could easily run and get the job. Prefect, Headboy, went right into a good position in the Ministry, younger minds to think ahead to the future. He is the perfect candidate to take over, he is undermining you Minister and you don't even know it." Percy looked appalled, but not as much at the Minister. However, McGonagall had caught on to what Harry was doing and it seemed that she didn't feel bad at all for using her former student.
"Harry is quite right," she said in her teaching voice, "Mr. Weasley has everything that a Minister should really have, and he does have connections that would love to see your demise." Harry laughed mentally, Percy had about as many connections as a coat hanger.
"Minister I swear, they are lying, I would never try and take your job!" Percy said desperately.
"Everywhere I turn there is treachery!" Fudge said exasperated.
"Please you must believe me, I'm not trying to take you down!"
Harry smiled, but quickly hid it and looked to Percy, "He doesn't even believe you Percy, how could you work with someone that doesn't trust you? Did he tell you that he had your family held here too. Even little Ginny locked up like some criminal!" Percys attention was focused now on Harry, "Do you remember when she was a first year and taken down into the Chamber of Secrets? Your only sister could have died in there, but I saved her. She was taken her and she hasn't even done anything! They whipped until I couldn't even hold myself up anymore, and stuck needles filled with some kind of poison. Imagine that happening to Ginny, or the twins, or Ron, Charlie, Bill. What about your Mother? Could you stand by this man while he chained her up and tortured her!?" Percy paled, even if they hadn't spoken in almost a year, he still loved his family, some part of him did. Harry smiled at Percy though, "Oh no, don't worry though I got all of your family out before they could do anymore damage. You see, the Minister and I made a little contract that I would answer his questions if they let out your family, he would have kept them all here and tortured them!" Harry left out the fact that he knew none of them got beaten or hurt, but Percy didn't need to know that. Something prickled behind Harrys eyes but it went unnoticed.
The Minister puffed out his chest, "Weasley, you know that what we're doing here is right, if we had to get answers out of your family you'd stand by me wouldn't you."
"Would he Cornelius? He does want to take over your position, if you had his family locked up do you think he would sit by and let you keep them here?" McGonagall said smoothly. Fudge must have forgotten that Percy wanted his job, because he narrowed his eyes again and glared at Percy.
However they were all surprised when he raised his wand and pointed it Percy, "I can't have you terrorizing the Ministry, I'm putting you under arrest for Conspiracy against the Ministry of Magic, hereby ordered by the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge."
"Minister, I swear!" Percy started but he saw the glint in the Ministers eye and raised his own wand, "you had my family! Ginny is only a child, Ron too!"
Percy was another surprise, this was getting out of Harry and McGonagalls control and he need to do something before Percy really had done anything to get him locked up. McGonagall had been thinking along the same line as Harry and spoke up, "don't be irrational! Neither of you are acting like civilized adults!"
Fudge went into a kind of rage and took his furry out on McGonagall, "Crucio!" At once McGonagalls old body started twitching and jerking around. A blood curdling scream escaped her lips and filled the room. Fudges eyes went wide and immediately took off the curse, but the deed had been done.
Anger flared up in Harry like never before, his emotions were going haywire and there was a sort of burning sensation behind his eyes. Harry pulled on his arms to get out of the chair making bloody rings appear on his arms. His magic flowed through his veins like the day he shattered all of the glass, but this time it was much more intense. Harry opened his mouth to scream something awful at the Minister, but he was pulled away. Not physically but mentally it was like someone was taking over his control, and someone was. Because of his high raw magic and this new force inside of him the restraints on himself and McGonagall magically opened. Harry had been pushed behind some sort of curtain and another person was now in charge of him.
Easily Harry stood and looked around to Fudge, "pathetic."That word rang through Harry and he knew who was inside of him. Voldemort. Grabbing the Minister by the throat Harry lifted him off the floor and threw him against the opposite wall, which happened to be the Mirror. Shards of glass fell on top the knocked out Minister. Percy looked frightened as he held his wand shakily towards Harry. Harry approached Percy with a small smile playing across his lips. "A Weasley." Before Harry could do anything to Percy McGonagall spoke weakly to him.
"Harry, Harry."
"No, I'm not Harry anymore." He said smoothly, but Harry who was in the back of his mind was fighting and trying to use all of the Occulamency that he could remember to get the intruder out of his head.
"Harry." McGonagall repeated again.
"No–Yes!" Harry looked shocked at the last word said, and suddenly Harry crumpled to the ground. "Oh my god." He said to no one in particular. Harry regained as much composure as he could and went to McGonagalls side. He helped her up. "We've got to get out of here, where is everyone else."
"You aren't going anywhere." Percy said bravely. "I don't know what you just did Potter, but–."
"Shut it Percy, or I'll–." But Percy had stepped forward and Harry used his quick reflexes from being a seeker and grabbed his outstretched wand. One handed he turned the wand on its owner and stunned Percy before he knew what happened. McGonagall was being supported by Harry and she was still trembling slightly. "Professor, are you.."
"Yes." She breathed and slowly stood on her own. "We don't have much time, there will be Aurors coming shortly."
"What about Percy?" Harry asked.
"Take him with us, make him talk to his family, if it really goes bad, or he still can't make amends we'll figure it out later." She motioned to Harry, "Grab Fudges wand, and give me Percys." Harry did as she said. "Levitate Percy and follow me. Quickly." He did what she wanted and followed her out of the room.
She faltered for a moment and Harry grabbed onto her arm. She said nothing of it, just accepted Harrys support. They only had to go a short ways down the Hall to another room, "Are there guards in there Professor?"
"One, right next to the door, I'll open it you stun him."
Harry nodded and set Percy down for a moment then got ready, McGonagall pushed open the door and stepped aside, Harry sent the stunning spell at the Auror and he fell to the ground. McGonagall pulled Percy into the room and they shut the door. They all sat there on the floor not bound by any sort of magic and swiftly stood as Harry and McGonagall entered.
"Minerva?" Albus asked shocked.
"There's no time," she said quickly, "how are we going to get out of here?"
"What's that Weasley doing here?" Moody asked gruffly. Everyone ignored him.
"I know a way, but we'll have to go quickly." Dumbledore hastened to the hall with everyone following him. "Harry give me your wand." harry was about to hand it over but hesitated. Albus looked at him with serious yet gentle eyes and he handed it over. McGonagall floated Percy behind the group as they ran down the hall. The clunk of Moodys leg mingled with the hurried feet of the rest of the group they skidded to a halt in front of a tapestry that was deserted of its occupant. "Phineus!" Albus called just loud enough for the group to hear. He said it again with more force this time and he appeared in the tapestry. "Take us to Hogwarts."
"All of you?" Phineus asked lazily.
"Yes." Albus said forcefully.
"Very well," the tapestry moved aside and they all scrambled into the small room behind it. Once the tapestry moved back into place and they were covered in darkness a tingle of magic went trough the room and they were all transported to the middle of the Headmasters office.
Everyone visibly relaxed, Harry suddenly felt very claustrophobic and edged his way to the corner of the office. He let McGonagall tell the group what happened since she got in there, telling them about Percy and how they messed with Fudges head, but when she got to the part where Fudge pointed his wand at Percy she stopped. However Harry filled in for her, "he freaked out and put the Cruciatus Curse on her," Harry said bluntly, "bloody cretin." Just thinking about it made Harrys blood boil and narrow his eyes making him glare a hole into the floor. The little trinkets around Dumbledores' office started to rattle and the same prickling feeling behind his eyes returned from before. Harry wrapped his arms around his stomach and moved closer to the wall. Images of McGonagall under the Cruciatus and the people from his vision flashed before his eyes.
Someone had gripped his upper arms and shook him once, "calm down Potter. Clear your mind, calm." Snape said lowly to him, "Clear your mind, be calm."
Harry felt Snapes mind taking away his anger and the images. Harry closed his eyes and the feeling went away. He took a couple breaths and the trinkets stopped their movement and sat still, "I'm okay." Harry said opening his eyes. Snape scrutinized him for a moment then nodded and stepped back. "I got so angry," Harry continued his story for the Order, "my magic went crazy and there was like a burning behind my eyes," Harry looked around the room, but didn't meet their eyes. "And then it felt as if someone was pushing me out of my own mind. I didn't have control any more and they were doing whatever they wanted with my body. Once he spoke I knew for sure who it was. Voldemort. I tried to force him out, clear my mind, but I've never been good at that and he didn't stop. I flung Fudge across the room and knocked him out. Professor McGonagall called my name but I told her that I wasn't Harry Potter anymore. Percy," Harry looked to the motionless figure, "had his wand pointed at me, but McGonagall called me again, I don't know how but Voldemort was forced out of my mind and I was in control again. I took Percys wand and stunned him and then we found you." Harry finished looking at Fawkes who sat silently in the corner.
"Our worst fears have come true Headmaster, Voldemort can possess me." Harry spoke in a monotone voice and looked sadly at the phoenix. Suddenly it burst into flames and surrounding the ashes were the wands of the occupants in the room. No one else seemed shocked by the appearance of their wands they just solemnly walked to the perch and took their wand. Harry was the last one to retrieve his wand and he could tell that all eyes were on him. "Why did?" Harry started to ask motioning to his wand.
"Your wand," Albus said softly to Harry, "is connected to you and when you are separated from it for too long it will find a way to find you. Since a phoenix is a highly magical creature they appeared with the sudden burst of magic." Harry nodded and stayed close by the perch.
"However," Albus said addressing the entire group, "it is obvious that we cannot return to our homes or to Grimwald Place, staying at Hogwarts is out of the question, but that doesn't leave us with much options. Contacting the rest to of the Order to be assemble and re-located is easy enough, but were will we go?" Albus had no twinkle in his eye, but he held strength and determination.
"What about were you went last year, the Ministry couldn't find you there." Harry said quietly.
"That could work, but, no there isn't enough room for all of us to stay there." Albus looked deep in thought until Severus spoke cooly.
"Should we really stay all together, if by chance they did find us like last time then they would have all of us. The people who weren't taken the first time should be left where they are. That decreases our numbers to hide by a little more than half."
"Yes you're right Severus, but it has to be some place where if need be we can all gather for meetings."
"What about Beauxbatons? Hagrid is close to Madame Maxime and it would be safe there."
"I doubt she would want to put her school in danger like that, and going all the way to France when we might be needed here is too much."
"We can apperate Albus, it wouldn't be that difficult when some are still staying here."
"Not all of us can." Albus said pensively, "but we could teach them. The Ministry can't detect when people apperate in and out of places, it could work." He shook his head, "No we can't put her school in danger like that, we need somewhere in London or close to it." Everyone was silent for a while until Albus smile and clapped his hands.
"I know the perfect place, Godricks Hollow, its just outside of London and it's been deserted for years. The wards around there are sill intact and we could teach them how to apperate quickly there." Albus looked around the room smiling.
Harry knew that he knew that name from somewhere, it was familiar yet he couldn't place where he had heard it from before.
McGonagall moved forward towards Albus, "really Albus do you thinks its wise to make Harry stay there, we already took him to Grimwald. I don't thinks it fair to him."
"What?" Harry asked, he knew it was a familiar name but he knew he hadn't been there before. "Why would it not be fair to me, did Sirius live there too?" McGonagall looked at him with sad eyes and slowly shook her head. He looked around the room and everyone else had similar expressions on their face except for Snape who was, as always, exempt of emotion.
"He doesn't remember." Remus whispered quietly.
"What don't I bloody remember?" Harry looked to Dumbledore, "what else have you been keeping from me, what is Godricks Hollow?"
Albus was silent for a moment, so Harry looked to his Head of House she didn't say anything either, finally someone filled him in. Snape spoke plainly without spite or viciousness in his voice, "it's where you used to live. Where your parents hid from the Dark Lord."
That's it for now! I'm so sorry for not updating earlier, but the end of the quarter was hectic for me and now I'm on spring break! woo hoo! Hopefully I'll get the next one up soon and I'll go through this one and fix my mistakes. I just wanted to get this to you now because I made you wait so long! I'm evil. Haha. Well review and all that good stuff. As always at least ten, even though you always do a lot more than that! :P I bask in my review glory!!