October 30th, 1999
Location Unknown
Albus Dumbledore huddled in a small hole in the ground with other survivors of Voldemort's attack. For the past four years, he had been wandering Europe, helping where able, following his removal from his offices and the Order uniting against him, forcing him out. During that time, he had had much time to think over his decisions, and the only thing he could feel now was guilt. By proclaiming Nathan 'Boy-Who-Lived,' he had doomed an innocent child to a life of neglect, and his refusal to see the truth about Voldemort's survival lead to that same child being condemned to Azkaban. When he continued the search for Harry Potter, hoping to bring him home and reunite a shattered family, Nathan instead launched a full-blown campaign to remove him from office, succeeding in under three days.
The worst of harms come from the best of intentions, his mentor had once told him. It seems he fell into that trap as well.
A sound in the distance rang through Dumbledore's ears.
"They are coming," he warned. "Be prepared."
At least he had a chance to right one wrong.
- o -
October 31st, 1999
Colorado Springs, Colorado
The car raced down the parking lot at the two men near the van, blue sparks lashing forward forming a shield of sorts in front of the silvery car. Cobalt light pulsed along ribs protruding from the chassis. Abruptly, in a great flash of light, the car disappeared, twin trails of fire rushing past the two figures observing the event.
One of them, an older man with hair always splayed out in all directions, started jumping up and down, crying out, "What did I tell you?! Eighty-eight miles per hour!"
Harry stared in fascination at the small box on the wall. Only a few days prior, Jack and Daniel had introduced him to the wonders of television, and he hadn't been able to get far, he had watched the Star Wars Trilogy, Independence Day, and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. He was now watching Back to the Future. It was a wonderful distraction to keep his mind off of the events of the past several months.
First, a naquadah-rich asteroid hurtled at the homeworld of Humanity, nearly ending with the destruction of all life on Earth. This was immediately after followed by a desperate message from Narim, the Tollan ambassador with Stargate Command, begging for assistance in rescuing what was left of his civilization from Tanith's revenge. The Tel'tak used to avert the asteroid crisis was sent, along with three SG teams, to assist them. It was there that they learned that Tanith was not acting alone. The only upshot of the situation with the Tollan was that they were now more amenable to give some of their technology to the Tau'ri.
Meanwhile, more worlds were falling, each to a different Goa'uld with the same technology. Finally, Jacob Carter and Selmak, a member of the Tok'ra, revealed to them the identity of the individual orchestrating events for the past few years at least: Anubis, a system lord whose crimes were revolting even to the Goa'uld, whose exile had endured for a span longer than the Tok'ra's entire existence.
All of SG-1 quite appreciated the distraction of introducing Harry to television. It forced them to not dwell on what had transpired.
- o -
Nathan's Journal, November 15th, 1999
The Order of the Phoenix is entirely bloody useless, the lot of them! It's been years since any aid has been rendered to another country fighting Voldemort! If it continues like this, within a matter of years, Voldemort will be the undisputed lord and master of everything in Europe that breathes!
- o -
Nathan's Journal, February 1st, 2000
Potter Manor fell under attack yesterday. It's the first outright attack on British soil since Minister Bones finished "cleaning house," so to speak. The Order is on edge. Voldemort is planning something.
- o -
Nathan's Journal, August 9th, 2000
Attacks in the mainland have slowed down. Voldemort seems to be in a recruiting phase. It seems also that the resistance in occupied countries has disappeared entirely. How many died before they gave up? How many were tortured before the rest realized no help was coming? How much blood will Kingsley allow to stain his hands through inaction? Hermione would never have let this stand. If only she were still here...
- o -
Nathan's Journal, December 11th, 2000
Ron is officially a member of the Order of the Phoenix. He was… disappointed… at the lack of anything being done to oppose the Death Eaters. After the meeting, he and Fred rushed off together. They're planning something, and I think I know what it is.
- o -
Nathan's Journal, March 15th, 2000
Amelia Bones is dead. Voldemort killed her himself. Kingsley has finally realized his methods are not working, and has stepped down. The Order is in chaos trying to find a new leader in this time of crisis, for Europe is fully under the Dark Lord's dominion as of today.
- o -
March 16th, 2000
Embarkation Room, Cheyenne Mountain
"All rise. Harry Potter, step forward," Hammond commanded. "For over a year now, Harold James Potter has shown all the qualities expected of an officer in the United States Air Force, and a member of this base. With the President's approval, I hereby grant you a commission in the Air Force, and the rank of Captain."
- o -
Great Hall, Hogwarts School
"No offense, Sirius, but you're too easily distracted to be a good leader."
"None taken, Minnie, none taken. I don't want that job anyway, too much bloody paperwork," he responded with a smirk.
This was the third meeting where discussion centered on selecting a new leader. It was also the third meeting where Nathan was more tense than a drawn bowstring, waiting for the two Weasley brothers attending the meeting to do what he suspected they would.
Discussion halted when Astoria, Daphne's little sister, pushed a folder into the middle of the table. McGonagall, presiding over the meeting pro tempore, summoned it to her. Her eyebrows escaped to her hairline as she read its contents, leafing through it rapidly. Finally, she lowered the papers to the surface of her podium. She announced Astoria's nomination, and Fred and Ron smirked in unison.
- - - o - - -