Chapter 8: The Orders first task

Luna excused herself from Jason as soon as she could to find a girls bathroom. Hyperventilating, she found the closest sink and splashed her face with water. The cold didn't do anything to remove her nerves. So she tried again, and again. The more time that had passed since leaving the potions room, the more it dawned on her just what had happened. Voldemort was going to find out she had outed Peter and was bound to wonder how she had known. Only the very inner circle knew that fact. They were often masked at all the wider group meetings. Voldemort was now going to seek her out. All her meticulous effort she had put in to try and stay under the radar was for nothing. Luna hoped she would be able to slowly gain allies to help her remove the Horcruxes and Voldemort in one foul swoop. This plan became more difficult being placed in Slytherin. This plan seemed impossible now. Luna suspected there would be followers of Voldemort chasing her up within the week to organise a meeting for them. On the other hand she had gotten her message across, even if she had lied to do so. They wouldn't question that Peter Pettigrew was a spy after she announced her supposed relation to Voldemort. At least this was better than having people know she was a time traveller. Having people trying to break into her mind for information on the future would be difficult. It was believable too, being Voldemorts daughter. People would have wanted to send her straight to St Mungos if she had said she was from 50 years in the future. Time turners didn't even exist yet here. This was the best cover she could come up with in the moment for why she had so much information on him. Even if Voldemort denied it, no-one would believe him because of all the other things he lied about to gain power. Maybe one day she could share who she was with family and tell them about Harry, but right now the safest thing for their protection was them believing she was a Riddle. So she was going to wait in anticipation for people trying to get her in front of Voldemort and come up with a believable back story. What Luna wasn't banking on was a meeting of a different kind so soon.

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was sitting quietly at his desk contemplating each of the names he had written down on a parchment in front of him. This particular year group had shown talent beyond any year he had seen as a Headmaster. It could have been because of the impending war the students would face when they left school, that they felt they needed to be prepared for. It simply could have been due to strong rivalries that had formed over the years, pushing one another further than normal. Maybe it was even pure dumb luck, but he very much doubted this option. Whatever the reason, there was undoubtable talent that couldn't go to waste. Albus considered himself a fairly good judge of character, but even he couldn't get things right all the time. So with great scrutiny he was mulling over whom he would ask to join his secret organisation, 'The Order of the Phoenix.' Albus was interrupted his musings when the top three people on his list barged into his office in the flesh. His first thought was what kind of year was this going to be when the head boy and girl plus their side kick were here on day two of class. This had to be some kind of record, although breaking records was not abnormal for this particular cohort. Albus folded his paper and put in in his top drawer to be reviewed later. He then acknowledged his students in his usual calm and collected teaching manner.

"Sirius, Lily, James, what can I do for you?"

A little breathlessly Lily was the first to reply."Sir, we just came straight from potions, where we were brewing amortentia, and, and Luna thought she was in love with Sirius, so, so she told us secrets about Voldemort."

Ahh not even a flinch at saying the name, this is why she was on his list.. Albus stared at the visitors with pensive eyes. He had wondered how his new student would fit into this year group having been friends with the Prewitt's and yet a parcel mouth Slytherin.

"Sir, did you hear what I just said? We have information about Voldemort," Lily repeated shortly, but looked apologetic after she said it remembering it was the headmaster she was speaking with.

"Miss Evans take a seat please. I'll be back in a moment after I find Miss Finnegan. New students being poisoned on the second day of class is a first for me to deal with," Albus replied in his same relaxed voice.

Sirius jumped into the conversation, not happy with the direction it had taken. "Sir, she's a death eater. She's dangerous and should be expelled, not bought to the headmasters office for a hot tea."

"Currently I have far less evidence for her expulsion than others in the room Sirius," Albus replied giving him a pointed look.

Sirius shut his mouth quickly and Albus swept from the room to find Luna.

Luna was easy to find, and looked a little upset but Albus didn't comment on this. The walk was in silence to the Headmasters office.

"Take a seat please Luna," Albus said politely as if this was just a visit between old friends.

Albus continued, "Tell me Luna, how have you found your first couple of days?"

Luna was completely honest and looked downcast. "A little tough if I'm being truthful SIr. Someone took it upon themselves to steal the new girls shoes yesterday, my house mates only want to know if I'm a pureblood or not and people have been asking me to Hogsmeade left, right and centre. What even is this 'Madame Puddifoot's place?" Luna asked exasperated. Luna observed Sirius exchange a brief grin with James at this comment.

"Ahh I'm sorry to hear that Luna. It must be difficult joining a year group who will be very curious and weary about a stranger in their midst." Albus stated staring over his half moon spectacles at the three on the other side of the room.

"No sir. These things are minor in the big scheme of things. I get to learn in one of the finest institutes in Europe which makes it all worth it. I'm used to dealing with a little unpleasantness. Is there a reason that you asked me here sir?" Luna asked as she pointedly looked in the direction of the other three students in the room but intentionally didn't out Sirius.

"It has come to my attention that when you applied for this school, you gave me false information Luna. Your class mates have just informed me that your parents were not in fact gone, but very much alive. Would you mind explaining this to me?"

Luna dropped her head and rubbed her already red eyes, "Sir, I'm sorry for lying to you. I just really wanted to come here. I've had a sheltered upbringing and I wanted to experience some life outside the four walls of my house I grew up in. It's not exactly like I could just show up and say 'hey, I'm Voldemorts daughter, you know the Dark Lord, but you should definitely accept me into your school. It's not something he will even admit to, so I didn't think anyone would find out. I'm not very smart, as I've only ever learned from home schooling, and find it hard to pick new things up. I thought successfully doing the potion would be impossible, because I couldn't brew it in my wildest dreams. I also didn't really think about the consequences before I revealed I was a parcel mouth. I've just been so sheltered my whole life and wanted to fit in. My mother didn't even want me to come here because she didn't want me to be made fun of. I had to wait until I was 17 and could start making my own decisions."

"Luna we have a policy of accepting everyone, regardless of their background,' Albus said this last part deliberately staring in Sirius' direction to try and remove the indignant look from his face.

"And I'm afraid it's my turn to apologise to you now Luna. Normally I take pride in having Hogwarts be the safest place in the world and I'm sorry that you were poisoned on your second day of class, by a student by whom I should perhaps have had a firmer hand on, given unfortunately this is not a first time offence."

"Sir, it was not his fault. I just didn't think through the repercussions of what would happen, just like what I did with being a Parcel mouth. I willingly took the potion, and I don't even know half of what I said because Jason couldn't fill me in on what was said behind the silencing charm, which I am very grateful for by the way." Luna said looking in James' direction.

"I must take full responsibility for my actions, because if it ever got out that someone else was responsible for revealing Toms secrets, it would give that person a death sentence. And I wouldn't wish that fate on my worst enem,." Luna said solemnly.

"Is there a reason why you refer to him as Tom, instead of Dad Luna?"

Luna took a deep steadying breath and took a moment of silence before starting her made up story that mirrored a movie she had seen.

"I was 7 when I first met him. My mother dressed me up in the most beautiful blue dress she had hand made. It matched my eyes. I spent the hour before he came searching for the best flowers in the garden to give as a gift. I remember being so excited, I kept annoying Mum asking 'is he here? Is he Here?' She had taught me how to act like a lady and how to stand properly and give a slight bow when I introduced myself to him. I remember peaking from round the back of the house so I could see when he arrived in anticipation and excitement. I then quietly waited in the hall for Mum to call me out to meet him. I was so careful to be on my best behaviour. I carefully walked with a straight back, straightened out my dress and smiled up at him and I'll never forget the conversation that followed. My mother had said, 'Isn't she beautiful Tom?' He then said condescendingly, 'Did you pick blue on purpose Jen? Because it brings out the colour in her eyes?' He then shouted for Toula, the house elf. My mother told him 'She's not here I sent her to town,' and he came back with, 'well that leaves us in a fix doesn't it.' There was silence between them so I was brave. I stepped forward looked in his eyes and said 'Papa.' Do you know what he replied to that? He said, 'don't call me that.' I then went on to thank him for the gifts he had sent me. 'Hush Luna,' my mother had said. I didn't realise they were meant for her at the time. 'What gifts, tell me,' he had said. I told him how I liked the candies and the best of all was the crystal serpent. He then said snidely to my mother, 'Indeed, I'm so pleased to know how much my gifts mean.' She then told me, 'darling go outside and play now.' I want to stay here I had complained. He then said, 'I want you to go outside to play. I want to talk with your mother alone.' I had asked, can I come back once you're done talking? The last thing he ever said to me was, 'your mother will come get you when she's ready. Now run along, as you've been told.' I then hid underneath the window outside so that I could listen in to the rest of their conversation. I didn't need to be so close to hear though, he yelled at my mother saying, 'I bought back that serpent from America for you and you throw it away on a child.'

My mother replied saying, 'she is your daughter. Do you know what it's like for me? Walking down the street with a child out of wedlock and no father to be seen. I gave up everything for you.' Then the worst part was him saying, 'she should never have existed Jen. I sent you to a Doctor to get rid of that mess.' My mother swore at him, then I heard a loud crash and he said, 'if you ever associate my name with that, she'll be dead before the second person hears about it.' My mother over the years has told me stories about him but its normally a sore point that is avoided. Now that a whole class has heard the secret. I'm afraid I won't last for long when I leave school."

Albus looked somber as he replied, "Luna I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like for you. If this is how you feel though, I'm sure we could figure something out to keep you in the castle after school. We have made exceptions before. In fact you might have met Hagrid who isn't allowed to use magic. I heard you have a very beautiful singing voice, perhaps you could help Professor Flitwick with the choir. Music is something that can lift peoples spirits in these dark times we are coming into." Then Albus letting his curiosity get the better of him, like always, transfigured a guitar from a book and handed it to Luna. "Music can be a really helpful way that people process and deal with grief. I have found it most helpful when I have pondered some of the sadder moments in my life. Perhaps you could share something with us?"

Luna who had never really had to deal with oppression in her life, like she had just described, did her best to think of a song that could capture this. The best she could come up with was a country teenage girl song about living in a big old city and someone being mean. This seemed to appease Albus though and he clapped after Luna finished and looked at her over his half moon spectacles and said, "very impressive indeed. I could get used to listening to that. Please don't worry about your fate after school, I would never send someone away from this place who may be in danger. Thank you for your honesty as well Luna, I'd like to touch base with you again at some stage to see how you are doing but for now, please go and enjoy the nice September evening."

Luna nodded and said, "thank you Professor, likewise," as she walked out of the office not looking toward the others as she went.

After the door clicked behind her, Albus addressed Lily, James and Sirius again. "And thank you to you three for bringing this piece of information to me. I think that if this war with Voldemort were like a game of chess, one of my pawns would have just turned into a Queen. A game changing piece, if I do say so myself. Did any of you notice anything about Luna as she described her story to us just now?"

The three shook their heads, so Albus continued, "the way that she carefully paused in parts about Tom was very telling. She knows more about him than she's let on. I could see her eyes flash anywhere but me, when I bought up Hagrid and not performing magic. I need to ask you three to do a task for me as your first role as members of The Order of the Pheonix. I need you to find out as much as you can about her by befriending her. She has obviously had a lot of hurt and trauma in the past, so it may be hard to gain information from her about this sensitive part of her life, but it may be crucial in this war." The three nodded looking happy to have been given such an important job from the Headmaster and Albus dismissed them. Like Luna, he urged them to get outside and enjoy the evening September air while it lasted.