I feel like I have to put content warnings every time Tim's mental health begins to plummet, so if you're worried about the content warnings on some chapters, they might just be because I'm writing Tim's POV and sometimes his POV makes outlandish things sound true, so the warning is there so that you're aware that this is, in fact, unhealthy and not the author trying to push some terrible mindset onto the readers. As always, if there's a content warning I'm missing that you think would be helpful to have on a chapter, be sure to let me know.
That being said, content warnings can be found at the end of this chapter (for the aforementioned content).

On the bright side, Tim didn't have to wait long for news about Harry and Ron because an owl came tapping at Tim's window the next morning with a tiny piece of parchment attached to its leg by a ribbon.

Breakfast in my office.

~ Albus Dumbledore

The exclusion of the 'Professor' title was enough to get Tim out of bed and practically sprinting down the stairs. This was Order business. Surprisingly enough, no one was waiting for Tim at the gargoyle, which was a sign that Dumbledore both knew that Tim knew the current password and did not care to change it in light of this knowledge.

When Tim entered the office, he found that Hermione was already there, anxiously nibbling on a piece of toast. McGonagall was bent over talking to Dumbledore, who was sitting at his desk with closed eyes, nodding at her words.

Hermione smiled when he came into view, though it was strained. Despite Tim's efforts to distract her last night, it seemed that she hadn't managed to get quite enough sleep.

"Ah, Timothy." Dumbledore opened his eyes and gestured to the seat opposite Hermione. "Come, have a seat." Tim obliged, snatching a Danish from the silver tray on the desk as he did.

"First off, I would like to apologize for any anxiety that came from Harry and the Weasleys' sudden disappearance. I can assure you that they are all safe."

The amount of tension that left Hermione when he said this was so great it almost seemed overexaggerated. Her shoulders dropped several inches, she uncurled her legs, and she let out a huge sigh.

"As for the nature of their disappearance, I regret to inform you that Arthur Weasley was injured while doing the work of the Order of the Phoenix."

Hermione gasped, clapping her hands over her mouth and carelessly letting her toast drop to the floor. "I-is he all right?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Thankfully, we were able to reach him in time before he was in critical condition."

"Because Harry had a dream about it," Tim realized. "Because of his telepathic link to Voldemort." He was really just thinking aloud, but he didn't expect the explosive silence that followed his words.

"H-how did you know that?" McGonagall stammered, looking back and forth between him and Dumbledore.

"Wait, that's actually what happened?" Hermione blurted out.

Tim sighed. "Well, I could give you the step-by-step deduction, but that might take a while. Let's just say that I'm a half-decent detective."

McGonagall openly gaped at him. "No detective work would be able to come up with such a conclusion! That's preposterous!"

He groaned. "Ugh, okay, but I'm gonna be quick about it, since Dumbledore still has a story to finish."

"Professor Dum—"

"All the Weasleys disappear, so this is a family matter. Harry is gone, but not Hermione, so he's not just there to emotionally support Ron, since none of his siblings brought anyone. Harry had a nightmare, and he's had dreams concerning Voldemort for a while now, if I understand correctly. Arthur Weasley got hurt doing Order business, but you reached him in time. Obviously, he wasn't working with someone else, or else they'd have gotten help faster or tended to Arthur themselves. This means that either someone came across Arthur and helped him, and Harry just happened to have a nightmare and disappear with the Weasley's, or else it was Harry's nightmare that caused him and the Weasley's to leave. He somehow found out about the attack, that's why they left so suddenly and never returned to the dorms."

For a moment, everyone just stared at Tim, something that he was used to but definitely still not comfortable with. Then Dumbledore chuckled, "It seems I have once again underestimated your abilities, Timothy."

"That was incredible, Tim!" gasped Hermione. Tim blushed. He was so used to working with people that were used to his deduction skills that having her praise him like that was a little startling and not unwelcomed. He felt proud of himself for a grand total of three seconds before an inexplicable guilt settled down deep in his stomach.

"Yes, Mr. Weasley was attacked by a snake, and Harry was indeed the one to warn us of its occurrence."

You should have known that the attack was coming.

"Mr. Weasley is now stable after receiving treatment at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries."

You should have been there.

"The other Weasleys, as well as Harry, are currently staying at Grimmauld Place, and I believe they will be staying there through Christmas."

You could have protected him.

"I'm going there, too," Hermione announced, simultaneously surprising everyone and no one. She stood up, grabbing her bookbag. "I can be ready to leave in half an hour."

"Unfortunately, I'm afraid that you will have to wait until the term has officially ended," Dumbledore sighed, shaking his head.

Hermione let out what could only be described as an indignant squawk. "But you let Harry and the others go—"

"Which has put our 'High Inquisitor' on edge," McGonagall interrupted, the amount of venom in her voice as she spat out that title enough to fill a mason jar. "It took most of the night for Professor Dumbledore to convince her to allow it," and then she muttered, "even though he's the headmaster here…"

Dumbledore nodded. "Although I did explain Mr. Weasley's condition and the fact that he was staying at St. Mungo's, she seemed more upset at the idea that so many students were able to slip out of the castle right under her nose. Of course, I had already given their permission to leave, and I was not about to take that back, not even for our dear Professor Umbridge." Tim barely stopped himself from snorting at those last words.

Tim could tell that Hermione was ready to debate the two teachers on this topic, but upon taking another look at McGonagall and probably thinking about the fact that the woman looked so tired with everything, she just hefted up her bag again, grabbing an apple.

"I suppose it can't be helped, then," she sighed. "But the moment Herbology is done, I can promise you that I will be packed and ready to leave."

"Of course, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said gently.

There was an awkward pause before McGonagall said, "Well then, I expect you have classes to be attending."

"Actually, I have a free period next, Professor," Hermione told her, but one look at said professor's face was enough to make Hermione flinch. "I-I mean, yes, ma'am. I'll be going." Before she left, she shot Tim a fleeting glancing that clearly said, "You better tell me what they tell you," and then let the escalator take her down.

Dumbledore then turned to McGonagall, who looked back and forth between him and Tim for a moment before pressing her lips together and heading towards the door herself.

Dumbledore waited until he heard the echo of the gargoyle moving before beginning. "Timothy, in light of these recent events, I have decided that it is necessary to let you in on some matters that I do not yet feel comfortable divulging with the Order as a whole."

Tim tried not to show the surprise her felt upon having this revealed to him. That he, a stranger, relatively speaking, was being told information that Dumbledore had not yet told McGonagall, was…well, he didn't know yet what it was. He would have to wait and hear what the man had to say before deciding on that.

Dumbledore folded his hands in front of him, his long fingers tapping each other nervously. "I would ask that you not repeat anything said in this office to anyone under any circumstances."

"Of course," Tim nodded, which really meant, "I'll keep your secrets unless I think someone's life in in jeopardy." He knew how hard leadership was, how important confidentiality was in keeping the order. He was not about to go revealing this man's secrets to anyone who asked, no matter how that would probably frustrate Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"Thank you." For a moment, Dumbledore stared off past Tim to where Fawkes was perched, pruning his wings. "It seems as though you are already aware as to the connection Harry and Voldemort have."

Tim nodded. "I know that the scar was made from the rebound that the Killing Curse had when hitting a spell that Harry's mother put on him and that Voldemort was unable to touch Harry because of this, but since his rebirth, Voldemort has overcome that problem. I also know that Harry sometimes feels strong emotions of Voldemort's and has, on occasion, even been able to see glimpses of the man through a dream state." Tim thought it best to lay out everything he knew so that Dumbledore could fill in the gaps when necessary. He'd picked up bits and pieces from his time spent with the Order as well as everything Harry, Ron, and Hermione had told him during their nighttime Q&A's.

Dumbledore nodded. "All that is true. Unfortunately, I have good reason to believe that this connection goes in both directions or, at least, it has since Voldemort's return to physical form. I fear that Harry is in danger of being influenced by Voldemort, a master of mental manipulation."

Tim's eyes widened. Harry's words to him a while back echoed in his mind. "I wouldn't mind detentions with Dumbledore if it would get him to stop pretending like I don't exist."

"That's why you've been avoiding Harry," Tim realized aloud. "You don't want Voldemort to be able to see into your conversations as the leader of the Order of the Phoenix. It's a precaution."

Dumbledore's eyebrows furrowed, but he nodded.

"Why haven't you told Harry that?" Tim asked. "I'm pretty sure he thinks that you hate him or something."

Dumbledore shook his head concernedly. "It would not change the fact that I cannot be around him until his mental defenses are fortified." That, Tim could understand. Not the 'keeping it from Harry' business, but, again, unless Harry's life was in jeopardy, Tim wasn't going to spill Dumbledore's secrets for him.

Upon sensing that Tim was not going to protest further, Dumbledore continued. "Now, I have been told by Severus that he attempted to break into your mind in order to extract information when you showed up at Grimmauld Place, but he was unsuccessful."

Tim nodded. "Yeah, I've had some training in the mind-guarding department."

"Training that was good enough to stump an incredibly gifted Legilimens. Severus himself is an incredible Occlumens, able to block out Voldemort himself."

"Snape's made contact with Voldemort?" Tim leaned forward in disbelief. "And he survived?"

"At the time, Voldemort was not aware of Severus's connection to the Order."

Tim thought back to the long sleeves and harsh demeanor. "Wait, did Snape used to be a Death Eater?"

"He has since renounced his ways—"

Tim hurriedly waved his hands in front of him. "Oh, no, don't get me wrong, it's not that big a deal, I won't judge him for it. I was just wondering." For Snape to have a 'connection to the Order' while in the presence of Voldemort meant that he was, at some point, a double agent, and that it was notably before the end of the war, when Death Eaters were denouncing Voldemort left and right. That spoke volumes about the man's character.

Dumbledore looked relieved to hear this. "Yes, he was once a Death Eater. Because of this, he can testify to Voldemort's Legilimency, which is notoriously exceptional. Severus is the only wizard I know who has been able to resist Voldemort's mental attacks, excluding myself." Oh, there was a story there.

"All of this has led me to believe that you, Timothy, might be a better Occlumens than Severus. Might I inquire as to who taught you?"

"Well, a couple people have," Tim admitted, "but it was mostly Martian Manhunter, Batman, and…um…yep, that's all…" No way was Tim about to tell Dumbledore that he'd learned many a technique in mental defense from Ra's al Ghul. Ra's had been the one to teach Bruce, after all, and that meant that Ra's felt the technique necessary to be in his 'Replacing the Head of the Demon' training program.

Dumbledore nodded. "Very interesting. I am letting you know all of this because it is my intention to have Severus teach Harry Occlumency starting next semester."

Tim nodded. That did seem to be where the conversation was headed.

"In case it proves particularly difficult, I was hoping you would be there to coach him in addition."

"Yeah, sure."

Dumbledore seemed startled with how quickly Tim agreed to his request. And it took him a moment to recover from that. "Thank you, Timothy. Your assistance to the Order is invaluable."

"No problem." Tim decided that now was as good a time as any to continue his own investigation. "If I might ask—what exactly was Arthur Weasley doing when he was attacked?"

Dumbledore nodded again. "Ah, yes. I thought you might ask. Arthur was on-duty keeping guard over the Department of Mysteries."

Why does that name sound familiar—? Of course! In Constantine's message awhile back he had made sure to mention that the Department of Mysteries was a place of interest.

"Why?"

"There is something there that Voldemort wants."

He's avoiding the question. "Which is…?"

For a solid thirty seconds, Dumbledore was silent, as if he was expecting Tim to drop the question entirely. Upon realizing that this would not be the case, the old man sighed. With a flutter of his wings, Fawkes flew over to Dumbledore and perched on the back of his chair, cooing softly.

"The Department of Mysteries is home to many things, including a collection of every known prophecy made since the conception of the Ministry of Magic. Voldemort wants one of these prophecy records, as it contains a prophecy made about him and Harry, though he has only secondhand information about its contents."

"And one person is expected to guard this from Voldemort?"

"If Voldemort indeed showed himself, then that person is meant to warn the rest of the Order as to what is about to go down."

"Okay," Tim said, "so, if members of the Order are able to access the records of these prophecies so easily, what's stopped Death Eaters in the Ministry from getting their hands on this record?"

"Ah, yes, that's where things get complicated." Pfft. Complicated? Try being a part-time vigilante keeping track of who knows your secret identity. "See, the records are enchanted such that they may only be handled by those about whom the prophecy have been made."

"So, the only people who could theoretically retrieve this prophecy are Voldemort and Harry, and showing up to the Department of Mysteries himself would be announcing his presence to the world, which he's clearly been avoiding as long as possible. And you're afraid that Voldemort may manipulate Harry into retrieving the prophecy for him."

"Exactly."

"I feel like (I know that) Harry would really benefit from knowing this all," Tim told the man.

Dumbledore sighed. "To let Harry know about this would be to let him know about the contents of the prophecy itself, which is a burden I am not willing to place upon him."

"You know the contents of the prophecy?" Tim gasped. "What's it about?"

Dumbledore sighed again, and Tim felt like the man looked older with each sigh he made. "As much as I have revealed to you this morning, Timothy, I am not yet ready to place this burden upon you, either. Trust me when I say that it does not matter in the context of what we have discussed."

It sounds like it matters a ton, Tim thought, but he again refrained from pushing the headmaster. Tim was more than familiar with the secrets leaders often had to keep, and though he had only known Dumbledore for a couple of months, Tim could safely say that he trusted Dumbledore's judgement. And, like every good leader, Dumbledore probably had someone else with whom he confided in, someone who could challenge his judgement when necessary. Tim wasn't that person, nor was he ever going to be.

"I understand," he replied.

True to her word, Hermione was packed and ready to leave as soon as Herbology finished, but she still had to wait a couple more hours before the term officially ended.

"Are you sure you don't want to spend Christmas with us?" she asked him, as she had decided to stay at Grimmauld Place over winter break instead of going skiing with her parents, who apparently 'wouldn't mind' her absence. Tim didn't try to convince her otherwise, being himself intimately familiar with the concept of lying to one's family because of more pressing matters.

Tim nodded. "Dumbledore promised to keep me updated, and you can always send me an owl if we need to talk."

"As always, you're right," she sighed. Before Tim had any say in the matter, she grabbed him in a tight embrace. "Thank you."

Tim blinked, wrapping his arms around her. "What for?" A muffled noise came from the girl in his arms, and Hermione yanked herself out of the hug, grabbing his shoulders fiercely.

"Oh, don't be like that," she huffed. "For being there for me. And, you know, all the other stuff you've done the past couple of months."

Tim's mind immediately started supplying all of the negative experiences he'd had this past semester. Getting two students kidnapped. Failing to stop Harry from cutting his hand open sooner. Blowing my cover in front of three high schoolers. Yeah, I've definitely been busy.

"No problem," he told her, and he genuinely meant it. It wasn't a problem, it was the least he could do, frankly, he'd done the bare minimum, it was nothing that garnered any gratitude. But he had time now to make up for it or at least to have something to show for his time here.

Tim sat down in an eerily quiet common room that evening with a pen and paper and a mug of coffee he'd smuggled up from the kitchens, though, since he could count on one hand the number of students still in the castle, it wasn't that much of a challenge.

If he was going to get anything done any time soon, he needed a plan. None of this potentially-useful-at-some-point work like tracking pureblood genealogies, none of this mindless searching for information that Dumbledore probably knew already. He needed to do better—to be better.

Questions:

- Voldemort – type of immortality and how to combat it

- how was he defeated the first time? Why didn't he die completely?

- keep track of Harry's mood swings

- where is V's base of operations?

- how to get gov't to take things srsly

- who's pulling the strings

- to whom does Umbridge report

- what is U's goal rn

- V's timetable – when we he strike? When does JLA need to get prepped to help?

- What is V doing when not prophecy? lots of free time unaccounted for

- ask ghosts about V as a student? Bloody Baron?

- where tf is Constantine

It wasn't a great list, not by a long shot, but it was somewhere to start, at least. He spent the next couple of hours rereading The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, a book he'd read over the summer which had a lot of good information about the First Wizarding War, though it admittedly suffered from citing a lot of secondhand sources and lacked the sort of first-person accounts that would have helped Tim more. Nonetheless, it had been a great way for him and Constantine to get some solid information on the somewhat vague threat hanging over Great Britain and the rest of the world. Sure, Tim had read it nearly a dozen times already and marked it up so thoroughly that the margins were more crowded than the actual text boxes, but he knew more than anyone else how easy it was for him to look things over. Tim didn't have the luxury of taking that chance, not when so many lives were on the line, and definitely not with so many people counting on him.

I promise an intervention is coming soon, just bear with me.

CW: very unhealthy mentality concerning work and self-care (or lack thereof)