The Order of the Pheonix
Chapter Twenty
Riddle House
Everyone was asleep when he left to check on the locket. Worryingly, it was gone as well. That was three that he knew of, now missing. Hogwarts and Albania should secure certainly. He was growing concerned though. The idea that Dumbledore had perhaps discovered his plans…had somehow intercepted them…no though, Dumbledore was gone. From what his men had told him he had lost favor among the wizards, was removed as Headmaster, and was now missing perhaps imprisoned according to Rookwood.
So, even if he had discovered Voldemort's secret, he could not have removed all of the Horcruxes. He had been gone by the time Voldemort himself had been retrieved from that area. Unless…unless Pettigrew was yet another traitor and spy. Voldemort shook his head dismissing the idea. Why would an enemy helped bring him back to power; especially one as dimwitted and cowardly as Pettigrew. No, those two were still secure. Still, he must ensure at least one remain safe and available in the event of another miscalculation. Nagini would serve well enough. As would Pettigrew, he was a liability that could no longer be tolerated after so many mistakes.
Burrow
Roy and Edward arranged a meeting with Fudge for this evening, who had elected to meet them here instead of the Offices. He was concerned that word would get out before he was ready for it if they continued to meet there. Roy and Edward were more understanding of this than certain other members of the Order having spent several years of their lives having meetings of this sort.
The Weasleys stayed for the meeting, but as per Snape's suggestion, the rest of the Order moved to Sirius Black's house. It was bigger and more secure. It also was a safer plan to ensure not all members of the Order were present in the event that Fudge had decided in coverup and was coming to arrest them.
Molly believed this last part to be unlikely if not completely outlandish but even Arthur agreed it was a risk. Fudge arrived late, the cover of darkness adding to the secrecy of the meeting. Molly offered a late meal then they all sat together in the kitchen. Molly admitted to herself she was nervous. She had never really entertained high ranking officials before, and now she had three from two countries sitting around her table calmly.
She was also distracted with concern for her children. Edward had offered to let her speak to them earlier when he had gone into the local village to use their telephone. She had considered it, but had declined at the time agreeing to reconsider should this drag out for long. Arthur, however, had happily joined Edward and assured her when he returned the children all seemed happy.
He then explained over and over how interesting speaking into the telephone was and how Edward had explained to him that he could use a normal tone instead of shouting and they would hear him just fine. Apparently it was true, as Edward himself continued to speak to his wife for some time rather quietly, before and after Arthur had had his turn. He had talked to his children as well, from the overheard snatches Arthur heard though he had been actively not trying to listen .
Fudge thanked her for the stew before he turned his attention to the other men. "We must be careful how we handle this thing. You do not understand how bad things were before He was defeated. It will cause a panic to simply announce his return."
"It has already caused panics for his people to escape your prison, and the children that went missing." Edward frowned. "We do know how to handle the press and civilians though."
"What my son means is we are well aware that it is best to control how this story comes out to minimize the panic it will cause. He understands and agrees, but unfortunately it is was one the parts of politics he dislikes the most." Roy added.
"Why should we lie though, wouldn't it be better if everyone knew what to watch for?" Molly asked and Arthur nodded.
"That's the reason I hate this part. In theory, yes I agree completely people should know what's the danger. In practice, panic makes people their own worst enemy." Edward sighed heavily. "Think about it. You have had years to accept that he wasn't truly gone, just in hiding because even if Dumbledore fell completely out of his mind he did warn you all. No one else believed him to still be alive. Likely even most of his own followers believed him dead until recently. The sudden knowledge of his return without first laying the groundwork of suggestion and assurance of a plan would cause a mass panic which is the worst thing we could deal with while also trying to find these people."
"Ideally, we would be able to take care of this entire situation without the public becoming any the wiser. Aside of course for what they already know. Lucius Malfoy has become unhinged, kidnapping children in an attempt to resurrect his former leader and encouraged or aided the breakout of several other members of the group." Roy said calmly. Edward nodded with a sigh.
"We're really going to try a Bradley again? Can we manage it in this situation." Edward asked.
"Provided we move quickly, yes. You won't like the obvious solution." Roy responded. The two glared at each other several minutes while the other three stare at them in confusion. "I do not like it anymore than you do, but it may be the only way to draw him out before he discovers that he no longer has a safety net and moves to recreate it."
"…I will consider it. Plan something else in the meantime." Edward demanded with an angry huff before pushing away from the table. "I need air."
Edward stormed out of the cottage without a backward glance, and for a moment Roy felt almost like he had been thrown back over a decade watching his angry child storming out of his office after once again learning they were going to have to trick someone into doing something to prevent them from doing something worse. How many times over the years had he risked his child for the greater good? Could he really ask his son to make the same choice again? Everyone was watching him carefully now, obviously trying to guess at what they had been talking about. He decoded to explain part of it at least, even if it wasn't why Edward needed a minute. "Many years ago, we too had an impossible creature acting behind the scenes. The general public of Amestris, and even most of the leadership and army have no idea what really happened that day. In the end, most everything was blamed on Fuhrer Bradley. Easy enough to manage after he very publicly attacked Central Command."
"I assume that is how you became Fuhrer then?" Fudge asked, recalling someone named Bradley was mentioned years ago when Crouch and Dumbledore had requested they ask for aide from the country unknown aside from their alchemists.
"After a while, yes. Fuhrer Grummon was directly after Fuhrer Bradley. I came after Grummon. He was my wife's grandfather and chose me as his replacement. Edward will eventually replace me now that a homunculus is no longer secretly in office." Roy said plainly. "I speak of this matter freely for the first time since these events occurred only because I know none of you can or will repeat what I tell you. King Bradley was one of several homunculus that were in our country, causing trouble behind the scenes. I can tell from your expressions you have heard of these creatures but did not believe in them. They were real, now they are gone. All of them. No one is the wiser because what everyone believes happened on Promised Day was Bradley became unhinged when the train carrying him and his young son was attacked, killing his son. He then attacked Central Command which was being held captive by rogue soldiers and unleashed a doomsday device. Luckily, I myself, along with my son and the then prince Ling Yao and a handful of my own team got wind of the events and after rescuing Bradley's wife managed to stop Bradley and save Amestris."
"So what really happened?" Arthur asked after everyone grew quiet for several minutes.
"Grummon, and his men, blew up the train containing two homunculus. Fuhrer Bradley and his 'adopted son' Selim. The boy and man both made their way back to Central while the rest of us who knew what was happening fought several other of these creatures. My sons were among the five who the creature needed to fulfil its plan to steal the souls of everyone inside Amestris. I was as well. We managed to reverse it before too much harm was done, though a few people were lost that day. Edward then fought the creature directly while the rest of us fought his remaining supporters. Edward won. As was foretold."
"Is that why he wanted to just handle the prophesies himself and didn't want anyone else to access them when they were mentioned?" Molly asked. She remembered he felt they should all just be destroyed but didn't so that in front of Fudge.
"Nothing good ever came from Van Hohenheim. I have said it my entire life, and am not about to change my mind now. Look at how he drove Dumbledore insane. Dante. He left my mother to die. He left me and my brother to die. No I wanted nothing to do with those orbs because I couldn't care less about what that man wanted…but I knew Alphonse would want to know so I decided to find out for his sake." Edward growled rapidly from the doorway. None of them aside from Roy had noticed his return.
"I would argue that two good things came from him, but I am biased. " Roy said.
"No, we came from Trisha Elric. We were raised by her and Pinako Rockbelle and you. He was nothing to us and that is our biggest saving grace." Edward argued. "You have been my Dad since the day we met. I will never forget Mom or Granny. I wish I could erase everyone who ever met him memory of him. Perhaps, if Nicolas Flamel had been real and not just another one of his masked Albus Dumbledore would still be sane…or at least reasonable. I could go on, but we do not have all night for me to rave about the man who created me for the sole purpose of destroying his previous creation."
"You are more than what he intended. I have always told you that." Roy insisted as he stood to hug his son.
"You never left me to fight that monster alone, you were right there the whole time to put me back together when in the end it had to be me." Edward said into his Dad's shoulder.
"You will do the same for him." Roy hugged his son tighter still even as the others looked away in an attempt to give them privacy.
"I didn't raise a soldier Dad."
"Neither did I. I raised a leader…and a hero. So did you." Roy said before releasing his son and returning to his seat. "He will join this fight no matter how hard you try to keep him away. Because he is your son and because this IS his fight."
"I know. I still hate it. He's just a child."
"I know. So were you. So was I. Let's hope we are the last." Roy turned back to the others, ready to outline his plan.
Amestris
Snape's Cottage
With the children all housed in the mansion, and them wanting to keep the conversation away from them as long as possible, Narcissa had offered up their home as a meeting place. Draco had been sent to visit with his friends, while the other wizards joined her for lunch to plan their next move. Winry had joined them, since she knew more about what her husband and father-in-law were doing than the rest of them did at the moment.
Bill, Charlie, and Percy Weasley had joined them leaving Fred and George in charge of the younger children (after many protests) Remus Lupin and Augusta Longbottom arrived shortly after the Weasleys and Winry. Percy and Charlie smirked and nodded along as Bill commented about how much their father would have loved the car ride over. Remus and Augusta had decided to go to the market before arriving since Remus already knew the address.
Once everyone had arrived, and Narcissa had offered everyone a drink they all settled around the living room. Winry then sighed heavily. "It is not great, I'll be honest. Edward and a couple of others went to the Ministry a few hours ago to take care of this prophesy assuming that Voldemort would also want it. They were right, some of his people were already there. They managed to keep him from getting it and at least now the Ministry is aware of his return, but the general public still doesn't know."
"Was anyone hurt?" Remus asked.
"From what Edward told me, no. Edward is also not in any trouble, apparently he officially asked to gain access to retrieve his own files." Winry replied, ignoring for now the questioning looks of several people. "He has another meeting with Minister Fudge…actually they should be in it around now I think. Whatever happens next, I expect it will happen quickly."
"Whatever happens next likely is a war." Remus said grimly. "Hopefully before they have a chance to go recruiting. I imagine he would try to get giants and werewolves on his side if he had the time…not that it would be a hard sell with the way some wizards treat them."
"Well, werewolves and giants are dangerous though aren't they?" Percy said with a confused frown.
"No more than any other group I expect." Charlie argued. "Certainly dragons would be dangerous as well."
"Dragons are just animals though." Percy argued.
"As a reminder, you do have a werewolf sitting in the room with you, and he has never caused you harm." Winry nodded pointedly at Remus who seemed to be trying to shrink into the chair since they had began discussing this. "He has worked and lived here for years without a problem. Perhaps then they are considered dangerous because no one tries to aide them."
"No, Winry, as I have tried over and over to explain, we are dangerous." Remus said quietly.
"So are Chimera, and Homunculus, and Alchemists." Winry frowned at the others who all seemed to agree with Remus aside from Narcissa who knew him well after all this time. "So are wizards for that matter. Anyone can be dangerous, but they don't have to be."
"From what I've heard from Edward Homunculus are never to be trusted." Remus raised an eyebrow, indicating he felt werewolves should also not be trusted.
"Greed was one of Edward's closest friends. Not something he speaks of often, as he was among those we lost on Promised Day." Winry shrugged. "He was a homunculus. Then there are the Chimera. They helped us to capture Sirius Black not long ago as you remember. They too are considered dangerous and untrustworthy, but I know of at least four who I would trust not just with my life but with my children. My Point is, even with the ones that are dangerous there will be those who are not. Throwing everyone into the same pile just kind of asks for them all to turn on you, don't you think."
"It doesn't matter really, since he won't have time to recruit anyone as long as things go well. Hagrid is part giant you know and he's never been a threat to anyone. So, there is that." Charlie added.
"Didn't he get thrown out of school though? I don't think I ever knew why but I do remember someone mentioning it at some point. It's why he doesn't use magic." Percy asked.
"I think we are off track." Narcissa interrupted before the conversation could go any further. " What do you expect they will plan Winry?"
"That depends entirely on two factors. If my father-in-law is the planner and if the Ministry decides they need Edward's help after all." Winry sighed again. "Without Ministry support they will have to move far more carefully, taking longer to enact whatever plan they have hatched. Roy is likely to plan a multi-facet assault…probably involving my son as much as I hate to consider it. Yuery is far too much like his Dad when it comes to things like this, if Ed allows it, Yuery will be there in moments."
"Neville is going to want to help too then." Mrs. Longbottom said worriedly. "It isn't their fight they are just children but they aren't going to listen to that."
"I know." Winry agreed as the two women frowned unhappily. Narcissa worried about her own son as well but didn't voice it. Likely he would want to help his friends. She imagined the other children were likely to try to join in as well. None of them knew what war looked like, there had to be a way to keep them out of it.
Fuhrer's Mansion
William and Maes once again joined Yuery while he was visiting with his friends. Yuery had not been informed of anything said during his mother's call with his father, but he hadn't expected to be informed either. His parents were trying to keep them all out of this, everyone agreed with him on this matter. Where they disagreed was what they should do in return. Some of them, Yuery, Ron, and Draco in particular, wanted to be involved in whatever was happening as they disagreed with the adults about being 'just children'. Luna and Hermoine, along with Neville were undecided. They wanted to help but were also afraid they would be more in the way than actually helpful. The twins remained silent on the matter so how they felt about it was another question several were not voicing. William and Maes, as well as Cedrick felt they should leave it alone and let the adults sort it out.
It hadn't become an argument yet, mostly because no one wanted to draw the attention of Armstrong or Breda who were standing guard over them all until the others returned from their meeting. Yuery felt whatever happened in the meeting was likely to impact the upcoming battles but didn't voice this since it would do nothing to offer comfort for the other children.
"Dumbledore." Ginny asked suddenly. "Isn't he here somewhere? Could he help. I know he was the leader during the first war."
"Nope. I mean he's here. In Drachma actually, but he's completely out of it." William answered quickly.
"He's as dangerous as this Voldemort. Especially to Yuery, maybe Neville too." Maes added, with a glare at his brother as if challenging Yuery to disagree. "He wants to kill Yuery to ensure they win the war. It's been his plan all along."
"Seriously? Dumbledore is one the greatest heroes of the age. He stopped Grindelwald and he fought You Know Who." Percy argued, astonished at the accusation.
"I don't know about all that, but I do know he was removed from the School and the Wizamont because of erratic behavior. The man is a drunk and it was becoming a huge problem for everyone." Cedrick said.
"He came here to kidnap me. When he couldn't get to me he kidnapped Princess Anya of Drachma in an attempt to force my father and grandfather into a trade. His theory seemed to be they would give me up rather than face a war with Drachma." Yuery said quietly. "Drachma refused to negotiate, Amya escaped him easily, and he was arrested trying to flee the country. He had been hiding in Xing, including yet another country in the issue. He had hoped Emperor Ling would side with Drachma forcing Dad to surrender me."
"He didn't know that Uncle Ling is Dad's best friend after Mom I guess." William added with a snort.
"He's your uncle, and Dumbledore thought he'd side against you anyway?" Ginny asked.
"Not technically. His sister is married to our Uncle Alphonse, and as Will said he is Dad's best friend since they were kids." Yuery shook his head with a smile. "During the time before Promised Day, Ling, who was just a prince then, was one of the ones who went into hiding with me and my Dad. I don't remember it of course, but Dad was hurt. Uncle Ling was the one who took care of me while Dad recovered. The others helped, but it was mostly Ling."
"So you all are very close then, maybe he just didn't realize it. Still what a terrible plan. He's meant to be one of the good guys." Cedrick shook his head with a frown. "I imagine that was the reason they wanted him gone, if he was plotting crimes against kids."
"I don't think most people knew exactly what he was up to, only that he had clearly been slipping. Some people knew he was obsessed with my brother. Some knew he had lost his mind. We knew he wanted my brother, even Dad hadn't guessed he would kidnap a different child altogether like that." Maes said. "It's okay though, Drachma has him locked up, his magic is bound. They will force him into sobriety. Perhaps, in time he will realize everything he did and if he is truly the hero you thought he was he'll regret his actions…but he won't be freed. Drachma is not one to release such prisoners."
"Why are you not enjoying the day and having fun?" Armstrong boomed as he stepped into the room. "You children should enjoy your youth and not concern yourselves so much with politics. There will be time enough for that as adults. For now, allow others to worry for you."
"Not likely, and we both know it." Breda said as he appeared beside Armstrong, having clearly been just behind him before. " You didn't leave it to the adults as a kid. Ed didn't either. None of us ever have, yet that's the advice we give every generation."
"Still. This is not their fight." Armstrong said.
"Agreed." Breda replied as he ignored the protests around the room. "It never is though. Come along kids, you need some fresh air before things heat up and you are kept indoors. Don't think for a moment that just because I understand where you are coming from I will let you slip away. This might involve you, but it also is our job to keep you safe as adults."
"That is a contradiction." Luna said as the kids followed the men out of the room, now joined by the younger children and their nanny.
"True. Most of adulthood is, as you will learn soon enough." Armstrong picked up the youngest wo girls onto his shoulders and led the way out into the fenced area of the garden.