The first official meeting of the Order of the Phoenix was held in the damp, dark kitchen of Number 12, Grimmauld Place. Dumbledore sat, somber, at the head of the long wooden table. Some of the members before him had fought in the first war, such as Remus Lupin, Molly and Arthur Weasley, and Kingsley Shacklebolt. Their faces remained stony and somber. Molly Weasley's eyes were red rimmed, and dark shadows beneath her eyes contrasted dreadfully against her soft porcelain skin. Other members of the group had been children during the first war, the oldest Weasley boys, Bill and Charlie, and Andromeda Tonks all attempted to mimic the older members somber faces. Despite their youth, they did understand the severity of the situation. However, a flutter of nervous excitement seemed to dance between the young trio as they waited with bated breath for the meeting to begin.
Dumbledore tapped his wand on the table three times and said in a steady, calm voice, "I, Albus Dumbledore, do hereby reconvene the Order of the Phoenix." At this, a quill and parchment flew into Minerva McGonagall's hand and she began to record the meeting.
"I do wish that I had no need to call you here today. In fact, I wish that I may have been able to meet with you all in much more happy circumstances. However, I stand before you with the news that Lord Voldemort has returned." At the sound of the dark wizard's name, several younger members shuddered. Molly Weasley's face drained of all remaining color and she bit her cheeks, giving her a peaky, pained look.
"It was my hope, as I am sure it was also yours, that we never meet again. That upon his fall we could resume our lives. It seems that we are even more unfortunate this time, as the Ministry continues to acknowledge Voldemort's return. I do not mean to frighten any of you, but it does not seem to be an embellishment of fact to state that all that stands between the wizarding world and Lord Voldemort's evil is us."
Bill's eyes widened as he reached for Fleur's hand beneath the table. It had seemed like a great idea a week ago to invite this brave, beautiful, and charming witch to join the secret society. However, now understanding more deeply the danger that lurked in the future, he wished he could send her back to France where she would remain safe and sound.
In contrast, Fleur straightened her shoulders upon Dumbledore's pronouncement; she stared boldly ahead. Beneath her beauty, Fleu knew that she was capable, she knew she was dangerous. She knew, if the Order would only let her, that she could be a tremendous asset to the Order of the Phoenix.
"With that unfortunate pronouncement completed, it is now my duty to inform you of some on goings and rustlings at the Ministry. It seems that the Minister has taken into his fold a new advisor, a woman by the name of Dolores Umbridge. This woman has been known for her work in the Wizagamont, particularly her anti-werewolf, centaur, and muggle-born legislation. However, she is quite adept at masquerading her work in false intentions, rather than bigotry. Many members of the Minister's office view her as quite caring.
The Minister is also becoming increasingly concerned over the state of Hogwarts. He is worried that I am fabricating everything about Voldemort as an attempt to secure power within the ministry and destabilize the government. Obviously, this is not the case, but Fudge has managed to convince large swaths of the Ministry. In a week's time, the Ministry will introduce a new legislation that will allow them to fill positions at Hogwarts, in the event that I am able to find a suitable candidate. Once that legislation has passed, the Ministry will elect Dolores Umbridge to serve as Defense professor, in which she will teach a ministry-created curriculum."
Snape's eyes narrowed as Dumbledore continued to explain the events within the ministry. How had Kingsley been able to procure such detailed information regarding the Wizagmont and the Minister's office from his position as Auror? He stared at Dumbledore incredulously as he continued, while he didn't often question the information Dumbledore received, Merlin knew Dumbledore had his sources, something felt off. He decided at that moment that he would speak to Dumbledore regarding this new Ministry information.
The meeting lasted almost three hours, as Dumbledore caught all the Order up to the happenings of the last 15 years. Through all of this, the Order's members remained stoically focussed. Severus noted that even Molly, frequently prone to fits of maternal passions, seemed withdrawn. Her normal antics where subdued to the occasional glossy eye and sniffle. In fact, Severus noted, all the Weasley's seemed more docile. Arthur's flamboyant muggle suit seemed more dull than dapper and Bill Weasley's face, typically lined with confidence, had taken on a pallid gray hue.
In the entryway following the meeting, members of the Order clumped together into tidy little cliques. While they all swore allegiance to each other, as members of the Order, it was natural for bands of friends to cling to each other in the face of the unknown. The old front, what was left of them, stood awkwardly together, unsure of whether to leave or attempt small talk. The Weasley's stood near the stairs, Molly grandly gesticulating to her younger children leaning over the bannister, caught in their attempts to eavesdrop. In that moment Severus took note that it seemed only the awful twins and Potter's lackey and the girl were red faced listening to Molly's crusade. Where was that awful, pompous boy, the brat who had tortured him last year as head-boy? Shouldn't he have been old enough to join the Order?
The sound of Nymphadora Tonks walking into the stairwell and waking the former Madame Black sidelined any thoughts of the Weasleys.
"Ah, seems like even Auror training can't cure poor manners? Forget to look before you walk Auror Nymphadora" Snape drawled out lazily.
"Now Severus, it was an accident. Surely you can see that!" Lupin responded as Tonks became a deeper red.
"Ah yes, an accident. I am sure you are quite familiar with accidents, Lupin. Became familiar with them in your youth if I remember."
Before Lupin could respond, Dumbledore exited the small kitchen and began walking toward the front door. "Severus, if you don't mind, a word before we leave."
Dutifully, Snape followed Dumbledore to the front step, the landing the only outdoor space invisible from prying eyes. The two stood uncomfortably close to one another.
"Severus, I have grave news to share with you. I have taken on another spy and I require your assistance in handling the information that he passes along. If the course of history is heading in the direction I believe it to be, then your paths will cross soon enough."
Snape straighten at the news. Never during the first war had Dumbledore taken on a second spy, his role was one specially created for him, due to his past. What death eater had turned, or worse manipulated Dumbledore into believing he had turned?
"You may or may not have noticed Percy Weasley's absence this evening. Unfortunately a fortnight ago he and his family had a tremendous fight about me. His family, as you know, are fiercely and publicly loyal to me. Percy, due in part to his role at the ministry, was dubious of my claims. This led to Percy leaving his family's home."
Snape raised his eyebrows. The pompous boy, regardless of his rank, always stank of Weasley virtues. The idea that he could forsake his family was interesting, to say the least.
"Percy, through his own realizations, quite a bright young man he is, began to see the error of his ways. However, rather than going back to his family, he came to me. He believes that he can be a tremendous asset to the Order as a Spy on the inside of the ministry. Percy is currently working in the Minister's office. Knowing his good work, I am sure he'll be promoted in the near future."
"I see," Severus replied, "are you sure that this boy can be trusted? If he was able to turn on his family so quickly, what is to say he won't do the same to the Order?"
"Severus, you remember what it is like to be young, to make a mistake and truly regret it instantaneously. This boy came to me truly apologetic. I tried to convince him to go back to his family, to believe that they would love and forgive him as quickly as he walked through their front door. However, he believes in this sacrifice, the isolation he is undertaking, the pain, and the risk. I trust this boy, nearly as much as I trust you. If he does his work through this war, many lives will be spared."
"I don't understand how this can possibly involve me."
"Severus, you know as well as I do that this time the dark forces are more organized. Rather than the helter-skelter chaos and destruction of the first war, we are looking at an organized coup. These are no longer young boys, running around in masks. These are fathers, bankers, Wizegamont leaders, looking to take power. They are going after the ministry."
"I see."
"All I ask of you Severus is to be prepared that I might send young Percy your way. Your circumstances were quite different from Percy's. I fear that the young boy may require guidance, or at the very least company, as he embarks on this mission. I know you are not parental, but think of yourself at that age. Think of the fear, the pain, the agony, and the suffering you saw. Now think of how you would have benefited from someone, just a singular soul, to ease and understand."
"I will consider it, Headmaster."
"That is all I can ask of you, Severus." Dumbledore then apparated off the doorstep, leaving Snape alone with the final memory of Dumbledore's knowing smile and twinkling eyes.