Chapter 55
AN: Thank you so much for the support. I really hope you like this chapter.
Hours after they travelled across the lake Mie and her friends are in the Hogwarts express on their way to London. As the friends wanted to be together, they made sure they got the one carriage that is open rather than having different compartments so that they can all fit.
As they are rather board the group are causing multiple paper airplanes to fly around the carriage.
"How far do you think we are?" Kathleen says, looking out the window, as two of the paper airplanes hit each other.
"I'd say not very far," Isaac says, looking out the window as well, as it's starting to get dark.
"I can't believe we're travelling all the way back to London and then taking a portkey back to Hogsmeade," Edgar says with an amused look on his face as it does seem like overkill.
"We've been over this," Amelia tells her brother. "We all voted and decided that we wanted to catch the train one last time," Amelia says.
"Today's just full of lasts," Alora says sadly, as one of the paper airplanes hit her in the face so she throws it Marlene who was in control of it.
"It's also full of firsts," Lily reminds her, wanting to look on the bright side.
"True," Alora responds. "Today's just a lot," Alora admits, an undertone of sadness to her voice.
"No one has to join the Order tonight, not if you don't want to," Mie says, looking between the group. "Dad knows it's a big decision, changing your mind is okay," Mie says, looking between her friends.
"War's here, we can either sit on the sidelines or fight back… and I've never been one to sit on the sidelines," Marlene says, and others around the carriage nod in agreement.
"We're in, Mie. We don't need an out," Isaac tells her, though he appreciates what Mie is doing.
"Are you sure?" Mie asks. "This is going to be extremely dangerous," Mie says, feeling guilt rise up inside of her as she knows what this could lead to, what it did lead to in her timeline.
"We know," Mary says.
"We're still in," Kathleen tells her.
"We've already decided," Dorcus adds.
"Okay," Mie says, with a nod, but that doesn't change the guilt she is feeling, and from the looks on the faces of her friends who know the truth they have realised that.
About half an hour after Mie gave her friends an out which they refused to take, the Hogwarts express has arrived at London, and everyone is dismantling. While most of the students' head towards the gateway that leads to the muggle world Mie, who tried and failed to spot once Regulus one last time, and her friends, with their belongings, head to the other end of the platform.
"Okay, we've all got to make sure we're holding our stuff and the portkey," Mie tells the others.
"So, we have to get in close," Sirius realises, being pretty sure that that is going to take some coordination.
"Exactly," Mie responds.
As there are so many of them, and they are all holding at least a trunk, and most of the are also holding some kind of animal, it takes a few minutes for the group of fresh graduates to manoeuvre themselves so that they are all holding their belongings, animals, and have at least a finger on the ruler Mie is holding, something which has lead Sirius and Marlene to be squatting underneath the ruler, in the middle of the makeshift circle that has been made.
"Everyone touching the ruler?" Mie asks, as she thinks everyone is, but she just wants to be completely positive before she activates it, and everyone confirms that they have at least one finger touching the ruler. "Phoenix," Mie says, and the second she says the world the large group, their animals, and all their belongings, disappear.
Several unpleasant moments after Mie said Phoenix, Mie, all their friends, their belongings, and their animals appear in the backroom of the Hogshead.
"We can leave all our stuff here," Mie tells everyone, and after everyone checks to make sure their animals managed to travel via the portkey okay, they head out of the back room and into the main area of the bar, which is empty. "Hi Uncle Ab," Mie greats.
"Mie, congratulations on graduating," Aberforth tells her, giving her a proud look.
"Thanks," Mie says with a smile.
"And congratulations you lot," Aberforth says to everyone else, feeling a sense of fondness for this particular group of students.
"Thanks Ab," Sirius says.
"Any of you lot want anything to drink?" Aberforth asks, and the students start to place their orders.
"Is anyone here?" Mie asks her uncle as Aberforth starts to get everyone's drinks.
"Albus… and him," Aberforth says and those who don't know the history between Aberforth and Gellert are confused about why Aberforth's voice has such venom in it.
"Okay, thanks," Mie says to her uncle. "I'll be back," Mie says to her friends, who are waiting for their drinks, and Mie heads upstairs.
After leaving her friends Mie heads straight up to the room where a lot of private conversations take place, where Albus has been holding Order of the Phoenix meetings, where she finds her father and Gellert, Mie being pretty sure that her father wanted to separate Gellert and Aberforth which is why they are upstairs even though no one else is.
"Hey Dad, Gellert," Mie greats, as she walks into the room.
"Annemie," Albus greats, looking glad to see her.
"The others are downstairs, Uncle Ab is getting them drinks," Mie explains.
"Of course," Gellert says, rolling his eyes, and Albus gives him a look. "So, Graduation has happened, how are you feeling, Annemie?" Gellert asks Mie.
"Amazed, like I can't finally believe that it's actually happened, a little sad," Mie admits. "But good," Mie admits. "I'm good," Mie repeats, having said the word so many times that she isn't completely sure that it is the truth anymore.
"Good," Gellert says, looking glad for her, though he has also picked up that there is more going on.
'Annemie, this is real, it has really happened, you have graduated," Albus tells his daughter, who nods.
"What's going to happen tonight?" Mie asks her father.
"First I am going to talk to everyone, make sure they understand what joining the Order would mean, and then once I am sure everyone understands we'll begin the meeting," Albus explains to Mie.
"Okay," Mie says with a nod.
While Mie and the other recent graduates have travelled back to the Hogshead Regulus is with Bellatrix, which is an exercise in self-control, and is being led to where Voldemort is waiting for him. As he walks down the dark corridor Regulus focuses on strengthening his Occlumency shields so that when he is meeting with Voldemort, they can be stronger without him trying as much.
"Regulus, welcome back," Voldemort greats.
"Thank you, My Lord," Regulus responds, giving a slight bow. "It's nice to be back," Regulus tells Voldemort, even though he feels otherwise.
"What do you have to tell me?" Voldemort asks.
"I've been observing closely My Lord, Dumbledore is very protective of his daughter," Regulus explains. "She checks in with him several times a day and after since her abduction she was living in his quarters," Regulus explains.
"So, the girl is Dumbledore's weakness," Voldemort says, looking pensive.
"Yes, my Lord," Regulus responds, fighting to keep his voice even as he knows the kind of danger that will put Mie in, but at the same time it is what Mie wanted him to tell Voldemort, though he didn't ask if Albus is aware that he is going to reveal that.
"What do you know about Grindelwald?" Voldemort asks.
"Not a lot, he's been at the castle under disguise, he been staying close to Dumbledore, it's not clear why," Regulus reveals, even though he knows more, as once again that is what Mie wants to be revealed.
"So, Dumbledore did not want anyone to know that Grindelwald is at Hogwarts," Voldemort comments, pondering the implication of that.
"It doesn't seem like it," Regulus responds. "However, what Annemie feels about Grindelwald it's hard to tell, I haven't been able to observe them closely," Regulus explains. "In fact, it's almost like Dumbledore has Grindelwald on a short leash, he is never away from Dumbledore, he even sat in the corner of Dumbledore's classes," Regulus explains. "I wasn't able to get close to him either," Regulus explains, and he can tell that Voldemort finds that information interesting.
"Thank you for that information, Regulus," Voldemort tells Regulus. "The meeting will be beginning shortly; I would like you to sit next to me," Voldemort informs Regulus, who knows that he's not really asking.
"Yes, My Lord," Regulus says with a nod, suspecting that there is something that is about to happen, as Voldemort usually calls meetings before something big.
After spending a few minutes with her father and Gellert Mie heads back downstairs and the first thing she notices is that Remus is looking around, and she can see the concerned look on his face, and so Mie walks straight over to him.
"Remus? What's going on?" Mie asks concerned.
"Sirius said he needed a minute, he went into the other room, I think he's worrying about Regulus," Remus explains, and it is very clear that he is concerned about his boyfriend.
"Do you want to go talk to him or do you want me to?" Mie asks Remus curious.
"I think you should, considering you're just as worried," Remus says to Mie, who nods and squeezes Remus's hand, before heading into the other room.
As Mie walks into the other room, she finds Sirius just staring out the window, clearly comprehending things.
"Siri?" Mie asks concerned.
"He'll be with Voldemort by now," Sirius says, without turning around.
"I know," Mie admits. "I'm trying not to think about it," Mie reveals, as she walks several steps towards him.
"I tried that too, didn't work," Sirius admits, as he turns around to face Mie "If something goes wrong, we won't know," Sirius says, and it is more than clear how worried he is.
"We made an agreement, came out with an out, one that can't be prevented against, that Voldemort will never see coming," Mie tells Sirius, and for a second he looks confused, but then the answer comes to him.
"Good plan," Sirius admits. "I really hope it's not needed," Sirius responds.
"Me too," Mie responds. "I'm really scared for him," Mie explains.
"Me too," Sirius responds, and the two of them walk the few steps that separate them and embrace, hugging each other tightly as they worry about the person that they both love.
"SIRIUS! MIE!" James's voice yells.
Breaking apart Sirius and Mie exchange looks and head out into the main area of the bar, as there was no fear or anger in James's voice both Mie and Sirius figure that it is no big deal and so they causally walk out into the main room.
Not long after Voldemort told Regulus that he would be sitting next to him during the Death Eater meeting, the meeting has begun, and just like Voldemort said he is sitting on Voldemort's left side, while Bellatrix is sitting on Voldemort's right.
"Welcome, welcome," Voldemort says, looking around at everyone. "I would first like to welcome back Regulus Black, who has finished yet another year at Hogwarts," Voldemort says.
"Thank you, My Lord," Regulus says, and Voldemort gives a slight nod, but doesn't acknowledge it further.
"As well as tonight being the night Regulus re-joins us, tonight is also a night where others will join our ranks," Voldemort reveals, and Regulus fights not to tense at that. "Our test at Diagon Alley was rudely interrupted, tonight will not be," Voldemort says, looking around at the Death Eaters and making it clear that he will not accept further failure, and he procedures to explain what will be happening as Regulus realises, he has no chance of warning the Order.
When Mie and Sirius walk back into the main room, they find Aberforth still behind the bar, their friends sitting at tables looking at where Albus is standing at the foot of the stairs, which tells Mie that Gellert is still upstairs, most likely to avoid a fight between him and Aberforth.
"Annemie, Sirius, please sit down," Albus says, and Mie and Sirius sit down in the empty seats near Remus and Marlene. "I know you are all here because you want to join the Order of The Phoenix, but I need to make sure you truly understand what you are joining," Albus says, looking around at everyone. "The Order exists to fight against Voldemort and his death eaters, to protect people, magical and muggle alike. The ministry, and the minister, do not condone us," Albus tells everyone, as he needs all of them to know that. "Being a part of the Order is incredibly dangerous, it is life and death. You could die, it is not just possible but likely that at some point you will be seriously hurt or tortured," Albus says, looking between the students as he speaks. "You may watch friends die, you may feel that you aren't doing enough, there will be people you cannot save," Albus tells the students. "It is all apart of what we do in the name of protection, we do our best, but sometimes, even when we are doing everything in our power, it's not enough," Albus tells the students, as he looks between each of them. "You don't have to be okay with that, or accept it, but you do need to be aware of what being apart of the Order would be like," Albus says. "You can walk away, if you would like," Albus tells the students.
"No, we can't," Edgar corrects.
"Our world is at War, whether we're on the front lines or not it's all around us," Marlene says. "I know I'm speaking for everyone, but I know that none of us will ever join Voldemort, which makes us his enemies," Marlene reminds Albus.
"You say we face death by fighting, but we also face that by not fighting," Dorcus says. "Fighting back against hatred and prejudice, and tyranny that matters," Dorcus tells Albus.
"There's a quote, from a muggle philosopher that I think is relevant; 'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil…'" Lily starts to say.
"'…is for good men to do nothing'," Mie finishes, and because of how they think she grew up no one questions why she knows a quote from a muggle philosopher, and Lily nods.
"We could walk away, but that would be doing nothing, and we'd always wonder what if," Lily says, as she knows what happened in the books if they fight back, but she also knows what they intend to do.
"Sir, with all due respect, we all know how dangerous the fight is, we've watched as Voldemort has spent the last eight years getting more control, destroying more things, spreading more hatred, and I think I speak for everyone when I say that now that we can do something we're prepared to do whatever it takes," Isaac tells Albus, and others around the room nod in agreement.
"Dad, we know what we're getting into, we're ready," Mie tells her father, and as Albus looks around he sees looks of determination on each of the students faces.
"Okay," Albus says with a nod. "Welcome to the Order of the Phoenix," Albus says and Aberforth rolls his eyes at his brothers dramatic.
Half an hour after Albus welcomed the students to the Order the order meeting has begun in an upper level of the bar, which Albus has secured with wands. Just like the last order meeting Gellert is sitting on Albus's right hand side, while Mie is sitting on his left. As Gellert is now himself rather than being under disguise it is clear that people around the room aren't sure what to think of him, though it is also clear that Albus trusts him.
"The Ministry is hesitant to fully renounce Voldemort," Albus tells everyone. "They refuse to believe that his supports are within them and so they will not seek them out," Albus says and as he does Mie notices something, which causes dread to rise up inside of her.
"Dad," Mie says, pointing towards the window and as he turns around Albus sees a badger Patronus coming towards him, and right away he knows who's Patronus it is.
A few seconds later, everyone dreading what they are going to learn, the patronus's mouth opens and speaks in the voice of Theseus Scamander.
"Albus, Prentis and Theodosia Bones have been attacked, their house is on fire, I'm trying to get close enough to see if they are okay, but I'm having trouble getting close enough," Theseus explains, and as he does everyone looks worriedly at the Bones triplets. "I'm also getting word that other families are being attacked…. It's too much, we need you," Theseus says.