Interlude: The Order of the Phoenix
Location: The Pottery
Date: June 25, 1992
Purpose: Meeting of the Order of the Phoenix
James Potter sat at a large table in a small conference room he and his wife had added a few years back. A mug rested in his hands on the table, filled with a delicious smelling mead. Across from him, his two closest and oldest friends, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, sat at the table with mugs of their own. Also at the table was a younger witch with vibrant purple hair, who was trembling with excitement at being invited for her first true meeting. And old, grizzled look wizard with a magical eye and a peg leg sipped from a flask he pulled out of his robes. His face looked like small chunks had been blasted out, and his hands were gnarled and scarred. The door opened, and Minerva McGonagal, Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore, and several more witches and wizard entered.
Albus took a seat towards the center, while Severus sat down as far away from James, Sirius, and Remus as he could. The old wizard cleared his throat and the gathered witches and wizards settled down. "Now, to start off this meeting, I'd like to take a moment to welcome our newest member, Nymphadora Tonks." He held up a hand as she made to protest. "Who would much prefer it if we referred to her by her surname of Tonks. Or, in the case of a select few, Dora. Whom among are counted among that number is entirely at her discretion." There was a smattering of applause and chuckles, as well as a quiet chorus of welcomes. "As to the real nature of this meeting, it is with a heavy and serious heart that I must confirm that the serpent has struck."
"So he really did try to steal the Philosopher's Stone?" An elderly wizard called out.
"As well as attacked multiple students and two teachers. All of whom thankfully have recovered and said teachers are currently present. Our foe had not just chosen to work through someone else this time. Quirrel was indeed working for Voldemort. Even further, the man was possessed by him sometime late in this past term." He waited for the outcries and hisses to die down.
Sirius slammed a hand onto the table. "So we can finally confirm that he has indeed been without a body all these years as we suspected. But that still leaves the question of how he has survived this long."
"I have my suspicions. I'm also aware of the suspicions and theories that you have all put forward as well. Unfortunately at this time, we still do not have any hardened proof a confirmation on how. What we can confirm is that while Voldemort was a student at, he struck a bargain with a very powerful entity to learn magic and knowledge best left to remain secret. Or better yet, forgotten." Dumbledore said quietly.
Tonks frowned from where she sat. "You mean he actually made a deal with a devil?"
"Not a devil." Albus corrected. "Though I suspect he may wish he had bargained with a devil. He would have known the devil would double cross him, but that's a known double cross. No, the entity he bargained with is a being far more conniving. I myself know very little of him. Though it is my understanding that James and Lily may have uncovered a few details." He paused and looked at James. "I take it that Lily accepted the invitation for today?"
James nodded. "She did, Albus. As for the information we uncovered, we had to delve into some very old, obscure theories. Most of what we found were just scribbling and ramblings of madmen, but we were able to find a few journal entries of note." He pulled out several leaves of parchment. "It took us many nights to translate and copy out the texts, but we managed it."
Albus took the offered copies and looked them over. He nodded. "Yes. This aligns with what little I know. For those who aren't as versed in ancient magic, long ago it is believed that wizards may have called on the more primal energies of magic. The basic elements of air, water, fire, earth, as well as light and shadow. But it has been speculated that there are other more obscure aspects of magic that exist out there. All of which are guarded by very powerful beings."
"And you believe that it was one of these guardians that Voldemort bargained with?" Asked Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody.
"No." Albus replied. "I believe he bargained with a servant of one. A servant of Knowledge, to be precise. A Sage. I have met with this being on a few occasions, having discovered the same artifact Voldemort used so many years ago himself. But if you think I give the runaround on straight answers," he got more than a few chuckles and snickers at this, to which he smiled, "I am but a student compared to him. Oh, he has told me much. All of it quite relevant. But very little of what he has said has been direct answers to the questions I have asked him."
"Well. What better way of seeking a path of immortality than to ask one who can offer knowledge for a price. Like that narrows it down any." Moody growled.
"It does, in a way. This actually was the only question the Sage answered directly. He is immortal. And he has been alive for an unknown amount of time. But I also cleaned this: his path of immortality is forever barred to Voldemort. I do not yet understand the why's or nature of it, but I know it has something to do with Voldemort's reasons. It is my belief it was his fear of death that denied him from it." Albus paused to pour himself a small mug of mead and take a sip.
A witch to Severus' left scoffed. "Rather ironic, isn't it? He fears death so he seeks out immortality, only to find that it's his fear that keeps him denied."
"Kept him denied." Albus corrected. "I cannot yet determine what alternative Voldemort sought out after this, but I can at least assure you that whatever it is, it has forever lost him any chance he may have had."
Silence fell over the room once more. James sighed and refilled his own mug. "Whatever method he figured out, it's enough for him to survive his body being destroyed. From how Harry described it, Voldemort is little more than a wraith at the moment. Even weaker than he was perhaps, thanks to the Lady of the Forbidden Forest."
Tonks brightened. "So it's true then? Harry, Ron, and Neville really did meet the ancient unicorn that lives in there?"
"Them and a few others." Sirius answered her. "From my understanding, she even bestowed on them her blessing."
Awed murmurs broke out. But it was Severus that spoke up. "A very rare gift to be sure. I witnessed the Granger girl's gift. Or at least, the main manifestation. Although, it is my understanding that you experienced it first hand, Dumbledore."
The old wizard nodded. "I did indeed. It's truly remarkable. I am not entirely certain just how it works exactly, but she has demonstrated an ability to apparate not dissimilarly to how a house elf does. Thought I do not believe it to be exactly the same. For example, she was able to apparate both out of and back into Hogwarts itself."
The murmuring broke out again. Moody sat back in his seat. "A very powerful ability. Though I imagine it was incredibly draining on her reserves, given how young she still is. There's a reason apparition is not taught to the younger years."
"She managed to use this ability no less than three times before she was drained completely. I do not believe that to be the limit of the ability itself, but more of her inexperience with it. If it were not for the intervention of the Sage, she would have been out for a week. As it was, she made full recovery within a day and a half." Albus continued. "As for the ability of the others, they are still in the process of manifesting. Though Ronald Weasley has shown a propensity for the shield charm lately, from what I've heard."
Arthur Weasley, who had been sitting quietly for most of the meeting so far, leaned forward now. "He has. Right now, he can only hold it a few seconds at a time, but with practice, he's proven able to hold it for longer and longer. He's getting to a point where he can almost block every spell thrown at him a second before it hits him."
Again there were a few murmurs. Remus voiced his own thoughts next. "I also understand that Neville's proficiency with plants has grown, Frank?"
"They have. He's been able to increase the growth rate of certain plants, and he's currently working on a new cultivation technique." Frank Longbottom replied. "It's quite exciting. Imagine if he could find a way to grown, mandrakes for example, in a fraction of the time it normally takes, without losing any of their magical effects."
"Exactly my line of thinking." Remus agreed. "Wolfsbane, mandrakes, dittany. And then there's Harry's demonstration of a unicorn powered light spell. The way I've heard you explain it, James, I believe Harry could repel a dementor with it, though I don't dare suggest we even try it. If it was enough to expel Voldemort from Quirrel's body…"
"An event that would have left him near death, had he not deliberately killed him upon his exit." Albus said with a long sigh. "I fear the toll of Quirrel's death lies heavy on Harry's mind, regardless of him not being the one that did it."
"Natural reaction, I daresay." Sirius said quickly. "Voldemort may have killed the man, but Harry was the one that drove him out. Is it any wonder that he would blame himself for it? How is he really doing? Mentally, that is."
"He and Miss Granger have taken the experience as well as we can hope, I think. Though I recommend they spend some time with your mother, Miss Tonks. Andromeda is an expert in the field of the mind, and she is already acquainted with both the Grangers and Potters." Albus took another pull from his mug. "The two seem to have really taken it as a call to arms. I've seen them doing laps around the lake, and from what I've heard, they've been dueling even fiercer in the practice arena of the Dragon Club."
Remus fingered his mug on the table as a silence fell again. "There is one other thing I need to bring up. I received a tip off from sources abroad. The Rat has been seen."
James and Sirius both sat up straight. "Are you certain, Moony? Are you absolutely certain it's him?"
Remus looked both of his oldest friends in the eyes. "Yes. I fully believe this source saw him. He was spotted along the coastline of France."
"So. He's coming back to Britain." James said darkly. He looked to Sirius.
"No doubt his master has called him back into service. But I don't particularly like what that means." Sirius looked to Albus.
The old wizard. "Voldemort is beginning to muster his supporters from the shoulders. He may have failed at getting the Philosopher's Stone, which is now safely back in Flamel's hands, but I fear that was only the simplest choice he had. He may yet have greater plans in the works."
"And whatever they are, they involve The Rat." Sirius growled.
"Steady, Sirius." Albus said calmly. "There's nothing we can do about him until he actually makes a move on British soil once more. On that note, Hogwarts is in need of a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I had initially intended to ask you to fill in for a year, James, but if The Rat truly is returning to Britain, I'll need you in another role. And so, I have a proposition for you, Miss Tonks."
The girl blinked, and her hair flashed to white for a second in her surprise. "What? Me?"
Albus chuckled. "Yes. How would you feel about taking the position of teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts? You wouldn't be teaching strictly alone, of course. James will be there as a sort of aid for you, alongside his main objective. Your aptitude tests and knowledge base are all high. Not to mention you've passed your Auror training with flying colors. Alastor has spoken very highly of you."
"Aye, you'd do well, girl. This would be good experience for you. One of the best ways to see if you truly know something is to try teaching it to someone else." Moody agreed with another swig from his flask. "And it really is solely your decision. It's already been cleared with Amelia."
"Oh!" Tonks exclaimed. "Madam Bones gave her approval?" She chewed her lip, took a deep breath, and turned to Albus. "Well. I will give it my best shot, Professor Dumbledore!"
Albus chuckled. "Then it's settled. I formally accept your position as teacher of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. If you don't mind, please stay back after the meeting, and we will get the little bit of paperwork all sorted. Does anyone else have an issue they feel important enough for our attention?"
