Chapter Text
Harry had discovered the small park early on in the summer. A small square of peace away from the prying eyes of the magical world. A place where he didn’t have to worry about preparing something for the Dursley’s, cleaning the house, or the seemingly never-ending list of ways the world had devised for his life to be more miserable.
Or so he thought.
As he stared at the paper in his hands he felt all that peace and calm burn away as anger filled his veins. Ever since Voldemort's return the paper had become nothing more than a propaganda source for the Ministry. Every day they ran a new story discrediting himself and Dumbledore, calling the return of Voldemort nothing more than the fanciful tale of a child and deranged old man.
The picture of him on the page suddenly shimmered as question marks appeared around him.
He glared at it before violently crumpling it and tossing it aside. Just in time for Dudley and his crew to approach.
Almost like they were matching his quickly souring mood, the sky above suddenly turned dark and stormy, the now grey sky rolling with thunder as she glared at his cousin.
“...Squealed like a pig, didn’t he?” One of them said aloud as he and the other three lined up behind Dudley.
“Brilliant punch, Big D; d’you see his face?” the one in the middle said.
Harry stares the four of them down before responding.
“Hey “Big D.” Beat up another ten year old?”
Dudley falters for just a moment, his bravado melting from a strong pose to worried eyes and a now sweating forehead before it resolidified into a smug sneer.
“This one deserved it.”
Harry highly doubted that/ It was more likely that the kid had told Dudley and his fat friends to sod off, before outrunning them in the field.
“Four against one. Very brave.” Harry mocked him.
“Yeah, well you're one to talk. Moaning in your sleep every night. At least I'm not afraid of my pillow.” Dudley called back in a desperate attempt to save what little honour he could.
“What are you talking about?” Harry demanded slowly. He, of course, knew exactly as to what they were referring too. His recurring nightmares, constant images of Voldemort's wicked laugh and Cedric flying across the cemetery.
“‘Don’t kill Cedric! Don’t kill Cedric!’” Dudley called out in a mocking tone. “Who’s Cedric-your boyfriend?”
Harry palled at his words as the goons laughed, fueled by their ring leaders' resurgent bravado.
“‘Dad! Help me, dad!” Dudley continued, practically reviling in Harry’s obvious pain.
“ Shut up!” Harry shouted, his voice calling out in perfect tandem with the rolling of the thunder in the sky.
“He’s going to kill me, mum!”
“Shut UP Dudley, I’m warning you!” Harry called out as he rushed over with his wand pulled out. Dudley froze for a moment before he and the rest of them started to laugh.
At that moment Harry wanted nothing more than to hex them into next week. He grits his teeth as he held his wand in a steel grip. A thousand different spell combinations crossed his mind, from ones that would make Dudley piss his pants while squawking like a bird, to ones that would have him writhing on the ground in pain.
The moment is interrupted though as a stiff breeze suddenly bursts past them. Ruffling their jackets and making an unnatural shiver run down their spines. The sky above becomes even darker if that’s possible.
“Wh-what are you doing?” Dudley stammers out as he stares at the darkening sky above.
“I’m not doing anything.” Harry responded as he stared up in equal confusion.
Dudley’s friends have already fled by the time the first drops of rain splatter against the ground. The two remaining boys share a look just as a crack of lightning cracks over there heads followed by an absolutely torrential downpour. They run as fast as they can towards the underpass beneath the freeway. Barely making it as their clothes become fully soaked, dripping off of them in small spouts as they step into the dry concrete pass.
The two of them leaned against the walls in an attempt to gather their breaths, and that’s when Harry saw it. The fluorescents flickering, some even going out, as a thin layer of ice slowly crawled over them.
“Oh no.” Harry breathed out as he stared out to the opening ahead.
Slowly a skeletal hand grasped the roof as a Dementor floated into view. Harry desperately reached for his wand but he was unable to pull it out before the Dementor was upon him.
The pain was just as he remembered it. Like his very essence was being ripped from every single cell in his body. As though the magical part of him was being torn from the mortal portion.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see his wand. Resting a few inches away but just out of reach as he desperately clawed at it. Accio sits on his tongue but he can’t seem to say it as the pain becomes more and more unbearable. Luckily he catches a break.
A second dementor had settled itself over Dudley, his cries draw the attention of the one over Harry just long enough for him to lurch forward and grab his wand. The dementor turns back towards him as he stands and rushes away. It flies towards him angrily but by that point, it’s too late.
“Expecto Patronum!” He calls out.
The tip of his wand lights up with a pulsing silvery-blue light that washes down the hall nocking both dementors away. Once he’s sure they’re gone he rushes forward to check on Dudley. The other boy releases a weak whimper as Harry presses a finger against his neck to check his pulse. His eyes vibrate aggressively almost as if he was having a seizure.
Harry is distracted from his cousin by a creaking noise at the entrance. He quickly stands up with his wand raised, only to stare in surprise as he catches sight of a familiar face.
“Professor Black?” He called out in surprise as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor stepped out from around the corner with a large suitcase behind her.
“I see you have your wand out better keep it that way. Best not to be too careful with Dementors around.” She told him as she raised her own wand as an example.
Roughly ten minutes later they were walking down the road to Harry’s house. Dudley moans and groans as Harry struggled to support his cousin’s weight. As they walked down the road Professor Black continued to shoot worried looks up at the growing storm as she quickened her pace.
“ Dementors , in little Whinging! Next thing they’ll be trolls in the tube!” She said aloud to herself, clearly having momentarily forgotten about Harry and Dudley.
“I don’t understand.” Harry told her, pulling the Professor from her own thoughts. “What are you-”
“Dumbledore asked me to keep an eye on you.” She responded with a small smile at him.
“ Dumbledore asked-I thought you were…?”
“Confined to my office?” She told him as she met his gaze evenly causing him to flush red. “I may have my problems but I’m no delicate wallflower. After You-Know-Who killed that poor Diggory boy last year did you expect him to let you wander around on your own?” She asked him rhetorically. “I know you’re not the sharpest arrow in the quiver but I never thought you to be that dense.” She finished as they arrived in front of Harry’s house.
“Now, get inside. Expect someone to be in touch soon, and for the love of Merlin don’t leave the house!”
Harry wanted to protest but before he could Professor Black silenced him with a hard stare before she pointed towards the house. He released a sigh before turning towards the house and walking towards the door. He turns around to ask one more question only to find the empty street. He heaved one more sigh before turning back around and entering the house.
As he steps in, Aunt Petunia looks up from the television.
“Diddykins? Is that…” She trails off as she catches sight of the two boys.
Harry shoots her a sheepish look as Dudley lurches out of his arms to vomit in one of the potted plants nearby.
“ DIDDY! ” She shrieks as she leaps from her chair to grab her son. “VERNON, come quick!”
Harry’s uncle Vernon quickly steps back from the fridge where he had been eating ice cream from the tub. The spoon still in hand as he steps into the entryway at which point Dudley vomits into the plant pot again.
“We have to take him to the hospital!” Petunia cried as she rubbed Dudley’s back.
“Who did this to you boy?” Vernon demanded as he wrapped a towel around his son.
Dudley shivered before he weakly raised his hand to point a finger at Harry. The tension in the room is palpable as both parents take in the information.
“Happy are we now?!” Vernon yelled at Harry as he approached while brandishing his spoon. “You’ve finally done it! You’ve driven him loony!”
“Don’t say that Vernon!” Petunia scolded him, more for calling their son insane than his chewing out of Harry.
“ Look at him, Petunia!” Vernon cried out as he pointed to their now drooling son. “He’s off his chump! Puggles! Crackers! Our boy’s gone yampy! ” He finishes with a pointed look at his wife. Then he rounds on Harry before continuing, “Well I’ve reached my limit, d’you hear? I’ve taken the last of your nonsense-! ” He yells as his voice rises before being interrupted by a magical letter suddenly flying through the mail flap and right into Harry’s hand.
It bears the symbol of the Ministry of Magic, he stares at it in confusion for a moment before cracking the seal, at which point it then unfolds itself as the wax forms a pair of eyes and lips. Then it begins to speak.
“Dear Mr. Potter: The Ministry has received intelligence that at twenty-three minutes past six this evening you performed the Patronus Charm in the presence of a Muggle. As a clear violation of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, you are hereby expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.” It says seriously before lightening up as though it hadn’t just ruined his life. “Hoping that you are well, Mafalda Hopkirk.”
When it’s finished the letter dissolves itself. Harry stares at the ashes in surprise as Vernon grins victoriously across from him. “ Justice! ”
Later that night, while the Dursley’s are still at the hospital, Harry is having another night terror. He shakes and mumbles as images float past his mind’s eye. The graveyard, Voldemort, Cedric, then a burst of green.
He lurches forward in his bed as the nightmare shocks him awake. His breath slowly begins to even out as he rubs his eyes. That’s when he notices it, a small blowing wind noise and a muffled clatter from somewhere in the house.
Cautiously Harry grabs his wand from his bedside as he stares nervously at Hedwig. He can hear a humming noise as the lock on his door begins to rattle. A bright glow illuminates the other side of the door before it slowly swings open. He’s fully prepared to fire of a spell when a Lumos spell is lit revealing the intruders.
“Moody.” He breathes out as the new professor steps into the room. “What are you doing here?” Harry asks as he stares at all the witches and wizards now stepping into his room.
He recognizes Tonks, with her iconic pink hair and bright smile, and Kingsley Shacklebolt with his large imposing figure, but not the other two.
“Rescuing you, of course.” He responds.
Barely even five minutes later Harry is dressed and being shoved out of the house by Moody at which point they’re joined by Professor Black.
“Where are we going?” Harry asks, still very confused by the situation. “If I’ve been expelled from Hogwarts-”
“You haven’t been-not yet, anyway.” Moody interrupts before turning his head to address Shacklebolt.” Kingsley, you take point.
“But-the letter said-” Harry tries to say before being interrupted once more.
“Dumbledore persuaded the Minister to suspend your expulsion pending a formal hearing.” Shacklebolt says as they all begin to line up.
“Don’t worry Harry, we’ll explain everything once we get back to headquarters.” She tells him before shooting an uncertain look at her aunt.
“Shh!” Moody hisses at her before continuing gruffly. “Not here Nymphadora.”
She rounds on him with a deadly look as she grounds out, “Don’t call me Nymphadora.”
Moody promptly ignores the threat in favour of starting the preparations. He slams his ornate wooden walking stick against the ground twice, the noise echoing magically, as brooms suddenly appear before each of them.
“Remember, stay in formation everyone, don’t break ranks if one of us is killed.” He orders them.
Harry shoots him an alarmed look but before he has a chance to speak his mind their off. They soar through London Proper at breakneck speed. Flying over Westminster, and along the river before they eventually reach their destination. Landing in a small park deep in the suburbs, that sits just in front of a set of conjoined houses.
The group cautiously make their way across the street, checking for any witnesses, before Moody pulls out his wand and casts a spell on the housing block. Harry is confused for a moment before his mouth gaps open as he watches a whole other house suddenly start to grow out of the one furthest to the right.
They make they’re way towards it before waving Harry in first.
When he steps inside it seems strange. It’s not very different from any other house he’s ever been in, despite the magical camouflage. He can hear voices at the end of the long entry hall that stretches pretty much through the whole house. So he follows them.
As he gets closer it becomes clear that it’s his godfather Sirius’s voice. There are other voices too but he can’t quite make them out. He makes it about halfway there before the others behind him push past to reach the discussion room. Tonks offers him a smirk as she goes but Professor Black doesn’t follow them. Rather she stays with Harry offering him a smile before placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Once the others step in Harry can finally see who’s in attendance. Like he heard his godfather Sirius is there, they share a moment of eye contact before Harry moves on to the others. Remus is there, along with Mr. Weasley, and a host of others he doesn’t recognize. Before he can step in though Moly appears. She shoots him a bright smile as she catches sight of him, stepping out of the room and closing the door behind her as she moves to great him.
“Thank heavens, you're alright.” She tells him as she pulls him into a hug. One he quickly reciprocates before realizing that he can no longer feel the presence of Professor Black behind him.
But before he can think too long about that Ms. Weasley continues. “Bit peaky, but I’m afraid dinner will have to wait until after the meeting.” She tells him as she pats his cheeks endearingly.
“Yeah about that…” Harry tries to continue as he eyes the door behind her.
“No. No time to explain.” She interrupts him before waving to the staircase on her right. “Straight upstairs, first door on the left.”
The moment he’s out of sight though, the smile leaves her face as she eyes the hallway. “Alright, come out you, stop hiding in the shadows.” She calls out into the seemingly empty hall.
After a moment the shadow of the door ripples like a puddle before Hermione suddenly steps out of it. She has a worried look on her face as she eyes the door behind Molly. Yet that look melts away into silent content as she’s pulled into an embrace by her oldest friend.
“It’s good to see you, Molly.” She whispers into her friend’s hair.
“You as well Mione.” Molly replies before she suddenly pinches her friend in the side causing Hermione to lurch back with a pained yelp.
She shoots Molly an aggravated and confused look that quickly melts away into shame as she catches the look of rage on her longtime friends' usually kind and peaceful face.
“Ten. Years.” Molly hisses at her. “Ten years since I’ve seen you since I last heard from you. Ten years of your goddaughter’s life, poof, gone.”
“Molly-” Hermione desperately tries to butt in but is interrupted again as her friend continues.
“Then I received a letter from Ronald of all people telling me about his new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor. One miss Hermione Granger Black! My son knew you were alive before I did!”
“Come on. You know-”
“Then I still have to wait a whole year for you to come to visit!” Molly finishes before pulling Hermione back into a desperate hug. One which the slightly younger witch startles at, before slowly relaxing into it.
“I’m sorry Molly.” She whispered. “It’s just...with everything that happened. I didn’t think it would be safe for me to come visit.” Hermione tried to explain. “Not with the children so young, and especially not with...not when…” She trails off as tears peaked out from the corners of her eyes.
Molly steps back a bit and wipes them away with her thumbs before smiling at her. “I know.” She says softly.
The two remain like that, content in the presence of each other before Hermione hisses as she suddenly grabs at her scars. Molly stares in confusion as her friend suddenly lurches forward in pain, leaning against the wall just to stay upright as she claws at the scar that was slowly revealing itself from beneath the potion’s magic.
“Come with me.” Molly ordered, not giving Hermione a chance to try and get out of it as she opened the door and stepped through.
Hermione briefly considered melting back into the shadows but was too slow. She glanced into the room and stared right into the eyes of the second last person she wanted to see.
Sirius black blinked a few times before a look of rage suddenly overtook him. He practically leapt from the table as he rushed forward. Hermione desperately tried to cast her shadow charm but was stopped as he cast Expeliarmus, causing her wand to fly from her hands.
She desperately tried to back away as the man rushed her but with the pain from her scar and her wand nearly three feet away she stood no chance. He reached her in less than a second, grabbing her by the shoulders before dragging her into the room.
Before she even knew what was happening she was pressed against the wall with Sirius wand at her neck and a host of others pointed at her face.
“How dare you show your face here!” Sirius hissed at her. “How dare you come into this sanctum after everything you’ve done!”
For a moment she thought he would kill her then and there, cast the killing curse and be done with it all. Unfortunately, he wasn’t given the chance as he was ripped away from her by Tonks who shot her Aunt and first cousin, once removed, a strange look as she glanced between them.
Now free from the immediate risk of death Hermione took the opportunity to regain her breath and straighten her jacket. Sirius, for his part, was pacing on the other side of the table from her. He was clearly still angry but at least seemed no longer intent on murdering her.
Finally, when the silence became too much, he turned to face her. His eyes flashing as he placed his hands against the table. “Why is she here?” He demanded as he stared right into her eyes.
“I asked her to come.” Moody informed him as the mad wizard took a puff of his pipe, only to receive a smack to the head from Molly before putting it out. “Dumbeldore’s had ‘er watching Potter over the summer.” He told the room.
This seemed to come as a surprise to many, none more, however than Sirius. The man staring disbelievingly around the table with his eyes wide and mouth open before he responded. “What?”
“A good question.” Arthur cut in. “After putting all the children at risk last year, why would he trust her with something like this?” He asked in confusion as he looked around the room.
“I can’t pretend to understand Dumbledore’s reasoning, but no one is more versed in the magic of disguises and illusions than me.” Hermione said, in an attempt to offer some form of consolation.
“Exactly!” Sirius cried out. “How can we trust her? How do we know that she isn’t a spy? Sent here to discover our plans and kill our members. How do we know this won’t end the same way as it did before?!”
No one could offer an answer to that, least of all Hermione herself. The memory of her last betrayal hung over the room like the Death himself. No one would meet her eye, not even Molly, as she looked around the room. It was what she deserved but that didn’t make it any better.
The house was...less than normal to say the least. The walls were lined with a menagerie of shrunken heads that turned to follow him as he ascended to the upper levels. After a few moments, he reached the landing only to see an elderly house-elf sweeping a doorway.
“...mudbloods and werewolves and traitors and thieves...if my poor Mistress knew the scum they’ve let into her house, knew what dirt they let near her Jem, what would she say to old Kreacher...oh the shame …” Kreacher muttered beneath his breath.
Harry winces as a board creeks beneath his foot. The elf turns to face him, clearly startled, before narrowing his eyes and glowering at the young wizard. Harry meets his heated gaze and startles as Kreacher takes a few steps back and aggressively shuts the door. Harry stares at it for a moment, blinking at the awkward silence left behind by the interaction before voices behind another door catch his attention.
He gently pushes it open and smiles at the sight of his closest friends.
“ HARRY! ” Ginny yells as she tackles him in a hug, nearly sending them both to the ground.
She lets go after a moment, her face bright red as she steps back and clears her throat. Ron pulls him into a hug as his sister backs up, releasing it after a moment to let Harry into the room. They settle on the floor, each of them resting their back against a bed.
“Are you alright? We overheard them talking about the Dementor attack; you must tell us everything-” Ginny starts, her words falling into more of a ramble from her concern.
“Let the man breathe , Ginny.” Ron teased with a smirk.
“-and this hearing at the Ministry,” Ginny continued, clearly having either not heard her brother or ignoring him in favour of her rambles, “ It’s just outrageous! I’ve looked it up and they simply can’t expel you! It’s completely unfair!
“Yeah, there’s a lot of that going around.” Harry commented dryly. “What is this place anyway?” He asks as he craned his neck to look around the room.
Ginny and Ron share an awkward look as they wait for the other to start what will inevitably be an uncomfortable conversation.
“It’s headquarters…” Ron tells him slowly as he pointedly looks to his sister to continue.
“...of the Order of the Phoenix. It’s a secret society; Dumbledore founded it back when they first fought You-Know-Who.” Ginny continues.
“Couldn’t have put any of this in a letter I suppose. I’ve gone all summer without any bloody news!”
His two friends share a guilty look at his outburst.
“We wanted to write mate, really we did-only-” Ron says only for his words to fumble as Harry turns to face him, anger clear on his face.
“Only what ?!” Harry snaps.
“Only Dumbledore made us swear not to tell you anything.” Ginny explains softly, trying to calm Harry down to see the rationality of their choice.
Her words seemed to stun Harry as he blinked at her in surprise, a soft murmur of “Dumbledore said that?” escaping as he looked to his friends for confirmation. When they both nodded Harry’s anger turned to confusion and hurt. “But...why would he want to keep me in the dark? Maybe I could help!” He exclaims, clearly hyper-emotional and unable to comprehend everything he’s being told. “After all, I’m the one who saw Voldemort return; I’m the one who fought him; I’m the one who saw Cedric…”
He falters at that, overcome by the sheer amount of emotions running through his veins. He staggers back a few steps in an attempt to gather himself but to little avail. Ginny stands a few feet to his right, arms outstretched, clearly wanting to offer him some kind of consoling but, for the first time, unable to find the right answer. Ron too stood a few feet away looking at him sadly as he took in the true cost that Harry’s life had cost.
But before either of them get a chance to try and move forward a POP sings through the room as a grinning Fred and George apparate into the room on either side of the boy who lived.
“Harry.” Fred begins, or at least the one he thinks is Fred begins (because with the chaotic nature of the two who ever really knew which one you're talking to).
“Thought we heard dulcet tones.” The one he thinks is George continues.
“Don’t bottle up your anger, Harry; let it out!”
“Anyway if you’re all done shouting-”
“Want to hear something really interesting…?” Fred finishes, his voice trailing off in an attempt to lure the three younger teens in.
It doesn’t take much.
Barely even a minute later and all of them are gathered around the stairwell, watching as Fred and George lower an extendable ear to the bottom floor. It crackles once or twice but after a moment voices start coming through.
“...if it wasn’t for Harry we wouldn’t even know Voldemort was back! He isn’t a child Molly!” Sirius' voice said as it came through on the teen's end.
“...well he’s not an adult either! He’s not James, Sirius.” Molly retorted.
“Well, he isn’t your son!”
“He’s as good as!” Molly shouted clearly enraged by her fellow order members' words. “Who else has he got?”
“ He’s got me! ” Sirius retorted, now just as angry as Molly.
Harry flushes at the passion in both their words, touched by how much both of them seemed to care for him. Beside him, Ginny shot him a small smile as Ron placed a hand on his shoulder. The moment ends though as scuffling and movement come through then a third voice enters into the fray.
“How touchingly paternal, Black.” Snape said, the drawl of his voice ringing clear like a bell to the students listening in. Perhaps Potter will grow up to be a felon, just like his godfather.”
Harry shot the other a look but they all just shook their heads, clearly as in the dark about his presence as Harry.
“You stay out of this, snivellus -”
“I think that is quite enough of that.” Professor Black said, interrupting the two. From the sound of their movements, she had forced her way in between them in order to try and stop the fight from breaking out. There were some more scuffling sounds and unintelligible words before they cleared up and their words could be heard clearly once more.
“-I don’t need the promises of a backstabbing traitorous snake who would sooner betray all of us to the woman who beat her-” Sirius snarled out before getting interrupted by Snape.
“I don’t think your cousin-in-law requires any reminder of all she has endured…”
They didn’t get any more of the conversation though because a cat suddenly appeared out of nowhere and started to play with the extended ear. Fred, who was holding the ear, tried to jingle it around to get the cat to go away. This, in fact, only made the cat more interested. It pawed at the ear a few more times before grabbing it out of the air and running away. Much to the disappointment of the group who could only groan in frustration.
Roughly an hour later Harry, Ron, and Ginny made their way downstairs just as Molly was locking the door. When she noticed them she shot the three of them a smile. “Well! We’ll be eating down in the kitchen-” Only to be interrupted as Fred and George apparate beside her with a loud crack! Molly screamed at the sudden noise before rounding on her sons with the full fury of a woman scorned.
“ JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE ALLOWED TO USE MAGIC NOW DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO WHIP YOUR WANDS OUT FOR EVERYTHING! ” She screamed at them before turning to address the small group like she hadn’t just screamed like a banshee. “Are you hungry, Harry?”
Before he could respond though Mr. Weasley clapped a warm hand on his shoulder. “You’re sure you’re alright, Harry? Gave us all quite a turn.”
He tries to answer Mr. Weasley another person entered the foyer.
“What, no hello for me?” Sirius says with a bright smile.
Harry practically throws himself at his guardian with a bright smile. They embrace each other tightly as, for the first time since arriving, Harry smiles. They release each other after a moment at which point Molly led them into the dining room.
A pot of stew was bubbling softly in the background as they all settled around the table. Various members sat awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable with the more familial format Molly had forced them all into, besides a few that is. Ginny giggles as Tonk turns her face into a bird beak and then a pig's snout. Fred and George are messing with Ron, changing the shade of his hair every couple seconds and laughing as he fails to notice.
At the head of the table, Harry sits beside Mr. Weasley who is frowning as he reads through an official letter from the Ministry. On the other side of the table, Professor Black is staring at a letter of her own. This one had settled itself in front of her after flying in through a window with large bat wings that folded into the seal once it landed itself.
He couldn’t recognize the symbol in the black wax but from the way Professor Black was trembling as she stared at it it wasn’t that hard to gather who it was from. When she noticed him staring she quickly snatched it up and tucked in into her blazer.
“...this is most unusual...it seems Minister Fudge has called your hearing before the entire Wizengamot…” Arthur murmured before passing the letter to Lupin to examine.
“It’s a setup. A chance to publicly discredit Harry.” Sirius told the room.
“I’m afraid you may be right, Padfoot…” Lupin said as he put the letter down.
“I don’t understand. What does the Ministry of Magic have against me?” Harry asked, clearly disturbed by the idea of having the Ministry as an enemy.
No one answered. Various members looked around, just like Ron and Ginny had earlier, clearly hoping someone other than them would answer him.
“Show him. He’ll find out soon enough.” Mad-Eye told the room quietly.
Reluctantly Professor Black pulled a newspaper from her blazer and magically floated it to rest in front of harry. This edition of the daily prophet had a large picture of Harry front and center, the title reading ‘ The Boy Who Lived ’ changing to ‘ The Boy Who Lies? ’ Harry just blinks at it in surprise. Sirius looks at his godson with a concerned look on his face, clearly understanding exactly how Harry feels.
“Fudge had been attacking Dumbledore as well.” Sirius finally spoke up. “Fudge is using all his power-including his influence at the Daily Prophet - to smear anyone who claims the Dark Lord has returned.”
“But... why ?” Harry asked, still very confused as to why the ministry would be doing this.
“The Minister thinks Dumbledore is after his job, the spineless coward. He’s always had this delusion that Voldemort’s rise, and now his return, are nothing more than ploys for political power.” Professor Black said slowly.
“But that’s insane!” Harry cried out disbelievingly. “No one in their right mind would believe-”
“Exactly the point.” Lupin answered him. “Fudge isn’t in his right mind. It has been twisted and warped-by fear.” He continued as he stared into the fire.
“You must understand Harry.” Professor Black said, drawing his attention as she reached across the table to take his hand in her own. “Fear...fear makes people do terrible things. The last time Voldemort gained power he almost destroyed everything we hold most dear. Now that he’s returned...I’m afraid the Minister will do almost anything to avoid facing that terrifying truth.”
Harry couldn’t help but feel that, even though she was talking about the minister, some part of that story was about her as well.
“So what’s Voldemort been up to, seeing as everyone’s so thoughtfully ignoring him?”
Lupin and Hermione hesitate at that, they look to Mrs. Weasley who is looking at them pleadingly. Hermione looks away, as though whatever silent conversation they were all having was causing her physical pain. Lupin frowns before reluctantly looking to Sirius, who then turns to Harry.
“We think he wants to build up his army again.” He starts as he shoots a pointed look at Professor Black who refuses to meet it before turning back to Harry. “Fourteen years ago he had huge numbers at his command, not just witches and wizards but all manner of Dark creatures. He’s been recruiting heavily, and we’ve been attempting to do the same…” He pauses there, clearly more uncertain about the next part. “But gathering followers isn’t the only thing he’s interested in.”
Moody clears his throat loudly with a pointed look of his own. Sirius ignored him before continuing.
“We think Voldemort may be after something-something he didn’t have last time…”
“ Sirius- ” Moody warns, his voice low and threatening.
“You mean...like a weapon?” Harry asks slowly.
“ THAT’S ENOUGH! ” Mrs. Weasley shouted, drawing all eyes to her as she glared down the Order. “ He’s only a boy! Say much more and you might as well induct him into the Order Straightaway!”
“Good!” Harry cried out, much to the surprise of many in the room. “I want to join, If Voldemort’s building an army I want to fight .”
Sirius nods proudly while many others look like he’d just confirmed their worst nightmare.
“I know, Harry.” Lupin began. “But for all you’ve been through, you’re not an adult-not yet.” He hesitated for a moment but continued, much softer this time. “Still...if things continue the way they’re going...I’m afraid before long you may get your chance.”
They all move to gain some form of comfort at that dark thought. Ginny and Ron leaning into each other as Mrs. Weasley pulled Fred and George in close. The only one who didn’t was Professor Black who instead of seeking comfort, instead rose from her seat and glared at the room.
“You lot...you should all be ashamed.” She scolds them. A few heads rise at that, including Mrs. Weasley, but they all backed down as she glared them back into their chairs. “Harry is not an invalid. I understand your concern, but as someone who has had their freedom taken and their choices made invalid, you should all be ashamed.”
A few give her sympathetic looks while others look away in shame.
Harry shoots her a thankful smile, one which she acknowledges with a soft smile before taking her seat once more. Perhaps, he had been just a bit too quick to judge her.
Just maybe...she was the only person here who actually understood what he was going through.