Chapter 21 – Truths

The kitchen at Grimmauld Place was the most used room in the depressing house. Every Order meeting was held there, all meals were eaten there and during the day members congregated there to talk and make plans. Molly Weasley loved this kitchen, it was larger then her kitchen at the Burrow and it allowed her to feed and look after more people. Cooking for an unknown amount of witches and wizards every day kept her busy now all of her children had left home to go to school or live elsewhere.

Molly Weasley was serving a very late supper to Order members around the kitchen table late on the Saturday evening that Ron, Ginny, Hermione and Ron returned from Hogwarts. An Order meeting had just finished and most members had left to go home but quite a few had stayed to socialise. Lupin, Bill and Charlie were stopping the night, Tonks was stopping as she didn't have to be in work the following day and Shacklebolt was there too, mainly because if Tonks was staying so was he. Arthur leaned over and kissed his wife on the cheek as she sat down next to him with a cup of cocoa.

'Tired Molly?'

'I'll go up to bed soon. Stop worrying.' Molly gently chides taking a sip of her cocoa.

'Well I'm going to go up in a minute. The twins need some help tomorrow.' Charlie yawns.

'Who would have thought they would own their own company?' Laughs Bill.

'Come on Bill, if they were going to make a go of anything it was going to be pranks. School was a nightmare when they were there.' Charlie replies.

'I would rather they had finished school.' Molly sniffs.

'Mum, you know they were never the academic types. I'm just glad they found what they wanted to do or else we would have to help them out.' Charlie jokes.

'I think their stuff is brilliant. I go in once a week and see what's new.' Tonks puts in. 'I've been buying some of their stuff to help me do my job. Those hats that make your head invisible saved my life last week.'

'Some of the other Aurors are using their stuff, especially the fake wands. It really helps out in the field.' Adds Shacklebolt.

'I really did not expect the twins to ever be on the right side of the law.' Arthur laughs. Molly smiles faintly and rests her head on Arthur's shoulder.

'Are you sure you're okay mum? You do seem more tired lately.' Bill sounds worried.

'Your mother's fine. It's been really hectic around here lately and she hasn't been sleeping much.'

'Why don't you go up to bed mum and we'll clean up here.' Charlie adds already getting up and picking up the cups, saucers and plates littering the long table. Molly nods and Arthur helps her stand up. There is a knock on the kitchen door and they turn to see Hermione wearing blue pyjamas, wringing her hands together looking very pale.

'It's Harry. You have to come now.' Hermione screeches.

Hearing the panic in her voice Molly wakes up and leads the way out of the kitchen up to the boys room. The first floor landing is silent the only light pouring out of the open door of the boys room. Hermione rushes inside the open door, following they step over the threshold of the room. Loud screams pierce the air. Looking around they see Harry pinned to the bed struggling against the hold of Ron, Fred, George and Ginny who are trying to hold him down but failing miserably. His limbs are flailing around, Hermione has gone to his side and placed a towel over his forehead.

'Harry.' Lupin pushes past from the back of the crowd gathered around the door and rushes over, startling Arthur, Bill and Charlie into action.

'Molly, send for Madam Pomfrey.' Arthur shouts brushing past Molly and heading over to grab Harry's torso pushing it down.

Molly flees from the room. Bill catches Harry's leg as Ginny loses her grip and gets hit in the chest, winding her.

'How long has he been screaming for?' Bill asks looking over at Ron. Ginny beside him sits down near the wall and tries to catch her breath.

'About half an hour. It usually doesn't last this long.' Ron says through gritted teeth as he pushes against Harry's chest with his father to hold him down. Fred who has been holding Harry's left arm lets go with a yelp.

'It's burning again.' Harry's screams intensify. Lupin pulls out his wand and aims it at Harry.

'No. Madam Pomfrey warned us never to use magic on him whilst he was like this.' Ron says. Lupin pockets his wand and grabs Harry's free arm, just released by Fred holding it back down, gritting his teeth against the burning in his hands.

'How long has he been having these nightmares?' Arthur asks.

'They're not nightmares, they're visions. He can feel every curse Voldemort puts on his Death Eaters or victims.' Hermione says wringing the towel out again and reapplying it on his forehead where his lightening bolt scar is bleeding.

'He hasn't had any all year since we started school. Why now?' Ron sounds confused. Lupin returns his confused stare. Charlie sits down on Harry's legs and helps hold them down. Arthur's hands slip off Harry's sweat soaked chest but he quickly holds him back down. Molly rushes back in with Poppy on her heels.

'What on earth is going on?' Poppy demands opening up the bag she had brought and pulling out vials.

'Vision.' Ron yelps as Harry's arm comes free and hits him in the face. All of a sudden Harry goes still. 'Everybody off now.' Ron yells pulling Charlie away with him.

Everybody else lets go and steps backs and Hermione pulls the cloth off his head and backs away too. Harry arches off the bed and leaning over the side, throws up. Lupin cleans it up as Poppy pushes through and starts casting diagnostic spells over Harry as he lies back down closing his eyes.

'Molly. Send an owl to Severus, I will need some potions to reverse the effects of the Crutatcius Curse and some strong Pain Relieving Potions.' Molly nods and leaves again. Ron sits down on his bed on the opposite wall shaking, with Hermione and Ginny joining him. Arthur steps out of the way of Madam Pomfrey and turns to the three of them sitting curled up together.

'This has happened before?'

'Yeah, we've helped Harry before. He doesn't usually remember though once the vision is over and he has fallen back to sleep.' Explains an exhausted Ron.

'The vision was real, he throws up after them.' Ginny adds. 'He had them during the summer after the Triwizard Tournament, but his arm has never burnt before.'

'Arthur we need another blanket for Harry, so he doesn't go into shock and an owl sent to Dumbledore.' Poppy demands using cleaning charms over Harry to clean his body of sweat and another spell to change his pyjamas as Arthur leaves the room.

To everybodies surprise Harry's eyes open and he blinks to clear his vision. Slowly he focus' on Madam Pomfrey.

'Dumbledore.' Harry croaks through his sensitive throat.

'You can talk to the Headmaster in the morning.' Harry shakes his head wearily.

'No. Need… talk. Initiation… ceremony.' Light dawns on the others in the room.

'That would explain his burning arm.' Bill says. Poppy pulls up the left sleeve on Harry's pyjamas and sees a large circular burn right where the Dark Mark would be. She takes out a small bottle of Burn Plaster and applies it to the area and conjures a bandage out of her wand and wraps it tightly around his arm. Snape enters the room and looks around.

'I have brought the potions you requested Poppy. Who is it for?'

'Harry.' Snape blinks but otherwise stays composed walking over to the side of Harry's bed.

'I thought you were blocking him out Potter?' Snape glares. 'Did I waste my time this term?'

'Couldn't.' Harry replies. Poppy takes the potion vials off Severus and forces Harry to drink it, afterwards forcing him to drink a Dreamless Sleep potion too.

'Mione?' Harry whisperers weakly. Hermione comes over and takes his hand. 'Stay.' Hermione nods and sits down next to him. 'No...' Harry shakes his head from side to side. 'Sleep.' Hermione blushes and looks around at the adults there.

'If it will help, then by all means Ms Granger.' Poppy adds sceptically. Hermione slowly lies down next to Harry blushing furiously and refusing to meet anybodies gaze. Arthur comes back in, and after a short pause and a nod from Poppy, puts the blanket over the both of them. Harry's rhythmic breathing signals he has fallen to sleep.

'Perhaps we should all get back to bed. Ron, you can have my bed for tonight I'll stop here and make sure Harry sleeps till the morning.' Lupin pushes Ron towards the door. Slowly the rest leave, Arthur leading a crying Molly from the room. Poppy turns to Lupin.

'He should wake up around 9. I've left some painkilling potions by his bedside make sure he gets them. Come Severus we should report this to the Headmaster.' Poppy leaves after indicating the vials on the bedside table. After a long look at Harry, Severus follows her shutting the door after him. Lupin takes off his frayed, patched outer robe and crawls into Ron's bed then waves his wand turning off the lights.

'Goodnight Professor.'

'Night Hermione.'

Light coming through the faded curtains lands on Harry's sleeping figure, waking him up. Automatically he reaches out and picks up his glasses putting them on, when he can see properly he looks around the room noting Ron's neatly made bed, the clean floor with no clothes scattered around and a bowl of water on the bedside table. Before Harry can wonder what had happened Molly bustles in carrying a tray piled high with food.

'Harry dear, you're awake. I was just coming up to wake you.' She waits patiently by the bedside as Harry slowly pulls himself up, before placing the tray on his lap. 'The others are already at the twins shop. You can join them later if you wish to. But first you have to eat all of your breakfast and then Poppy will be here for a check up. Dumbledore sent an owl saying he will be stopping by this afternoon to talk to you.' Harry nods and picks up a fork. Molly leans over and hugs Harry. 'We were so worried about you last night.' She leans back wiping away a few stray tears and leaves the room after smiling at Harry.

Harry looks down at all the food on his tray. Shaking his head at the thought of eating it all he starts by eating some bacon. Just as he starts his toast Lupin walks in.

'Molly said you were up and eating. I thought we could go for lunch in Diagon Alley and show Hermione and Ron that you are okay. I had to pry them away this morning.'

'Are they all okay?'

'They're a little worried about leaving you here but Ron and Ginny went when I said they needed some fresh air and some hard work would take their minds off last night. It was a lot more difficult to get Hermione to go though. I had to promise to not leave your side all day till they got back.'

'You don't have too.' Harry replies. Lupin smiles.

'I'm afraid Harry that I am not going to ignore your girlfriend. I have heard from Ron how dangerous she can be. He mentioned thumping Draco Malfoy in your third year.' Lupin leant over and whispered the last part before pinching a sausage. Harry smiles and takes a drink of his pumpkin juice.

'She never feeds us lot this much. I thought you could do with the help.' Lupin leans back and takes out a copy of the Daily Prophet.

'What lies are they reporting now?' Harry asks looking at the header on the front page.

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named Sightings

'Nothing much. People have said they have seen Voldemort all up and down the country.' He stops when Harry scoffs. 'Yeah, I thought that too.' Lupin picks up some toast and flicks over some pages before stopping. 'Listen to this.' Lupin reads from the newspaper.

Late last night just as Mr Kendrich in North Yorkshire was going to bed

When he heard a noise in his back garden and looking out of his curtains

saw a tall figure all dressed in black staring up at his window. Frightened

for his family he cast a protection ward around his house and went

downstairs to confront the intruder. Opening his front door he noticed

he-who-must-not-be-named staring at him unable to get through his wards…

Lupin trails off as Harry starts laughing and then coughing as some food goes down the wrong way. Lupin pats him on the back until Harry stops choking and takes a deep breath.

'Sorry. It's just the thought of a simple Home Ward protecting against Voldemort.'

'Yeah. A bit stupid believing this really.'

'I thought the Quibbler was supposed to print phony stories.' Lupin smiles. 'Besides we all know what Voldemort was doing last night and it wasn't killing a wizard in Yorkshire.' Harry goes silent. Lupin moves and sits down next to Harry's legs and leans over squeezing Harry's hand.

'Do you remember what happened last night?'

'I remember my vision, but not much else.' Harry looks up at Lupin. 'Why did something happen?'

'Well you did embarrass Hermione. You asked her to sleep with you.' Harry blushes and rubs his hair. Lupin laughs. 'You remind me of your father when you do that.' They both fall silent until Lupin breaks the silence.

'Hurry up and eat all your breakfast. Poppy will be here soon and if you're not out of bed she'll keep you there for a few more days.' Harry shudders at the prospect of being bed ridden for a few days with all of the Weasleys around. 'I'll be down stairs in the kitchen. Come down when you are done.' Harry nods and lets Lupin take his half eaten breakfast away with him before slowly getting out of bed and testing his muscles. His legs still support him even if they are a little shaky and he walks to the bathroom hoping a hot shower will help relax his muscles.

After Poppy's visit Lupin managed to convince Molly that allowing him to take Harry to Diagon Alley to show his friends he was okay was a good idea. Although Molly did make Bill go along as well for protection, Charlie being already at the twins shop. Lupin, Harry and Bill walked to the Leaky Cauldron through muggle London and entered Diagon Alley through the brick wall behind the pub. Witches and Wizards were rushing around holding onto small children as they did their Christmas shopping, teenagers were pressed up against the Quidditch Supply Shop gazing in awe at the newest broom on the market, the Firebolt Professional and young children were running in between legs chasing a small puppy. Lupin skilfully guided them through the crowds and to the WWW.

'Harry.' Hermione shouted the minute she spotted Harry as he walked through the door and threw herself into his arms hugging him. 'Are you okay? When did you wake up?' Harry hugs her back.

'Harry no snogging in our shop, people will forget to buy anything if they see the Chosen One giving public shows of affection.' Fred says as he comes over dressed in a luminous red jacket with gold spots that clashes with his hair. Harry blinks as he lets Hermione go.

'Are you getting fashion advice off Dumbledore?'

'Nah, he gets his advice from us.' George says coming over wearing a luminous gold jacket with red spots. Fred puts his arm around Harry's shoulder.

'You come to help? It's really hectic in here. We really need another pair of hands.'

'I'm sorry, but I have to get back for a meeting with Dumbledore this afternoon. I'll help out tomorrow.'

'Love to chat Harry, but I need to go and make Ron restock the fake wand barrels.' George disappears behind a curtain at the back of the counter.

'Come over here Harry and try these new sweets.' Fred says pulling Harry towards one side of the shop.

'Are they dangerous?' Harry asks nervously.

'Trust me Harry.'

'Are you insulting my intelligence?' Harry asks as Fred looks innocent.

'I am insulted Harry.'

'I'm sure Malfoy would be stupid enough to try them.' Fred laughs.

'He already has. Caused them to fly off the shelves when our customers saw Malfoy grow another head that started insulting him.' Bill laughs behind Harry. Ginny comes over holding a large box of potion vials.

'What's in these?' Harry asks suspiciously taking a vial.

'It's nothing really. A mild love potion.'

'Hang on, you failed potions yet you can mix a love potion.' Bill inputs. Fred shrugs his shoulders.

'The stuff Snape taught was boring, but this we found useful.'

'Can somebody please help me with this box!' Ginny huffs, turning everyone's attention to her. Harry reaches out and takes the box. 'George says can you take these to the adult section and stack them Hermione.'

'Sure.' Hermione walks away forcing Harry to trail after her.

'Do my eyes deceive me or did Hermione just force Harry Potter to carry those vials after her without saying a word?'

'No, little brother, she did.' Bill replies.

'Oh dear.' They turn and look at Lupin. 'That's how his father was with Lily. It was embarrassing sometimes to watch him follow after her like a dog to its master.'

'Shame we don't have a camera.' Fred jokes as Harry comes back looking sheepish.

'Are you ready to go Remus? I'm getting hungry.' Remus nods and Harry heads towards the exit.

'Why don't you stay and help Bill. Harry and I will be okay.'

'I have to come back. Mum told me to stay with you.' Bill and Lupin follow Harry out calling goodbye to everybody.

Bill, Lupin, Molly and Tonks are sitting around the kitchen table sipping tea and picking up biscuits, talking.

'Are you sure Harry is going to be okay staying here. It is still close to Sirius' death.'

'I do not know Molly. But last night shows it is affecting him. Severus said Harry had mastered Occlumency months ago but now he cannot do it.'

Raised voices from elsewhere in the house catch their attention.

'I thought Harry was on his own in the lounge?' Tonks asks.

They all stand up and race up to the lounge. As they enter the hallway they hear Harry yelling at somebody.

'How many times are you going to interfere with my life?' They burst into the living room to see a very angry Harry standing in the centre of the room facing Dumbledore who is sitting down on a chair near the fireplace looking sadly at Harry.

'What's going on here?' Molly asks looking between the two men.

'Harry and I are having a small discussion. Could you please leave us?' Molly, Lupin, Bill and Tonks nod and leave the room silently without question.

Harry had just returned from Diagon Alley and sat down on his own in the lounge when the fire in the hearth flared green and Dumbledore stepped out.

'Hello Harry.' Dumbledore smiles upon seeing Harry already sitting down waiting for him.

'Hello sir.' Mumbles Harry from the sofa where he is staring intently out of the window.

'Did Lupin give you my message?'

'He mentioned you were coming to see me this afternoon.' Harry says apparently absorbed in what is outside.

'That is correct.' Dumbledore sits down on a chair near the fireplace and watches Harry. 'I was told about your vision last night.' Harry nods. 'Could you tell me what happened in it?'

'It was an initiation ceremony. Voldemort was marking 4 new Death Eaters.'

'Could you tell me who they are?'

'I didn't recognise anybody.' Harry shrugs.

'Perhaps you could describe them to me.'

'There was one female, she had blonde hair, was quite tall and had a large mole on her cheek. The other three were male. Two had brown hair and I think were twins, and the last had black waist length hair. Nothing really obvious about them, but I would recognise them if I saw them again.'

'There really wasn't anything note worthy about the males, Harry?'

'The one with the black hair had a weird bracelet on his left arm.' Harry lifts up his left arm his robe falling down to his elbow revealing his bandaged forearm. 'I noticed it when he was marked. It looked like silver and had five different strips plaited together.'

'This information can help the Order discover who they most likely are and keep an eye on them.' Harry nods. After a few minutes of silence Harry turns around from the window and looks over at Dumbledore.

'Did you just came to see me about my vision or is there something else too?'

'I'm afraid I did come to see you about something else although it is related to your vision last night.' Harry nods. 'Have you wondered why you haven't been having visions at school?'

'I mastered Occlumency.' Harry states.

'You never mentioned having visions early in September before you mastered Occlumency. Did you have any?' Harry frowned.

Now that Dumbledore mentioned it he hadn't had a vision for ages, Harry thought. He'd had a few small ones when he was at Snapes house but as soon as he got to Hogwarts he stopped having visions and nightmares all together.

'No. I haven't had any visions or nightmares since August. Why?' Harry looks distrustingly at Dumbledore.

'Let me explain. At the end of last year after Sirius died I saw you struggling to deal with his death.' Harry snorts clearly remembering his tantrum in Dumbledore's office. 'I sent you back to your Aunt and Uncle hoping that some time away from Hogwarts would help you start to grieve. I paid you a visit that nobody knew about a few weeks into the summer holidays and realised that you were not happy.'

'Of course I wasn't. I had nobody to talk to and my godfather had just died.' Harry spits out viciously. He stands up and starts pacing, the flames in the hearth dancing higher and higher.

'Harry please calm down. Let me continue.' Dumbledore pleads eyeing the flames warily. Harry glares at Dumbledore and stops pacing. 'I decided that I had to come up with a plan to help you recover. Before I could fully formulate one you had your accident and Severus took care of the rest.'

'That's why you wanted to leave me there. You were trying to make some plans for me.'

'Yes Harry. I was a bit unsure whether your new situation would be helpful but it turned out very well. I'm sure the animosity between you two helped you to work through some of your anger and it helped you to find distractions. This gave me some more time to plan what I was going to do to help you.'

'I thought my stay with Snape did help.'

'It did Harry. It worked very well, I couldn't have planned anything better, but I was worried that you might revert back to your depression when you came back to school so I set up some wards around Hogwarts that helped block negative emotions.'

'I don't understand.' Harry frowns.

'If you remember back to last term, the hatred between the houses wasn't as severe?' Dumbledore waits for Harry to nod before he continues. 'These sort of wards are not recommended for extended periods of time but I thought that having them in place at least for the first term would help you. It did. A little too well. You appeared to get over your grief and start to move on. You've taken extra lessons and worked hard on DA.'

'Hang on, are you telling me the reason I felt a lot better at school and the reason why Sirius' death stopped bothering me was because you put up these wards?' Harry asks angrily.

'Yes Harry. It gave you time to master Occlumency….'

'That's why I cannot do it now. Because there are no wards here.'

'You did master Occlumency Harry, but as there are no wards here to block negative emotions you are remembering Sirius again, making it difficult for you to remember how to block everything out.' Harry stands up.

'What do you mean it worked a little too well?' Dumbledore is silent so Harry glares at him. 'What else are you hiding?' The flames in the fireplace danced higher flickering against the stone mantle. Dumbledore kept glancing between the fire and Harry as he continued.

'There was one serious side effect of the wards. I never thought they would affect you in this way. It hasn't affected anybody as much as you.'

'What side effect?' Harry demands before his face drains of colour and the flames almost disappear. He places a hand over his heart and the monitor. 'My heart problems. But how is it connected?'

'You're right. It is your heart problems. I told you at the end of last year about the prophecy and that the power the Dark Lord knows not is love. Your heart is the symbol of that love. With negative emotions being kept at bay all of the positive emotions are not balanced out, so they started to increase your awareness to them.'

'When you take the wards down I feel as though all of the people I love could be harmed and I need to protect them.' Dumbledore frowns. 'What? Wasn't that supposed to happen?' Harry sneers.

'You are not supposed to be able to tell any difference when I take the wards down.'

'Well I do. My heart hurts although nothing shows up on the monitor.'

'Like in times of war when spell development for wizards increases exponentially your magic has grown to help protect you. My lessons were supposed to help you learn to control it, but that doesn't explain your reaction to the wards.'

'Snape said my magic had grown due to the pressure of fighting Voldemort all the time. Are you telling me that the positive emotions have made my magic grow again.'

'Yes. The stress made you develop magically long before your peers.' Harry stands there staring at Dumbledore.

'One powerful weapon for the light then aren't I.' Sneers Harry.

'Harry, I have never thought of you as a weapon for the light!' Dumbledore says hurt.

'But that is what you are turning me into!' Harry's voice is rising. 'Allowing me to face Voldemort in my first year, to enter the Triwizard Tournament even to let me stay with Snape has all made me stronger then normal. You are supposed to protect me but all you are doing is moulding me into some kind of force for you.' The flames in the fireplace start rising again, flickering over the mantle.

'Harry. I have done everything in my power to protect you.'

'You never told me about the prophesy until last June! Sirius died because you refused to tell me.' The flames dance higher as Dumbledore watches helplessly.

'I have tried to help you get over Sirius' death.' Dumbledore pleads with Harry.

'How can I get over Sirius' death if I cannot grieve. Grief is a negative emotion if you haven't forgotten Headmaster.' Harry yells. He paces up and down and then stops sneering at Dumbledore. 'How many times are you going to interfere with my life?' They both jump as the lounge door opens, the flames go out and they both turn startled towards the group at the door.

'What's going on here?' Molly demands.

'Harry and I are having a small discussion. Could you leave us?' Harry isn't surprised when they all leave, although he suspects they are just standing outside the door trying to listen in. Harry is a little hurt that Lupin didn't step in and insist on knowing what was going on.

Sirius would have done, Harry thought.

Harry turns his back to Dumbledore as a tear runs down his cheek.

'Harry. I'm sorry.' Harry wipes the tear away and draws in a deep breath bringing his emotions under control.

'I want you to promise not to do anything that could interfere in my life without discussing it with me first. Whether or not you think I shouldn't know. I am 16 and it's about time you started treating me as though I am an adult who can make decisions for myself.' Harry says steadily.

'You are not 17 yet.' Harry spins round his eyes blazing.

'I have seen more in my 16 years of life then most adult wizards have seen in all of theirs. I believe that deserves some respect and acknowledgement.' Dumbledore and Harry stare at each other for a few tense moments before Dumbledore nods his head.

'I will inform you of anything that is related to you or can have an affect on you from now on.' Dumbledore stands up and pulls out a leather pouch. 'I have affairs at Hogwarts to attend to.' He waves his wand at the fireplace and a small fire starts up again before throwing some floo powder into the fire turning it green. 'I am very proud of you Harry and love you like a grandson. If that means anything at all.' He adds softly.

'I know. That's what hurts the most.' Dumbledore smiles sadly before stepping into the fire and shouting, Hogwarts, before spinning away. The door opens and Lupin comes in.

'Harry are you okay? I heard Albus leave.' Harry pushes past Lupin saying

'Excuse me.' And rushes up the stairs, slamming his bedroom door behind him.

Later that evening the Weasleys, Lupin, Hermione and Tonks are sitting down for dinner.

'I never thought it would be that busy. I haven't had a break all day.' Ron moans. 'My feet are killing me.'

'It was worse than the Quidditch practises Ron puts us through.' Ginny joins in.

'Think of the gold you two'

'Lots and lots of gold.'

'Are we going to see any of it?' Ron asks sceptically.

'Sure you are little brother.'

'You earned 8 galleons today.'

'Once you've helped till Wednesday..'

'We'll give you your wages.' Finishes George.

'Huh. Why can't we get it tonight?'

'When are you going to spend it?' Fred starts.

'You're not going shopping till Thursday.' Finishes George.

'They're right Ron. We can't spare order members until Thursday to go with you.' Charlie says around a mouthful of mash potato.

'Think about it you'll have 28 galleons extra to spend by then.' Adds Bill.

'We wanted to go to some muggle shops too. Would that be possible?' Hermione asks.

'I do not see a problem. Although it will be more risky, if anything happens we cannot help you.'

'Okay.'

'When is Harry coming down to dinner?' Fred asks.

'Yeah we have to ask him a small favour.'

'He's in his room. Dumbledore dropped by earlier and they got into an argument.'

'Really.' Ron asks shocked.

'Yeah. Why?' Hermione asks confused. 'He doesn't seem to be as angry anymore.'

'We have no idea.' Lupin says. 'He was yelling at Dumbledore about interfering in his life.'

'What did he do this time?' Hermione asks sighing. They all turn and stare at her.

'Why don't you go ask Harry?' Suggests Lupin. Hermione stands up followed by Ron, Ginny, Fred and George.

'Good idea. We can see if we can help.' Ginny says as they all leave.

'Well that got rid of them. The Order meeting starts in a minute.' Arthur sighs.

Harry is lying on his bed staring at the ceiling when Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Fred and George enter the room and sit down on Ron's bed or by his legs.

'Harry?' Hermione asks taking his hand. 'Harry?'

'What's up mate?' Ron asks. Getting no response Ron and Hermione look at each other. Ron nods his head and urges Hermione to speak again.

'What was your argument with Dumbledore about?'

'Just him keeping things from me again! I don't believe I never figured it out. Merlin, am I stupid!'

'What things?' Ron asks.

'He put wards up around the school to stop me from being sad about Sirius' death. Side effects being my magic has changed and grown, and my heart problems.'

'Why does your heart hurt from some wards?' Ginny is confused. Harry sighs deeply.

'The wards keep out negative emotions so I was overwhelmed with positive emotions which affected my heart as it symbolises love. Therefore when the wards are down my heart hurts. My greatest weapon.'

'Weapon?'

'What are you on about mate?' Fred and George look at each other and then at Harry.

'The prophecy?' Fred enquires.

'That was smashed in the Ministry of Magic. Neville told us.' Ginny points out. Harry shakes his head.

'Dumbledore heard the original and told me right after I returned from the Ministry of Magic.'

'That's a bit insensitive.' Ron says. Hermione looks at Ron and rolls her eyes.

'Ron you have the emotional range of a teaspoon. What do you know about being insensitive?'

'I do know, not to tell somebody who just lost their godfather a prophecy.'

'We're still lost on the prophesy part.' George says. Ron fills them in.

'There was a prophecy about Harry and Voldemort which is why he planted a fake memory to get Harry into the Ministry.'

'What did it say then?' George asks.

'You really want to know?' Whispers Harry.

'We cannot help you if we do not know what it is.' Harry looks over at Hermione.

'It's not very nice. Are you sure?' Hermione nods and squeezes Harry's hand tighter. Ron and Ginny lean closer, almost falling off the other bed as they do.

'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies, and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not. Either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies.'

Silence descends whilst they try to figure it out. Hermione figures it out first and starts to shake. Harry squeezes her hand as a tear runs down her cheek. It finally dawns on the others.

'You have to destroy Voldemort?'

Harry nods.

'I have to kill him or he kills me. If I fail the light falls and Voldemort will be unstoppable as only I can destroy him.' Fred gulps.

'What power?'

'Love.' States Harry simply. This confuses the others.

'That's not a power.' Fred and George say together.

'It is against Voldemort. He has tainted his soul by Dark Magic and he is incapable of feeling love and it physically hurts him like his anger and hate hurt me.'

Silence descends and they hear the front door open and Mrs Black's portrait screaming.

'The Order meeting has started then.' Ginny explains. Harry frowns and sits up suddenly.

'Where's Kreacher? I haven't seen him yet.'

'He died.' Harry just nods. 'Buckbeak killed him.'

'Where's Buckbeak?' Harry frowns remembering. Ginny chuckles and they all turn and stare at her.

'You're asking now?'

'I've had other things on my mind.' Smiles Harry thinly.

'Hagrid has him.'

'Thanks Gin.'

Silence falls again. Fred coughs.

'Does that mean you're going to come and help us at the shop tomorrow?'

'Fred!' Scolds Hermione. 'I think Harry needs time to himself.'

'I'll help. Silence doesn't work. Besides I get to spend time with my wonderful girlfriend.' Harry smiles and pulls Hermione down on top of him.

Down in the Order meeting Dumbledore is sitting quietly whilst the others argue over reasons why Voldemort and the Death Eaters seem to be so quiet.

'Albus?'

'Sorry Minerva I was thinking.'

'What is your take on the quietness of the Death Eaters?'

'When Voldemort was reborn, he was quiet for a whole year whilst he regrouped. Perhaps he is recruiting. Harry's vision the other night does suggest that he is marking new Death Eaters.'

'That could be possible.' Simon says. Dumbledore turns to Lupin.

'Has Voldemort been sending envoys to the Werewolves?'

'I've heard rumours that he is.' Lupin replies.

'Then he is recruiting. Laying low whilst he recovers from losing some of his inner circle members in the summer.' Dumbledore turns to Mad-Eye Moody on his right. 'Alastor, what has Narcissa been up to? Anything interesting?'

'I'm afraid not Albus. She hasn't left Malfoy Mansion for a while now and she hasn't been having visitors. I will keep watch.'

Albus nods.

'Severus, have you discovered who the new initiates are?'

'I have discovered they are all from the Department of Mysteries.'

'They could have access to anything in the Ministry then.' Simon states. 'That isn't a good thing.'

'Try to keep a watch Simon.' Albus says. Simon nods.

'A few of the Aurors are starting to use the Unforgivables now that Umbridge has passed her decree.' Shacklebolt sneers. 'Death Eaters the lot of them.'

'Just because they use them does not make them Death Eaters.' Arthur sighs.

'No they could be sadists like Umbridge herself.' Charlie agrees.

'Also witches and wizards are calling in all the time with information on Death Eater sightings. Most of the time it's one of their neighbours that they have a grudge against.' Simon explains.

'And we have to go and check it out, Decree Number 2 of Umbridge's brilliant War Plan. It wastes a lot of time checking out every lead. If I were Voldemort I would be sending in false information everyday just to keep us off his back.' Complains Shacklebolt.

'I think he's fooling you enough without giving any more fake leads.' Growls Moody.

'I agree Alastor.' Albus joins in. 'We're going to need to come up with a way to sort out the false accusations from the true. Any ideas?'

'Set up a team of Aurors whose duty it is to sort through the leads and check them out. If they turn out false they bin them, if they might be true or there is something there they pass it onto the rest of you to follow up.' Says Lupin.

'That's a good idea, breaking us down into teams for different things.' Agrees Tonks.

'I'll see that it's done. Tonks do you fancy heading up the new team as you like the idea?'

'Sure. Why not?' Smiles Tonks. 'Do I get a raise?' Simon smiles and shakes his head.

'I'll see about upping it after the war ends.' Tonks pouts. Albus chuckles.

'If that is everything tonight, then you can all leave. Simon, Severus if you will stay behind. Lupin you may too as it is about Harry and you are his new Godfather.' Lupin who was halfway to standing up nods and sits back down again. 'Molly can you call Harry in please?' Molly quickly leaves and heads upstairs. Tonks trips over the steps leading up from the kitchen, luckily for her Shacklebolt catches her. Moody growls at them and tells them to hurry up and move and everybody else follows them out. The front door is heard opening and closing as people leave. Harry comes in as the front door closes for the last time.

'Shut the door Harry and come and sit down.' Dumbledore says pleasantly. Harry nods and shuts the door firmly and sits down next to Lupin. 'I believe you met Simon the other week in Hogsmeade.'

'Yes. He was one of the toads bodyguards.'

'Minister Umbridge Harry.' Harry shrugs not really caring. Simon leans over the table and shakes his hand.

'Pleasure to meet you again Harry, in much better company.'

'I believe you know the reason for Simon being here.' Dumbledore asks Harry.

'Yes.' Harry pointedly stares at Dumbledore. Dumbledore stands up and smiles.

'Perhaps I should leave you three to talk.' Dumbledore says before leaving the kitchen. Simon and Lupin share a quick glance before turning to Harry.

'Harry, you do have a knack of escaping all the time. I would like to hear if there is anything you think that might help my Aurors escape any meeting with Death Eaters.'

'The inner circle are better duellers. They have been loyal to him since the last war and are more fanatical. Best to disarm them quickly and bind them up tight. The others are generally not very good. They are just in it for power. Unless they come from an Auror background you can safely assume the only defence they know was what was taught at Hogwarts...' Harry trails off.

'Problem Potter?' Snape asks.

'I just cannot understand why Aurors would follow him. You deal with criminals all the time and it doesn't affect them.'

'Some of them are power hungry. They became Aurors for the power they would have and because we teach them very advanced Curses, Hexes and Blocks normal witches and wizards would never ever come across in their lives.' Simon explains. Lupin puts an arm around Harry's shoulders.

'Sirius and James never abused their power as Aurors.'

'They were Aurors!' Harry exclaims.

'You didn't know?'

'No.'

'Oh. I thought Sirius had told you.'

'When? Before he flew off into the night on Buckbeak, got locked up here, or maybe in the ministry before he died!' Harry stands up angrily.

'Sit down Potter and Occlude your mind. I will not have months of my work go down the drain. I've already been told I have to carry on teaching you through the Christmas holidays.' Snape sneers.

'Why. I can already do it.'

'Last night proved you couldn't.'

'A small slip.' Harry replies tightly.

'You cannot afford a small slip when around the Dark Lord.' Snape stands up so Harry and him are glaring at each other.

'He isn't here.'

'That didn't stop him from getting into your head last night.'

'He never got in my head I got in his.'

'It can work both ways Potter. I would rather the Dark Lord never found out our connection.'

'Don't worry Snape I doubt he'd find many happy memories of mine involving you.'

'Why you arrogant, conceited, egotistical…'

'I think you are confusing me with your master.'

'Enough!' Snape and Harry turn to see Dumbledore in the doorway looking annoyed, the twinkle from his eye has vanished. 'You will get along and have some more Occlumency lessons. They will start tomorrow night.' Severus sits down angrily and Harry huffs.

'Can I leave now? I have given you the information you wanted.'

'Yes Harry you may leave now.' Harry nods and leaves, pushing past Dumbledore and slamming the kitchen door behind him. Lupin stands up.

'I'll go make sure he doesn't blow anything up.'

As Lupin disappears Snape stands up and stalks out, the front door slamming a few seconds later. Dumbledore sighs.

'I'll go and sort out the paperwork for the formation of the new team. I'll speak to you soon Albus.' Simon leaves. Dumbledore sits down and leans back on his chair deep in thought.