Chapter Eleven: The Meeting of the Order of the Phoenix

(i) The characters and world of Harry Potter are the property of J.K. Rowling. I make no money from this.

(ii) Thank you for the kind reviews. Please do continue to let me know what you think of the story.

(iii) A big hug of gratitude to my beautiful beta, Queen_of_Stars.

(iv)This chapter is in response to the October 2009's OWL theme 'The Dark Arts'.

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Having spent all of her time following her surreal afternoon in Wizarding London ensconced in Grimmauld Place, Hermione had been especially pleased when Kingsley had Flooed in on Tuesday evening to arrange the Order of the Phoenix's meeting for Thursday. Hermione thought it would be good for Harry to see people. She was starting to worry that the depression he had slipped into was becoming dangerous. Hermione had tried on countless occasions to encourage Harry to go play Quidditch at the Burrow or visit Hogwarts, but Harry would always refuse, saying he was extremely tired. It was as though the energy he had expended during and immediately after the battle had drained him completely. He hardly spoke to anyone but her and clung to her as if he would perish without her. This had not pleased Ginny and Ron, who found the suddenly altered Harry difficult, if not impossible, to comprehend.

That night, in a quiet consultation with a worried Minerva and Kingsley, Hermione had confided her fears concerning Harry, suggesting that he was perhaps suffering from the loss of Voldemort's soul fragment, which had been lodged within his psyche for so long. Minerva promised to speak to Severus about it privately. After all, he was the Order's premier expert on the Dark Arts.

There was another, more private and poignant reason for Hermione's pleasure at the thought of a gathering on that warm summer evening. Thursday, the fourteenth, was her mother's forty-fifth birthday. Hermione missed her parents greatly, and she didn't want to be alone to dwell on their separation. For although she had spent so many months apart from them while she had been a student at Hogwarts, their weekly correspondence had kept her feeling connected to her parents. This past year, knowing that they were not even aware of her existence, had been incredibly hard to bear.

The first people to arrive were, unsurprisingly, Kingsley and Minerva, who were the current acting heads of the Order. They were soon followed by Severus Snape, who, upon entering the large kitchen, nodded a greeting at the trio sitting 'round the table before taking his customary place near the back door facing the room and the only other entrance. After a year on the run, Hermione understood his need to always be aware of the people surrounding him, as well as the need to have a ready escape route. Kingsley immediately informed Severus of Hermione's concerns about Harry, and as she watched, she saw Severus' face change.

Quietly, he said, "Potter has been touched by the Dark. Now that the euphoria of victory has passed, he may be struggling with the influx of Dark magic. He will need to be trained in handling his changing energy. His aura has probably undergone a transformation too, and if he has been using magic," Severus turned to look at Hermione, "the patterns and the residue of his spell casting would have darkened, deepened and matured. He is probably feeling very sluggish and disturbed. Has he been having nightmares?"

"Yes," said Hermione. "When I ask him what's wrong, he never tells me; he just shrugs it off, but when he nods off without casting a Silencing Charm, I hear him calling out and mumbling incoherently." Then, after a slight pause in which Minerva, Kingsley and Severus shared concerned glances, Hermione confided worriedly, "My magic has changed as well. I've always had a bright blue flame for my blue-bell fire, but when I tried it yesterday, it was closer to a navy blue. It was still bright, but much, much darker and more intense."

Severus nodded. "Kingsley, I doubt Potter will take direction from me, but you he may pay attention to. He must be trained, and Miss Granger as well, if she is feeling any sort of ill effects."

Hermione looked thoughtful. "I'm not really feeling too bad. I've got aches and pains, a lot of stiffness and soreness, but that has more to do with the Cruciatus curse that Bellatrix used on me. Mentally though, I feel fairly alright. I miss my parents and feel dreadful about Fred and the others, but otherwise, I guess I'm doing fairly well, considering all that has happened. I don't think killing the bit of soul in the Horcrux affected me too much. I wasn't alone when I did it, and I was focused on the battle immediately afterwards."

She paused again and hugged herself tightly. "I must confess that I feel incredibly alone all the time. I long for company, but find physical contact extremely trying, especially the more intimate kind. The last time Ron came to visit, he tried to kiss me, and I felt like I wanted to throw up. He didn't find it very amusing." She blushed furiously, and then she looked pointedly at Kingsley. "Ron thought it had something to do with you; he was extremely upset over the comments made by the media following our press conference."

Kingsley merely shrugged. There was nothing to say, for he had already warned Hermione of the possible outcomes of their very public performance.

"Hmm...," said Severus thoughtfully. "Well, keep an eye on the alterations and your reactions, and if it worsens in any way, do get help. The changing and maturing of magic happens to everyone gradually, but you have all been exposed to Dark magic extremely rapidly. It can have unforeseen repercussions. As for your reactions to Mr. Weasley, it could merely be your magic rejecting his. Do you feel pressured in any way to respond to his affections?"

At Hermione's deepening blush, Severus scoffed. "Really, Miss Granger, I'm only asking because if your magic feels that he is trying to take advantage of you, it will react to remove you from such a situation. Have you felt any adverse reaction with any other person?"

"No," said Hermione. "Some people help me feel better. Being around Professor McGonagall is really calming and Kingsley makes me feel all warm inside. With Harry, I feel almost maternal. I feel differently with almost everyone I meet. Somehow, being with Cissy and yourself made me feel almost secure, which I found really strange at first, given the fact that I was tortured at Malfoy Manor. I just put it down to your presence. You've always looked after us and protected us, and I thought it was just me realising that on a subconscious level."

Severus considered Hermione thoughtfully. However, he could not find any subterfuge in her honest gaze and was forced to concede that the girl was telling the truth. "Narcissa means you no harm. She might use the fact that you are now supposedly friends to her social advantage, but her agenda is not in any other way malicious. As for me, I owe you my life. I would no more harm you than I would myself. All I can advise at this point is to listen to your magic, and if you find that the Dark is encroaching upon you in any shape or form, speak to one of us immediately. The longer you delay in learning to cope with the Darkness within you, the longer you allow the Dark Arts to worm its way into your psyche. The Dark Arts feed on our personal weaknesses. A vain woman will go to extremes to ensure her beauty is always maintained; a power-hungry person becomes, as in the case of the Dark Lord, a megalomaniac."

Hermione nodded in agreement. She was not a fool and would not take unnecessary chances. She had come to realise, to her immense disgust, her folly in not trusting Professor Snape, and she had promised herself to take his lessons to heart.

Unbeknown to Hermione, Minerva and Severus exchanged significant glances. They both wondered what the Dark had done to Ronald Weasley for Miss Granger to react so very strongly to his physical presence. The situation would bear close scrutiny indeed. Severus quickly glanced at Kingsley; he too looked thoughtful. All three knew that a hitherto unexpected development in unanticipated proportions had occurred.

As the conversation around the table drifted on to Ministry matters, Hermione excused herself to fetch Harry, who was, yet again, asleep upstairs.

Soon after Harry joined them, the Weasleys and other Order members arrived. The kitchen was nearly bursting at its seams, as all the living members of the Order had turned up for this very important meeting. There was Aberforth Dumbledore, who looked closely at Hermione and Harry before taking a seat not far from Severus'; Arabella Figg, who on arrival wept while hugging Harry; Mundungus Fletcher, who looked ill at ease being back in Sirius' house; and the kindly Dedalus Diggle, who bowed and shook Harry's hand repeatedly before trying to do the same to Severus. Severus sighed heavily, but submitted to the adoration. Elphias Doge, Andromeda Black and Hagrid had also attended the gathering. Hagrid's presence really did fill the Black kitchen, and he was forced to sit outside in the hallway while the others did their best to fit around the magically extended table.

Kreacher was in his element. He served everyone tea and pumpkin juice and kept bringing out platter after platter of chicken and mayonnaise sandwiches, sausage rolls, scrumptious chocolate cake that Harry particularly liked, ginger biscuits and dainty bite sized pieces of fruit and ham arranged on cocktail sticks.

Once everyone was comfortably supplied with food and drink, Kingsley began the proceedings. He stood up and asked Minerva if she would be good enough to make detailed notes of all that was said. Once that was established, he started his speech by thanking the Order for their hard work in helping bring down Voldemort. He then thanked Harry and Hermione for acting quickly to ensure that a general pardon was granted for all war crimes committed by Order members. Kingsley's words were met with heartfelt applause, which caused Harry to squirm and Hermione to blush furiously.

Ron and Ginny, however, did not join in the general round of acknowledgement. In fact, while Kingsley spoke of the new challenges that awaited the Order and the fate of the Death Eaters, Ginny, Molly and Ron did nothing other than glare furiously at Hermione, who had unfortunately taken a seat between Kingsley and Harry.

Severus noted this from his corner, and his lip curled in derision at the three Weasleys' childish pique of jealousy.

Once Kingsley had finished speaking, he turned the floor over to Severus, who proceeded to not only explain Dumbledore's crafty plan, but also the former Headmaster's extreme ill-health during the last year of his life. Severus spoke of Dumbledore's advancing curse-damaged condition and his own desperate attempts to hold off the effects for as long as possible. Finally, Severus related the events from his point of view of that fateful night on the Astronomy Tower, as well as his terrible year spent with the Death Eaters. Severus had an enthralled audience. As an extremely effective orator, Severus held his listeners captivated with his dramatic and horrifying tale. Although Severus was debriefing, the nature of his account brought forth gasps, as well as quickly hushed giggles and shared glances as dots were joined and connections made. When his tale was done, Severus gave a mocking bow to his audience and retook his seat.

Next, Harry was asked to speak of his year on the run. Harry, who was not really in the right frame of mind to narrate such a lengthy account, turned to Hermione immediately and asked, "Hermione, will you tell them what happened, please? You know and understand what was going on better than anyone else, and you're better at public speaking too."

Hermione nodded. She did, indeed, know what had happened. The last week spent almost entirely ensconced at Grimmauld Place had allowed the pair the opportunity to talk about everything Harry had witnessed both in the Penseive and when he had used the Deathly Hallows, as well as his strange encounter with Dumbledore at Kings' Cross Station.

Looking around and meeting the fiercely interested gaze of Severus, Hermione began to speak. Unconsciously, she tried to match his mastery of narration. She began with explaining Dumbledore's preparation of Harry, of how the Headmaster had taught Harry about the Horcruxes and how Hermione had surprisingly been able, on their last day at Hogwarts, to call the books through the open window, as if they had been prepared and left waiting for such a summons. Then, she narrated their summer of preparation, of sending her parents to Australia with modified memories and finally their lonely, desperate and, at times, almost hopeless year on the run. There was much shock when Hermione's quiet voice narrated how truly wretched she and Harry had felt when Ron had left them and how he had eventually returned. She described how Severus had given them the sword of Gryffindor and how they had managed to kill the Horcruxes one by one until Harry was able to take on Voldemort. She spoke in detail of their search to understand the meaning of the Deathly Hallows, of their visit to the Lovegood home, and their plan to break the taboo so they could enter Malfoy Manor. Her voice broke, and she had to take a moment to pull herself together before she narrated her torture at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange, of Dobby's bravery and their escape.

The almost unbelievable occurrences of the night of the Battle of Hogwarts brought tears to many an eye, and Hagrid sobbed and said, "Yer parents would be so proud, so proud," before being quickly shushed by Mrs. Figg so Hermione could go on with the debriefing.

At last, Hermione spoke of how she had gone back for Professor Snape's body, how the Malfoys had discovered his survival and had taken him away and how she, Luna and Harry had decided that it was the least they could do to ensure that Professor Snape's name was cleared.

When Hermione finished her long narration, she looked into Severus' glittering eyes once more. When their eyes met, he gave her a small nod of his head in acknowledgement of her deeds and her aptitude in relating the events of the last year. Tremendously pleased, Hermione smiled brightly at him.

Ginny, who had been listening to Hermione speak, was almost wild with jealousy. The thought of Hermione all alone with her precious Harry was too much for the youngest Weasley to bear. Ginny kept thinking that it was she who deserved the limelight, she who deserved to be lauded as the brains behind Harry's success. In Ginny's jealous eyes, Hermione looked like a bushy-headed irritant that was using her intellect to usurp a position on Harry's side that did not belong to her. Ginny did not realise that Hermione had stood by Harry when no one else would, that she had defended him and sacrificed her family for him.

As Hermione's narrative ended and the others began discussing all the information that had been shared, Ginny's eyes narrowed with barely contained rage. Turning pointedly to her mother, Ginny said in a carrying tone of voice, "No respectable girl would ever admit to living in a tent with a boy for so long. You would think she would have the decency to gloss over the time Ron was away."

Molly, who was equally furious at the prominent position given to Hermione, said, "It is her culture, Ginny dear; Muggles are famous for their loose morality. One wonders how many men Hermione has slept with. Besides, admitting to sharing a tent with two boys for almost a year isn't really better, Ginny dear; in fact, it sounds much worse. No man from a decent family will touch her now."

Hermione, who had been seated across the table from Molly, could not fail to hear what was said. Mother and daughter had deliberately spoken in voices loud enough for most of those paying attention to hear their discussion quite clearly.

Severus had heard and seen the malicious intent behind the women's conversation and watched Hermione's struggle to contain her tears.

Molly and Ginny waited for Hermione to respond. They wanted an opportunity to really vent their anger at the person they thought had infringed on Ginny's and Ron's rightful positions.

Hermione was so hurt that she was unable to respond. Desperately, she looked pointedly at Ron, who she hoped would come to her rescue.

Instead, Ron said bitterly, "The Horcrux in the locket showed me a vision of Harry and Hermione entwined, mocking me for being foolish and bothering to return when I was obviously nothing but an unwanted third in the perfect little world of so-called best friends."

Next, Hermione turned her needy eyes towards Harry. Harry, however, had been pulled aside by Kingsley, who was speaking to him earnestly about Auror training and having Harry come in to the Ministry to start working on strengthening and controlling his maturing magic. Alone and friendless before the vindictive and malicious persecution of the three Weasleys, Hermione looked completely defeated.

Something in Severus arose at this deplorable treatment of a true heroine. He understood on a conscious level that the three Weasleys' behaviour was a result of their exposure to the Dark, which leached onto all insecurities, but to take out their lack of self-confidence on Miss Granger, who had proved her worth by her numerous deeds, was unbearable for him. Miss Granger's behaviour towards him had been exemplary, and her willingness to accept the friendship of Narcissa at face value, given their difficult past, was something that he found almost unimaginable. She had faced her tormentors willingly to ask for their help in retrieving his supposedly dead body. This was not a woman to be cut down by the jealous remarks of sanctimonious and insecure individuals.

Looking directly at Molly, Severus said, "For a woman who is so quick to speak of the lack of morality in a brilliant young lady, Molly, I must ask you to first consider that I have caught both your son and daughter in less than savoury positions in various nooks and alcoves at Hogwarts. This is not to mention your older offspring, who are now out of Hogwarts."

At Ginny's gasp, Severus turned his stern gaze towards her. "I would advise you, since you seem so concerned about youthful promiscuity, to question Miss Weasley about the number of lovers she has already taken. Miss Granger may have broken countless rules and lost innumerable house points, but I never found her rutting in some deserted corridor at the dead of night."

Next, turning his eyes to rest upon Ron, he said, "Mr. Weasley, have I not found you in just as many trysts with hapless dimwits lured into your sloppy embrace? Really, boy, if you must cast stones on a lady's virtue, do make sure your audience has not caught you out on the very same offence on more than one occasion."

Molly was incensed. She had not expected Severus to come to Hermione's defence. "Really, Severus," said Molly, "my children would never be promiscuous. I'm sure you are mistaken."

"Mistaken," said Severus with a smirk. "I could start naming names and the number of points I took off at each offence, if you feel that would be helpful. There are records of all points lost in the staff-room at Hogwarts, and Minerva will happily assert that I speak the truth. She always did make it her self-appointed task to double check every point I deducted from her precious little Gryffindors, especially when they were removed in significant quantities."

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