The Little Lion: Vol 2 "Order of the Pheonix"

The Clock's Ticking

Chapter Two: The Clock's Ticking

"Hermione, let the girl breathe." Ron grumbles.

"I can't believe the ministry is doing this to you and Harry!" Hermione yells, breaking our hug. "And dementors! Oh my Godric you could have been killed!" Hermione hugs me again.

"She did fantastic, better than me my first time." Harry says behind us. "Cam got the patronus charm on her first try."

Hermione looks at me impressed and proud. "Even I haven't done a patronus yet." She beams.

I shrug. "I guess it was either I do it or I die, the situation motivated me."

"Hedwig?" Harry says, looking at the window.

"She's been in some kind of state, pecked at me and Hermione last time she sent your letters."

"Oh sorry about that, I just wanted answers you know... I've barely heard from you two at all." Harry looks between Ron and Hermione who are standing across from him and I.

"We wanted to reply to you, Mate. We really did but Dumbledore said it was best if we didn't..."

I look at Ron and Hermione confused. "Wait, you haven't been talking to Harry at all?" They shake their heads no.

Ron look back at Harry. "I think Dumbledore thinks you were safer with the muggles right now."

"Yeah?" Harry raises his voice higher than usual as his eyebrows shoot up as well. "Have either of you been attacked by dementors this summer then?"

"Well no- but that's why he has had people from the Order of the Phoenix tailing you all this time-"

"The what?" I ask. "The Order of the Phoenix?"

Hermione looks at me puzzled. "Yes, everyone downstairs are in the Order... including your parents... are you saying they didn't tell you anything about it?" I shake my head, feeling annoyed myself now. "Well... Dumbledore was livid when Mundungus left his shift early before the Dementors came."

"I'm glad he left because now I'm here." Harry says hotly.

"Yeah, first time I've been out of my house all summer. My parents have kept me locked up- are you saying you have been here all summer together?" I question Ron and Hermione who nod. "And my bloody parents neglected to let me come? Well at least I'm finally here too."

"Aren't you two worried about your hearing?" Hermione looks at us, crossing her arms.

"No." Harry says, walking past them to look around the room more. I observe Harry carefully studying the walls and frames. "So why did Dumbledore want to keep me in the dark? Did he say?" I hear a slight quiver in his voice.

"We really did try to convince him to let us tell you what was going on, Mate. But he's so busy now, we've only seen him twice since we came here." Ron tells his best friend.

"Maybe he thinks I can't be trusted." Harry says lowly.

"Don't be thick-" Ron gets cut off.

"How come you two are allowed to know everything that's going on?" Harry looks furiously at Ron and Hermione now.

"We're not!" Ron's temper rises now as well. "Mum won't let us near the meetings!"

"SO YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE MEETINGS! BIG DEAL! YOU'VE STILL BEEN HERE! I'VE BEEN STUCK AT THE DURSLEY'S ALL SUMMER!"

I step forward a little. "Okay, now I get why you're annoyed- I am too. I feel like no one bothered telling me anything either. But there's no need to unleash all this at Hermione and Ron-"