Cast Aside

Confrontations and Lamentations

Chapter 21

Kingsley's lynx patronus arrived over a late breakfast. They'd both overslept, neither waking until almost ten and then not bothering to get out of bed for another half hour. Not until their morning lie-in was interrupted by the sounds of rambunctious little boys and a hungry cat pawing at their door did they drag themselves from bed and down the stairs.

Molly had made breakfast, keeping some under a stasis charm for them and they had hardly sat down to eat when the message appeared. Kingsley had been able to call the meeting for that night. Key Order members, including Dumbledore, would be present. Unfortunately that also meant his most ardent supporters.

Thinking about how the meeting might go, Hermione considered again whether they should say anything about Severus. "At some point we'll have to tell them about Severus. Pettigrew won't be there and Fabian is right, it will come out eventually."

Finishing his own plate and eyeing her half-eaten sausages and eggs, George nodded. "Yeah... right. Can't tell the rat anything. You gonna eat that, Hermione, or just push it around your plate while you think?"

"What?" She looked down at her plate and scoffed, pushing it towards him. "No, all yours. Honestly the men in your family." He grinned at her around a bite. "But seriously... What do you think we should tell them tonight? We might have to give them something. It won't be as if we can just ask for unbreakable vows from anyone who cares to know."

He frowned thoughtfully as he stared across the room between bites. "Well, I suppose it will mostly depend on what Dumbledore says—what kind of reason he comes up with as an excuse."

"That's true..." She rested her chin on her hand and watched him eat. "Still. We need to come up with something to tell them just in case."

"Hmm..." Finished, he stood and took their dishes to the sink and set them washing. After some thoughtful staring out the window, he turned around to face her. "Alright, how about this..."

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Headquarters this time around turned out to be a country house provided by an Order member Hermione did not recognize. It was the opposite of Grimmauld in almost every way. Where the Black family home was filled with the lingering miasma of dark magic, this estate was airy and decorated in shades of creams and gold. It was filled with love and light. It was a strange contrast.

Five Order members, some she recognized and some she didn't, were waiting around the sitting room when they arrived. Moody was speaking in low tones to a young blonde man Hermione thought might have been Sturgis Podmore. Elphias Doge, a known Dumbledore sycophant, sat beside a man she didn't recognize questioning Kingsley who stood in beside them.

Hermione wanted to grumble when she saw the old man. He would be no help in the impending conversation but before she could think much more about it, Kingsley noticed them. Looking grave, he turned, holding his hand out for Arthur.

"Evening, Arthur. Dumbledore's running late but he should be here soon."

Before Arthur could do more than nod, Elphias was on his feet waving an accusatory finger at George and Hermione. "Who are they, Kingsley? What do you think you're about, hmm? Bringing strangers to headquarters behind Dumbledore's back! Why won't you tell us what this is about?"

Gideon and Fabian, having brought up the rear, now flanked their little group, Fabian attempting to pacify the old wizard. "Calm down Doge. They're with us. They're family. This here is our cousin George Prewett, and his lovely fiancé, Helen."