The Raven's Call

The Order

Tuesday, August 1st 1995

"Remember, 12 Grimmauld Place."
Arthur announced as we take turns stepping into the fireplace, announcing where we wanted to go before dropping Floo powder at our feet, transporting us to this so-called Grimmauld Place. First Ginny, then Ron, then Hermione, then me. I've been very.. numb over the last few weeks since Cedric.. but the Weasleys have been really nice to me, taking me in like one of their own. I don't know where I would be without them, not Grimmauld Place, that's for sure.

***

Sunday, 6th August, 1995

"Oh, Harry!"
Hermione exclaims, running to hug her best friend who'd just entered the room she, Ron, and I were hanging out in while the adults had their 'order' meeting. Whatever that means.
"Are you alright? We've heard them talking about the dementor attack. You must tell us everything."
She demands.

I watch from the bed I was sat on as Harry locked eyes with me for a moment.

"Let a man breathe, Hermione."
Ron says with a chuckle.

"And this hearing at the Ministry!"
Hermione continues.
"It's just outrageous! I've looked it up-- they simply can't expel you. It's completely unfair!"
She rambles.

"Yeah."
Harry mumbles.
"There's a lot of that going around at the moment."

"Tell me about it."
I mumble back, speaking for the first time in weeks while bringing my knees up to my chest.

"So, what is this place?"
Harry asks, now walking around the room.

"It's headquarters."
Ron says, sticking his hands in his pockets.

"Of the Order of the Phoenix."
Hermione continued.
"It's a secret society-- Dumbledore formed it back when they first fought you-know-who."

"You couldn't have put any of this in a letter, I suppose?"
Harry asked, full of angst.
"I've gone all summer without a scrap of news."

"We wanted to write, mate."
Ron says.
"Really, we did.. Only.."

"Only what?"

"Only Dumbledore made us swear not to tell you anything."
Hermione interrupted again.

"Dumbledore said that?"
Harry said with disbelief.
"But why would he want to keep me in the dark? I mean, maybe I could help. After all I'm the one who saw Voldemort return; I'm the one who fought him; I'm the one who saw Cedric Diggory get killed."

That made me want to punch him right in his stupid looking face, but I was quickly interrupted by the twins apparating into the room behind Harry, with Asteria clinging to George.

"Harry."
George spoke as the twins sit each side of me.

"Thought we heard your dulcet tones."
Fred spoke with a smile, rubbing my back gently to comfort me. He's been really good to me since I joined the family, but then again he always was.

"Don't bottle it up though, mate."
George continued.

"Let it out."
Asteria says with a smile.
"Oh, hey Atti."
She says, rubbing my shoulder for comfort. I'm glad that I'm surrounded by friends.