A Dance Through Thyme (Harry Potter)

Beginn der verammlung

Chapter 24: Calling Order

There was already at least a dozen people already milling about the crowded bar. There was a great sense of camaraderie as they greeted each other warmly, seemingly knowing one another quite well.

Hermione could pick out a few of the faces. Aberforth was the most recognisable as he stood behind the bar, issuing each person with a drink as they walked by. The smell of goats in the bar was less pronounced than what it had once been, but Hermione still couldn’t help wrinkle her nose a little at the faint smell of manure which seemed to emanate from the padded bar-stool she sat herself down on to people-watch. Molly and Arthur stood out rather remarkably thanks to their vivid hair colour, and Hermione was sure that she could detect a bit of extra plumpness around Molly. Fred and George would surely only be a few months old at this point in time.

Dumbledore had said that there would be a few new members present at tonight’s meeting of the Order. Under Hermione’s advice, he had recruited a few new members of the older generation in addition to those whom had just left school. James had owled Hermione earlier in the week to say that he would be there. Sirius had sent an owl along similar lines, but neither of them had made mention of Remus. Would he be present this evening?

The possibility of it made Hermione’s stomach start tying itself in knots. She had not spoken to him since their argument, and Hermione was not sure how she would need to act if he did show up tonight. Would she pretend that it never happened, and they would go back to being friends? Or would he start to treat her with a cool indifference?

Just as the palms of her hands began to feel a bit damp, she heard the little bell above the door jingle a little. A warm gust of air brought in a few new faces, and amongst them was James; however, he was not alone. He had his arm around a pretty red-headed woman. Hermione only had to briefly lock eyes with her to know that this was Lily Evans. The couple made their way over to Hermione. James immediately let go of Lily to wrap his arms around Hermione in a hug, whilst Lily stood beside him, a polite smile on her face.

“Hermione! I’d like to meet my girlfriend, Lily. Lily, this is my friend Hermione. Don’t let her young face deceive you, she’s the one who is working those experiments for Dumbledore.”

Comprehension seemed to dawn on Lily’s face, and she moved forward to give Hermione a brief hug.

“It’s lovely to meet you at last. James couldn’t wait to get here so that he could introduce me,” Lily chuckled, whilst James scowled.

“Yeah, well, Sirius will be here in a minute. He’s just parking his bike outside,” said James, attempting to divert the conversation.

Hermione nodded and smiled at him, not really knowing how to steer the conversation and make it even remotely interesting. Although she was comfortable with James, Lily was a new person in her life, and Hermione had spent so much time in the Room of Requirement that meeting new people seemed a little harder than what is previously had been.

Thankfully Lily seemed to sense Hermione’s discomfort and attempted to engage her in conversation.

“So, Hermione, James has told me that you’ve been working quite closely with Dumbledore for the past few months. Is this your first meeting with the Order, or have you been here before?”

Hermione smiled at the young woman. Very polite and well-spoken, she seemed just as lovely as everyone had ever made her out to be. She could see why James, and even Severus Snape, would be attracted to her.

“It’s actually my first meeting. I’ve been working with Dumbledore to try and recruit as many people as possible. There seems to be quite a turnout tonight.”