The Marauders Rise (II)

Assembling the Order

December 31, 1973

In the Headmaster's office, ALBUS sits quietly at his desk while MINERVA, ARTHUR, HESTIA, and DAEDALUS stand around the room.

MINERVA: This can't go on, Albus. One of these days, it's going to be a Ministry break-in, only this time, with someone getting hurt, or- or God forbid, killed!

ALBUS: I wasn't expecting there to be any interference at the Ministry. I was almost ready for the Death Eaters to return to the Castle.

MINERVA: Whatever they wanted here is gone, Albus.

ALBUS: Arthur, have you spoken to Bode?

ARTHUR: Yes, Headmaster. If there was a Death Eater targeting the Hall of Prophecy, then You-Know-Who must be expecting some sort of prophecy to prove valuable to him.

ALBUS: A prophecy.

ARTHUR: Yes, sir.

ALBUS: What's curious to me is that prophecies held at the Ministry of Magic can only be retrieved by those of whom they are named.

MINERVA: Which means- ?

ALBUS: Which means that if a prophecy was made about Voldemort, then he himself would have to retrieve it, not any of his Death Eaters.

ARTHUR: So you think-

ALBUS: I can't imagine that Lord Voldemort would expose himself so discreetly by entering the Ministry himself, but nevertheless. The Department of Mysteries must be given constant security supervision, Arthur, do I make myself clear?

ARTHUR: Yes, sir.

ALBUS: Now, then. What else could prove valuable to Lord Voldemort in the Time Room?

MINERVA: A Time-Turner, perhaps?

HESTIA: A Time-Turner?

ALBUS: Yes. A device used to alter time. Perhaps, perhaps.

MINERVA: (angrily) This is absolutely ridiculous. If only we had the Ministry's support, then all of this could be prevented!

ALBUS: (patiently) What do you suggest, Minerva? The Minister will not lightly admit that Voldemort poses a threat to her community.

MINERVA: Well, make her see sense, for God's sake! This is not a time for unfit political agendas to put innocent lives at risk-

ALBUS: The only way the Minister will agree to the terms I have laid out for her is if she has direct proof that Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters are truly dangerous.

MINERVA: You mean- we must wait until someone gets killed, and then she will start protecting her people?

DEADALS: That is an atrocity, sir!

HESTIA: There must be something we can do, Professor. What on Earth is You-Know-Who trying to accomplish, anyway?

ALBUS stands up from his desk and walks towards the window, gazing over the winter's night.

ALBUS: Lord Voldemort's regime is based on an ancient philosophy that wizarding kind is vastly superior to Muggles. Such philosophies trace their roots to Salazar Slytherin himself. You see, centuries ago, when wizards were forced to go into hiding from the Muggle authorities, many pure-bloods were left angry and vengeful. They wanted to be able to practice magic freely, and they wanted to demonstrate their power over Muggles for the greater good. However, whenever such acts were attempted, the result was terrible, terrible bloodshed, on both sides. Every single time.

MINERVA: What does this mean to us, Headmaster?

ALBUS: It is our job to promote the ideology that Lord Voldemort is severely flawed, on two levels. One, that Muggles and wizards are capable of thriving apart from each other. By remaining separate and equal, the theory of solidarity will dictate that Muggles will be able to build their own world without magical interference, and that wizards can continue to practice magic without harming Muggle kind. And two, that all wizards are created equal, regardless of ancient magical lineage or lack thereof. Muggle-born wizards are of equal rank to half-blood wizards, who are of equal rank to purebloods. We all have strengths and weaknesses, and the differences that exist between Muggle-borns and purebloods are none other than the very same differences that exist between all humans.

MINERVA: So what you mean is that- that You-Know-Who is going to start targeting Muggle-born wizards? In our society?

ALBUS: It is my theory that Lord Voldemort will want to demonstrate his power over Muggles and Muggle-born wizards by doing exactly that, Minerva.

ARTHUR: What do you want us to do, sir?

ALBUS: I want all of our people inside the Ministry on the watch for any suspicious activity. And I want Aurors placed inside the Castle and in Hogsmeade around the clock.

ARTHUR: Yes, sir. I'll contact the Auror Office straightaway.

ALBUS nods, and gazes at the timepiece on his desk.

ALBUS: It's midnight. A happy new year to you all, my friends.

HESTIA: Likewise, Professor.

DAEDALUS: Hear, hear!

MINERVA: (walking over to ALBUS' side) It all starts now, doesn't it, Headmaster?

ALBUS: Indeed, it does.

ALBUS walks over to a cupboard and removes a large basin carrying a strange, wispy substance and bearing marks of ancient runes along its edge. He carefully holds his wand to his temple, removes a strand of a memory, and drops it into the Pensieve.

ALBUS: Let us hope that the dawn of a new year will be the dawn of a new and better era for our world.