Splinters

Chapter 12

"Miss Ollivander," a voice interrupted Penelope's thoughts. She turned around from the lunch table to see Professor Dumbledore standing there.

     "If I may have a word with you in my office," he said. Penelope stood up and ignored the stares of other students. Throughout the day, her four best friends had been called to the Headmaster's office. She had yet to see any other them since. 

     It wasn't as if she could say no. A summons from the Headmaster was not something to be ignored. Hidden from the other rooms in the castle, the Headmaster's Office was located in the Headmaster's Tower and could be accessed through the Gargoyle Corridor. 

     Penelope gripped the jumper she wore. It had dog hair all over it because it belonged to Sirius who decided to roll on it in his Animagus form. The blue knitted jumper was one Penelope wore well as it was the first jumper Sirius gave her when they began dating.

     "Sherbet lemon," Professor Dumbledore said. The gargoyle guarding the staircase narrowed it's eyes in Penelope's direction before moving aside. "Watch your step."

     The staircase was a bit steep. Even after years of distance running, Penelope still hated staircases. "Please don't make me climb back up those again," Penelope wheezed. "I hate stairs."

     "She complains every time we have to go up a staircase that has more than twenty steps," a voice said. 

     "We take turns carrying her or dragging her."

     Penelope turned to find the boys grinning at her. "Alright, this was not my fault. Whatever they did was not on me." 

     Peter's eyes went wide as he looked at the other three boys. "Did we do something without me knowing?"

     "Not that I know," James said. He leaned back in his chair. 

     "Love, we haven't done anything," Sirius chuckled. He moved to stand by Penelope who faced Professor Dumbledore. 

     "Yet. They haven't done anything yet." Remus shrugged as all eyes turned towards him. "It's true."

     None of them denied it. Professor Dumbledore invited them to sit down in the mix matched seating. Penelope and Sirius took a large chair that they managed to squeeze into. 

     "Now, Penelope, do you realize how cruel the world is becoming?" Professor Dumbledore asked. 

     "Witches and wizards have been disappearing," Penelope noted. "A friend of my grandfather's disappeared last week. The woman went to work one day and when she was walking home, she was kidnapped."

     The office fell silent. A loud pop sounded and surprised the group. Peter scrambled to put the party popper back in his robe pocket. "I didn't realize I had that. I thought it was a loose piece of string," he said. 

     "There is a dark time coming over the Wizarding World. A man who calls himself Voldemort is rising to power. Muggles are being taken along with magical folk. To combat this growing threat I am creating an organization called the Order of the Phoenix. I have already spoken with the other four, but their answer was unanimous."

     "We won't do it without you," Sirius said. "Or at least, I won't. It's something we need to discuss together." 

     Penelope gripped Sirius's hand as he turned to look at her. "This is a decision we make together?" she asked. "What decision?"

     There were times where Penelope could be the most oblivious. It was a trait she gained from her grandfather who usually only saw the good in people.