Nothing Without You (That Special Something sequel)

Chapter 18: The new order of the phoenix

23rd November 1995. 12:13.

POP! I apparated outside twelve Grimmauld Place, and got my wand out.

"Alohomora!" I whispered, and slowly, each lock on the door clicked, and the door creaked open. I put my wand away, and entered. I was greeted by the familiar screaming of Sirius's mother. Someone rushed out into the hall.

"Stupefy!" Remus said, pointing at the portrait of Sirius's mother. Some curtains flew in front of her and her screams were silenced. He turned to me. "Hey, Dorothy." He walked over to me and hugged me.

"Hey, Remus!" I replied, once I let go.

"How comes you're here?" He asked, as we walked down the narrow, dark hall to the dining room. The new hide-out of the order, plus, the old house of Sirius. It still gave me the creeps since I last came there.

"Dumbledore's headmaster!" I told him. "We have a code for it. I say 'I need to go! My aunt needs my help again!' and he knows I'm going here."

"Right." He nodded. He opened the door for me.

"Blondie." Sirius said, kissing my lips.

"Hey." I giggled. I turned to everyone else. They were sitting at the dining table, looking at newspapers. "What's going on?"

I took a seat opposite Mrs Weasley, Ron and Ginny's mother, who I had grown fond of since the order started. She treated me like a daughter. Which was good because I could no longer see my muggle family anymore. It was too big a risk in the second wizarding war. Remus and Sirius took seats next to me.

"The ministry are still denying everything!" Mrs Weasley told me furiously, brushing a paper aside. Some headlines caught my eye.

DUMBLEDORE: DAFT OR DANGEROUS

THE MINISTER KNOWS

THE BOY WHO LIVES OR LIES

POTTER AND DUMBLEDORE: POTTY AND DUMB

"It's so frustrating!" I told them, ripping a newspaper. "How dare they say my godson is crazy!"

"I know, dear." Mrs Weasley shook her head. "Anything new at Hogwarts?"

"A silly new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher!" I sighed. "Dumbledore obviously didn't hire her. The ministry hired her."

"Are they allowed to do that?" Emmeline asked. She used to annoy me, but she had grown up, and she was nicer now.

"They are now!" I growled. "Her name's Dolores Umbridge! She wears too much pink and looks like a toad!"

They all chuckled a bit.

"Nobody likes her." I told them. Mrs Weasley stood up.

"I must get lunch ready!" She smiled at me and left. I picked up a newspaper and flicked through it. All crap. All complete crap. I slammed it down on the table and leaned back on my chair. I got out a quill and started doodling on Umbridge's face, on a september newspaper stating her new position of High Inquisitor of Hogwarts. I gave her a curly moustache.

"You're so childish!" Remus laughed, looking at my drawing.

"That will never change!" I told him. Sirius tapped me, and I turned around to see him.

"How's Harry?" He asked.

"Not too good." I told him. "People are giving him a really hard time! Including that Umbridge woman!"

He groaned and leaned back on his chair too.

"Today is going to be a long day." He groaned, putting his arm around me.

After a long, depressing and a tad scary discussion about Voldemort, we were finally allowed a proper break. That was the time when the girls would sneak into the kitchen, get a bit of firewhiskey out, and talk girl stuff for a while. I think that was good for me. Because I realised that I spent so much of my time with boys, that what I really missed was some girl talk.

"I'm actually really surprised that Remus hasn't had a girlfriend by now!" Emmeline said, giggling. "I wouldn't mind having him on my arm!"

"He's thrity-five!" I told them, taking another gulp of firewhiskey.

"Yeah, and he looks young!" Hestia Jones said loudly. "I think he uses your madame primpernelle's, Dorothy!"

I bursted out laughing. "No way!" I giggled. "No way!"

I was definitely a bit tipsy.

Ok, maybe a bit more than tipsy.

"When are you and Sirius getting married?" Tonks asked me, also giggling.

"Tomorrow, baby!" I screamed. We all giggled. "No, seriously," I bursted out laughing again. Seriously. Siriusly. Sirius. "we can't get married until he is innocent."

"That sucks!" Mrs Weasley said, spilling a bit of firewhiskey on herself.

"I know!" I moaned, flopping out. "It sucks!"

"At lest you have someone!" Hestia said. "Try being single at thirty-six!"

"Ok, next year I will!" I giggled. "But only if Sirius dies or something!"

"That won't happen!" Emmeline reassured me.

"I know!" I kissed her on the cheek. I giggled again.

"What is going on in here?" Someone growled behind us. Mad-eye was eyeing us angrily.

"It's called a break!" Tonks said in a sing-song-y voice.

"At five o'clock in the afternoon!" He growled. He walked over to us. "This is serious. This is war. And you guys are just getting yourselves drunk!"

"Calm down!" I said, walking over to him. I tripped a bit and giggled. "We just need to let off some steam."

"Well you let off too much!" He spat at me. For some reason it made me giggle. I was drunk.

"It's fine!" Emmeline said. "We'll be OK tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow you will all have serious headaches." He growled. "And you all have work tomorrow. Important work." He gestured to Emmeline, Hestia and Tonks. "You three are working at the ministry. We can't have you slobbering around there." He gestured to me. "You're a teacher. How are you going to teach Arithmancy tomorrow?" He then gestured to Mrs Weasley. "You're a mother. Enough has been said, I think."

We were all silenced.

"We're trying to destroy the darkest wizard of all time." He continued. "And you are all lazing about drinking firewhiskey." He went to leave. "Break is over." Before he left he turned to us and said. "I think its best if you all went home. I'll see most of you tomorrow!" And he slammed the door.

I stumbled back to my office at Hogwarts. I didn't feel happy anymore. I felt really down. I just wanted to lock myself up in my office for the rest of the day and sleep until tomorrow. Something stopped me in my tracks.

"And where were you today?" Umbridge said, in her unnaturally high, irritating voice.

"I was ill." I mumbled, almost slurring. "Can't you see that?"

She scowled at me. "The fifth of january is your inspection. Be sure to turn up."

God I hated her.