Never Is Our Always

Order Of The Phoenix 5

(Minnie pov) (continued from last chap)

"Nearly time for bed, I think," Mrs. Weasley said on a yawn.

"Not just yet, Molly," Sirius said, pushing away his empty plate and turning to look at Harry. "You know, I'm surprised at you. I thought the first thing you'd do when you got here would be to start asking questions about Voldemort."

A frisson had gone around the table at the mention of Voldemort's name. Lupin, who had been about to take a sip of wine, lowered his goblet slowly, looking wary.

"I did!" Harry said indignantly. "I asked Ron and Hermione but they said we're not allowed in the Order, so—"

"And they're quite right," said Mrs. Weasley. "You're too young."

She was sitting bolt upright in her chair, her fists clenched upon its arms, every trace of drowsiness gone.

"Since when did someone have to be in the Order of the Phoenix to ask questions?" Sirius asked. "Harry's been trapped in that Muggle house for a month. He's got the right to know what's been happen—"

"Hang on!" interrupted George loudly.

"How come Harry gets his questions answered?" Fred said angrily.

"We've been trying to get stuff out of you for a month and you haven't told us a single stinking thing!" George said.

"'You're too young, you're not in the Order,'" said Fred, in a high-pitched voice that sounded uncannily like his mother's. "Harry's not even of age!"

"It's not my fault you haven't been told what the Order's doing," Sirius said calmly. "That's your parents' decision. Harry, on the other hand—"

"It's not down to you to decide what's good for Harry!" Mrs. Weasley said sharply. Her normally kindly face looked dangerous. "You haven't forgotten what Dumbledore said, I suppose?"

"Which bit?" Sirius asked politely, but with an air as though readying himself for a fight.

"The bit about not telling Harry more than he needs to know," said Mrs. Weasley, placing a heavy emphasis on the last three words.

Our heads turned from Sirius to Mrs. Weasley as though following a tennis rally. Lupin's eyes were fixed on Sirius.

"I don't intend to tell him more than he needs to know, Molly," Sirius said. "But as he was the one who saw Voldemort come back, he has more right than most to—"

"He's not a member of the Order of the Phoenix!" said Mrs. Weasley. "He's only fifteen and—"

"—and he's dealt with as much as most in the Order," Sirius said, "and more than some—"

"No one's denying what he's done!" Mrs. Weasley said, her voice rising, her fists trembling on the arms of her chair. "But he's still—"

"He's not a child!" Sirius said impatiently.

"He's not an adult either!" Mrs. Weasley argues, the color rising in her cheeks. "He's not James, Sirius!"

I slowly put my hands on my ears as we all watched them argue.

"I'm perfectly clear who he is, thanks, Molly," Sirius said coldly.

"I'm not sure you are!" Mrs. Weasley said. "Sometimes, the way you talk about him, it's as though you think you've got your best friend back!"

"What's wrong with that?" Harry said.

"What's wrong, Harry, is that you are not your father, however much you might look like him!" Mrs. Weasley said, her eyes still boring into Sirius. "You are still at school and adults responsible for you should not forget it!"