Chapter 291: Chapter 291: "The Order's Agenda and Confrontations Part -1"
"Some of you already know why I've reconvened the Order," Dumbledore began, his voice echoing through the dimly lit kitchen of Grimmauld Place. The flickering candles cast long shadows, and the tension in the air was thick. "The Dark Lord, Voldemort has returned."
A shiver went through the gathered members. Some flinched at the mention of Voldemort's name, while others exchanged serious, knowing looks.
"For those who still doubt young Charles's account," Dumbledore continued, his gaze steady beneath his half-moon glasses, "Severus has confirmed Voldemort's resurrection through direct contact just a few nights ago. Voldemort is back and as dangerous as ever."
A heavy silence fell over the room. The weight of the situation hung over everyone, making their mission seem even more daunting.
"Unfortunately," Dumbledore went on, "we have major obstacles. The Ministry, especially Minister Fudge, refuses to believe this truth. He desperately hopes all of this will go away without damaging his political career and dismisses any evidence I show him."
He turned his gaze to Sirius. "Have the Aurors made any progress on this front?"
Sirius shook his head grimly. "None. Fudge won't move without what he calls 'concrete proof.' We've given him evidence—reports of known Death Eaters like Fenrir Greyback returning to the country—but he just finds excuses. He's convinced this is all some elaborate plot to undermine him." A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. "He even suggested that you and Amelia are behind this to set yourselves up for the next Ministerial election. Unless Voldemort shows himself publicly—which he's careful to avoid—Fudge won't change his mind. And with him refusing to act, we can't take any preventive measures or prepare for war."
"Indeed," Dumbledore sighed, his face looking weary. "The situation at the Ministry gets more troubling by the day. Cornelius has surrounded himself with new advisors—people who have conveniently filled positions left empty by recent... losses in our world."
Harry caught the subtle reference to the dead Death Eaters. It proved that as Harry thought, Dumbledore was upset by their deaths.
"The new advisors are different from the old guard," Sirius added. "They don't have the experience or influence of their predecessors, but they're cunning. Every time Fudge dismisses a warning about Voldemort, they're right there, telling him exactly what he wants to hear."
"This leaves us largely alone in our fight," Dumbledore acknowledged, pacing slowly behind his chair. "The Aurors are caught up in political games, and the Unspeakables won't act without official orders. They're busy with their own mysterious work and rarely get involved in conflicts like this. Our mission is clear: we must stop Voldemort's efforts, protect innocent people, and prevent the spread of darkness."
He turned to Severus Snape, who stepped out of the shadows in the corner of the room. "Severus, please share what you've learned of Voldemort's plans."
Severus Snape stepped forward, his black robes billowing slightly as he moved into the light. His expression was hard to read, his dark eyes revealing nothing. "The Dark Lord plans to rebuild his forces quietly," he said, his voice smooth but tense. "He's especially interested in recruiting those the Ministry has pushed to the margins—werewolves, giants, and other magical beings who are angry at the current system. With his numbers down, he's eager to accept anyone willing to follow him."
"We have to stop this," Dumbledore said firmly. Turning to Remus Lupin, he continued, "Remus, I need you to reach out to the werewolf communities. Get information and offer them alternatives."
"Of course," Remus replied quietly, a hint of resignation in his eyes.
"Hagrid and Madame Maxime have already started a similar mission to the giants," Dumbledore added.
Harry noticed Snape's subtle reaction—a slight curl of his lip at the mention of werewolves. Old prejudices, born from past experiences, still lingered under his calm exterior.
"There's another serious matter," Dumbledore continued. "Voldemort wants the complete prophecy from the Department of Mysteries. His current knowledge is incomplete, and he believes the full prophecy might reveal something important."
Harry's interest piqued at the mention of the prophecy. He glanced at Snape and noticed a faint tightening around his eyes. Snape was a master of hiding his emotions, but Harry had spent years watching him. The mention of the prophecy clearly made him uneasy.
Having observed both Snape and his mother throughout his school years, Harry had serious doubts about the "eternal love" motivation from his book memories. Maybe that was true in the book, but here there was no love between them. Snape's situation was more complicated—a risky balancing act between two powerful wizards. Forced into this by mistakes from his teenage years, Snape was now stuck working for both sides, each capable of killing him at any moment.
Dumbledore went on, "We must make sure Voldemort doesn't get it. I suggest setting up a guard rotation to watch the Department and make sure the prophecy stays safe."
Harry cleared his throat. "Excuse me, Professor, but what exactly is this prophecy? I've heard about it so many times. Is it really that important?"
Harry knew the words from the book and didn't think the prophecy was all that important. The words were vague, and even if Voldemort knew what it said, nothing would really change. There would still be a battle. However, Harry wanted to see the prophecy for himself—just to be sure if it was about him and Voldemort. His birthday wasn't in July, which made it seem less likely, but considering the other details, like the soul piece, he was sure he was the prophesied child. He might need to confirm it once and for all.
Dumbledore regarded Harry with a steady gaze. "The prophecy is very important, Mr. Potter. It concerns Charles and Voldemort. For everyone's safety, I think it's best to keep the details confidential."
"Okay, let's assume the prophecy is important, though I don't think it is," Harry interrupted. "Why do we need to guard it? Only those named in it can retrieve it—like you said, only Charles and Voldemort. So unless you plan to guard it yourself, Headmaster, you're sending Order members to face a threat they can't handle."
"Harry's right," Sirius said immediately, his grey eyes flashing with conviction. "If Voldemort can get past Ministry security and the Department's defenses, what chance does a couple of Order members have? It would be suicide."Murmurs of agreement went around the table. Members who had fought in the first war nodded solemnly, their faces serious.
Dumbledore's expression tightened slightly—he wasn't used to having his plans questioned like this. After a moment, though, he nodded. "You make good points. I'll reconsider this plan and present an alternative at our next meeting." He paused, gathering his thoughts.
The tension in the room eased a little, but it was short-lived as Dumbledore changed the topic. "Now, about our efforts to identify the mysterious wizard who intervened at the graveyard..."
Harry's head snapped up, his eyes locking onto Dumbledore's. "Excuse me? What exactly are you trying to do? Wasn't my testimony to the Wizengamot enough for you to understand?"
Dumbledore met his eyes steadily. "We need to know who this person is, Mr. Potter. Anyone capable of using such destructive magic without oversight could be a potential threat."
Harry's temper flared. "A threat? This person saved Charles's life, facing Voldemort and his Death Eaters alone. And you want to hunt him down like a criminal instead of thanking him?"
"Power that strong, used without control or accountability, is dangerous," Dumbledore said. "He took many lives that night. It was a significant loss to the wizarding world."
"A loss?" Harry said incredulously. "You're talking about some of the most ruthless Death Eaters—murderers who terrorized innocent people. Their deaths are a 'great loss'? Is there something wrong with your mind, Professor?"
"The individual had no right to take the law into his own hands," Dumbledore replied firmly. "Those wizards, despite their past actions, could have been apprehended and given a chance at redemption."
"Redemption?" Harry scoffed. "That's the most naive thing I've heard. These are murderers who showed no remorse. People died to stop them, and you're talking about redemption? Their victims would be rolling in their graves."
"No one has the right to act as judge, jury, and executioner," Dumbledore insisted. "He should have subdued them and let the Aurors handle justice."
"One wizard against Voldemort and his inner circle, and you expect him to take them alive?" Harry shot back, his voice rising. "That's not just unrealistic; it's absurd."
"Your defense of this individual is quite strong," Dumbledore observed, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Is there something you'd like to share, Harry?"
Harry glared. "He killed those Death Eaters to save Charles's life. I can't believe you're supporting this, Lily and James."
"Harry," Lily said gently, her eyes pleading. "We understand how you feel, but Professor Dumbledore has a point. Power like that, used without limits, is concerning."
"Concerning?" Harry repeated, his gaze hardening. "That power saved your son's life. And now you're supporting a hunt for his savior?"
James stepped forward, his hands raised in a calming gesture. "Harry, we're just thinking about everyone's safety. We need to know who this person is."
"Don't patronize me," Harry snapped. "This isn't about safety. It's about control. Your leader can't stand the idea of someone powerful acting outside of his influence."
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