Birthday Celebrations

The Saturday Junta breakfast was early and took place with hardly any planning discussion. Uncle, Mother and Father had to be on hand at Hogwarts, so that the governors could see them, of course Minerva was in the meeting. Susan and Tony were still charming badges; Neville and Ginny were experimenting in the Room of Requirement; Ron, Mahmoud, Betty and Connie were working on the communications system: Lupin and Tonks plus two other Order members were patrolling Hogwarts during the meeting. The twins and Percy were dealing with the last minute rush before term started. Poppy was all by herself on the stall so Seamus and Parbinder were to be asked to help her. The four Duumviri plus Hermione were left rushing round making recognisers for the incoming governors, each of whom had a personal guide through the disguised links provided by the Lictor who had first contacted them.

The Duumviri were disturbed about the attitudes of two of the governors and asked Susan to come and quietly read their auras. This she did whilst ostensibly handing out the manuscripts of the meeting’s agenda. She confirmed the Duumviri’s suspicions which they quickly reported to Minerva who included the Minister in their deliberations.

“We can issue manuscripts as and when the subjects come up, Headmistress. That will delay things somewhat.”

“You and I can make boring welcome speeches, Minister. Then we’ll get them to introduce themselves. That should last until coffee break.”

“Harry, do you think you could ask Severus to put a little something in their coffee? I’m sure two Duumviri plus a Potions Professor could find a way of making them forget what they’ve seen and heard. The Headmistress says that you are very resourceful.”

“Thank you Minister. Why not introduce the new members of junior staff at coffee time. We could take a small plate of refreshments to each pair of governors, making sure Mr Nott and Ms Mulciber imbibe the correct disguised potions.”

“Well thought out Harry.”

“It was Draco really. You know inside my head.”

“Good man. It’ll get some getting used to talking to one and having another answer. Well done both of you. See you at break time after the Headmistress and I have bored the pants off the governors.”

D: ‘The Minister seems quite likeable; maybe we should be more open with him?’

H: ‘Let’s get the poisoning over with first.’

D: ‘We’d better be more subtle than that. No point in knocking them off, if we could misdirect the other Dark Ones through them.’

H: ‘Okay Mr. Slytherin. What have you got in mind?’

D: ‘Let’s get Uncle involved, shall we?’

Mother and Father became involved in that discussion also, as they would have to wait until refreshment time. Harry felt quite outnumbered as the crafty folk got to work, not that he objected overmuch.

“We can’t make them ill, or go to sleep. Best thing might be to substitute other memories of the meeting where it matters.”

“We’ll have to alter their memories of coming here, or else the secret network will be known to the other side.”

“Mother and Father will have to remain anonymous as far as they are concerned as well.”

“I have a potion that will daze them slightly, not enough to put them out. It can be used when you want to Legilimens someone and make them more receptive.”

“Good idea Uncle, could you also implant some different thoughts?”

“It would be hard, Draco. Using the potion as a base, I could make them feel bored, dreamy or mystified etc.”

“If we got various people to act out different scenes in front of them later on, could you make them pay attention to those?”

“Yes Lucius, I could. Do you have an idea?”

“Get them alone and Ask Minerva and Rufus to have a row over something. Arrange a demonstration at the practice ground for the Company to show off its prowess. Take the governors in little groups; Mr Nott and Ms Mulciber, plus another person in on the game, to be in a group. Get their particular Lictors to fail or appear to be strutting imbeciles. A bit like Draco in an awkward mood.”

“That’s unfair Father. It’s all calculated to fool others.”

‘Really partner? I saw through that one ages ago.’

“Never mind starting silly squabbles and scoring off each other, please”

“Yes my dear! Truce Son?”

“Yes Father! For the greater good.”

Other refinements were added including altered papers. Minerva to seem ineffective and only a caretaker headmistress; Molly being elected instead of Narcissa: Some indecision about appointing a Defence Professor, including wishing Dolores had not disappeared; and hints about the dispersal of the forces, nothing too definite.

Coffee break became ‘meet-the-new-staff’, both junior and adult. Narcissa was referred to as Molly when the Dark Two were in hearing. A disguised Lucius was just an assistant called Alan, taking on, in the infamous one’s minds, the role of a black subsidiary to the Potions Professor, whom they saw as an ally anyway. During the pause, Severus managed to brief the Headmistress and the Minister about the arrangements, and the obfuscation scheme went through with very few glitches.

The governors were still meeting at lunch time so the Hogwarts house elves arranged a meal for them. All the Lictors met at the Burrow for a buffet lunch under the canopy. They planned what exercises they would show the governors Seamus popped in briefly to grab some sandwiches for himself, Parbinder, Poppy Pomfrey and the shop owners. He reported that the take up rate was now over ninety-five percent and that both emporia were now crowded out. Hermione and Ron volunteered to help out; Hermione with the wands and Ron with the jokes.

“After all,” he said, “I’ve had enough tested out on me; I should know how to sell them.”

Alan, Mahmoud, Betty and Connie met and did a quick recognizance at the Surgery, introducing Mahmoud to the Grangers. That resulted in two free battle witches and a job for the Squib; leaving the house-elves moving his and his brother’s things into Alan’s old room. There was plenty of room in there for an extra bed now that the computer room was upstairs and next door to the portal cabinets.

When the Lictors went to the practice ground; Dean and Luna were chosen to mislead the two traitors. She excelled herself by talking about various supposed magical creatures. He became a bombastic Welshman for the afternoon, boasting about his prowess and failing to deliver any meaningful hexes.

After the demonstration to the governors was finished; Luna and Dean gave a little play to their fellow Lictors over tea, and had them in stitches of laughter. Then the Lictors went back to help with the out patrols.

The rest of the Governors had been impressed by the demonstrations, and a few stayed behind after tea to be taught the mirror and bubble charms. Those that did so were let into the secret of the two dark governors, and they promised their support by making casual remarks at the traditional Governor’s dinner later on in the Ministry banqueting hall; only the Headmistress was expected to attend that.

§§§§§§

After tea Harry and Draco went to see Hagrid.

“Do you remember how many times you said to us: ‘I shouldn't have told you that’?”

“That’s not nice of you to remind me, Harry.”

“Well, do you think you can be deliberately indiscrete?”

“That’s not nice of you either, Draco.”

“I bet that when you go to the pub, old Aberforth tries to pump you for information.”

“Yes but; I’ve been warned about him. So I try to avoid him if I can.”

“Do you always manage to?”

“Well … He’s a likable sort of fellow.”

“OK. We want you to let him know that we’re very worried about where you-know-who will strike next. So we’ve spread out our patrols.”

“Don’t go and tell him straight out, or he’ll smell a rat. Let him almost catch you saying it. Then deny you meant to tell him.”

“You want me to be a scheming Slytherin. That’s right; ain’t it, Draco.”

“Got the idea in one, Hagrid”

“Yes but is it true?”

“We’ve got to go Hagrid. Urgent business! Like we told you, we’re flying around all over the place.”

“Ah! Well I hopes you catch ‘em. Cheerio!”

H: ‘I feel bad about deceiving him.’

D: ‘We didn’t. He’ll remember what we told him, and us rushing off will help him think it’s true.’

H: ‘Still! He’s a friend. I don’t like it.’

D: ‘If we praise him afterwards, for helping us pull the wool over the enemies’ eyes, he’ll feel good about it, won’t he?’

H: ‘Slytherin slyness again! But I suppose you’re right. He would feel pleased.’

§§§§§§

At suppertime, Minerva returned to the Manor with the Minister in tow. A hasty meeting of the Junta was called. Much more of what was going on was revealed to him and he agreed to be sworn in as a member of the Order at the Sunday evening service. He was as worried about Voldemort’s increasing influence and promised the Aurors to help with the defence of the train on Monday. The Duumviri didn’t let on that Moody, Tonks and Lupin had already made that promise.

“Not that I shall tell them until the last minute at our normal Monday morning briefing. The Ministry leaks like a sieve, so as we break for coffee at ten thirty, then they’ll get their orders. To anyone looking on it will seem as though the meeting finished on time and they are going away to their normal jobs. I dare say, that by mid afternoon the grapevine will have found out that something extraordinary is going on, by that time it will be too late for the waste water to find a receptive drinker.”

They went to talk about various skill groups in the Company and meeting some of the Lictors. The Minister promised to keep quiet about the second pair of Duumviri, and smoothed the way to registering three newly discovered magicians.

“We do find the odd one or two each decade, three together is a little unusual, but a family trait is not. Hermione, being a relation, will occlude the edges too.”

Once the train battle was over, Rufus was promised a pair of cabinets to link him to the network. He was content to bubble in from his newly protected house. Percy was asked if he wanted his old job back, but he declined; saying Ollivander had offered him a partnership. Rufus was most persuasive, in the end Percy agreed to become the Minister’s agent. Thus was born ‘Ollivander and Company, purveyors of wands and agents to the Minister’. It was hoped that the partnership would work well in both ways. The Minister would gain an outlet for information that was not vetted by overenthusiastic Ministry workers and the magical public at large might have an alternative way of airing grievances and influencing policy.

§§§§§§

Draco had told Father of the liqueur session.

“You’re all of age, why sneak about it. I’ll order a range of them from Stillwell and Vintners for you all to try.”

So it was, when the Six entered their retiring room, that a small bar had been set up; with an enormous range of many coloured bottles on its shelves. Sempra and Dobby were its barmen. Tempted as they were, the vision of hangovers in the morning kept five young wizards and one witch self disciplined. They had fun reading the labels and planning with the two elves which drink they would have each evening. There were enough bottles for three months before they had to repeat. Draco and Blaise calculated that with six of them drinking every night it would take two years before the stocks needed replenishing. The Six started discussing which seventh years were potential Slytherin Lictors. They were worried about Pansy using her feminine charms and ruled her out. Daphne Greengrass was suitable as were Adrian Pucey and Martin Vaisey. Blaise and Draco volunteered to see them before Sunday lunch and, as long as the rest of the Junta agreed, have them ready for induction for the evening service. They also thought that Parbinder, being one of the few Hufflepuffs represented, would also make a good Lictor, and to add Mahmoud to the Companions. That would enable Betty and Connie to become Lictors too, a capacity which they were unofficially filling already.

Six people gave kisses of peace, and retired to their rooms. The Duumviri were less tired than before. Draco and Harry started to massage each other after their bath. There were a few more interesting things to do than to complete the massage properly as by then ‘improperly’ had invaded their minds.

§§§§§§

Knowing that they would all be attending the chapel later, gave all but the very determined, a reason for not going to church. Over breakfast the other junta members agreed that the three Slytherin Lictors elect were suitable so Blaise and Draco went to see them. The other four appointments were agreed as well. The two Slytherin Duumviri returned for coffee with four enthusiastic new members. Next port of call for them was to see Susan and Tony, who checked their auras and charmed the necessary badges. The three Slytherins were promised extra wards and bubble-ports for their homes, once the battle was over. Draco had had them bring swimming costumes with them, and, as was becoming usual, they joined the young ones sporting in the Burrow’s mini lake, before partaking of a buffet lunch. Parbinder went to fetch Mahmoud who had been at the Surgery using its computer.

After a brief tour of the links, the new enthusiasts asked if there was anything for them to do, Ron suggested they and the Six went for a quick rummage in the maze of Grimmauld’s cellars, Mahmoud borrowed Alan’s laptop to note any findings down.

“I could do with some more flowers,” Ron said. “It’d be nice for everyone to have one tomorrow.” Explaining what the flowers did to the new ones.

“Rings would be our goal,” suggested Blaise, getting the Golds to show their rings to everyone.

“What about useful books?” came from Hermione, as could be expected.

There were still many rooms of assorted junk. No systematic trials this time, more sorting and discarding of unknown objects. Hermione found a big brass bound box, with all kinds of jewellery inside. Ron found a book with flowers on the outside. Whilst he, Hermione and Draco fathomed out the writing, Harry joined the Silvers exploring the small chest and three Slytherins and Parbinder carried on the search. Soon piles of different items appeared, bangles, brooches, necklaces tiaras and rings were separated, Mahmoud noted them in the minicomputer. Once the chest was empty everything but the rings was put back inside. Then came the task of sorting the two-hundred or so rings. They used a grid: Metals and settings down one side, gemstones down the other. Many of the artefacts needed a Scourgify to make them recognisable. They ended up with three identical pairs, two sets of which resembled slightly the Gold Duumviri’s rings.

The Bookworms had become increasingly excited, as they had found what appeared to be a charm for making the flowers, or any other small object into transmitter/receivers. So they collected Mahmoud and went off to see Connie and Betty. The new four produced some more flowers as well.

It was the pair of rings that had been left out, which proved to have the hidden compartments. Tony had a look at them and agreed that they appeared to be linked; Susan had no objection either. Blaise and Alan hurried off to Scourgify them and, borrowing the parchment form the Golds, created the charm in the same erotic way that Harry and Draco had made their rings receptive. The Silvers came back in time for tea, slightly dishevelled but smiling broadly. It seemed that the charm had worked, so both sets of double-men were now on an even footing.

The last piece of good news came from the communications group when Ron announced, “We have a charm that we can add to the badges, it will enable people to talk to one another. It is something that we will be working on after we survive the coming hostilities. Meanwhile we now have enough flowers to give each Member, Officer and Lictor. I will manage the Order members’ garden, Connie will manage the Officers’ garden and the inter garden links, Betty will be the Lictors’ gardener. Please use these sparingly for, as you know, they drain our magical resources. If you only use them during the battle we should be able to maintain the links, after that we will definitely need a rest. However the other flower system near the portals has been fully charged and will still work.”

There was time for another set of patrols before the assembly went to make themselves presentable for the forthcoming commissioning. Draco and Harry met John as he entered the chapel to make ready, thanking him for the flagons of holy water he had created and which now were in the emporia ready for Monday. They had to explain who the Minister was, including in the description how obstructive the previous one had been. As John had no wish to intrude he went to talk to Mad-Eye about how things were to be organised as far as the Order were concerned, leaving the Golds organising the seating and zoning the places. Mahmoud, Alan and Blaise swanned in with a sheaf of place names which they distributed onto the pews and chairs. By the time John returned almost fifty percent of the participants were sitting in their allotted places. Within quarter of an hour everyone was present and an expectant hush was being observed.

As the ceremony commenced Mad-Eye was the first to speak.

“Fellow Witches and Wizards, honoured guests. We are here on this eve of a conflagration; to affirm our commitment to work for what is right and just. That commitment is of vital importance to the safety of the world, not only our magical one but that of the millions of Muggles for whom we have responsibility. It is our intention to admit four new members of the Order of the Phoenix, and to commission the Lictors of the Defence Company. We also have to officially create the Companions League made up of our supporters both magical and Muggle. Each ceremony will be different as befits the organising body; each group recognises the will for good in their new members and each individual will, in turn, pledge their support of the light.”

“I, Rufus Scrimgeor, ask entrance to the Order of the Phoenix, promising faithfully to keep its secrets and fight for what is just and right.”

The Order Members rose from their seats and encircled the Minister.

“WE, BEING MEMBERS OF THE ORDER, ACCEPT RUFUS SCRIMGEOR AS A FELLOW KNIGHT AND COLLEAGUE.”

Rufus joined the circle.

In the same way Poppy Pomfrey, Lucius Malfoy and Percy Weasley became Knights of the Order.

Something John had not been prepared for, came next.

“WE, BEING KNIGHTS AND MEMBERS OF THE ORDER, REQUEST JOHN SMITH TO BECOME THE CHAPLAIN OF OUR ORDER OF THE PHOENIX.”

“Err … Oh … I, John Smith, accept the nomination and will, under God, fulfil my duties faithfully.”

The Order Members knelt and asked his blessing, which, as before, he gave them in pairs by laying on his hands. He was visibly shaken, so he was allowed a few minutes to recover as each member greeted the new members with a hug.

“WE MEMBERS OF THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX REQUEST OUR CHAPLAIN TO BLESS THE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY OF DUMBLEDORE AND PRESENT THEM WITH THEIR BADGES OF OFFICE.”

There was a communal gasp as the unofficial name was made official. John had been prepared for the blessing and presentation but not the way it was requested. This time he worked in single units, blessing the badges and presenting them to the nine officers by name.

“WE, OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY OF DUMBLEDORE, ASK THAT THE CHAPLAIN COMMISSION OUR LICTORS.”

Susan, Tony and Neville stayed with John, identifying the correct badges and keeping him aware of people’s names. The other three pairs of officers escorted pairs of Lictors to kneel in front of their Chaplain. Each was presented with his or her badge personally and then commissioned as a pair. Susan kept an interested gaze as she watched the beginning of the newly commissioned ones’ aura-change.

There was a longer pause for breath, as members of the Order and Company greeted each other as before.

Minerva and Neville detached themselves from the hugging mêlée going to stand next to John. Once order had been restored they commenced:

“WE BEING DEPUTED OFFICERS OF OUR ORGANISATIONS, REQUEST OUR CHAPLAIN TO INSTALL AUGUSTA LONGBOTTOM AS INTENDANT OF THE COMPANIONS OF HOGWARTS.”

Neville’s Auntie looked at him and shook a playful fist. Then smiled and came up to the standing trio.

“I, Augusta Longbottom accept the position offered and will endeavour to fulfil my commitment to the Companions to the best of my ability.”

“WE, COMPANIONS OF HOGWARTS, PLEDGE OUR SUPPORT FOR AUGUSTA LONGBOTTOM. WE WILL WORK ALONGSIDE HER TO SUPPORT THE ORDER AND THE COMPANY IN THEIR WORK FOR RIGHT AND JUSTICE.”

John said some prayers both of thanksgiving and asking guidance for his magical congregation. He finished with the blessing.

That concluded the ceremony and the assemblage went out onto the terrace for pre dinner drinks. Augusta was being congratulated on her election, and at the same time trying to be privately cross with Neville for not telling her in advance. Harry and Draco enjoyed the little ballet that went on as Neville escaped for a few minutes and then was caught again.

The dining room table had been transformed into a ‘U’ shape. Gondolum and a myriad of other house and personal-elves had their serving tables in the centre. Place names were there, with Order members at the apex, officers and Lictors on another side and the companions filling the remaining side, Neville was thus separated from his grandmother and saved from further embarrassment.

All the Muggles present had been primed, so that the gentlemen sported brocade waistcoats and the ladies wore beautiful evening gowns. It was a slight squash but the ‘U’ shape gave the elves ample room to serve efficiently. Once the meal was over the inside of the formation was used to help Susan to sort the newly gifted Lictors into their proper aura groups. As before, the commissioning had given extra gifts to the Lictors, and it would now make certain jobs much easier. Both Susan and Tony were beginning to wilt slightly. However Susan was now being helped by Daphne and Tony had Martin as a helper; as the three Slytherin Lictors had developed their auras more speedily than the others, Adrian becoming Neville’s illusion aide.

Neville, Adrian and the two Creevey boys had a quick session in the Room of Requirement creating the train illusion ready for the next day, Ginny and Lavender helped with the moving mists, also Michael and Dean found they could move small illusory objects through the mists; thus making the whole effect quite realistic.

Other Officers and Knights gathered their groups around them. Discussing plans for the coming defence and precautions already taken. Then most of the community retired to their rooms in order to pack and try to sleep for the following day. The Six managed to have a small liqueur before retiring.