The Guardian

The Meeting


Harry approached the pensive with caution. He had yet to experience a pleasant memory with the memory holder. And something told him that it wasn’t going to be a walk in the park doing so then either. Pulling together his courage, he went over to the bowl. He was sucked into the memory before he knew what was happening and soon found himself looking at a grim faced Albus Dumbledore. He looked around the room. He found Lupin sitting next to Tonks on a loveseat holding hands. Mad Eye Moody was sitting in a recliner across from the former headmaster. Snape was off to one dark corner. His grim presence was felt despite not being able to completely see him. Bill sat next to Harry with a worried expression clear on his face as he continued to look at Dumbledore.


A minute later Shacklebolt charged into the room along with Charlie Weasley who said upon entering, “Sorry about being late. We had some difficulties getting here.”


Albus smiled and murmured, “That is perfectly fine. Please make yourself comfortable.”


“For the love of all is holy, Albus, get on with it!” Snape snapped at him. “I, for one, do not have the time for this waiting! If we must be here, get on with it!” He shot them a resentful glare. “After all, some of us were able to get here on time over an hour ago.”


“Calm yourself, Severus,” Dumbledore told him softly. “Everyone comfortable now?” He got several agreements and a few grunts that Harry was guessed were answers to the positive. “Good. I have called this meeting for several reasons. Not the least of which we have some very important decisions to make.”


Bill sat up straighter and asked, “What do you mean?”


Sadness washed over Dumbledore’s face, making him look even more ancient the he did before. “The first order of business is in regards to the school. Bill, I want you along with Lupin to reinforce the wards on the school…”


The room erupted into chaos, which was short lived as Albus roared for silence. He looked frailer than he had in that moment. Bill rushed over to him and helped him sit back into the chair.


“Thank you, my boy,” Albus murmured, but then looked over to the others. “It must be done. The children must be our first priority. I will give you the instructions on exactly what needs to be done later.”


“If only they were our only priority,” Lupin muttered. “What of Harry?”


“Patience, my friend, I am coming to that,” he said. “We have a two week window in order to get the things we need done so please no more outbursts.” The room was silent for a few seconds. “Lupin and William, after you are finished with the wards, you will be joining your pack…”


“What?” Tonks breathed. “No. No!” She leapt up. “They will kill them!”


“No, they will not,” Albus said, looking like he wished he didn’t have to do as he was. “They have been recruiting. In the last year, they have infected more than two hundred more. This is not to say that you will be there to stop them from doing so. How can a wild fire be extinguished with a teaspoon of water? Tom and your pack have made an alliance. We need to know how deep it is and if we can break it.”


Lupin pulled Tonks back down, whispering, “We knew this day was coming, luv.” He caressed her back as he looked over to Albus. “When?”


“The next full moon,” Albus whispered, and watched as Tonks began sobbing against her lover’s shoulder. “The next order of business is protecting Harry…”


“Of course,” Snape said dryly. “What are we to do, Albus? Build a wall around the boy?”


“If only it were that simple,” Moody muttered.


Albus nodded with agreement with his friend. “Harry will more than likely not attend Hogwarts next year along with Ron and Hermione…”


“Mum is going to kill him,” Bill whispered.


“Your mother is the least of his concerns,” Snape said. “What is this about? Why are they not…Oh my gods…” Shock was clear in his black eyes. “They are children, Albus! What are they doing going after the huxcruses!”


“Because it is their destiny to do so,” the headmaster answered solemnly.


All of the others there were stunned into silence, horror and shock on all of their faces in varying degrees. It was Moody that spoke up first in all the silence.


His low grim voice had chills going up Harry’s spine as he said, “They’ll kill the boy, Albus.”


Dumbledore nodded. “And so I’ve come to the next…” He took a deep breath. “We, meaning every one of us here, will be training Hermione Granger.”


“In what exactly?” Tonks asked.


“Everything,” he told her. “By the time she finishes with her training, she will be the best line of protection Harry will have.” He looked over to Moody. “You will train her along with Tonks for auror training. Bill…” He looked to the younger man. “You will train her in curse braking.” He looked over to Lupin. “You will train her to deal with magical creatures along with Charlie.” He looked over to the other Weasley. “You will teach her how to fly without screaming her lungs out. We need her to be stealthy. This also means that she needs to know how to protect her mind as well as her body with the help of Shacklebolt. Severus, you will be teaching her both of those things along with the dark arts. She needs to know what she will be coming across.”


“I will not have the time you seem to think I will, headmaster,” Snape told him.


“Oh but you will,” he said casually. “You see, I haven’t told you what your duty will be aside from her training…”


“No!” He rushed over to the older man. “I will not!


“You must,” Albus told him, his words sounding like pleas. “Uphold your promise, Severus. Draco Malfoy is too weak to do so. We both know that. I will not have you die because of it, not when I am not long of this earth.”


“What?” Snape breathed falling to his knees. “You’re…”


“Dying? Yes.” Albus looked over to Bill.


“It was the ring. He’s dying in pieces. It’s just a matter of time now,” Bill whispered, tears dripping down his face.


The room went into near silence. The only thing that could be heard was sobbing.

***

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