Upside Down

I know, I know....it's been too long. But real life has kicked my ass three ways from Sunday, and I just now got a chance to finish and post this chapter. If it makes you feel any better, I'm cultivating the lemons so that they will be nice and sour when they get here. We'll have lemonade, and lemon meringue pie, and if you're all good I might even have Dumbledore bring some lemon drops.

Your reviews have kept me going. They are all so positive and heart-warming. I would like more specific feedback, though. Is Ruby an acceptable character? Are any of the characters believable? Does Lucius have a nice ass? COme on....tell me...
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A week after waking, Hermione deemed Lucius fit to travel. It just so happened that this declaration of good health coincided with a standard scheduled Order meeting. It was pure happenstance, really…

Hermione made sure their appearances didn’t scream ‘we’ve actually come to kill you.’ Ruby was her fashion consultant. They decided Lucius looked softer with his hair pulled back, Draco was more approachable with his hair not plastered back like a Ken doll, and Narcissa was very pleasant with a rough upsweep that left tendrils of hair tickling the back of her neck and the sides of her face. Bellatrix was the real problem. Her dark curly hair and piercing black eyes made for an all-around creepy appearance. It was Ruby who finally came up with a solution.

“Why don’t we cast a relaxing spell on her hair, and cut it a little?” she suggested. Bellatrix was definitely not up for it at first, but when faced with a haircut or the possibility of Azkaban, she faced the scissors with an almost Gryffindor exuberance. Since no one but Ruby seemed to have experience cutting hair, the task fell to Ruby to complete. She used standard house-scissors to cut the hair, and Bellatrix actually whimpered when she saw how long the pieces were.

“I wish you wouldn’t cut it so short…” she said softly, pouting like a child.

“And I wish you didn’t have the devil’s curly hair…” Ruby said, and snipped off another lock of hair.

When she was through with shortening Bellatrix’s hair, she pointed her wand at the tight, kinky curls and muttered a short spell. The effect was interesting to watch. Her curls seemed to unravel like an over-wound spring, becoming soft and wavy. The simple change made a huge difference in her appearance. She appeared more….womanly. Ruby left the newly wavy hair down, framing her face like a dark halo. But she practically had to bind her when she suggested a little makeup.

“No! I refuse! I won’t look like some porcelain doll!” she said, her head tilted back, her black eyes flashing dangerously.

“It’s just a little liner and shadow for your eyes, and a gloss for your lips. I’m not painting you up like a barn…I’m going to make your eyes…not so freakin’ creepy…” Ruby said. Bellatrix let down her guard for only a moment to retort, and with a wave of her wand, Ruby had spelled on the faintest touch of makeup. Bellatrix felt the tickle on her face, and cursed loudly.

“Tricky little Yank!” she snapped. Ruby smiled.

“No, no, my dear….you have it all wrong. I’m from the South…” she said, and then changed the color of Bellatrix’s shirt from black to a warm sage green. Bellatrix narrowed her lightly lined eyes at the young American, and pouted again.

Hermione looked around at the motley group. “Okay, everyone…a few ground rules: One) no sarcastic comments.” She stared pointedly at Draco and Bellatrix. “Two) do not lay hands on any member of the Order. This is a meeting of Order officers, which are the best of our league. I know it’ll be hard, but even if they strike out at you, which I doubt they will, you are not to strike back. Three) for god’s sake don’t use the words ‘mudblood’ or ‘blood-traitor.’ You will get your arses handed to you. Four) be respectful. As soon as these people catch an eyeful of you their wand hands are going to start itching. If you say something stupid or disrespectful to anyone, you’ll find a face full of magic before you can say ‘Muggle.’” She said, looking between each and every one of them.

While Hermione had the attention of the four, Ruby gave a quick flick of her wand, coloring Bellatrix’s nails the same green as her shirt, with black French tips. A small detail, but oddly fitting nonetheless.

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Harry laughed at a private joke between Kingsley and himself, and Ron listened to Lupin while he explained something-or-another. All of the officers of the Order were present. Ron, Harry, Lupin, Tonks, Dumbledore, Snape, and a not-dead Sirius Black were there. Hermione was the only other main officer. Any other leaders were second- and third-officers. And of course the leader of the Order, and the Minister of Magic himself Kingsley Shacklebolt was there. All-in-all the people there were very influential and powerful.

The meeting was being held at Grimmauld Place, where most meetings took place. Hermione’s plan was to hopefully butter them all up with an ‘incredible plan designed to help get the War into gear and finish quickly,’ and then make her recruits appear via the portkey she had set up for them to arrive on her command.

And it worked. She spoke of inside information that no one had, special training for new and old recruits, and even a way to increase the funds of the Order for new supplies and better equipment. It was Snape who finally began asking questions.

“And how exactly do we do that?” he asked calmly. The plan sounded very interesting, but there was no way that she would be able to pull this off alone. There had to be a catch….

“With some help.” She said. Harry narrowed his green eyes at her.

“What kind of help, Mione?” he asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

She drew her wand, and tapped it against the bracelet on her left wrist. “Inside help.” She said. There was a loud crack, as if several people had Apparated at once, and a bright flash. Hermione, anticipating a negative response, set up the strongest spell shield she could. When the light faded, Ruby and her four charges were standing in front of the group.

The reaction was immediate. Wands were drawn and spells thrown, but Hermione’s shield stayed firmly in place. Ruby cast a Sonorous charm over her voice, and gave a shrill, ear-piercing whistle to catch the attention of the Order.

They threw their hands over their ears, the spells stopping. All except Dumbledore were effected by the shrill whistle. Dumbledore hadn't even drawn his wand. He sat in his chair, watching the scene unfold. Kingsley turned to Hermione, a furious look on his face.

“You bring three known Death-Eaters and a known Dark Lord supporter into the HQ of the Order of the Phoenix, the only real rivals of said Dark Lord?” he asked, rage evident in his voice.

Bellatrix scoffed loudly. “You stand no chance against the Dark Lord.” She said, as if it were the most honest statement in the world. Lucius’ head snapped towards her.

“Shut up, Bella.” He said angrily.

“Well they don’t! Not yet, anyway…” she said. Kingsley walked as close to Bellatrix as Hermione’s shield would allow, his brown eyes boring into her black ones.

“And we’re supposed to believe that you just waltzed away from the Dark Lord with the intent on allying yourself with the Order and fighting against him? I imagine that conversation went well…” he said, sarcasm dripping from the last statement. Bellatrix opened her mouth to retort, but Sirius put in his piece.

“I actually agree with Malfoy on this one. Shut up, Bella.” He said. She looked on her cousin, and raised a dark eyebrow. Something had changed him. He looked….calm. Very serene. Whatever had happened to him since the last time she had seen him appeared to be both physical and emotional. His eyes, once a dark color, were now an iridescent blue, shimmering the color of the rainbow with the slightest turn of his head. And his hair, once long and black, was cropped rather short, with a wind-blown effect that seemed permanent, with a streak of pure snowy white shot through at each of his temples. The effect was almost ethereal. She snapped out of her perusal of her cousin quickly.

“Didn’t I kill you?”

The Malfoys groaned in disbelief at her audacity. Harry rushed forward, pounding his fist against Hermione’s shield.

“Listen, you filthy piece of Death Eater trash!” he hissed, his green eyes lit up with loathing. It really wasn’t becoming on the normally mellow young man. She merely gave him a calm smile, and rolled up the left sleeve of her shirt, showing off the pale, unmarred skin.

“Wrong again, Potter.” She said in a sing-song voice. The officers of the Order were shocked into silence. As far as they knew, there was no way to remove the Dark Mark. Snape’s own Mark still burned when the Death Eaters were called, and hadn’t faded at all, even with the ultimate betrayal he had committed by saving both Draco’s and Dumbledore’s arses.

Bellatrix grinned at the gobsmacked look on Harry’s face. “Aww…was widdle Hawwy expecting to see the big bad snake? Sorry, Potter, but that’s also part of the reason we’re here. One betrayal for another.” She said, sounding slightly bitter.

“The Dark Lord took your Mark?” Snape asked, stepping towards the shield. He looked at the three Malfoys, his lip curling in distaste before resting his dark eyes on Bellatrix.

“Yes, Snape-a-doodle…he did. Right before he left Lucius and I to die horrible and painful deaths.” She said. Lucius calmly unbuttoned the left cuff of his cotton shirt, and revealed his own pale forearm, proving there was no Mark. Snape looked between the two, looking quite at a loss for words. Snape’s gaze turned to Draco.

“What about you?” he asked. Draco revealed the faded and scarred Mark on his arm.

“Nope. I wasn’t so lucky as to have it taken from me before he tried to do me in. Just slit me throat and ran.” He said, reaching up to absent-mindedly stroke the bandages still wrapped around his throat. Ruby stepped forward.

“Draco and Narcissa were in bad shape. We took them to Hermione’s flat and nursed them back to health. When we went to Malfoy Manor to recruit Lucius, we found those two nearer to death than the others. So, we took them too, and here we are….one big….dysfunctional….fucked-up family….” She said, plastering a smile on her face.

Ruby was outside of the shield charm, since Hermione hadn’t felt like there would be any danger for her. Ron stepped up to Ruby, looking furious.

“I bet this was all your idea, wasn’t it, liberal-minded American?” he asked, his voice deadly soft. Ruby quirked an eyebrow at the irate red-head.

“First of all, Mr. Tall, Pale, and Skinny….” She said, sounding quite serious. “You will not take that tone of voice with me. Second of all, it was indeed my idea. I don’t know many things about the war here. I don’t know who’s good and who’s bad. All I knew was that there were people hurt….and I wanted to help.” She said, crossing her arms in front of her. Ron clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles turned white.

“They wouldn’t have done the same for you.” He said angrily, leveling his face with hers. Ruby squared her shoulders, preparing herself to defend her territory. She was rather like a tea-cup Poodle. She was tiny, but that didn’t mean that she wouldn’t snap and snarl at anyone who got too close.

Dumbledore, who had been quiet and pensive during the ordeal, finally stood, catching the attention of all in the room. Even Bellatrix was paying attention to him. His word could be the difference between them helping and them being sent to Azkaban to swap spit with the Dementors.

“That’s enough. From all of you.” He said, and stared at Bellatrix sternly, much like grandfather scolding his grandchild. She frowned under his firm gaze, but lowered her head abashedly.

“Albus, you can’t possibly-” Kingsley started, but Dumbledore held up his hand.

“I know that I am no longer the leader of the Order. But I know that you still hold my opinion in high regard. And I will give my opinion now. Before the Second Rising, no, before the Spirit of Tom Riddle even re-emerged to begin contemplation of regaining a body, there was a young man who came to me.” Dumbledore began. Snape stiffened slightly, knowing very well who the old fart was referring to.

“He had gotten in over his head…been attracted to something that had a shiny coat on top…attractive and alluring…but underneath was a reality that was hard to face. He came to me for help. And I helped him. I helped him help himself, and in turn he helped others. His was a long, lonely road, but one that he traveled with grace. He played a very important part in the First Battle of Hogwarts, and I consider him a hero down to his core. But none of that could have ever taken place had he not asked for and received help. In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us.

“It is my opinion that we take these four under the wings of the Phoenix. Burn away the gritty exterior of prejudice and bigotry, and let them rise anew as soldiers of the Light. Besides…they all have the potential to…how do you young folks say….kick arse?” he said, his blue eyes twinkling. Ruby giggled softly. This guy was hilarious. He was so deep and philosophical…and then….BAM…he said something down-to-earth…and kinda lame… He was kind of like that eccentric uncle everyone has. The one who's hilarious at parties, but that no one really wants to talk to any other time...

Kingsley looked at Dumbledore, and then at the four standing in front of him. Everyone was quiet, waiting for word from their leader as to what to do. Hermione was actually holding her breath.

“As leader of the Order of the Phoenix…I hereby say that we draw these four into the Order, and use their…er….unique skills and information to further our cause…” he said, sounding very unsure. Narcissa immediately relaxed, and Lucius put his hand on the small of her back to reassure her. Hermione let out her held breath in a relieved sigh.

Ron and Harry looked at each other. Harry looked apprehensive and unsure…as well he should. Bellatrix had tried to kill him several times, Draco was an arse, and Lucius Malfoy just gave him the willies. He didn’t really know Narcissa.

Ron, however, was furious. He turned to Hermione, his face flushed with anger.

“Traitor!” he snapped. All eyes were on him. Hermione frowned.

“I didn’t betray anyone, Ronald, you pretentious arse. This will help-” but Ron cut her off with a bark of laughter.

“What would have helped would have been letting them all die like they should have! What would have helped would have been leaving well enough alone. What would have helped would have been turning them over to the Aurors!” he said, his voice rising. He was advancing quickly on Hermione, a slightly mad gleam in his eyes. Ruby stepped up to him and grabbed his muscular arm.

“Leave her alone you big bully!” she snarled. Ron jerked his arm to rid himself of her. With his fury clouding his judgment he wrenched too hard, successfully flinging the petit American off of his arm and straight back. She was unable to catch her footing, and fell back quickly, her arms pin-wheeling almost comically. She struck the ground hard, the back of her head smacking the floor with a sickening thud.

The entire room went quiet. It was Bellatrix who was the first to respond. She passed through Hermione’s shield, and shoved Ron out of the way, kneeling beside Ruby.

Ruby looked up, dazed, as Bellatrix’s face appeared above her. Ruby made to get up, but Bellatrix’s strong hands held her down.

“No, no, ducky…You’re hard little head hit the floor fairly hard.”

Bella’s voice sounded distorted and her face began to fuzz out of focus. Ruby took a deep, shaky breath.

“Somebody punch him in the face for me…”

And she blacked out.
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Uh oh....Ron and his temper. Can you tell that I don't like ROn that much? Is it too obvious? Oh well....

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