Equal Nemesis

Equal Nemesis

Chapter 2

Around The Phoenix's Table.

If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life.

--Oscar Wilde

___________________________

It was ten in the morning and already the day had reached a temperature way above average for England, even in summer. Harry and Ron sat down on the living room couch, waiting for Hermione to show them her holiday photos. The room was cooler than other parts of the house, and Ginny wisely sat near the window, catching the breeze as she stared out into the picturesque garden, lost in her thoughts.

Harry wondered vaguely if she was thinking about Dean Thomas, her boyfriend. To his knowledge, she was content in their relationship, and it was blossoming beyond the point of frilly little kisses and blushing moments. Harry remembered one moment when he and Ron had walked past the snogging couple in a dark corner at Hogwarts. Ron had nearly had a heart seizure at the sight of his little sister and Dean huddled together. Once Ron regained control, he had yelled at Ginny that he never did that with Parvati, and their mother wouldn't have approved of it. Ginny had replied by sending them off with Bat Bogey Curses whizzing past their heads.

Harry blew away his fringe, and wiped the sweat from his face. The frustrating stillness was only punctured by Epona, who merrily hummed her favourite childhood song as she cleaned the room. The house-elf produced an extra distraction from the boiling air that suffocated them. Otherwise, it was bound to drive anyone mad if they stood still long enough.

Ron shifted in his seat, sighing, crossing his arms when they saw Hermione finally enter the room with Lilac, carrying a load of books and photos from her trip. Lilac waddled behind her with her tail in the air, and immediately laid down by Harry's feet, purring happily.

Hermione grinned and breathed loudly as she sat down in between them; unaware that Ron's eyes were preying on her every move. She handed Harry a thick wad of photos in a loving gesture and practically threw a pack at Ron, without looking at him.

Harry wasn't sure whether he should laugh or keep his mouth shut. He was certain that the very hot weather was playing havoc on peoples' minds, more so than usual. He hated the little squabbles between Ron and Hermione, and had learned it was futile to attempt to make peace a long time ago.

Only the night beforehand, Ron and Hermione had had an argument about the things Fred and George wanted from the woods. Hermione was convinced they'd land themselves in trouble when she discovered some items Ron had gathered, such as the Red Curdle Shrub, whose dark red bulb killed by curdling a person's blood.

She had also found a seemingly harmless pink pod from the Wizard Trap Weed. Hermione learned that, when the pods exploded, they were capable of leaving a three-metre crack on the ground. These items were completely illegal, and Ron, knowing what they were, had placed them in the basket nonetheless.

Ron had simply waved her off - after all, the twins knew what they were doing. However, Hermione had threatened to tell Mrs. Weasley, and Ron had turned so red with anger, Harry swore he saw smoke coming out of his ears.

Harry smiled, knowing that Hermione would never tell Ron's mother.

"Oooo, photos!" Ginny said, snapping out of her thoughts. She wrenched herself from the window seat and sat down on the arm of the couch next to her brother, eagerly anticipating the pictures.

Ron pulled out the first photo in his pack and blinked at it. "Muggle pictures?" he said. "They're fascinating, but the stillness -- I don't know, it doesn't really do the people in the photos justice," Ron added. Ron moved his head from side to side, scrutinising the photograph. Ginny rolled her eyes, waiting for her brother to pass her the photo.

"Sometimes stills can be lovely. You're just not used to them," Hermione replied, watching Harry gaze at a happy snapshot of her and her parents.

Harry barely paid attention to his friends, absorbed by the smiling face of his girlfriend in the picture. Her eyes were bright with happiness as she stood in front of the towering ancient sphinx with her mother by her side. It was a total contrast to the pale face which haunted him in dreams and memories. Hermione had nearly drowned in sixth year, after they had jumped into a stream to escape Death Eaters and a deadly mist produced by a mushroom. Harry thought the happy face in the photo hid Hermione's past and her troubles well.

Fifty cheerful photos later, another argument between his best friends raged ...

"Are you saying ... that I'm annoying?" Ron demanded, Hermione's holiday snapshots lay forgotten on his lap. Ginny was becoming more and more impatient as his pace at looking through them lagged even further.

Harry looked up and saw Hermione gaping at the redhead. Her face was crimson and sweaty from the heat ... or was it that her anger was causing her to blush?

"Ron, pass the bloody photo!" Ginny lost her patience, exasperated at last, but at the same time wanting to break the tension. "And yes, you are annoying at times - but you are much less irritating than Percy, mind you."

Harry chuckled loudly. Percy had been forgiven for his attitude back in fifth year, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were happy that he had once again come back into their loving relationship. Still, Percy's siblings had some reservations about how he had dealt with Harry and Dumbledore, as well as his pompous style whenever he had important business. Percy was still reluctant to pay any notice to the Order, but the Minister sometimes asked him if he would kindly send them a message, and he would trudge into the house, his chin held high, delivering the letter.

Harry stopped thinking about Percy when he received another photo from Hermione, this time a picture of her father trying to belly dance, with the help of a pink and gold-veiled belly dancer.

"I showed your mother my photos this morning, Ginny," Hermione started, trying to ignore Ron. "She was so inspired she gave me some photo albums of Ron as a baby and a child."

Ginny suddenly grinned evilly and Ron sat frozen, wide-eyed. "Mum-- she-she didn't ... she wouldn't?"

"Oh yes, she did, after I specifically asked to see yours," Hermione replied, placing her hands on top of the leather bound album, and dusted what little dust Mrs. Weasley had been unable to get off. Harry could see Hermione was glad when she saw Ron cringe in horror. Though, Harry knew her real reason to dig up the old pictures was not out of spite. It was an innocent curiosity to see Ron's life before she and Harry had entered it, especially since she had been more intimately involved with him at one stage.

Ginny chuckled, patting her brother's shoulder. Ron shot her of a look of pure wrath, but Ginny wasn't perturbed by the scorn and continued smiling.

"I couldn't resist a peek, and I have to say you were just the most adorable little thing..." Hermione added in a high-pitched voice. She suddenly leaned over to a scowling Ronald Weasley and tapped his long freckly nose, making him blush in anger. He jerked his face away. "I especially like the photo when Fred and George decided to put a giant rubber spider on your head."

"You poor, poor thing." Ginny laughed. "Come on, Hermione, stop torturing my brother with this awfully long wait."

Ron whimpered like he was suffering through some terrifying pain, and failed to move in his seat.

"I've always wanted to see your baby photos." Harry beamed, readjusting his glasses. "Do you have a photo with you wearing a frilly bonnet that made you look like a girl? I know, because I've seen Dudley in one of those."

"Hermione I swear if you- if you show Harry --"

"You'll what?" Hermione beseeched with her chin held high. Ron never answered. She yanked out the dusty leather bound photo album, filled with the highlights of Ron's life.

"Ginny, it's not funny!" Ron poked her angrily, when she couldn't stop laughing. Ginny wasn't able to contain her laughter and as a measure of safety, moved to an empty armchair next to Harry, with Lilac following her.

"Ron, you should be at least grateful you do have photos after you were one," Harry said, his head slightly bowed. "I mean, the Dursleys didn't bother sparing me a shot for me. Their house is full of Dudley-filled photo frames. And if you ever sit in their living room, you get this prickly feeling that someone is watching you ... but it's just Dudley's photos staring back."

Ron snorted, beginning to cheer up. "Scary!"

"By the way, Harry, any news on Florence?" Hermione asked sombrely, the mention of the Dursleys bringing up some old worries about Harry's baby cousin.

Harry shrugged, feeling his chest tighten. "I've asked Remus and Sirius over and over again. They keep saying that she is perfectly all right. I've got my suspicions that Mrs. Figg is watching over her, making sure. But..."

He just hoped that his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had no idea that their little baby girl was a witch. She was born a couple of days after Christmas in sixth year, and Harry had experienced several dreams about a strange toddler, leading him to wonder if his new cousin could be magical. Upon their return to Hogwarts, he and Ron had gone in search for the Hogwarts Registry of Magical Children and had both nearly been expelled for it, but it had confirmed Harry's beliefs. Florence was, indeed, a witch.

Hermione carefully opened the album. In sudden desperation, Ron's wand swooped out. "Accio album!" he shouted so quickly that the book shot out of Hermione's hands without giving her any chance to catch it in midair.

"RON! THAT'S NOT FAIR!!!" Ginny and Hermione yelled in unison.

"Harry, get it off him," Hermione pleaded as Ron bolted out of the living room with the offending object in his hand.

Harry doubled up laughing and walked out from the living room to find Ron. He found Epona giggling at the end of the hallway, pointing into the dining room. Harry smiled and turned towards the dining room where he found Ron being reprimanded by his mother. Harry quickly halted and listened to Mrs. Weasley speak.

"--How many times must I tell you to keep quiet? Every time you make too much noise it disrupts our train of thought," she scolded. Ron crinkled his forehead, watching his mother mutely.

"Mum, we were just mucking abo-"

"Keep your voice down. We're having another important meeting. People are dying, for goodness' sake! And all you four are mucking about." Mrs. Weasley reddened, her words bitter and unjustly harsh, which was highly unusual for her. Harry could tell that she was not in her normal, motherly mode.

Mrs. Weasley straightened, suddenly realising the effect of her words on her youngest son, who was staring back in shock, and her chest heaved.

"Mum-" Ron started, moving a step back, where he hit the wall. Harry hid in the shadows, behind a large potted palm that was waving and coiling its leaves as if it was merely flexing its many fingers.

"I'm sorry," she sighed, her voice trembling. Her hands shook as she rubbed her forehead. "I-I didn't get much sleep last night, and I've been so worried..."

"Mum it's ok - we'll keep quiet," Ron said softly, still unable to move. "You've got a lot on your hands and I don't want to make it any more difficult for you."

Mrs. Weasley smiled a little and turned to head back towards the basement. "Do you understand now, why I don't want you, Ginny and the twins to join the Order?" she asked, with a sideways glance.

Ron didn't answer for a long moment. Harry felt the corridor fill with uneasiness, especially since Phineas Nigellus, whose portrait had been relocated and hung just above Ron's head, had his brow furrowed and continuously tapped a finger at his chin in thought as he listened.

Ron inhaled deeply. "Mum, I think that's my choice to make. I'm as much a part of it as Harry is - as anyone here is. And I won't leave him to face it alone - you can't stop me," he added as Mrs. Weasley opened her mouth to retort. "I understand how you feel about this, but in the end it's for me to decide."

Harry felt immensely proud of what Ron had said. It was a mark of how, even though they had had tragic disagreements in the past, Ron had overcome all that, and they had all grown even closer. Harry crept a little further back behind the plant and waited for the conversation to end.

Mrs. Weasley closed her eyes once more, trying to prevent herself from crying - attempting to keep her emotions within her heart. "Now, go - go outside and try to be quiet. And make sure you all have lunch."

"We will, Mum." Ron smiled half-heartedly, his fingers fumbling over the forgotten photo album in his hands.

"And take Brian for a walk! The child is too cooped up." Mrs. Weasley sighed, her eyes moving towards the stairs, where the child was sleeping on the second floor.

"Are you sure about that? I mean, Ginny and Hermione won't leave the poor kid alone. Every time they see him - it's just horrible," Ron chortled.

Harry laughed silently and decided to head back quietly without confronting Ron. Harry thought it would've been a little too awkward to suddenly spring out on his best friend. Ron would've guessed that he had heard.

Hermione and Ginny looked up from viewing some more holiday photographs and saw Harry entering the room a minute later.

"Did you find Ron? Did you get the photo album back?" Hermione asked and pouted when Ron set foot in the room immediately after. His arms were wrapped carefully around a bubbly baby boy.

Brian bounced up and down in Ron's arms, his big blue eyes blinking at Ginny, who he spotted even from across the room. She had become his favourite friend over the summer holidays, and he smiled every time he saw her; but cried each time she left him.

Harry idly wondered if Florence did the same.

Brian's black hair and perfectly round red cheeks highlighted the child's aura of innocence. He was clearly completely unaware of his father's death at the hands of torturers only months before. Brian had never seen his father, having been born after he was captured. Although this spared him any painful memories, in a way, Harry felt pity for Brian, because the boy would never have any memory of his father.

Ron raised an eyebrow. "What?" he said, grinning. Hermione and Ginny crossed their arms, their eyes simultaneously narrowing. Ron winced. "Look, I hid it, and I've created a diversion ... come on, playing with Brian is so much more fun than looking at my old photos. Besides, Mum wants us to take him for a walk."

"Very clever Ron, but you haven't heard the last of it yet!" Ginny said with determination. She got up and began playing peek-a-boo with the squealing nine month old. "An-wose-da-cu-ba-ba?" Ginny kept asking the giggling child.

Ron opened his mouth to protest at his sister's abominable behaviour every time she was near the baby. "You know, if you actually talk more clearly, he may be able to understand you," Ron commented sarcastically.

And Hermione was, if possible, even worse than Ginny. "A peeka-peek-abee," she cooed, pinching his cheeks.

If Brian only understood, Harry thought, he'd probably run a hundred miles at the annoying noises the girls were making at the sight of him. However, Brian seemed to be quite comfortable in his state of incomprehension, enjoying the attention being lavished upon him.

"All this attention may make him vain ..." Harry said out loud. "C'mon! That's the future guardian of my inheritance - I won't be able to look at him without thinking of 'Peek-a-boo!'"

***

Mrs. Weasley clicked the basement door shut behind her and slowly walked down the steep stairs to the main room. There was a soft babble of talk, and she could smell the horrible tobacco Dung was smoking in his ancient pipe as he chatted with Bill and Charlie. The light from a magically in-built window to one side of the basement, put in specifically to create a more comfortable and work-friendly atmosphere, reached the last few stairs, guiding her into the room.

Sirius leaned back on the hind legs of his chair, his hands clasped behind his head. Morganna Snape sat beside him, staring into space, while Remus rested opposite his best friend, reading a Muggle newspaper and marking anything suspicious which could benefit the Order with a self-inking quill.

Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Mad-Eye Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Tonks were hunched together at one end of the room, talking about Ministry issues concerning the Aurors and what they were investigating. Arthur was at work, leading a raid on a group of young wizards who were making illegal enchantments on Muggle objects, then selling them off through some Muggle contraption called the Internet.

Niamh O'Connor sat talking with her new friends, Hestia Jones and Emmaline Vance, still forlorn in appearance and mood since her husband's death.

Behind those sitting at the table were about another forty members, drinking tea and chatting.

Sirius looked up and grinned when he saw Molly. "How are they?"

"They're fine," Molly breathed, looking round for a seat. "They've taken Brian for a walk, Niamh." The woman smiled, nodding with a sniff.

The table was filled with sprawled parchment and books on history and Defence Against the Dark Arts, as well as detailed studies of each of the Death Eaters. Deep, long gouges littered the timber of the table, as well on the walls -- scars left from Remus' transfigured state as a werewolf.

"Well, where were we?" Dumbledore said, seating himself at the table and motioning for everyone else to follow suit.

"We were talking about my godson and Neville Longbottom," Sirius replied, leaning forward again, resting his arms on the table. Remus turned towards Dumbledore, folding the newspaper up.

"Ah, of course. As I was saying before the girls happily interrupted us," Dumbledore's moustache quivered a little. "Voldemort still does not, and will not, know that they have taken the water themselves. Thus, we have an advantage, simply because Neville is continuously safe at his grandmother's and Voldemort will not try to get rid of him. I also advise that the children do not enter Diagon Alley at this time - Death Eaters are on the lookout to weaken the Order's unity, and they may find it useful to kidnap one of them."

"Oh, no!" Molly wailed.

Dumbledore smiled benignly. "They will be fine, Molly - we just need to be particularly careful," he reassured her. "And we must all be present when we send them off to Hogwarts. Once they're on the train, everything will be all right. The train is very secure, of course."

There was a pause, where Dumbledore gazed at the faces each in turn, blinking, waiting for his next words. "The prophecy--"

"How can we be sure Voldemort hasn't found out about the third prophecy before its known fact was put under Fidelius?" Remus asked gravely.

"There is no evidence that Voldemort knows, and there is no evidence that he is planning to kill Harry just yet. Voldemort is preoccupied with other things for now, although, it seems his obsession on finding out the contents of the first prophecy has been rekindled ever since he vaguely found out Harry knows it." Dumbledore sighed. Days after Harry had returned from Ireland, the Order learnt that Voldemort had tried to penetrate Harry's mind, finding out the boy knew about the prophecy's contents. Fortunately Voldemort was unable to know more of it, but they knew Voldemort would continue to devise new ways to access it.

"I'm disappointed to say this, but I have to add that the Dark Forces seem to have increased their secrecy, and most efficiently," Moody grunted, his magical eye swivelling to see what was outside the window.

"Aye," Mundungus agreed as he puffed his pipe. He specialised in asking questions of people in his own criminal underworld, and knowing the secret places where outcasts were, and who continued to work a life of misdeeds. Having his own underdog status allowed Mundungus to manipulate and bribe other witches and wizards for information that might be useful to the Order. However, lately he had noticed an increased reluctance to give information, even though many were tempted to take the bribe. Mundungus saw the fear in their eyes-- "I think, meself, that You-Know-Who's minions may be forcibly stoppin' me informants from speakin' for fear of their lives. After all, nobody wants ter stir trouble with the big bad wolf."

Dumbledore stared quietly, his long fingers curling the end of his long white beard. "Yes. And, unfortunately Voldemort is starting to understand his new powers - more quickly than Harry and Neville," he concluded slowly. "Which leaves us in a predicament."

The other members of the Order exchange quizzical looks as Dumbledore continued.

"While he will start to know what he'll need to realise his ambitions, we can't stop him gaining whatever that is without Neville and Harry's help. As Voldemort's power increases, he'll know that the Fidelius and Fuzzle Charms have kept him from knowing our secrets, which means he'll be able to do the same to us."

"Why don't we just put the knowledge of the charms under secret? It's working isn't it, we can stop Voldemort from knowing everything we do," Remus suggested.

Dumbledore smiled again at Remus' proposition. "That is what I thought of first, except there is a downside to the charm. The more we use the Fidelius Charm, the more it burdens our hearts, to the point where it can no longer sustain life," he said gravely. "I am already Secret Keeper for many things. So now, I ask in good faith, who is willing to volunteer?"

Sirius put his hand up, as well as Remus, and most of the Order who were present.

"Right. Now that the Secret Keeper issue has been sorted, what news has been gathered on the Death Eaters. Kingsley?" Dumbledore said.

Kingsley stoically met Sirius' gaze. "We've found a little bit of information concerning your cousin, Bellatrix," he said slowly. "She died."

"Ha ... and good riddance, I say! One down, 127 Death Eaters to go," Sirius said, counting off fingers. The Order knew for a fact that the Dark Lord had recruited many new Death Eaters to train, and his circle continued to grow as his manipulation and propaganda spread, although the Order was doing their best to prevent it.

Deep wrinkles appeared on Remus' forehead and begged a question Sirius wondered about, but didn't really care for at the same time. "How did she die?"

"Ahh, she died a slow death! She never recovered from the Vein Cutting Curse which was meant for Harry in Ireland," Tonks spoke up through a mouthful of bubble gum.

They all knew Bellatrix had been one of Voldemort's most prized Death Eaters, but her death was not going to hinder the Dark Lord's cause.

"In that case we must keep a closer eye on Lucius Malfoy," Dumbledore replied, scribbling down some more notes. "The late Bellatrix's sister, Narcissa, may coax her husband into doing something drastic, I fear."

After a brief pause, which gave time for the members to write notes and reflect on the issues they had discussed, Dumbledore inhaled deeply and continued.

"Another issue is whether or not we should tell Harry. Sirius, since you are still his guardian, what do you say? I have, in the past, kept things from him - and it was a mistake."

Sirius stared, taken aback for a moment. Sighing, he ran his hands though his hair. "Look, he's of age - we should tell him when school starts."

Dumbledore closed his eyes for a moment in silence. "We'll speak to him the second day back in my office, Sirius."

Molly's eyes trailed around the table. The news of the third prophecy made her heart ache for Harry. She pushed away her thoughts, rubbed her tired eyes and looked around.

Tonks was tapping the table with the tips of her fingers, blowing out a huge bubble. Her hair was a vivid green which made Molly's eyes hurt, and Charlie watched her for a while, absent-mindedly stroking the feathers of a spare quill.

"Albus, what did the prophecy mean when it stated that Harry must defeat Voldemort when the smoke arises?" Professor McGonagall asked. "I'm just troubled by that line."

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. "I'm not sure, I'm afraid. It could mean a scene of a large battle or a scene of destruction." But even Dumbledore wasn't convinced, nor were Sirius, Remus and Morganna. "Nevertheless, I'm sure Harry will reach his full potential, when his time comes."