Diamond In The Rough

Harry was hovering over Portree’s best Beater, Lucy Porter, when he caught sight of the snitch. Diving fast, he nearly knocked the bat out of Lucy’s hand as he raced to reach the little glimmer of gold.

It was an easy capture. The Wasp’s Seeker had been miles behind. But the whole world knew that Harry Potter, now 23, was in his prime. Portree were unbeaten in their last 19 matches.

Harry avoided the team huddle. Instead he flew over to where Ron and Hermione sat in the stands. Smiling, Hermione passed Harry a little red-haired child, who was giggling madly. Athena Weasley, apple of her parent’s eye, was the England Seeker’s 2-year-old goddaughter, a firm Portree fan, and mascot for the match.

Harry placed the girl in front of him on the broom, and holding her tightly with his left arm, flew around slowly, controlling with his right. Athena giggled as the wind caught in her hair, the same colour as all her father’s family. Her brown eyes sparkled joyfully. There was definitely a flyer in her Harry thought, and he would do all he could to unlock it when the time came.

A strawberry blonde stood on the pitch watching him wistfully. Lyca, now a junior partner in the business at 20, smiled as Harry talked softly with Athena, making the youngster grin and chortle, Harry was great with kids. Maybe one day, he’d have his own. One day. With one last look, she returned to the stands.

* * * * *

Harry and the others were sat in the office with Remus Lupin, talking to him about the game, when a black owl flew in through the window. It flew first to Hermione, then to Harry, dropping something in both their laps. Frowning, they picked up their separate pieces.

Harry’s was only a folded piece of paper, where as Hermione had a sealed envelope. He had his open before she did. There were only two lines of scrawled writing. But they made the blood run cold in his veins.

I’m back Potter,

The Dark Mark shines over Hogwarts

As he read it through again, Hermione cried out. Everyone turned to look at her, Athena tottering over to see what made Mummy gasp so loudly.

Harry spoke first, voice shaking. "Say it isn’t true. Please, say he isn’t back."

Hermione read out her letter, in a voice that trembled dangerously on the brink of tears.

"Hermione

A tragedy has befallen us here at Hogwarts. As you know, the staff reside at the castle throughout the year, including the summer holidays. Today, to the shock of us all, the Dark Lord has attacked. He’s back Hermione, though none of us had heard anything, no word from Harry about scar pain-"

"There’s been none..." mumbled Harry

Hermione gulped and carried on. "You-Know-Who went directly to Albus’ offices. He went through the window. He is not yet strong enough for the killing curse but... Albus is old. He used the Cruciatus curse on him three times before fleeing. He left the Dark Mark in his wake. Severus sensed it. He was the one who found Albus."

"He is not dead, but he will be gone soon. There is no returning him from death’s door. He had no chance, for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named struck from behind. Three Cruciatus curses were sufficient. Albus keeps saying he needs to speak to Harry. Please, could the three of you come. Lyca and Remus too, The Order of the Phoenix must begin afresh, Albus or no...

Minerva."

Athena reached up the wipe away the tears falling from her mother’s eyes. Hermione thanked her before getting up. "We’d better leave straight away."

Harry picked up his cloak. "What about ‘Thena?"

Ron scooped up his daughter gently. "Fred and George are only next door remember. They’ll look after her." He disappeared from the office.

Remus, face white, walked over to Harry. "I suggest you and Hermione go now. There is little time. Lyca and I will wait for Ron and follow behind."

Harry nodded and with a look to Hermione, the two of them Apparated out.

* * * * *

Harry blinked in surprise as he arrived in the hospital wing at Hogwarts. Hermione frowned as well. It wasn’t supposed to be this easy.

A voice beside them, its normally stern edge gone spoke up. "I took down the Apparition wards down to let you two in. The others will have to get a carriage from Hogsmeade. But it is urgent you speak to him Harry."

Harry looked at his former Head of House. Minerva McGonagall, normally a formidable woman of firm expression, now looked very tired and weary. Her grey eyes were fearful, though the rest of her tried to hide it. On her left stood Snape, who Harry had met again at Malfoy Mansion, almost 3 years before to the day. He too looked tired, his face pale even by his standards. Harry knew the loss of Dumbledore must strike him very hard, as he was the only man to really trust him.

Harry sighed. "Where is he?"

"Hannah here will show you." Replied Minerva, voice muffled with swallowed tears.

With that, a young blonde woman came over. Harry hadn’t heard that Hannah Abbott, a Hufflepuff from his year, had taken the nurse’s position at Hogwarts. He was reasonably glad. He could trust her and not even Madam Pomfrey could have saved Dumbledore now. She led him to the old man’s bed.

On seeing him, Harry felt a pang in his heart. A pang of realisation that the only wizard Voldemort had ever truly feared was dying. Dumbledore’s skin was a deathly grey, making his look ancient and fragile. When his blue eyes set up Harry. Their blazing fire was gone. They looked like shadows of health, world-weary and lethargic. Dumbledore spoke to him ina grim voice, barely louder than a whisper.

"Thank god you came Harry. Time is growing short."

Harry sat beside him, listening carefully. Now was no time for emotion. "What is it you need to tell me?"

"Harry, you must lead the Order of the Phoenix. Like its namesake, it must return from the ashes of the old. As its head, I must tell you what I have realised. There is only one way to rid this world of Voldemort forever Harry..."

Harry’s eyes widened. "Is there a way?"

The man nodded the barest of twinkles reaching his eyes. "Indeed there is. Voldemort, the real Voldemort, has only passed one thing between all of his bodies. His soul. You must find the latest incarnation, and destroy its soul. That is the only way to read our ends. But Harry-"

"Yes?"

"The ends do not justify the means. You must not sink to his level, or to the level of his allies. Remember, and so live. Do otherwise, and you’ll be lost."

As he uttered these words, his eyelids started to droop. Harry put a firm hand on his shoulder, his voice urgent.

"Not yet Albus. Not ever."

"If you need more Harry, the black cabinet in my office should hold some information. But it’s my time. My life has been marred by fighting. My work is over. Its time to pass the torch."

Dumbledore closed his eyes. Hannah, her own eyes welling with tears, reached forward and put a hand to his neck. She shook her head sadly, before pulling the blankets up over his face with trembling hands. "He’s gone."

Harry could not cry. He was beyond tears. With everything he’d had to do regarding Voldemort, Dumbledore had been there. The one true stronghold against the enemy. Now, with him gone, only two things remained of his greatness. His Pensieve, and his Order. The latter was now Harry’s. And Harry seriously doubted that he could stir such fierce loyalty in the least likely of people as Dumbledore had.

Stepping out from the white curtain, Harry faced the two women and man, Hannah standing just behind him. After a long pause he spoke. "Albus has passed on. But we must continue with our work. The Order must rise again. We need to all meet, and soon. New faces and old. Before he left us, Albus said I had to take his place. No one can replace him, that is obvious. But I will do my best. But now, we need to all come together. We will meet in the Staff Room in an hour."

He turned to the tearful blonde behind him. "Hannah, could you owl all those strongly and publicly against Voldemort who should be here. Those affected by him greatly. You’ll know who you should send for when it comes to it."

As the young nurse hurried off, Harry looked at the other three.

"Hermione, you need to come with me, I’ll need your help. Minerva, could you alert the older members. Arabella Figg may be too old, but Mundungus Fletcher will still help. Hagrid must come, that’s important, and Sirius as well."

"What must I do then Potter?" came Snape’s cold voice.

Harry took a deep breath. "As little as I trust him, trust him I must. Could you get Draco Malfoy here. Not Blaise, just Draco. He is in my debt, and Voldemort still wants him dead."

Both of the teachers disappeared out of the door. Harry sank into a chair, head in his hands. The shock was still too much. Hermione crouched down beside him, gulping down further sobs.

"Harry?"

He looked up. "Why me Hermione? Why not Minerva, or Sirius, or Remus, or Snape or anyone? Anyone but me..." His voice quivered with the tears he could not find.

She rubbed his shoulder soothingly. "Because, Harry, none of them have enough knowledge of the Dark Lord, except Snape, who hasn’t the trust. Now, what is it we need to do?"

Sighing, Harry stood again. "We need to go to his office."

"Why?"

"His Pensieve Hermione. It wont last long now that he’s dead. A couple of days at most. He has told me that the only way to defeat Voldemort once and for all is to destroy his soul. And short of pulling him to a Dementor..."

Hermione had a thoughtful expression upon her tearstained face. "You think his Pensieve might hold something about how we might accomplish it?"

Harry nodded. "He said to use it if we needed anything else."

"Well, lets go then, and hope that you’re right."

Harry led the way out of the Hospital Wing. His eyes felt raw and burning. He wished he could cry, wished that he could empty the emotions whirling around his head out into the outside world, where they would be less harmful. As it was, he was confused, dazed and descending deeper into his grief. His mind went involuntarily back to the omen Lyca had pointed out on a clear night 3 years ago.

* * * * *

On the stairs, they bumped into Ron, Lyca, Remus and Hagrid. Hagrid came and put a large hand on Harry’s arm. "Are you ok ‘Arry?"

Harry looked bleakly up into the worried black eyes. "I feel lost to tell you the truth. Like someone has snuffed the candle that was our only guiding light, and now we’re fumbling around in the darkness/ Dumbledore was like a pillar of hope, someone who could bring out a person’s inner gem with the skill of a master jeweller."

"Dumbledore was a great wizard, powerful an’ pure o’ heart. But ‘Arry, yer gonna be just as good, given ‘alf a chance. Don’t give up on yerself."

"Thanks Hagrid."

Hermione spoke up. "The Order is meeting in the staff room in an hour. You could head there now. You’ll be the first, but people will be arriving in spurts."

Ron kissed her on the cheek. "We’ll see you both there then. Where are you going?"

Harry answered him. "Dumbledore’s office. Listen, we need to go Hermione. We’ll see you four later."

The two of them continued down the stairs and out of view round a corner. Whilst Ron and Hagrid carried on up, Lyca and her father watched them go.

"He underestimates himself still doesn’t he." Said Lyca quietly

Remus slung an arm round her shoulders. "He always has. That’s he way. Its what endears him to most, and makes him detested by others. But he is far from simple. If anyone can do what needs to be done, it’s him."