Harry Potter and the Forest of Shadows

Harry Potter and

the Forest of Shadows

Chapter Fourteen: The Condemned, Part One

"Hello everybody."

"Oh shut *up* Bellatrix," Narcissa shouted irritably. "Stop being so goddamn cynical, even though you are goddamn good at it!"

Harry was the only one taken aback. Everyone else was standing back, allowing Narcissa a go at her older sister.

"Then again," the blonde continued. "I guess Death Eaters are allowed to be cynical; kind of a right or something like that. What, with killing everyone, especially when the person you're murdering is, hmm... oh, yes, *BLOOD*!"

"Yes Narcissa," Bellatrix said with an eerie calmness. "You would know about killing family."

Before Narcissa could retaliate, Sirius did for her, white with anger. "Shut up Bellatrix, just shut up! We're not here to talk about what happened twenty years ago!"

"Fair enough. But tell me, are you all hypocrites or just deaf to the words you oh-so-love to preach. After all we are here to discuss my death; you know, me, your beloved *family member*."

Sirius gave a hollow chuckle at these words. "Bellatrix, I could think of fifty people I don't even like that could be better family than you *ever* could be."

"Oh, Sirius," Bellatrix said with a dramatic sigh that mocked, "You're breaking my heart."

Andromeda walked forward with an amazed laugh. "It's always the same with you, isn't it? Using your sarcasm to get you out of everything. Well you're not worming your way out of this one."

"And you," Bellatrix said, ignoring her older sister and turning to Remus. "What do you think about this, *werewolf*."

Quick as anything, Sirius raised his fist and swung at Bellatrix. For a split second her face scrunched into a horrible glare before returning back to its usual sourness.

Remus broke the tense quiet that had settled with an answer to Bellatrix. Harry was amazed at the cold answer that the usually composed and rational man gave.

"Personally, Bellatrix, I wish they would just kill you, but first give you a little taste of your own medicine."

"Well, thank you very much for your opinion, werewolf."

This time she was prepared for Sirius' fist colliding with her cheek; however, the kick to her lower abdomen was as unexpected as the first hit.

Her face scrunched in pain as she bit her lower lip to keep herself from making any noise. A disgusting grin slid over her features as she stared through heavily-lidded eyes.

"So, Bellatrix, what will it be?" Sirius asked. "Would you like the kiss, or death, or perhaps we can arrange you to join the Longbottoms. Trust me, it would be my personal pleasure. Then again, we could always lock you up in a dark corner where no one will ever find you and you can waste away."

"Well, Sirius, Narcissa, Andromeda, why don't you all go off and make your decision on what to do with me. Whatever it is, make it quick- I hate being back in this godforsaken house."

Without saying another word, Sirius slammed open the door and stomped out. Hesitantly, Narcissa and Andromeda followed Remus, taking one last pitying look on their sister. Harry and Tonks followed them out to where Sirius was waiting. He wrapped a comforting arm around Harry's shoulders while Tonks walked up to join her mother.

"I really do hate her," Sirius said in a joking manner.

"Y'know," Harry replied quietly in a ridiculously serious voice. "I kind of like the idea of putting her in the dark corner where no one would find her and she would waste away. Very imaginative on your part."

Sirius laughed, drawing Harry closer. "You know, kid, you're more twisted than I thought."

***

The Black kitchen was extremely full and hardly recognizable what with all the strange objects laying here and there, scrolls dominating a large part of the table, and many ancient books placed randomly around the room, looking as though one good fall would send it into dust.

Along with the assorted items was the maximum capacity of wizards standing around. Sitting at one shunned end of the table was Fred, George, and Mundungus Fletcher, quietly conversing. Shooting apprehensive stares at them every so often was Mrs. Weasley at the other end where she was sitting with her two eldest sons and her husband. When she caught sight of Harry, she rushed over to give him a large hug.

"How are you, Harry dear?" she asked, stepping back to survey him.

"Much better, thanks," he said, forcing a smile at her and the other Weasleys, trying to shove his mind away from the painful reminder they were giving him of Ron. Instead, he decided to focus on all the familiar faces that were there.

A large handful of the Hogwarts staff, including McGonagall, Flitwick, and Snape. Also spread throughout the room was the whole of the Advance Guard. Mingling around with them were witches and wizards Harry was sure he had never seen before in his life. Standing oddly separated from the crowd were the two Black sisters.

Judging by the genuine smile Mrs. Weasley flashed as she took Harry by the arm and pulled him to sit at the table and the true laughter the other Weasleys were emitting led Harry to the conclusion that they didn't know about Ron- he certainly didn't have the heart to tell them.

Once again he tugged his thoughts away from the night's events and let his mind wander to Percy's absence; he made a mental note to ask Ginny since no one had mentioned him all summer.

Jerking him away from his reverie was the sound of the door slamming open and the silence that ascended as Rosy walked over the threshold. An amused laugh escaped her as everyone remained silent, moving only to let her pass. Reaching the other side of the kitchen where Harry was sitting with the others, she turned, saluted the room, and in a deep, naval voice spoke, "As you were."

Everyone slipped back into their conversations as Rosy beckoned Sirius over. "The meeting's about to start. Dumbledore wants you to gather everyone into the dining hall."

"Anything else, my lady?" Sirius asked mockingly.

"I'd like to borrow our godson. Oh, and could you get me a steak, baked potato, some sheperd's pie, and a German chocolate cake?"

"Yes, Rosy. I'll get *right* on that for you."

"Thank you, darling," she said and walked out the door of the doorway, motioning for Harry to follow her.

"I wanted to ask you something," she bluntly stated, leading him down the dank hallway. Without bothering to wait for a response to her statement, she continued. "Since Sirius is your lawful guardian he can now give his consent for you to join the Order, which he did, at tonight's meeting, along with Melany."

Harry was quiet for a moment before replying, with a joke in his tone, the only thing he could think to say. "I bet Mrs. Weasley isn't very happy about that."

Rosemary arched an eyebrow, briefly turning to face him; she could sense his apprehensiveness. "If you don't want to, you don't have to."

He seemed to deeply ponder this for a moment. "The prophecy already makes everyone close to me targets."

Rosy nodded in agreement. "But Harry," she said as they slowly made their way down a set of stairs. "You're forgetting that Hermione is muggle born, immediately making her a target. And Ginny and Ron are part of a family that has been working constantly and tirelessly against Voldemort since his first reign of power. Sirius and Remus also have been fighting against him for years, as have I. These reasons would make all of us targets even if we weren't close to you."

"But if I join the Order it will only heighten the reasons for them to be targets."

"True," she agreed, not about to lie to him. "But remember, Harry: you're going to be at Hogwarts where the wards are virtually unbreakable. People will be coming to make sure there are no holes. Nothing can happen to your friends... or you."

"Well there are the same wards on the Hogwarts express. They did seem to do too much good tonight, did they?"

Rosy's expression admitted defeat. "No, they didn't. But they will. We have been informed of where Voldemort is hiding currently. We're sending out a team to go and get Ron as soon as possible.

"Thanks, Rosy."

"No problem." There was a slight pause before she said, "Harry, the meeting's about to start and if you're going to join, you're going to need to do it tonight."

He stared at the door to the dining hall that they had stopped in front of. Finally he nodded and pushed open the door to walk inside.