Harry Potter and the Secret Horcrux

Chapter Fourteen: Three Little Words

The Order meeting was arranged just as Harry had always imagined it would be. The table in the center of the kitchen had been cleared away and the room had been enlarged slightly to squeeze in the mismatched chairs that were placed in uneven rows. Hermione took a seat towards the front of the room and pulled Harry down next to her.

"Moody will call for everyone's attention and then he'll call for reports," Hermione explained as Harry scanned the room.

Harry frowned as he realized that he only recognized half the people in the room. "Err, Hermione, who are all these people?"

Hermione glanced around, "I don't know all their names. Some of them require a certain level of anonymity. Being an Order member is basically a death mark. Moody said it's best not to ask too many questions."

"Doesn't sound like the Moody I know," Harry said sarcastically under his breath.

"These are dark times, Harry," Hermione said in almost a whisper. "I seriously doubt some people would even join if they weren't allowed to join in secret."

"Let's get settled, I need everybody's attention," Moody growled after the majority of the group had taken a seat. "This meeting of the Order of the Phoenix is officially called to session. Tonks, read the minutes from the last meeting."

Harry refrained from smiling. The meeting wasn't anything like he had expected. Everything was much more formal than he had anticipated. Tonks rose to her feet and unrolled a scroll.

"During the last meeting we received an updated from Aeval on the status of the missing Muggles who have been reported to the Ministry of Magic. Following this update, we discussed the implications of the Ministry's actions in these cases, and concluded that the majority of these Muggles were most likely dead."

Harry felt the blood drain from his face as he was suddenly struck with the urge to inquire about his Aunt Petunia. Hermione must have sensed what he was thinking because she took his hand and gave it a sisterly squeeze.

"We heard from Kingsley concerning the current security surrounding the Muggle Prime Minister due to the attempted kidnapping. We concluded that the Carrows were mostly likely behind this attempt and we assigned Hestia and Charlie to monitor this situtation. We also voted on the addition of six new members to the Order of the Phoenix, names not recorded for security purposes, and all nominations were accepted."

Moody grumbled as his magical eye scanned the group. "Aeval Bagley, your current reports."

Harry saw the dark skinned Auror, who was sitting next to Kingsley, stand up and clear her throat. "I have been assigned a new trainee from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to help with my continued investigation. I wish to invite her to join the Order. I have three recommendations and all have high praise. The only other news I have to report is that three more Muggles were taken in York... we have no leads on where they were might be."

"Three more Muggles in York? Why would Voldemort be kidnapping Muggles?" Harry whispered. Hermione placed a firm finger on her lips and gave him a scowl.

Moody nodded bitterly as Aeval took her seat again. The room broke into a few quiet murmurs until Moody held up his hands and barked, "Aeval, please submit the recommendations after the meeting and we'll decided on the invitation. Charlie Weasley now has the floor."

"We have reports that You-Know-Who is still actively recruiting. The Dark Mark was seen over Glasgow last night, so he's also broadening out. The family of Dennis Wickham was murdered in that attack. It's the first time we've seen an attack like this in Glasgow so we think there is definitely a following starting to rise in that area. We're pretty sure the Carrows are somehow connected."

"What news do you have on You-Know-How using Dragon trainers?" a voice Harry didn't recognize asked.

Charlie frowned. "We're still working on that question. I can tell you that every dragon in Romania is accounted for and I have complete faith in my research team in that area."

Moody tapped his wand loudly on the table as the whispers in the group grew into a soft roar after Charlie's comment. "Kingsley, what news on the Muggle Prime Minister?"

"He's a bit shaken and had good cause to be. Roy Brutus and I are working rotating shifts and we're providing him the best security we can. The Ministry is considering taking the Muggle Prime Minister into hiding and replacing him using Polyjuice Potion, as a last resort, of course," Kingsley reported. "I want to request that the Order provide additional security on the other Muggle politicians that may be used as leverage."

"That's impossible," Bill exclaimed. "We don't have the manpower to sacrifice."

"He's right, though," Tonks argued. "We have to guard the Muggle politicians. If You-Know-Who captures one it could jeopardize the secrecy of our world."

Moody taped his wand again. "Let's keep order. We'll take a vote--all those in favor of offering additional security raise your wands... those opposed?"

Harry glanced around trying to count the number of wands in the air, but he was only about halfway through when Moody announced that additional security would be provided.

"Do we have any nominations or volunteers?"

Remus cleared his throat and rose from his chair. "Now that the werewolf colony has turned completely, I am free to take on new assignments."

"We appreciate that Remus, but the Ministry will hardly look past a werewolf tailing important Muggle politicians," Moody said in a stern voice.

"I'll do it," Tonks interjected.

Moody eyed her for a moment before asking for objections.

Remus frowned. "Tonks is doing more than her fair share for the Order. Surely somebody else can volunteer for the job."

"Remus, it's fine," Tonks snapped as she gave him an insulted look.

Fleur rose from her chair dramatically. "I will 'elp too. I am more zan qualified for zee task."

Bill passed her a worried look, but made no verbal objections. Moody made a dramatic motion to signal the topic was closed for discussion and then looked straight at Harry. "Mr. Potter, would you like to inform the Order of any information you would like to report?"

It was as if a red veil had been dropped in front of Harry's eyes. This was the real reason they had wanted him to join the Order. They didn't want him to be an equal; they wanted him to reveal what Dumbledore had been up to.

"Nothing," Harry said acidly as he clutched his fist in a vain attempt to control his rapidly rising anger.

Hermione shifted nervously as the tension in the room was suddenly broken by an unusual sound coming from Hagrid's direction. The half-giant shoved a basket that was barking under his chair and tried to act as if nothing was out of sorts.

Moody grumbled something under his breath, "Since the staff from Hogwarts aren't present to report on the status of the school, we will adjourn this meeting early. I hear there are plans of a secret nature taking place after this meeting so if you need to pick up your assignment do it quickly."

The room suddenly turned into a scene of organized chaos and Hermione turned towards Harry. "They just wanted to see if you'd be willing, it wasn't the reason they asked you to join."

"They're wasting their time," Harry said flatly, feeling somewhat relieved his anger was starting to subside.

He noticed a few of the Order members were cluttered near the exit of the kitchen as if they were guarding it against something. Hagrid made a dash up the stairs with his barking basket tucked under his arm.

"Am I missing something?" Harry asked as he passed Hermione a confused look.

Before Hermione had a chance to answer Harry's questions Charlie Weasley placed a firm arm around Harry's shoulders and gave him a brotherly grin. "Big day, coming of age and all."

"Yeah," Harry agreed from more a knee jerk reaction than actual agreement with the statement.

Charlie laughed, "I remember the day I came of age. It's a moment that you should never forget Harry, it only happens once."

Charlie's words almost caused Harry to shudder as he remembered what had happened to Ron on his seventeenth birthday and he thought to himself that he'd rather have a quiet birthday than one he'd never forget.

Harry caught Charlie passing Hermione a knowing wink as he tried to steer him away from the stairs and the lingering Order members.

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Mrs. Weasley's voice bellowed from the top of the stairs.

Harry's head snapped back towards the kitchen entranceway as a creature that looked like a dog with a forked tail came racing down the stairs.

"Czar, yeh come back here," Hagrid called as he raced down the stairs after the dog.

"Arthur, I don't care if it is a gift! They're not safe creatures, they're regulated by the Ministry of Magic for a reason," Mrs. Weasley wailed as she trailed Hagrid.

"Ah, look at him. He's found his new mummy," Hagrid beamed as a pup stopped in front of Harry and stared up at him as if waiting for instructions.

Hermione took in a sharp breath. "It's a Crup."

Hagrid wiped his watering eyes on his sleeve. "I got him from a wizard who was wantin' ter destroy him because he wouldn't chase Muggles. I reckon all he wanted was a lovin' home, and thought he'd be good fer protection. Crups are fiercely loyal. Yeh like him, Harry?"

Harry didn't really know what to say as he watched the small dog lift a paw and place it on his foot.

"He likes yeh," Hagrid announced.

Hermione knelt down and patted the Crup on the head. "What's his name?"

Hagrid grinned broadly, "The bloke I bought'im from called him Czar."

"Hagrid, it's a dangerous creature," Mrs. Weasley protested.

"Codswallop!" Hagrid exclaimed, "he's as harmless as an Imp and he's gonna offer Harry a good deal of protectin'."

Czar gave a loud bark as if he was agreeing with Hagrid and Harry couldn't help but grin.

"He can't be any more dangerous than a Hippogriff," Harry concluded.

Mrs. Weasley frowned but gave Harry a quick hug. "I can't very well deny you a pet on your birthday if you honestly want to keep him and this is your house."

"He won't be no trouble," Hagrid promised.

"Until he tries to eat Arnold," Mrs. Weasley said in a small voice. "I hear Crups will eat anything and everything."

Harry was hit with the visual image of Czar with purple fur clinging to the corners of his mouth and he made a mental note to keep a closer eye on Ginny's Pygmy Puff.

"Well, s'pose that the surprise is ruined, so happy birthday. Go on, give him a pet," Hagrid urged Harry and he extended his gigantic hand down to scratch the pup behind the ear.

"Harry, dear, I think they're ready for you upstairs," Mrs. Weasley said in a voice that signaled she was purposely changing the subject.

"Thanks, Hagrid," Harry said, mainly because he couldn't think of anything else to say at the moment. He had never mentioned wanting a Crup and he wasn't sure if he liked Hagrid's statement that this creature was going to offer him protection.

"I think he's cute," Hermione said as they ascended the stairs leading out of the kitchen. The Crup ran between Harry's legs and gave a bark as he glanced back as if to ask what was taking so long.

"They're fiercely loyal and you'll never have to worry about anybody breaking into this house," Hermione continued. "He may even be able to wake you before you have a bad dream, I read Crups are very sensitive to the inner thoughts of their masters."

Harry was about to ask if Hermione thought Czar would get along with Crookshanks. In his experience dogs and cats tended to not get along so well.

"SURPRISE!"

Czar let out a low unsure sound that could have been described as a growl before looking up at Harry for some sort of clarification.

"Happy birthday, mate," George greeted. "You didn't think we'd let you turn of age without some sort of party."

Harry glanced at Hermione suspiciously.

"I couldn't very well tell you about it," she said with a light laugh.

Czar, who was now more relaxed, ran around Harry's legs with his tail wagging happily.

"Fred," George called. "Blimey, Harry's got a Crup."

Fred appeared at George's side a moment later. "By George, you're right. Where'd you get that?"

"Hagrid," Harry replied.

"Mind if we take a few samples of his hair?" Fred asked in a quiet tone, careful not to let Mrs. Weasley hear his request.

Before Harry could say anything Tonks placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Didn't think I'd really give you Sugar Quills for your coming of age birthday did you?"

Honestly, Harry hadn't given it much thought. He didn't see why he would or should have expected anything extraordinary on this birthday. So now Voldemort wouldn't be attacking a minor. How was this a good thing? It didn't change the fact he still had to find the Dark Lord's Horcruxes, destroy them and then somehow destroy the Dark Lord.

"Hagrid really outdid himself," Tonks revealed. "I've been wanting a Crup for ages, but they're hard to come by. There was some bad breeding back at the turn of the century and the Ministry had to destroy most of them because they were too aggressive."

"You wouldn't have time for a Crup," Remus teased.

Harry glanced down at the licking puppy and couldn't imagine anything less intimidating. Tonks reached into her robes and pulled out a bright blue box and handed it to Harry.

"This is from Remus and me," she said brightly. "Normally your parents are supposed to give you this sort of gift on your coming of age, but under the given circumstances... Remus was a little nervous."

Harry slipped off the top of the box and tipped it over. A golden watch, similar to the one Ron had received, fell into the palm of his hand and he felt a warm sensation travel up to his throat.

"It's perfect," Harry said sincerely.

Tonks ruffled his hair and let out a hearty laugh. "Perhaps I should have included a pair of bewitched scissors to take care of that hair."

"It wouldn't have helped. Lily gave James a pair on his birthday once and he managed somehow to lose them the next day," Remus interrupted.

Harry smiled as he slipped the watch onto his wrist and fiddled with a few of the dials.

"That's not everything," Mr. Weasley announced as he handed Harry another gift.

"You're already part of the family as far as I'm concerned. If I've said it once I've said it a hundred times, it was a lucky day when Ron sat in your compartment on the Hogwarts Express."

Harry wondered if Mr. Weasley should think otherwise; if he hadn't met Ron, half the horrible things that had happened to the Weasley family wouldn't have happened. Mrs. Weasley pulled Harry into a motherly hug and placed a kiss on his forehead.

"It seems like just yesterday you were asking me how to get to Platform Nine and Three Quarters and now you're coming of age. It's not much, but as far as we're concerned you're part of this family and always will be."

Harry tore the paper off the box and pulled out a small black tapestry with a golden tree stitched into it. At the top of the tree read the names Arthur and Molly Weasley with a list of all their children beneath them and among them shone the name Harry Potter.

"As soon as the Burrow is repaired I'll have your name added to my clock," Mrs. Weasley added.

"I know that we'd never be able to take the place of your parents or Sirius... but we want you to know that if you ever need us we're here for you," Mr. Weasley explained.

Harry tried to swallow as he felt a lump develop in his throat. He had always thought the Weasleys considered him a part of their family, but this was enduring proof. Mrs. Weasley's motherly hug turned into a bone-crunching one as she sobbed.

"Careful, mate, that's her death grip," George warned.

"Mum's been known to hold on till you don't have an ounce of oxygen left in your lungs," Fred added.

Mrs. Weasley looked as if she was about to scowl at the twins, but instead broke into a deeper sob. "I always said seven wasn't enough."

Mr. Weasley placed an arm around his wife's shoulders. "You boys better grab a bite to eat. Your sister and mother worked all day on it."

Harry turned around to see a large buffet table full of food. If vaguely reminded him of the buffet from Nearly Headless Nick's Deathday party, but the food looked edible, whereas the food at Nearly Headless Nick's party wasn't.

"Welcome to the family, Harry," George said cheerfully.

Fred winked at Harry, signaling that he was over the whole him dumping Ginny situation.

"Now you don't have to marry Ginny to make it official," George continued.

Fred smiled. "She's technically your sister now, so dating her would be ill-advised and quite frankly a bit disgusting."

"Very true," George agreed.

"Oh honestly," Ginny said suddenly from behind. Her hands were firmly on her hips and she gave the twins a dangerous look. "I told you two to mind your own business."

"We're just pointing out the obvious, little sister," Fred said innocently, though Harry couldn't help but notice the emphasis he placed on the word 'sister'.

George nodded. "With Mum and Dad adopting Harry, he's technically your big brother."

"Technically not," Ginny admonished.

"She's so adorable when she's angry," Fred teased as he tried to pinch Ginny's cheeks.

"Stop," Ginny snapped. "I'm not stupid you know, I realize what you're trying to do, and I'll have you know that Harry is familiar with the concept that I'm not so little anymore."

The twins' faces went stone.

"What's that supposed to mean?" George demanded.

Ginny sneered. "Find a girl of your own and perhaps you'll be lucky enough to find out."

Harry's face turned crimson as he stood there rooted to the floor. At first he thought perhaps he should try to run, but he realized a moment later you couldn't run from the Weasley twins.

"What did you do with our sister, Potter?" Fred said rearing on Harry.

"Nothing," Harry said almost instantly.

Ginny glared at Fred. "You're not a naïve bloke. What do boyfriends and girlfriends typically do with one another?"

"Sit quietly with their hands folded in their laps," George said in an almost dangerous voice.

Ginny laughed. "They snog! If Harry is my brother now, as you claim he is, then he's been closer to me than any of my other brothers including you two, and I do mean closer in every sense of the word."

Fred gritted his teeth and George popped his knuckles.

"We didn't do anything," Harry argued back as he gave Ginny a pleading look.

George looked at Harry with a smirk, "You mean you didn't snog our little sister?"

Harry blinked and heard a few stutters spill out of his mouth as he searched for his next line of defense.

Fred suddenly let out a loud laugh. "I've never been prouder. We taught you so well."

"She's downright evil. She could give You-Know-Who a run for his money," George joined in.

Ginny grinned, looking quite pleased with herself. "Serves you two right. I warned you to keep your ruddy noses out of my affairs. If you don't want to hear the details then don't wander into the gossip."

"You win," Fred said holding up his hands. He then turned towards Harry. "Brother or not, we've still got our eyes on you."

"Go on then, off with you," Ginny ordered as she shooed her brothers off.

Harry let out a large sigh of relief. "I thought you were going to get me killed."

Ginny shrugged. "It was the only way to get them off your back. I knew they'd see through my bluff."

"Glad one of us did," Harry replied as he picked up a strawberry tart.

Ginny lowered her head and began biting her lower lip. "So?"

"So ...what?" Harry asked, feeling as if he were missing something.

Harry began combing his memory for some clue as to what she was talking about but he couldn't seem to find any response that would fit her question.

"The gift I gave you?" Ginny asked, looking offended.

Harry suddenly remembered the slender box that he had shoved underneath his pillow. "Oh, yeah.... I meant to thank you for it."

Czar looked up at Harry and if he didn't know better he could have sworn the dog knew he was lying. He tossed the remainder of his tart down in hopes of distracting the Crup.

Ginny's eyes suddenly lit up. "Colin helped me put it together. I wasn't sure I was still going to give it to you after everything that's happened between-- us..."

"I'm glad you did. It really meant a lot to me," Harry replied, thinking on his feet.

"You're always going to be special to me, Harry," Ginny blushed. "And about the letter?"

"Oh, the letter? Err, yeah," Harry answered, feeling the sudden urge to run upstairs and open the box but knowing he had already dug his hole too deep.

Ginny raised her eyebrow suspiciously. "I haven't given it to you yet. I wanted to know how you felt about your gift before I did. I wanted to know if you felt the same way I did."

Harry felt the beast in his chest roaring in anticipation, but he pushed it down, remembering that Ginny had made it abundantly clear they were just friends now and better off that way.

"Of course I feel the same way," Harry said with the most genuine smile he could muster.

Ginny took in a deep breath and grabbed his hand. "Care to go for a walk?"

Harry gave her a puzzled look. She knew perfectly well that they couldn't leave the house, much less go for a walk. Ginny simply shook her head and led Harry towards the far side of the room, out of the view of the rest of the group. Just when he was feeling more confused than ever Ginny stopped and then turned and faced him.

He raised his eyebrows slightly as she seemed to be searching for either the words she wanted to say or the courage she wanted to summon. Harry realized, a moment too late, what she was doing and he felt the familiar feeling of Ginny's lips on top of his. His immediate reaction was to kiss her back, but then reality hit him like a ton of bricks and he pulled away, trying his best not to act foolish in the act. She obviously thought he had wanted this and the last thing in the world he wanted was for her to be angry with him again.

Ginny smiled coyly but didn't say a word as she watched Harry for a response. Harry's hand flew to the back of his head as he made a nervous gesture.

"I thought we agreed we were better off as friends," Harry finally said, regretting it immediately.

Ginny shrugged. "I didn't mean it, not really. We could never be just friends, Harry."

"Ginny," Harry started to say as she suddenly placed a finger on his lips.

"I don't need to say it in a letter ... I love you," she confessed.

Harry felt as if somebody had just slugged him in the stomach. He couldn't breathe and he wondered if someone had sucked all the air out of the room. His ears were ringing and the beast that lived deep within his chest made a sound that he wasn't even familiar with.

"What?" he blurted as he finally regained the ability to breathe.

Ginny sobered up suddenly and defensively replied, "It's true, so there's no point in denying it."

Harry blinked as he thought carefully about his next words. He swallowed a mouthful of dry air. "I... I mean... Gin, we're... We can't be together."

"Harry, we've been through this," Ginny argued. "You said... ugg. So what is the difference if we're together or not? I'm still a target either way."

"I didn't say anything," Harry retorted. Where did she get these ideas? She had just confessed her feelings and he most certainly had not reciprocated the feeling verbally.

Ginny recoiled as her eyes glistened with tears. "You said the photo album of our relationship meant a lot!"

Harry felt his stomach bottom out and Ginny saw the truth in his eyes. Her hand flew up to her mouth and she went pale.

"You didn't even open it, did you?"

Harry lowered his head, "Remus came in when I was opening my presents and I tucked yours under my pillow so he wouldn't ask questions.

Tears streaked down Ginny face as she shook her head in disbelief. "So I guess you were just lying to me?"

"Gin, you know why I can't allow myself to have any feelings for you. We can't be together anymore; he'll come after you."

Ginny nodded bitterly, "Right, because I'm just little Ginny Weasley, completely unable to take care of myself. I'm such an idiot."

"You're not an idiot," Harry said softly.

Ginny eyes flashed red. "Yes I am. I should have known better. How could the 'Chosen One' ever love somebody like me? What was I? Safe? A challenge? Did Ron put you up to it so he could keep an eye on me?"

"Ginny," Harry said feeling sick as the tears continued to run down her face.

"Don't 'Ginny' me," she spat before rubbing her sleeves across her face.

Harry had never felt so uncomfortable in his entire life. All he wanted to do was to reach out and pull Ginny into his chest and make her stop crying, but he couldn't. This was the way things had to be. Perhaps Ginny was right. They could never be just friends.

"Ginny?" Bill called.

Harry snapped his head around and saw Bill coming around the corner. He realized that his conversation with Ginny had ended. As Ginny pushed past him, he realized that not only had he lost the argument he had also lost her.

He didn't feel much like celebrating afterwards and he elected to go up to his room instead of rejoining the group. He didn't even bother changing as he plopped down on the bed as he embraced the new emptiness that was filling him. His new Crup jumped up on the edge of his bed and lowered his head to give Harry an understanding nod. Without even thinking about it, Harry reached beneath his pillow and pulled out the present that Ginny had given him. It was a small slender box with a red ribbon tying it together. He couldn't help but notice that the ribbon was similar to the color of Ginny's hair.

Slowly, he slid the top off the box and pulled out an unusually shaped photo album.

"Colin helped me put it together."

He felt a building tightness in his chest as he began looking at the pictures of Ginny and himself. It was the story of their friendship and beyond. When he reached the last page it was empty, except for a tiny note that was attached to the top with a paperclip. He didn't need to read the note to know what it said. Ginny had made it clear what she had intended this gift to be and he wasn't sure he could handle reading it.

What did he know about love? Sure, Dumbledore had told him it was the key to stopping Voldemort and it was the power that filled him but what did that mean? He had never heard those words spoken to him, nor had he ever spoken them to anybody else. The only thing he knew for certain was that he cared for Ginny too much to place her in that kind of danger. If Voldemort even suspected that Harry might 'love' Ginny or that she might 'love' him then she would surely be kidnapped or worse, murdered.

"No," Harry said loudly as he made his way to the fireplace and tossed Ginny's letter into the grate. He hesitated for only a second before he lifted his wand and started a fire. It was his first act outside the control of the Ministry as an of age wizard. He was going to make certain that Voldemort never had an excuse to target Ginny.