The Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix

"Professor Dumbledore,

For reasons I cannot disclose, it has come to my attention that Harry Potter... is in grave danger. I thought it prudent you should know. The dark lord draws ever closer to breaking the Order of The Phoenix- yes, I am aware of it. I believe you already know he has captured Loria, and has a fresh spy placed- where I do not know.

His next target is Azkaban, the dementors' hunger is quavering and he has many feasts to offer them.

What I must tell you most importantly, however, is that Rubeus is not safe.

I can say no more at this time."

Albus Dumbledore gazed with unusual concern as the glowing green ink dissolved into the delicate parchment, which disintegrated into fine ashes, wisps of smoke and nothing as he placed it on the smooth top of his desk, a glimmer of elusive blue moonlight reflecting off the glossy surface.

A gentle chime sounded thrice from an ancient grandfather clock in a corner of the elegant circular study. An eerily quiet spread over the office as the walls were lit a brilliant orange-gold. A soft yet brilliant glow of warm golden yellow highlighted the wizened and wrinkled face of the professor, the intense shine casting a twinkling light on his old yet spritely blue eyes and long silver beard. Precisely on time, as expected.

"As punctual as ever Fawkes."

The brilliant firey-red bird, it's blinding glow softening as it gently landed, alighted on a golden perch close by the desk.

"I can only assume it is time."

Dumbledore said, in his typically wise and kindly tone. A musical chirp from the phoenix was his reply. A slight expectant "Hmm" issued from the professor's closed lips.

Dumbledore picked up his pointed indigo hat from his desk and placed it dutifully on his head. A drawer opened in the desk from which he removed a stripy paper bag and a small, misshapen candle with a silver wick. Another tuneful chirrup played from the phoenix's bright golden beak.

"Thank you Fawkes."

The old wizard popped a peppermint oval in his mouth from the paper bag and walked towards a large mahogany door at the opposite end of the office, which courteously opened for him, revealing a rotating staircase. He walked onto the first step, the door behind him closed with a soft clunk, and he descended beyond sight.

The tall and mystical figure of Albus Dumbledore strode with unusual briskness for his age across the icy cold dew on a lawn leading past a large, now empty wooden hut and beyond, to a thick expanse of dense trees, the edge of the forbidden forest.

No apprehension showed on his serious and subtly woeful face whose features were visible only beneath the slowly receding light cast by the full moon. He moved quickly yet firmly into the shadowy trees until he came to a contemplatitive halt. A shaft of cold moonlight broke the leaves above to reveal a wooded clearing. Many strange and mysterious sounds echoed around the clearing but all gradually subsided as Dumbledore stood still just short of the shaft of moonlight.

And then... A hideous, vicious growling pierced the silence, slowly prowling closer, the sounds of leaves being crumpled beneath feet, or something else. It grew louder, hungrier, higher and more insidious as it moved closer, a cruel and thirsty anticipation ringing through the air. The composure of the shadowed figure of Albus Dumbledore remained calm and observant. As if breaking the edge of the clearing, a hot billow of crackling breath condensed in the cold air, stirring the mist into disturbed frenzy. The tip of a sniffling, dripping, hairy snout penetrated the icy blue shaft of light. A pause... There was a horrific excited howl, and a whoosh of air as whatever was hidden pounced, and launched itself towards the professor.

As calmly as ever, he raised the candle. Muttering softly and plainly,

"Illuvatis"

A fierce burst of the brightest, un-natural sunlight was unleashed from the tiny silver wick, drowning the closing in a cascade of pure light. The blinding white slowly simmering into a surreal silvery daylight confined to the clearing. There was a thud as the creature was flung back onto the trunk of a broad tree howling. The sunlight revealed... A werewolf. But not for long. The huge, straggly-haired, monstrous creature was writhing on the ground, moving onto it's hind legs, it's front paws clawing up in agony against the tree, howling, hissing, convulsing, as the hair dissolved away, the wet, dripping leathery black snout became smooth and small, the the blood stained claws withdrew and the long, yellowed, dagger like fangs shrank into smaller white teeth and the ever-thrashing tail sank back beneath a patched cloak.

"Good morning Remus".