My Soul Mate

Chapter Twenty One- The Order's Meeting...

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Ishq bina kya, jeena yaara?

Ishq bina kya marna?

Guddse meetha - ishq ishq,

Imlise khatta - ishq ishq.

Waada ye pucca - ishq ishq,

Dhaaga ye kachcha - ishq ishq.

-

No point in living without love,

No point in dying without love.

Sweeter than sugar is love,

Sourer than tamarind is love,

Unbreakable promise is love,

Faltering bonds are love.

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At around five o' clock in the evening, Draco, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ginny stepped out of the fireplace and into the living room of the Grimmuald's Place. In the living room, waiting for them were Arthur Weasley and Sirius Black.

"Ah, there you are," said Arthur warmly, coming forward. "The Order of the Phoenix. Good evening to all of you."

"The Order of the Phoenix. Good evening, Mr. Weasley," all said except for Ron and Ginny of course. "Good evening, Sirius."

"Yeah, evening."

All were instinctively behaving formally, since Draco was there. Draco's presence made Harry and Ron behave a bit odd, but Hermione and Ginny were perfectly at ease. Draco felt comfortable too. He never knew Arthur and Sirius closely and was gentlemanly formal with them during his last visits.

"We were expecting you," said Sirius. "Dumbledore said that you've got to attend the Order meeting tomorrow."

"Right," said Harry, dropping into a chair, "about time we were involved, don't you think so?" he added to Ron and Hermione.

Noticing this, Sirius said, "So everything has patched up?"

"Yeah," answered Ron. "We ought to have, haven't we?"

"Of course, of course," said a female voice. All turned to see Tonks coming in with a bright smile and in a flowery apron smeared with what they suspected was oil. "Of course," Tonks repeated, "you should have thought about it long ago. Anyway, nice to see you all again."

Draco, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ginny smiled at her. Tonks was currently having shoulder length immensely wavy black hair and sea-blue eyes, and though in the stained apron, she looked beautiful and lively.

"Where's mum?" Ginny asked.

"She's in the kitchen," replied Tonks, "making dinner. In fact, I have been helping her."

"We've noticed," said Sirius faintly. Tonks gave him a wry look.

"Well," reported Arthur, "you have come early to know more about the Order of the Phoenix, I suppose? I guess we can have a little chat after dinner. We'll try and answer your questions. It is necessary that you know something about the Order before you attend a meeting. So now why don't you settle down or have look around before dinner?"

"Sure," said Hermione.

Suddenly then, screams, shrill and high pitched, were heard from the hallway that led to the entrance door. It sounded familiar. Hermione immediately recognized it as Mrs. Black's (Sirius's mother) screams. Hermione had almost forgotten about Mrs. Black, that her painting was permanently fixed in the entrance. And there was nothing new about her screams - on Hermione's visit the last year; she had heard enough to last her a lifetime. Mrs. Black hated all other than purebloods and normally only got on well with her faithful servant, Kreacher, the house-elf of the Grimmauld Place.

"I am sorry for that," said Sirius to Draco. "It's my mother, Sierma Black. She would be your great-aunt."

"Why did she scream?" asked Draco.

"Oh, perhaps she smelled muggle-born blood again," explained Sirius. "She hates muggle-borns, even half-bloods."

Draco concluded that his great-aunt was certainly prejudiced. Even more than his father. "Where is she?"

"She's dead. She was screaming from her painting hid behind the curtains near the entrance door. She's permanently fixed there and yells at the top of her voice most of the time."

"But I didn't hear her last time or even on Christmas."

"That's because we got someone from one of Dumbledore's paintings to take her away for a few hours. Fortunately, she wasn't seen for about two days. We owe that guy."

Draco didn't seem troubled by the fact. Or that Sirius didn't get along with his mother, which was clear from his words.

Mrs. Black screamed again.

"May I see her?" asked Draco.

"You won't like it," said Sirius. "No matter, you may. Hermione, show him the way, will you?"

"All right," said Hermione. To Draco, she added, "This way."

She walked out of the room and Draco followed her. Hermione took him all the way to the entrance door. The walls on one side were covered with velvet red curtains. Hermione pulled them open and Draco saw a life-size picture of a black-haired and pale lady, looking very angry and pent-up. The moment she saw Hermione, she screamed again. It was a piercing one and Draco made a faint attempt to put his hands over his ears, but thought the better of it.

"Mudblood!" yelled Mrs. Black. "Mudblood! MUDBLOOD!"

"Calm down, madam!" shouted Draco over her shrieks. "Calm down!"

Mrs. Black looked at Draco and stopped screaming. "I think I know you, boy." she said, forgetting Hermione for a moment.

"I am Draco Malfoy."

"Malfoy..." said Mrs. Black, her features relaxing. "A good pureblood at last. How is Narcissa doing, Draco? I heard Lucius is dead."

"She's fine," replied Draco. He didn't seem abashed at Sierma's rude words.

"I hope so," continued Mrs. Black. "What are you doing here? You have connections with my son?"

"Well, in an indirect way."

"You better watch out, he's mixes with half-bloods and mudbloods. And this one here," she pointed a finger at Hermione. "Gets along very well with him. Why are you with her?"

"Mudblood isn't a very polite way of addressing someone," said Draco lightly. "I expect you to apologize."

Sierma Black stared at him for a moment as if he was crazy. Suddenly, she shouted, "OUT! Out of my sight! You are one of them too! Like my son!"

Draco didn't move. "What wrong in being so?" he asked coolly. He put an arm around Hermione's waist and pulled her closer to him.

Mrs. Black's eyes widened. Hermione knew Draco was doing it deliberately, trying get to her nerves.

"You scoundrel!" Sierma Black shrieked. "How could you! What would have Lucius said? Don't you have any consideration for the position of the Malfoy family in society?"

"I am afraid not, Mrs. Black. And if you meant by the position of the Malfoy family in society as we being purebloods, I am sorry but the upcoming Malfoys will no longer be purebloods."

Hermione raised her eyebrows at Draco but couldn't help but give a sniffle of amazement. Mrs. Black got the cue.

"You all deserved to be beheaded!" she hissed. "Traitors, dirty people. The generations are destroying everything, family name, money, position, class and ... houses."

She glared at the walls.

"Well, I'll take my leave, Mrs. Black," Draco, bowing a little, a smirk clear on his handsome face. "It was a pleasure, meeting you."

"No, it wasn't!" snapped Mrs. Black.

"Anyway, bye. And one more thing, Narcissa likes Hermione way too much," said Draco, jerking his head towards Hermione.

Sierma Black yelled in frustration again.

"Interesting character," Draco commented as Hermione led him back to the living room.

____________________________________________________________________

After dinner, Arthur, Sirius, Molly, Tonks, Draco, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ginny were sitting in the living room, in a semicircle around the fireplace, where the fire crackled merrily. But the atmosphere wasn't exactly merry. It was more official, as in a courtroom.

"Well," said Arthur, as though making his opening line of a trial, "you may ask your questions."

Harry shot his hand into the air first. Arthur nodded at him to speak.

"Why are we going to have a meeting tomorrow?" Harry asked.

"We are planning to attack on Voldemort," said Sirius. "It's about time we took our action. We can't wait for Voldemort to make his move."

Harry looked satisfied and Hermione distantly heard him mutter "Hear, hear."

Draco had rather more uninteresting questions.

"What is the Order of the Phoenix exactly?" he asked.

"It's a secret organization," replied Molly, "an organization fighting against You-Know-Who. We plan to overthrow him. If possible, kill him."

"How long has it been in action?"

"Well, it was active fifteen years or so before, previously when You-Know-Who was powerful. It has come to life again for one and a half years."

"What has it been doing?"

"Last year, we tried to outwit You-Know-Who from getting to the prophecy about him and Harry," said Arthur. "You know about the prophecy, I suppose?"

"Yes, I do," replied Draco. "And I know that Voldemort didn't get the prophecy. So after that, what has the Order been doing?"

"Nothing special," said Molly, eyeing Draco beadily when he said 'Voldemort' casually. "We just meet once a week to see everything is fine and orderly. Mostly, we have been putting up safety measures for the past two and a half months. Since You-Know-Who has done nothing, we didn't do anything either."

"So now," said Hermione slowly, next to Ginny, "the Order will fight him? The war will begin?"

"Precisely," said Arthur.

Hermione didn't look too pleased. She gave Draco, who sat next to Arthur and directly across her, an uncomfortable look.

"As for the past few days," continued Arthur, "we are taking more steps to prevent the dreaded."

Everybody knew what Arthur had meant by that - Voldemort's plan of kidnapping Hermione. Hermione gave Draco another uneasy look. Draco smiled at her gently.

"And now that we have made sure that we are safe," said Sirius, "we will attack. We will battle Voldemort to death."

"How many members are in the Order?" asked Draco.

"Sixty three," Sirius answered. "We used to have more but some were killed."

He avoided Harry's eyes.

"How do you become a member?" Draco went on.

"There are a few rules. Like, you have to be at least twenty years of age to be a full-fledged member. Dumbledore will allow all, but before doing do so, you have to go through the Truth Spell or drink Veritaserum so that we know your true intentions."

"Who is the head?"

"Dumbledore, of course."

"What other posts are in the Order?"

"We have the Vice-President, and that is Alastor Moody. Next, the Order is divided into various groups."

"What groups?"

"We have some departments. Like the Section of Skirmish. The Head is Sirius, because of his dueling capacity. Then there is the Section of Spies. Snape's the Head, and McGonagall is for Primary Defense."

"In which section are you in?" asked Draco to Arthur.

"I, Molly and Tonks are in Primary Defense. And yes, Remus is with us too. There are many in all sections, people you don't know."

"So the Section of Primary Defense must have been the busiest for the past months?"

"Right, but previously, The Section of Skirmish was the busiest. Moody was the Head then. Generally, all Aurors are in that section."

"In which section were my parents in?" asked Harry quietly.

After a few stunned moments, Sirius said, "James and I were with Moody, while Lily was with McGonagall."

To lift the awkward atmosphere, Hermione said, "Who else are in the Section of Spies?"

"Kingsley Shacklebolt," said Tonks. "He's an Auror all right, but he was spying on the Ministry last year and since then, has not left the section. I am Auror too, but I chose to be in Primary Defense."

"What actions does the Order practice?" asked Draco. "I mean, does it do anything illegal?"

"Of course, not!" said Harry harshly. "They're not Death Eaters!"

"Draco surely didn't meant that," said Hermione quickly, when she saw Draco shake his head disbelievingly. "You wanted to know about the Unforgivable Curses, right Draco?"

"Course, I did," snorted Draco. Some people are real dimwits, he thought to himself. And Potter's one of them.

"Good question," said Sirius. "We do. We learn that in the Section of Skirmish."

"Have you ever used it?" Draco asked him.

"We hardly use the Imperius Curse, since it can be thrown out. We used Avada Kedavra in the past, but now, we are using the Cruciatus Curse on the convicted Death Eaters."

Ginny looked horrified. But Hermione thought that it was rational. Draco was only too used to it to look surprised.

"I never knew that the Order did such things," said Ginny, shaken.

"We have to, honey," said Molly. "Not all of us do that, though."

"Well, I s'pose they deserve it," said Harry spitefully. Ron seemed to agree.

"Does the Ministry know about it?" asked Draco. He looked certainly interested.

"No, the ministry knew nothing about it before Voldemort's return was wildly spread," said Molly impatiently. "Now it allows us to use illegal magic."

"What has the Order achieved all over?"

"Practically nothing for now, but previously, we had saved a lot of lives and caught many Death Eaters."

"When did it fail?"

"Well, sometimes we did fail, all right," said Sirius softly, while Arthur's ears reddened. "We couldn't save some people and a few times, lost to Voldemort."

Harry looked suddenly interested in the yellow flames of the fire in the furnace.

"Are all members apt in service?"

"Some are not, but mostly they are," Molly replied sharply, obviously irritated by Draco's long stream of questions. "Many didn't join the organization in fear of dying, because they knew they had poor magical prowess. So usually all are quite capable."

Sirius suddenly looked tightlipped. "That was our mistake," he said.

"What mistake?" asked Ron.

"We had let Wormtail in."

Harry gave Sirius a sharp look. There was silence for minutes, and it was dreadful. Finally, Molly said, "So, anymore questions?"

She looked pointedly at Draco, since he had asked most of them. Draco shook his head and so did the others. There was a sudden gloom after Sirius's last words. Everybody could feel it.

"Then go up, all of you," said Molly sternly, "now. We wish you were up and about early tomorrow. We have a few chores to do that we couldn't complete today. It is necessary for the Order's meeting."

Draco, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ginny got up. They didn't look forward to staying longer in the gloomy atmosphere.

"Hermione, Ginny," continued Molly, "you will have your same room. Harry, Ron, you share your room with Draco."

For the depression, neither did Harry and Ron nor Draco argue. Hermione was grateful that Draco understood Harry's position. So all of them together climbed up the stairs. Hermione and Ginny's room came in the first landing. Hermione walked into it without a word, but smiled at all before doing so. Draco gave Ginny a meaningful glance and followed Hermione in. Ginny, on the other hand, accompanied Harry and Ron to their room.

Harry looked sadder then ever.

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Hermione didn't notice Draco slipping into the room behind her, instead of Ginny. Hermione thought it was really Ginny. She, Hermione, didn't bother to look back and straightaway made for the bathroom. She left the door open as she walked in and splashed water on her face. She was feeling weary all of a sudden. And she had her reasons. After dabbing her face dry with a towel, Hermione stepped into the room.

She found Draco sitting in a chic manner on the bed and uttered a cry of surprise.

"Draco!" she gasped. "What are you doing here?"

Draco looked up when Hermione came in. He grinned at her and said, "You really know how to disappoint people, Hermione. How I wished you'd strip without noticing my presence!"

Hermione shot him a mock glare. "Very funny," she snapped at him as she opened a wardrobe and rummaged through it for a nightgown. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Why? Can't I come up to see you?"

"Of course you can, but now? I think Mrs. Weasley wanted us to go to bed early. And where's Ginny?"

"She went up with her brother and Potter."

Was it Hermione's imagination, or Draco spat Harry's last name with extreme ire?

She decided to ignore it.

"But she's supposed to sleep here," said Hermione as she found a nightgown and shut the door.

"I know that, but I wish it was me rather than her," Draco wistfully.

Hermione smiled at him. "I'll be back in a minute."

"Hey, you can change in front of me!"

Hermione gave him another mock glare and went into the bathroom. After five minutes, she came out, clad in a pale blue tank nightgown that clung to her sides. She had let her auburn hair fall down her waist in light waves.

"I guess you should go, Draco," she said, as she unfolded a white and black checkered blanket from the end of the bed where Draco sat, his feet up. "We should go to bed. We've got to wake up early tomorrow."

"But not so soon," Draco protested; though he got up from the bed. But he didn't walk towards the door; he walked up to Hermione and behind her back, snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her to him.

Hermione didn't object. She allowed herself to lean into Draco's arms. Draco traced vertical patterns on one side of her waist through the silk material of her nightgown, while with his other hand, he rubbed her left shoulder blade. Hermione sighed and let him carry on his rolfing. Draco kept messaging her sensually and slowly. Unconsciously, Hermione's hands slithered backwards to Draco's head, running them through his platinum hair.

Draco started planting butterfly kisses from her shiny shoulders up to her neck and finally to her mouth. He turned her around slowly and kissed her lips gently, licking each bit of it.

"The door -" Hermione whispered.

"Is locked." Draco completed the sentence for her.

Hermione sighed once again and started kissing him back. She clutched at Draco's woolen sweater as she felt her body giving away to the sensations that were running down her body, spreading with her blood in every direction, thakns to Draco. Draco withdrew, permitting Hermione to breathe. Hermione's breath came in gasps as Draco bit lightly into her skin on her neck. His hands were tightly clasping her waist, pulling at it and sometimes straddling it. Hermione breath became more ragged as Draco gnawed at her delicious pale skin.

Draco moaned and shoved his head deeper into her shoulder, pulling her closer, if possible. They were snuggled so close together that they were almost fused into one being.

One mind.

One heart.

One soul.

____________________________________________________________________

The next morning was a blur of activities for Draco, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ginny. They all woke up at five in the morning, too early for their liking. But the others, Arthur, Sirius, Molly and Tonks were already up and doing their work. Sirius sat in the study, making copies of the schedule for the meeting. Harry helped him with it. He read the schedule.

08:00 a.m. - Breakfast

09:00 a.m. - Seating and the meeting begins

09:05 a.m. - Dumbledore's speech and foreword

09:15 a.m. - Section of Primary Defense's report

09:30 a.m. - Section of Spies report

09:45 a.m. - Section of Skirmish report

10:00 a.m. - Planning

10:30 a.m. - Question and Answer round

11:00 a.m. - Suggestions and recommendations

11:30 a.m. - Final chalking and end of meeting

12:00 p.m. - Lunch

A three hours long meeting. Harry sighed. It was going to be a long one.

Hermione and Ginny helped Molly in the kitchen for preparing the meals for the members. Tonks had tried to help them too, but instead added to load for the others.

Draco and Ron helped Arthur in setting the meeting room and keeping the schedules and water glasses in each seat. The meeting room was a long one, in a room that ran the complete end of Grimmauld Place. It had white paint on the walls and a long, very long, hexagonal wooden table, which was hollow in the middle. They arranged the chairs and put up tags on each seat for the respective person to sit. Draco learnt that Dumbledore sat at one end and Moody the other. Draco, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ginny's seats were in one end, close to Moody, on the right hand side. Draco deliberately put his tag next to Hermione and Harry's at the end.

So at around fifteen minutes to seven, everything was ready. The schedules were copied and set neatly by each seat with a glass of water next to it. The breakfast was in the hall - steaming hot omlettes, sausages, cereals, bacon and fresh orange and pineapple juice.

One by one, all members came to the Grimmauld Place. Some looked tired and exhausted, some cheerful and joyous and some extremely cranky. Hermione could know that by the way they said the code word, 'The Order of the Phoenix'. She supposed they all were working late into the night, since they had red and baggy eyes. They probably wanted more sleep.

But after breakfast, when Dumbledore called everyone inside the meeting room, all suddenly looked alert and wary. Percy pulled Fudge a chair and sat next to him, taking out one of the pens Hermione had given him for Christmas and preparing to take notes. He particularly had puffy eyes. Narcissa Malfoy had come too, but she looked lively. As the schedule said, all were seated in five minutes and Dumbledore stood up to speak.

"My dear members of The Order of the Phoenix and friends," he addressed, "today's meeting is an important one. Before I start, I would like to introduce our new guests - Mr. Draco Malfoy, Ms. Hermione Granger, Ms. Ginny Weasley, Mr. Ronald Weasley and Mr. Harry Potter."

For the first time, people were not excited to have The Harry Potter amidst them. Harry was grateful.

"As you all know, we are here to plan our attack on Lord Voldemort," continued Dumbledore. "Therefore, we need to be more strategic and accurate in our actions. It is not the first time we are planning to charge. It is in fact, for the fifth time we are doing so. The first time we did was twenty three years ago, when a few of us had attacked Lord Voldemort. We were hardly successful. Voldemort had a few followers and we had managed to capture a handful of them. But Voldemort slipped from our hands. He did so for the next three times. We had managed to just to catch a few Death Eaters each time. This time will start like that also, but we'll end up nabbing Voldemort. All of us here, we have the ability to fulfill this dream. But what we need is commitment. Commitment to achieve our goal. This is a virtue that Voldemort has though his followers hardly do. Therefore, it'll be an advantage to our side. But let's not make it an advantage for the opposite side. We need to work hard and work with the correct means. The place where the Death Eaters will fall is their lack of virtues. Without virtues, man is not complete. He is a faltering creature. Hence, we need to be virtuous. That'll be a disadvantage to their side.

"Anyhow, we need to progress with the meeting. Does anybody have any questions regarding today's meeting?"

Everybody shook his or her head.

"Well then, let's start the meeting."

Everybody looked at the schedule. It said, Sections of Primary Defense's report. McGonagall cleared her throat and stood up, as Dumbledore sat down.

"The Section of Primary Defense is ready," McGonagall said. "I permit my assistant, Mr. Arthur Weasley to speak about our current status."

Arthur stood up. McGonagall didn't sit down.

"We have made our report," Arthur announced. "Till date, we have put up numerous spells and charms in order to defend ourselves against the Dark Arts. Each of us here, is bond to each other by the Junctiono Charm. Therefore, if any member is harmed by Dark Magic, we'll immediately know it. Similarly, we have mastered various defending charms like the Verltezt Charm. We use a variety of instruments and devices that will help us to receive intelligence of each one's whereabouts. Thus, we'll be able to trace the person, should anyone be lost or abducted. At our administration, Professor Minerva McGonagall, the Head of Primary Defense will be informed of each activity undergoing in our section. Molly Weasley and I will stream the devices to trace a lost person. Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks will take care of the Junctiono Charm. As for others, they will guard our section, making sure nothing unfavorable befalls us. They'll take care of urgent calls and chores."

"Hence," said McGonagall. "We would able to protect the Order of the Phoenix properly and guard it through its missions. Any questions?"

Everybody shook his or her head again. But Snape looked a bit unsatisfied.

"Excellent," said Moody. "So next, we have the Section of Spies."

Snape immediately stood up, throwing back his greasy locks of black hair. "Our report," he said, "is ready too. Assistant Kingsley Shacklebolt, you may start."

Kingsley Shacklebolt stood up. "Ever since the Ministry has fused with the Order of the Phoenix," he said, "we have had hardly anything to do. Maximum numbers of Death Eaters are locked away, so our connections have been arrested. Through the few, left ones, i.e., Bellatrix Lestrange, Peter Pettigrew and Theodore Nott, we have found that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is making futile effects at Metamorphmagi. Thus, the Ministry has banned the sell of the ingredients necessary for becoming a Metamorphmagus. On further account, we have received intelligence that these Hogwarts students here are one of the Dark Side's targets. The Primary Defense has performed its duty regarding this. By placing the convicted Death Eaters under the effect of truth potion, Veritaserum, we found out that You-Know-Who had no long-term aims. He is obsessed with the idea of Metamorphmagi. He had no ideas of overthrowing the Ministry currently."

"And in a few days time," Snape cut in, "we will find out the Dark Lord whereabouts. We have suspicions about the Riddle House in Little Hangleton, which is in the outskirts of the town, Big Hangleton. Big Hangleton is in the very north of Britain. Auror Shacklebolt would have set out today with his team to know the exact place but due to the sudden call, he shook it off. That is all we have to say."

"Well done," said Dumbledore. "Does anybody wish to inquire anything regarding the Section of Spies present tasks?"

Everybody shook his or her head yet again. Draco could see that the Heads of the Sections made sure that there were no questions left.

"Next," barked Moody, "is the Section of Skirmish."

Sirius, sitting across Harry, stood up. "Our section has completed its work. I would call upon my assistant, Auror Rahel Smith to speak about our present condition."

A very dark skinned lady in her early thirties stood up. She was wearing red robes and had a glittering nose ring on her nose. Hermione suspected that she was Malayalam. And when Rahel Smith started talking through her nose in a faltering accent, Hermione was sure about her origin.

"The Section of Skirmish," Rahel Smith said, "has been successful in most of the missions, when it came to capturing the Death Eaters. Since there are hardly any left and due to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's inactivity, our section has been taking the backseat. But as the upcoming plan includes heavy combat, we are ready. Our practice sessions are demanding and not neglected. Each member is well trained and ready. For the past two and a half months, we have been taking in a lot of learning and magical dueling. Therefore, should we face the Death Eaters, I believe we can win."

"Hence," said Sirius, "we have no task until we discuss the upcoming errands. After only everything has been decided and done, we can make our next move. I hope no one has any problems with this?"

"I do," said Snape. Everybody turned to look at him. "I do have a problem," Snape repeated. "Apart from the Section of Skirmish, Sections of Primary Defense and Spies are completely ready. I do not say that you are not, but we expected a more convincing report."

Sirius looked at him coolly. "I do not disagree," he said, "but our Section includes more practical work. But for your convenience, why don't you duel me? You and all the others will see our progress. Come up, Snape."

"There is no need," growled Moody and indicated Sirius to sit. Then, he turned to the Potions master. "Snape," he said, "I believe all of us are convinced with the Head of the Section of Skirmish's report. But if you still insist, then you can have a duel with him later. The Order doesn't grant time for that. But I suggest you don't do so, Snape. The section is lethal."

Snape's face remained impassive and he didn't reply.

"All right then," continued Moody, "we'll start planning. The first thing that we want to know is Voldemort's current hiding place. Shacklebolt, are you sure that Voldemort is in the Riddle House in Little Hangleton?"

"I am, Auror Moody."

"You had better be. So if we act on the basis of Voldemort being there, we will have to capture the three Death Eaters first. The Section of Skirmish, can you handle that?"

"Yes, we can," answered Sirius, "but we need time and co-operation from the Section of Spies."

"You will have that," guaranteed Dumbledore. "So will a month's worth time be sufficient?"

"It should be ... Theodore Nott, we can seize him straightaway."

"I call upon the Order to vote for this," said Moody. "How many want to have Theodore Nott caught straightaway?"

All raised their hands. Draco did so too. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have but he knew he had to abet the Order with its majority decisions.

"So after the meeting, I trust the Aurors to act soon and put Theodore Nott in Azkaban." stated Dumbledore.

"We will," said Moody. "After the Death Eaters are caught, we will proceed to capture Voldemort himself, but that will be difficult. He will know that we have got hold of his followers. And coming to that, we want another poll. What do we do with the Death Eaters in Azkaban? Let them be there healthy and sane without the Dementors or shall we kill them? I think that would be good. We don't want to take chances of setting fifty Death Eaters in jailbreak. So how many want the Death Eaters dead?"

All raised their hands up again. Hermione looked at all and raised her hand shakily. She didn't like killing. She believed that when men cannot give life to a thing, then what right do they have to take it away? She glanced uneasily at Draco, who had raised his hand too.

Draco put his other hand on Hermione's and squeezed it. He knew well what was making Hermione troubled. He looked at her in the eye and Hermione recalled his words that he had said long ago, when he had learned about Hermione's philosophy.

"We have no right to kill, I agree," he said. "We don't have the right to kill the innocent. But the guilty, who won't think about it? If they aren't stopped, more innocents will die. We have to find a way to the solution. If one is not a part of the solution, then one is of the problem: directly or indirectly."

Hermione felt better after that.

"All right," said Moody. "We will kill the Death Eaters. When do you think, Minister?" he asked Fudge.

"Anytime," said Fudge. "We can do it this evening, if you please."

"That would be your decision, Cornelius," said Dumbledore. "But we trust that it would be done soon."

"Now shall we proceed with the plan?" asked Moody. He didn't wait for the replies. "So after the Death Eaters are caught, Voldemort will flee. At any cost. Then, the Section of Spies will track him down. That may take a long time. Months, might be. But I believe that the section can manage it?"

"Of course," said Snape curtly.

"So only after we know where Voldemort will be can the Section of Skirmish come in use. All through this, the Section of Primary Defense will guard the Order."

"We will." said McGonagall.

"But we are risking are lives with it, remember that. After we have made our first attack, the target number ones will have to go from the place they will be in. Professor Dumbledore and I need not, but the Heads of the Sections and the assistants will have to move. And they will go out of Britain, they will be scattered."

Moody gave Dumbledore a meaningful glance. Dumbledore then spoke to Draco, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ginny. "And this means that all of you, including Percy, Fred and George will have to move."

The students exchanged looks.

"And you have to be scattered. Percy, Fred and George will go to Charles in Romania. Molly, Ron and Ginny will to Bill in Egypt."

The Weasleys nodded nervously.

"Harry, Sirius and Rahel, you will go to Brussels in Belgium. Minerva and Arthur will go to Monaco in France. We are spreading in a vertical line. Now left are Draco and Hermione. You both can go to Africa and since Draco is well acquainted with that area, there will hardly be any problems. What was that place, again?"

Hermione and Draco exchanged knowing smiles.

"Ethiopian Highlands," replied Draco.

"But with them will go Severus and Kingsley," went on Dumbledore. "And in each post, there will be a few of Hogwarts teachers too. So all will be well guarded. And when Voldemort is sighted, Alastor, the other members, and I will consider our next move and when the time is ripe, we will call you. This is a safety measure. Does anybody have any problems?"

All shook their heads. The meeting was quite amicable. For the rest of the time, they went through the plan again and again. It wasn't completed. Only two plans were made: one, the Death Eaters will all be killed. Two, Voldemort will surely flee and then the Order will scatter until they are called back for the next move. At that time, Hogwarts will become the temporarily inactive, as in, the studies would be stopped and the children would return to their homes. In fact, Hogwarts would become the headquarters of The Order of the Phoenix. All were pleased with the plan and there were hardly any problems. So after another hour, everything was ready and a final report was made. One by one, all filed out of the meeting. It was hard to believe that the meeting had been three hours long. Time passed by so quickly. So after lunch, everybody left the Grimmauld Place. Draco, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ginny stayed back and returned to Hogwarts only after dinner.

____________________________________________________________________

It was an hour after everyone had gone to bed in the Prefects' quarters when Hermione, in a deep red silk nightgown, crept out of her room and knocked on the door of the Slytherin Prefects' room. After five light knocks, Draco opened the door, pulling a robe over his black silk pajamas. It was his turn to be surprised.

"Hermione?" he said unbelievingly. "What are you doing here?"

Hermione smiled as Draco yawned. "Why?" she said. "Can't I even come up to meet you?"

Draco raised his eyebrows at her as he stifled another yawn. "Sure," he said and smiled. He remembered telling the same words to Hermione the previous night. He stepped to let Hermione in. Hermione entered his room and Draco shut the door behind her.

"It's eleven o' clock," said Draco. "You wanted to see me now?"

"Yes," said Hermione as she sat on a chair. "I ... I wanted to talk to you about something."

Draco blinked a few times. He noticed that Hermione looked nervous and bothered. "Why don't you a light a fire?" he said. "While I go and freshen in a minute. I'm having trouble focusing now."

He failed to stifle another yawn.

"Sure," said Hermione as she pointed her wand towards the fireplace and Draco went into the bathroom. She lit the fire, which wasn't bluebell, and waited for Draco to come as she sat on a chintz armchair by the fireplace. Draco came, his face looking fresher and his eyes more wary. He sat down next to her.

"What do you want to say to me?" he asked.

Hermione looked at him in the eye, where merry yellow flames crackled in pools of blue and grey. His eyes were warm and concerned. "I ... I have nothing particular to say," said Hermione uncomfortably. "I was just ... worried."

"About what?" Draco gently questioned.

"About everything. The Order meeting today ... I didn't like it too much."

Draco furrowed his eyebrows. "What is wrong Hermione?"

"Nothing is wrong for now," said Hermione mysteriously, "but everything can go wrong in the future ... Draco, I ... I am scared."

"Hermione what are you talking about?"

Hermione didn't reply. Instead, silent tears poured out of her eyes. Draco looked aghast and he got up from his chair and kneeled before Hermione. He held Hermione's waist in his arms as he pulled her to him, patting her back.

"Hush, Hermione," he said soothingly. "Why are you crying? Tell me."

Hermione burrowed her head into Draco's shoulders and sobbed quietly. "I am scared," she said again. "I am very scared. I was just wondering what would happen if the Order fails."

Draco got his answer. "The Order won't fail," he assured her. "And what can be the worst if it fails in this case? Voldemort can't take seventy trained men single-handedly, can he? I mean, all the Death Eaters would be dead by now. Voldemort is all alone."

"I don't care what Voldemort does," said Hermione. "I am worried about you, Harry, Ron and everybody. I am frightened. What if Voldemort gets you all? What if something happens to you all?"

Draco didn't reply.

"Do you have any idea how difficult it'll be for me to survive after that? If you all don't stay alive ... then, what would I do?"

"Hermione!" exclaimed Draco, pulling her out of his embrace and facing her. "What the hell are you saying?"

"I am serious, Draco."

"No you aren't."

"You won't know."

"You really think so?" said Draco. "D'you think that if in this game I die, I won't be hurt if anything happens to you? Death is not the end of love, Hermione. It never was and it never will. My body won't work anymore but my soul will be there for you. Forever and for always, in your body, with your soul. You're my soul mate."

Hermione stared at Draco. "I can't live without you."

"Forget it Hermione, just drop it. We're sixteen and we won't die, I promise. I'll never let anything happen to us."

Draco wiped away Hermione's tears and pulled her to him again and kissed her. He kissed in his old, tender way. His tongue battling gently with hers, licking her.

The moment Draco kissed Hermione, Hermione felt the tension wash away from her body. She was afraid of something that might happen to her Draco. The idea of living without him scared her. And she wasn't able to get any sleep. So she came to him, because she knew she would find solace there. With Draco.

Draco withdrew and took Hermione in his arms. He lifted her and then dropped her onto the bed. She was torturing him. The way her eyes glistened with tears of fear, the way her fine lips trembled when she kissed him ... it drove him mad. He was having an erection, he knew it. The atmosphere was like that. No one with them, none other noises then soft gasps and helpless, hungry moans. The fire made Hermione's skin glow angelically. It looked delicious. Her auburn hair caught the light and shined brilliantly, in waves around her pretty face. Her golden eyes, inviting him ... it was all too much. Draco wanted her badly and his groins ached. So without able to stop himself, he took Hermione to bed immediately and straddled her body.

He ripped away his robe and shirt. For the second time, Hermione saw Draco with a bare chest. He was extremely well built, with perfect muscles. He was a bit tanned and had a killer set of abs on his stomach, like perfect slabs.

Draco kissed Hermione again, but gently. He put one hand under her neck and pressed her face close to his, kissing her. His other hand traveled up and down her right side, not pausing even when it came across her breasts or hips. Hermione could feel her skin tingling and she squirmed under Draco's hard body. Her hands were themselves wandering on Draco's bare skin. She felt his abs in one hand while with other; she stroked his shoulder blades from behind his back.

Draco's skin burned hot under Hermione's touch, even in the cold. His male hardness was highly aroused and pressed hard against just above Hermione's vulva. He wanted to take her then and there but he knew better, so with great difficulty he restrained himself. His hands got more impatient on Hermione's nightgown.

Hermione felt his rock hardness against her and gasped. It sent electric currents throughout her body and she squirmed more. Her heartbeat increased, she wished Draco wouldn't lay her.

Draco didn't.

But he didn't let go of her either. He kissed her mouth while he released the hand holding Hermione's neck, looking for his wand on the bedside table. He found it and for a moment he relieved of Hermione completely as he locked the door magically. And then, he turned to gaze at Hermione, her face flushed, her skin covered with goose bumps and her lips red, slick and swollen.

She looked too beautiful.

"Hermione," pleaded Draco, massaging her sides again. Hermione knew what he was asking for. She bit her lip.

"I won't force you,"

Hermione knew Draco wouldn't lay her. He respected her feelings. With a nervous swallow, she nodded.

Later, she was glad that she did.