Harry felt himself slam flat into the ground; his face was pressed into the grass; the smell of it filled his nostrils. All the breath seemed to have been knocked out of him; his head was swimming so badly he felt as though the ground beneath him were swaying like the deck of a ship. The adrenaline was wearing off, and the pain of his injuries started to catch up with him. His chest hurt like a bitch. He had probably broken a few ribs. The pain of the cruciatus also caught up as he loosened his Occlumency shields a bit. He had tightly bit down the pain till now.
Holding it any longer would've been a bad idea. The longer he held the pain, the worse it would bite him when he released it. An advanced Occlumency technique blocked a few pain receptors in one's mind to reduce the pain one was feeling, significantly for a temporary time until the shields were dropped. Then, it hurt twice as worse.
Then a pair of hands seized him roughly and turned him over. "Harry! Harry!"
He opened his eyes.
He was looking up at the starry sky, and Albus Dumbledore was crouched over him. The dark shadows of a crowd of people pressed in around them, pushing nearer; Harry felt the ground beneath his head reverberating with their footsteps.
He had come back to the edge of the maze. He could see the stands rising above him, the shapes of people moving in them, the stars above. The stands were empty, devoid of any audience. The people moving around were mainly Aurors.
He raised his free hand and seized Dumbledore's wrist, while Dumbledore's face swam in and out of focus. "He's back," Harry whispered. "He's back. Voldemort."
"What's going on? What's happened? Harry? Harry, are you alright?" The voice of Amelia Bones sounded but Harry ignored it. He had given the main part of the information to the best person he could give it to.
Dumbledore bent down, and with extraordinary strength for a man so old and thin, raised Harry from the ground and set -him on his feet. Harry swayed. His head was pounding.
A pain shot through his left leg. He had also injured his leg somehow during the duel.
"Everything later, Harry needs to go to the hospital wing. He is injured... and is suffering from severe magical exhaustion. I'll take him to the hospital wing. Rest all can wait." Dumbledore declared in a tone of steel.
"I'll take Harry, Dumbledore, I'll take him—" The voice of Alastor Moody sounded.
Harry frowned. 'Why was Moody volunteering when Dumbledore of all people had him?'
"No, I would prefer—"
"Dumbledore, the Aurors are here and so is the press. You need to handle them," Moody reasoned.
Harry frowned. Alastor Moody was the head of the hit-wizard squad at the height of the war. And a well-respected figure throughout the wizarding world. Even the press would refrain from doing things once he said no. Yes, Dumbledore did carry more weight than him but Moody, McGonagall, and Amelia Bones could handle anyone without a problem.
This could not be Moody. Not from the tales he had heard of the man.
Harry tugged at Dumbledore's sleeve and softly wheezed out, "There is a Death Eater... at Hogwarts... helping Voldemort. Him."
Moody or the fake-Moody apparently, heard him and his eyes widened. A fraction of a second, he whipped his wand out and yelled, "AVAD—"
Before Harry could do anything, there was a sizzle of magic from right beside him and a red beam of light hit Moody square in his chest, and he went flying thirty meters back and his wand flew out of his hands as well.
Harry glanced at Dumbledore, who was still holding him steady with one hand and holding his wand in another. His eyes were glowing electric blue orbs. He gave a flick of his wand and Moody was bound in chains.
"Minerva, take this one, whoever he is, to your office and keep him stunned and in chains till I come back. Amelia, accompany her and send the rest of your Aurors back for now." Dumbledore ordered.
"Dumbledore, you cannot order me to send my Aurors away! They are here for—"
"According to 19F section 129 of the Wizengamot charter, you will find that I can. And please understand Amelia, this matter is much bigger than you can even imagine at the moment. Come, Harry." Dumbledore said, and even without looking back, he led Harry forward towards the castle. As soon as they were out of the Quidditch pitch, Dumbledore looked around and Harry felt his world lurch and overturn.
Suddenly, Harry found himself in a familiar room with several beds and whitewashed walls. He had been side-along apparated to the hospital wing by Dumbledore.
"Poppy! Poppy!"
"What— Headmaster, Potter... what in the name of Merlin happened!?"
"Quickly, Poppy. Pain relief potions." Dumbledore said and led Harry to a bed.
Harry, on the other hand, seeing he was safe now, sent his wand to the chamber of secrets. If his wand was checked for some absurd reason, the Aurors shouldn't find the wand he had used to fight Voldemort and his death eaters. Cause if they did, he would be sent to Azkaban for sure for the usage of the killing curse multiple times.
He still had his other wand with him, which he had used to practice spells a few days ago. It would show much tamer spells than he had used in the graveyard if they used Priori Incantetam.
As he sent his wand back, he felt a lurch in his gut, signifying his spectacularly low magical reserves.
"Professor, Voldemort... he is back. The war..."
"Begins," Dumbledore completed softly. "I will handle it here. We will talk more tomorrow but rest assured, I believe you and will start taking the necessary steps. We will talk more in detail once you are healed, child. Your health is the most important. Don't stress yourself."
"Memory... of the fight," Harry wheezed out as consciousness threatened to leave him. He was exhausted, both physically and magically. Whatever little energy he had left was now gone.
Dumbledore immediately placed his wand at Harry's temple and Harry felt the memory extracting charm wash over him. He immediately remembered the things that had happened from the moment he touched the portkey to the moment Dumbledore rushed to him and pulled him up in vivid detail and pushed it.
Dumbledore withdrew a silvery strand and placed it in a conjured vial.
"Don't... show... any... anyone sir. Only... you." Harry managed to say before blacking out completely.
26th June 1995
Hogwarts Hospital Wing
Harry slowly came back to consciousness and blinked his eyes open, only to see the familiar ceiling of the Hospital wing of Hogwarts. He looked around to see if there was anyone there.
"Harry! Madame Pomfrey, Harry is awake!" The unmistakable voice of the Weasley Matriarch said. A moment later, Madame Pomfrey was over him, waving her wand in complicated patterns over Harry.
"Water," Harry croaked.
"Yes, child. Wait," Madame Pomfrey said before helping him sit up and offering him a glass of water. Harry slowly sipped it, soothing his dry throat.
He looked at himself and saw that his leg was in a cast and bandages were wrapped around his torso. He smelled of potions.
Then, for the first time, he looked around the hospital wing. Judging from the sunlight, Harry guessed that it was noon. There was another man in a bed in one corner of the room. With a start, Harry realized who it was.
Alastor Moody. The man looked emancipated as if he had been starved for months. His hair was cut unevenly in several places. On his bedside, a wooden leg and his famous eye were kept along with a wand. He was asleep at the moment.
Harry drained the glass of water and looked at Madame Pomfrey.
"Welcome to the world of the living, Potter. I must admit that this time, your injuries were terrible, breaking all of your previous records. A severely depleted magical core, three broken ribs, multiple hairline fractures throughout the body, broken leg, concussion, severe bruising, and cruciatus exposure. I am surprised that you were even conscious when you came back and I am also surprised that you've woken up so early."
"Hmm... well, so what is the verdict for now?" Harry asked.
"No magic for the next two days and after that, minimal magic usage for the next five days. You had severely exhausted your magic. A little more and you would've likely damaged your core permanently. Also, a potion course for a week to heal everything. Oh, and you are forbidden to leave the hospital wing for the next two days as well."
"I am sorry, but I need to see Dumbledore, Madame Pomfrey to discuss matters of at most importance."
"And we can discuss it later as well, my boy, once you are healed. You will do no one favors by dragging yourself out in this state." Dumbledore's voice sounded. "And, I can bring you up to speed, right now, just so you know what has happened in the last forty hours since you came back."
"I have been asleep for more than a day and a half!?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter. And Headmaster, I would appreciate it if you let me treat my patient before chatting with him. Potions, Potter." Madame Pomfrey said sternly and Dumbledore backed down, giving Harry a pitying look.
Harry understood why that pitying look was given as Madame Pomfrey levitated a whole tray full of different vials filled with potions in front of Harry. And, Harry recognized all of them and also knew they tasted bad... puke-worthy bad.
"In the order from left to right, Potter. You need to take all. And after you have food, I have another six vials of potion ready for you. Go on."
Harry grimaced before picking up the first vial and uncorking it. He pinched his nose and downed the whole vial in one go before gagging at the aftertaste left in his mouth. One done, several more to go.
After finishing the potions, Madame Pomfrey allowed Dumbledore to talk to Harry. Molly Weasley had left the room, at Dumbledore's request.
Dumbledore conjured a plush armchair with a wave of his wand and sat down on it before waving his wand and raising a privacy dome. He turned to look at Harry and gave him a soft smile. "Before you start firing questions at me, I will tell you whatever has happened in the last forty hours first. Then, you can ask whatever you wish."
Harry gave him a nod noticing, Dumbledore seemed to be tired and there were dark circles under his eyes, signifying he hadn't slept adequately.
"Very well. So, once you touched the Triwizard Cup, and failed to return to the edge of the maze as you were supposed to, people panicked. Immediately, a message was sent to the Aurors that you were missing and students were sent back to their dorms so that the Aurors could investigate in peace along with the judges. That was when Karkaroff suddenly screamed before excusing himself. His whereabouts are still unknown, and I think he has fled to protect himself against Voldemort's wrath. A minute later, Severus came running to me, and informed me that his dark mark had come completely alive and he had been summoned by Lord Voldemort." Dumbledore said in a grave tone.
"That was when I knew things were wrong. Very very wrong. And, Lord Voldemort had returned." Dumbledore said. "I tried to use Fawkes to flame to your location but he couldn't take me, likely due to Tom making it a point to have anti-phoenix wards in the graveyard. But, anyways, then you came back, horribly injured... and yet, victorious in your first real duel against Lord Voldemort. I must compliment you, Harry. Witnessing the memory of the fight was awe-inspiring. Your display of magic and combat was beyond spectacular."
"Thank you, sir. But, what happened after I left consciousness."
"Alright, so what happened after I left you under Poppy's care... well, I went to Minerva's office where I found Barty Crouch Junior in chains. He had Polyjuiced himself to look like Alastor and this had been the case since the term started."
"But he is dead!"
"I am coming to that part, my boy. So, I asked Severus to bring me some Veritaserum, the truth potion and fed it to Crouch Junior before enervating him. Under its influence, he revealed how his father and mother had freed him from Azkaban." Dumbledore said before launching into a tale of how Mrs. Crouch, couldn't bear to see her child imprisoned and convinced Crouch to replace her with Barty as she was sick. After that, Crouch senior placed his son under the imperious and kept him hidden for more than a decade.
Also, Barty Crouch junior threw off the curse at the world cup and shot the dark mark into the air. His father saved him again by blaming Winky. A few days later, Voldemort and MacNair came and freed him of his Father's influence, and later, Barty Crouch Jr. tortured and killed his father.
Then, together, MacNair, Voldemort, and Crouch made a plan to subdue and replace Moody to get into Hogwarts, based on Bertha Jorkins' information. They subdued Moody and Crouch kept moody prisoner in his own trunk, sedated and under the imperious since then. At Hogwarts, Barty Crouch was the one who put Harry's name in the Goblet of fire and put the grand plan to bring Harry to Voldemort in motion and allow his rebirth.
On the day of the final task, Augustus Rookwood had replaced Crouch briefly when the portkey was to be carried into the maze and tampered with it before going back to his master. And that had led to the portkey being cleverly redirected to the graveyard through the wards of Hogwarts.
"So... Crouches are the main reason why Voldemort was reborn?"
"You can say that, yes."
"Where is he now?"
"I will tell you. So, his confession and plans were heard by myself, Severus, Minerva, and Amelia. Amelia was beyond enraged, to say the least. Anyways, we stunned Barty Crouch and I went to rescue Moody, leaving Minerva on guard while Amelia went to the ministry to inform Fudge what she had witnessed." At the name of the minister, Dumbledore's face darkened.
"After taking poor Alastor to the Hospital Wing, I went to see the memory you had given me in my office. It was very informational to Voldemort's plans. When I returned, there was a ruckus. Cornelius had seen it fit to administer the Dementor's kiss to Barty before being questioned by the Wizengamot."
"HE DESTROYED THE EVIDENCE!" Harry yelled in outrage.
"Yes, he did. And he even refused to believe that Lord Voldemort has returned claiming that such a thing was prosperous."
"He outright refused to believe it?"
"Yes. Cornelius refuses to believe such a thing and, according to my sources, is now under the misconception that I wish to overthrow him by spreading fear."
"That's stupid! And what about Crouch's testimony under Veritaserum? He can't dismiss that!"
"Cornelius believes that Crouch was a lunatic and was imagining it all. He said that under Veritaserum a person says only what the said person believes to be the truth... and well, he is not wrong in that part but he is using this in a wrong situation. He even refused to see the memory that you had provided saying that memories could be faked or you could've seen a Boggart."
"Boggart? I have fucking killed a Chimera and he thinks that I saw a boggart!? And if it was a Boggart, what about my injuries? Madame Pomfrey gave a long list, didn't she?"
"As I said, he refuses to see what I wanted to show him. Severus literally went and shoved his left arm in Cornelius's face, showing him the dark mark... that just put Cornelius against me more, I believe. He also believes, in his own words that 'It seems to me that you are all determined to start a panic that will destabilize everything we have worked for these last thirteen years. As I said, he has made a crackpot tale in his head that I want to overthrow him. He fails to see anything in his hunger for power. Me threatening him that if he continues on this part, he will go down as the worst minister in history only made him believe his own theory more. He also believes that we have joined hands to overthrow him."
"He is a moron. He will put the world on the line in his hunger for the post of the minister!" Harry exclaimed. "We need to remove him immediately."
"Yes and no. We need to remove him but, I believe that it would be counterproductive to do it right now. It will just serve to destabilize the ministry and may lead to Lord Voldemort taking over it which would be bad."
"But Fudge-"
"Will be kept in office till he has exhausted his use. Right now, let him be for a few months in the office. If we kick him out right now, it is possible that someone unwanted may take the position of the minister of magic."
"Between us, I think that we can influence the vote in our favor easily," Harry said.
Dumbledore chuckled. "You underestimate Lord Voldemort, Harry. If he gets the wind that we are planning Fudge's fall, which he would, he would throw gold and threats around to bend the vote as he wishes and elect someone who would be one of his. Fudge will need to be removed and replaced swiftly as possible in a situation when no one would dare to doubt our word."
"Kindly elaborate, sir."
"Well, you do realize that Cornelius would do his utmost best to discredit us and remove us from a position of power... well the latter for me anyways as he can't touch your position."
"I own the Prophet and I can stop that with a single letter, but do continue with the line you are on," Harry replied, intrigued.
"So, Cornelius will discredit us and remove me from my position as the Chief warlock and Supreme Mugwump. He will lead a campaign of sorts to prove that we are lying and spreading fear to destabilize the country. He'll put things up like we are going senile and are deranged. And, most of the public, even Wizengamot and ICW will take his word as it is... well, the more believable alternative as much as I hate to admit that fact. And many people in ICW and Wizengamot would jump at the chance to remove me and take the position of the supreme mugwump or the chief warlock."
"A dark lord who died thirteen years ago, returning from dead does sound a little absurd, to be honest." Harry mused. "And the public will believe him as they are... well, they have a sheep ideology. They will stick their heads in the sand and ignore what is in front of them until it is too late."
"True. And what would happen if we bring Voldemort out in the open, after months of being proclaimed as liars? What would happen when it would be proved that we were right all along?"
Harry's eyes widened and he gaped at the sheer brilliance of Dumbledore's long-term plan.
"Genius." He breathed. "It would make the public think a thousand times before ever doubting our word again. And people will start trying to curry some favor back because, well, we are the only ones who can fight Voldemort. And, our immediate next statement that Fudge is unfit for office would be a verdict instead of an opinion. And the name we will put forth..."
"Will be elected as the new minister without question." Dumbledore completed. "No one will object to it, trying to get back on our good sides. And, from what I am planning, we would make it so sudden that Voldemort would hardly be able to do anything or pull strings. It will be under an emergency session. If we do that now, it will take time due to all the official procedures that we will have to go through for a new minister and, Voldemort will be able to influence the vote heavily and may turn it in favor of the candidate he wants in the office."
"Professor, if I didn't know better, I would say you are a dark lord in disguise planning to take over the world."
Dumbledore smiled. "While I assure you that I don't plan to take on the world, I will remind you that I am many things including one of the most seasoned politicians in the world. One doesn't hold two of the most powerful offices without being well versed in politics. I know to manipulate things better than anyone could ever do it." He simply stated.
"But sir, if we go down this path, Voldemort will also have the time to sway groups of creatures like the werewolf packs, Giants, and worst of all, dementors to his side. And also rebuild his army. A competent minister could prevent that and we could strike fast." Harry said.
Dumbledore shook his head. "It only looks good as an idea but in practicality, it will be an impossible task. The wizards are used to superiority and power. Most would see negotiating with such creatures as beneath them and a foolish endeavor as well. And Lord Voldemort would offer them more than the ministry could. Also, killing Lord Voldemort before we destroy his Horcruxes will be counter-productive. And, keep in mind that it also gives us time to build a force."
Harry sighed. When Dumbledore put it like that...
"So what do we do?"
"That, my boy, is an excellent question and one which will take a few hours to explain. Right now, all you need to know is that I am reassembling the Order of the Phoenix and gathering members. We will discuss more of this in detail two days from now. Give me a little time to sort things out properly, Harry. It hasn't even been two days since this happened. We will discuss this in my office two days from now, post-lunch. I have freed up my schedule for this already."
"Sir, before you go, I have one more question. You have planned this all out well, but what will he do when the killings start? Sudden disappearances like they happened before all the major civil wars in magical history happened? Grindelwald did the same, Voldemort did the same in his first rise to power." Harry asked. "There will be a panic and things could go haywire."
"Harry, you did a number on Lord Voldemort and his forces. A blow that Voldemort never expected. He is short on manpower. He is scared. He will lay low and gather his forces until he thinks he is powerful enough before coming out in the open. Severus has confirmed as much. At the moment, several death eaters and Tom himself are being healed. And you killed a total of fourteen death eaters that night. Fourteen out of which nine were of his inner circle in the last war. A major blow. He will regather his forces before coming in open... and from my vague plan which I have made, we will force him out in the open when the time is ripe. When we ourselves are prepared to handle the outbreak of the civil war and open warfare."
"I am seriously curious now. What is your plan?"
"The prophecy." Dumbledore gave a two-word answer.
"The one to vanquish the dark lord approaches... that prophecy."
"Yes."
"Can you elaborate, sir?" Harry requested.
"To put it simply, Tom now holds us both in the same regard. He fears us, and I think, he fears you more than he fears me. I saw the fear in his eyes when you dueled him in the graveyard. Matching him, spell to spell despite being much less experienced and younger than Tom. He saw your power and your knowledge that day. When he fought me for the first time on the battlefield, he knew I was much more experienced and knowledgeable than him and expected a challenge... something he would have never dreamed of from a fifteen-year-old child. And some things you did in there, have even left me astounded. If you don't mind me asking, how did you do it?"
Harry blinked. "You need to be a little more specific there, sir."
"My apologies. How did you survive getting hit by the killing curse again?"
Harry grinned. "I would've demonstrated but unfortunately, Madame Pomfrey has forbidden me from doing magic. So now, to put it simply, the curse only looked like it hit me. It didn't hit me in reality."
"How?"
"Disillusioned, conjured butterflies. I intercepted the curses with them."
"Marvelous," Dumbledore breathed, his eyes twinkling. Harry knew he would appreciate the sheer brilliance of it, being the highest authority in the field of transfiguration in the world. "Conjured animals, despite not having souls, are pseudo-living beings with magic as their life force. The killing curse works to extinguish the life force of the thing it touches, given that it has one. So, conjured animals can stop the killing curse! This is... brilliant."
Harry smiled in response and nodded. He hadn't given it that much thought, but what Dumbledore was saying made perfect sense.
"You won't mind if I copy the trick, do you?" Dumbledore asked eagerly.
"Not at all, sir."
"Thank you. I will leave you to rest now... and unless I am mistaken, your godfather, whom I had forcibly sent to rest, is rushing here towards the hospital wing at the moment."
On cue, the door of the hospital wing was pushed open and Sirius entered the hospital wing at a brisk pace before rushing towards Harry as Dumbledore stood up.
"Pup! How are you, kiddo?"
"Much better now, Sirius."
"I will take your leave, now. Get well soon, Harry," Dumbledore said before leaving Harry with Sirius.
28th June 1995
Hogwarts headmaster office
Harry ascended the moving staircase leading to the Headmaster's office and knocked at the door. He was there to discuss what Dumbledore had planned for the future. He had a folder with him that contained several plans that Salazar, Helga, and himself had made for the war along with information on each inner circle death eater.
Harry was happy to be finally free of Madame Pomfrey's care at the moment. He had spent more than enough time being confined to the hospital bed being allowed to get up only for bathroom visits. He was grateful for the constant company of Susan, Hedwig, Hermione, and Ron throughout the previous two days. Even Fleur, Diggory, and Krum had visited him once. Fleur would've stayed but that would mean potentially exposing their relationship to the Hogwarts rumor mill... which was a dangerous prospect at the moment considering Lord Voldemort's return. Daphne had been in contact with him through Susan and was yet to meet him for the same reason.
He was mostly healed but was still forbidden from doing any powerful magic at least till the end of the month. He still had to take potions for a few more days, but thankfully there were only two he needed to take, twice a day.
"Come in, Harry." Dumbledore's voice sounded from behind the door. Harry pushed the door open and entered the Headmaster's office. Hedwig, who was on Harry's shoulder immediately took flight and landed on Fawkes's perch, next to the said phoenix, and cooed. Fawkes sang back in response.
Dumbledore smiled at the display before gesturing Harry to sit on the chair in front of his desk.
"Good Afternoon, Professor."
"Afternoon, Harry. How are you feeling?"
"Pretty good now, sir."
"What's in your hand?" Dumbledore asked inquisitively, eyeing the folder in Harry's hand.
"A folder containing my research on Death Eaters, Voldemort's tactics in the last war, and a few other things that I hope could be of some help to us."
"You have researched?"
"Know thy enemy, Professor," Harry simply replied.
"Very well. But before we begin..." Dumbledore said and waved his wand. Immediately, the portraits in the room froze and the floo locked itself. Harry felt wards go up around the room.
Their conversation wouldn't go beyond the room now.
"So, you wished to know things," Dumbledore said. "Normally, I would be reluctant to share and discuss such things with someone as young as yourself because I firmly believe that children have no place in a war. But, considering you are going to be at the center of the war regardless, I am putting utmost confidence in you, and in this war, we will be partners having equal leverage. Making decisions together unlike I did before. Experience and youth together. It is something, I have never done before. So, I wish for you to realize the trust I am putting in you."
Harry nodded. "Thank you, sir, for the trust."
"Alright, what do you wish to know first?" Dumbledore asked.
"What have you started doing regarding the main war that will come?"
"As I said two days ago, I have recalled the member of the Phoenix, which, this time around, we both will head. You will be my co-captain of sorts as you say it these days. We are the only ones who have successfully fought Lord Voldemort to a standstill."
"And we are the only two people in Britain who have a phoenix. Fitting to be leaders of a group called the order of the phoenix, ain't it?" Harry quipped.
Dumbledore's lips quirked up. "So, yes. They have been recalled. I plan to recruit more as well. Currently, I have asked Arthur, Kingsley, and your godfather to spread the word to the people they would trust. I want your help with it as well. Especially for the Greengrass Family and Amelia. Amelia had refused to join the order last time around, saying that she was a part of the Hit witch force and... well, she is an abider of rules and won't join a vigilante militant organization. And well, Lord and Lady Greengrass have already contacted you."
"Fair enough. I will convince Amelia. But the question is, where will we be situated? Like our Head Quarters? We can't make use of Hogwarts or some public place. It should be a stronghold, close enough to all main places of Wizarding Britain: The Ministry, Diagon Alley, and St. Mungo's Hospital at least."
"I believe I have found the perfect place. The black townhouse of London." Dumbledore replied.
Harry choked. "You want to use that... you wish to use Grimmauld place for the Head Quarters?"
"Yes. I have asked Sirius a few hours ago, and might I add, after a similar reaction to yourself, he agreed to let the Order use the place."
"Professor, that building, has not been used in thirteen years. And, it is the property of the Blacks. I shudder to think what all we will find in there."
"We can deal with it, Harry. But think. The Black townhouse has excellent wards. It is standing since before the war against Grindelwald. And, I will add a Fidelius charm to it as well. That, combined with the wards that the house already has, the house will become be a fortress. And it has five floors and two levels of basement. A perfect place to set a Head Quarters."
"Fair enough. I will add a few as well then. Family wards and Parseltongue wards."
"All the better then, I feel," Dumbledore replied with a shrug.
"What else have you planned?"
"I am convinced Madame Maxime to go with Hagrid and act as an envoy for the Giants. They will set out soon after the school year ends and undertake the endeavor. On the other hand, Remus will be contacting his werewolf friends and spread the word to not join forces of Lord Voldemort."
"Hagrid and Madame Maxime... as in the headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy?" Harry asked skeptically.
"Yes, the very same."
Harry shook his head. "I won't even ask how you got her to act to your orders, sir. But, can you tell me how many useful members of the order we actually have till now?"
"What do you mean by useful, Harry? Everyone brings in their own set of expertise or some sort of importance to the cause."
"I meant useful in combat. When Voldemort attacks in open, we will need proper people to protect the civilians and capture or kill the death eaters. Not everyone can do it, you know?"
"All members of the order are fully qualified adult witches and wizards, Harry," Dumbledore stated.
"Really? I can bet my vault that Susan, Daphne, or Fleur could easily take on some of the members of your order, sir. And that is based on the members you had in the last war when it ended. Death Eaters are ruthless killers and many of your Order members won't know any combat spells beyond OWL level DADA syllabus. And even if they know more, knowing spells doesn't do it. You need to know how to use them, have speed and accuracy. And that doesn't come without practice. Tell me sir, how many members you have, who are not Aurors or hit wizards in service and practice some sort of dueling regularly?"
Dumbledore's silence was all Harry needed to know.
"So, sir, I propose that this time around, we organize practice sessions for everyone. So they can hold their own against Voldemort's forces."
Dumbledore mulled over it for a few minutes before agreeing. "Okay, in this first Order meeting, which will be held in a few days, you can bring this point up. If someone challenges you, well, I trust you to respond appropriately."
"Alright, sir. Now, do tell me your plan to draw out Voldemort once we are ready?"
"I showed you the prophecy which foretold Voldemort's fall at your hands, right? Well, now he has seen your power, he will want to know what the full prophecy is. You have scared him, Harry. Now, he will do everything in his power to know what the prophecy foretold. A copy of the prophecy, along with every other prophecy ever made, is placed in a place called the Hall of Prophecies in Department of Mysteries."
"So, you want to lure him there?"
"Correct. The prophecy can only be picked by the one it concerns. Now, as far as I know, Tom, he will try to lay a trap for you there. Only you can pick the prophecy up apart from him. Tom will put a guard to inform him as soon as you are seen in there. He would make such circumstances to compel you to go there for the prophecy and then he will strike along with his forces and try to finish you off once and for all. We will be laying a counter trap for him by moving his timetable around and leaving him with no other option than to confront you, or shall I say, us along with the order if he wants the prophecy." Dumbledore laid out his plan with a smile.
"And that will be the moment when ministry officials would witness Voldemort alive and kicking," Harry said, linking Dumbledore's previous plan to his latest one.
"Precisely," Dumbledore said cheerfully. "And then, we replace the minister with someone from the order and make some crucial orders pass after that, so the mistakes we made in the last war aren't repeated. This will limit Lord Voldemort vastly. We need to keep Lord Voldemort alive until we find and destroy all his Horcruxes. Five Horcruxes that could be anywhere in the whole of Europe."
"True. Any lead on the Horcruxes?"
"None so far. But, I have a list of places we should check for the Horcruxes. They all are wild guesses, even by my standards. It is likely that we will be unsuccessful in finding anything in those places."
"A chance is a chance. Even if we find one of those things there, the effort would be worth it." Harry replied.
"I agree."
"What has been Fudge up to? And I heard you gave a speech in the great hall concerning Voldemort's return yesterday at dinner?"
"So far, Cornelius is still planning. His drama will begin once the school year ends and when the word spreads... which will be in a week. And yes, I did give a speech about Lord Voldemort's return and the fact that you fought him. I am guessing that Miss Bones informed you of this?"
"No, Hermione did, repeating your words in vivid detail," Harry replied. "And thank you for asking them to leave me alone as well."
"Ah, Miss Granger. We will need to ensure her safety as well as she is a muggleborn and would be an easy target for Lord Voldemort. In the last war, he picked off relatives and close friends of those who opposed him as revenge."
"I have already informed her that I will be coming over to her place for dinner the very day we return to London. She has already written to her parents about it." Harry informed. "And I believe that the Weasleys will have good wards, given Bill is a curse-breaker for Gringotts."
"They are decent, but inadequate for someone who bears close relations with both of us. I will be insisting they move to Grimmauld place once the Fidelius there is laid there and the place is livable. Sirius has agreed to it as well."
"So, you wish to make it a Head Quarters as well as a safe house for the Order members. A wise decision. Who else will be staying there?"
"Sirius and you, if you both approve as I think it will be the safest for you to stay under the Fidelius Charm even if you can take care of yourself. In case, anyone else feels that their wards are inadequate, they too would be able to stay there until a better ward scheme is laid on their houses."
"Hmmm... but we need to lay the wards there. I believe it would be the most beneficial if you hold the Fidelius, Sirius holds the main wards as Lord Black, while I hold my own set of wards. So, a three-layer of security for maximum safety."
"Fair enough. You want me to be the secret keeper?"
"Yes. The secret will be safest with you. And, you will be more accessible than me whilst I will be at Hogwarts."
"Fair enough. So, I will be the secret keeper for the house. But, we need to go there first and start the warding and all. Also, make the place a bit decent, if its condition is as deplorable as Sirius and you are saying."
"It is worse, but okay. We can go on Friday evening once my classes are over. By then, I will be completely healed and all. So, I can help in the warding and stuff."
"I think you've been told to rest till Sunday at least," Dumbledore reminded
"Bah, Madame Pomfrey worries too much. And five days is more than enough for me to recover."
Dumbledore nodded before freezing and narrowing his eyes. "You've dabbled into ritualistic magic." He stated.
"I have," Harry replied, finding no reason to lie to the man. He already knew it or strongly suspected it.
"Then, I would warn you from dabbling too far into them. While beneficial, they are dangerous. Also, have a grip on what you sacrifice, Harry. Some rituals have a high price." Dumbledore warned. "I have done a few myself, some in recent years to keep my body up despite my age, but I was much older than you when I did my first ritual."
"I am aware, sir. The worse I have sacrificed till now is my blood. I have not dabbled into... the more complicated and demanding ones." Harry said with a grimace. Some rituals, while giving a hell of benefits to someone, had a high price. The more the benefits, the more was the sacrifice. They were one of the reasons, along with the Horcruxes, that Voldemort was a snake-human hybrid instead of a proper human.
"Then it is good. Don't go on that path, child. They are alluring. Be careful with them. Same with other, more esoteric forms of magic like blood magic and advanced combat magic... the so-called dark arts. While no magic in itself is corrupting, it is the sense of power that corrupts. I have gone through it but was sensible enough to pull back just in time before I became what Tom is today. I don't wish for you to go through the same."
"Yes, sir. I will be careful. Always am."
"Good. So, be ready on Friday evening. I will inform Sirius as well that we will be visiting Grimmauld Place on Friday, post Lunch."
"Alright sir, anything else?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Dumbledore said, before rummaging through a drawer in his desk and removing a leather bag. "Your winnings of the Triwizard tournament. Ten-thousand Galleons. Minister Fudge left it with me to give it to you. There should've been a proper presentation ceremony but, given the circumstances in which you returned..."
"Thank you, sir," Harry replied, accepting the bag. It had a nice expansion and lightweight charm on it.
"You are most welcome. And, I never congratulated you on winning. So, congratulations, my boy."
"Thank you once again, sir. If that's all, I will take my leave now. I have a few more preparations to make as well. If you want anything, send me a call via Fawkes. I will do the same with Hedwig."
"That is an excellent idea. I'll send for you if I remember anything important. Have a good day, Harry."
"Same to you, sir. Bye, Fawkes. Come, Hed." Harry said, and Hedwig flew to his shoulder before teleporting him away in a flash of flames to the chamber of secrets, where Salazar and Helga were waiting for him to know what had been discussed.