Cries from the Fire (Order Meeting)

[John William Sarison]

A White-headed Capuchin Monkey was seated on a table next to a rather large black cat. The two appeared to be the best of buddies and didn’t seem to have any problem with one or the other suddenly deciding to poke or prod out of the blue. The monkey was the first to do the poking, getting up from his seated position and walking on all fours over to the black cat laying not more than a foot away. The cat didn’t move, not even when the monkey pulled at her ear and attempted to bring her into a twisting hug, gripping only the one ear that he could reach of the cat. After failing to get the cat into the proper spot for a good hug, the monkey jumped off the table and darted over to a chair, where his buddy, a large black dog by the name of Padfoot, normally sat during their conversations. Padfoot hadn’t been around for a long while, missing in action was the label that Remus had placed on him as a joke a few times when his name had come up in conversations. But it was evident that the Marauder was indeed worried about his missing canine friend. Sticky Fingers, the monkey who was currently entertaining himself with the loose strings on Padfoot’s chair, was slightly depressed that his trickster pal wasn’t around to keep him from becoming bored. True, Padfoot had slipped into a depression since Harry’s death, but he still had the tendency to pull a good prank here and there, and because Snivilus wasn’t around to get the bad end of the pranks, it was normally Sticky Fingers who did. This didn’t bother him in the least bit, because it meant that Remus would let him prank Padfoot in return.


But those days seemed so long ago, and even Remus wasn’t into the spirit of being a Marauder anymore; he didn’t let the monkey get away with pranking Teddy now that Sirius wasn’t around to keep him in check. Again the monkey took off from his perch and pelted over to the doorway that led to the hall. The hall branched off to many different places in Headquarters, which was normally full of fussy folk or busy chatter. Now it was empty, very empty and silent, too silent for one each John Sarison. The monkey stood up on his hind legs and placed one hand on the doorframe, sticking his head out to look up and down the hall for any sign of the other Order Members who were suppose to be here. Teddy and Remus had been out somewhere, and were not to be expected back for a quite awhile now. Two seconds had passed from the time that Sticky Fingers had placed his hand on the doorframe till the moment that an aged man stood in his place. His hand was still on the doorframe, but his stance was no longer widespread like his monkey form. He was standing at attention, locking his eyes on the shapes of figures moving in the halls, heading in his direction. The black cat jumped off the table and landed with a soft thud on the floor. She then trotted over to John’s side and started rubbing against his leg.

“Not now Faery, I have work to do” he whispered lightly, his soft voice was laced with humor even though his face seemed to convey that he was annoyed with his current situation.

He hated the meetings these days, seeing as most of the Order just wanted to hang out at Headquarters and recruit, yet not really do much. Molly was one of them, as she didn’t think the kids should be exposed to what was going on outside. John sighed at the thought of an argument he had with her a few days ago. He had made the mistake of suggesting that the Order allow younger folk in who were at the school, because they in turn could give them a look inside at what was happening in there. Molly damn near bit his head off and told him quite plainly that they hadn’t let Harry and his friends in when they were young to use them as spies when trouble brewed there, they weren’t going to do it with other children now. In his mind, it didn’t make any sense; the kids were already in danger just going to the school, what harm could dropping a few notes off for him to pick up in the forest when they were out roaming do?

The figures got closer and closer, soon they would be there to start the meeting, about what was still to be announced, but at least they were having a meeting.

[Victorie Weasley]

Victorie Weasley made her way down the hall, her mind occupied with other thoughts. John had called a meeting of the Order, and so that was were she was headed. She sighed heavily. These meetings were always depressing. When she was younger she had wanted nothing more than to join the Order, but after hearing of her uncle Harry’s death, her enthusiasm had waned. Who wanted to join up only to be killed? Hearing of a family member’s death could really kill your joy for the job, she thought.

Still, she was by no means a coward, and as the Order members were being picked off left and right by the Death Eaters, she had followed in her parents’ footsteps and joined up. In Vikki’s eyes, though, what was there to fight for? Lord Voldemort had won. The only thing they were doing was slowing down the evitable. And then there was her sister, Dominique…

Why Bill and Fleur Weasley had let Domino join was beyond her. Yes, she was under age. Yes, she was supposed to be in school. No, she couldn’t go to school because Hogwarts was now a Dark Arts academy. Really, even though Domino was under age, the same rules didn’t apply anymore with underage witches and wizards doing magic all the time. I guess they just don’t care about her. Or can’t pick her out of the crowd, Vikki thought.

Walking into the room, she took a seat across from John and gave a small smile. “Hey John.” Closing her eyes briefly, she opened them again and asked, “Remind me again why we’re getting ourselves killed by the bucketfuls, with no real result to show for it?” That was the question of the day, and Victorie waited to see what he would say.

[John William Sarison]

John sighed and continued to stare out the door as he answered her hail. “Hello Victorie”.
Slowly he turned to face her while still keeping an ear toward the hall in case a fight broke out again over some trivial mistake that one member made or another disrespectful remark shot toward an MIA or dead member. Such things happened a lot around here lately and he seemed to be the one that had to settle the matters when Remus wasn’t there. “Oh I don’t know...perhaps some of us need the rush...Like Padfoot, others just need to feel useful, Remus is a good example of that...” he hung his head a little and walked over to the table and took a seat near the young woman.

“Or with those like me, we think we are doing something even if it looks like the case is hopeless.” John smiled at her weakly. “I’m an old man and all old men think we have all the answers and will do what we think is right...no matter the cost...Albus....well.” he didn’t even finish his thought aloud as he leaned forward in his chair to rest his elbows on the table and then place his face in his waiting hands; rubbing them across his eyes and forehead. “Not much to do right now is there? What with half the Order worrying about how young the recruits are or who spilled Molly’s soup out to brew Firewhiskey in the cauldron instead” John chuckled into his hands as he remembered the look on Remus’ face when he pulled the lid off the pot and noticed that the soup was off not only in color, but in scent as well. It took four Order members to deal with the mess, two carrying the pot about quickly and while the other two made sure that Molly didn’t see it happening. Sure they could have banished the brew, but that would have alerted Molly that something was up, seeing as she put a charm on it to prevent Padfoot from banishing her soup and replacing it with some odd mix of his own that no one except him would touch because it tasted too much like ash.

It had been hell to explain to her that someone had raised the fire under the soup and spoiled it so they had to throw it out. The excuse hadn’t flown with her and she spent the next two days grilling everyone about it. Shaking himself out of his musing, John leaned back in the chair and rolled his head back and forth a few times to loosen up the tight muscles in his neck. With his eyes still closed he rested his head finally on the back of the chair and addressed Victorie once more. “So, how are things with you Victorie? I have been out a lot I’m afraid and have been remiss in my duties as your shadow. ”

[Victorie Weasley]

Victorie nodded wearily. That seemed to be the theme of the day, people getting killed, hurt, or maimed just for ‘the rush’ as John put it. She was too young to be so world-weary, too young to be so jaded. At seventeen, she was just barely an adult, and already she had seen more death and destruction in three years than most people did in a lifetime. She had joined the Order at 14, so she supposed she really couldn’t bitch about Dominique too much.

He mentioned Albus Dumbledore and she shook her head bitterly. “But why, John? Surely Albus could have prevented his death…he was the most powerful wizard in all of Europe.” She was too young to really remember the older wizard, but Vikki remembered his twinkling eyes that always sparkled whenever he would ‘assist’ her into getting into mischief. After a while though, they had lost their twinkle even when he was relaxed.

John took a seat near her and Vikki managed a small smile for the older man. “Aw, knock it off. You’re not that old. You’re what, going on thirty?” she replied, teasing him. “I suppose you’re right, though. Mum’s over in France trying to negotiate and lead the Order over there. Meanwhile Dad still holds down a job at Gringotts and they refuse to let me be useful,” she grumbled.

Vikki laughed as she thought back. She had been one of the ones to distract her grandmother while John and the others had got rid of the firewhiskey. Of course, she had been the one to taste it first and discover what it was, to make sure that it wasn’t Sirius’ ‘special mix’ again. The smile faded though as she thought of all the casualties their side had taken, and the death of her uncle Harry.

Now that had hit the Order hard. Morale had dropped, causing a few people to fight the Death Eaters half-heartedly and get killed. She only wished she had been born before he died so she could have to got to know her uncle. Toying with the pink strands in her hair, Vikki addressed John as he asked her a question.

“Alright, all things considered. Could always be better. Mostly I worry about my sister Domino. I know I joined the Order a year younger than she is now, but it’s tough not being able to go to Hogwarts and receive a proper education, you know? Anyway, how are things with you?” Vikki smiled again and said, “You know perfectly well I don’t need a shadow, Sticky Fingers,” referring to his Animagus form.

[Hermione Jean Weasley]

Another meeting, Hermione wasn't so sure why they had them anymore. It seemed like the more that they had them that the more they fought within themselves. It never was a good thing, and she hoped that she was just imagining this. Molly argued with all of them as she didn't want to hurt the children, but Hermione wasn't sure that it was a all that bad idea. She, Ron, and Harry were doing dangerous things whether the Order had let them or not, and if the Order had let them in on all their secrets… Things would have been easier if they had known certain things. It would have prevented much, and the Order would have been able to keep tabs on them better than they did throughout the years in which they weren’t part of the Order. Oh, sure certain people might keep them in touch and say a few things that would help them along the way. Padfoot and Moony were always helpful to them. So, if they did let children in not only could it be useful to them, but it would make them able to keep a better eye on the children. It would be dangerous, but were they not all in danger anyways?

Hermione moved from the room she was staying in and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. She’d brushed it, but it was frizzier than normal today. It was getting on her nerves, but she wouldn’t say that out loud. She walked down the halls and listened. It was quiet today. It was nice that no one was yelling and it being echoed throughout the hallways and rooms. Hermione shuttered at the thought. She made her way through the hallways walking at a fast pace. The pace made her hair bounce up and down as if the wind was blowing through it. She was sure it looked ridiculous, but she didn’t honestly care at the moment. Theses people saw her at her worst, her best, and everything in between. She was around them everyday, and nothing was about to change. Ron didn’t like her going out without being under a polyjuice or a zillion transfiguration spells, so she generally stayed locked up in this place. Hermione was entering the doorway of the room when she heard Victorie telling someone about how Fleur was in France doing negotiations and Bill was still at Gringotts refusing to let her be useful.

Hermione examined the room, and she saw that John was the only other person in the room. She huffed a bit and she spoke, “Well, at least they let you out of this place without looking like…” She trailed off, and she shook her head and then brushed back a piece of her hair that was in her face. People were dying, and she wasn’t allowed to go out there and protect her family or to do anything else in her life. She was stuck here to only teach spells, come up with new potions, and only learn more about knowledge. She was stuck, and she knew it. Things were falling apart, and she hated it. She moved into the room a bit more, and then she sat near John and she gave him a small, half, smile. She spoke about her sister, and Hermione wondered what the question was. Victorie said that she was worried about her sister. Hermione looked to her and then she spoke, “I am not sure it is a bad thing that she joined. It means we can keep a better eye on her than if we just let her run free and pushed her out of everything we are doing, Victorie.”

Victorie talked about Sticky Fingers, John’s monkey form, and Hermione felt a bit of jealousy. She had always wanted to become an animagus, legally of course, but she had never gotten the chance. Being in hiding meant that one couldn’t do many things that she now wouldn’t be able to do. She looked to John with a bit of envy, but she said nothing. She wondered if he could teach her how. She didn’t care about the legality of it anymore. She just wanted to get out and to be free again. If she was in animal form, then it would be so much easier then maybe Ron wouldn’t hound her so much about staying hidden. Then maybe she could keep a better eye on Rose and Hugo. Maybe she could be useful then.

[Victorie Weasley]

Victorie looked up as her Aunt Hermione entered the room. She was young to be a aunt, true, but then a lot of people had been marrying young and having kids early in life. Just like she understood they had done in the first war. She managed a smiled for her aunt. “Aunt Hermione, good to see you. Where’s Uncle Ron? Normally he follows you around harping on about this or that,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “Like you’re not competent. Everyone knows you were the brightest witch to grace Hogwarts’ doors in a century.”

As she spoke of Hogwarts, she felt a sharp pang. She had been told tales about the school and her family’s adventures there before the war had been lost and the school had been turned into a Dark Arts academy. What was truly sad was Vikki knew from gathering intelligence that Draco Malfoy had a teenage son about her sister Domino’s age named Scorpius. No doubt he was a Death Eater by now, though. She had always thought everyone could be saved, but now she had to concede that maybe she had been wrong. And that hurt a lot…especially when she saw kids being recruited for the Dark side.

Vikki turned to John and spoke. “How long did it take you to become an Animagus, John?” Her eyes got a dreamy look to them. “That would be awesome…turning into an animal at will and sneaking off to spy on the Dark side.” She looked seriously at the older man, the dreamy look gone. “Do you think you could teach people here? Imagine…a whole army of Animagi.” Leaning back and closing her eyes, she spoke to Hermione. “I guess you’re right. I just don’t want to be burying her, that’s all.” Opening her eyes, she toyed with the pink strands of hair. “Hmm…what if we snuck out and did our own reconnaissance? Just the three of us…” she mused.

[John William Sarison]

John’s eyes opened a crack when he heard yet another person enter the room and tilted his head a little to see who it was. It was Hermione, another one of his favorite people, who just so happened to be a bookworm like him. He smiled a reply at the woman before looking over at Victorie with slightly wide eyes. Sure, they all knew Ron was a bit overprotective, but Victorie was showing some courage in saying that loud enough for him to hear, that is if he was following his wife. But after Hermione had taken a seat and started a conversation with the two of them, it was obvious that Ron wouldn’t be joining them at the moment. John snorted a little, looking down at his hands now and bringing his elbows to rest on the table so that his chin could be placed on his hands.

“Well, I started training at fourteen and didn’t manage a true transformation until seventeen. Didn’t get the hang of it really until....Around twenty. So it took me awhile, but each person is different, some are better at Transfiguration and will be able to do it faster and without as many difficulties as I had. While others are not cut out for the gift. Not just anybody can become one....And no, I couldn’t properly train someone, not like Minerva or Padfoot can, but I could give someone the basics to help them on the way.”.

He smiled slyly and winked at both witches as he leaned back to allow his cat a place on the table in front of him. John started scratching right behind the black cat’s ears, eliciting a loud purr from the small being. “We could go out and cause some mischief, yes, but then what kind of protector would I be seen as if I indulge in such activities, dragging you two along, eh? What would Molly say?” he said with a smirk, eyeing the two of them with a look that plainly said ‘I’d love to go out and make the Death Eater’s lives hell’. But yet there was also that shadowy look, the one that let them know he was still an elder and still didn’t think it wise for them to be out there without someone other than him to count on pulling them out of trouble

[Hermione Jean Weasley]

Hermione heard Victorie speak about her and Ron, and she was a bit shocked that the girl had said anything. It was true, and everyone knew that Ron followed her and was sure that she was hidden and safe. Merlin, on their last mission Ron had made sure that Hermione was under the polyjuice potion and had seven transfiguration spells put on her by Minerva herself. Everyone knew that and everyone saw it, but no one dared to make mention of it since it was a sensitive subject for Hermione. They all could see the frustrations as Ron made sure that she was indeed concealed and Molly was honestly no different, as she was a target being even more Muggle than most and being part of the Order. It just spelled disaster for being a target. She thought about how Ron followed her around most the time, and then she furrowed her brows together. He did follow her often. Where was he? She looked to see the time, but realized she saw no clock. She bit her lip not saying much more as she wondered where her husband and children could have run off to. It was a question she hoped she would have answered by their appearances into the room at some point.

Hermione was glad for the change of topic, and she did hope that maybe it was something she could learn to do one day. She leaned forwards as she listened to John talk about what he did know on the subject and how Sirius or Minerva would be better teachers. She wondered if they would teach her. She looked to John, and then she spoke, “I have always wanted to learn, but it seems that the rising has permanently put a stop to the idea. Minerva didn’t seem too fond of the idea to taking on the risks, but I bet….” She smirked a bit as she thought about Sirius and wondered if he would teach her. He was one for taking more risks. Much more than Minerva would. He was unregistered, so he would see no problem with her being unregistered, would he? Hermione didn’t say much on the subject, but by the look on her face it was clear that the wheels in her head were turning on the subject. She ran her hands over the table and then looked to John as he pet his cat.

What Victorie wanted to do was clear, and John’s message read clear to Hermione as soon as the wink came from his face. She was caged, and she felt like it, but was she willing to take the risk of just the three of them going out on their own? Sure, Hermione knew plenty of spells and ways to protect herself, and sure John was amazing at what he did. Hermione just wasn’t used to being allowed out in suck a small number. Plus, did they not have a meeting? Hermione scoffed a bit out loud when she heard him ask what Molly would say. She looked to John and spoke, “Do you really need to ask? She would have your and my head for letting ‘young Victorie’ out, and then she would have your head the second time for letting me out.” Hermione shook her head a bit and then smiled a bit as she thought of her Mother-in-Law. She was the only mother she had left now that her parents were gone and in hiding to never remember her. She felt her eyes swell with tears at the memory of them, but she blinked it back the tears and then looked to Victorie and asked, “Plus, do we not have a meeting that we are supposed to be attending? Our absences would be questioned.”

[Victorie Weasley]

Victorie looked around coolly, aware that she had made a faux pas by mentioning her uncle Ron and his...over-protectiveness...or her aunt Hermione. But as neither John nor her aunt said anything, she let it go and was grateful when John changed the subject. “Really? Fourteen? How’d you manage that? Was Hogwarts different back in those days that they allowed that, or did you sneak off on your own to train with a mentor?”

She gave a grin, anticipating what a beautiful animal her Animagus form would be. “Could you teach me, John? The basics, I mean? Because it would be wonderful to be able to turn into an animal like Sirius and slip out undetected,” she said in a whisper loud enough to only be heard by those in the room, since she didn’t want John to get into trouble with her grandma Weasley. Raising her voice back to normal, Victorie watched him pet his cat and thought more about becoming an Animagus, noting the thoughtful look on her aunt’s face.

Victorie shrugged. “Probably not a very good one, I’ll admit. But then, you have to look at it from this point of view as well…Grandma wants to keep everyone who’s related to her cooped up here and safe. Since that’s half the Order, that’s not going to work. I mean, for the underage witches and wizards like Domino, that’s fine. But for those of us seventeen or older…I mean, we’re adults and of age.” She looked upset. “I’m a grown woman, I don’t need protecting! I can take care of myself! And so can the rest of us,” she replied, wondering if Teddy felt cooped up as well.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, she had regained her composure after this little outburst. She looked at John and saw the sly look on his face before returning it with a look of her own that said the same thing. She looked over at her aunt and asked, “What? You bet what?” As her aunt spoke of her, Victorie rolled her eyes. “Yes yes, we all know I’m just ‘young Victorie’. The reckless young witch who needs constant surveillance,” she said bitterly.