The Simplest of Emotions

The Simplest of Emotions

By: Lance Walker

Chapter 5

The Reapers of Light

Only the dead have seen the end of war ~ Pluto

The skies over Camelotopolis belied that all was calm. Traffic in the broom lanes was a bit more congested than usual, but from the air, all seemed right with the city. The Dragon's Corporation building, with its ersatz dragon's head shaped summit, leered above the rest of the city like a towering colossus. The lights of the sleepless place shone into the sky, blotting out the stars as lingering chords of music from new rock to classical drifted through the air on the last vestiges of a cold, March wind. That was until you reached the center of the town and it became suddenly and violently apparent that all hell had broken loose.

This was the sight that greeted me as I flew my broom over the seemingly endless expanse of the capital city of England's entire wizarding world. Cho was flying next to me, and when I peered to my right I could see her tears sparkling in the lights shining up at us from the streets below. I knew that I too was crying; I had been since we had started our flight from Harry and Cho's home in London.

I had wished we could have used the much faster Tele-Floo system to get to Camelotopolis, but all lanes on the network in and out of the city were closed under the seal of the Department of Catastrophic Events.

Flying over the destroyed area of the city once, it was hard to think that anyone could survive the carnage. Three buildings were blown apart, the remaining stone pieces scattered the streets like enormous flakes of snow. The building that Cho and I were aiming for, however, was that of the Daily Prophet that had a large chunk of it blown off, but it was still standing.

We landed on the far side of the Knight Rider's barricades where a group of several hundred wizards were standing trying to catch a glimpse of the destruction further up the street. Cho and I pushed our way up to the front of the line. Standing there, eye level to the Camelotopolis night that was made day by the still burning fires in buildings around those that had been targeted by the Blaze, I couldn't fathom how one wizard could hate another enough that he or she would cause such destruction.

Averting my gaze, I peered towards Cho who was staring steadfastly into the distance hoping to catch a glimpse of Harry walking out of the dust filled air like some resurrected god. I looked as well, but he never came.

I was planning a way to get around the tight barricade and into the area where the destruction had actually occurred when I felt a hand on my back and a comforting voice spoke through the darkness. "Ron, I'll get you two clearance badges, and we'll go immediately to help out."

I turned and was relieved to see the face of Sirius Black staring out at me from under his brow. He was trying to hide the fact that he was near tears, but I could see the water glistening in his eyes, and I knew that he was feeling the weight of the fact that his godson could have died. I was feeling it, as was Cho. It was impossible not to note the blaring sign that hung directly in front of our mind's eye that resounded into the night the feelings that Harry had finally, after all of his trials, met his demise.

I nodded and Sirius bounded across the barricade, flashed his Ministry credentials, and was lead to the chief Auror of the Knight Riders. A wind picked up, blowing through the concrete canyon of the street. I shivered, pulling my cloak tighter around me as I turned to Cho. Her hair was billowing out behind her and she looked like an angel standing there. My respect for the woman's resilience was enormous.

Looking away, I kept my gaze on anything but the remains of the buildings at the end of the street. My eyes finally landed on a large wizarding screen, comparable to the Muggle TV, attached to the side of the Wizarding News Network building that rose above the buildings that flanked the road on which I was. The screen showed into the night pictures of the carnage 500 meters away. A ticker ran along the bottom of the screen that read over and over "Live coverage of the Blaze attack on Camelotopolis". I quickly turned away, but I knew that no matter where I looked, I would be reminded of the hell that was so close.

"Damn." I muttered. I was shocked actually, mainly because it had been the first words I'd spoken in almost an hour, but the obscenity felt good, and I probably would have continued with more words if Sirius bounding up to me hadn't stopped me.

I often thought that even in human form the man ran like a dog.

Why are you thinking such things at a time like this? My mind murmured to me.

Because it is better to think of these things then to think of what actually matters at the moment. I answered it.

You should be thinking of th--

If it is possible, I interrupted myself. I'm not arguing with you.

Shuddering for a moment, I put aside the thought in the back of my head that I had just had my first ever argument with myself. I began to think I was going crazy, but Sirius finally spoke up as he handed Cho and I clip on badges.

"These will give you full clearance. You'll be able to go wherever I go now." He motioned for us to follow, and Cho did. I took one last glance at the screen on the WNN building, and then fell in behind Sirius.

We walked for a moment, but were soon stopped by a bedecked Auror in the standard blue uniform of the Knight Riders.

"This is the Chief of the Knight Riders, Rand Milton." Sirius murmured just before the tall, imposing man got within hearing.

Rand had a name that was strong, imposing, and he was exactly like his name. When he spoke, I listened with rapt attention. "You are about to enter Ground Zero for the worst attack to hit the wizarding world since the Second Voldemort Wars." His voice boomed towards us, and I kept myself from flinching. "You should be prepared for the fact that there will be dead bodies, pieces of bodies, and all manor of hell when you get to those buildings. I can't stop you, and I know exactly why you are going to that zone of perdition, but I...just wanted to warn you."

I could tell that the man was mainly speaking to Cho. Not because she was a woman and the Chief thought her weaker, but because she was the one with so much staked on the outcome of Harry's survival here.

We all nodded and the Chief passed by, attending to other business.

Continuing down the street, I looked to my left and right, marking the scene as it gradually changed. It started out, near the blockade, as any normal street in the bustling city looked. Close houses, small and large shops, and business buildings flanked the cobblestone street. Lights burned in some windows, but some were blank squares.

As we walked, however, the mood changed from bright to somber to hellish. The peacefulness of the earlier buildings was replaced by what looked like a war zone. Chunks of stone flung from the explosion lay like beached whales on the cobblestone, and the air grew thicker with dust with every step. Soon, Sirius handed us medical masks to block out the smoke from our mouths and noses. We slipped them on, and the air suddenly looked ten times cleaner, and a hundred times fresher. The magic of the thin pieces of paper covered my hand in a dome of protection.

The street took a slight bend just before it reached Ground Zero. This had been the major reason we couldn't see the extent of the damage from the barricade, but as soon as we walked around that bend, we all stopped in our tracks immediately.

Cho's hand went to her mouth as she let out a brief whimper, and I distinctly heard Sirius mutter a "good God". I, myself, didn't react on the outside. I stared on in mute terror at the site before me. The horrors of the morning, at the Flyway, had been nothing compared to what faced me now.

The buildings that lined the street were abruptly interrupted by three gaping holes. Where three tall structures had been, there was now nothing but three piles of rubble, and a mound that had poured onto the street, forming into one unnatural hill in the middle of the thoroughfare.

Two of the destroyed buildings were on the right hand side of the road, while the third rested on the left. Next to its hole lay what was left of the Daily Prophet building.

Up until the moment I saw that building, my hope that Harry lived burned brightly within me, but as my eyes fell upon it, those hopes were blown upon by the now screaming March wind and almost extinguished.

The building still stood, but that was all it did. A gaping hole in the side next to where the destroyed building had stood showed the innards of the building. I could see papers strewn along the floor as small fires lit the interior. The roof was completely blown off, and all the windows were shattered, shards of glass glistened on the street and pile of rubble below.

It wasn't until several moments had passed that I realized I was alone. Looking around, I spied Cho and Sirius farther ahead, on the outskirts of the pile of rubble that was fed by the tributaries of the three destroyed buildings. Walking up next to them, I could hear that they weren't speaking, just surveying the scene in silence.

Workers were pouring in and out of the Daily Prophet building and combing over the three buildings. Already, a makeshift infirmary had been erected on the far side of the rubble where bodies of those who were found alive were being taken. Dead bodies, and there were far more of them than those lucky few who had escaped with their life, were next to the infirmary tent, covered in white sheets.

When my eyes fell upon them, I nearly lost the cool onto which I had held. I wanted to be strong for Cho, but it was hard to look upon the carnage and not want to crawl into a hole and die. Life couldn't get any worse than what was before me.

Finally, Sirius stepped up onto the pile of rubble and made his way over to the hole in the side of the Prophet building. Cho and I followed, watching our steps carefully on the shifting pile of steel, concrete, and glass. I tripped over an exceptionally large boulder, my hand shooting down to catch my fall and receiving a slash from a shard of glass in return. Lifting the bleeding palm to my face, I took out my wand and murmured a healing spell, tore a bit of my shirt off, and wrapped it around my hand.

Sirius was conversing in a low tone with one of the parawizards who was waiting for Ministry workers to pull out another survivor from the building. Cho and I looked on, hopefully praying to eye Harry on the stretcher that was being lifted out of the shadows of the building. As we watched however, I knew that it wasn't him. A blonde haired woman laid on the stretcher, moaning lightly as she held her left arm, her left hand was gone.

That was when Cho finally broke down. She turned, pushing her head into my chest. I wrapped my arms around her and held her, allowing her to cry. We stood like this for what could have been eternity, but we broke apart when I was approached by one of the Ministry workers.

"Ron Weasley." It was a statement, of course the man knew who I was. "Sirius told us that you wanted to help with the search effort. If you'd like to join us, this next team is about to head in."

I saw the group of five Ministry workers standing outside the entrance to the building. I nodded and spoke to Cho. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon. Sirius is going to stay here with you."

She looked up at me, her eyes sparkling, and then said, "All right."

We held each other's gaze for a moment, then I ran over to the workers, and we entered into the remains of the Daily Prophet headquarters. Walking through the gaping hole in the side of the building was like going from day to night. The interior of the three story building was lit only by fires that lit up as they were sparked by flying embers, and quickly put out as the few scrapes of paper that was their life blood ran out, and they disappeared in a flash of smoke. This light was flickering at best, and non-existant most times.

Taking out my wand, I murmured "Lumos" and was satisfied to see a bright flame appear at the tip of my wand and shine like a Muggle flashlight ahead of me into the murky darkness. Shining through the floating motes of dust, my light looked as if it were flashing through a winter snowstorm.

I followed in the wake of the five Ministry workers ahead of me, and soon found myself at what had been the entrance hall to the building. The desk Blanch had been sitting at was there, as was Blanch. The five workers rushed over to her where she laid prone on the floor, checked her pulse, and let out a chain of expletives at finding yet another dead body.

I walked up to her, staring at her eyes that were open and blankly looking towards the blasted away hole that was the ceiling. I reached down and put my hand on her eyes, and closed her lids. I turned away, damning any and all wizards involved in this travesty. The woman had been full of life earlier in the day, but now, as night had fallen, so had it fallen on that life. The night had extinguished it, and I couldn't help but feel like the night may possibly be encroaching upon the world, seeking to extinguish it all.

I watched as the five workers lifted Blanch's body onto a stretcher gingerly and carry her back the way we came. One of them stopped in front of me, sighed, and then spoke. "You coming out with us, Mr. Weasley?"

Shaking my head, I let the man know that there was now way in hell I was leaving until I had found Harry. He nodded, seeing the look of determination in my eye, and brushed past me to join his fellows.

My feet crunched on glass and stone as I made my way to the door that led to the main room of the building. When I pushed it open, it hanging on only one hinge, I stood for a moment to survey the scene. A score of workers were walking around, getting the wounded onto stretchers and carrying them out of the building. There were moans and cries from around the large room, and I knew that the injured and dying were many.

I finally pushed my legs into action and walked across the room and into the corridor that lead to Harry's office. Ducking under fallen ceiling beams and stepping over the ever-present rubble, I finally made my way to the double doors that were the entrance to the office. Before I pushed on open, however, I noticed that the plaque on the wall was gone. Stopping for a moment, I scanned the ground, saw the glint of gold slightly tarnished by dust, and bent to pick it up. The metal of the plaque met my fingertips and I grasped it, pulling it up and blowing the dust off.

Blinking my eyes, I rubbed the remainder of dirt off of the shiny surface and read the inscription. It was the same as it had been earlier, and for some reason that gave me a bit of my hope back. Not all things in the world had changed. Perhaps I would open those doors and find Harry sitting there with nothing more than a broken leg and agitated insolence at my late coming to his rescue.

Breathing deeply, I put my hand up to the mahogany door and gave it a push. It resisted for a moment, but then swung open. My vision was dashed. The office was in utter shambles. Large chunks of rubble had crashed through the ceiling that was now pocketed with holes that allowed beams of moonlight to lance in to light up circles on the ground. I made my way silently in, hopping against hope that Harry wasn't anywhere near the room.

Stepping over some exceptionally large boulders of rubble, I made my way over to the wall that had held Harry's mementos. The wall was mostly empty; its contents had been thrown to the ground during the explosion. The large case that had held Voldemort's wand was hanging at a tilt against the wall. Its door was open and the contents scattered across the floor. Eyeing the mahogany handle of the wand, I bent down, grabbed it, and put it in my robe pocket quickly. For some reason I felt that if my hands touched the wand for too long, my fingers might burn off.

Looking around more, I finally spied the only other treasure I cared to save. The picture of the three of us after Harry's first trial was, miraculously, still sitting on his desk. The glass had broken, as if something had hit it, but all else was fine. I grabbed it, took the picture out of the frame, and put it in a pocket on the other side of my cloak.

Taking one last glance around the room, I hurriedly made my exit and headed back outside. Cho was standing where I had left her, and I almost called out to her, but I noticed that she was staring up at something in the distance. Following her gaze, my eyes fell upon the large wizard screen on the side of the WNN building. It captured my gaze and held it there like a lover's kiss, but not with romance...with pure terror.

The ticker along the bottom of the screen had changed its message; it now read "Live declaration from the second-in-command of the Reapers of Light, Jacques LeClair." The man, a dark haired Frenchman with a mustache, was speaking in French. I knew a bit myself and was translating to Cho.

"He says...the recent attack on...Camelotopolis...is a declaration of..." I paused, analyzing the word I had just heard. La guerre. Shaking my head I continued. "...Declaration of war. The Reapers of Light, Death Eaters, Fallen Angels, and Bloodied Scimitar have banded together to oppose the...Mudblood and Muggle loving wizarding governments in the world." I stopped, listening to more of the speech. "The Confederation of Wizards will be...destroyed...for its support of the Order and the Bright...Shiner during the Second Voldemort...War. There will be...no break in the battles. We will choose our time...and place of attack. You will have but to clean up our messes...and count your dead. Remember this always...you brought this upon yourselves." At that, the picture went blank, and an anchor for the WNN came on, asking if the feed had been damaged or cut.

I turned my attention away to Cho, whose face had gone pale. She finally looked at me, the ultimate question in her eye. "I didn't find him, Cho...dead or alive."

******

We walked into the silent, dark house. Glancing at my watch I was amazed that it was only March 2^nd...the day after my birthday. In 24 hours time I had faced the gamut of trials. I received a letter from my supposedly dead girlfriend; learned that the world is not safe from the evil wizards and witches in the world; and was dealt the card that, once again, I could be using the only best friend I had left.

I didn't realize how tired I was until I saw Cho climbing the stairs to her upstairs room. I yawned deeply and began to head towards the couch. At that moment, a cry of elation met my ears. Running up the stairs three at a time, I made my way into Harry and Cho's bedroom. The moment I stepped inside, tears began to flow from my eyes...tears of joy.

Sitting on the bed was Harry. Battered, and a bit bruised, he was a little worse for the wear. His face was cut, his arm looked as if it had been bleeding, his best cloak stained with blood, and he had one leg up on the bed, a packet of ice on his ankle. Cho was wrapped around him, holding him as if there was no tomorrow.

"Hey, Ron. Blimey you look about like a battered dragon." Harry commented with a smile.

I pointedly looked him over and said, "Like you're one to talk." We shared a small dose of laughter.

Looking once again at my clock I decided that I should get what little sleep I could before the morning. I was already sure that tomorrow would be a big day, possibly bigger than today, because it would be the day the world learned that it was no longer safe as it had thought. I turned to leave, but looking back one last time before I exited the room to say goodnight I stopped. Cho and Harry were sharing a very intimate look, and I decided not to interrupt.

I closed the door on my way out, and at that moment I realized that those two weren't going to be getting much sleep.

Walking down the hall, I realized that I had a lot for which to be thankful. Harry was all right, and I was sure I'd find out how he escaped with his life when I woke much later in the morning after Cho "healed" his wounds. I was in general good health, and of course I was back in the world, however horrid it might be.

I plopped down onto the bed in the spare bedroom, letting its mattress envelope me. I began to imagine what my life could be like if all my dreams, at that moment, would come true. Hermione would be there, smiling and laughing. There would be no turmoil in the world, and I would be free of all my constraints that so held me at the moment.

My hand made it's way into my pocket where my fingertips brushed against something. Grabbing it, I pulled it out, and was surprised to see the parchment that had been crumpled and placed there shortly after the meeting with Charlotte.

Unfolding it from its crumpled mass, I read over the short verse once again, and realized that my dreams were far from reality. Whatever this conundrum was, it couldn't be solved until the "Ides" anyways, so why was I in such an urge to know the answer immediately?

Because you are thinking what it could possibly mean, and hoping you are right.

Shaking my head, I decided not to get in the second argument with myself in one day. I was facing some extremely large trials, but I didn't want insanity on top of it. Removing my cloak and Muggle clothes, I climbed under the covers. I looked up at the ceiling and allowed all my feelings and emotions to mull around inside my head. I had all the time in the world at that moment to think things over, and I might as well start some time.

Before I knew it, however, my eyes were drifting closed, and I fell into a deep, dream filled sleep.

Standing in a desolate field, I knew that all was not right with the world. Turning around, I spied the same dead blankness in all directions. A wind picked up, stirring the gray remains of the dead sand below my feet, I closed my eyes against the stinging missiles and shouted into the empty vastness "WHERE AM I!?"

The echo of my voice rang out for miles, but I knew that no one heard me. No one. Not Harry, Not Hermione...no one. I was alone.

Turning my head at the sound of something I spied a single, black with a scarlet tip feather floating on the wind. Reaching out, I grabbed it, but let it fly out of my grasp immediately as it scorched my hand.

It landed on the ground in front of me and a flash like lightning lit the sky. When my eyes refocused, a beautiful woman with black with scarlet tip wings was standing before me in a simple dress of crimson.

I knew immediately that she was evil, even though my attraction to her was immense.

She immediately transformed into a child, but only for a moment so I couldn't see what her features were. Her final transformation was that of Voldemort.

His frail yet immensely strong hands reached out to me, and I knew that his touch meant death. Turning, I ran and ran through the desolate, sand swept blankness.

After a million miles or more, I turned and realized I wasn't being followed. I stopped and started to gather my breath, but suddenly knew I didn't need to, I was perfectly refreshed. At that moment, the ground beneath me ripped open and I fell into darkness darker than any shade of sable. The hole I had fallen through become nothing more than a small pinprick of light in the distance, and I prayed to return there and face the dangers of Voldemort...but I continued to fall.

Shaking myself awake, I shuddered at the dream. When I sat up, a calm wind from the ceiling fan washed over my upper chest, which was dotted with sweat. I got out of bed, pulling on my jeans and shirt, I walked out of the room, looked at my clock, and was glad that it was now 9:00 a.m. on March the third. The day before was over, but I had no idea what today would bring...and what of the dream that haunted me?

Making my way downstairs, I soon realized that I was the only one still awake, so I filled the coffee pot full of water and put it on the stove. I was definitely more of a coffee person, being an enormous patron of Starbucks. Americanization had even reached me in my hermitage.

Sitting back, I waited for the familiar whistle of the kettle, and just let my thoughts fly. I didn't latch on to any one thing, I just let them drift, allowing myself some time away from actual thinking. My time was short, however, as minutes latter the kettle was whistling, and I tended to the other steps of making coffee as Cho walked in the kitchen.

The woman amazed me to no end. Even after her day and night, she could still walk into a room with a silk kimono like robe, her hair in a ponytail, and still look amazing. I only knew one other person with that quality, Ginny, and she was a professional model.

A few moments after Cho, Harry entered, pulling a shirt on over his bare chest. Cho greeted him with a smile and a kiss.

"That coffee smells wonderful, Ron." Cho commented, being a coffee person like myself.

Harry stuck up his nose as he put a small pan of water on the stove. "I hate the stuff. Give me some good English or green tea any day." His smile looked as if it were carved on to his face, but it surprised me as it grew with every second and I knew he was thinking of the night before with Cho.

I didn't want to press him for information, but I sure as heck wanted to know what had happened and how he had managed to get home before us after that attack. After several agonizing minutes, he sat down with his steaming cup of tea in hand and began to speak. I just knew he was going to divulge the information I wanted.

"So, we are heading to the Ministry today. Charlotte spent the whole night with the Minister making plans and what not, and I have an appointment to discuss plans for counter strikes against the terrorists. I think we might actually get our Ministry Army this time." Harry was definitely avoiding what I wanted to know. Was he frightened of something?

Cho smiled, but I spoke. "Yes...and after the stuff that happened yesterday, my support is now in its favor. I am truly amazed at the sheer horrors one wizard can place on another."

Cho nodded. "People don't realize that we are all the same, even if we look different or have different blood."

We sat in silence, sipping our coffee or tea, and I burned inside for answers to questions that had kept me up until that dream had overtaken me. Once again, thoughts of the dream entered my mind and kept me so occupied I missed Harry's speech about what had happened the night before.

I finally looked up from my reverie and he was staring at me as if waiting for an answer. "What?"

Harry groaned. "Don't tell me you weren't listening? I have to recount all of this again..."

I sighed inwardly. I had waited all morning to find out, and now I'd missed it...all because of that dream. "Just give me the summary."

He scooted forward in his chair, taking another sip of his tea, and then began. "Well, just before the attack, I got an owl from Char saying that the Minister wanted to meet with me. I was out of the building when the three Blazes went off, so the few injuries I received were from flying debris. My first instinct was to run and help, but if I didn't get to the Minister and begin to plan things...these attacks would become less and less preventable. When I went to Apparate, however, I realized I was a bit more injured than I had originally thought. Actually, it wasn't until after I passed out and awoke under the care of Emergency Medical Wizards that I knew something wasn't right. I had been hit in the head by a chunk of rock, lost a lot of blood, and had a concussion. The EMWs had patched up my head by the time I came around, and I immediately sent them to help others more in need of help, so the rest of my injuries had to wait until Cho could see to them, so I Apparated home the moment I felt my strength ebbing back. I sent an owl to the Minister and told him to reschedule for today because there was no way I would be able to Apparate back to Camelotopolis till my injuries were healed. Is that summarized enough?"

I nodded, but from the pain in his eyes, I had no doubt that Harry had done some heroics and seen many horrors. I was about to say something, anything, but he continued.

"We should really be leaving in an hour or so. I told the Minister 11:00, and you know how he hates people who are late."

I smiled, as I knew all too well. I had spent my childhood at Hogwarts praying I wouldn't be late to the Minister's class. "Of course. Well, I'm going to get showered and dressed...don't want to make the Minister angry."

******

Harry, Cho, and I walked through the immense arboretum of the Ministry of Magic right at 11:00. The fountain at the center was shooting its multiple streams of water, leaving the calming sound of flowing water washing around every patron of the Ministry.

We walked up to the line of elevators on the far wall, and stepped in the first available one. I had no idea what floor the Minister's offices were on, but Harry immediately reached out and hit one of the several buttons on the control panel. The strangely empty elevator began to go deeper into the ground.

The entire complex of the Ministry was built underground, which was easy enough to hide from Muggles, who rarely traveled below ground for more than the Subway. We came quickly to a stop, and the doors opened to reveal a lavish hallway, paneled with cherry wood.

We walked the full length of the hallway, which ended at a pair of tall doors, one made of ivory, the other of ebony. An inscription rested at the top, over the two doors, but Harry ushered us in before I could read it.

As the doors silently closed behind us, I was amazed to find myself in a large reception room. Two haggard looking wizards, and one perky witch sat in large, leather chairs along one wall, apparently waiting to see the Minister.

A large reception desk, housing two women, rested along the opposite wall, next to another set of double doors like the one we'd entered through. Harry walked up to them, and immediately addressed one of the two, a tall, raven-haired woman who I recognized from somewhere, but I couldn't exactly place her face with a name.

Harry provided me with the connection when he spoke. "Blaise Zabini! Long time no see. Is the Minister ready for us?" Harry gave her a wink, but Blaise, with her deep blue eyes glowing, just smiled.

Harry continued, intentionally flirting. I glanced at Cho, but she wasn't bothered...apparently she was used to Harry using his fame and good looks to get favours. "You know I had an appointment today...can't you just usher us through?"

Blaise looked him in the eye and said, "I don't believe that even the great Harry Potter has the right to just walk in and see the Minister on his own whim. Your appointment was promptly 11:00...it's going on ten after now. If you would kindly take a seat next to the other wizards who decided to be on time, I'm sure the Minister will see you shortly." A mischievous smile followed, and Blaise turned to the other woman and ignored all further advances from Harry.

I stared for a moment, realizing that I recognized the other woman as well. She had stunning brown hair, and deep brown eyes. From the looks of her, she was a few years younger than Blaise, and thus younger than Harry, Cho, and I.

Harry turned around with a huff and a "You old prune" and immediately slumped into one of the chairs next to one of the worn looking wizards. Blaise turned just as he sat and said, "Yes, and you're a dried plum, yourself, Potter." Then, as she saw Cho walking over to sit she said, "Now you two can go on and see the Minister...I won't hold Potter's tactlessness against you, I'm sure you both meant to be on time."

Cho laughed, gave Blaise a wink, and immediately walked through the two doors next to the desk. I looked uncertainly towards the two women, gave Harry an apologetic look, and then followed in Cho's wake.

Just as I reached the door, the brown-headed woman turned to Blaise and said, "I think you've had your fun, Zabini. Go and let Potter through...his business is important after all."

Blaise laughed. "Fine, Orlah...you win. Harry, sorry, I was just having a little fun. Heaven knows we need enough of that in today's times. Go on through with Ron." I must've looked shocked, because Blaise turned to me and said, "Yes of course I remembered you, Ron...I always had a slight crush on you in high school."

I smiled and Blaise laughed. Harry's hand met my back and lightly pushed me on towards the doors. His mouth came to my ear and said, "Blaise is the only girl not to hold the original Slytherin spirit...I'm not so sure about that Orlah Quirke." I couldn't ask anything of it as the doors opened before me and I immediately found myself inside the large, yet humble offices of the Minister of Magic.

Harry walked up and immediately took a seat in a leather chair next to Cho in front of the immense desk at which the Minister was sitting. I took the third and final seat, and was immediately granted the Minister's attention.

"Well, Ron Weasley...it is a pleasure to see you after all these years. Sorry I could not attend your party. I did, however, hear that it was a grand affair." I sat back in my chair and exhaled a long held breath. The Minister laughed, "Oh, did you think I'd still be the same sniveling ass I was as your teacher?" We all shared a good laugh.

"No, Pro--Minister Snape. I was...I thought...It's just been a long time." I still couldn't shake my amazement.

"That it has, Weasley...that it has." Snape gave me an almost affectionate smile, and then turned to Harry. I couldn't believe my eyes. Aside from his greasy hair, Snape looked nothing like he had during my school days. He was strong, healthy, and the sneer that had seemed a permanent landmark on his face was gone. His eyes glistened with new hope for the future...and even a little happiness.

I was lost in the reverie, but when I realized that I might be missing something important, I began to pay attention to Snape's words, which all lacked the snide tone they had during school. "Charlotte had some good plans. I remember her days as a student...she was by far the brightest in her class, and only..." he paused and glanced at me, "Mrs. Granger was more intelligent then her."

Harry nodded, "Did she give you any specifics?"

Snape nodded, "Yes, but most of her information relies on the most recent Prophecy from the Oracle. I don't know how she learned about the latest Cries, but she definitely hinged many of her plans on whatever the Oracle knows. She said she was planning to talk to you herself."

Harry, seemingly forgetting his plans to bring up the Ministry Army, questioned. "The Oracle has been receiving word from Gaea? That's the first time in over three years."

Snape nodded. "She's been silent for a while, but the Oracle in Ganymede has definitely been outspoken the last few days. Since the attack on the Flyway, the Voice has made over one hundred Cries to the Olympians."

Harry looked thoughtful. "So, Gaea even recognizes the troubles."

"Yes, the Oracle is the Voice of Gaea...of Earth. If it knows of the problems facing us, then our troubles are truly cataclysmic. We are fighting an unseen evil here that I am afraid will not manifest its true intentions until we are most unready for it to appear." Snape explained, his voice grave, his eyes losing their glimmer.

Cho spoke up. "So, we should visit the Oracle? You called us here to tell us...so it must have something to do with us, or Harry at least."

Snape smiled. "Yes, the Oracle has mentioned Harry, by title, if not by name. Every prophecy since the Flyway has contained the words Bright Shiner, which is commonly known to be you, Harry; Seraph, Trinity, and Gaea's Scar. However, the Olympians and their stupid rules forbid any outsiders from visiting the Oracle and hearing the full extent of the prophecies it tells for two months after it Cries to them."

"TWO MONTHS!?" Harry shouted. "By then it could be too late!"

Snape held up a hand. "Yes, it could be. However, this method has never caused major harm before...we just pray that Gaea's Eye travels further into the future than two months time. Hopefully we'll still have a heads up on whatever she is Seeing."

Harry stood, "And if it isn't!? What then? Will more innocents have to die because of some god damned council and their archaic ways? As far as that's concerned, we could all be dead. Gaea is not a force to be controlled by some wizardly council who thinks they are the ancient Olympian wizards who founded Ganymede on Mt. Olympus those eras ago. They think they are the great Zeus, who rivaled Merlin for power? They are just people, Severus...and I trust that you will find a way for me to hear that prophecy as soon as possible. If that is all...good day."

With that, Harry stormed out of the office, slamming the tall doors behind him. Cho turned to Severus, who had a look of tolerance on his face. "He'll calm down...he's just seen so much horror. Can you see what you can do?"

Snape nodded. "The Olympians are powerful allies of ours...I will do everything in my power, but I will not offend them. Better knowing late, then losing what few trusted friends we have in these dark times."

Cho nodded, stood, and followed after Harry quickly. I was left alone with Severus, who buried his face in his hands. His voice, now sounding weary, came out from behind his hands. "I've seen far too much horror myself." He then looked at me, and smiled as if he had just seen me for the first time. "Weasley, do watch over Potter. He is a bit headstrong, but he means well. You should know that I have a feeling that this prophecy business will be dragging Harry deeper into the twisted spiral of the world's events...and I believe with all my heart that you were also spoken of in one of the Cries." My puzzling gaze showed that I didn't know much more about the Oracle than I had heard in the conversation preceding this one. "The Cries are when the Oracle receives a prophecy from Gaea, the soul of Earth, and shares it with the Olympians through a mind link with which the Olympians are born. There are 12 in all, when one dies, another always appears out of the streets of Ganymede, the city atop Mt. Olympus that they govern, to take his or her place. The trouble is, they don't all receive the same Cry at the same time...which is why it often takes two months to sort out prophecies that will be truth, and those that can be affected by change."

I was reeling. All this information was new, as none of it had been taught to me at Hogwarts. "And you think that one of these...Cries...mentioned me?"

Severus nodded. "Harry is the Bright Shiner. He was mentioned, but alongside him, two other were named, and they were to form a Trinity. I think you are represented as the Hermit Mage."

I nodded. "It makes sense that you would think that was me...since I have ties with Harry." I paused, "Who was the third? Do you think it could be Cho?"

Snape's eyes lowered, and a single tear fell from his eye. "I don't think it possibly can be. The title given to the third spoke of the Trinity was...the Battered Princess."

My eyes unfocused for a moment. "You mean...do you think it was prophesying abo--"

Snape held up a hand in warning. "Don't think to hard on it, Ron. I've heard about your mysterious letters, and I tell you that it is of all importance that you do not get your hopes up. If it is possible that someone could survive what happened to...Hermione...then I think there is a chance, but we cannot, in these times, take the chance to hope. As a member of the Trinity, as far as I can tell and am concerned, it is your duty to watch over Harry. When April comes, and you hear the prophecy first hand...then you can decide for yourself the weight it bears. Now...I hate to rush you off, but I have much business to attend to yet today."

He looked down to his desk and a pile of papers there. I had another question to ask of him, but I remembered all to well the penalty for disturbing Professor Snape when he required silence; would Minister Snape be all that different? "Uh...Severus?" The first name rolled of my tongue awkwardly. It was the first time I had used the personal declaration with a man old enough to be my father.

Snape looked up, but instead of annoyance, he expressed kindness. "Yes, Mr. Weasley?"

"I have just one more question." I paused, collecting my thoughts about the day before. "The terrowizard organizations of the world have demanded a price from the Ministry...is it likely that you will pay it?"

Severus peered into my eyes with alarm. "Do you honestly think that we would give up the lives of you and Harry against your will? I will fight to the end against terror...there will be no negotiation." Some of the old fire that I recognized from my Hogwarts days flew into his eyes, and I would have hated to be the leader of the Reapers, or any other organization for that matter. "Besides, we couldn't meet the price anyway...we don't know where Hermione, or her body, are."

I nodded, but was too chocked up to think. Every mention of Hermione made things a little harder. Looking back on the last couple days, I had come from being childlike in ways, manners, and actions, all the way to forceful adulthood. My birthday seemed so long ago, and it felt as if a million birthdays had passed me by since. However, if all the signs were true, and all the prophecies, or Cries, or whatever were coming in to play, it was possible that things weren't as they seemed. Appearances are almost always deceptive, and in this case, I was beginning to believe that truth above all others.

Snape questioned if I had any more things that needed answer. I told him no and he stood, and led me to the door. I thanked him for his time, and, contrary to his orders against it...I began, yet again, to hope.

******

Harry and Cho were waiting in the reception area for me. He looked angry, she looked hurt, and the general atmosphere of the place was no better than that of a tornado-spawning storm.

"Sorry it took so long, he had some final stuff to tell me." I apologized as we walked through the set of doors into the hallway.

I couldn't help but remember all the things that failed to be discussed during the meeting with the minister. Mainly, why hadn't Harry even mentioned the "declaration of war" from the Reapers of Light, and every other terrorist organization in the world? It seemed as if he didn't think it much consequence...but I doubted whether or not the Department of Counter Terrorism could stand against the amassed weight of all the evil in the world, even with Harry at it's helm.

I also couldn't help but feel as if I had missed out on the actual meeting, but then I knew that there was no way Harry could have met with Snape when I wasn't around. Unless...unless last night, when I thought Cho and Harry were entertaining one another, something had happened. I shook my head silently as the elevator doors opened before me.

We got in, Harry pushed the button marked "Arboretum", and the elevator began to rise. Suddenly he reached out and pushed a red button that read, "STOP". "Okay, since Severus is powerless to do anything about the Prophecy, and I suppose we are, too, we must prepare as best we can without Gaea's help."

Cho looked at him. "You mean...you can't possibly?"

Harry smiled, a smile that shocked me as it was so completely opposite that of the countenance he had worn seconds before. "Yes...I think it's time the Order was reawakened. I think it's high time we contacted the 'old crowd'...

...to be continued in Chapter 6

The Order of the Dragon

"the Quick and the Dead"

...a new Order is formed.

...the Ides of March come to pass.

...the past forces its reign on the present.

...a whisper of an old evil.

...a power untold.

...a prophecy fulfilled.

The Simplest of Emotions

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