474A/N: This will not be quick. It is not finished, but I need y'all to give me a kick up the backside to get on with it. I have a lot of it down but not all of it. And it's big, y'all. Huge. So. Please bear with me while we meander through it. Plus, I just started a new job and then I got sick and now I'm totally lost as to how anyone has any time for anything other than work. So we're going to eke out some time and try this. The timeline is a bit funky, just roll with it.
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"What have you got there?" Ron asked curiously as she broke the seal on a scroll she'd just received from a Ministry Owl.
"Something that will negate the use of extendable ears," she grinned, reading through the letter. Her heart was in her mouth as she showed Harry and watched his eyes light up.
"How -"
"I had my parents sign it," she shrugged, being deliberately vague. She'd actually made them sign it last-minute, while they were still in the haze after she'd altered their memories two weeks before they were summoned to Grimmauld Place and sent them packing. After all that nearly happened, and everything that had happened at the end of last term, she'd had to act. She bit her lip instead of saying all this while Ron frowned.
"What does it mean?"
"Emancipation," she grinned. "I am now a legal adult in the Wizarding World. Which I know seems pointless cos I'll be seventeen in a month or so, but I figure if I can get in on it now, we'll have a better chance of knowing everything before we go back to school."
"What?!"
"Well," she grinned at Harry, who looked like he'd already guessed her next move. "I'm going to join the Order of the Phoenix."
Ron's grumbling had been loud and long but Hermione hadn't paid much attention. She'd spent most of the previous term considering her options and now she'd decided, she just ignored him and got down to the task of who to approach to join. It wasn't hard to see that it was always better to go to the very top. Dumbledore hadn't been to a meeting for a while and from the meetings they had observed so far without him, it seemed that it was mostly Sirius and Remus talking sense while Molly nitpicked. Honestly, Hermione knew the woman was under a lot of strain but they had all seen a very different side of Molly since she'd moved to Grimmauld Place and Hermione really didn't like it. For now, though, Molly was the least of her troubles.
Her break came a few days later as Sirius mentioned to Harry that they were expecting a full meeting the following evening. They'd been watching long enough to know that most of the Order Members arrived after their shifts ended at the Ministry. She knew that Snape would arrive minutes before the meeting was due to start, but as she settled upon a candidate to approach, she realised that this member had always been a wild card.
Minerva McGonagall; Head of House, Deputy Headmistress and Transfiguration professor, was always on time but very rarely expected. Hermione understood that although she had not technically been part of the original Order of the Phoenix, she seemed to be at most of the significant meetings. It was obvious that even if she was not an official member, she was very much a part of the resistance. Especially after the whole Umbridge thing at the end of the last school year.
Hermione reasoned with herself that Professor McGonagall would be the only one that would take her seriously and actually do the right thing despite her personal feelings. So, on the night of the meeting, Hermione sat in the corner of the library, facing the door, and waited. She had her papers in hand and watched as members of the Order arrived and moved into the kitchen. Kingsley Shacklebolt arrived first, with Tonks and Moody arriving a little after. It was likely they had all finished their duties at the Ministry at the same time. She watched from the dark as Sirius hugged Remus hello when he arrived and then smiled as they competed against each other to send as many spells at the portrait of Mrs Black as they could in a minute. Arthur came in, followed shortly after by Bill and then Mundungus Fletcher showed up, bringing a woman she knew of, but had never met.
Just as she was about to give up hope, she heard Sirius's jovial cry over his mother's screams.
"Give over, Sirius," Minerva McGonagall's crisp accent chuckled. "Here, make yourself useful."
Hermione stood and took a deep breath while she waited by the door. Sirius looked at her sideways as he hung up the Professor's cloak, but didn't comment. Professor McGonagall, however, stopped with a smile on her face.
"Good evening, Miss Granger," she greeted her happily. "I trust you've had a good summer, all things considered?"
"Yes, thank you, Professor," Hermione breathed. It was then that the Professor noticed the parchment in her hand.
"I was unaware we set you homework, Miss Granger. And if so, I apologise. I don't have the time to look over it right now. I -"
"No," Hermione interrupted. "This isn't homework, it's -" she paused. "Well, you can read it." Hermione passed it over and watched as the Professor's eyes widened as it skimmed the parchment. Before she could say anything, Hermione spoke again. "I'd like to request entry into the Order of the Phoenix."
The Professor closed her eyes and let her hand fall to the side. The parchment crumpled a little as she made a fist.
"Hermione," she muttered, looking up. Hermione's heart clenched at the pain and the use of her first name. "Please don't ask me for this."
She paused, meeting Professor McGonagall's eyes before remembering that this was for Harry.
"I'm asking," she said simply. "And for what it's worth, I wouldn't do this, especially to you, but I need this." Professor McGonagall frowned. "We need this. Molly refuses to tell us anything, if anything she's pretending like nothing is going on at all. And that's after everything that went on last year. And Sirius, on the other hand, tells Harry so much more than he should that Harry is constantly worried, but is also so vague that Harry has had to come to his own conclusions which makes everything worse. Professor Dumbledore tells us only half of what we need to know and the Prophet has become a propaganda machine. I need to be a part of this Professor. Harry needs the information that nobody is giving us."
"Then I will -"
"No you won't," Hermione interrupted sadly. "I know you. You'll protect us as best you can for as long as you can, but we are beyond that. Last year we had to fight on two different fronts and we very nearly lost you because nobody would tell anyone anything! Harry needs training, he needs to be prepared. We need to be prepared, otherwise, we're just walking towards our deaths. And I don't accept that, I won't. But, it is much better if I am a part of this, rather than him."
"I'm begging you, Hermione," the Professor said, using her name again. "Please don't ask me to do this."
"Am I underqualified?" Hermione asked defiantly.
"You know you are not, nor do I think so."
"I am nearly of age anyway, in a month or so, I won't need anyone's permission anymore, so why wouldn't you -"
"Because people die."
Hermione took a step back at the tone and stared. The pain in the Professor's eyes was deep and raw and Hermione suddenly understood a little of what she was asking.
"I understand," Hermione muttered. "And I don't mean to cause harm, especially not to you, Professor, but I need to do this. Harry can't, can he?" Professor McGonagall pulled a face. "Molly, as is her prerogative, will not allow the Twins - despite their age - so Ron certainly isn't allowed. It needs to be me." She took a deep breath and for the first time, she reached out and deliberately held Professor McGonagall's hand. "It makes sense for it to be me."
The Professor looked at her for a long while before she frowned.
"You realise that as part of the Order, you will be expected to take part in whatever mission they deem you fit for?"
"I do," Hermione muttered softly.
"And that you will be taking part in battles and skirmishes where you will be required to do as you're told no matter your understanding of the situation?"
"I do," she said again.
There was another long pause before Professor McGonagall nodded and stood straighter.
"Fine," she muttered. "On your head, be it."
The professor nodded for Hermione to follow. Hermione waved to Harry at the top of the stairs before they went through the door. As she stepped in after Professor McGonagall, Molly rushed forward and tried to shove her back out of the door.
"Ow! Please don't push me," Hermione cried, almost losing her footing and making most of the attendees in the room pause and look over. "I am here with Professor McGonagall."
Molly reached forward and gripped her bicep hard.
"That is a good try, girly," she laughed in a way that made Hermione wince. "But you are not welcome here."
"Molly," Professor McGonagall's voice cut across the room, making Molly's grip tighter. Hermione tried to move away from her but she could feel the fingers cutting into her skin. "She would not lie."
"Molly, you're hurting me."
"I did not agree that she could attend."
"That is none of your concern," Professor McGonagall said sharply. "Release her."
Molly waited a beat before she almost shoved Hermione away, pushing her into Remus.
"Sorry," she muttered as he helped her keep her feet.
"No problem," he smiled kindly. "My seat is the one next to Minerva. Why don't you take that; I'll take this one next to Molly."
She smiled her thanks and made her way around the table to the Professor's side.
"Are you alright?" Hermione shrugged, trying not to rub her arm where it hurt. "I will put your request before the group," Professor McGonagall muttered. "Professor Dumbledore will put it to a vote where it will likely pass almost unanimously."
"Almost?" Hermione managed to smile.
"I still think this is folly. I have not decided whether I will vote for your intelligence or my," she swallowed. "Need to protect you."
"I don't need protecting, Professor," she smiled gently.
"My dear," the Professor muttered. Her voice was clipped and curt and Hermione tried her best to remember that the Professor was worried and not angry. "I understand you are not used to being wrong, but in this instance, you have never been more so."
"I promise I will be careful. If the Order requires my life for the good of the Wizarding World, I will gladly give it."
"That is the most ridiculous -"
Whatever she was going to say further was stalled by Professor Snape's entry. He saw her and sneered but didn't comment openly. He took a chair from beside the table and carried it over to the fire, sitting beside it, rather than at the table. Sirius opened his mouth but Professor McGonagall shot him a look instead.
"Find us some whisky, Sirius, if you don't mind. I believe we will need it."
Just as Hermione was sure Sirius was going to start arguing, Professor Albus Dumbledore walked through the door, resplendent in bright blue robes.
If he was surprised to see Hermione in the seat beside his deputy, he did not show it. Instead, he held out his hand to Professor McGonagall and greeted Hermione like she'd always been attending Order meetings.
"Miss Granger, did you have a good summer?"
"Yes, thank you, Sir," she smiled. Then added cheekily. "Did you?" He chuckled and glanced up at her for barely a second.
"I did, thank you. It was -" he paused. "Busy."
He finished glancing over the document and handed it to Hermione.
"Let us bring the meeting to order. Before we begin," he looked around. "Absences?"
Kingsley made two and Moody another. There were a few from the woman who had arrived with Mundungus and then Professor Dumbledore nodded and Banished the parchment he had marked. "Before we begin, there is a petition for a new member. Miss Hermione Granger. I doubt I will have to list her accolades, though if any should need it, I shall?"
A few smiles and headshakes were given and he turned to Professor McGonagall.
"Minerva?" he asked quietly. "Are you sponsoring this petition?"
Hermione hadn't realised she needed a sponsor and turned to look at her Professor. The woman was stewing quietly in her head and there was not a sound in the room. Hermione almost wondered whether the woman hadn't heard and just as the silence had become uncomfortable, the Professor sighed.
"I am."
Dumbledore nodded and looked back at the group.
"Ayes?"
Everyone's hands went up except for Molly and Snape. She wasn't surprised. She did, however, note that while Minerva's hands remained in her lap, she nodded when Dumbledore looked at her.
"Severus?" Dumbledore asked after a moment. "Did you hear me?"
She looked up but did not meet Professor Snape's eyes. She knew his penchant for Legilimency and instead stared at the cupboard behind him. She couldn't help the thrill that went through her as Snape's hand went up finally. She nodded to a few people in thanks but Molly wasn't having it.
"This is ridiculous. She is a child. Minerva isn't even part of the order, what business does she have to sponsor an entry."
"Hermione is as old as you were when you joined, isn't she, Mum?" Bill said cheekily.
"And," Remus said carefully, but with some incredulity. "I don't think Minerva needs to prove her participation, Molly."
Hermione didn't dare look at either of them.
"Times are different."
"They are," Dumbledore said sagely. "There is more need for the young to do their part. It is a credit to Miss Granger that she is willing to step up and take her part."
She knew he was thinking of Harry, but Molly wasn't letting go. She stood, waving her finger.
"I would like to strongly protest this. She is barely of age. She is a mu -"
"Sit. Down." Hermione swallowed at the snap of Professor McGonagall's voice and everyone seemed to hold their breath. "And hold your tongue. You have not raised any concerns that are relevant and are frankly, on your way to becoming incredibly insulting."
Hermione wasn't sure whether Professor McGonagall was feeling insulted or speaking on her behalf as she stewed over Molly's words. Because she had been on her way to feeling insulted to then suggest that Professor McGonagall was not worth listening to made her even angrier. As the anger simmered just below the silence, all Hermione could do was stare at her fists. Molly had no idea what she'd had to do to be a part of this world.
"Your concerns have been noted, Molly," Dumbledore said airily, ignoring the tension around him. "And so, to business."
He beckoned Hermione forward and offered his hand. She frowned and reached forward. His hand was much bigger than it looked and it seemed to dwarf Hermione's as he held it gently.
"Do you swear that you will not reveal the members of the Order of the Phoenix, nor the things we discuss here?"
She blinked. She opened her mouth to answer before she realised what that meant. Her plan of repeating everything verbatim would be out and she would be forced to steer Harry based on what she knew and talk in half-truths as everyone else did. She rolled her eyes as she met Dumbledore's twinkling ones.
"I do," she muttered. She should have known. Of course, he would make her swear an oath.
"Then I will hold you to it," Dumbledore chuckled. "Welcome to The Order."
"Thank you."
She was still angry at Molly and herself when Professor McGonagall reached forward for her drink as Sirius passed it to her. As she leaned over slightly, she squeezed Hermione's hands which were clenched on her lap. She breathed out steadily and looked up in thanks. Professor McGonagall didn't look at her but just before Hermione looked away, the woman winked and Hermione felt ten times better. She tuned in properly and listened as the meeting began in earnest.