Friendless » Fred Weasley

cxxii. the advance guard

"The Ministry's already expelled him from Hogwarts!"

"That's not fair! It was self-defense!"

Usually, Victoria Silvers wouldn't be allowed in an Order meeting. But using the excuse she was helping Molly Weasley with dinner was definitely working out in her favor. Seventeen-year-old Victoria Silvers glanced at the group of members as their seats all lined the table in the kitchen.

Tori was now staying Grimmauld Place with the Weasley, Hermione Granger, and other members of the Order of the Phoenix, a secret organization ran by Dumbledore. The home once belonged to the Noble Black family. Now, it was Sirius Black's.

Yes, that Sirius Black. The ones whose face was plastered all over the Wizarding World, wanted for murder. Unfortunately for Tori, it had just slipped everyone's mind to tell her. So when he first walked in welcoming them, Tori screamed and immediately began pulling out her wand casting all kinds of hexes.

Fred and George had to wrestle her wand away from her, and Molly then explained what had actually happened. Ever since then, Tori hadn't stayed in the same room with him for too long. It wasn't exactly her proudest moment.

Sirius was sitting at the end of the table, in a very deep conversation with Professor Remus Lupin, who was apart of the Order as well. Tori ran her fingers through her hair, which was shortened up to her shoulders now.

When Molly was finally cutting Tori's boyfriend Fred Weasley's mop of a hair (much to Tori's liking as well) Tori had decided to get her hair cut as well. What was once her long thick black hair, was now up to her shoulders, and held a bit of a wave.

"He's just a boy! What was he supposed to do?" Molly sighed angrily. The news came in that Harry Potter was attacked by a dementor the day before. Apparently, he had saved both himself and his nasty muggle cousin Dudley by using the Patronus Charm.

But because Dudley was a muggle, the ministry had "no choice" but to expel Harry from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Tori thought it was all rubbish, especially since the ministry had been most likely waiting for something like this to happen.

Ever since word You-Know-Who was back, people immediately turned to the ministry in panic. Instead of informing the public, the ministry called both Harry and Dumbledore crazy.

"We're missing a member of the Advance Guard. We can't go get Harry with uneven ranks." Mad-Eye, the real Mad-Eye, said roughly. The Mad-Eye that had actually taught students last year turned out to be a former death eater. The Order was planning a rescue mission for Harry? Tori perked up, glancing around all the adults in the room while they sat and thought silently.

"I'll go," Tori said, setting a dish down. Molly turned to her as she had just admitted to committing a crime. "What?! No! Absolutely not! It's too dangerous."

"But this is what I want to be doing. When I become an Auror... I'll have to do things like this all the time." Tori replied, frowning. "It could be like extra training."

"She's got a point..." A woman by the name Tonks spoke up, winking at Tori. Molly shook her head fiercely. "They're professionals! This isn't a training exercise."

"Tori had shown to be very useful when it comes to hexes," Sirius noted, staring down the table at the girl. Lupin nodded. "I'll be going as well, Molly."

"It would be good practice!" Tori repeated. "Especially since I want to join the Order when I graduate." Tori had put a lot of thought into the idea and was positive it was what she wanted to do. "I'm one of the only people here who actually knows which house is Harry's, especially since they all look the same. As you said, Molly, they're professional. If anything bad happens, I'll let them take care of it."

Usually, Molly would swiftly say not and send Tori out if the room. But Tori had a rough summer. Ever since the passing of Tori's close friend Cedric Diggory, Tori had changed a lot. She woke up constantly in the middle of the night, mumbling about some strange nightmares. She refused to take off a certain purple bracelet and tended to lash out a bit more.

But there was such excitement and hope in her eyes that Molly struggled with what she should let the girl do. Slowly, she sighed. "You may go... but, you may not come to the meeting afterward. And if there's any sight of trouble, you will turn back around and head back."

Tori thought about it for a moment before wrapping her arms around Molly tightly. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

"You'll take the second rank. Let's hope you have a broom." Mad-Eye said, thumping his cane on the ground twice to end the meeting. Tori promised him did, rushing to the stairs and summoning it. "Accio broom!"

"Hey!" Ginny's voice shouted from inside the room Tori shared with her and Hermione Granger. "You almost hit me!"

"Sorry, Gin." Tori apologized. She still wasn't able to wipe the smile off her face, but Ginny didn't ask any more questions. There were two loud cracks behind her and Fred and George Weasley stood there, looking extra smug.

"Hey Tori, want to try a new and improved Puking Pastille?" George grinned, eyeing Tori's broom. "You're not going for a round of quidditch are you?"

"Why would I ever want to try that? And no," She bit her lip excitedly. "I'm going to go get Harry with the Advance Guard."

"You're bluffing," Fred said skeptically. "Mum would never let you go." Tori frowned, holding her broom with her other hand now. Luckily, Tonks popped in right then. "Tori, we're leaving. Come on."

The twins stared at her dumbfounded. "You owe us an explanation on how you did that." Fred shook his head. "Hey, be careful, alright?"

Tori nodded, kissing him on his cheek before rushing out of the house and falling into an empty rank. She was next to Tonks and behind Professor Lupin, who each had a broom.

Tori mounted her broom with the rest of the guard and took off into the night sky.

year 7!!

she's grown up so fast