"Has it gotten out?" Harry asked as he sat in the Headmaster's office a few days later, Hermione and Ron sitting on either side of him. He had gotten out of the Hospital Wing yesterday (Lupin had left a day earlier), and was eager to get back into the loop.
"Surprisingly, it has not," said Dumbledore slowly, his chin resting on one fisted hand, "Everyone involved has sworn to stay silent -"
"You know better than anyone that's worth nothing," Harry interrupted sharply, "Those tossers at the Prophet'll catch it eventually."
"That," Dumbledore said, shooting Harry a look at his language, "Is something that cannot be controlled," All three looked as if they wanted to argue before Dumbledore continued, "Either way, we have more pressing matters to discuss."
"What?" asked Ron, "What could be more important?"
"The circumstances behind the accident, Mr. Weasley," he replied patiently.
"I think we all know the 'circumstances'," Harry spat out, Hermione nodding in agreement, "He -"
"Ms. Granger," Dumbledore cut in, "What exactly did Remus say to you when you asked him what had happened?"
"Well," she started slowly, "He said that Snape had written the instructions for the Wolfsbane very clearly, but he couldn't read them as well."
"I see," said Dumbledore, nodding, "Was there anything else?"
"No sir," she said looking confused. Dumbledore stood up with an odd look on his face, and for the first time in Harry's recent memory, the usually calm man began to pace edgily. Harry shot confused looks at Ron and Hermione, and was about to interrupt the Headmaster when the pacing stopped abruptly, and a look of understanding passed over the older wizard's face.
"Sir?" began Hermione tentatively, but before she could get another word out, Dumbledore rose a hand to quiet her.
"You are all dismissed." What? Thought Harry, That's it? What does he know that we don't? He was about to voice his question aloud when Dumbledore spoke again, "Rest assured if I have any substantial information, you will be informed immediately." He said with an air of finality, and with a frustrated sigh Harry realised he wasn't going to get any more answers today.
"I officially call this meeting of the Order of the Phoenix to order." Announced Dumbledore that night, to the crowd gathered in the Room of Requirement, "Would anyone like the floor to begin?"
"I'd like to say something Dumbledore," said Mad Eye Moody, who was seated next to Harry. At Dumbledore's nod, Moody stood up. While he gathered himself, Harry took a moment to take a mental attendance of the members who were present.
Dumbledore sat at the head of the table with Moody to his left. He, Tonks, and Bill and Charlie Weasley made up the rest of that side of the table. Across from Charlie was Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, Mr. Weasley, Emmeline Vance, and Kingsley Shacklebolt. Those members who couldn't get seats at the main table sat in chairs spaced along the walls. Lupin was thankfully absent. Harry broke away from his thoughts as Moody began to speak.
"As some of you may already know, we've been noticing increased Death Eater activity in and around the Shetland Islands over the past few days."
"Shetland?" asked Tonks, "That's not to far from Azkaban - they can't be planning another break could they?"
"I doubt it," said Mr. Weasley, "Didn't work very well the first time did it?"
"Would that really stop them?" asked Harry, "Hold on- maybe they don't just want to stage a break - maybe they want something on a bigger scale."
"He's right," said Charlie, "They've been trying to get the Dementors on their side for ages."
"What're we going to do about it?" asked Snape from a corner of the room, " Have another truly exasperating talk with Fudge?"
"Not only that," Dumbledore said quietly, "We'll have to send a team to the islands - to carry out a hopefully pre-emptive strike. Informing Cornelius is unfortunately, only a formality."
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"Are you sure you want to go?" asked Hermione, worry lining her features. It was two nights later, and Harry was carrying the little amount of supplies he had into the common room. He was set to go to the Shetland Islands for the weekend with six other members of the Order.
"Dumbledore assigned this to me Hermione," he explained as he sat next to her and slipped an arm around her waist, "But even if he didn't, I would have volunteered - you know how important this is." She nodded in acceptance.
"Be careful," she said as she gave him a goodbye kiss.
"When am I not?" he said jokingly.