A Demigod In The World Of Magic : ( Chapter 258)

"I'm sorry, Headmaster, but isn't that kind of redundant at this point?" Percy asked as he sat down next to Tonks and the bald-headed black man, Kingsley, if he recalled correctly. "He fought Voldemort in the graveyard. He's already involved."

"Potter has always had a bloated, arrogant head," Percy heard a soft, drawling voice say from the corner of the room. 

Severus Snape stepped smoothly out of the shadows, almost as if they had birthed him. Though Percy was sure that wasn't the case; he wasn't a child of Hades, after all... probably... maybe... possibly. He made a mental note to ask Hecate later.

"He has no such thing!" Sirius immediately slammed his fist down hard on the heavy wooden table, rattling the teacups. "He is a good boy with a good, brave heart! He deserves to know what is happening! Dumbledore, please, reconsider this," the ex-convict begged, looking imploringly at the old man.

The headmaster simply shook his head, his face lined with sorrow. "I am sorry, Sirius, but no. My decision stands."

Percy sighed. Just then, the heavy dining room doors opened up and Molly Weasley came back in, alone. "I've sent him upstairs with Ron and Hermione," she informed the room, closing the door firmly behind her. "They should be fine now. He's safe."

"So, what is this all about then?" Remus asked, turning his attention to Dumbledore. "If what Harry said is accurate, then two Dementors, creatures who are supposed to be strictly guarding Azkaban prison under Ministry control, attacked him and his Muggle cousin in the middle of a Muggle road in Surrey."

"Something's very off about this," Mad-Eye Moody snorted, both his normal eye and his magical one fixed intensely on the center of the table. "The boy's a prime target, alright. But Voldemort," …cue the automatic, fearful flinches from almost everyone else in the room except Percy, Sirius, and Dumbledore… "isn't usually that crass or sloppy. He wants to kill the Potter boy with his own two hands. I highly doubt he would just send two random Dementors to do the job and risk botching it."

"I thought only the Ministry of Magic could order those things around," Percy voiced his concerns, remembering what he had read about wizarding law.

Dumbledore nodded slowly. "Yes, Percy, that is very much the case."

"Then maybe they sent them," Percy shrugged, putting the pieces together. "In a deliberate effort to either expel Harry for using magic to defend himself, or to just kill him. But either way, it neatly silences him and stops his claims that Voldemort," …more flinches… "is back."

"I hardly think even Cornelius Fudge would be so grossly irresponsible!" Molly argued firmly, her hands on her hips. "Even if he strongly dislikes what Harry and Professor Dumbledore are saying, he wouldn't be a murderer! He's just a foolish politician!"

"Plus, Fudge simply doesn't have the stomach for cold-blooded murder," Sirius snorted in agreement. "He's a coward."

"Well, then if not him directly," Percy shrugged again, "the best chance is that someone else high up in the Ministry wanted Harry dead or discredited."

"Or it could still be Voldemort himself," Remus argued mildly. "He has supporters everywhere."

"No," Snape cut into the conversation, his voice silky and dismissive. "If the Dark Lord truly had such pull within the Ministry already, he would have used it a long time ago. He would have attacked the Ministry directly, or ordered someone to create an incident with his army to induce widespread panic and fear. Sending two Dementors to a Muggle suburb wouldn't reveal his hand while still maintaining a necessary cloak of fear over the people. It lacks his usual... theatricality."

Dumbledore nodded. "Agreed, Severus. Your logic is sound... but that is not the most important matter right now. I am sure whoever it is who ordered the attack will reveal themselves in due time. For now, I wish to turn the focus of this meeting to our newest guest, Professor Perseus Jackson."

Everyone at the table immediately looked at the youngest member in the room with wide eyes. Pure confusion and surprise were evident on almost all of their faces.

"Is this some kind of joke?" Remus asked first, looking from Percy to Dumbledore. "Is he truly to be a professor at Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore? He's barely of age."

Dumbledore nodded serenely. "Yes, Remus, he is. He has earned his Mastery. He is to teach Potions starting this September."

Sirius suddenly barked out a loud, genuine laugh. "Oh, this is rich! This is absolutely brilliant! So, you finally fired old Snivellus, did you, Albus?!"

"For your information, you filthy dog," Snape spat, his black eyes flashing with pure hatred, "I have not been fired. I have finally been given the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts in exchange."

"Oh, you must be absolutely loving this, eh, Sev? You've wanted that cursed title for years," Sirius snorted derisively. 

"Too bad for the poor kids, though. This is going to be one incredibly tough, miserable year for them. I just hope the curse on the job makes you permanently crippled when you inevitably have to leave after this year."

"I would much rather have the curse kill me outright than have to spend all my time hiding in this horrid, decaying mess of a home like a beaten cur, you cowardly mutt," Snape spat right back, leaning forward.

Sirius was just about to draw his wand and speak again when Dumbledore cut in, his voice suddenly hard and authoritative. "That is quite enough from both of you!" he snapped, his eyes flashing behind his spectacles. 

"We are gathered here today to discuss the ongoing trials and dangerous tribulations that currently plague our society! Not to fight like bitter schoolyard children! Is that understood?"

Severus snorted softly, but he quickly backed down and nodded. "Yes, Headmaster."

Dumbledore turned his stern gaze to Sirius, who just glared at Snape for another long moment before sighing heavily and slouching back in his chair. "Yeah... got it, Albus."

The aged man sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "As I was saying before the interruption, Mr. Jackson will be our new Potions Professor, and he will also be officially joining the Order of the Phoenix. He is to be shown the utmost respect by everyone here, as I promise you all, his youth certainly does not define his capabilities or his power."

Percy blushed a little at the high praise in front of all these veteran fighters. All he could do was muster out a quick, mumbled "thank you" while looking away from Dumbledore's piercing gaze.

"Now then, let us continue with the agenda," the Headmaster stated, shuffling some parchment. "Where exactly are we with the patrol duty schedule for the Department of Mysteries?"

"We have a solid schedule set up," Arthur Weasley spoke up from down the table, adjusting his glasses and reading from a small notepad, stating out the order of the daily patrols and various other logistical details.

Percy, however, was completely confused by this. He leaned towards Tonks and whispered out of the side of his mouth, "Why exactly are we protecting a department in the Ministry of Magic?"

"It holds something Voldemort wants," she whispered back, keeping her eyes on Arthur. "Something he desperately needs."

"What is it?" Percy asked.

Tonks just shrugged slightly. "No idea. Dumbledore is keeping completely tight-lipped about it, and anyone else who actually knows isn't talking either."

Percy frowned and nodded in understanding. It was obviously sensitive information, he understood that, sure. 

But it was also clearly damn well important, and he couldn't understand why Dumbledore needlessly drew such strict lines in the sand and kept secrets inside his very own, supposedly united organization. 

Did he really not trust everyone here with the full truth? How could they fight effectively if they were half-blind?

The rest of the meeting was a little dull after that, mostly focusing on logistics and guard rotations, and it soon ended with Dumbledore making a very hasty retreat. 

He didn't even bother to wish anyone a polite goodnight, which Percy gathered from the others' reactions was highly unusual for the polite old man.

"Alright then, you dears just stay right where you are," Molly Weasley said with a warm, welcoming smile as she jumped to her feet and clapped her hands together. "I'll go get the children down from upstairs, and I'll have a nice, hot dinner ready for us all in a bit."

Percy looked down at his watch and groaned inwardly. "Actually, it's time for me to leave."

"You're leaving? Without staying for dinner?" Sirius asked, looking surprised as Percy stood up, rolling his shoulders to relieve the tension.

"Yes, I have to," Percy replied, adjusting his suit jacket. "Tell Harry I'm sorry, but we can talk later. It's good to see you looking better, Sirius." He then nodded politely at Tonks. "See you later, Tinkerbell. I'll come over tomorrow morning, and we can all talk more about everything then. But right now, I'm already late."

"Late? Late for what?" Tonks asked curiously as Percy approached the heavy wooden dining room door.

Percy looked over his shoulder and offered a small, mysterious smile. "A date."

And without another word, he left the room, heading quickly right outside the highly protected and intensely depressing house. He made his way back to the deserted Muggle park across the street, and once he was absolutely sure he was alone and unseen in the shadows, he turned sharply on his heel and vanished into the night with a soft, echoing crack.