Location: Elphias Doge’s home; Wicklow, Ireland.
Time: 8 o’clock in the evening.
In attendance: Albus Dumbledore, Dedalus Diggle, Elphias Doge, Arabella Figg, Sturgis Podmore, Alastor Moody, James Potter, Amelia Bones, Remus Lupin, Edgar Bones, Lily Evans, Sirius Black, Mary MacDonald, Emmeline Vance, Marlene McKinnon, Gideon Prewett.
Unlike the rows of unsteady flats in inner city London, Wicklow is a small coastal town a stones throw from Dublin, Ireland. Elphias Doge’s house sits alone in a small grove of trees and boulders. To enter the space, the wizard must use their wand to toss a pebble into the hollow of the tallest hazel tree. Inside the enchantments, there is a cobbled path leading up to the quaint cottage that hardly looks big enough to be a safe house. Inside, however, the layout is precisely similar to Dedalus Diggle’s home in London. A doorway to the left leads up a staircase to the bedrooms that are identical to all the other spaces. Straight ahead, the hallway curves into a circular kitchen with a small breakfast table in the center. There are only four cupboards on either side of a window looking out on a heavily wooded area. Around another bend through the kitchen is the living room, having been magically extended to hold all in attendance. The walls are painting a warm beige color and all of the wooden furniture is dark brown in color. There is a couch and a love seat of the same wicker and cloth patterns where Dedalus, Elphias, Arabella, Alastor and Sturgis sit. A bright, multicolored rug covers the center of the floor where the younger Order members lounge, an obvious tension circling through the quiet room. Remus Lupin leans pointedly against the wall at the back of the room, next to a door leading into the back garden.
Albus Dumbledore stands at the head of the room, a somber expression on his face. His hands are clasped together behind his back, head bowed slightly forward as the clock on the wall behind him steadily ticks away. On the eight o’clock chime, he raises his head and a collective breathe is taken. “Good evening,” he says, and his voice seems to echo around the silent room behind the remaining ringing of the bell toll. From behind his back, Albus pulls a copy of yesterdays Daily Prophet with the title “KNOW THY ENEMY” blinking at them in harsh black lettering. “I’m sure you have all seen this by now and I feel it is imperative that we address it directly.”
Albus turns the paper towards him and reads aloud, “Trouble between centaurs and giants in the Albanian forests have brought about the age-old question that has been causing trouble since the beginning of wizarding history; who is our enemy? As the superior human race, it is our responsibility to know what exactly we are up against with the rising darkness around us. Below we have compiled a list of all possible threats we face in our day-to-day lives by the level of danger they pose and how to go about staying safe around these various nefarious beasts!”
Albus snaps the paper closed without continuing and looks slowly around the room at each face before him. “This list is preposterous and if any of you took this seriously in any regard, I must question the seriousness of your business with this organization. Our enemies are not animals, ghosts, ghouls, vampires, giants, centaurs, or werewolves. Our enemies are our very own neighbors. They are unrecognizable because they look like us. It is necessary to our success as the Order of the Phoenix that we truly trust one another. Otherwise, we will start to turn on each other and there will be no stopping it. So I’ve gathered you today to share something with you in light of this ridiculous article.”
Albus glances towards the back of the room, his eyes falling on Remus who, with eyes wide in fear, imperceptibly gives him a single nod. Albus’ voice is quieter when he begins to speak again, absent of the previous anger and full of the kind acceptance he is known for. “There is a werewolf among us.” A beat passes as he allows the news to sink into the space between them. “He’s been here all along and he is perhaps the most trustworthy of us all. I do not tell you this so that you might turn on him, but to make you understand the truth about enemies. They are not so black-and-white, but they certainly do wear masks. So this group will not do that. We will not hide behind our masks and pretend. We will trust in one another, otherwise there is simply no point in any of this.” Albus waves a hand, motioning towards Remus and - finally - all eyes turn slowly to look at him. “Remus Lupin, our trustworthy companion, is a werewolf.”
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