~ spoiler, we die in the end ~
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Talea's steps echoes through the stairwell as she walked up to the room where the Order meeting was at. Her face was covered in an emotionless façade as she pushed the door open, everyone was already seated while she was the last one to enter. A few days have past and Sirius was already out of the hospital but now as she walked into the room and everyone turned into her direction, she wished to go back to that time.
Most of their faces were painted in confusion and wonder as she walked up to the end of the long table, where Dumbledore was supposed to sit. But his seat was empty.
Lily sends her a questioning glance, Talea was supposed to be here minutes ago but she didn't appear. Now as she was finally there, Benjy Fenwick was the one to ask the question everyone wanted to know the answer to "Where is Dumbledore?"
Talea's emotionless gaze wandered to him as she looked him in the eye "Dead."
Her voice echoes through the room, the silence was unbearable as the news settled in everyone's head. She looked into the shocked faces of her friends; her eyes followed a tear that rolled down on Alice cheek. She felt out of place, as if she was watching herself from afar. Nothing seemed real at the moment. Everything seemed like a fewer dream and she would wake up any moment now.
But it wasn't and as everything seemed to pass in slow motion, her mind went back to the things that had happened.
Talea felt cold as she rushed through the halls of Hogwarts castle. If Dumbledore wouldn't answer her letters, she would simply go and pay him a visit. There was no more time left to wait, especially with the news she would bring him. But as she walked through the familiar halls that were filled with students, she didn't felt the usual warmth but a sickening coldness settled in her body.
Memories flashed in front of her eyes, recalling the years she'd spent in this castle. She missed these times, the times when everything was good and she wasn't scared that she would lose a friend any moment soon. She missed the times when everything was simple, when her biggest problems were upcoming exams and what the house elves would serve for lunch.
She shrugged of her thoughts as she arrived in front of Dumbledore's office. She muttered a password that a student had told her and slipped up the familiar staircase. She knocked at the door and entered as the headmaster invited her in.
And there he was, the seemingly busy man, sitting in his chair, eating sweets. Anger flashed through her body as she stepped into the room.
"Talea. I didn't expect you today."
She walked up to his desk and sends him a glare "Well, you should have. Why didn't you answer my letters? There is so much important information while you just sit in your chair doing nothing!"
Dumbledore let out a sigh. "That's the problem Talea. I've read your letters and I've showed them to a few Order members. But there is so much information" he tilted his head "I'm asking myself how you were able to get all the names and possible attacks because these details are far too advanced for you, let alone any seer."
Talea shrugged "How I get my information is none of your concern. There are other things to discuss."
"I'm not saying that I do not trust you Talea, but I can't help but question what you've been hiding and how you get your information."
Talea couldn't believe it, he was questioning her loyalty. "I don't need to prove my loyalty to you, I have been through so much in order to give us a chance against Voldemort while you just order kids around. I can't believe that people are convinced that you are the greatest wizard of all times. You might have power but you are so much worse than so many other because you are not even fighting, you have already lost."
Dumbledore showed no emotions as he stared at the girl. "And why have I lost?"
"Because you're going to be dead in the next few hours."
The headmaster tilted his head up to look in her eyes "So he has finally come to his senses."
"What?" Talea couldn't understand the man he was calm and yet so disturbing.
"Voldemort still believes that I am his biggest threat. It only makes sense that he would want me dead.Actually, I am surprised that he hasn't done it earlier."
"Alright, so what are we going to do? You could go into hiding, it wouldn't be reasonable to fight him yet-"
"Oh, he wouldn't be the one to kill me" interrupted Dumbledore "He's too much of a coward to do so, he will send his death eaters. But I will simply let it happen. It is for the best."
Talea blinked, as his words sunk in "What do you mean? You can't just get yourself killed, I am here to warn you, so you can get yourself into safety."
"You don't understand Talea, if he thinks that his biggest threat is gone, he will show himself more, he will work more offensively and not just from the shadows."
Talea slowly started to understand what the old man meant and whispered "He'll be more vulnerable."
Dumbledore nodded "Exactly. He will be so sure of himself because he thinks that no one can stop him anymore, he thinks that I am the one who destroyed the Horcrux. He will consider himself safe while it's your perfect time to strike."
Talea knew that he was right, it would be the perfect opportunity to search for Horcruxes, he would be too busy with planning how to take over the wizarding world to notice something.
"You have to know that time cannot always be changed, just like you cannot save everyone." He walked up to a cabinet and pulled out the Gryffindor sword. He walked up to Talea and placed it into her hands. "Take this to destroy the Horcruxes and then leave. I'll give you the task to organise the Order."
Talea looked at him wide-eyed, she could barely get her life together, how should she lead a war. Nevertheless, she gave him a nod and transformed the sword into a book. The charm wouldn't last long but it would be enough in order to keep students from wondering why she would carry a sword with her.
She walked to the door and gave him one last, sad smile, the old wizard gave her a nod "I'll see you soon, good luck."
Talea gave him a curious glance before turning around and closing the door behind her. She took a deep breath, this man might be insane, crazy and irrational but life would be a little harder without him.
Her eyes locked with Sirius for a short moment before she turned back to the others. "Death eaters found a way into the school and seemed to have killed him. He gave me Gryffindors sword to destroy the Horcruxes and told me to organise the Order of Phoenix."
"How would you know all of this?" asked Vance.
"Dumbledore seemed to know everything, I didn't question his orders" It was half a lie but she couldn't bare to tell the truth.
The sound of Mrs. Weasleys sobs filled the room "But I don't want to, I want us to work together, as a team, I don't want to give you orders while you follow them. I want you to manage this together while I will use the time to look for other Horcruxes. I will spend my time looking for them before Voldemort finds out about my existence."
"We'll help you" Sirius said eagerly. "You can't go alone, James, Remus, Peter and I will come with you."
Talea wanted to shut down his idea, not wanting them to get in danger but she knew that it was impossible to go alone. "Alright, but just you four. No one else."
They nodded and a short silence settled in the room "I will try to give you all information's I can get but I don't know how save it is to send an owl."
"I have an idea" James replied and whispered something to Sirius, who gave him a nod. James stood up and Sirius slipped something into his hand.
The boy turned to the rest of the Order and held up to pieces of a mirror. "How is a broken mirror going to help us?" asked Fabian.
"This isn't just a broken mirror. It's a two-way-mirror, Sirius and I used them to communicate. You'll keep one piece and give the other to the person you want to stay in contact with and if you look into the mirror and say the person's name, the piece will heat up. If you'll look in it, you won't see your own reflection but the one of the people that called your name."
Talea stared at the boy in wonder, this was indeed a great idea of them. "Good idea James, give one piece to Lily and keep the other, alright?"
He nodded and sat back down. Talea glanced at the group, she felt exhausted and as she looked in everyone's faces, she knew that no one wanted the stay longer. "I think it's best if we'll go now. See you soon."
But she wasn't quite sure if she would.