Order Meeting #2

Whight sat patiently as the meeting progressed. It seemed things were moving along just fine without his input. He listened as each person stated their newest discoveries. He listened intently to making mental notes of all the information being poured in front of him.

As the members babbled on about this and that, Whight looked about the individual members trying to decide the positions of each. Matthew was the obvious in charge, Jack seemed to be second in command and Silvyr was clearly establishing some dominance over the group. Everyone else sat in basically the same position through Whight's eyes.

Though a number of various topics were being tossed around, Whight had little to no input on the subjects thus far. It seemed that the business Whight was interested in was going to be a private discussion. Still, he wanted to be a part of the meeting, but being a new member meant he needed to first get up to speed on all matters.

Whight leaned back in his chair and brought his ankle to his knee as the meeting went on.

James opened his mouth to voice his concerns about the vampire watching over the family, however Santana had beaten him to it. James cleared his throat, choosing his words carefully. He did not want to offend anyone, nor did he want to appear to be taking sides.

"I do have my own concerns about the vampire," James conceded, "Just as a werewolf can be unpredictable at the full moon, a vampire can be unpredictable around young fresh blood....especially if unsupervised. You may have immense trust in your friend, but it would personally make me feel uneasy to have a vampire watching a family with young children."

'I agree with James. The vampire, a seductive, "undead" predator, is one of the most alluring creatures of the bunch. It's also one of the most enduring, and I know people elaborate that all they do is eat people and suck blood 24/7 (Don't you dare make that wrong!) that their the most malicious creatures in the world, I don't honestly agree with that." she said, Santana took a great big breath, "But you never know, he could snap, we don't know how the mind works, especially not for Vampires," she addressed the lady who's children needed babysitting, "If I was you, I wouldn't let a Vampire look after you're children, but that's just my idea".

Silvyr let out a soft laugh of disbelief as he heard the way this meeting was progressing. He turned to Lestrange first after Santana had spoken her part on vampires once again, "So should I take that as a no or a 'you didn't understand why we were trying to get close to her'? I don't believe we mentioned having full intentions of recruiting her but even if we did why would that be harmful? If this group can't restrain one werewolf then we might as well give up now. She is fresh from the Death Eaters, the group that you just admitted to knowing near to nothing about and yet we are pushing aside one of our biggest leads. If we could get any information at all I feel that it would be worth the time. You didn't exactly elaborate on how you were, 'keeping an eye on her'. Please explain to all of us how watching someone from a far is going to help us with getting any new information on stopping the advances Death Eaters are clearly making. The shadows are beginning to consume the world once again more and more each day and I find it strange that we are willing to over look a possible means of stopping the mass murdering of innocent muggle towns and Aurors who risk their lives each and everyday. Why are we even here right now." It was rare for Silvyr to show his anger in his voice but he was making sure that his emotions were felt now. Leah stood behind him with her ears raised sensing his anger rising.

The only reason Silvyr kept from speaking on the tell that Lestrange had easily given away while speaking about the soon to be spy was his respect for Jack. A child could have easily seen what he had done. If he announced what he had seen then it would only put her in jeopardy.

He looked to Santana and James next after hearing out their foolish comments. "Please answer this one question for me you two. How many vampires do you two know personally? If Oded is a friend of Damon's then who are you to instantly classify him without having ever met him. If he has been able to control himself this far into his life and Damon trusts him then why would he suddenly snap on the people his friend asked him to look over. Your logic is based on what you have read and studied in school books. And I doubt you did more than glance over the section of vampires, for your exams sake, not stopping to think that they are people just like you and me. Who's to say that I won't stand and kill you now without you doing anything more than hoping that one of these people will revenge your death? But yet you don't think of me as a monster who can't be left around children. If I wanted I could have my friend here tear into your flesh and she would do it happily. But yet her she stands and not one of you gave a second glance when you walked in the door. You just openly insulted a friend of a member of the Order," Silvyr pointed at Damon, "who has proven himself time and time again by openly spitting on his friends good name right in front of him." Silvyr's anger had reached a boiling point.

Silvyr looked down the table making eye contact with Susan, "Susan, it would be shear stupidity to take advice from people who know nothing of what their talking about. I'm not saying this to sway your opinion though." Silvyr looked to Santana once again, "I am proving to you how it feels to have someone spit in your face. Suddenly the Potions master is an expert of magical creatures... No you are stating your ignorant ideas that our magical society has been fighting to break away from for years."

Silvyr looked back to Damon, "And you who just vouched for your friend who is a vampire just sat there and classified werewolves as if they are nothing more than pigs or cattle. Was Remus Lupin nothing more than a foul beast who roamed the world killing and feeding? If Jack, who is a specialist in magical creatures says that werewolves are showing signs of advancing in controlling themselves then how can we not listen with an open mind." His eyes moved scanning the faces around the table. "These ideas that you carelessly throw around are just that, ideas that you have probably heard all your life and just excepted as fact rather than thinking for yourselves." Silvyr knew he was harsh but he didn't care at this point. His body was beginning to fight him from the inside out due to his illness's symptoms. He only remained in his chair because of the lack of restraint he would have if someone advanced him and he was interested in hearing Matt's response to his first question. If it was anything like what he was expecting then he would be leaving soon. It was clear the Order was now just a joke. Matt had nothing to report on the Death Eaters and it was clear this meeting was nothing more than a waist of his time.

"Silvyr," Jack whispered, but the man pressed on. Jack blinked once and settled back, putting on a patient expression and allowing him to ride out his anger. She sat back and listened, for once finding that she could be patient. Perhaps she needed this, for someone else to snap. Jack would be irritable and grumpy because, well, she was irritable and grumpy. The woman worked two jobs, monitored another store, took care of a suicidal alcoholic, housed werewolves during the full moon, made pretty much no money, and ran on about three hours of sleep a night.

But if they needed calm and level headed, she would be calm and level headed. Jack was one of the senior members- sad, seeing as she was nineteen. She had been around more than Matt in the past year- apparently, he had been very active before. Jack knew she had presented herself as someone who knew what was going on. Silvyr's rant had been just what she needed.

"Okay... now everyone breathe out," she said, the ghost of a smile gracing her lips. "I think Ms Bones now has enough to contemplate. Who she chooses as a babysitter isn't Order news, but we've given our recommendations, and it is ultimately up to her to decide."

She paused. "I do not mean to be presumptuous, but as the real expert on magical creatures I will say this. Our studies prove werewolves and vampires have a certain level of control over their instincts to harm and kill. That said, they are instincts, and instincts cannot be one hundred percent controlled without proper procedures. No one should either assume either is safe, nor dangerous. They are just as deceptive as us. If you all have not begun treating your fellow wizards as those capable of killing you, begin. In this way, you will not discriminate against werewolves and vampires."

She paused. "If anyone is interested in being trained to support either, we can talk on a 'Ministry level.' The Ministry does need... volunteers," she hinted, leaving the option open. "No definitive choice can be made tonight. It's a slow process before we can even win them over. So, with that, I believe the subject of werewolves and vampires can be left to rest." She looked around, offering a bracing expression, her voice level and her expression supportive.

((I know some people might be thinking this meeting isn't going well, but I'm glad character are getting fired up.))

James restrained the anger which welled up within him, perhaps with great difficulty, but he managed it. Him retaliating with more angry words would only make things worse, and spiral things even more out of control.

"I know you want to lay this to rest, Jack, however I feel that I need to defend my honor, as you know, I am far from the sort of person who discriminates against magical creatures, and I have some other things that I feel need to be said."

Jack turned to Silvyr, "Yes, Mr. Svan, I have known vampires. I have known werewolves. I do not believe them vicious blood-thirsty people, and I am fully aware that they were once human beings just like us. Do you deny that a werewolf, or a vampire, will admit that they can be dangerous. I did not say that they do not deserve respect or kindness. My intent was not to insult anyone. I merely conveyed my concerns, as yes, I DO know the dangers. You insult me by accusing me of being ignorant. I am being careful. Do not get my opinion mixed up with that of Santana's. Do not attack me because of what she said. I ask you to remember my exact words. I said it would make me uneasy. I gave my reasons for why it would make me uneasy."

James looked around the room, still fighting from keeping his anger from rising, his hands were shaking slightly from the effort.

"I see this Order breaking up from within," James announced to the room at whole, "With petty arguments and people jumping to conclusions. If we cannot work together and trust each other, then we will never be strong. If we cannot be strong, how do you expect us to ever defend ourselves against the Death Eaters. If we cannot even have a productive meeting, why do we bother meeting at all. Obviously everyone has their own ideas on how they want to handle things, and instead of pooling our resources and our strengths, we fight with each other. Thinking that our own word is more important than that of the next person. Some wonder why I haven't bothered to go to meetings lately. Well, there is your answer. The meetings are counter-productive. We only fight amongst ourselves and get weaker. If we keep this up, the Order will fall, and so will the hope for the Wizarding world."

James glared at everyone in the room, bracing himself for the backlash. He didn't care. He was done seeing all the bickering and accusations being thrown around. There were new members. They were bound to make mistakes. Attacking them was not the way to make this a cohesive unit. Would the Order ever grow to be as strong as he had been told it was in the days of his father? James had his doubts.

((Guess that'll work....now James looks like the asshole. ))

Jack was silent as she listened to James' response to Silvyr. He obviously spoke with passion, but he kept himself from lashing out harshly, for which Jack was glad. Jack considered herself a tad responsible for Silvyr, as she had helped guide him into the Order, and James was an old friend from Hogwarts. She could not hope either to have the better hand, she could only hope for an agreement to be reached.

He continued on and Jack fixed her eyes on James, as he spoke the words she had bitten back for two years. No one here could have supposed most nights when she left these meetings, she would lock herself in her room, and punish her pillows out of frustration, even nearly sprouting tears on occasion, though she never allowed that. To care for something that seemed so flimsy... it had not seemed worth it.

Something about the night's argument sparked a seed of hope though. The passion was there. The knowledge and know-how, not yet, but they had passion.

She looked around in the silence after James' speech. James deserved to have some authority. She knew his past, she knew his zeal, she knew the legacy he carried. She cleared her throat and said, "I suddenly realized- most of you probably don't know him, huh?" She smiled. "Ladies and gentleman, may I introduce you to James Potter?"

Louis' head was screaming, he had no idea, what the hell was going on. It was like they where talking about several subjects at once, and it made Louis' head scream. He sighed, then Matt had made his decision on the spy. Louis really didn't feel like arguing with Matt about it, and knew how hard leadership was, so he left it to them.

Then they started talking about Vampires and werewolves. Werewolves made him think about his Fiancee Yumi, ex-slytherin, and Ex-Dark Follower. It gave Louis shivers, thinking about Yumi's past, but he didn't care, he loved her. Louis punched the table, "Shut, up." He said frustrated. If it was one thing Louis couldn't do was destroy his anger. During his hogwarts years, he had literally jumped into a empty classroom, and destroyed everything there, but not with just magic.

Then James started talking, and Louis knew James, didn't always spew out nonsense, so he was relieved, when he started listening to James. Listening to his speech, Louis would admit, made him mildly jealous. James was what Louis really wanted to be, but no way in hell would Louis admit that. Then Jack had introduced James, Louis smiled, and put an arm around James.

The room erupted in front of Whight. Yet again he found himself shocked at the disorganization the Order. He laughed to himself at the irony. Everyone in the room was making valid points on their own issues, but it was Silvyr who seemed to set the record straight and challenge all the inconsistent accusations. Whight noticed them too but Silvyr stepped to the plate before Whight could voice his opinion on the matter.

James then took the floor working to save the name Silvyr had previously drug through the mud. It was clear that there were probably several misinterpretations on the topics, but someone needed to put their foot down and get everyone on the same page. Whight had expected that person to be Matthew but that was not the case.

As James continued on Whight found an angle in the man's speech that he could finally work with. Whight leaned into the table after Jack spoke. "I have to agree with Mr. Potter on this matter," he began. "Arguing and disagreeing amongst ourselves are the very things the Death Eaters wish upon us. If we keep at this rate we will destroy ourselves with words before they even have a chance with an actual attack. We are here for a greater good, a greater purpose and I believe we can achieve just that."

Whight wanted to sound encouraging if anything to the members. He leaned back in his chair hoping his words would take some positive affect on the members.

She pointed at Silvyr rage filling her voice,"Who do I know that's a vampire? My father is, he's now dead." She knew this would shut up Svan, whatever his name was. She had met with James the day before and said nothing of the sort, she had just told him that her father was being distant and she didn't talk with him for a while. "He's dead." she said her voice cracking ever so slightly, she had to be strong. "We had to kill him, his rage was erupting form the inside. I'm not a vampire because he was transformed when I was 14, but he was a killer when I turned 17. He seemed perfectly normal like this Oded character you speak of, and then one day, something in his mind switched and he killed a child. We never forgave him, and he got depressed, and hungry he killed some more people and that's when we made the decision, we had to kill him." she blinked furiously determined not to cry, "There, that's a vampire I know" she sat down, and waited for the either backlash or forgiveness, she hoped it was the latter.