Order Meeting - Training In Combat

Two weeks Hallie had been leader of the Order of the Phoenix. Two weeks and she felt as though she had achieved nothing, done nothing. That wasn't entirely true. She wanted to familiarise herself with certain members, members who she felt may be more reluctant to her leaderships or members who simply she didn't know and wanted to get to know more. For Hallie the Order was about working as a team for only by working together would their overcome the troubling times that lay ahead.

The main problem was the snake in the ministry. Who had forged the marriage law? There was evidence that pointed to Gideon Pierce but in all fairness the evidence was little. So Hallie had found a document in one of his draws, a document highlighting the marriage law and Levski's research. It had a few notes that could have been in Pierce's handwriting but even then he could have been acting on someone elses orders to contribute to ideas for the law. He had been an attorney, perhaps he needed to check the plans to foresee any legal hurdles that could arise after creating the marriage law? Then again the office had been pretty bare, maybe the document had been residing there when Levski and Krum had been hosting match meetings in the office? If Gideon was in fact the criminal mastermind the evidence was weak, too weak to march into the ministry and have him arrested.

Then there was the possible death eater conflict. Each faction had a hut containing a list of their members names, both huts for some coincidental reason happened to find home in the Forest of Dean. Jack had informed the Order about this the meeting before she announced her resignation but since then the Order hadn't done anything to prepare. Granted they had set up detection spells throughout the forest, if a death eater so much put a toe in the forest the Order would be alerted. The order would be alerted then what? Hallie had been planning, she'd managed to nab herself a map of the forest and from what Jack had told her managed to work out the location of the Orders hut. She'd spoken to Matthew Lestrange and discussed a possible battle plan that wasn't set in stone, nonetheless it seemed fitting and Hallie's gut was telling her the plan would work.

That was what today's meeting was about. The battle plan and a start at combat training. The huts had been enchanted so they couldn't be destroyed, nor their lists taken. How the battle would end, Hallie didn't know, she didn't like to think about that either. What mattered was that the Orders dueling skills were brought up to scratch. The magic around the forest had been placed so that neither side could kill or gravely injure. The most one could do is stun, most likely. But that didn't mean the death eaters were a threat, if anything it made the upcoming battle more intimidating. They weren't level pegged. From Hallie's research the death eaters were much better in combat. The Order? They lacked that skill. They were out of practise, even the auror's in the Order had done little combat lately due to all their efforts being placed onto the marriage law.

Hallie had arrived early to Grimmauld Place, carefully avoiding the portrait of Mrs Black and hurrying downstairs to the long basement-like kitchen. She was standing by the kettle, her wand charmed it to boil and now she was pouring cups of tea (who didn't enjoy a good cuppa).

Hallie hoped the rest of the order would arrive, she had made sure that the timing would suit all of the Order's members. They all needed to be here. They all needed to know what each others abilities were, who would need covering, who would take the lead. They needed to know how to work as a team, how to communicate. This meeting was extremely important. More important than a meeting about the marriage law. Why? Because if the death eaters got hold of the list they could ruin any chance of the Order restoring peace. They'd know who to target. They could cost people their jobs by announcing their affiliation to the Order. Would Miseria Lupin still be allowed to work at Hogwarts as a healer? Would Hallie herself be fired from her auror position in the ministry? Did the death eaters know she was the leader? Hallie hoped not, it would certainly work in their favour if the death eaters were none the wiser of who had taken control of the Order (they would no doubt be aware of Dyllan's resignation). Perhaps they would overlook Hallie, believe it to be someone older, perhaps Khaat Lupin herself? Whatever the death eaters thought, whatever the death eaters intentions were the Order needed to be prepared for battle at any moment.

Placing the tray of mugs of tea and a jar of sugar on the table Hallie looked up as members of the Order began to pile in, talking to their friends, smiling politely to Hallie and taking their seat.

To make it short and simple, Order meetings were not Matt's favourite day of the year. As they only ever seemed to have one or two a month. [sarcasm]So when the owl came with the fantastic news that there would be one with the new leader he was overjoyed.[/sarcasm] He had previously spoken to Hallie Rookwood and she seemed like a nice enough young woman. But he doubted she knew what she was getting into. There was a curse with leading The Order of the Phoenix. Nobody lasted longer than 6 months and some barely broke 3, himself included. But perhaps this time would be different for everyone. Just this once, maybe she would make a difference. He would place his hope in the Order for once last time. Despite the fact that every fibre of his body was screaming at him for even setting foot on the street outside Grimmauld Place. As a favour to Jack he had promised he would stick around and train the members.

The only reason they had picked him to train was because he'd seen the most action. He'd also received the most amount of injuries and caused the most amount of damage to the world money wise. But he couldn't help but recognize he was proficient in defensive magic and using his surroundings to aid him in his battles. He'd lost a few battles but always seemed to win the war. And it was nothing to cry over.

He reluctantly took his first few steps towards Grimmauld place and let the area wash over him like a shower of memories. It had been almost a year exactly since he had last stepped foot in Grimmauld place. The last time he was at a meeting he was trying to keep Jack alive and maintain Order. Everyone on the outside was exactly the same as he remembered. The building was old and dusty; it looked like it hadn't been rained on or cleaned in any way in over 50 years. Although people like Albus Dumbledore and Sirius Black probably had better things to do than wash a building that 99% of the population couldn't see anyway. He nearly ran into the front door he was so lost in his pointless thoughts. He lifted his wand and pointed it at the handle, it opened for him. He was stepping foot in Grimmauld place for one of the last times, or so he hoped.

He wasted no time walking down the hallway and into the kitchen. Anything to avoid the less than wonderful memories of pacing the halls worried sick about Jack and Nemo. Or the countless hours he lived in the house when he was homeless. If it hadn't been for Jess around that time he may have ended up dead somewhere. That was far before he had really gotten out there in the wizarding world. Of course he knew now that the less friends you had the better. Constant Vigilance as Mad Eye Moody used to say, bless his soul.

"Trust Nobody." Matt thought to himself as he entered the kitchen to Grimmauld Place.

You're going to lose your job, Marcus thought as he stood outside of 12 Grimmauld Place. Aurors were disallowed from participating in any activities related to the Order of the Phoenix. He had been attempting to keep his distance from the organization, but that distance was short-lived.

From what he had heard, the group was under new leadership. Jack had resigned and so someone else was in charge. Glad I missed that meeting, he thought. His eyes scanned the dusty, aged building that was invisible to muggle eyes. It had been a long time since he visited the skeleton of a house.

Most of Marcus' time had been consumed enforcing the Marriage Law. He himself has been occupied trying to comply with its rigid regulations. In his opinion, the Ministry should get someone else to do the enforcing. When he was a NEWT student, Marcus didn't exactly imagine the duties of an auror consisting of escorting angry, middle-aged people to Azkaban for not getting married quick enough. But, that was the call of duty.

The sun beat down on his brown hair. It was a hot day. Too hot to be standing outside contemplating the consequences of being discovered to be an Order member by his boss. He took a deep breath and walked inside of the house. Down the hallway, there stood two people. The woman he recognized from the Ministry. She was also an auror. But he had never formally introduced himself to either of them.

"I'm Marcus," he said to both of them with his hand extended.

Mari was sitting in a chair, resting when she recieved the notification from the Order, or more precisely from the new leader of it. The name of the sender didn't ring any bells, it looked unfamiliar and yet the last name seemed to remind her of something or rather someone, she just couldn't remember who that was. The content of the letter surprised her, she didn't remember if they ever trained among themselves.

It suited her very well, even though she was an expirienced fighter, she didn't practice much since she left England apart from mock duels with her husband in her grandfather's attic. Even there, they had to be careful not too make much noise for they were surrounded by muggles who worked on the ranch, not 100 meters away..

The Grimauld place didn't change much at all, it was still same dusty old house with narrow corridors and Mrs. Black's portrait hanging behind an even dustier curtain. After she basiclly sneaked through the corridor to the little kitchen in the cellar, she entered the door finding not one but three people around the dining table.

The first one she recognized immediately and smiled. "Hey Matt, I've not seen you in like forever, I hope you have been well.." she said cheerfully, she was pleased to see him. The next one she saw was Marcus. "Marcus.." she nodded in his direction having been introduced to him already when she came back to UK. She doubted that Khaat would make an appearance especially because she doubted that she was capable to fight at the present moment.

The third person however was unfamiliar looking. Being the only girl in the room, she assumed that was Hallie Rookwood, the new leader. Mari was an old member, since she was 16 so she saw a lot of leaders come and go, the last one being Jess Potter who she was married to. "You must be Hallie, I don't believe we met before. My name is Mariana Diggory, but friends call me just Mari." she said approaching the girl who was pouring tea. Perhaps a cup of it, was a good idea.

“You’re going to die a horrible, painful death.”

Truer words had never been spoken with a cigarette betwixt a set of lips. Augustus Rookwood had curled his fingers around the body of the cigarettes and had taken it from his mouth with an audible pop, sending bilious rings into the air as a steady smirk crossed his lips. Before him, his nephew Theodore had fidgeted awkwardly in the seat he’d taken, fiddling with his tie, his cufflinks and his hair. Augustus had chuckled, Theodore had despaired. Both knew that the ground upon which the young man now trod was perilous yet they were all in the unique position of understanding that their cards were now better than ever; as Death Eaters, they had never, ever had a better hand.

For the first time in years, decades, Number 12, Grimmauld Place was open to a Death Eater. The Mark had been shrouded beneath deep magic for as long as he’d had it but now that deception was all the more important as Theodore stood across the road from the urban manor house. He took in the old windows, the moth eaten curtains peeking from around the stark, white frames and he eyed ruefully the front door which was imposing and so very indicative of the people who had called that place home. The Black Family was partly belonging to his own. He had a right to the house just as the Potters did, as the Malfoys did – as every other Pureblood family did.

Unfurling his fingers from his palms, Theodore skipped over the road, passing behind an old Peugeot that was spraying water over the pavement he’d been stood on. Licking his lips, Theodore bobbed up the steps and knocked on the door, gaining admittance for himself. Once inside he shrugged off his light, summer coat to ward off the rain and folded it over his arm, gaping at the expansive hall that was not unlike his own quarter of the home he had grown up in. There was a taste, he realised, which all Purebloods seemed to share. Though, of course, it might have been because both places were built at a similar time. For whatever reason, it all felt too similar for comfort.

Stepping through the hall, Theodore opened the door of what he presumed to be the kitchen if his father’s recollections of a time when they all used to crowd in there, when it was still a home, were accurate. Upon opening it he found the Order of the Phoenix. All of them, milling around chatting about everything and nothing, drinking tea and smiling. Theodore felt his stomach drop into his shoes and he ducked his head, skating through the small throng of people to his wife.

“Hello love,” he murmured, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek as he dropped his coat onto the back of her chair.

His hand fell to Hallie’s back for a moment and he recollected himself by smoothing his fingers across the material of her shirt. He swallowed heavily, then he spotted the tea. Theodore made himself up one – which really consisted of adding a liberal amount of sugar to a cup – and did the same for Hallie before sitting down beside her, schooling his features to an expression of muted interest as he sipped at his tea. He felt so woefully out of place. Yet, he was there for a reason – a double-edged one: to keep Hallie safe and, as you’d imagine, to trade secrets with the Death Eaters.

He really was going to die a horrible, painful death.

She closed the front door still not sure enough is she on the right address. She has never been in the headquarter of the Order, and the fact this will be her first meeting made her nervous.
In the words of her mother's diary this should be a lobby, on the wall to the left of her should hung a portrait of her mother's aunt, her great aunt, hidden with curtains. She looked around to see if she's right, and here it is, hidden with worn-out floral curtains. She never met her, but she doubted that Mrs. Black would be thrilled with her, she's not pure blood(ed(?)).

She started following some wizards who have just passed through the doors closest to her all the while praying that it leads to the kitchen, not in the men's room. Yep, it's kitchen, she almost laughed with relief. Kitchen was marked as a place where the meeting was held, or at least, so it was written on paper that has been given to her together with the address.

The room was full of witches and wizards, some were seated at a long table with bottles of butterbeer in their hands and the others stood around the table while talking to each other. After quick view of the faces she concluded that she doesn't know them.

She assumed that the blond witch who is currently engrossed in conversation with some man must be Hallie Rookwood, a relatively new head of the Order. She hasn't met her yet, maybe she should go and introduce oneself now… No, she'll do that after the end of the meeting, there are far too many people around her, she decided and leaned against the wall.

Mari felt a little awkward as a man she never met before entered and gave Hallie a kiss while she was introducing herself to her. As he sat down, she couldn't help but wonder how such an intimidating looking guy ended up as their member yet she was inconspicous in her observations. Suddenly she felt out of place and looked after a distraction after she greeted the unknown wizzard. Hallie would probably explain everything to them after everyone arrived and the man himself didn't seem much more comftable either.

As another unknown person walked inside, she was happy to have an exuce to give them some privacy without waiting for Hallie's reply. Too many things have changed, Matt was the only familiar looking face in the room. Mari walked to the latest arrival who leaned awkwardly against a wall. She took the same pose next to her before she spoke in order to look more casual and relaxed. "Hello you must be either new or joined after I left England some year and a half ago. My name is Mari.Actually it's Mariana, but everybody calls me Mari" she greeted her not too loudly as she watched her surroundings. If she was going to catch up with the lost time, she planned to start doing it soon.

Familiar faces began to traipse in, smiling at Hallie before taking their seat. However a fair few of the Order members seemed to be as alien to Hallie as she was to them. Maybe a few of them had been travelling, away from the country or busy. The Order had been rather quiet for the past year and a half, lying low.

'Hi Marcus, Mari! I'm Hallie, it's nice to meet you.' Hallie replied with a friendly smile, shaking both of their hands. She'd heard their names from other members in the Order and Hallie was positive that she'd spoken to Marcus on an odd occasion whilst training to become an auror but it was nice to finally be properly introduced. Perhaps the Order were more accepting of her leadership than she presumed? Mariana seemed friendly enough, a part of Hallie guessed they would get on quite well. Especially as Mariana told Hallie friends call me Mari. If she didn't plan on befriending Hallie this would she really have brought it up at all?

More faces entered the room. One of which she recognised fairly well. Theodore Rookwood, her husband. It had taken some convincing to make him join up with the Order but she was happy that he had accepted her invitation. It made sense. The pair would be able to go on missons together, discuss things over at home. It certainly made for keeping her secrets easier now she had somebody else to tell. Plus, Hallie was glad he hadn't inherited the death eater streak of his family... If only she knew.

Allowing Theodore to kiss her Hallie smiled before picking up the mug of tea that he had made for her, adding her usual two and a half sugars.

When the final person entered the room Hallie walked across, down the hallway to check the front door was closed, then carefully shut the kitchen door behind her as she made her way to the head of the table.

So this was it, her first meeting. Gosh. Had you told Hallie this time last year she would not only be married, pregnant, an accomplished auror and leader of the Order of the Phoenix she'd have laughed and bet all her galleons away to say that prediction wasn't accurate. Thankfully she hadn't made that bet.

'Thank you all for coming.' Hallie began, looking around at everyone in the room as their voices died down and their attention was soon brought onto Hallie. 'A few of you will have known me before, some met me last week and a few of you-' Her eyes now resting on Mari in particular, '-Have returned from a length of absence. It's good to know you all still have faith in the Order and I believe that we can make a difference.'

There was no need to go over what she said last meeting during her introduction as leader, as encouraging as her statement may have been the needn't waste time dwelling on flowery introductions. The order had business to attend to.

'As you may, or may not, know both the Order and the Death Eaters each have a hut in the Forest of Dean. The hut contains a list of all members names and is protected by powerful enchantments. It is unknown whether the death eaters are aware that we too have a hut, but I think it's safe to assume that they do. This meeting will be to discuss a plan of action regarding this and to do some training.'

'I must warn you before we start. The huts and their surroundings in the forest are protected by heavy, ancient enchantments. No spell that can kill or induce severe physical or mental pain can be cast in the region. That means we'll be going back to basics. Relying on our OWL level jinxes and hexes.'

'Upon finding out about the huts detection spells were placed within the forest. If anybody enters the forest of dean then we will be given a signal. I'm instructing you not to enter the Forest until we receive the signal. Once I receive the signal from the detection spell I will message you all by patronus to inform you that, assuming it is death eaters, that death eaters are in the forest. Although we don't know for certain the death eaters are aware of these huts we should assume that they know as much as us. If that is true then chances are they  most likely have detection spells set up too to warn them of our presence.'

'Before we press on does anybody have any questions about the magic around the forest? Or does anybody have any information regarding the death eaters and if they are aware about the situation?'

(ooc: I figured I'd get the thread moving. Anybody who hasn't arrived can still join in!)

Mari felt Hallie's gaze on her, but her face remained expressionless. The only change she made in her stance was moving from the wall she was leaning on. Her mind was absorbing the new piece of information, she did know about the Forest of Dean, but only from a general view. Nobody actually brought it up in so many details. Her brow furrowed at the thought of Death Eaters having the same, and their detection spells did not sound friendly at all.

Whilst she thought this training, meeting or whatever it was, sounded like just practice, the whole thing came to all new level. "I have a question Hallie.." she spoke up thoughtful. "If Death Eater detection spells detect us, does that mean we might be in for a fight with them?" she asked worried. Fear was not on her list of traits, and she was a good fighter, but she wondered how would impromptu confrontation with their enemies go, especially since they had no idea of their numbers.

Hallie glanced once again to Mari. She had a question, a good question with a not so good answer. Indeed once either the death eaters or Order members were detected no doubt a fight would break out. The fight would be the problem. How would the fight end? Until one side is entirely defeated and the list of members from their hut was seen? The huts couldn't be destroyed nor could the lists be removed according to Jack. All Hallie could predict is that the upcoming fight would be more concerning than anybody could imagine.

'Yes.' Hallie replied simply, pausing for a moment to let that fact sink in. To allow everybody to become on board with the fact there would, at some point, be a battle. 'The death eaters are more experienced than us when it comes to one-on-one combat. Most of them don't hold down jobs and are petty criminals. They know how to operate stealthily and slyly. They are more streetwise than us and that could be an advantage when it comes to battle.'

'It is that reason why none of you are to go into the Forest of Dean until you receive my patronus. We need to let the death eaters enter first. At the moment it is a cold war and the longer we can keep it that way the more time we have to practice and improve our dueling skills.'

Now seemed a perfect enough time to warn them the severity of the battle, what could be caused.

'I don't know how the battle will end. The unforgivables and overly-offensive magic wont work so thankfully it wont be a fight to the death. It will, however, be a fight until one side finds the others hut and sees their list. That is all that's needed.'

'There are people here who have full time jobs that they've worked hard for. There are people who have careers-' Her eyes fell on the singer Viola Roosevelt who was sat towards the back of the room '-that could be ruined in the death eaters made it public who is an Order member.'

Then she smiled.

'Likewise that can be said for the death eaters. The death eaters are a lot more disliked and their names being announced would be a lot worse for them than it would be for us. None the less I think we would all like our affiliation to the Order be kept private. We don't want to be targeted by the death eaters.'

'Anymore questions?'