Order of the Phoenix Meeting 13

((Well well well, how shall i overlook this nasty little technicality of "it was taken from us."
Hmm
Well, we placed it under a second fidelius charm, i think, the charm was broken, we replaced it. Not my best work, but meh, there it is. Take it or leave it))

Jess walked into Grimmauld place... well, what was left of it. Following the battle it looked as though the place had been abandoned, half of the floors were missing, as was a section of roof, and signs of battle filled the entire house.

Walking into the kitchen he sighed, there were no chairs to sit at for the moment, large chinks, but no complete ones, the least the Death Eaters could've done would've been to repair the house a little, but they weren't known for convenience, were they.

He withdrew his wand and waved it, watching as the chairs and table put themselves back together, most of them anyway, a few were beyond repair, but luckily the kitchen had taken less of a beating than some of the house.

A repair day was on the cards, that was for sure, for now he'd leave it as it was, it would serve as motivation, he hoped, to fuel the emotions of the others, have them realise what needed to be done.

Sitting at a chair, his was among the "Too far gone" category, and there was no chance of reviving it. He tapped his wand on the table, scorching it a little but he barely noticed it, he was too busy formulating a plan.

Matt had recieved word of another Order meeting; it had been way too long. First meetings were weekly then they were months apart. It was a little annoying but he also craved the meetings. It was the only time Matt actually got to speak with Jess or anyone else these days. But what he wondered the most was why they were having it back at Grimmauld. The Death Eaters knew about it, was there better protection now? He really didn't care all too much but there was still that nagging in the back of his mind. The kind that drove a man insane: "Ask him...ask him...ask him". But Matt shrugged as he tredged across the stony ground of London. He had decided to walk a little before actually going to the meeting.

He was on his fourth or fifth loop around the area that Grimmauld was located in when he figured he should go in. It was getting dark so he watched as the large house or whatever it was sprang out of nowhere. He entered the yard and made his way towards the door. He slid his wand down the door and it clicked open for him. From what he remembered the Death Etears had destroyed the main hallway. But he was wrong they utterly obliterated the main hallway. He was almost a little afraid to enter the kitchen, but he could hear someone moving. He figured it was Jess but thought it to be best to check; he still had his wand out.

He made his way down towards the kitchen and poked his head around the corner of the door. Jess was absentmindedly walking around the kitchen. Matt chuckled a little and returned back to the hallway. It was almost pitch black so he flicked his wand and made a few candles float in the air; lit of course. He walked back towards the kitchen and actually entered. "Hello Jess, it's been a while hasn't it?" he said smiling and loooking around. The kitchen was a mess...but he guessed Jess might've spruced it up a bit.

There were chunks missing from walls. There was a chunk of the table missing. And Jess's chair was practically gone, beyond repair. He grinend slightly; Jess loved that chair. "Well, it could use a bit of a spit-shine.." he said still looking around the kitchen. Surprisingly the main kitchen was almost in tact. The fridge and the stove were missing. Everything else...in it's place. He doubted the Death Eaters stuck around after the Order had retreated. "Oi vey..." he muttered to himself as he took a seat at what was left of a chair.

Sophia gotten a letter from Jess telling her the Order meetings were back in the Grimmauld Place once again. Wondering why at the Grimmauld Place seeing how the Death Eaters knew of the place now and it could be dangerous. "Maybe it's under better protection now."said Sophia shrugging to herself as she gotten her traveling cloak and apperated to the Grimmauld Place. Looking at the at the 'suppose' house that was between number eleven and thirteen as the house appeared Sophia walked up towards it alittle afraid to go in.

Opening the door she started having flashbacks of that horrible night when the Death Eaters attacked them. Walking through the destroyed Hallway she kept her wand out and ready just incase something moved on her. Walking through the house she closed her eyes as flashbacks of the battle hit her every step that she took. Everything was still pratically destroyed from the table in the kitchen to the hallway that she was walking through carefully. Walking up towards the kitchen she hoped she didn't scare anyone that was in the kitchen to much.

Sophia was very cautioness about things now days seeing how she was on her own now days or so it seemed. Peeking around the corner of the kitchen she smiled when she seen it was only her father and Jess sitting at the table or shall she say half table. "Hello Jess and daddy, long time no see.'said Sophia softly giving them a soft warm smile. Taking a seat in a chair that was still half waay decent to sit in beside her father she looked around the kitchen and sighed. Sophia wondered if they were going to fix the place or leave it how it was, surely Jess would have it fix.

Brian arrived at Grimmauld with Khaat beside him. This was the first that she had been voluntarily out of the house since Rob and Jen and the others had rescued her from her kidnapper. Seh didn't have her magic back yet, except for her healing skills. She hadn't gotten her voice back, but Brian and Robert both believed that she needed to be out of the house again and to start living again. Today, he'd bought Khaat and himself each large paper cups of French Roast, and they were bringing them along to Grimmauld Place.

Brian looked over the flat as they entered, and he noticed Khaat was looking over what it was now, so far from what it had been at one time. He heard Khaat sigh heavily. He knew what she was thinking. She wanted Grimmauld restored. They walked in and went through to the kitchen. There was something safe and sacred about Grimmauld that was symbollic to the Order, and they were both glad to have the place back again.

The question was, what would the Order do now? How would it refocus and where would it put its importance? And with Robert now as the minister, would it change the relationship between the Ministry and the Order. There were important questions to be answered.

"Hey, All," Brian said. "Khaat's a rather quiet companion, but she does need to start getting back into life again, so I brought her. I do believe Robert is coming, as soon as he can get free at St. Mungos. At least he said he was. How are you all?"

Jess looked up and saw Matt walk in, "G'day," he said with a weary smile, standing and shaking Matt's hand. "How are you man?" He asked, "It's been too long, needed to get my act together," he told him with a small chuckle at the end, he then saw Soph and smiled again, "Hey Soph," he said, walking over and giving her a hug, "It's good to see you," he told her, "i'm sure the two of you're wondering why we're here, well, i'll explain it when people get here, but it is safe, i assure you," he told them firmly, he didn't want them freaking out or anything.

He then smelt that familiar smell of french roast coffee and chuckled again. "Hello khaat," he said just before she and Brian walked into the room, "G'day to you too Brian," he added, nodding to the man. "How are you today khaat?" He asked kindly, "Feeling any better?" he asked, the question directed both at Brian and Khaat, as he doubted that she would be up to speaking. "All will be revealed, by the way," he added, gesturing around the room.

It'd be a long week, that was for sure, but he knew that they'd be able to fix the place up, it would be nice, the house was gettin dusty before anyway, so what they did should improve the house greatly, he thought.

Matt looked up and saw Soph walk in, he quickly stood and hugged her before she sat down. "You need to stob by home more missy." he said quietly and grinning. "Always out with that Lucas boy. Have you mentioned that I'm your father?" he asked her holding back laughter. He returned to his seat but was standing once again when Brian and Khaat entered. The smell of Khaat gave them away before they entered but all the same. If that last sentence even made sense. He looked at Khaat and gave her a weak smile, "I heard Blaire's back.." he said grinning to Khaat. He nodded at Brian "Hello Brian, good to see you again." He looked at Jess as though saying, 'We'll be the ones left to clean it up.' and smiled quickly.

He didn't sit back down at his spot again. No doubt if he did he would repeat sitting and standing over and over. Apparently every member was supposed to be coming to the meeting. He was a little worried though, Emmy was home alone with the twins. "Oh Jess, Emmy is going to be able to make it. The twins are putting up a bit of a fuss. At least they were before she practically threw me out yelling at me to get to the meeting. " he told him remembering it abruptly. He found his eyes drifting towards the-well what was left of, the fireplace. "Anyone care to help me fix the fireplace?" he asked everyone in the room; pulling out his wand.

He pointed it at the fireplace, "If I get someone else to help it should work much better." he said chuckling.

Khaat nodded at Jess. She was feeling better. She was glad to be out and felt more human by being out and active again. The bruises were fading, and all in all, she felt good. She took a seat at the table, and Brian took out a shrunken pad of paper and a pen out of his pocket, put it on the table in front of Khaat and, using his wand, restored it to its normal size. She smiled at hearing Blaire was back. Blaire had a way of coming into her life and then suddenly leaving it again, but she was always glad when he found hihs way back. She liked having him around.

"Need anything else?" Brian asked her quietly. She shook her head. She was fine now. She didn't need anything.

"I'll help you with the fireplace, Matt," Brian said. "Oh, Jess, Robert said something about a scroll he took? Said its safe and he'd bring it back when you wanted it. Does that make any sense?"

He took a drink out of his cup of French Roast and then put in on the table at the place just to Khaat's left. Khaat knew what the scroll was. It was Sirius' family tree. Her father had taken it right off the wall and had kept it for safekeeping. It was not something that Robert had wanted seen lost. It was just a piece of wallpaper, but it had sentimental value. A symbol of people they had loved and lost. And it belonged back here when the house was ready for it. When Jess was ready for it.

Sophia hugged Jess back. "Long time no see Jess, how have you been?"Sophia asked him softly as she noticed alot more people entered. Letting go of Jess she turned to Brian and Khaat who she haven't seen in forever as well. "Hello Brian and Khaat, long time no see how have you two been?"Sophia asked them softly not seeing any of them in a long time. Sophia turned to her father and laughed her tinkling bell laugh and hugged him. "Sorry daddy, I'll make sure I'll stay at home more often to help you and mom out with the twins more."said Sophia softly.

"When I stopped by there daddy the mom was still trying to put James into his high chair while Madison was throwing food across the room!"said Sophia chuckling. Sophia loved her brother and sister to death it was a pity she didn't spend more time with them. "I'll help you with the fireplace as well daddy, seems like a long time since I helped you with anything."said Sophia softly.

Mariana was surprised to find out their headquaters has become grimauld place once again as the last time they had a meeting it was held at number 4 privet drive. It's been a while since she was here. As she entered the house it was obvious it was missing alot of things. Even the lamp she threw at one of death eaters and broke it was still laying on the floor like it was yesterday.

When she noticed the map, her wand was already in her hand sending sparks to repair at least one part of what was ruined. "Good morning folks.." she said as she walked into the room looking around to try and memorize everything else that was broken on the floors and everywhere else. "This place looks like a huricane passed.." she commented before she took a seat on the closest chair still observing the house from ceiling to floor.

"If you need help fixing this ... uhh dump is a good expression right now, just let me know.."Mari added not having intentions to insult the house though it was obviously looking like a dump.

Michael had not gone to Grimmauld Place since the Second Wizarding War, or shortly thereafter. He'd had no reason, and his life had taken a different turn since way back then. Robert had talked him into going back though, and today, he saw Robert approaching Grimmauld from the opposite direction.

"Nervous?"Robert asked him as they approached the front door.

"No," Michael said. "Hoping our young Sirius keeps firewhiskey in the house. Or at least good coffee."

"FIrewhiskey, yes. Coffee, sometimes," Robert said. "He owns the Leaky." Robert opened the door, and Michael followed him inside. Hm. Sirius had been no housekeeper, and this man seemed to be even less. The place was a mess. He frowned. He saw Robert turn and look back at him. "Don't judge him on that, Mike. Duel wreckage only. It really did look a lot better not too long ago....." Robert's voice was interrupted by the shrill voice of Walburga Black shrieking.

"Ooohhh! It's back! You let that scallywag back into my house!.,.." the voice shrieked in irritation.

Michael strode into the family room where Walburga's portrait hung. "Oh, shut it, you old bat," he sighed. "I never liked you either."

"Quit harassing the artwork," Robert laughed. Michael followed Robert through into the kitchen. Well, that much had not changed. "Sorry I'm a wee bit late, all," Robert apologized. "I'd like you to meet an old Hogwarts mate of mine. This is Michael Tremaine. He is an experienced operative, and we may find him useful again. I've asked him to rejoin the Order."

"Hello, All," Michael smiled.