The Order of the Phoenix and the Love Song Medley

By: Griselda La Fey

 

Disclaimer:

(Applies for the whole story) As usual, J.K. Rowling owns the characters. I’m just borrowing them and will return them afterwards in their original state (the chess pieces might be a little hoarse though)

 

Author’s Notes:

I don’t know were this came from. I hope you will enjoy it!

 

Thanks to Althenia McGonagall for beta-reading this >”<

 

***

Prologue:

 

Harry, Ron and Hermione looked around them in wonder as they were pushed inside the living room of Grimmauld Place. The Order meeting was just over and the three friends had seen how Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall had left the house. Then Mrs. Weasley had come and fetch them, saying that the Order needed to speak with them. And here there were.

 

The members of the Order looked at them gravely. Remus Lupin’s usually pleasant face showed barely concealed anger. Good natured looking Mr. Weasley looked equally upset.

 

“You have been called downstairs to this meeting of the Order of the Phoenix”, Alastor Moody began in a slow, dragging voice, “because we have a special assignment for you”.

 

“If this is an Order meeting, then why have Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall already left?” Hermione asked curious.

 

“Hush’, Moody continued gravely, “this matter concerns them and therefore they are not to know about it”.

 

Harry and Ron stared at each other blankly.

 

“Forty years!” Moody said, his voice raising steadily, “for forty years they have denied the truth, denied the obvious and denied the righteous thing!”

 

“Here here”, the rest of the Order shouted in agreement.

 

‘For forty years”, Moody continued, “they have been driven us insane with their denial. But not anymore! We will not take it any longer!”

 

The other members of the Order were nodding in fierce agreement. Harry, Ron and Hermione began to feel slightly anxious.

 

“We will ACT!” Moody roared. “And therefore”, he continued towards the three friends, “we need your help”.

 

                *             *             *

 

                                                          The One and Only Chapter

*             *             *

Minerva McGonagall made her way to Albus Dumbledore’s Office. They were about to have their weekly game of Chess. Over the years, this had grown into a treasured tradition. No matter how busy they were, no matter what was happening, they would meet for a relaxing game of Chess.

‘Well relaxing’, Mineva snorted inwardly, their games often were very competitive. The both of them were excellent Chess players. And both of them didn’t like losing.

 

She knocked on the door of his Office and opened it as he called out “Come in”. He stood near the window, clearing parchment away from the table. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him. He was wearing deep blue robes. She’d always thought that he looked good in dark blue. It brought out the colour of his eyes.

 

“Minerva, dear, how are you?” he asked warmly, moving to the fireplace.

She wished he would stop calling her ‘dear’. She assumed she was dear to him, but only as a friend. Nothing more. She answered him nevertheless.

“I’m fine. How was your meeting with the school governors?”

 

“Just fine”, he answered, busying himself with a kettle. This too was tradition. Before their game of Chess, they would have a cup of tea in front of the fireplace. “They weren’t too happy that I appointed Remus as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher again. They still believe he is dangerous”.

 

Minerva shook her head disbelievingly. “After all the idiots and fouls we’ve had over the years, Remus is the best man for the job”. She sat down on the couch.

 

Albus nodded in agreement. “Absolutely”. He poured her a cup of tea and continued. “Speaking of fouls, the Board wants to press charges against Dolores Umbridge, for hitting those Stunning spells at you, without a warning”.

 

“Do you really feel that is necessary?”, Minerva asked frowning.

Albus glared at her over the rim of his teacup. “Minerva, what she did to you was an illegal and cowardly attack”, he said indignantly, “she could have killed you!”

 

“But she didn’t”, Minerva replied soothingly. With an half smile she added, “You won’t get rid of me that easily, Albus Dumbledore!”

 

Albus reached out and grasped her hand. “She could have permanently damaged your health, Minerva”, he said soberly, “I won’t let her get away with it”.

 

Minerva held her breath. These moments were the hardest. When he looked at her almost almost as if he loved her. She squeezed his hand reassuringly. “I am fine now, Albus, really I am. There is so much going on now. The Order, the war against Voldemort”, she still found it difficult to say his name, “Hogwarts, the students, there are so many things we have to care for. Don’t bother with Dolores Umbridge, she isn’t worth the time or the energy”.

 

Albus still hadn’t let go of her hand. “Minerva”, he began, looking intently at her. Soon he lost himself in her green eyes. The air became heavy with anticipation. Eventually Minerva looked away and broke the mood. “Shall we start on the game?” she asked, in a slightly unsteady voice.

They made their way to the table. Soon they felt back in their comfortable bantering and chatting. Albus moved his pawn and Minerva stared intently at the board. She was determined to win this game. Suddenly she noticed the pawn Albus had just moved stood on the edge of the board, almost falling off. She reached out to move it back, but instead of the feeling the pawn, she felt her fingers brush against Albus’ hand. Quickly, she pulled her hand back and blushed slightly. She looked at Albus and smiled softly, holding his gaze for a long moment.

 


Then she heard a scream from below.

 

Startled she looked down at the Chess board. All the Chess pieces were looking up at them and the black King shook his tiny fist at them. “I’ve had it”, he yelled angrily, “we will not take this anymore”. As if it was a command, the other pieces sat down on the board with a determined look on their faces.

 

Mineva looked bewildered at Albus. “What’s going on here?”

 

“This my dear is a sit- in”, one of the white Bishops told her.

 

“What?” Minerva asked in disbelief. She tried to rise from her chair but discovered she couldn’t. It was as if she was glued to her chair.

 

‘Could you please explain why all of a sudden you are striking?” Albus asked pleasantly.

 

One of the black Knights stood up. “Forty years!” he roared, “for forty years we have watched you, watching each other when you thought the other wasn’t watching. We’ve watched you joking and flirting, we’ve exchanged glances with the portraits on the wall, it’s so obvious”.

 

Albus and Minerva looked at him dumbstruck. The Knight continued to rant, “You are the greatest wizard of our time”, he glared at Albus, “and you don’t even notice”.

 

“Wait a minute”, Minerva began, but then the Knight turned to her. “And don’t even get me started on you, young lady! You probably are the most powerful witch of our time, but you are to shy to face your feelings about him!”

 

Minerva felt the blood drain from her face. The black Knight was pushed away by the White King. “Listen”, he began soothingly, “I know that this might be difficult for you, so we took the liberty to help you out”

 

“Excuse me!” Albus who had been staring at Minerva for the past minute finally snapped out of his trance. But the King rambled on. “Sit down, relax and listen to the advice we have for you!”

 

He clapped his hands and all the pieces moved to the side of the board. “Hey, you are ruining my strategy”, Minerva protested.

 

Suddenly the room went dark. From out of nowhere a pink spotlight fell on the board and four Bishops moved to the middle. The white Bishop stepped in front and suddenly the air was filled with soft music and the Bishop began to sing:

 

Wishing and hoping and thinking and praying

Planning and dreaming,

Each night of his charms

That won’t get him into your arms

 

So if your looking for a love

That you can share

All you got to do is hold him and kiss him

And love him and show him that you care

 

The other three bishops did a matching dance routine,  singing the chorus in a counterpart.

 


Show him that you care, just for him

Do the things that he likes to do.

Wear your hair, just for him

 

The Bishop pulled a tiny wand from her robes and pointed it at Minerva. She muttered an incantation and Minerva felt her bun disappear. Her hair felt freely around her face. Blushing furiously, she didn’t dare to look at Albus. The bishop continued singing.

 

Cause you won’t get him

Hoping and praying

Wishing and hoping

 

Just wishing and hoping and thinking and praying

Planning and dreaming

His kisses will start

That won’t get you into his heart

 

So if your thinking how great true love is

All you got to do is hold him and kiss him

And squeeze him and love him

 

Just do it and after you do,

You will be his.

 

After the four Bishops had ended their song, the other pieces applauded loudly. Minerva only wished the ground would open.

 

The white King moved to the front again. “Now, please turn your attention to the Rooks and Pawns. Feeling as if the bottom had just dropped out of her stomach, Minerva watched as a white Rook and a black rook moved to the front and the other Rooks and pawns gathered around them. A thumping music started and the spotlights turned red, yellow and green.

The black Rook started to sing:

 

I got chills

They are multiplying

And I’m losing control

Cause the power

You’re supplying

Is electrifying

 

Then the white Rook took over

 

You better shape up

Cause I need a man

And my heart is set on you

You better shape up

You better understand

To my heart I must be truth.

 

Then the other pawns and Rooks broke into a weird fifties dance routine, singing loudly

 

You’re the one that I want

Oh oh oh

The one that I want

Oh oh


Honey, the one that I want

Oh oh, the one I need

Oh yes indeed.

 

The enthusiastic singing and dancing continued and Minerva stole a glance at Albus. He was snorting into his beard. Minerva couldn’t help herself. This was so hilarious. Despite herself she began to giggle. By the time the song had ended, tears of laughter were running over her cheeks. “That was wonderful”, she told the Rooks and Pawns. The other pieces glared at them.

 

“That’s the best you could do?” the white King asked disbelievingly.

 

“Hey, it’s GREASE!” one of the Rooks shot back indignantly.

 

“Yes, but it’s not romantic!” the King said exasperated. The other pieces groaned in agreement. The black King moved to the front, muttering, Jeez, man, I'm surrounded by amateurs! You want something done, you've got to do it yourself. First, we got to create the mood”.

 

He too pulled out a small wand and flicked it. All of a sudden Albus and Minerva were surrounded by tree leaves. The silver light of full moon hung above them. Soft tones filled the air. Then the black Knight started to sing: 

 

There you see her

Sitting there across the way

She don't got a lot to say

But there's something about her

And you don't know why

But you're dying to try

You wanna kiss the girl

 

‘Boy is he right’, Albus thought. ‘I would like to kiss her so much. But I’m afraid I won’t get much further then trying before she pushes me away and ends our friendship’.

 

Yes, you want her

Look at her, you know you do

Possible she wants you too

There is one way to ask her

It don't take a word

Not a single word

Go on and kiss the girl

 

‘Could it be possible?’ Albus wondered. ‘Could she feel the same? What if I just tried Lean forward and kiss her I can’t. I can’t take the risk of losing her’.

 

Sha la la la la la

My oh my

Look like the boy too shy

Ain't gonna kiss the girl

Sha la la la la la

Ain't that sad?

Ain't it a shame?

Too bad, he gonna miss the girl

 

‘I don’t want to miss her. What if she feels the same but is, like me, too scared to express those feelings?” I came very close to losing her last year. What if she really dies and I have never told her how I felt? I won’t be able to live with that thought.


 

Now's your moment

Floating in a blue lagoon

Boy you better do it soon

No time will be better

She don't say a word

And she won't say a word

Until you kiss the girl

 

‘This is the perfect atmosphere. She looks wonderful with her hair down. I want to know what it feels like I want to know how it feels to have her in my arms But what if she doesn’t feel the same?’

 

Sha la la la la la

Don't be scared

You got the mood prepared

Go on and kiss the girl

Sha la la la la la

Don't stop now

Don't try to hide it how

You want to kiss the girl

Sha la la la la la

Float along

And listen to the song

The song say kiss the girl

Sha la la la la

The music play

Do what the music say

You got to kiss the girl

You've got to kiss the girl

 

‘Do it. Do it now’, Albus urged himself on. “Don’t be such a coward man! You’ve defeated Grindlewald for Merlin’s sake. Just kiss her’.

 

You wanna kiss the girl

You've gotta kiss the girl

Go on and kiss the girl

 

‘I can’t. I can’t take the risk. The risk of losing her. I rather have the certainty of her friendship then a chance on her love’.

 

The black Knight had ended his song. It remained deadly quiet. The other chess pieces didn’t cheer or applaud. They simply stood there, watching the wizard and witch above them.

Minerva felt glad it was so dark in the room. She felt like her face was on fire. Albus was staring at her. He had been staring at her during the entire song and she had been unable to do anything except stare back. A flicker of hope shoot through her. Could he possibly return her feelings? But when he looked away at the end of the song her hopes faded. ‘He’s just completely and utterly embarrassed’, she thought sadly.

 

After a moment of silence the white and black Queen moved to the middle. The tree leaves disappeared and a single, golden spotlight appeared on the board. Then the white Queen started to sing:

 


I´m scaredso afraid to show I carewill he think me weakIf I tremble when I speak

Oooh - what ifthere´s another one he´s thinking ofmaybe he´s in loveI´d feel like a foolLife can be so cruelI don´t know what to do

‘I feel exactly the same’, Minerva realised. ‘What if he doesn’t love me back? What if he’s in love with somebody else? What should I do? How can I let him know?’

Then the black Queen started the sing. Her voice sounded different, more mature. Like she was older

I´ve been thereWith my heart out in my handbut what you must understandYou can´t let the chanceTo love him pass you by Tell himTell him that the sun and moonrise in his eyesreach out to himand whispertender words so soft and sweethold him close to feel his heart beatlove will be the gift you give yourself

‘I can’t tell him’, Minerva thought shocked. ‘I can’t jeopardise everything we have together. But I want to hold him feel his heartbeat if only life was this simple’

Touch himwith the gentleness you feel inside

your love can´t be denied

the truth will set you free

you´ll have what´s meant to be

all in time you’ll see

I love him

(Then show him)

of that much I can be sure

(Hold him close to you)

I don´t think I could endure

If I let him walk away

When I have so much to say

Love is light that surely glows

in the hearts of those who know

it´s a steady flame that grows

feed the fire with all the passion you can show


tonight love will assume its place

this memory time cannot erase

your faith will lead love where it has to go

 

Never let him go

 ‘I don’t make it without him. I need him. I need his love and I need to love him. I don’t want to let him go’.

 

The chess pieced moved back to their start positions and the room turned very quiet. The golden spotlight disappeared and soon the room was softly illuminated again. Minerva felt that she was no longer glued to her chair and able to move again. Hesitantly she looked at Albus. “Well” she said eventually.

 

“Well indeed”, he agreed.

 

Minerva stood up, unable to endure his stare any longer and moved to the window.

 

Meanwhile Albus’ mind was reeling. What had happened here tonight? The hint of the chess pieces was impossible to miss. But still, did he dare to take the risk? Then the statement of the black Knight at the beginning of the evening flashed through his mind. He glanced at the woman near the window. She was nervously biting her lips, her hands clenched into tight fists. He made his decision. He stood next to her and placed his hand on her arm. He felt her tense at his touch.

 

“Was he right? The black Knight I mean” he asked softly.

 

“About what?” Her voice was just above a whisper.

 

“Do you have feelings for me?” He half dreaded, half anticipated the answer.

 

For a second she debated her answer, considered the option of making a joke and get out of his office.

 

Tell him

If she didn’t do it now, she would never found the courage again.

 

“He was right”, she admitted. “I do have feelings for you I love you”.

 

He didn’t even blink. He just continued to stare at her, his face expressionless. ‘Now I’ve done it’, she thought sadly, closing her eyes. Inwardly she braced herself for his speech. That it was impossible, that it wasn’t right. That there was the school and the Order to think about, that she was too young basically, that he didn’t love her in return. 

 

“Things will never be the same again”. Did she just say that out loud?

 

“No, they won’t”, he agreed

 

She opened her eyes and discovered that his face was only an inch away from hers. She staggered backwards, but he reached out and placed his hands loosely on her waist, pulling her back to him.

 

“They will never be the same again”, he whispered in a soft, tender voice, she had never heard him use before. Slowly his arms slipped further around her waist, drawing her even closer to him. His face moved closer and closer towards hers their lips almost touching’.

 


When an almighty cheer made them jump backwards in total shock. The chess pieces were clapping and cheering frantically. But when they saw how they had interrupted they felt silent.

 

“Bugger, too early”, the black Knight muttered.

 

“Aaaaah!” came a frustrated groan from the portraits on the wall. Phineas was shaking his fist, looking furiously. “Can you believe those idiots?” he roared. “Just when there about to kiss, those fools ruin it by cheering!”

 

“Well, thanks to us they were about the kiss”, the white Queen snapped back angrily. “You’ve watched them for years and done nothing about it”.

 

The chess pieces and portraits continued to rant at each other. Since the both of them had wands, the scene quickly turned nasty.

Albus grasped Minerva’s hand and pulled her with him. He guided her to the door leading to his personal quarters. Once inside he closed the door behind them. He turned around and cupped her cheek, caressing her face lovingly.

 

“Have I already told you that I love you too?” he asked smiling.

 

“You didn’t get the chance”, Minerva answered, moving her hands over his chest.

 

He looked at her seriously. “I love you Minerva McGonagall and I have for a very long time”.

 

Sliding an arm around her he pulled her against him once again, tilting her head up with his other hand. It was finally going to happen. He was finally, finally going to kiss her. Closing his eyes he touched his lips against hers.

 

And was interrupted by a loud cry.

 

“That’s Fawkes, isnt’t it?” Minerva muttered against his lips.

 

“Ignore him”, he answered softly, capturing her mouth in a passionate, long overdue kiss while Fawkes soared above them, hooting happily.

 

“I just wonder about one thing”, Minerva said a whole while later.

 

“What’s that my dear?” Albus asked, running his hand through her hair.

 

“Who has played this trick on us?’

 

---------------------------------------------

Epilogue

Much later Albus and Minerva sat on the couch of his living room, comfortably snuggled up against each other.

 

“I love you Minerva”, Albus told her for the thousands time that evening, kissing her deeply.

 

“Mmmm”, Minerva sighed, wrapping her arms tighter around his neck. “Oh Phineas”.

 

It remained silent for a few moments. Then he muttered, “It’s Albus, dearest”.

 

Minerva snorted into his beard. “I know that. It’s just that Phineas is watching us from that portrait”.

 

“Oh”, Albus replied relieved, wondering how Phineas managed to enter the portrait of his grandmother. He pulled out his wand and maciged a curtain in front of the portrait, blocking the old headmaster’s view. Then he turned his attention back to the woman in his arms.

 

***

“Bugger” Phineas muttered, moving back to his portrait in Grimmauld’s Place. Since it was Friday evening, the house was pretty full. Remus Lupin, Arthur and Molly Weasley, Nymphodora Tonks and Severus Snape gathered around the portrait.

 

“Well?” Molly asked impatiently.

 

“The information the ‘troublesome trio’ (he received a snort from Severus for that) was correct. They had a game of chess tonight and our plan worked. They’re now in his living room, kissing each other senseless”.

 

“Thank you for that mental image, Phineas”, Tonks said dryly.

 

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Molly exclaimed, positively beaming.

 

“Did you see how the chess pieces act?” Arthur asked curiously.

 

“I did”, Phineas nodded. “Severus did a good job on bewitching them. How did you do it anyway?” he asked the Potions master.

 

“It was not that difficult actually”, Snape replied. “It was like the chess pieces wanted to help. All I had to do really was teach them the songs”.

 

“You picked the songs?” Remus asked incredulously.

 

“Then it’s official now”, Phineas muttered darkly. “That man has without a doubt the worst musical taste ever”.

 

Snape choose to ignore that comment. He followed the others to the kitchen, toasting on the success of the Order.

 

Fin

I really, really enjoy feedback. Really!

 

 

Additional disclaimer:

‘Whisin’ and hopin’ and dreamin’ and praying’ comes from the soundtrack album from the movie ‘My Best Friends Wedding’

 

“You’re the One that I Want’ comes from the soundtrack album from the movie ‘Grease’.

 

‘Kiss the Girl’ comes from the soundtrack album of Walt Disney’s movie ‘The Little Mermaind’.

 

‘Tell him’ belongs to Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand.

 

I don’t owe this songs, just using them to get my favourite couple together ;-D