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Chapter 42: Phoenix Society Discussion
The semester passed smoothly, and winter break had begun. Lockhart politely declined Pandora's offer to visit the Minister of Magic, as the Order of the Phoenix was beginning their activities.
Following the instructions on the note, Lockhart arrived at 12 Grimmauld Place. At that moment, the Order of the Phoenix was already well-staffed—Dumbledore, Snape, Professor McGonagall, the Weasleys, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Hagrid, Moody, Black, Tonks, Lupin—and some others whom Lockhart did not recognize. Dumbledore did not seem to plan on introducing them to him.
Lockhart noticed that Tonks appeared to have taken a liking to Lupin and was constantly pestering him, while Lupin remained completely indifferent.
"Alright, apart from a few undercover friends who have endured hardships and those who had to leave unexpectedly, everyone is here," Dumbledore's calm voice silenced the chatter around Lockhart. "First of all, I wish everyone a happy holiday and festive season."
"All signs indicate that Voldemort has returned." The second sentence caused a ripple of tension through the room.
"Of course we are not afraid—the reason we have gathered here is to face Voldemort," Dumbledore said with a knowing wink. "In this matter, we are all experts."
Everyone offered a small smile, though the weight of responsibility pressed on their shoulders.
"In the long struggle against Voldemort, many comrades have sacrificed their lives, and some have suffered permanent injuries," Dumbledore continued, his voice softening as if he were mourning those lost. "Yet we never retreated, and ultimately, we defeated him."
Shameless! It was Harry who defeated Voldemort, Lockhart thought inwardly.
"The blood of our martyrs keeps me ever vigilant," Dumbledore said solemnly, looking around the room.
"Now—Voldemort has returned, and we must remain on high alert. Should he bare his fangs, we will retaliate," Dumbledore said firmly. "As long as I live, the fight will continue!"
Lockhart nearly clapped his hands in admiration…
Dumbledore continued, "However, the prophesied Savior is still a minor, and we must continue to protect him. Of course, the members stationed at the school are already performing admirably, and I hope they will continue to do so. I have arranged personnel to guard Harry over the winter break, and the schedules have been distributed to the relevant parties."
"Blake and Lupin, you two have more free time. Travel to Germany and France, where I have friends. Seek their assistance, whether in the form of documents or material support."
"Hagrid, work on strengthening ties with your non-human allies and try to gain their loyalty. There is no rush—after all, Mystic is still in hiding. Make your move during the vacation."
"Friends in the Ministry of Magic, you are under the greatest pressure and at the highest risk, for if Voldemort intends a comeback, he will surely begin with the Ministry. Stay vigilant, and bring any wrongdoers to justice."
"Those members hidden among the general populace, your mission is to remain concealed and not reveal yourselves. Should anything go awry, you will be the final line of resistance. You must assist the Savior at critical moments to fulfill your mission."
"Finally, I must regretfully remind everyone that once you leave this building, you must refer to him only as the Mysterious Man. This has nothing to do with courage. I do not know whether the dark magic surrounding that name has been restored. For everyone's safety, this small, seemingly cowardly compromise is necessary."
Dumbledore emphasized, "These instructions could have been sent by note, but this is our last gathering of all members. The next meeting will only occur after Voldemort is defeated."
Raising his glass, Dumbledore said, "To our next gathering!"
"Cheers!"
Lockhart gazed at the formidable Order of the Phoenix before him and felt a pang of solemnity. This was a historic moment. He wondered how many lives he could protect, or if he might not even be able to save himself.
Later, Hagrid approached Lockhart after the gathering. "Gidero, you did a brilliant job. That wretched journalist even wrote an article admitting she lied. How did you manage that?"
"Simple. I just rushed to her house, used the Soul-Stealing Curse, and gave her a proper thrashing. She's as docile as a kitten now," Lockhart joked, fully expecting Hagrid to see through it.
But Hagrid's eyes widened in shock as he grabbed Lockhart nervously. "My God, you can't do that! It's illegal! You've already helped me so much, don't go any further! I don't want to see you sent to Azkaban—it's no place for a human being…"
"Let go of me, Hagrid, you're hurting!" Lockhart glared. "You actually believed that kind of joke?"
The Order of the Phoenix did not assign Lockhart any duties, much to his delight, and he enjoyed a peaceful, pleasant winter break.
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This translation:
Keeps all canon-accurate Harry Potter terms and characters
Preserves warm, character-driven narrative tone
Maintains dialogue personality and emotional nuance
Follows the exact pacing and structure of the original
Does not over-polish or skip lines
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