Chapter Text
Of all the things Harry expected to come from a last-ditch midnight rescue at the Ministry of Magic, a trap probably should have been at the top of the list. It had been agonizing, knowing that he had doomed all of his friends, and probably given Voldemort the key to conquering the Wizarding World. And when Bellatrix had struck Sirius…the memory of seeing him flying back towards the Veil was enough to make him choke.
But then probably the last thing anyone expected happened. A woman had flown out of the Veil colliding with Sirius and sent them both tumbling in a heap on the ground. The rush of relief confusion and terror was enough to make Harry forget everything and run to his god-father. He had been fine, and Harry’s heart still rushed in relief at the knowledge that the man he loved as family was alive and safe. Then he had gotten a good look at the woman.
She was…strange. She was dressed in an all-black body suit and wore silver gauntlets. Harry thought she looked like one of the Muggle superheroes from the TV shows his cousin Dudley watched. She had called herself Daisy, and she sounded American. But those were the only two things that Harry could say were “normal” about her.
She most certainly wasn’t a witch. She hadn’t even known what a wand was. But she was without a doubt powerful. She fought like nothing Harry had ever seen, dodging spells, sending people flying with a wave of her hand. She flicked her wrist and turned Bellatrix’s wand into dust! She killed a man with a jab of her fingers! It was amazing, terrifying, and altogether unbelievable.
But all of that was nothing compared to what she had done next. It was all so clear in Harry’s mind; the moment Voldemort entered the chamber. The cold, the fear, the power the dark wizard held clung to him even now that he was safe and sound at Hogwarts. Harry knew that Daisy was aware of Voldemort’s power. He had seen it in the way she studied him, and in the way she coiled her muscles in preparation for a fight. And yet…she had taunted him! She had taunted Voldemort! Flat out insulted him and drawn him into a dual…and she had won.
It was undeniable. Daisy Coulson-Johnson, the woman who had fallen through the Veil of Death, had defeated Voldemort. She had destroyed his spells, turned his weapons to dust, thrown off his Imperious Curse, sent him flying across the room, and made him bleed. She had made the Dark Lord bleed. Harry could hardly believe it, and he had been there! If Dumbledore had not walked in at that precise moment and distracted her…
“Will you stop that!” Ron cried from his place on the bed. “You’re going to wear a hole through the floor!”
Harry looked around at his roommates. The other three boys, Dean, Seamus, and Neville all nodded watching him nervously, as he paced back and forth. “Sorry,” he muttered. “It’s just…a lot you know. I’m still not even sure what happened.”
“It was pretty incredible,” Neville said. “Who was she?”
“She called herself the Destroyer of Words!” Ron said in awe, “Do you think she’s some sort of magical creature, or god, or something?”
“I still can’t believe you three were stupid enough to go fight You-Know-Who,” Seamus muttered.
“And without us!” Dean cried, “What happened to the DA?”
“It was kind of a last minute plan,” Harry said sitting down at the foot of his bed, “I’m sorry we couldn’t get to you. We didn’t exactly have time.”
“That!” Seamus said pointedly, “Was probably you’re first clue that you should have at least brought the whole DA.”
“We would have all gone,” Dean insisted, “You know we would have.”
Harry blushed and bowed his head. “We didn’t have time,” he muttered, “At least I didn’t think we had. Merlin’s Beard! I’m an idiot. I should have known it was a trap!”
“What I want to know,” Ron said in an attempt to lighten the mood, “Is why that Daisy woman called Dumbledore ‘Gay Gandalf’ and why you and Hermione thought it was so funny?”
Seamus choked on his laughter saying, “She said that?”
Harry felt a faint smile tugging at his lips and nodded, “Yeah, she also said Voldemort,” everyone flinched at the name, “Looked like a white mouse abomination…to his face.”
Dean and Seamus’s eyes bulged, their mouths falling open. They then begged for the story for the third time that night, but this time begging for every last word the strange woman had said. “She was clearly from the Muggle World then,” Seamus said furrowing his brow, “I mean how else would she know about Gandalf and lab rats.”
“It would also explain why she had never heard of You-Know-Who before,” Ron nodded.
Harry shook his head, “I’ve never seen a muggle dressed like her before unless it was in the movies. Besides her powers were…” He remembered the site of Dumbledore and Daisy containing the hellfire in a prism of glass and water. It had been a display of power that Harry doubted anyone could match. It was as beautiful as it was terrifying. “She was very powerful.” Harry finally said.
Ron and Neville nodded, and from the looks on their faces, Harry could tell that they were going through their own memories of the strange woman’s other worldly powers. Finally, Dean cleared his throat, “So what now?”
Harry shrugged, “I don’t know. Madame Pomphrey told us to go straight to our rooms and wait.”
“I’m sure Dumbledore will want to talk to us,” Neville said in quiet voice, “Especially you Harry.”
Harry gave that some thought and shook his head. Dumbledore had been ignoring him all year. Purposefully avoiding him and passing him off to Snape of all people. Even if Dumbledore did want to talk to Harry. Harry wasn’t sure he wanted to talk to Dumbledore. He was still a roiling mess of guilt, shame, relief, wonder, and probably a hundred other emotions he was forgetting to name. But mostly he was just tired. Between sacrificing Umbridge to the centaurs and the fight at the Ministry, Harry was exhausted. And yet he doubted that he would be able to sleep, even if he could try.
However, before Harry could make up his mind on exactly what he wanted to do, the decision was made for him, as Dumbledore walked into the dorm. All of the boys straightened at the sight of the kindly old man whose eyes twinkled at seeing them all safe and sound. “Good evening gentlemen, do you mind if I borrow Harry for a moment? I think it’s high time you all try and get some sleep.”
And just like that, all of the fifth year boys rushed to gather their night things, as Harry was pulled through the door as if by an invisible string. He followed Dumbledore through the castle as the paintings slept and the armor creaked. Neither of them said a word until they had come to the headmaster’s office, and by that time Harry’s churning gut had settled on three distinct emotions. Shame, anger, and curiosity.
As they entered the office, Harry noticed that it had been repaired since the last time he was there, and Fawkes had returned to his perch. It eased something in Harry to see everything back in its rightful place, even if everything else was so confusing. Still, he said nothing as he took his chair across the desk from Dumbledore. Finally, it was the headmaster who spoke first.
“Before we begin Harry, I want you to know how proud I am of you.” Harry started and studied the Professor’s aging face. His lips were turned in a small smile. His eyes twinkled with mirth. Harry couldn’t find any deception in them, and yet…
‘Sir,” Harry said slowly, “I’m afraid I don’t understand. I led my friends straight into a trap. I almost got Sirius killed! If it hadn’t been for Daisy—”
“Yes,” Dumbledore said gently, “All of that did happen. But you also ran to the rescue of a loved one. You trained your friends so that they were able to stand against fully trained and grown wizards. You kept the prophecy from falling into Voldemort’s hands. Even if you were tricked, you did incredibly well. And I am proud of you.”
“You’ve been avoiding me,” Harry said his voice trembling with frustration. Mostly frustration at himself, but also for the man in front of him. “All year, you’ve been avoiding me! Letting Umbridge do whatever she liked! And now you want to say you’re proud of me?!”
“Harry,” Dumbledore said. His expression twisted as if Harry’s words had caused him actual pain. “I am sorry. I have failed you. I have forgotten what it means to be young, and in doing so I have failed to prepare you for this. And for that I am sorry.”
Harry only stared as the sky began to lighten through the window. Dumbledore took that as a sign to continue. “I know Professor Snape explained to you how you are connected to Voldemort through your scar. And that Voldemort would attempt to possess and manipulate you as he did tonight. Well, it was because of that connection, that I grew afraid. I was afraid, that if took control of your training, then it would be more incentive for Voldemort to possess you. Not to my destruction, but to yours. He thought that I might sacrifice you, to destroy him. It was one of the many reasons he drew you out this night.”
Harry’s stomach twisted uncomfortably at the realization, the horror of the trap he had almost fallen to. “If it hadn’t been for Daisy, what would have happened?” he said.
“What would have happened?” Dumbledore said with a faint smile, “We cannot know. But please rest assured my boy, that I would have done everything in my power to save you and stop Voldemort. As for Miss. Johnson, well,” Dumbledore leaned back in his chair as he stroked his beard. There was a distant look in his eye, as if whatever he was seeing in the middle ground was as amusing as it was confusing. “I do not pretend to understand everything that she is or claims to be. However, I do believe that she is important to the war that is to come.”
Guilt and anger were pushed aside, as Harry leaned forward. He desperately needed to know more about this woman. Anyone who could make Voldemort bleed was someone he desperately wanted to know. And if her speech against the vitriol Voldemort had spewed was anything to go by, then the likely hood of her being an ally was high. “What do you mean Professor?” Harry asked, all curiosity and hope.
Dumbledore turned back to him, the twinkle in his eye growing brighter as he said, “Tell me Harry. Before you destroyed the prophecy, did you hear what it said?”
Alastor Moody liked to believe he was a practical man. Paranoid, yes. But it was warranted paranoia given the times that they lived in. Still he knew his purpose, and he knew the best way to accomplish it. People did not have to like him for it, as long as they stepped aside and let him get the job done. In this, he recognized a kindred spirit in this Daisy Johnson, from the moment she started threatening to tear You-Know-Who’s limbs off. She was a fighter, like him. And she was practical, like him. Which was why Moody knew she had not told them everything.
Still, he could not begrudge her for it. Constant vigilance demanded that she, a foreigner in a strange world without allies, play her cards close to her vest. Which was why Alastor was almost eager for the Order meeting. Between the Ministry finally getting wise, the woman falling through the veil, and Potter learning about the Prophecy, things were bound to get more interesting.
Alastor rapped the door of 12 Girmmauld Place with his cane and waited. The door was quickly opened by Tonks who properly stuck her wand in his face, but then unproperly relaxed and said, “Ah Moody, good you’re here! What did you say to me on my first day as an auror?”
“That you’re a naive little girl who needs to learn constant vigilance or else you’d be dead within a week,” Alastor growled as he pushed her hand away, “And I still say that’s true, even if you have lasted longer than I expected!”
Tonks just laughed and let him inside. He froze. “What happened there?”
Tonks turned to look at the place where the enchanted painting of Old Mrs. Black once stood. However, now there was only a gaping hole in the plaster, revealing the clean white stone underneath. A truly wicked grin formed over Tonks’s face as she said, “Oh yeah, our guest got here a little after lunch. I don’t think they have enchanted painting where she’s from, so she was curious. She let the old hag rant for about 30 seconds, before she decided the painting had to go. Turned the thing to dust, only took her about three minutes. You should have seen it Moody! It was incredible. Sirius proposed on the spot, it was pretty funny!”
“Hmm,” Alastor said as they moved towards the kitchen, “What else has our guest been up to?”
“Not much I reckon,” Tonks shrugged. “She’s strange though. When she showed up, I barely recognized her.”
“She morph?”
“No, just changed her clothes,” Tonks said with a shrug. “She looked like a proper muggle. Molly gave her a tour. She ate some food. Sirius showed her where his library was. Then she went up to her room, haven’t seen her since.”
“Hmm,” Alastor grumbled. His picture of the young woman was becoming clearer with all of this new information. Firstly, he had been right. She had not told them everything about herself or her powers. She had said that she created blasts of force, but what kind of blast or force could turn an enchanted object reinforced by dark magic into dust? Furthermore, her ability to change without spells or potions was fascinating, and spoke to training in undercover work. Alastor desperately wanted to sit down and talk with this woman. Maybe even trade battle stories. But that would have to wait as they reached the kitchen where the rest of the Order were waiting.
“Alastor,” Remus said standing up to greet him. “How are things looking at the Ministry?”
Straight to it then, good. “It’s bloody chaos, is what it is,” he growled, “If Fudge hasn’t resigned by the end of the day, then I’ll throw him out of office myself. Scrimgeour and Bones have taken things in hand though. So, I reckon one of them will be in charge by the end of the day. Anyone hear from Dumbledor?”
“Just to be here by seven,” Tonks said.
“What happened Alastor?” Molly Weasley asked as she set a cup of tea in front of him, “We heard from the others. But they all said you talked with…our guest the longest. Can you tell us more about her?”
Alastor looked around the table as he waved his ring over his cup. Arthur Weasley was still pale from his injuries, but he was leaning forward with an eagerness that he usually only showed towards muggle artifacts. His wife, Molly, stood to the side fidgeting nervously with a towel. Sirius Black lounged in his chair, a casual grin on his face. Remus Lupin was calm and serine but also watching him with an anticipatory eagerness, while Tonks did the same across the table. They were all watching him, eager for information that he doubted Daisy had given.
“She said she’s from another universe,” Alastor said as he sipped his tea. “That she’s from another world entirely.”
A collection of gasps and muttered explanations went out from around the table. “What else did she say Moody?” Arthur asked leaning even more forward.
“Said she’s something called an Inhuman,” he explained. “She’s human, but in the same way that we’re human. Only her power doesn’t come from magic. I’m not sure how it all works. Said it comes from something called ‘genes.’ From what I understand, the muggle world and wizarding world of her place is far more integrated than it is here. But her muggle world is very similar to ours.”
“Fascinating,” Arthur said, “I wonder how different? Do think that the rubber ducks have the same function as ours? Or are there more major differences like—”
“But you believe her?” Remus cut in before Arthur could spiral too far into his obsession. “That she’s from another universe? Is such a thing possible?”
“It’s not the strangest thing I reckon,” Tonks said, “Besides I’ve never heard of anything that could do the things she does. I mean, she almost cut You-Know-Who’s head off!”
“I know,” Sirius said a dopey grin filling his face, “And it was brilliant! I swear I’m going to marry that woman.”
Tonks and Molly scoffed as Remus swatted Sirius’s feet off the table saying, “That’s what you said about Lilly when she punched Smiths in the teeth.”
Sirius barked a laugh and nodded, “To bad James was also there. Never seen a boy so smitten in my life!”
Alastor shook his head as he sipped his tea. His magical eye swirled and darted showing all of the hidden nooks and crannies of the old house. With it he could see the world a lot clearer than other. He could see the dark magic that hovered in the secret corners of the house. He could see that pesky Kreacher skulking in his cabinet, no doubt morning the loss of his mistress, and…
“Well,” Alastor called, “Are you going to sneak or are you going to come in here and talk to us?”
The others spun as Daisy Johnson walked through the servants door. Her smile was casual, but her eyes were sharp and searching. She walked with an easy confidence in her muggle clothes, but there was a calculation to her movements that screamed combat. She was young. Alastor doubted she was older than thirty, but the scars on her neck and her arms said she had fought countless battles and survived them. She settled in an empty chair that gave her a perfect view of the room and its occupants, and Moody felt the same instant kinship he had when they were in the Ministry. She was as paranoid as he was, probably more so, but where wore his paranoia as armor, she hid it under confidence and swagger. It was amusing, and had Alastor leaning forward and asking,
“So what’d you hope to gain from listening in our little conversation?”
Daisy shrugged as she smirked at him, “Context mostly. I understand the basics of your little war, but I’m still not clear on all the players. All I really know is old Voldy-shorts is magic Hitler, and you guys are trying to stop him, but either your government is incompetent, or the current leaders are fools leaving your defense to a handful of cops and civilians.”
“A mix of both, I reckon,” Alastor said sipping his drink.
“So let me guess,” Daisy said crossing her legs, taking them all in, “Para-military group. Dedicated to taking out the Death Eaters, follow Dumbledor specifically.”
“During the height of You-Know-Who’s power,” Remus said leaning forward, “There was no one you could trust. The Ministry specifically was practically overrun with spies and traitors. So secret societies like ours were necessary in order to fight back. We are the Order of the Phoenix, and we were, are the most effective against the Death Eaters.”
Daisy nodded calmly, as she accepted tea from Molly. Alastor noticed how her cup trembled a touch before she drank it, leading him to be even more convinced that she had not revealed everything about her powers. “So,” she said after a sip, “How do you make sure none of your own are…influenced.”
“Constant vigilance,” Alastor said, “Personal questions, revelio charms, and other security measures, to make sure no one’s in disguise. And besides the only people invited into the Order are those we trust without question.”
“Not to mention Dumbledore,” Arthur said from his chair, “I doubt there’s a person alive who could fool that man.”
Daisy hummed, and Alastor could tell that she wasn’t satisfied with that answer, which he had to agree with. There were too many holes in their security, which Sirius confirmed by saying stiffly, “Even then it’s not fool proof. We have had one or two traitors in the past. They cost us dearly.”
“You’re imprisonment?” Daisy asked.
“Long story,” Sirius said with a wave of his hand.
“The point is,” Tonks interjected, “That in this war there are really three parties. Death Eaters, the Ministry, and the Order. The Ministry’s alright, and they actually are effective.”
“Except when their being infiltrated and being run by fools,” Daisy said nodding, “I guess somethings are the same in every universe.”
“What is your universe like?” Arthur said leaning forward.
“Very different, and very similar,” Daisy said setting down her cup, “Honestly, I don’t know how to explain it to you. It’s a lot like your mundane world. The main differences are in technology and certain parts of history. I talked about some of this with Dumbledore and Moody.”
“Fascinating!” Arthur declared, “And—”
“You must be hungry dear,” Molly said gently, cutting of her husband’s ramblings, “Is there anything I can get for you before the rest of the Order comes?”
“No thank you, Mrs. Weasley,” Daisy said with a smile, “What I really want to know is how that kid, Harry, fits into all of this?”
“Well, that’s rather a long story.” Everyone turned to see Dumbledore standing serenely in the doorway watching Daisy with keen eyes, and a gentle smile.
Daisy leaned back in her chair, giving Dumbledore a pointed look that said, “Then tell it.”
Dumbledore sat across from her and began. “James and Lilly Potter were among our strongest. They stood against Voldemort three times and survived. They were passionate and fierce, and some of the best people I have ever known.”
“Remus and I,” Sirius said, “Were friends with them at school. As well as another, Peter Pettigrew.”
The way Sirius spit the name out as if it were a vile curse, gained a flicker of recognition from Daisy that made Alastor narrow his eye. But neither of them said anything as Dumbledore continued, “Sixteen years ago, a prophecy was made. It was this ‘The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.’”
Daisy nodded in understanding, “I’m guessing old Voldy-shorts thought that this referred to Harry.”
Dumbledore nodded and continued the story, “One of our spies among their ranks confirmed his target, and we put Lilly and James into hiding. But a year later their Secret Keeper, betrayed them. Voldemort killed James and Lilly. But he was unable to kill Harry.”
Daisy heaved a great sigh and said, “Let me guess, magic bullshit.”
A twinkle of amusement glinted in Dumbledore’s eyes as he said, “Because Lilly gave her life for her son, a powerful magic surrounded him, and protects him to this day. However, it will only last until he is seventeen, our age of maturity.”
Daisy nodded as if this was all within expectations then asked, “So what are you doing about his protection in the meantime? I mean, the sacrifice probably doesn’t protect him from everything. Voldy-shorts can still get to him if he tries hard enough.”
“During the school year, he is at Hogwarts,” Dumbledore said calmly, “Which is under my protection. During the rest of the year, he lives with his aunt and uncle. They are both muggles, and since they are family, they strengthen the charm.”
Both Sirius and Molly snort, causing Daisy to raise her eyebrow questioningly at them. “They might be blood,” Sirius said, “But I doubt their any real family to Harry.”
“The number of things I’ve heard about those muggles from Ron,” Molly shook her head in distaste, “Well, lets just say I’ll be glad when Harry is finally out of that house.”
“Oh?” Daisy asked, her body tense, putting Alastor on alert. But he said nothing as Sirius nodded and said,
“He once told me, that the only reason he had even a vaguely good summer, was because he told them I was a violent criminal just escaped from jail, and I’d turn them all into bats if they didn’t treat him right.”
“Which to be fair,” Remus said fondly, “Isn’t exactly false.”
Sirius shrugged, but Daisy was leaning forward intently, “Did Harry ever give you specifics about how he was treated?”
Sirius and Molly both shook their heads. “I just know,” Molly said, “That all of his clothes are too big, and every time I see him after the summer, he looks like he hasn’t eaten for a week. But if I try and ask him about it directly, he just shrugs it off. I can’t get a straight answer out of him!”
There was a silence in the kitchen as Daisy nodded and leaned back in her chair. Finally, she turned to Dumbledore and said, “Would you like my advice?”
“Please.”
“Get Harry out of that house.” Dumbledore’s eyebrow twitched in curiosity, but Daisy continued, “Unless his uncle and aunt are some sort of ex-military, then he’s probably in more danger than he would be otherwise. Is there anyone in the Wizarding World who’d be willing to take him in?”
“I’m his godfather,” Sirius said eagerly, “He’s said before, that he would like to stay with me if I were ever exonerated.”
Daisy nodded, “Between the magic cloaking spell, and the fact that this is anti-fascist headquarters, I doubt there’s anywhere safer for him. Get him out of that house.”
Alastor looked at Dumbledore out of the corner of his eye, but the old wizard only nodded and asked, “What else would you recommend?”
Daisy shrugged and said, “Shore up your defenses. Find a better way to identify your allies than questions. I mean, with the right tools even a muggle can get you to squeal. Also, you all need a clear exit strategy. If things go south, you need safehouses, bolt holes, and resource stashes for all of your operatives. Just safe places in case worse comes to worse.”
“I can work on those things,” Alastor grunted, “I’ve always told you our security could use some work.”
“Anything else?” Dumbledore asked patiently.
“Yeah,” Daisy said, and now she was looking Dumbledore straight in the eye, “Voldy-shorts told me that he defeated death. Was that posturing or did he actually do it?”
“Does that matter?” Dumbledore asked.
Daisy rocked in her chair studying Dumbledore casually saying, “I’ve fought some immortals before. Or beings who claimed to be immortal. I’ve learnt that the trick to defeating them, is to figure out how they got their power. If you know how their power works, then you can learn how to take it away.”
“If we learn how You-Know-Who cheated death fourteen years ago,” Remus said suddenly eager, “Then we can prevent it from happening again!”
“Got any ideas on that Dumbledore?” Daisy said, and Alastor suddenly felt himself tense at the subtle implication.
Dumbledore just smiled and said, “It is a matter I have been looking into for quiet some time. I do have theories but none of them are confirmed. As for the other matters, yes, Alastor, I do believe you would be the best for shoring up our defenses. Tonks you will of course make sure he doesn’t go too far.”
Tonks nodded and Dumbledore stroked his beard. “As for young Harry,” he said, “You will have to contact him. If he wishes to return to 4 Private Drive, then we cannot stop him.”
“I’ll write to him now!” Sirius said practically leaping from the table, and Alastor was convinced that if he was in his dog form then his tail would be wagging. It made everyone smile, as Molly refilled everyone’s cups.
“Now,” Dumbledore said, “Miss. Johnson. I’m sure you have a great many questions, before the rest of the Order gets here.”
“Yeah,” Daisy said rocking her chair a bit, “You can say that.”