The Potential Dream Team

Oliver couldn't believe that he was about to walk back into Number 12 Grimmauld Place, but this time as an ordinary man without any of the weight on his shoulders that being the leader of the Order had caused. He had been asked by one Nick Potter to visit the headquarters to have a discussion of some sort. As far as Oliver could recall, Nick was older than him, and had likely stepped up in the same way that Connolly had done after Jack stepped down. In truth, he was glad that someone was there to make up the difference and fill the hole that he had left.

The last Oliver had heard, however, the factions had been silent, if not discontinued. Both of them. But here Nick was, asking for... help? Oliver wasn't sure.

As he came out of the floo and brushed off his shirt, he registered that he would have to talk to Alice about this whole thing afterwards. He had quit the Order for her, for the most part, but here he was, walking back into that house and seeing what would happen.

"Potter?" He called, his tongue stumbling over the syllables. It had been ages since he had addressed anyone with their last name, and he wasn't sure how this man fit in with the Potter-Weasleys, if he did at all. But that wasn't his business, so he went on. "You about, mate?"

Today was the day, Nick thought to himself as he sat alone in his personal study at Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Today was the day that the former Order of the Phoenix leader before Nick walked right back into the front door, and right back into the Order if everything went according to plan. The Order was in shambles. Most people thought it nonexistent anymore, which was true, but Nick stepped up into the role of leader for a reason, and it was to make a difference in the world. After Oliver left though, Nick was in quite a predicament. There was nothing to do. There was no Death Eater threat, nor any other major threat to the wizarding world. After Oliver had left though, majority of Order members left with him. That was a threat in itself. What if something were to happen? There would be no Order to call upon for help. That is why Nick had requested Oliver to come back for a chat.

People genuinely like Oliver, so did Nick when he was a member. Oliver was a nice, good hearted man, or so it seemed. If anyone was going to help Nick rebuild the Order it would be him, and he would be a key component.

As a resounding Potter bellowed through Number 12 Grimmuald Place, Nick immediately knew Oliver had arrived. Making his way out of the study, and halfway down the staircase, Nick was suddenly looking into the face of the former leader before him. "Hello Oliver, I'm sure you're wondering why I requested this meeting?" Nick asked with a slight edge to his voice. An edge that had formed into all things he said.

Oliver turned at the sound of footsteps and found himself looking up at Nick as he came downstairs. The question caused Oliver's eyebrows to lift, but not because he was surprised. It just seemed like a question that had a rather obvious answer. But perhaps the situation was slightly awkward for the both of them, Oliver supposed. So he couldn't fault the man for being uncertain as to how to start whatever he meant to discuss.

"That would be a fair bet," Oliver returned with a slight smile. "Did you want to chat upstairs, then?" he asked, guessing because of where the older man had come from.

"I'll admit I'm surprised you've asked me to come by," Oliver added, letting his head list to the side a bit. "I didn't realize that the Order had been up to much."

Nick motioned for Oliver to follow him up to his office. "Allow me to fill you in" Nick said as he pulled two folders from the filing cabinet behind his desk. As he sat down in his chair he placed the first folder in front of Oliver. "These are the records of everyone currently enlisted in the Order." It was empty. "And this one" Nick began as he placed the second folder next to the one he had previously placed, "are the records of everyone that left after you did." This folder was overflowing. Now Oliver should have had a slight indication at what Nick had brought him here for.

"I have the sense that something terrible is on the horizon, I'd like you to return to the Order as my second in command and rebuild with me." Nick stated. It wasn't Nick's fault that the Order died out after Oliver's departure. There was nothing to keep the Order together after Oliver had left. Sure Nick had followers of his own, but everyone loved Oliver for the most part. Nick knew that once Oliver was convinced to come back, the members that left in his absence, and then some, would surely come back as well.

Oliver did as he was expected to, following Nick up into the space designated for record-keeping and for the leader of the Order to do their business. When the file was dropped in front of him, he frowned. At first, he thought it was some kind of trick or game, but he quickly realized that actually, something was very wrong. He hadn't been in touch with anybody in the Order except for Alice, and she seemed to have joined because he had been involved, so it hadn't surprised him when neither one of them knew what was happening anymore.

The second file made him frown even more deeply, as he had never thought he could make that much of an impact on anyone. Particularly in the Order, where people had so loved to question anything that came out of his mouth. He had been a try-hard, Oliver was fully aware of that. And he knew what he would change if he were leading them again, but it was too late for that, wasn't it?

Perhaps not.

He lifted his chin to stare at Nick for a second, unsure exactly how he felt about that idea. Being asked to take a position of authority was strange, especially for someone like him. He had never done well in school or even career-wise, arguably, yet here he was. He didn't quite like being anybody's second, but perhaps it would work out. And, a quiet piece of his mind suggested, if Nick was right and people would join back because of him, perhaps he could wiggle his way back to the top if Nick did not take control effectively. He had never been the type to think that way before, but the Order had instilled in him a sense of duty and a desire to do right by others and perhaps this was the correct way to go about doing what he had meant to last time.

Yes, he could be second-in-command. Oliver could be more helpful than he had before and he could do as Nick asked. But a nagging bit of his mind did wonder how long he could take it.

"If I agree to this, ...I want the council set up like I had planned. And we'll need to bring Jack in again. Those that didn't like me seemed to like her, so we could certainly do with her on the council as well." Oliver lifted a shoulder in a sort of shrug. "I'd wager you've already figured that out, though."

Nick could tell by the expressions on his face, that Oliver was falling right into his ploy. Yes, Nick wanted to bring the Order back to the forefront of the wizarding community, but Nick did not want Oliver to be a part of it. Nick would bring Oliver in, make him think he was partially in control, but as soon as the Order returned to where he wanted it to be, he wouldn't have a use for Oliver anymore.

After listening to Oliver's concerns, Nick nodded his head. "I agree" he paused. "Jack was the head of Potters Army when I was in Hogwarts. She'll be a valuable asset to the team. I'm actually one step ahead though." Nick began. "I've already reached out to Jack as a matter of fact. I don't believe the council could actually be a council without her on it." Nick could deal with Jack. She was smart, brave, fearless, and an amazing flyer.

"Is there anything else you'd like as part of your return?" Nick asked slightly in part to seem polite.

Oliver lifted an eyebrow at Nick's words, slowly. Shifting his weight and crossing his arms over his chest, he lifted his chin to look at Nick skeptically. The idea of starting a council had been kept particularly quiet, and it had never been brought up in a meeting. In fact, only Jack had ever known about it, despite Oliver's wariness around the woman lately.

So that claim was particularly interesting, as far as Oliver was concerned. Rather than addressing it, though, he nodded and accepted that he would have to talk to Jack later and find out what that meant.

As tempted as he was to bring up Alice in some way or another, he knew that would just come back to haunt him later, so it wasn't worth it. Instead, he just nodded. A more important thought had surfaced, and he couldn't leave it.

"I want Michael Tremaine and the Lupins re-invited. And I want to do it. They already know me, and were sent away for entirely illegitimate reasons. Michael led most of our investigations over the past year and I refuse to work in this group without them."