so, i've kinda made Merula's parents two of the ten death eaters who escaped from azkaban in the mass breakout in 1996, to add more drama to it all shdsahd

Jacob arrived slightly late to the meeting. When he strolled in, he already found Sirius, Lupin, and Tonks sitting at the far left end, with Arthur, Severus Snape, and Mad-Eye Moody sitting on the right. Molly was currently standing since she was clearing some dishes: at the sight of Jacob, she tried to greet him warmly.

"Oh, Jacob, dear...glad you made it. Here — I set aside a plate for you...be sure to eat it before it gets cold — "

"Thanks," Jacob said a bit uncomfortably, "but Pip already stuffed me full of waffles before I left the Ministry." Sensing Molly was going to argue, he cut her off by saying, "I'll eat it for supper later. Thank you."

To make his point, he even conjured up some tinfoil and magically wrapped it around the plate.

Molly reluctantly accepted this and went back to clearing the rest of the table. Jacob sidled into the seat on the other side of Sirius: the older man gave him a small smirk.

"So? Anything exciting happen at the Ministry today?"

"Besides bumping into old Lucius Malfoy downstairs again?" said Jacob. "Sadly no. Couldn't even get away with threatening his Death Eater arse too badly, let alone give him the curse to the face he deserved."

Sirius snorted. "At least you were able to do more than clean up hippogriff spit-up today. Though I did leave the bit on my dear old mum's frame: I reckoned it adds character."

"Matches her charming personality," Jacob said sarcastically as he and Sirius exchanged rather wicked smirks.

"You said you saw Lucius Malfoy, Jacob?" Arthur took interest at once.

Jacob turned to the Weasley patriarch with a more serious expression. "...Yeah. He claimed he was there to meet with Fudge after the Wizengamot had finished meeting, but I knew that was bull…Pip told me Fudge has had to skip out on his usual Wizengamot duties thanks to how much old Umbitch has been monopolizing his time.”

Lupin’s eyebrows rose with interest. “Really?”

He glanced at Snape, who had likewise cocked his brows, but far more cynically.

“Our new Headmistress,” the word left the Potionsmaster’s lips with notable disdain, “has sought out some assistance in punishing student misbehaviors. I gather from Minerva that the only reason your sons didn’t get expelled and then subsequently arrested on trumped-up charges of unlawful magic earlier today,” his black eyes flitted over to Arthur and Molly, who both shot up straight-backed, “is that Cromwell’s sister shot down the feasibility of Umbridge’s entire legal argument.”

The Weasleys both gave a shared exhale of relief, Arthur giving Molly’s hand on his shoulder a tight squeeze. Jacob leaned back in his chair with his arms resting behind his curly head, looking incredibly proud.

“That’s our Carey!” said Tonks with a huge grin at both Jacob and Moody. The grizzled ex-Auror nodded.

“Your boys were lucky, Arthur,” he said gruffly. “Hopefully they’ll use their new-found independence to help the cause in more ways than just shooting off magic sparklers.”

He then turned to the others assembled.

“This actually leads into the subject of our meeting nicely. With Professor Dumbledore now having to stay under the radar for a while, we will need to ensure the safety of both Potter and the Hall of Prophecies more than ever.”

Sirius’s gray eyes immediately flashed at Snape.

“Right. Which reminds me, Snape — care to explain to everybody why you put an end to Harry’s lessons?”

The rest of the table gave a start. Lupin shot Sirius an extremely aggravated look: clearly he had not wanted Sirius to come at the issue this aggressively. Snape himself only gave the slightest flicker of a reaction: a chilling of his usual stoic expression.

“Potter has learned more than enough in his lessons with me,” he said very icily. “I see no need to put further effort into a boy too lazy to practice.”

“Severus,” said Molly, her brow creasing with immense disapproval, “Professor Dumbledore said it was essential that Harry learn Occlumency! Harry is a good student…I’m sure if he’s having trouble with the material, there must be another approach — ”

“Occlumency is not a complex concept,” Snape said dully. “Both Cromwells studied Occlumency with me, and they both got farther in one week than Potter has gotten in months…and this is even while both of them were obnoxiously over-emotional children.” His eyes flitted briefly toward Jacob, who only shrugged amusedly. “The younger Cromwell was even the same age exactly as Potter is now, come to think of it.”

“Yeah…but even Carey told me once she’s better at Legilimency than Occlumency,” Tonks interjected. “She said that Occlumency involves a lot of compartmentalizing and depersonalization — forcing yourself not to feel, even when you feel really deeply. I could see Harry having trouble with that…I probably would too!”

“Of course Pip finds Legilimency easier — she’s been doing it subconsciously since she was a baby,” said Jacob. “Both of us were born with that potential. But Snape does have a point: Occlumency requires regular practice to master. It’s like learning how to sing. If Potter isn’t practicing the techniques on his own or warming up beforehand, then he won’t amount to much.”

“But Harry was also not born with the natural talent for mind-related magic that you and Carewyn were,” Lupin reproached Jacob gently. “No student can successfully practice something they haven’t mastered under a teacher’s tutelage first…” He glanced at Snape with a much harder expression. “And regardless of what you feel about Harry on a personal level, Severus, Professor Dumbledore impressed upon all of us the importance of him learning Occlumency…you more than anyone.”

“The way I carry out my orders is for me alone to determine, Lupin,” Snape shot back. “I will not teach a student too lazy and arrogant to put in the work needed to succeed. Perhaps if Potter comes back to me ready to actually follow instructions, then a compromise can be reached. If Potter is unwilling to register the seriousness of the matter and put in the work needed to keep the Dark Lord from his mind, then on his head be it.”

“The problem with that is that it would not be just on Potter’s head, but on all of ours, Snape,” Moody growled. “Lest we forget that Potter has heard plenty of things that Voldemort would find very, very useful…about all of us.”

The table went silent. Moody’s magical blue eye swiveled over all of them before landing on Snape again.

“You will follow Dumbledore’s orders, Snape — as all of us will. And anyone with a tie to Potter,” he shot a beady eye at both Sirius and Lupin in particular, “must be ready to convince him to do the same. Dumbledore wants Potter to learn Occlumency. That sadly requires both a willing teacher and student.”

“Remus and I have already told Harry he needs to learn Occlumency, Mad-Eye,” said Sirius. His fists were balled up on the table in frustration. “We’ve told him there’s nothing more important. Harry’s a smart kid — he knows it’s not good that Voldemort can see his thoughts. But he can’t be expected to learn a damn thing from an insecure prat who's determined to treat him like rubbish — ”

“Sirius — ” Lupin tried to urge caution, but Snape interrupted.

“What I'm doing is refusing to coddle him the way you and Lupin always have, Black. Potter has been shown more than enough favoritism, same as his father, and rest assured, the Dark Lord will show him none of it.”

“Favoritism?” Tonks repeated with an incredulous smile. “Like what, getting thrown off your Quidditch team for no reason, being banned from Hogsmeade, and having your hand cut open on the daily just because some sadistic old cat-lady hates you? Come off it, Snape!”

“Just because You-Know-Who will treat Harry badly doesn’t mean we should,” said Arthur. Although Lupin failed to completely bite back a smile at Tonks's words, Arthur remained completely serious. “Molly was right before, Severus: there has to be a better approach. Maybe you and Jacob could teach Harry together? You seem to know a lot about the subject, Jacob — ”

Jacob burst out laughing. “What, you think Snape here would allow me in his classroom any more than I already have been? Sorry, Arthur — not happening.”

“Even if I hated myself enough to elicit support in my lessons from the likes of Jacob Cromwell,” Snape said through a cold leer, “Dolores Umbridge detests Carewyn, only slightly less than the other way around. She would sooner hire a werewolf to teach classes before taking on her brother.”

Snape sneered at Lupin. Although Lupin didn’t rise to the bait, Sirius did.

"Don't take pot shots at professors who earned more esteem and respect from their students and coworkers in a single year than you got in fifteen, Snivallus -- "

"We are getting off-topic," Moody shut this down tersely.

"Yes," said Molly, her eyes flitting reproachfully between both Sirius and Snape. "I believe we've had quite enough squabbling. We're here to do what Professor Dumbledore has told us to do...to determine how best to protect Harry from You-Know-Who."

"Seems to me that might be part of the problem."

Everyone looked at Jacob in surprise and confusion. Jacob leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.

"What?" said Molly, startled.

"Doing what Dumbledore told us to do," Jacob said in a very matter-of-fact sort of voice. "We're assuming that that's synonymous with keeping Potter and everyone else safe, when it's not."

Everyone at the table looked unsettled by this.

"Jacob..." started Lupin, but Jacob cut him off.

"Dumbledore's wanted to keep this whole prophecy thing secret from Potter from the beginning. But old Dumble's not at Hogwarts now -- he can't take care of the school or any of its students, let alone Potter. And if Potter hasn't been practicing Occlumency regularly, that puts him at more risk than ever. We can't keep this from him anymore: he needs to know the extent of the danger he's in — "

"No!" Molly interjected, her voice betraying a higher pitch of both righteous anger and anxiety.

"Dumbledore explicitly ordered that Harry would not be told, Jacob," said Arthur in a sterner-sounding voice. "It's too dangerous."

"More dangerous than the kid walking around blindly?" Jacob argued. "Be serious. The only support from the Order that Potter's got left at school are Snape, McGonagall, and Hagrid...and forgive me if I don't expect Hagrid will be spared from Umbridge's reign of terror much longer. Therefore you," he glanced at Snape, "and McGonagall are the only ones left who can tell Potter the truth he needs to protect himself."

"What Potter needs to protect himself is to do what Dumbledore instructed him to do and properly learn Occlumency," Moody said sharply. "Only then can we ensure Voldemort has no eye into our affairs. Anything any of us might tell Potter could be easily intercepted by Voldemort, if he doesn't learn to shut him out."

"Aren't you usually the one crowing about 'constant vigilance?'" Jacob challenged him without backing down in the slightest. "How the hell can Potter be vigilant in protecting himself if he doesn't know what Lord Moldy Shorts is up to?"

"Jacob has a point, Mad-Eye," Tonks said in a bracing sort of voice. "I'm no expert in Divination or anything...but well, if the prophecy we've been guarding is about Harry and You-Know-Who, maybe there is some value to Harry learning what's in it. Then maybe Harry would know enough to counteract it, or..."

"Bear in mind that in arguing for Potter to be told of the prophecy, you are deigning to insinuate that you're a wiser person and mage than Albus Dumbledore," Snape murmured coldly.

Tonks faltered. Jacob, however, did not.

"In this situation? Yeah, I reckon so."

Arthur's brows came together reproachfully. "Jacob..."

"Maybe you all have forgotten this," Jacob spoke much more coldly than before, "but when I was at school, I got roped into marching to my psychotic grandfather's drum against my will, and that resulted in the oh-so-wise Albus Dumbledore expelling me, rather than doing anything useful to help my friends, my family, or me."

His skull-like blue eyes flashed with contempt upon Snape.

"I know full well what it's like being a little teenage puppet yanked around on strings by some evil old geezer with no idea why or any real control over my life. And you damn well know my sister knows that feeling too, Snape, given you were her Head of House -- thanks in no small part to Dumbledore deciding not to tell her anything about what happened to Olivia, Ashe, or me."

"Don't blame Dumbledore alone for that, Cromwell," said Snape, "you kept more from your sister and mother than he ever did."

Jacob bared his teeth a bit. "Maybe...but I actually figured out how wrong I was to keep secrets from the people I care about and am trying to do better. Something old Dumb-Dumb hasn't bothered to do."

The ex-Ravenclaw looked from Sirius and Lupin to Tonks, seeking support.

"I know everyone at this table wants to protect Potter...but knowledge is power. Knowledge is protection. So what if Voldemort finds out Potter and we know what he's up to? What harm could that really cause? But what if the opposite happens? What if, while Potter is not using Occlumency successfully, Voldemort gets into his head the way we fear and uses what he finds against Potter? Uses it to get him alone, outside of school, and there's no way we can get there in time to help him? No one can fight off an advance properly without knowing who their enemy is. So it was when Carewyn, the Circle of Khanna, and I fought R, so it is now that we're fighting Voldemort."

Tonks opened her mouth to say something, but Lupin spoke first.

"Jacob, I understand Harry's situation has a lot of parallels to yours and Carewyn's. But we don't know the contents of the prophecy — Dumbledore does. And as much as you might not trust Dumbledore, we all do. If he doesn't believe Harry is ready to know its contents, we must respect that."

"No, we don't — " Jacob argued, but Moody had heard enough.

"Jacob, you chose to join the Order of the Phoenix after correctly assessing that it was better to fight Voldemort's rise together than hold onto old grudges. Your sister has been balancing much more precariously on the edge by refusing to properly join and fight the way she should, but at least she's not suggesting contradicting her direct superior's orders. Albus Dumbledore may not be able to be physically here at this moment, but he is still the leader of the Order of the Phoenix, and it behooves us to stay in ranks until he returns to Hogwarts. And judging by the fact that no Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher has lasted for more than a year in ages..." Moody smirked, "...my Death Eater replacement included...I have more than enough faith Umbridge will be on her way out quite soon."

Jacob looked disgusted. "So you'll just cross your fingers and pray Voldemort ignores how easy it is to get into Potter's head? Even if Hogwarts does retain all of his protective charms after his departure...you really think Voldemort won't take advantage of the fact that Dumbledore's not there to try anything?!"

"No, we will do what we can to restart the lessons Dumbledore ordered Potter should take," Moody said harshly. “And we will keep a closer eye on both Potter and the Hall of Prophecies, to ensure the first doesn’t seek out the second.”

He shot a look at Sirius. "Considering Potter seems to have some secretive way of getting in touch with you enough to still tell you things, Sirius, I'll leave it to you to convince him...in whatever way Dumbledore would most approve of," he added pointedly. "After all, you do always seem to be itching to do something useful for the Order. This is your chance."

Sirius frowned deeply as Moody turned to Snape.

"And as soon as Potter comes back to you, Snape, I expect you to stop using your lessons as an excuse to mistreat him. Just because Carewyn Cromwell was stoic enough to tolerate your teaching style without complaint doesn't mean everyone else is going to be. Adapt your teaching style to the student you've got. That's even something a mentor in the Auror Department learns how to do, I'm sure a long-tenured professor like you can figure it out."

Snape regarded Moody with visible contempt, but didn't argue the point. Jacob had slouched back in his chair, his hand resting over his mouth as he stared in aggravation up at Moody. The ex-Auror met his gaze head-on without blinking.

"This meeting is adjourned," he said. "We'll be in touch."

One by one the table's occupants left. Jacob didn't get up until after Snape, Arthur, Molly, Lupin, and Tonks had already left; when he did, both of Moody's eyes, crazy blue and normal brown, went to him like a shot.

"Jacob," he said, "I know you and your sister have a lot of resentment still for Albus Dumbledore. But I also know that you both know how much bigger this is than that. We must be vigilant: we can't afford to have dissolution in our ranks. The Death Eaters are not going to break ranks...they'll follow Voldemort until either he wins or he falls, without question. If we don't do the same, they'll pick us apart until there's no one left."

"Not exactly inspiring me to want to not break ranks, Mad-Eye, if it means I'll be acting just like old Voldie's gang of yes-men," Jacob muttered coldly.

He got up from his chair. When he made as if to go, though, Moody actually tried to grab his shoulder — Jacob, however, sensed the move before Moody made it with his Legilimency, and he dodged him with a glare. Amazingly this seemed to make the slightest wry smile flicker over the ex-Auror's face before he then became more serious again.

"Don't do anything reckless, Jacob," Moody whispered. "This whole situation is not something that could be explained succinctly...especially when we don't know the vast majority of what the situation is, to begin with."

His brown eye actually narrowed a bit more solemnly.

"Remember yourself, at that age. If all someone told you was that there was a prophecy with your name on it at the Department of Mysteries, are you sure you wouldn't immediately barrel into danger to try to figure out what it said?"

Jacob stared Moody down out the side of his eye for a long moment. Then, adjusting the collar of his tan robes, he glanced at Sirius one last time and headed out without another word.

Even with how quickly he strode out of the room and then Grimmauld Place itself, Jacob's mind was whirling faster still.