Perdition Mods (perdition_mods) wrote in perdition_rpg, @ 2009-05-01 20:53:00 |
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Dumbledore's Army begins preparations Gryffindors (Dean, Ginny, Lavender, Neville, Parvati, Seamus) "Okay, everybody," Neville Longbottom said, turning to his fellow Gryffindors. He looked elated despite the deep cuts on his face and definitely looking worse for the wear. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were back, and even if they'd run off for Ravenclaw Tower without any real explanations, Neville knew that this meant that it was the time to fight. Older DA members were streaming in through the Hog's Head. Finally, the time had come to take down the Carrows, and with Harry, Neville knew that they could do it. Plus, Ginny being back didn't hurt. "We need to get ready to fight. Any ideas?" Ginny Weasely had her wand out already and looked more determined than ever. The entire DA was back, including Harry, Hermione, and Ron, and they all were going to fight. This was the moment that she'd been waiting for all year. She hoped that she would be able to find the Carrows herself and repay every single favour at some point in the battle. "We can't all be on the offensive. We need some to volunteer to stand back and be on the defensive, heal spells and the like," said Ginny after tying her sheet of red hair back into a messy bun. "Also, what sort of plants and potions do we have that we can use?" She hoped desperately that someone would pipe up with Felix Felicis, because Merlin, sometimes she felt that was the only thing that saved them last time there was a battle in Hogwarts. But Ginny wasn't going to think about that now. They were all going to get through this. They had to. Was this really happening? Lavender Brown couldn't quite believe her eyes -- Harry was here, and Hermione, and Ron (she never thought she'd be so pleased to see him again), and Dean, and everyone else! Giving Dean a big hug was her first priority, and she wanted nothing better than to talk his ear off about anything and everything, but it was time to be serious. She listened to Ginny's instructions with her mouth half open, trying to think of some ideas of her own. "I can do healing spells," she volunteered. "I got pretty good at them over the last couple of months! And I'm probably better on the defensive anyway, you all know as well as I do that I can't do curses for toffee." The gravity of the situation started to sink in. "We're just going to have to do all of that defence stuff that Harry taught us back in fifth year," she sighed. Butterflies started to flutter in the pit of her stomach; was she ready for this? Parvati, as usual, stood firmly beside Lavender. She resisted the urge to grab onto her best friend's arm, allowing the presence of those she feared dead to soothe her uncertainties. She offered a smile to the others -- "We remember how to do shield charms, right? I suspect those will come in hand." Seamus had glued himself to Dean's side the second that the boy had rejoined his old school mates. He sat himself down near Lavender and he watched quietly as Neville, Ginny, and then Lavender spoke. He was nervous. He'd gotten quite good with his wand since joining Dumbledore's Army but even that skill wasn't enough to calm his nerves. Even with his apprehensions he was ready to fight. Parvati spoke up and pulled him from his silent encouragement. Seamus smiled back at her. "I don't think they know what they're up against. To them we're just a bunch of kids and we can use that to our advantage." Dean pressed the steeple of his two index fingers into his forehead as he looked down at the ground. None of this was really making sense, but after the year he had endured, it was crystalline to him what needed to be done. He looked up, briefly, to smile at Seamus. "No one is a kid during a war, mate, and if that's what they're thinking; well, they're right in for it. Should've seen us in the woods." His lips puckered together in thought as he surveyed the room, the nervous knot in his stomach fading into a warm glow at the familiar faces. This was his home, this room, with these people. "Let 'em underestimate us, yeah? I'll run defence, got fairly good at it while on the road, and skulking? It's my specialty." The crooked beam on his face gave him more confidence then he felt as he shifted in his seat to be closer to Seamus. "Partners?" "We can get through this," Parvati added. "We will get through this, and those Death Eaters will wish they never bought into You-Know-Who's ridiculous ideals. Saving the world alongside Harry Potter -- our families will be so proud of us." Neville couldn't help but beam at Parvati's comment -- that their families would be proud. He hoped his parents, if they knew and understood what he had been doing all year, and what he was doing now, would be proud of him. He wished that they could be here to work with him -- they were Aurors and Order members, after all. "They should know better than to underestimate us," he said, with a grin. "We're Dumbledore's Army, and we were trained by Harry Potter himself. They may have been taught by You-Know-Who, but everyone knows that Harry's the Chosen One. When they meet us, they won't know what's hit them." Hufflepuffs (Ernie, Hannah, Justin, Megan, Susan, Zacharias) The exhilaration of seeing Harry, Ron, and Hermione back at Hogwarts had been so temporary. In the excitement of so many people arriving in the Room of Requirement, Susan's head had been spinning, but after the mysterious conversation with Harry, and then him leaving in a flash with Luna for Ravenclaw Tower... what on earth was going on? Susan had always thought that Harry's return would mean overthrowing the Carrows and driving them out of the school, but he hadn't even seemed interested in that. What were they supposed to do until he came back? Well, dog-piling Justin under a mountain of hugs seemed like a good option, so she threw her arms around him, fully expecting the rest of the Hufflepuffs who had anxiously crowded around him to follow suit. "Oh! Goodness! Justin!" shrieked Hannah. She threw herself at Susan and Justin, tipping the two of them over unabashed. "They said you were dead!" she said. "But I wrote you a letter because I knew you couldn't be except I didn't send it, I just wrote it in my journal, but later on I want to show you." Ernie couldn't believe the sudden turn of events. Finally, things seemed to be looking up for them, if only for the moment. Harry had been pretty vague and confusing, but at least he was alive, and he was here. That had to be good. In fact, it was better than good, it was brilliant. As excited as Ernie was to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione, he was about ten times more excited when Justin turned up. "Justin!" Ernie cried, practically in unison with Hannah. He was quick to join Hannah and Susan as they dog piled Justin. Ernie literally threw himself on top of the three of them. The entire year had felt off without Justin around. Despite the fact that virtually everything had changed at Hogwarts, and there were many things "off" about this school year, not having Justin with them made everything worse. Ernie never really got used to being separated from his best mate. He always felt like something was missing, or rather, that someone was missing. "We thought you were eaten by krups," Ernie laughed, because now it just seemed funny. At the time it was nauseatingly horrific, but with Justin here now, the whole thing seemed so ridiculous. Megan hung back from the positive dogpile on Justin (as opposed to the negative dogpile that the newspapers had reported months ago) until it had cleared up some and then rushed in to get her own bone-hard hug. Words really failed her at the moment, which was something that didn't happen often. She'd believed all along that Justin was alright, especially after going home for Easter and finding out that there'd been nothing about his untimely demise in any papers except for those distributed at Hogwarts, but actually seeing him in person... Well, she was grateful, and admittedly, a bit choked up. She laughed a bit as she pulled back from hugging Justin, wiping her eyes slightly. "Look at that, you've reduced me to a wordless, tearful mess," she chuckled. If this was any indicator of how the rest of the night would go, victory was most definitely a sure thing. It was unsurprising that Zacharias was feeling quite overwhelmed over everything that was going on. He had spent the last few months thinking that Potter, Granger and Weasley weren't going to come back, and now they were back. He had been convinced that Justin was dead, but now he was here, alive, right in front of them. In the first few seconds of seeing him, he had actually felt like giving his friend a good punch in the face for making everyone worry. Then it occurred to him that none of those things mattered, because Justin was alive. Joining his friends, he broke out of his usual state of 'Zacharias Smith Doesn't Show Much Affection to People' by also giving his friend a hug. Justin hadn't been able to say more than a cheery, 'Well, hello!' upon his arrival in the Room of Requirement after receiving the message on his coin before he found himself being hugged from all directions by Susan, Hannah, Ernie, Megan, and even Zacharias -- Smithy, seeing as this was a happy rather than solemn occasion -- and hearing some rubbish about being dead (which he most certainly wasn't, as far as he could tell) and being eaten by krups (those awful middle-class anti-fox hunting activists would revel in the irony). After having spent the better part of the last eight months on the run from the Ministry and fighting off Snatchers -- and there had been many close calls despite how thrilled he was to be able to fight back this time instead of being a helpless victim like he was in his second year -- there was nothing that could have him happier than finding himself surrounded by his closest friends and being smothered with affection. 'Good Lord, you're all acting as if I had just returned from the dead,' he laughed, taking his time to hug each of the Hufflepuffs in turn once he got the chance to do so. 'Or as if I just got de-Petrified again, at least.' Not that nearly being killed for being Muggle-born had been funny, but nothing was too sacred for Justin to make fun of in order to help lessen the tension. There was something of an uncomfortable silence in which Susan contemplated how best to handle this situation. How, exactly, did you tell someone that everyone HAD thought they were dead for months, and that there had even been a particularly gruesome article in The Prophet about it? After a moment's hesitation, she thought it best to follow Justin's lead and play it off as though it was nothing. "Well, you rather are back from the dead," she said, extracting herself from the dogpile of Hufflepuffs and righting her jumper. "The Carrows printed this terribly silly article in The Daily Prophet about how you'd been chewed to death by krups and died terribly. Of course, we didn't believe it as your name was still on the list of wanted Muggleborns, but we had to be one-hundred percent certain you weren't a ghost, didn't we?" She said all of this lightly, and looked around, as if daring any of the others to change the mood to sombre. 'Don't be so silly, Susan,' Justin said brightly as he gave her shoulder what he hoped was a gentlemanly pat. 'If I had died -- and really, that would have been such a charming death, going like a fox on those hunts I'm so fond of -- I'd be in heaven right now rather than staying on earth as a ghost. Or hell, seeing as I've been quite a cheeky little blighter lately, if you ask any of the Snatchers I've run into. You lot are missing out on an awful lot action out there while you're swotting up here in school.' Justin's comment about life outside of Hogwarts being Hell on Earth made Megan laugh, albeit without much mirth, and the action caused her ribs to start aching again (a reminder of the ill-fated "Let's Rescue The Muggles " adventure several weeks ago). "It hasn't exactly been a pleasant experience for us here, either," she explained to Justin with a sad half-smile, not putting as much effort into keeping the tone light as Susan had. Of course, by this point, talking about being tortured and beaten was about as routine for them as talking about the weather. "I'm fairly sure that there's not one in the lot of us who hasn't been Cruciated at least once this year, and then there've been beatings and all manner of psychological torture." Ernie found himself laughing at Susan and Justin's light banter. There was a bit of an underlying awkwardness about making fun of matters that were so distinctly serious, but at the same time it was a relief to be able to laugh about these things. In fact, it was a relief to laugh at all. Everything had been so doom and gloom for so long that it felt good to have this one brief moment to simply laugh with his friends, despite the impending danger they were all in. Megan's comment, however, did bring the mood down a notch. Ernie shifted his weight uncomfortably at the mention of recent events. Ernie wanted to keep things light with Justin and Susan, but at the same time it was rather senseless to ignore these issues now that they were out there in the open. "Er- yeah," Ernie said. "Things haven't been so great here," he told Justin. "Between Snape and the Carrows it's, well, horrid," Ernie said and made a face. "Really, Justin, those Carrows are completely foul, I'll be glad to be rid of them after tonight," he said optimistically. Ernie had no idea how things would turn out, but he thought a bit of optimism certainly wouldn't hurt right about now. 'I say, how absolutely dreadful!' Justin tilted his head to the side and gave the other Hufflepuffs a look of sympathy in the way only he could manage -- honest and well-meaning, yet unintentionally patronising in that patrician way of his in spite of the roughness of his appearance after all those months on the run and fighting. 'It sounds not unlike Eton back in the Victorian era that Grandpapa always used to go on about as the good old days, or even the Spartan agoge . Not that I would wish such ghastly horrors on anyone, but looking at the bright side, you all must have at least built an awful lot of character this year. And you simply must tell me about how you all surely fought back as the DA over tea or champagne once this is over.' "I don't really understand everything that you're saying," Hannah said, still attached to Justin. "But I'm just so, so, so glad that you are here." She kept pinching her own cheeks with one hand, the other wound tightly around his arm. "You're alive! And safe! Except I really think that once we can all go home you need to come to my house so I can make you lots and lots of food, Justin." Unlike Ernie, Zacharias wasn't feeling too optimistic -- he had his own doubts about how this night was going to turn out, whatever they were going to end up doing. The fact that Potter was back signaled that something big was going to happen, but that didn't necessarily mean that Zach was looking forward to it. There wasn't much he could say that wouldn't be repeating what his friends had said, so he was a little quiet -- mostly due to the fact that there as some uncertainty sort of weighing in his chest at that moment. Either way, he was happy to see that his friends were overjoyed, especially since they had been upset when they found out about Justin's 'death'; particularly Hannah. He smiled a little, before noticing that Potter was back. "Harry's back," he pointed out, nodding at the famous to-be hero (or maybe not?). The room was far more crowded than it had been earlier as people -- including the older members of Dumbledore's Army who had since left school and even a few adults like their old Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Remus Lupin -- but amidst the noise, there was no mistake when Harry announced that Voldemort was coming and they would be fighting back, followed by a roar of cheers from the crowd in the room. 'Well, what are we waiting for? Tally-ho, chaps!' Ravenclaws (Anthony, Michael, Morag, Padma, Terry) The events of the last few minutes had left Michael reeling -- this was really happening. The trio was back. Cho was back. They were going to fight the Death Eaters. There wasn't any way for him to mentally prepare himself that he could deal with on such short notice (considering how carefully the DA had been in planning almost each and every move of theirs up until this point), but he had an entire year's worth of pent-up aggression that he was looking forward to unleashing on these bastards. If it was a fight they wanted, they were going to get one. Morals aside, they'd almost killed him. What sort of mercy did they deserve? If Michael had a clear shot, he was going to take it. Shaking his head clear of all the vengeful thoughts, he glanced at his friends and sighed heavily. "So," he said, half filled with dread and half giddy. He avoided thinking anything but optimistic thoughts -- they were going to win this, come out strong and finally get to move on with their lives. This was their chance to do what they'd been trying to do all year long. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready to kick some Death Eater butt." Morag wasn't feeling especially impressed with the defences that Hogwarts castle had to offer against the onslaught of death eaters that were surely coming. They were what? A handful of sixteen and seventeen year olds? She could hear Neville's voice in her head Harry Potter was just a baby when he blahdy blah blah, and it didn't provide her much comfort in the face of what she was certain would be unmitigated doom. But, despite her dislike of wasting energy, she wasn't going down without a fight. Not now. Not after her mum and after the hell they'd suffered for the better part of a year. The death eaters could screw themselves, and if she could scrounge up enough anger or courage to stay here, she could scrounge up enough to hand them a rubber. "Yeah," she said breathlessly, a bit more bravely than she felt. "Me too." Terry was ready to go. Or, at least, he would be ready to go as soon as he finished the rather massive bag of crisps he'd acquired earlier in the day and had brought with him when they'd been called to the Great Hall to fight. If he was going to do this, he didn't want his stomach grumbling while he was busy casting hexes at Death Eaters. "Mmm jmpht obmt sut," Terry nodded, fistpumping with one hand (and nearly knocking the bowl off the table, which he made a flailing grab at) and shoving a handful of food in his mouth with the other. "Os eyes arb oost." Speaking of toast, Terry wished that he would've thought to bring a sandwich with him. He had a feeling that he was going to finish the bag before he'd finished filling his face. 'Perhaps we ought to wait until Potter gets back before we do anything reckless,' said Anthony lightly, albeit not without the slightest hints of apprehension and annoyance. As much as he wanted the opportunity to make up for all of the moral compromises and horrible things he had to do in Dark Arts and as a prefect in order to help the DA -- things that ultimately did not help as much as he would have liked them to do in the grand scheme of things in retrospect -- the idea of fighting against mature Death Eaters with decades of experience in combat and the darkest of the dark arts while they were only a rag-tag gang of students who were barely of age, lacking in strong Defence Against the Dark Arts training, most likely unwilling to kill if necessary, and not exactly carefully selected for membership in the DA based on talent was not one he found remotely rational or sensible. The odds were so overwhelmingly against them if it came down to such a fight, the costs would undoubtedly outnumber what he was certain would be the very few, if any, benefits. The smartest thing to do, in his opinion, would be to retreat for now and then re-group after taking the time to come up with a proper plan and army -- this spontaneous lack of careful planning and idealistic battle lust reminded him too much of the lead-up to so many of the DA's operations that ultimately ended in failure in some way. But he knew that no one would listen to him, and so after he voiced his advice, he crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Padma to see if she would agree. Padma was pale. Her stomach turned in knots, not all that unfamiliar to her this year, but these knots were larger than all the ones she'd had before. It was great to see Potter, alive, and to find out the feats they had been hearing about were true, but with the excitement that perhaps he really was the Chosen One and was going to end everything came a lot of worry. "I... don't know about all this," she confessed. "Potter doesn't really seem like he's much up for all this." It was true - she wondered how many of the other DA members had noticed it in their excitement; Harry Potter seemed reluctant to do anything other than this secret 'thing' that he, Weasley and Granger were supposed to do, though she knew Neville had a point too. They were Dumbledore's Army, and if nothing else, they couldn't just keep on like they had been. The Room of Requirement wasn't large enough for the entire school. "But he said to wait here and anyhow," she looked over at the tunnel that lead to the Hog's Head, where Remus Lupin, her old Defense professor, had just come through the doorway, "people are still arriving." A pained smile crossed her face, the product of her knotted stomach mixing with a bit of excitement. "It certainly seems like it's really happening now." Anthony scowled -- that hadn't been the answer he was hoping for exactly. 'But honestly, even if that's the case, how much can any of us really do? Most of us are barely of age. We're not Aurors trained to take on dark wizards like You-Know-Who's Death Eaters -- even they have trouble with that sometimes, nevermind a group of students who have had an inconsistent education in Defence Against the Dark Arts and little combat experience.' And none of their OWL examiners had thrown the Killing Curse at them during their practicals either, but he hoped that was self-evident without his having to bring it up. 'I'm not insisting that we wait simply because Potter would have us do so, but until we have complete information about what's going on, I don't think it would be wise to jump to conclusions about running into battle just yet.' "Well, I'm not going to just sit here and get hexed in the back while we're all distracted thinking about what we should do," Terry said, finally finishing the bag of crisps and wiping his hand on the leg of his jeans before picking up his wand. There was a time to think and plan and ponder, and this wasn't it. They didn't have time for that, because this was happening now. "The death eaters are old and've been in Azkaban since the 70s, give or take a few breakouts. They can't be in as good of shape as we are." The bag of crisps was crumpled up into a messy wad and tossed across the room, bouncing off some brunette's head. "Run fast, use shield spells, and throw stuff at them they wouldn't expect in a battle. We catch them off guard, and then BAM!" he banged his fist on the table. "We win the war." 'If it was that easy, they would not have been able to take over the government in the first place or remained in power for as long as they already have.' As far as Anthony was concerned, if that was the best battle plan they could come up with, they were absolutely doomed to failure. 'And you're forgetting that these individuals have no compunction about or lack of skill when it comes to using dark magic like the Killing Curse.' "Anthony," Michael said with a shake of his head. "This is exactly what we need. We've been holding stuff in all year and I know that I have a lot of pent up aggression that I can't wait to release on these bastards. I bet you do too. This is going to happen whether or not we help, so we might as well do what we can, yeah?" He, for one, was tired of having to think through his every move and press out the flaws in their plans. This would be the opportunity they'd been waiting for, both to do something that made a difference and to get back at the Death Eaters who'd left the Carrows in charge of the school. Michael had never been the kind of person who needed revenge for things, but he could make an exception for this -- they'd almost killed him. They needed to pay. Morag eyed Terry warily. She wasn't convinced that devouring bags of crisp before a battle was the best was to stay in good shape -- or keep from vomiting everywhere -- but she mostly agreed with his point. "Perhaps we are not best suited for this endeavour," she began, hands nervously smoothing over blonde curls and shoving them across her shoulder -- over which they merely sprang back persistently. "But we are of age, most of us, and there is some merit in defending our home of seven years. Anthony, if you feel it is unwise, perhaps you ought not stay." Anthony opened his mouth to say something, then promptly shut it as he re-considered what point he had been about to make in response to both Michael and Morag. He didn't exactly agree with Michael that this was what they needed right now -- he did have a lot of repressed anger about the past year, but surely there had to be a better way to release that than by running head-first into a battle where they were going to be slaughtered? A bit of self-gratification and then dying wouldn't help anyone or allow him to atone properly for everything he had done this year in the long-term, would it? As for Morag, she was right -- he didn't have to stay if he did not wish to do so, and he would hope that no one would think it was within their right to impose on his free choice and force him to fight. But it scared him to think about his friends rushing into battle without seeming to grasp the magnitude of the decision -- wasn't it also his responsibility to keep them safe? Then again, the choice to fight was also theirs alone to make. Instead of saying anything then, he unfolded his arms and stuffed his hands into his trouser pockets without another word. Padma watched as Morag's words shut Anthony up, but despite the rarity of Anthony being speechless and that she would normally be amused by that if nothing else, she took no pleasure in it. "We don't even know if there are any Death Eaters here right now other than the Carrows and Snape," she pointed out. "And it would be foolish to just run out there now to fight haphazardly." She nodded toward the tunnel to the Hog's Head, where more adults (Order members, now) were standing. "Look, we even have an Auror here now. There's going to be a plan, so let's not do anything until then," she said, meaning both Terry wanting to go fight right now and Anthony making any decision. Plus, she wasn't nearly as excited as Michael and Terry seemed to be - she was petrified. Even though Michael was trying not to appear as nervous as he felt about the possibility of going into battle, he was reassured by Padma's words. Having more adults on their side could only help, even if they were only fighting the Carrows and Snape and he was sure that Voldemort himself would be there. He opened his mouth to agree, but the sound of some one entering the Room of Requirement stopped him. Hand on his wand out of reflex, Michael turned to see who had entered, relaxing when he saw that it was just Harry who'd finally come back. Along with everyone else, he fell silent, listening to what Harry had to say. By the time he'd finished, Michael's stomach was knotted with nerves -- this was really happening. They were going to fight. It took a good deal of effort to keep himself from saying something sarcastic like "well, nice knowing all of you", but eventually he settled on a Muggle movie reference that probably only Terry would appreciate. "To infinity, and beyond!" Returning students (Alicia, Angelina, Cho, Fred, George, Katie, Lee) "FRED!" George called as he shuffled through one of the many boxes of the back rooms in Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. "Hurry up, they're going to be here any minute!" he eventually found the simple pad of paper he was looking for. Flipping through some of the pages filled with notes on magical gadgets and little physics tricks, George walked into the main area of their shop, leaning against the counter and beginning to jot down things they might need and people they invited. George thoroughly enjoyed flying by the seat of his pants - but he loved his notepads and in a case of war and life and death, he felt the need to collect some of his swirling thoughts on paper. "Should we bring medical supplies? Do we even have any or did we use the last on your nose last Saturday?" He grinned at the memory of Fred's disfigured face. Experimenting days were the best. Not waiting for an answer, he scribbled down the names of their previous classmates they'd called to collect. Hopefully, they'd all show up, but knowing their mates, they most likely would. "GEORGE!" Fred bellowed his twin's name back as he popped from behind a pile of boxes with a casual dart that belied the many packets of things held in his arms. If it exploded, produced smoke, or made a big bang, it was stacked haphazardly in his grip. His steps were teetering as he bounded from the back room with a lazy grin etched on his face. This, this moment right now, this was why he was alive. The sense of accomplishment, of doing something, of just being involved made him feel dizzy with pride, and for a moment, he felt like Percy. It must be what his elder brother felt frequently as he pomped around the ministry. It was with a pang of regret he conceded to himself how the bespectacled Weasley brother could have grown intoxicated on it, but nevermind the erstwhile brother, it was time for action! "We ought to, yeah. A good inventor is never without an appropriate amount of medical supplies. Had we not all that one herb, you know, THAT ONE, I never would have survived the pain." Pause. "I'm only now in recovery, but doesn't my nose just look fabulous?" His campy accent on the end was mirrored with a pout of his lips and a dazzling flutter of his eyelashes at George as he entered the room. "Right. Let's take stock. Remember, we mustn't forget to write an invoice to the order for use of these goods. We're businessmen tied for fourth Weasley!" "Only you could think of profit at a time like this," Angelina Johnson said after announcing her arrival with a pop. The coin called and she came. If there was a fight involving her friends, she was there with bells on. Okay, so perhaps she wasn't literally wearing bells or even a Bell. Katie would have been odd to wear around. She was there nevertheless all in. "Evening boys! Johnson reporting for duty!" she informed them before pecking each other their cheeks in greeting. She followed that by taking a seat on one of their counters. She'd come straight from her flat the minute she'd gotten word that something was happening. The question was where everyone else was and why the twins were doing inventory at a time like this. Some things were better not asked about though. She focused on the important things instead. "Are we still clear to proceed the quiet way through the room of requirement or are we going have to go sashay our way in from Hogsmeade?" It felt weird knowing this might be the last time they saw the joke shop. If this was really happening, they might die. The memory of popping in and finding out George had lost an ear ages ago was enough to keep her realistic. She couldn't help but smile at the memory of beating Fred senseless for not owling her sooner to let her know how moving Harry had went anyways. It went right along with her fears. They might not come back. They might come back missing parts. Even if it was the reality she chose to push it out of her head. Thinking negative thoughts wasn't the way to enter into something like this. With a loud pop, Alica appeared outside the joke shop and shook her head to rid herself of the pressurised feeling of Apparation. "All right, fine," she sighed dramatically upon entering the shop, "I suppose I can give up my plans tonight for you lot." She gave the twins and Angelina a sullen look, which lasted only moments before the grin she'd been suppressing burst onto her face. "Actually I was just going to get around to some paperwork I've been neglecting, but it can't hurt to put if off for one more night." Alicia perched herself on a countertop, enjoying the camaraderie she already felt being with her old teammates. It seemed appropriate, really, that they should all go back together to fight Harry's fight. He'd prove himself capable of extraordinary things with the rest of the team behind him — Alicia couldn't think of any other Seeker who'd caught the Snitch with his or her mouth before. Besides, her younger brother was at Hogwarts, and though Alicia wasn't perhaps the best older sister in the world, she was going to do what she could to make sure Daniel was safe. George was in the process of getting out a bag for the supplies when the girls arrived. He smirked, giving them each a small bow before deciding to address Alicia first. "We're honored, you know. The world isn't going to save itself though, is it, so paperwork and plans and such rubbish will have to wait, won't it, Fred!" The twins looked entirely too cheerful for going off to battle, but that's how they operated and if anyone knew that, it was the girls who were now playing along. They were all such Gryffindors, he mused. He made his way over to Fred and reached over to tap his brother's nose. "Looks downright awful to me," he retorted then fluidly snatched a couple of the things Fred was holding and stuffed them into the knapsack. "All right, I'm here. Now where's the fire?" said Katie half-jokingly as she entered the shop. She had been just down the street at Quality Quidditch Supplies finishing up on some cataloguing when the call had come, and it had taken a bit more time than expected to get rid of enough of the mess to make sure the first person to enter the shop the next morning wasn't going to break their neck. Of course, people weren't going to very pleased with her anyway, but she would worry about that later. This was more important. Finding herself a place to sit next to Angelina, Katie grinned widely at the others. While most of them had kept in touch after leaving Hogwarts, it wasn't often they all got together like this. This wasn't exactly a social call, but she was still pleased to see everyone. "It's a good night for a fight, don't you think?" "Your accusation hurts my heart, Miss Johnson!" Fred retorted with a look of mock distress on his freckled face before leaning in to kiss the girl on the forehead. It was a subtle gesture that expressed a tenderness he would have liked to share with her, but time was not right for it, was it? Especially as Alicia and Katie appeared with pops and tinkles of bells - no pun intended, he thought with a grin. Giving one lingering look at Angelina that was converted into a cheeky droop of his eye he pushed over to Alicia and Katie with a cha-cha-cha of his hips and a drop of his lips to either of their cheeks. "George, we've three fine ladies here. Don't you reckon the lot at school can get on without us? Let's send some owls with supplies, open a nice bottle of champers, and have them rub our feet." He danced away from all three of them with a quick jig of his feet, knowing he was just asking to get biffed with the nearest hand, knuckle, or bag. He refused to be serious at a time like this. It was all too real. This could be the last time they all saw each other and rather selfishly, he didn't want Alicia, Katie, or.. especially Ange going into this. They didn't have a choice, though. If he wanted the world he dreamt of there would have to be a sacrifice and Fred was willing to make his own life one of them so his brothers, so their children, so the world went on as it was supposed to. "It's a perfect night for a rumble. I have even packed my special bat." With a wave of his hand he produced a small beater bat, thrusting it about like he was whacking an imaginary foe in the face, only it just looked like that to him. To the others he had to look like a mentalist. "Your sashay will be the death of me, Mister Weasley" Angelina retorted to Fred from her spot near her girls. They had strong personalities and sometimes they took over the conversation. The only thing she threw at him was a dirty look though. There was nothing of value aimed at his head this time. She felt a bit sorry for everyone else at times. She and Fred being kind enough to not make a icky display for them all but they weren't always so generous. They were being spared this time! There was just a little verbal sparring to get the adrenaline pumping, she'd have to steal a kiss later. Now was the time to focus on battle strategy not other things. Speaking of which, they were down two. "Where's Wood and Jordan? Once they arrive, we'll have proper numbers for you lot to give us proper massages after us ladies kick Death Eater arses seeing as you're mistaken and we're about to head in. I'll require two strapping lads - one to start at my scalp and the other at my feet." Katie laughed at Fred's crazy antics, thinking not for the first time how great he and Angelina worked together. They challenged each other, and Katie had no doubt they both needed the challenge. "Yes, let's bring out the alcohol," she said, itching for a drink. Today had been way too long already. If Oliver and Lee wanted some as well they would just have to hurry up. "Oh ho, I see what's going on here," she then said, raising an eyebrow at Angelina. "You get two, do you? Alicia, what do you say? I don't think we can agree with that!" "I don't know, Katie," Alicia pretended to deliberate, "I thought you said that it's a good night for a fight." Of course, she knew that her friends were joking around as they often did, and normally she would've embraced the banter wholeheartedly. Tonight, however, Alicia felt a largely unfamiliar emotion tugging at her stomach: worry. It mingled with all-too-familiar pangs of impatience, and she hoped that Oliver and Lee would show up soon. "Once we're war heroes, we can get some real men to give us massages," she added, desperately trying to keep the conversation from getting too serious. Oliver arrived straight from Quidditch practice (because really, when wasn't Oliver practicing Quidditch. "Did I hear someone say alcohol?" A few minutes later, the sound of a pop occurred outside the door, followed by a slamming sound as Lee forgot to turn the knob before trying to yank open the door. "I'm here I'm here did I miss it?!!" Lee yelled as he came bursting through the front door of the joke shop, the little bell above the door dinging to announce his arrival. He was out of breath and annoyed at himself for being late, his hair a huge mess and the fly of his jeans undone. He was even MORE annoyed that this had to happen now, interrupting what he'd been doing. He zipped them up and leaned against the wall to catch his breath. "I'm getting too damn old for this shit." "There's your answer, AJ. There they are." Pointedly, Fred turned his nose up toward Angelina with a mock superior air as he answered her query of where Oliver and Lee were. "Pleasure to have you two messirs with us on such a delightful evening." His smile was warm over the other two boys, almost benign. He was really hamming the night up because to him it was all a jolly joke. They'd get in, have a laugh, win, and be done before breakfast. "Now, listen, as you all know there is some shit about to happen vis-a-vis the moldy one. His constipation of hate has backed up and we've reliable sources telling us this is it. As in IT." His us was clearly George and him and he unknowingly beckoned his brother to stand by him as he started to divulge the night and the plans therein. "We've done some recon work and will be apparating to Hog's Head where we will be traveling by secret tunnel to unleash some of our old mayhem - and devilish good looks, but the latter is strictly a Weasley thing." He puffed his chest out as he strutted in front of the assembled. He was speaking fast, quite excitedly, but doing so with an authority that was becoming for him. It was rarely shown before, but in the heat of the moment he was drawing up all reserves of leadership that hadn't genetically been willed to Percy and Ginny. For a minute, he grinned internally wondering how Gin would like being compared to Percy, but he let it slide as he nodded at his twin. "We have provisions of exploding things, wounding things, things, medical things, and biscuits. You are NOT to touch the biscuits unless it is to feed it directly to my mouth. On that note, troops, grab a rucky, and lets get ourselves to the fray. We've something to fight for." He paused and it was uncharacteristic what he said next, his mouth drawing into a line that didn't quite hide the brilliant smile he was holding back, "Each other." Saddling one rucksack over his back, Fred looked around once and apparated, sure the others would follow. Finally, it was time for action. Alicia hopped off the counter, picked up a rucksack, and mustered up the requisite determination and deliberation as quickly as she could manage. Reappearing in her destination, she looked around. Alicia hadn't been in the Hogs Head since that very first DA meeting in her seventh year. She much preferred the atmosphere of the Three Brooksticks, but hey, a pub was a pub, right? And Alicia could really use a drink. Which gave her an idea. "Hey, wait," she interjected before the twins showed them where this mysterious passageway was. "Let's all take a shot together before we go. It might..." she trailed off, reluctant to actually voice the words be the last time we're all together. Alicia swallowed before feebly continuing, "It might be good luck or something." With the arrival of the boys all thoughts of their earlier conversation were forgotten, and Katie greeted Oliver and Lee with a big smile before making faces behind Fred's back as he explained the "battle plan". Once they had all arrived safely at the Hogs Head - there was no room for splinching accidents this time - she followed the twins, stopping in her tracks at Alicia's suggestion. "Sounds like a splendid plan to me," she said, eyeing the others to see what they thought. They might be Gryffindors, but all of them could probably do with some extra courage tonight. Stars shone from the ceiling of the Great Hall as Harry, those from the Room of Requirement, and all the students filed in. Students wore their nightclothes, whispering quietly and murmuring to themselves in little groups around their tables. Teachers moved quietly around, whispering to each other. The ghosts also swirled, their groups morphing and twirling from place to place. Professor McGonagall marched to the front of the hall and made her way onto the raised platform. She seemed to have lost years in the past few moments, giving Harry a strong nod. There was victory in the air, no matter what anyone else said. "I need your attention," she said, her chin lifted high. Nobody spoke after that. They stared at her, transfixed. Even the Slytherins seemed ready to follow her orders at this moment. Too much turmoil, death, and despair had gripped all of the students so that just now, with another mess of confusion upon them, they all seemed willing to accept guidance. "You-Know-Who is upon us," said Professor McGonagall. "Evacuation will begin immediately. Evacuation will be overseen by Mr. Filch and Madame Pomfrey. Prefects, when I give the word, you will organize your House and take your charges in orderly fashion to the evacuation point." Students looked at each other, faces making plain their terror. "You-Know-Who?" a few whispered. Ernie Macmillan stood. "And what if we want to stay and fight?" he shouted. At his question, there was the sound of scattered applause. Professor McGonagall looked at Ernie for a moment and then nodded. "If you are of age, you may stay," she said. Ruby swallowed, looking at her friends nervously. "What about our things?" she called. "Our trunks, our owls?" "We have no time to collect possessions," said Professor McGonagall. "The important thing is to get you out of here safely." Blythe stood, waving her hand. "Where's Professor Snape?" she shouted. Professor McGonagall gave the Gryffindor table a significant look. "He has, to use the common phrase, done a bunk." Cheers erupted throughout the Great Hall. Not only at the Gryffindor table, but at the Hufflepuff, and at the Ravenclaw. The Slytherins, however, started whispering angrily amongst themselves. Harry was making his way through the crowd, and as people began to see him, the cheers turned into surprised noises and a hum of quiet, shocked conversation. "We have already placed protection around the castle," said Professor McGonagall. "But it is unlikely to hold for very long unless we reinforce it. I must ask you, therefore, to move quickly and calmly, and do as your prefects -" "I know that you are preparing to fight." The voice was cold, hard, clear. McGonagall paused. Students screamed, clutching each other, trying to determine where the voice came from. "Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood." The screams had died down. Everyone stared at each other, some hands clutching, some students gulping. "Give me Harry Potter," said Voldemort's voice, "and they shall not be harmed. Give me Harry Potter and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter and you will be rewarded. "You have until midnight." The voice was gone, and silence filled the room instead. Gaping silence, heavy silence, as everyone was frozen in place, until heads began to turn and hands began to grip, and voices began to utter horror. Then a figure stood on the Slytherin table. "But he's there! Potter's there. Someone grab him!" Pansy pointed at Harry, shrieking at the top of her lungs. Everyone moved at once. Slytherins stood, ready to follow Pansy's orders, but at the same time the Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs all stood, their backs to Harry, ready to defend him and keep him from Pansy's clutches. Wands appeared from cloaks, ready in hand. "Thank you, Miss Parkinson," said Professor McGonagall. "You may leave the Hall first with Mr. Filch. If the rest of your house could follow..." Benches made noises akin to Pansy's shrieking as Slytherins began moving. "Ravenclaws, follow on!" cried Professor McGonagall. Lisa & Morag Heart pounding, Morag tried to weave between the masses of moving students, brain protesting at the surreality of her surroundings. Harry Potter hanging out, You Know Who outside. Epic fighting in the making -- she didn't really know how a boring girl from Edinburgh had gotten caught up in this nonsense. She had to fight, she knew that, but she also needed to take care of something that had been bothering her ever since she'd taken up residence in the Room of Requirement. She wished she hadn't gone there, honestly. There was something truly awful about friends knowing you'd lied to them, and she'd have done anything to take it back. Searching for Lisa seemed to take forever, and she bumped into a small Ravenclaw girl with a sharp 'sorry!' before dodging and spotting her (ex?)friend. "Lisa!" She called, grabbing for an arm. When Morag grabbed her arm, Lisa turned to face her. She pulled it out of her grip, gently, but there wasn't any kindness in her eyes when she looked at her. Morag's betrayal, for some strange reason, stung more than Padma's. The fact that she didn't know why caused her to question the validity of her feelings, but being the stubborn girl that she was, she didn't want to admit that she might have been overreacting. "What?" came her impatient response, folding her arms across her chest. The sharpness made Morag step back, and her expression tightened into something inscrutable. Pressing her lips together, she waited a heartbeat to try and decide if she really Lisa to leave with something she couldn't take back. Oh well. Pessimism won out and Morag doubted she'd live through the night anyway. Easier to think that way. "Here," she said flatly, all emotion she might have expressed thrust roughly behind a guarded tone that betrayed nothing. A piece of folded and sealed parchment lay in her outstretched hand. "Open this when I die." Lisa paused for a moment, she looked at her friend critically and reached out to take the parchment from her hands. She considered tossing it once they parted, but that would be a touch too immature for her, she decided. "Why are you staying?" Morag shrugged, half turning back towards the rest of the students as she tried not to think about never seeing Lisa again. "Have to make the friendships I lost for this worth it. I'm sorry, Lisa." Her breath caught in her throat and then she wanted to get away before she cried. "I'm sorry." With a shove of her feet, she was in motion, heading back into the crowd -- an anonymous head of blonde among too many students to count. |