The Raven's Call

Dumbledore's Army

Sunday, November 5th 1995

"Come on, Atticus, it's this way."
Luna announces as she pulls me by the arm through snowy Hogsmeade.

"Luna, do we really have to go to this? It's freezing out here."
I complain, tightening up my scarf with my free hand while 'Bandit' curled herself up in my pocket.

"Yes, yes, it's important. They'll be waiting for us."
As Luna leads me into The Hogshead Tavern, I see Hermione, Ron, and Harry standing in front of a large crowd of our fellow students, we quickly grab ourselves a seat behind Asteria and the Weasley twins.

"Uh.. Hi."
Hermione announces as we're all settled.
"So you all know why we're here."

"I don't."
Asteria speaks up, raising her hand.

"We need a teacher.."
Hermione continues.
"A proper teacher. One who's had real experience defending themselves against the Dark Arts."

"Why?"
Some kid asks.

"Why?! Cause You-Know-Who's back you tosspot."
Ron replies.

"So he says."
The boy says, gesturing towards Harry.

"So Dumbledore says."
Hermione speaks up.

"So Dumbledore says, because he says."
The kid argued.
"The point is, where's the proof?"

"If Potter could tell us more about how Diggory got killed."
Another kid speaks up.

I feel my knuckles turn white as I clench my fist, though it quickly subsides when Luna takes a hold of my hand.

"I'm not going to talk about Cedric, so if that's why you're here, you might as well clear out now."
Harry demands before whispering something to Hermione.

"Is it true you can produce a Patronus charm?"
Luna asks from beside me. Asteria notices me and gives me a small smile, to which I give one back.

"Yes."
Hermione answers for Harry.
"I've seen it."

"Blimey, Harry, I didn't know you could do that."
Dean spoke in awe.

"And he killed a Basilisk with the sword in Dumbledore's office."
I speak up.

"It's true."
Ginny and Asteria agreed, having been there themselves.

"In third year he fought off about 100 dementors at once,"
Ron boasts.

"And last year, he really did fight off You-Know-Who in the flesh."
Hermione spoke.

"Wait-"
Harry says softly.
"Look, it all sounds great when you say it like that, but the truth is most of that was just luck. I didn't know what I was doing half the time, I nearly always had help."
He explains.

"He's just being modest."
Hermione spoke again.

"No, Hermione, I'm not. Facing this stuff in real life is not like school. In school, if you make a mistake, you can just try again tomorrow, but out there, when you're seconds away from being murdered or watching a friend die right before your eyes.."
His voice trails off for a moment.
"You don't know what that's like."
He spoke softly before taking a seat.