The Raven's Call

Ferrets and Dragons

Stella's POV:

A month has gone by of DA meetings, and I'd gotten to know each student pretty well. Today we're practicing our Patronus's, which I'm so very excited for!

"Make it a powerful memory. The happiest you can remember. Allow it to fill you up."
Harry announces as we pair in twos and stand back to back.

I stand with Alex.
"Expecto Patronum!"
He announces, to no avail.

"It's okay, you got this."
I say with a smile before trying for myself.

Think of my happiest memory?
The first time I was able to speak with Atti.
That's when I was my happiest.

A white light emanates from my wand, before spiraling into the form of a spectral ferret, which begins scurrying around the room, joining Atti and Luna's Patronus's as they dance around the room. Atti's is a ferret like mine, and Luna's is a white rabbit.

My concentration drops the moment I hear a large rumble, making the chandelier above us jolt and sway.

Thud.                                                                        

                                                                               Thud.

Thud.                   

                          Shatter.

The glass lining the wall falls to the ground as a hole is penetrated behind it. The entire group of students merge together, I end up standing with Asteria and the Weasley twins.

"I'll make short work of this."
A high pitched voice spoke from beyond the crack in the wall.
"Bombarda maxima."

=  B  O  O  M =

The wall explodes into a cloud of dust and rubble.. with a hint of a green apple scent that fills the air.

As the debris clears I lock eyes with a blonde boy, who's holding Cho Chang by her robes. I don't know who this boy is.. but my heart skips a beat.

That can't be good.

"Get them."
A woman in pink announces.

***

Atticus's POV:

We're in trouble now. All of us.

A new decree is now on the wall.

'Delores Jane Umbridge has replaced Albus Dumbledore as head of Hogwarts.'

Fantastic.

A few days later, detention was held in the great hall, with Umbridge sitting in front of us, like a queen overlooking her servants. She's making us write lines, as she's given each of us a 'special' quill, that requires no ink. At first I thought it may be like the quills Asteria, Alex and I use on our journals, but I quickly find out the hard way that this was not the case.

The words;
'I must not participate in any illicit activities.'
Begin to appear on the back of my hand, each letter burning as it's etched into my skin. I wince as I feel the sensation of a sharp blade against my flesh.

The pain is excruciating and almost unbearable.
Almost.
I look up at the woman through clenched teeth. Immediately standing as soon as we are dismissed.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through that."
I say, dragging Luna and Stella to the side out in the hall, giving them both a hug to comfort them.

"It's okay.. it doesn't hurt too bad."
Luna says with a smile,
Ever the optimist, that one.

"I do hope we never have to go through that again."
Stella says with a sigh.
"I'm Stella by the way."
She introduced herself to Luna.

"Luna Lovegood."
Luna introduced herself too.

My girlfriend and my sister have now officially met.
Why does that make me nervous?

***

A month later and it's time for our OWL's.

All of us fifth years as sitting in silence in the Great Hall, the only thing that can be heard is the scribbling of quills and the swoosh of the clock pendulum behind Umbridge.

Soon there's a large thud in the distance.

Then another.

And another.

Umbridge makes her way past us to the door of the hall and swings it open, gaining our attention. There's a sizzling sound before two flashes of light dart into the room and explode above our heads in a multitude of colours. Fireworks?
Things go silent once again.
Is it over?

"Heeeeyyy!"
I hear the familiar voices of the Weasley Twins as they ride their broomsticks past Umbridge, and into the great hall, letting off a huge display of more and more fireworks that dance around us and the room, and some even chase a few members of the inquisitorial squad around, too. Then another loud bang is heard above us as the fireworks take the shape of a dragon head that begins chasing Umbridge down the hall, chomping down on her as she reaches the exit.

 Singeing her hair and clothes, it explodes every single decree that hag of a woman had made Filch put on the walls. We erupt into cheers as we run out of the hall, following the twins on their brooms to the courtyard outside, more and more fireworks exploding through the sky.

I find Luna in the crowd, pulling her towards me. Screw the rules Umbridge had made, screw everyone else. I pull her in close placing my hands on her cheeks as kiss her passionately under the fireworks. My eyes close as I feel her returning the kiss.