It was nighttime, and the only noise that could be heard throughout the castle was the sound of footsteps. Each house, in order, makes their way towards the great hall. I could see the Hufflepuff students moving slowly, their faces blank as if accustomed to such exercises. As the Grffindors walk, Harry and I move in their midst, effectively shielded. We slip past a few people, and Harry stops us next to Ginny, reaching out and enfolding Ginny's hand in his own. She doesn't look back, knows it's him, knows his touch. Hermione and Ron stayed in the Room of Requirement, waiting for the order to arrive. They were coming, I could feel it. As Gryffindor made our way to the Great Hall, I glanced slightly towards Harry. "You know, I never thought I would have to wear these dingy robes again... whose even is this? It reeks." Harry eyed me darkly, not thinking that this was the time for jokes. I just sent him a smile. But really, this robe smells horrible. Each House stands together as a group, the room buzzing. No one sits. Harry and I can't be seen anywhere. At the Tall Table at the top of the Hall two death eaters, I assumed they were the Carrows, stand like sinister sentinels. Their eyes rake the crowd. I can see Professor McGonagall, her face ashen, her bearing reduced, standing along the right wall, while Flitwick stands by the left wall. As Snape enters, the room goes slowly silent.
"Many of you are surely wondering why I have summoned you here at this hour. It has come to my attention that earlier this evening Harry Potter was sighted in Hogsmeade." Snape announces to the crowd of students. A murmured thrill fills the hall. McGonagall's eyes glisten with curiosity. Snape raises his voice, briefly, to quell the noise in the Hall. "I mention this in the hopes that truth will not be supplanted by rumor. For myself and a few select members of the staff this comes as little surprise. We have, for some time, considered Mr. Potter's return to Hogwarts to be not only possible but inevitable. Consequently, in the past several months and under my specific direction, exhaustive defensive strategies have been employed to defeat any attempt Mr. Potter might make to breach these walls. But know this. Should anyone -- student or staff -- attempt to aid Mr. Potter, that person will be punished in a manner consistent with the severity of their transgression. Rest assured: So long as I am Headmaster at Hogwarts, Harry Potter will never again step foot in this castle. Now then. If anyone here has knowledge of Mr. Potter's movements this evening... I invite them to step forward now." Snape's eyes rake the Hall. Dead silence. A nervous shift of glances. Harry and I take this opportunity to step out of the Gryffindor crowd. McGonagall's chin rises in disbelief.
"I think I can help you out with that." Harry mentions, wand in hand, ready for anything. I smile towards the front, eying Snape. "It would seem that, despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you have a bit of a security problem, Headmaster." Snape stares in stunned disbelief, then his gaze shifts. The door to the Great Hall bursts open and the Order steps into the room. I could see them all: Arthur. Molly. Fred. George. Percy. Luna. Dean Thomas. Bill. Fleur. Kingsley Shacklebolt. "And I'm afraid it's rather extensive." As Harry takes a step towards Snape, I turn towards the Order and I can't help but rush to George. I stand by his side, this not being the moment for a touching reunion. George moves his wand to the other hand, holding my hand. Fred, standing on the other side of me, puts his hand on my shoulder. I look up at both of them, with a smile on my face. Oh, how I have missed them.
"We're going to talk about this later." George mutters to me. I look up at him, but he isn't looking at me. I nod. I understand.
The Carrows, who had been moving towards Harry, falter, turn to Snape with uncertainty. Harry's eyes narrow with malice as he stares at Snape. "How dare you stand where he stood." Snape watches Harry draw his wand, pointing it at him. "Tell them how it was that night. Tell then how you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you... and killed him. Tell them!" Snape's eyes find Harry's, but his face remains a mask. McGonagall stands poised, no longer an ashen ghost. Flitwick's hand twitches over his wand. The air prickles with anticipation. Snape moves as if to retrieve his wand. McGonagall steps forward and sends a volcanic blast Snape's way. Pivoting, he parries the spell -- barely -- and sends it ricocheting around the room. Chaos ensues. Flitwick and the rest of the staff, inspired by Harry and McGonagall, leap forth, wands out. Snape, outnumbered, standing at the epicenter, parries spell after spell with astonishing skill deflecting two of the curses into the Carrows. Snape takes the measure of the room and sweeps his wand over his head, reducing the torches that line the wall to smoke and pitching the Hall into total darkness. A few students scream, a great whooshing sound filling the hall and some flying thing flickers past the windows, rattling the panes before blasting through the biggest one. Instantly, the torches burst back to life and we see that it's McGonagall, wand raised aloft, who's done it. McGonagall peers bitterly into the darkness.
"Coward! COWARD! And he didn't even stay to fight!" I chuckle, turning towards the twins.
"Who knew McGonagall was such a badass?" Fred comments, staring at the woman in awe.
"Well, I reckon a lot of people did." I chuckle.
"I'm sure Ron wishes he could dance with her again." George winks at me.
"Mr. Potter, do you mind telling me what you're doing here, which, I trust you realize, is an act of complete and utter lunacy?" The Order moves forward, closer to the students.
"I'm a Gryffindor." Harry shrugs, smiling up at his Professor.
"I thought it might have something to do with that." She turns to the room. "All right! Settle down! Settle down!" The room quiets. "It appears that your Headmaster, to use the common phrase, has done a bunk." Cheers rise from all Houses, except for a few in Slytherin. Even McGonagall can't help but smile. Just then, Harry winced slightly, pressing his fingers to his temple.
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Daughter of Black
FanfictionShe was named after both her parents. On her father's side of the family, it was tradition that they were named after stars - Mira. Her mother's name was Arabella so her father gave her part of her mother's name as well. He wanted part of both of th...
