Father's Little Deatheater

Hogwarts Isnt the Same

I only just survived these holidays. I was lucky I had George and Atti to talk to in the Journal.. I knew Draco was not going back because he still doesn't want to defy father. Mother knows I'm not happy living here in the manor with father and the dark lord because I pretty much disowned them by siding with the Weasleys. I was discovered by some Deatheater's at the wedding. Father and Voldemort weren't happy. I had a talk with Mother the night before everyone was due back to school. She explained to me that she has talked to Molly and they agreed for my protection that I should live with the Weasley's. I was so happy that I went straight up to my room to tell Atti and George. 

Monday, September 1st 1997 

  Harry, Ron, and Hermione had been missing since the wedding. No one had heard a thing from them. But we know what they're doing. They're searching for the horcruxes. 

Neville, Luna, Ginny, Atti, Stella, and I began discussing the return of Dumbledore's Army on the train ride back to Hogwarts. We'd crammed into a compartment, which was quieter than usual, all I could hear were the muffled voices of the other students and the peaceful hum of the wheels on the tracks. I struggled to leave George this morning. We both apparated to the station together, waiting with me until one of my friends showed up. So I wouldn't get on the train alone so he says. Atti eventually showed up and I said my reluctant goodbyes to George and hopped on the train with Atti.

 "They're out there doing something," Neville said suddenly, staring out the window, breaking me from my thoughts. "Risking everything. We can't just go back to class like nothing's happening." He continues. "I heard the Carrows are teaching this year, One's taking over Defense Against the Dark Arts, the other's doing Muggle Studies. It's not going to be normal." I muttered, my mind worrying about every little thing. I know they will be horrible to me. Unless Snape interferes.

"Which is why we need each other," Luna said softly, looking at us over the top of The Quibbler. "Dumbledore's Army gave us strength before. It can do it again." I sit up straight hearing Luna continue. "Do we all agree, then? We bring it back. We train. We protect the others." I say, feeling all confident. We all glance at each other, no one needing to say the names that haunted our thoughts.

"I'm in," Atti said, moments later. "Dumbledore's Army lives." Atti cheers. And just like that, another plan was in motion. Then my stomach drops. Something was wrong. The train shrieked to a stop. Not slowing down—stopping. Hard. The sudden jolt made Stella sit up. My arm instantly wrapping around her. I looked toward the fogged-up window, mist swirling under the tracks. I see the black mist of some Deatheater's materialize onto the train. my stomach drops again and I look to the floor as the footsteps approach. My hands shaking.  

The compartment door slid open, and two Deatheater's walked in, wands already drawn. Without a word. "My father will hear about this." For a moment I thought Draco here. But as my eyes look up, I realize it was Cormac McLagan. The men ignored him as they passed through. Neville stood slowly. "Hey, Losers. He isn't here." He spoke. He really grew some balls throughout the years. I'm proud of him. The Death Eater in front's eyes narrowed. They lingered on Neville, then swept over the rest of us. His gaze hit Atti, and paused for a moment. maybe he recognized him. then his eyes meet mine. Oh shit shit. I start to panic wandering what he's going to do. Stella grabs my hand under the table. I freeze moment go pass of silence, then the men leave and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. I return my smile towards Stella. she smiles back.

 Neville sat back down, running a hand through his hair. "We'll need somewhere to meet," He said, changing the subject straight back to what we were talking about before we were interrupted. "Somewhere secret, somewhere safe." "The Room of Requirement?" Ginny offered. I shake my head. "Can't. It's being used for storage now—piled wall to wall with junk. I heard McGonagall sealed it off after what happened at the Astronomy Tower last year." I finish explaining what I found out by Snape. "Could we use one of the empty classrooms?" Luna asked, in her usual hopeful tone. "Too risky," Stella chimed in. "Filch will been patrolling more than ever. He's got this weird sixth sense for secret meetings." "What about the Owlery?" Neville suggested. "Too cold. And too open," said Ginny. "We need somewhere we can train without worrying who might see or hear us." 

 There was a pause as everyone thought. I was thinking hard, then it popped into my head. "...I might have an idea," Atti said beating me to it. "The Undercroft." My eyes flicked to his in recognition. That was what I was going to say. Stella raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Neville frowned. "What's the Undercroft?" He asks.  "It's hidden below the castle," Atti explains in a quiet tone. "Not on any maps. There's a passageway behind a standing clock near the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Only Asteria, Stella, and I know about it." I nodded. "It's safe. We've used it before to get away from things." I add, trying o be discreet.  "It's perfect," Stella added, a faint grin tugging at her lips. "No one would think to look there." There was another spout of silence, then Neville grinned. "Then that's our base." 

As soon as I arrived at the school, I noticed how dark and uninvitingly dim it was—so different from when Dumbledore was headmaster. The corridors were shadowy, with hardly any light to guide the way.