The Raven's Call

The Return of Dumbledore's Army

The Undercroft was colder than I remembered.
Maybe it was just the nerves buzzing under my skin, but every step I took onto the stone floor felt heavier. Around me, students huddled close, whispers dying on their lips as Asteria and I made our way to the front. Ginny stood nearby, arms crossed, trying to look casual — but even she couldn't hide the tension in her stance.

I glanced at Asteria. She gave me a small, firm nod. It was now or never.

I turned to face everyone and raised my voice, letting it echo against the ancient stones.

"I know we're scared," I said, the words steady even though my heart hammered in my chest. "I know it feels like we're standing on the edge of something massive and terrible. But it looks like we're just gonna have to fight. And we are gonna fight so hard..."I paused, meeting as many eyes as I could. "...that we're gonna win."

A ripple of energy stirred in the room — cautious, but real. I pushed on. "He thinks that we're finished. He thinks that we're done. He thinks that it's over, and that his battle is won." I let a sharp little laugh slip out. "Ha!"

Someone — I think it was Seamus — barked out a real laugh. The tension cracked just a little. "He thinks that we're finished... but we aren't through. Stop and think, my friends — what would Harry do for you?"

I stepped back as Asteria moved forward. Her voice was clear, unwavering. "Harry never gave up the fight. Harry stood up for what is right." She paused, long enough for her words to land. "Well... now it's our turn."

I reached out and grabbed her hand without even thinking. Together, we shouted: "Our turn!"

It was like a spark hit dry wood — the room came alive. Wands lifted. Feet shifted forward. Eyes burned bright with something fierce and unstoppable.

Without hesitation, the chant erupted. "Make a joyful sound — Voldemort is going down!"

Our voices rose higher, building momentum like a tidal wave. "We must unite, so we can fight, Turn the battle around! Time's running out, it's time to shout — Voldemort is going down!"

Ginny, grinning like she'd been waiting for this moment forever, burst forward. "Can't you feel a fire burning? Now it's time to be a man — A great, big, muscley, super big, super hot man!"

Everyone laughed — real, full-bodied laughter that shook the dust from the stones. For a moment, we were just kids again. Kids who dared to believe we could still win.

Then, like a drumbeat, the chant rolled back in, stronger than before. "We won't be pushed around anymore! We'll be a force you cannot ignore! We'll be an army for Dumbledore — For Dumbledore!"

The floor seemed to tremble beneath us, not from magic, but from the sheer force of hope. "We must unite, so we can fight! Turn the battle around! Time's running out, it's time to shout — Voldemort is going down!"

Wands pointed skyward, fists pumping, voices lifted until there was no room left for fear, only fire. "Voldemort is going down!"

The last shout rang through the Undercroft like a cannon blast, bouncing off the walls, off the ceiling, off our very bones.
And I knew — standing there, shoulder to shoulder with Asteria, with Neville and Luna and Ginny and every brave soul who had answered the call —
that we were prepared to fight.
And we were going to win.

Asteria grabbing my hand, Atticus throwing his fist up, me spinning dramatically in place—

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stella's POV:

The cheers from the others echoed in the undercroft, filling the space with excitement and hope. I beamed as Ginny punched the air, Luna clapped enthusiastically, and Neville gave a whoop of encouragement.

For a second, it almost felt like the whole room had burst into song.

I could almost hear it —
All of us standing together, belting out a victorious anthem against Voldemort, stomping our feet, clapping our hands, shouting to the rafters.
Voldemort is going down!
We must unite so we can fight!

I blinked hard, snapping out of it with a tiny jolt.
No one was singing.
Ginny was laughing with Neville, Luna was humming under her breath, and Asteria was nudging Atticus playfully in the ribs.

The meeting was real.
The bursting-into-song bit... that had just been my daydream.
I bit back a grin, hugging the feeling to my chest.

Maybe reality wasn't a perfect musical — but it didn't have to be.
We  were still fighting.
We were still standing.
And that was more than enough.

The room fell into a breathless, buzzing silence.

Then Neville, cheeks flushed with excitement, stepped forward. He reached into his cloak and pulled out a small cloth bag.

"Er," he said, a little awkwardly, "these are — well — copies of the old fake Galleons Hermione made for the original D.A. We thought... maybe it would help again."

He opened the bag, and the golden coins spilled into his hand. They caught the light, gleaming warm and bright — a beacon in the dimness.

"I enchanted them myself," Neville added, a little proudly. "If there's an emergency or a meeting, they'll tell you the time and date. Just like before."

He began handing them out, and students stepped forward one by one, some with shaking hands, some with fierce, determined eyes.

When he pressed one into my palm, it felt heavier than gold. It felt like trust.

(A/N: iykyk)