Emerson Wilmore was an exemplary Ravenclaw student, known for her unwavering dedication to academics and an unyielding moral compass. However, things took a twisted and deviated turn in her life after her boyfriend, Cedric Diggory, was murdered by L...
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The next week passed in a blur of wand light, shouted incantations, and the relentless reminder that the war wasn't creeping toward them anymore. It was here.
Practice sessions for the D.A. became vigorous. Some students stayed late after every meeting, others arrived drenched in sweat before it even started. Even the First-Years and Second-Years like Ariel stopped giggling when they cast spells; their wands were held like lifelines.
The Room of Requirement shifted every second night into the expansive training hall: stone floors, dummies charmed to strike back, moving platforms, storm-like lighting that forced them to cast under pressure. Everyone trained with a fierceness Emerson hadn't seen before... Even in herself.
Neville, Ginny, and Luna moved between groups with calm, commanding authority. Neville had fully grown into the role Harry had once held, his voice cutting through the chaos with practised confidence as he demonstrated shield charms, counter-curses, and defensive formations.
"Shields up! Higher, Ernie!" Neville barked as a dozen jets of red light shot across the room.
Ernie grunted, barely managing to block an incoming Stunner from Olivia that sent him staggering. "I'm trying, Neville!"
"Try harder," Olivia called out, firing a non-verbal spell that clipped the hem of Ernie's robes. "The Death Eaters won't politely give you a second attempt."
"No, we wouldn't," Enzo piped up, ignoring the dirty look that Ernie gave him. Ernie muttered something indignant under his breath, and Olivia smirked, satisfied.
Luna drifted around the room with eerie calm, her wand movements graceful, until she corrected someone's footwork with uncharacteristic firmness. Blaise deliberately positioned his foot slightly awkwardly, so she came around more than once to him.
"I'm so sorry, my love," Blaise hastily apologised for a third time, but Luna didn't blink an eye in frustration. She knew what he was doing.
Across the room, Ginny was drilling a group of Fifth-Years, pacing with her arms folded.
"Shield Charms up, now!" She ordered. A ripple of Protego! rang out. "Good! But you,"—She pointed at a trembling Ravenclaw—"hesitated. Don't give the enemy a window. Hesitation will get you killed."
The Ravenclaw swallowed hard and nodded.
Meanwhile, Enzo had become an unexpected source of chaos. He'd been working with Ariel, Eric and three Gryffindor Second-Years and somehow convinced them that battle cries improved spell strength.
