The Other Potter: Book 7

(It's past three am and I should be asleep or doing schoolwork)

"Professor, we've got to barricade the school, he's coming now!" I heard Harry shout from somewhere.

I apparated to where he was. See, all year, I’ve felt that ‘pull’ in my stomach, but I’ve ignored it. When I actually succumb to it, I apparate to him. It’s weird right?

"Very well. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is coming," McGonagall told the other teachers. Sprout and Flitwick gasped. Slughorn let out a low groan. "Potter has work to do in the castle, on Dumbledore's orders. We need to put in place every protection of which we are capable while Potter does what he needs to do."

"You realize, of course, that nothing we do will be able to keep out You-Know-Who indefinitely?" squeaked Flitwick.

"But we can hold him up." said Professor Sprout.

"Thank you, Pomona," said Professor McGonagall, and between the two witches there passed a look of grim understanding. "I suggest we establish basic protection around the place, then gather our students and meet in the Great Hall. Most must be evacuated, though if any of those who are over age wish to stay and fight, I think they ought to be given the chance."

"Agreed," said Professor Sprout, already hurrying toward the door. "I shall meet you in the Great Hall in twenty minutes with my House."

“We’ve got a small army in the Room of Requirement.” I informed her, and she jumped because no one knew I was there. “There are about 70 of us willing to fight. Plus those of age, plus anyone else.” I smiled. “And well, me. I’m more like a hulk though.”

“What?”

“I’m a giant green uncontrollable beast.”

McGonagall looked at me as though she wanted to laugh and cry.

I have a great effect on people.

"I can act from here," said Flitwick, deciding to continue the conversation. And although he could barely see out of it, he pointed his wand through a smashed window and started muttering incantations of great complexity. Harry heard a weird rushing noise, as though Flitwick had unleashed the power of the wind into the grounds.

"Professor," Harry said, approaching the little Charms master. "Professor, I'm sorry to interrupt, but this is important. Have you got any idea where the diadem of Ravenclaw is?"

"Protego Horribillis - the diadem of Ravenclaw?" squeaked Flitwick. "A little extra wisdom never goes amiss, Potter, but I hardly think it would be much use in this situation!"

"I only meant - do you know where it is? Have you ever seen it?"

"Seen it! Nobody has seen it in living memory! Long since lost, boy."

“Harry,” I said grabbing hold of his shoulder as he looked panicked. “Nothing is ever lost.”

“You’re talking in riddles, again.”

“It’s being repeated all over my head. I don’t know what it means.” I said honestly. “But it’s with everything lost. Everything else that is lost.”

"We shall meet you and your Ravenclaws in the Great Hall, Filius!" said Professor McGonagall, beckoning to Harry, Luna and myself to follow her.

We had just reached the door when Slughorn rumbled into speech.

"My word," he puffed, pale and sweaty, his walrus mustache aquiver. "What a to-do! I'm not at all sure whether this is wise, Minerva. He is bound to find a way in, you know, and anyone who has tried to delay him will be in the most grievous peril -"

"I shall expect you and the Slytherins in the Great Hall in twenty minutes also." said Professor McGonagall. "If you wish to leave with your students, we shall not stop you. But if any of you attempt to sabotage our resistance or take up arms against us within this castle, then, Horace, we duel to kill."