Black and White

18

The sleeping draught really does help me to sleep, but tonight, I'm just not ready to go to bed. Earlier, Hermione told me to meet them at the Hog's Head in Hogsmead tomorrow. She didn't say why, so I'm left just wondering.

I'm sitting alone in the Slytherin common room, wrapped in a blanket by the fire. I'm about to doze off when I hear my name.

"Lucida," Dad's voice calls.

I shoot up straight on the couch, before seeing his face in the fire.

"Dad, what are you doing?" I ask, getting down on the floor by the fireplace.

"Answering your letter," he smiles. "I'm sorry about Umbridge. Harry told me how her detentions are."

"It's ok," I say. "I think Fred and George are making a surprise for her."

"You will have to tell me all about it," Dad answers. "Listen, Lucy, the Order does not wish for me to tell you this, but I feel you need to know. Every meeting is so full of infighting, nothing ever gets done. I'm afraid you children will find no real help here at the moment. That is why you must stick together. Harry mentioned that he feels alone. Reach out to him, to your friends. You will need each other in the times to come."

"Ok," I say. "We're actually meeting up tomorrow. I'll try."

"That's all I can ask for," Sirius smiles. "I have to go. I love you, Lucy."

"Love you, too, Dad," I whisper, and he immediately disappears from the flames.

The next morning, I walk with the twins to Hogsmead, as they were invited to this meeting, too. When we enter the Hog's Head, actually, I see lots of people were invited, including Ginny, Luna, Neville, Cho Chang, the Patil twins, and more. We take our seats, and the meeting begins.

"Um... Hi," Hermione greets nervously. "So, you all know why we're here. We need a teacher. A proper teacher. One who's had real experience defending themselves against the Dark Arts."

"Why?" a boy I don't know asks.

"Why?" Ron repeats. "Because You-Know-Who's back, you tosspot."

"So he says," the boy answers, nodding towards Harry.

"So Dumbledore says," Hermione reminds.

"So Dumbledore says because he says," the boy corrects. "The point is, where's the proof? If Potter could tell us more about how Diggory got killed..."

"I'm not gonna talk about Cedric, so if that's why you're here, you might as well clear out now," Harry demands, standing. He whispers something to Hermione, trying to leave, but Luna interrupts.

"Is it true you can produce the Patronus Charm?" she questions.

"Yes," Hermione answers for Harry. "I've seen it."

"Blimey, Harry," another boy exclaims. "I didn't know you could do that."

"And he killed a basilisk, with the sword in Dumbledore's office," Neville reminds.

"Third year, he fought off about a hundred Dementors at once," Ron adds.

"Last year, he really did fight off You-Know-Who in the flesh," Hermione finishes.

"Wait," Harry interrupts. "Look, it all sounds great when you say it like that... but the truth is, most of that was just luck. I didn't know what I was doing half the time. I nearly always had help."

"He's just being modest," Hermione tells us.

"No, Hermione, I'm not," Harry continues. "Facing this stuff in real life is not like school. In school, if you make a mistake, you can just try again tomorrow. But out there... when you're a second away from being murdered, or watching a friend die right before your eyes... You don't know what that's like."

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block out memories of the previous summer, of the night in Malfoy Manor, where Draco and I received our marks. Of watching Xander Riles die.

Fred seems to notice, and gently takes my hand, while George wraps an arm around me.

"You're right, Harry, we don't," Hermione admits. "That's why we need your help. Because if we're going to have any chance of beating... Voldemort..."

"He's really back?" a young Gryffindor named Nigel asks.

Harry only nods.

Just after, we are all signing up to join what we call "Dumbledore's Army". My name is near the top of the list, between George's and Fred's.

All the Weasleys, Neville, Hermione, and I follow Harry back to the castle, walking as a group through the halls.

"Right," Harry says. "We need to find a place to practice where Umbridge won't find out."

"The Shrieking Shack," Hermione suggests.

"It's too small," Harry disagrees.

"Forbidden Forrest?" I ask.

"Not bloody likely," Ron argues, to which both of the twins smack him on the back of the head.

"Harry, what if we do get caught?" Ginny asks.

"Who cares?" Hermione grins. "I mean, it's sort of exciting, isn't it? Breaking the rules."

"Who are you and what have you done with Hermione Granger?" Ron asks.

"I mean, she is still excited because it's a learning experience," I remind.

"Anyway, at least we know one positive thing that came from today," Hermione says smugly.

"What's that?" Harry asks.

"Cho couldn't take her eyes off you, could she?" Hermione asks him.

I start to laugh, but then see the way Ginny's smile has completely disappeared, and I know exactly what that means. She likes Harry.

"Right," Harry moves on. "Over the next few days, we should each come up with a couple of possibilities of places we can practice. We've got to make sure, wherever it is, there's no chance she can find us."

"Will do, Harry," George grins.

"You can count on us, Harry," Fred reiterates.

Later in the day, however, I see Educational Decree Number 68 go up. "All student organizations are henceforth disbanded. Any student in noncompliance will be expelled."

Neville is the one who gathers us together to show what he's found. A giant room full of mirrors and practice statues that appeared out of nowhere.

"You've done it, Neville," Hermione tells him. "You've found the Room of Requirement."

"The what?" Neville asks.

"It's also known as the Come and Go Room," Hermione explains. "The Room of Requirement only appears when a person has real need of it. And it's always equipped for the seeker's needs."

"So, say you really needed the toilet...," Ron guesses.

"Charming, Ronald," Hermione says, wrinkling her nose. "But yes, that is the general idea."

"It's brilliant," Harry states. "It's like Hogwarts wants us to fight back."

Dear Tonks,

I think you would be proud. Some of us students are banding together to learn DADA on our own, since Umbridge won't teach us. Lots of Gryffindor, some Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. So far, I'm the only Slytherin, but no one holds that against me. It's really nice to see people from different houses working together. How are things at 'home'? I know you have a thing for the lone wolf. Also, be sure to give the dog a hug for me.

Your favorite animagi,
Lucy