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This was perhaps the scariest moment of my life. It was even scarier than when I had learned I was a wizard and had to go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The most feared Dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, along with his obedient followers, was ready to launch an attack on the school. The teachers had just set up a bunch of strong protective enchantments, encasing the grounds in a luminous blue shield. To add more protection, the statues from the school were stationed on the Viaduct.
But there was one thing that all of us knew: these defenses would not stop Voldemort or his Death Eaters from infiltrating the school.
I was stationed in one of the towers. Alongside me were our former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Remus Lupin, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Arthur Weasley, and the Weasley twins, Fred and George. We had an amazing view of the school's land.
I inhaled deeply, breathing out through my nostrils. My emerald-green eyes were locked on the Death Eaters and Snatchers just dying to rush through the bridge to the school. The grip on my wand in my left hand tightened. I was just itching for a fight. The Death Eaters took my older sister. She was amongst those who were on the Dark Side.
She hadn't even been in Slytherin when she went to Hogwarts; she had been put into Hufflepuff, the same House and year as Cedric Diggory had been. I had been Sorted into Hogwarts two years after her. It was hard to imagine someone so innocent could turn so dark. I always kept telling myself that she was only on the wrong side because she was Imperiused into being there.
But no matter how much I tried to convince myself, I knew I couldn't fool myself into believing it.
"You okay, Sophia?" a voice asked quietly. I jumped, looking into one of the twin's eyes. It was obvious it was Fred; he didn't have an ear missing like George did. Besides, George was gazing at the shield, probably trying to give us privacy. "You look tense."
"How are you not?" I tried to joke. My gaze turned back to the shield that surrounded the school.
Killing Curses disappeared once coming into contact with the shield. I almost jumped back, as if the curses would hit me. The Death Eaters were so pathetic. Had they not realized from the first wave of spells that they couldn't penetrate the protective enchantments surrounding the school?
"I never thought I'd see the day when this school would have to go to war," I said distantly. "I always thought Hogwarts was the safest place."
"Time changes a lot of things," Fred sighed. He leaned forward against the barrier like I did. He grabbed my hand, interlocking our fingers. I looked at him, resting my head on his shoulder. This would be the only chance we'd have at peace before all hell broke loose, I realized.
"I'm scared," I whispered.
"I am, too. Don't worry. Stick close to me and George, we'll keep you safe."
