Into The Light (Golden Trio Era) {2}

Hogs Head

"Don't sit there grinning like you know better than I do, I was there, wasn't I?" he said heatedly. "I know what went on, all right? And I didn't get through any of that because I was brilliant at Defense Against the Dark Arts, I got through it all because- because help came at the right time, or because I guessed right- but I just blundered through it all, I didn't have a clue what I was doing- STOP LAUGHING!" He jumped to his feet, knocking the bowl off the table to smash on the ground. They had stopped smiling. "You don't know what it's like! You- neither of you- you've never had to face him, have you? You think it's just memorizing a bunch of spells and throwing them at him, like you're in class or something? The whole time you know there's nothing between you and dying except your own- your own brain or guts or whatever- like you can think straight when you know you're about a second from being murdered,or tortured, or watching your friends die-" He looked at Mikayla. "-they've never taught us that in their classes, what it's like to deal with things like that- and you two sit there acting like I'm a clever little boy to be standing here, alive, like Diggory was stupid, like he messed up- you just don't get it, that could just as easily have been me, it would have been if Voldemort hadn't needed me-" "We weren't saying anything like that, mate," said Ron, looking aghast. "We weren't having a go at Diggory, we didn't- you've got the wrong end..." Ron trailed off.

"And you!" Harry picked up, turning on Mikayla . "I'd think you'd take this a little more seriously since you have been through it, with me! You almost died, I almost watched you die, and you're- you're- you're acting like this is all a joke, like it's all easy done with!" "Harry James Potter, you watch how you speak to me or you'll regret it." Mikayla snapped back, Harry shrunk a little at her booming voice. They both were breathing heavily and standing in front of one another, furious. "Don't you see?" Hermione spoke up, "This... this is exactly why we need you... We need to know what it's r-really like... facing him... facing V-Voldemort." He sighed, and rested his forehead in his hand, and his arm on his knee. "Well... think about it," said Hermione quietly. "Please?" Hermione and Ron disappeared through the dorms, Mikayla had suddenly become smaller, her usual strong exterior looked as fragile as a glass as she sunk into the couch. Harry took a seat across from her, she sighs knowing exactly what to say to persuade Harry. "Harry, you're not just lucky alright? We need someone who will teach us, someone who knows how tough it is and someone who can give us a fighting chance to survive. That someone is you." Mikayla spoke softly playing with the watch on her wrist, all her rage had dissipated and nothing left but sadness, "Do it for Cedric, he wouldn't have wanted us to be completely defenceless facing Voldemort." Her voice was slightly louder but broken, Harry placed his hand on her shoulder to attempt to comfort her, she shrugs his hand off. Mikayla stands up walking towards the dorm, "you flinched earlier why?" Harry called out, Mikayla's eyes were glassy, she was overwhelmed by everything that's been going on. "Cedric called me Ayla, he was so proud of himself when he finally figured out a nickname for me that actually came from my name." She smiles softly at the watch, "Goodnight Harry." She mumbles disappearing from Harry's view as he stares at the fire, considering his friends plan.
-
They walked down the main street in Hogsmeade, past Zonko's Joke Shop, the post office and onto a side street. They came upon an old building whose sign illustrated a decapitated boar's head leaking blood onto a tablecloth. "Well, come on," Mikayla muttered, wanting to look away from the sign. Harry led the way inside the old building. The floor seemed to be composed of compacted dirt, the windows were so filthy barely light got through them into the pub. It was definitely a step down from The Three Broomsticks, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Mikayla did become skeptical of the place however, when she remembered the tale Hagrid told them off winning a Dragon's egg off a hooded figure here, of course that hooded figure was Quirrell but still. There were a few people who busied them with their drinks in the far corners of the pub, "Lovely place," Mikayla chuckled lightly inhaling through her teeth as to not smell goat anymore. "I don't know about this Hermione," Harry said under his breath, looking over at a witch wearing a dark veil that fell to her feet. "Has it occurred to you that Umbridge might be under that?" Hermione's eyes washed over the woman, unconcerned. "Umbridge is shorter than that woman," she said quietly. "And anyways,  even if Umbridge does come in here there's nothing she can do to stop us, Harry, because I've double- and triple-checked the school rules. We're not out-of-bounds; I specifically asked Professor Flitwick whether students were allowed to come in the Hog's Head, and he said yes, but he advised me strongly to bring our own glasses. And I've looked up everything I can think of about study groups and homework groups and they're definitely allowed. I just don't think it's a good idea if we parade what we're doing."  "No," said Harry, "especially as it's not exactly a homework group you're planning, is it?"

The barman hobbled out of the back room toward the counter. His face was covered in long grey hair. He was very tall and he looked quite familiar, but Mikayla couldn't place who he was in her mind. "What?" He grunted.  "Four butterbeers, please," she said, reaching into her blue bag and purse. He bent beneath the counter and pulled up four very old, dusty bottles. "Eight sickles," he said.  "I'll get them," said Harry quickly, reaching in front of them to drop the coins into his open palm. "Quite quick to pay for our drinks, Potter," Mikayla eyed him up suspiciously, he shrugged and led the way to a table as far from the bar as the room allowed.

"So who did you say is supposed to be meeting us?" asked Harry, opening his butterbeer simultaneously. "Just a couple of people," Mikayla said, giving Hermione an anxious look.  "We told them to be here about now and I'm sure they all know where it is- oh look, this might be them now-" Hermione stopped as the pub opened and a crowd of people entered.  First were Neville and Dean to come in, who Mikayla greeted with an arm around the shoulder and a call of "My boys!" Then came Lavender, Parvati and Padma who waved at Mikayla, a giggling girl and Cho, who seemed to turn her nose up when Mikayla returned to her chair next to Harry. Luna came in looking dazed and dreamy, bouncing a little on each step, then Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet, Avery, Brian, Colin and Dennis Creevey, Ernie Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott, a few boys Mikayla couldn't remember the name of, Ginny alongside Michael Corner, Fred and George, and Lee. Harry seemed shocked and kind of agitated that they had invited more than a few people.  "A couple of people?" Harry said hoarsely, whipping his head back to them. "A couple of people?"  "Well, Harry, if you look at it this way, we each invited a couple of people." Mikayla gave an awkward smile and stood on her chair.

The barman had froze whilst wiping out a cup with a dirty rag, he must have never seen his pub so full. Mikayla began to count the heads of people standing and roaming to find a chair.  "Fancy a drink?" she asked Fred and George, hopping off her chair with the aid of their tall shoulders. They nodded and parted a way through the students to the bar.  "Make that... twenty-five more butterbeers, please." Mikayla said politely. "Oi! Cough up, everyone, we haven't got enough gold for all you lot." turned to the students who were struggling to find chairs. "Cheers," Fred said, passing the bottles off the bar. George took up coins and Mikayla went back to where they had put their chairs.