Little Secrets

Chapter 3

The first week of school was the worst Hermione had ever had. The amount of homework was insane and Snape was making her Head Girl duties more difficult than necessary. If she hadn't heard from Dumbledore himself or the other members of the Order, she would have believed he was entirely for Voldemort's reign simply based on how he treated all the students who weren't in Slytherin. He had been vague in discussing her duties as Head Girl and she only knew about the Head's meeting with Snape on Saturday morning because Draco had been kind enough to wait for her in the dorm.

Hermione had not been planning for the meeting and was completely unprepared. Luckily for her, Draco seemed to have the answer for every question Snape pointed her direction and Hermione was saved from the extra embarrassment. The second Snape dismissed her, she darted from his office and raced up to the seventh floor where Ginny had arranged for all members of the DA to meet fifteen minutes ago.

As soon as she stepped into the Room of Requirement, she was attacked with multiple hugs from Ginny, Neville, and a few of the younger students she felt bad for not remembering. When she could breathe again, she took a second to notice how worried everyone looked and glanced at Ginny.

"You're never late," she said in answer, "We thought something bad had happened to you."

"I had a Heads meeting Snape didn't tell me about," she told her, reassuring everyone she was fine.

It was then she realised just how many students were in the Room. Surely not all of them had been in the DA last year, but she did recognise some as students from the year before. Apparently word had gotten out.  She'd have to update the lip-locking list, but she could do that before everyone left, not before seeing how each class was doing.

"The Carrows hate me," a third year whimpered when she brought up the topic. She spotted the blue lining on the girl's robes and glanced at Luna. Luna gave her a warm smile and nodded, promising to check up on her after the meeting.

"Why would Professor Snape even allow Death Eaters to teach?" another student asked. Hermione didn't recognise him, so she committed his face to memory in order to ask him to sign the list.

"Because he's a Death Eater!"

Hermione had no hoping of stopping the outcry that sounded throughout the room after that. She allowed a second of yelling and worrying before silencing everyone with a wave of her wand. All eyes turned back to her.

"I know you're all scared," she said, looking across the sea of students. God, how had Harry done this? It was terrifying to be the only hope these kids had. "Things are changing and this first week has been awful! Some of you remember the DA Harry led last year and some of you are new. Before I tell you what this is about, though, anyone who isn't prepared to defend themselves and others needs to leave right now. We'll understand, but you also need to know that you won't be alone if you do decide to stay."

She paused, waiting for people to move but no one did. When she was certain no one was going to leave, she conjured the lip-locking list that still held everyone's names from last year.

"Everyone will sign this," she said. She explained the purpose of it and why it was necessary. If anyone didn't sign it, they wouldn't be allowed back for more meetings. Levitating the paper around the room, the few new students that were there scrambled to write their name on the paper while she continued explaining they would meet every Saturday after lunch. She wasn't sure if the meeting with Snape would be an every week thing, but just in case it was, she wanted to make sure they weren't waiting for her.

"The Carrows are out for blood," Ginny murmured to her as the younger students finished signing the list and the older students chatted between themselves.