As always the Great Hall was only filled with whispers. It had been this way since the first day of school on September 1st. Ever since the Carrows and Snape had taken over the school. Even the Slytherins whispered, though many of them were quite happy about the whole arrangement of hierarchy.
Professor Snape entered the Great Hall by a side door and crossed to his seat at the center of the Head Table. He clapped his hands twice, the food appeared on the tables, and he settled onto the seat. The chairs on either side of him were mysteriously empty.
Justin Finch-Fletchley entered the Great Hall soon after the food appeared. He scratched his head as he made his way to sit next to Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, and Ernie. Dinner went on as normal for about five minutes and then the sound of a gong echoed through the Great Hall. Everyone stopped talking and looked around for the source of the noise. Snape sat forward in his seat, looking across the hall.
Then someone spoke.
Or rather, someone sang.
"Do you hear the people sing? Singing a song of angry men?" It was Draco Malfoy. Everyone stared at him with shock and surprise. Draco stood as he sang and started to climb onto the table. "It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again! When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!"
He was now on top of the Slytherin table, standing tall and proud, facing the Head Table.
"Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me?" This time it was Neville who picked up the song. He too began to climb to the top of the Gryffindor table. "Beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see?"
Ernie jumped to the top of the Hufflepuff table. "Then join in the fight that will give you the right to be free!"
Immediately the upperclassmen, those 5th years onward, especially the DA, joined in, staying in their seats and rhythmically pounding the tables with their fists. Draco pulled a small object from his pocket and with a snap of his wrist, the object unshrunk and became the gold and blue flag of the British Wizarding World, the colors used for seven hundred years, the colors the Dark Lord had ordered to be burnt. Connected to it was a solid pole which Draco gripped as he began to wave the flag.
"Do you hear the people sing? Singing a song of angry men? It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again! When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!"
Terry Boot jumped to the top of the Ravenclaw table, joining his fellow year-mates and pure-bloods in leading the song. "Will you give all you can give so that our banner may advance? Some will fall and some will live, will you stand up and take your chance? The blood of the martyrs will water the wizarding world!"
This time the upperclassmen, even one or two of Slytherin, jumped to their feet and clamored over the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables to get to the center aisle. In the front Draco continued to swing the flag to and fro, behind him were Neville, Terry, and Ernie, followed the DA, and then the remainder of the upperclassmen.
"Do you hear the people sing?" They all sang. "Singing a song of angry men? It is the music of the people who will not be slaves again! When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!"
The last notes faded. Professor Snape and the rest of the faculty were on their feet. Snape showed no emotion, but the others, especially McGonagall, looked very proud.
"Now!" Draco shouted. Neville and Ernie drew their wands and sent stunners at Professor Snape. He blocked them, but Flitwick recovered from his staring in time to send a strong Stunner at the headmaster. Several of the DA took care of the Dark Lord sympathizers.
Professor McGonagall looked very pleased as she made her way to the students.
"This is most excellent!" she declared. "Come along. We must get word out to others to come here. I am certain it won't be long until the Dark Lord realizes that he has lost Hogwarts and will march on us."
The students scurried every which way. Prefects hurried the younger students who were not of age to the Room of Requirement where they could hide and easily sneak out if need be, and Seamus Finnegan hurried to try and get the message out through the wireless.
In less than 4 hours several dozen fighters from the Order had managed to get to Hogwarts, including Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Only when they were all gather did the Death Eaters begin to appear on the border of Hogwarts' land.
The Battle of Hogwarts began.