CHAPTER I - ...TURNS EXTRAORDINARY
As they headed up the Grand Staircase, all of them froze. With the Death Eaters loose, all senses were sharp at night. And they were sure they had heard a scream.
As one, they drew their wands. The sound had come from a floor above. The hurried up the staircase, and with Hermione in the lead, discovered what the commotion was. A second-year had fainted as she had seen Death Eaters flying in the sky. Out of the balcony, they saw Hagrid running to the castle doors. He must have seen them too.
The figures looked creepy. Black streams of smoke flying above in numbers unimaginable. Well, actually, around 50 of them. And then Harry remembered it. 'Dumbledore is not at school!' All heartbeats seemed to stop. Then Ginny took charge of her shocked friends.
'Hermione, go down to McGonagall's office with Luna. Inform her of the invasion. Then see to it that Flitwick and Snape and Sprout and the others are informed too.'
'Ron, wake up Filch. Tell him to ensure that all underage students are safe in - say the Room of Requirement.'
'Harry and Neville, while I go down to meet Hagrid, you try to inform others from the DA. Wake them up and assemble them in the Great Hall. Same place for you too, Hermione and Luna. After you are done, meet everyone there. Hurry!'
Hermione grabbed Luna's hand and was off in a flash. She descended the staircase so fast that quite a few times Luna was a few inches above the air, held on only by Hermione's hand. As she reached the Transfiguration courtyard, she discovered a new sense of security in McGonagall's disciplined and somehow controlled atmosphere. The result was that first Hermione stopped and composed herself, and then opened the door to McGonagall's classroom.
The room was empty. This meant that McGonagall was in her private chamber behind the classroom. Hermione and Luna entered the room and thankfully found their professor awake. 'Might I ask what is the reason for this late meeting? I believe the curfew began half an hour earlier, did-'
'Death Eaters in the castle Professor!' interfered Hermione.
This statement made McGonagall freeze. She snatched her wand from the bedside and dressed herself in a wave of her wand. In a blink of an eye, she was at the door, ready. 'Come along,' she said, even as she sent several silver tabbies flying through the air. 'I have already sent a message to the other teachers. Where do we go?' 'The Great Hall. The Dumbledore's Army is meeting there,' said Luna. 'You mean to tell me,' said McGonagall with a hint of anger, 'that a bunch of teenagers will be fighting too?'
'Professor, we have already arranged for the younger kids to leave for a designated safe zone with Mr. Filch,' said Hermione.
'And we have organized a troop from the DA who is absolutely willing, if not eager, to participate. No one is being forced,' supported Luna.
'So, we have more than a right to take part in the fight,' said Hermione.
'OK fine! I wish you proceed to the Great Hall while I analyse the situation,' said McGonagall irritably.
Ron was running to Filch's sleeping chamber. Why was he the one to do this job?
He stopped before he reached Filch's door. As he stepped in, he was momentarily blinded by the dust in the room. Filch was sitting in a corner, petting Mrs. Norris. When he saw Ron step in, he shouted, 'Ah! Out of bed, innit? Let's see. Which teacher sent you for the punishment?'
'I am not here for punishment! There are Death Eaters in the castle!'
Filch's smile vanished.
'You are required to come with me and take all the underage children to the Room of Requirement. Then meet the professors in the Great Hall,'
'OK. I'll lead the way. Lock my door. I don't want no Death Eaters messing with my records,' mumbled Filch.
Why would anyone want to? Thought Ron. Still, he whispered, 'Colloportus!' and ran to catch up with Filch.
Harry and Neville reached the Gryffindor portrait. They whispered the password, and then stepped in. Quickly, as they had planned on their way, Neville ran up to the Boy's dormitory and woke up all he could find from the DA. All of them were more than eager to join in the fun. Meanwhile, Harry, using the talking Patronus he learnt from Sirius and Remus, informed all the girls about the situation, who promptly came down and departed for the Great Hall.
Harry and Neville again used these Patronus charms to wake up the DA members from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Then they left for the Great Hall themselves. But then Harry had an idea. Before entering the Great Hall, he sneaked past to the dungeons, and magically locked the door by removing the knocker which asked for the password. 'We don't want interference,' he said to Neville. 'The younger students will be safe inside.'
Ginny ran along the length of the Grand Staircase and met Hagrid in the Entrance Hall. Quickly he silenced them and saved him all the interjections. She just told him that they needed to get organized, and so they were meeting in the Great Hall.
Together, they left for the Great Hall, with Ginny smiling at how she got the easiest job. But as soon as she entered the Great Hall, her mood turned to that of solemnity.