The Strangest Day

Sunday came to Hogwarts, but it didn't come early for Ginny Weasley. She slept right up until a rude noise from the school speaker system woke her. Then Headmistress McGonagall's announcement "All students are to report to the Great Hall in 15 minutes. No Exceptions" Then the announcement was repeated. She looked out the window and guessed it was around 9 AM. She took a 2 minute shower, cast a quick-dry spell over her body and hair, jumped into a pair of faded jeans, pulled on a sweater, and slid down the railing to the Common Room while casting a tie-charm on her sneakers. All of Gryffindor was there, and they stared at her, there were a few chuckles, but mostly just stares. Neville came to her side and handed her his hair brush. She looked over at the mirror and then decided not to even try making an excuse. As she started to work out the mess she whispered a thanks to Neville.

"What's going on?" she asked, trying to look uninformed.

"Dunno" Neville replied "I tried to go to breakfast an hour ago. But the Fat Lady refused to open up. I've never seen her on this side of the door before."

The door opened and they started to the Great Hall, Ginny still trying to do something with her hair. She was lost in thought and walked into a column. Neville caught her, then their eyes locked. Ginny turned away, but it was too late "You know something!" he exclaimed.

"Yeah" she admitted, "but it would take too long, come find me after breakfast. Umm, just you. Right now I need to find Susan" She could see Neville put that one together. Boy, Ron never gave you enough credit. Ginny handed Neville his brush, unfortunately just in time for his girlfriend to see it as she entered with a group of Ravenclaws. She gave Ginny a nasty look, which Ginny ignored, honey you have no idea what kind of day I'm about to have, but she gave Neville a quick sorry. Ginny scanned the hall and found Susan at the Hufflepuff table, there was a spot at the Gryffindor table right across from her. Ginny grabbed it, greeted her fellow Gryffindors.

Susan was talking, so Ginny tapped her shoulder and leaned in "Good morning" was all she said. Susan replied with "Yeah, I'm scared too. Maybe it's a good sign that we're still here."

Before Ginny could reply, their conversation was interrupted by Headmistress McGonagall clanging a spoon on a goblet "Attention, please, Attention! Yesterday, the War Committee issued a decree warning that Hogwarts was likely to be attacked by forces loyal to Voldemort." She scowled as the students gasped at mention of the feared name. "Settle down, settle down, its just a name. Until now, the school has played host to a number of aurors that have provided security. Last night, the Ministry ordered a group of aurors from the Unspeakables Section here to prepare a defense. We don't know when the attack may come, and all your parents are being told of the possibility. I am suggesting that Hogwarts is still the safest place to be, instead of all of you being scattered across the country, but your parents will have to decide."

Every student had a look of awe at the mention of the elite group, except for two certain redheads sitting across from each other, a little whispering started and McGonagall allowed it to continue for a while before continuing, "Next, you will please follow any requests from an Unspeakable as if it came from myself or any professor. In the event of an emergency, teachers will follow their orders." Generally, the students seemed to agree, but there were a few looks of resentment and anger coming from a few, Slytherins mainly, but there were some at every table. "To continue, all students will have an additional hour of instruction in both Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts added to their schedule. This will be taught by the commanders of the Unspeakable troop stationed here" this produced an almost unanimous moaning and groaning in the Hall, the loudest protests coming from fifth and seventh years who were still concerned about OWLs and NEWTs."

Another clanging of the goblet by the Headmistress brought a reduction in the noise, which changed to a hushed silence as a group of Unspeakables entered the hall. Several of them remained at the main entry, but the three masked ones walked to the front. Every student wondering who they were, and how they could walk in all that armor without making a sound. Every head turned to follow them as they headed to the stage. Ginny and Susan both thought they looked at them as they passed, both girls swallowed hard. McGonagall stepped away from the podium to allow them to address the students, but it was clear that she was one of the few people in the room not overawed by the masked figures.

The witch approached the podium 'she must be in charge' was heard among the students. She began, "Thank you for allowing us to be here Headmistress. First, to all you students concerned about your education, our classes will be practical use instruction. And your performance will only enhance your grades. We will show you how to protect yourselves." A voice from the students was heard to ask "Who are you, and what makes your qualified?" To that, one of the masked wizards replied "Mr. Thomas, who we are must be kept secret. As to your second question, please ask it again during your class with us." Every head turned to Dean "how did he know your name?!?" Dean didn't say another word. "Are there any other questions?" the witch continued, there were none, just a few heads shaking "Then, the additional hours will start tomorrow. The schedules will be posted in the hall and in your common rooms. Thank you" With that, three chairs appeared and they sat down across from the headmistress' seat.

McGonagall stepped back to the podium, "Finally, two last things, the Unspeakables have stationed themselves in the third floor corridor on the left hand side. It is out of bounds to all students. Additionally, the Girls Bathroom known as Myrtle's Room is closed, it will be locked and guarded." Neville, Susan, and a few others turned to look at Ginny, who shuddered as a chill went down her spine. "Let breakfast begin" McGonagall announced as she waived her wand. Food appeared and the students started to eat, slowly at first, most talking about the morning, but finally everyone was eating. As breakfast reached its busiest time the three masks left the room, all eyes followed them out the doors, before everyone went back to eating they saw Draco Malfoy enter the hall.

Draco had been missing since before Christmas, and no one had heard anything from him. To all of the older students, who had seen him for years, the time he was missing raised a lot of questions. Many noticed the changes, he seemed less arrogant, but older somehow, as if the weeks he was gone were years. There was also a long scar, from his ear to his chin. The Slytherins exploded with applause, Crabbe and Goyle, who had been sitting together, pushed their fellows harshly to make room between them. But Draco didn't go directly to the Slytherin table, instead he looked for a moment, then walked down between the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor tables. He stopped behind Ginny, leaned down, they whispered for a couple of minutes, he squeezed her shoulder, and then walked over to sit between Crabbe and Goyle. The applause was still there, but it wasn't as loud, and everyone saw Ginny clapping too.

Breakfast became lunch as the students relieved their long delayed hunger pains. It was after 1 PM before the Great Hall started to empty. There had been all kinds of cross talk and rumor spreading, but by the afternoon everyone was talked out and the started to return to their dorms. Draco led Crabbe and Goyle out toward the Slytherin tower, but not before giving Ginny a smile, which she returned. Susan and Ginny had been talking quietly for quite some time, when Neville came by, he had seen it too, and looked angry.

He was actually furious, as he stepped between Susan and Ginny, his hair was flickering with energy and a couple of the goblets on the table shattered "What in Merlin's name was that about!?!" he demanded, his voice a hoarse whisper. Susan stepped back, but Ginny stood her ground "Remember, I promised to explain what I knew? Well that was part of it, I just didn't know he was coming back today. Meet us by the Hufflepuff tower at 3." Then so Neville's girlfriend couldn't hear, she pulled on his shoulder and whispered "ALONE!" He nodded, still angry, and left, heading for the Ravenclaw tower. Susan started to follow Ginny, but she said "No, go back to Hufflepuff, I need to think about this. Meet me there as we planned with Neville." Susan nodded and left, Ginny went back to her room in Gryffindor.

There, she began to plan; went into her trunk, pulled out a shiny, rare looking cloak and an old spare bit of parchment. She tapped the parchment and whispered "I solemnly swear I am up to no good" She needed the Room of Requirement and a place in Hogwarts that was deserted. With aurors and the Unspeakables added to the population that would be harder. After scanning the map for half an hour she finally found a spot. Hedwig had delivered the package on her birthday, it had a note telling her to keep it secret and that she would know when to use them, and it was signed Love, Harry. She put the cloak into a bag, whispered "Mischief managed" and dropped the parchment in as well

Ginny and Susan met up as planned just outside the Hufflepuff tower and started talking about the usual nothings and waited for Neville. He was almost 10 minutes late and still angry. "This better be worth it" he fumed at the girls "I just spent the last half hour in a row because I was meeting you"

"Sorry, Neville" both girls mumbled. Then Ginny pulled them both around the corner with a yank, put her finger to her lips, and pulled the cloak over all three of them. They moved to the quiet spot Ginny found earlier, she did a check with the Map again, then paced and asked for a "quiet place to talk". The magical doors appeared and opened to a room that looked a little like a cell but had three comfortable chairs. Once in, the doors closed, they sat down, Susan and Neville were quite speechless, never having seen an Invisibility Cloak or the Marauder's Map before. After swearing both to secrecy and explaining the items, Ginny started telling Neville everything that had been going on for the past months. Susan picked up with what her aunt Amelia had told her and both girls explained everything they had seen as they watched the Unspeakables arrival the night before. After she finished, Neville sat quietly for a few minutes, his earlier anger forgotten, he was completely lost in thought. Susan thought how much he looked like the little kid she met during first year. Neville started asking questions, he had a few details to add from what his gran had told him, and by the time they were done talking they had most of it worked out. There was a last detail, one the Ginny had hoped was forgotten, but Neville asked anyway,

"How does all this explain what's up with Malfoy? Why are you two talking? Since when could touch you without getting hexed into next year?"

Susan could only agree, "Yeah nothing you told me during lunch explained that."

Some of it, she had only wanted to talk about with Susan, because it got too close to the heart, things needed to be resolved with Harry and she had only wanted to discuss Draco's latest disclosure with Neville. She looked at her closest friends, took a deep breath and let loose, she talked for twenty minutes and after she was done they all cried.

There had been several conversations between her and Draco before he disappeared. The first occurred right after the attack on Privet Dr. He had had a change of heart, the deaths and torture was shocking. He wanted to help defeat Voldemort. And he asked her to find out if there was a way he could help. Ginny had doubted his sincerity but promised to try. She sent a letter to her brother Charlie reporting the meeting. Charlie had replied that she should avoid him. Right after the destruction of his home and the discovery of his mother's death, there was another meeting. Now, he was terrified, he was sure his father was going to force him to be a Death Eater. Somehow, the scared Draco was more believable. This time, her letter to Charlie said that she believed him. Charlie replied that the Order would test the possibility of Draco changing sides. Right before he disappeared, there was a final meeting, Draco had received an instructions from the Order to provide information to Voldemort to test him, then find out how the Death Eaters were ordered to respond. This was what they had discussed when Draco returned. He was told about a meeting place the order used during the first war, that it was being used again. Voldemort sent a force of a dozen Dementors controlled by five Death Eaters to attack the house. Draco had given the Order advanced warning about the attack, proving his loyalty. To protect Draco, there were only a few Order members present, they escaped, destroying only three Dementors. Now, the Order wants to set up Voldemort to walk into a trap by attacking Hogwarts. The Order gave Draco a false prophecy to give to Voldemort, this one saying that Hogwarts was linked to his successful defeat. Without Hogwarts, Harry would lose. As far as Draco knows, it's a true Prophecy, he also had instructions to give Ginny a letter explaining this part of the Order's plan. Then Ginny had to tell them what the real Prophecy said.

After a long silence, Susan managed to put it into one sentence concluding "… so Harry has to kill or die." Then she sobbed again. Ginny nodded.

Neville in a practical mode said "We need to break this up and get back. First, its dinner time, if we don't turn up, there'll be questions, next I need to finish a row with my girlfriend"

Ginny took over "Right, none of this leaves this room" as she pulled out the Marauder's Map. After a few minutes, the corridor was cleared and they left the Room of Requirement. Then, before she could close the Map, she noticed something odd. Her letter from Harry had explained how the Map worked, then 'why weren't there any names attached to the Unspeakable Commanders?'

At dinner, the trio avoided each other, deciding it would be best. Neville was the luckiest, his girlfriend was in a 'making-up' mood. They finished eating and disappeared early. Susan sat with the Hufflepuffs picking up on the latest gossip about the new teachers. Ginny joined a rather sad looking Dennis Creevey, who pointed to where Colin was sitting between the Patil sisters, having a pretty good time. They talked and ate, Ginny just soaked up a little fun, he made her feel like big sister. The only unpleasant part of dinner was that, every so often, Ginny would get a creepy sensation and she would look up to find Dean staring at her, or giving Dennis a nasty stare.

After dinner, the class schedules were posted. In the Hufflepuff common room, Susan Bones was heard to grumble at the late schedule. She had always followed her aunt's rule of early to bed, early to rise. She was going to be in class until 9 PM some nights. Over in Gryffindor, Ginny found her name on the same lists with a few fifth years, and the Creevey brothers. Her face flushed with anger as she saw Susan's name also on the same lists, 'If this is how they're going to punish us for last night, then I think I'll call Old Tom and switch sides' she thought cynically. Thinking that Unspeakables weren't all that great, after all, Ginny Weasley went to bed early.