Disclaimer: Not mine.
"What?!"
Harry shushed me, pulling me around the corner as people turned in our direction. "Come on, Evie, keep your voice down."
"Keep my voice down?" I said, putting my hands on my waist. "Do you have any clue what you're suggesting? It's dangerous."
"It was Hermione's idea," Harry told me. "But it started to grow on me. She already said people were interested. Please, Evie, I could really use your help on this."
I stared down at him for a moment. Him and those pleading green eyes. Sighing, I shook my head. "What do you need me to do?"
He grinned, happy. "Just come. It'll be in the Hogs Head this weekend. Thanks Evie."
Harry ran off to rejoin Hermione and Ron. I shook my head again.
What on earth was I getting myself into?
"What on earth are you trying to get us into?"
Daniel, Myra, Michelle, Adam, Steve, Jake, Cedric, and I were in Zonko's, ten minutes before the meeting with Harry. We had a long talk after I told them about Harry's Defense Against the Dark Arts Class. The boys had thought it would be interesting and were gung ho to go but now – even Adam looked a little worried.
"I think, we could offer our assistance," I told them. "Umbridge is worried of Harry getting support from older students, which is why she threw me in detention. Maybe if we could show people that we trust Harry, more people will be willing to leap to action."
Adam, Steve, and Jake exchanged glances. I know they didn't fully believe that Voldemort would pop back into existence but at the same time, they trusted Cedric and I and they were also tired of Umbridge's classes.
"So are we going?" Cedric asked.
"I suppose we should get there," Myra said.
Michelle frowned. "It'd probably better if we walked in separately or at least a couple at a time. Eight of us at once into the Hog's Head would be a little excessive."
With that, she grabbed Steve's hand and pulled him out of Zonko's heading towards the Hog's Head. A few minutes after, Myra, Daniel, and Adam left. Later, Jake gave Cedric and me a grin and then he too walked out of the shop.
Cedric took my hand. "Our turn."
We walked out into the cold weather towards the Hog's Head. "I really do appreciate all of you coming with me to support Harry," I told him. "I know Harry will appreciate it too."
"It's crazy what all you do for that kid," Cedric said. "Does he appreciate you for it? I don't think he knows just how lucky he was to have you on his side."
A small smile appeared on my face. I remembered the smile Harry gave me when I told I would be here today. I really do think he appreciated it, I hope he did.
Inside the Hog's Head was crazier than I expected. I had expected that with Hermione and Ron and all my friends that it would just be the eleven of us but there had to be at least thirty-something people in here, at least four of them seventh years like me and my friends. That was good! Maybe there was hope for Harry after all.
Harry looked up as I entered. He looked nervous at the sight of all the people but he gave me a small smile anyway.
I sat in the back with Cedric, determined not to say anything. So far, everything seemed to be going well . . . that is until Zacharias Smith spoke. I saw Cedric frown at the boy.
"And I think we've got the right to know exactly what makes him say You Know-Who's back."
Cedric's hand tightened on mine. "Smith, why don't you back off?"
"It's okay Cedric," Harry said.
I didn't want Harry to have to go until detail about that night and it was obvious that he really didn't want to either but Smith kept pressing, the little git, even after Harry told him that he had saw him.
"Listen, Smith," I said, angrily. "If Harry says he saw him, than he saw him. He doesn't want to talk about it okay? So if all you were here for is a story, than you can just leave and go write your mom for one."
It had to be close to one of the meanest things I've ever said to anyone. Smith glared at me for a moment before looking away. No one moved though. Smith looked away from me and went back to watching Harry.
Cedric's grip on my hand was still amazingly tight. He loosened it, raising my hand to kiss my knuckles. I could feel my face was flushed, angry. People like Smith, the ones who always begged for the story of what happened, they made me so sick. Why couldn't they just leave well enough alone?
So after that I sat there quietly, listening to the people list Harry's exploits throughout the years. Imagine! All these adventures since the age of eleven! Dangerous stunts! It was surprising that Harry was still breathing! I wondered what life would have been like if I had known him then, back in his first year. Would I have been able to handle all that as well as I'm handling it now?
After that the meeting went rather smoothly, besides a couple of comments but good glares sent at him from Ron, Fred, George and I shut him up. I was one of the first to sign my name on the list Hermione pulled out. Cedric signed after me.
Our friends, though, were hesitant.
"Again Evie, I ask, what on earth are you trying to get us in to," Steve said, eying the parchment.
"Come on Steve," Cedric said. "You want to be an Auror too. You can't tell me that Umbridge is preparing you for that."
"Yeah but how will Potter be any better?" Jake asked in a whisper.
"He's been through a lot," Myra said. "He's faced things that we've never had to face in entire lives. Why not just give a chance. I'm sure interested in learning how produce a Patronus."
With that she took the paper and signed, passing it to her sister who signed with a sigh. One by one they signed, semi-reluctant but willing. I looked up to Harry, who was watching our group. I gave him an encouraging smile and he smiled back.
We were behind you, Harry. Maybe not all of us at one hundred percent but we were here.
And that was worth something.
A/N: So Harry no has the support of Evie and her friends. Stay tuned for the next chapter.
