When Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered Hogwarts, they made a beeline right into Hagrid's cabin.
"Who's there?" they heard Hagrid call from inside.
"It's us, open up!" yelled Hermione.
Hagid opened the door and the three kids leaped into the cabin and quickly closed the door.
"Harry!" Hagrid gave Harry a bone-breaking hug, "where were you, everyone is so worried! Are you coming to stay at Howarts?"
"No, you might call this a visit, I guess. Do you think the school is very well protected, if the Death Eaters and Voldemort happen to attack tomorrow, would everyone be on alert?"
"What are you talking about," Hagrid looked frightened, "what do you mean?"
"We were just at Voldemort's old house and we heard him prepare his Death Eaters for an attack on the school." Harry said quickly, hoping Hagrid would get over his shock a little quicker than Ron and Hermione did. (It took Harry three hours to defrost Ron and Hermione from their horror of hearing Voldemort)
"A–attack . . . the school?" Hagrid swayed a little and turned pale, but otherwise, he seemed okay.
"Whatever happened to those blast ended skrewts?" asked Ron, casually.
"There's only one left," Hagrid said shakily, "the strongest one - he managed to kill all the rest of the skrewts. Now he lives with my brother Grawp in the cave."
"Is't Grawp afraid of it?"
"afraid?" Hagrid repeated, surprised, as if to ask what on earth was fearsome about a skrewt, "no, it's his pet, he calls it skrewty."
"Really," shuddered Hermione.
"Hagrid, did you ever think of bringing Grawp back to the castle," asked Harry cautiously, "you know, incase there's an attack on Hogwarts..."
"The school grounds are very well protected. I don't think Grawp would make the school safer, or rather Professor McGonagall doesn't think so."
"We think so, though. Bring him into the forest, and let him know about the coming battle. Make sure he (and his pet) is prepared to fight an army of giants."
Hagrid nodded, and put a hand on Fang to stop it from trembling.
"What about the forest, are the centuars any friendlier now?"
"No, and Aragog's family are at a very difficult stage, now."
"Well, if you can, try to talk Firenze and have him convince the other Centuars to help. as for Aragog's family... forget it," Harry said, "we are going to the kitchens to talk to the elves."
"Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby stormed onto him with a low bow, when they entered the kitchens, "How can Dobby help you sir? Dobby will do anything for Harry Potter!"
"We're hungry," said Ron, and Hermione gave him a stern look.
Before Hermione could stammer, "no, it's okay, please don't," rows of Elves marched towards Ron and Harry carrying platters filled with all kinds of food.
Harry hadn't eaten real food for months, and was more than happy to try some of the scrumptious danishes.
"Do the Elves usually help when the family they serve is in danger?" Ron asked, his mouth full.
"Not usually, but I would do anything to help you, Harry Potter, sir," said Dobby.
"And so would Kreacher, probably do for Bellatrix. Dobby, I need you to keep an eye on Kreacher for me, ok?" Harry said.
"Okay, Dobby is happy to be at your service," Dobby hugged Harry, and then Ron.
After a rushed goodbye, Ron, and Harry left the kitchens with pockets stuffed with cakes and deserts, (Hermione refused to accept any) they headed upstairs to the school.
"I am going to the room for requirement," Harry told Ron and Hermione, "you go and gather as many DA members as there are in school. And, remember, don't let anyone know I'm here!"
Twnty five minutes later, Ginny, the Creevy brothers, Dean and Seamus, Neville, the Patil twins, and Lavender Brown rushed through the door of the Room for Requirement, smuthering Harry with Hugs. even Zacharias Smith was more than pleased to see Harry again.
"Where were you?" asked Justin, beaming.
"Never mind that," said Harry when everyone in the DA was in the room, "we must practice the Patronuses. Voldemort will surely bring Dementors along when he comes."
"What?"
"You-Know-Who?"
"What did you say?" came gasps from every corner in the room.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," announced Ron with some ado, "We are about to have war at Hogwarts."
Silence followed this announcement, and everyone looked stunned.
"Harry sneaked into Slughorn's private stores, and took a cauldron-full of Felix potion. Each of you will be getting one tube. You will carry it around with you wherever you go, and at the first sign of danger, swallow the whole potion. You will need as much luck as you can get."
"Y-you-Know-Who will be attacking Hogwarts?" asked Susan Bones, "We are all going to die!"
"None of us can match his power!" Panicked Ernie, turning to Harry, "you taught us how to fight Dementors, and other creatures. Even Death Eaters, but He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named himself?! We can't do that."
"Look, I don't want to sound. . . brave, or anything," said Harry, "but I've already fought him a couple of times, and didn't die, so I might get lucky again. I will hold him off, but you will have to fight the rest."
After the preparation for battle in the Room for Requirement was over, and everyone left, Ron muttered to Harry, "Do you think you can try to fulfil the prophecy when Vol-Voldemort comes?" Ron trembled a bit as he said the name, but he looked resolute.
"You know I can't. Not untill we finish off all the Horcruxes," Harry said shaking his head sadly, "but he might not be able to kill me, either... I'm planning to fighth him on my broomstick."
Hermione stopped short, "What?!"
"Well, aside from sorely missing the Quiddich, I think I am most assured when I'm flying. Everything else I ever did, I got help with, except quiddich, . . . and getting that golden egg from the dragon, remember?"