Chapter 13 ... here it is! I haven't gotten a review in ages. That was a hint. But I know most of you can't take a hint. So ... REVIEW!
Now that our first mission was over with, it was time to deal with the consequences. Oh, I'm not talking about the Carrows. I can handle them any day. I'm talking about Luna, Neville, and I leading the DA. No one ever paid attention when I did public speaking, and the whole idea of leading something so huge was really daunting.
We prepared all week. We decided that the graffiti had worked. We would do it again, but eventually we would need new ideas, fresh things so that everyone didn't lose interest. We decided that there would be missions for everyone, and then there would be missions that it would be easier to carry out by just having the three leaders do them. And most of all, we decided that we didn't want to tell them what we had decided. The other two were scared of crowds.
On Tuesday night, we actually rehearsed.
"Hello, I'm Neville Longbottom, and with my two friends, Ginny and Luna, I will be heading the DA this year," Neville informed us sometime after one o'clock in the morning.
"I'm Ginny Weasley," I clarified.
"And I'm Luna Lovegood," added Luna. "We'll be doing a lot of pranks like the one you saw at breakfast the other day," I announced to the imaginary audience. "Eventually, we'll need to come up with some new ideas so that everyone doesn't just stop caring, but the graffiti worked great the first time, considering you're all here, so we think we've found a good thing and that we should run with it."
"We'll have weekly meetings to talk openly about the war, our jobs, and, eventually, new ideas," Luna added. "Any questions?" we all asked together.
We had it all down. It should go off without a hitch.
But since when did things work like they "should"? I mean, Voldemort should probably have been dead years ago. But we all know how well that worked out. When it came to be Wednesday at ten, the common room filled up with hushed and wide-awake teenagers. A combination I thought I would never see.
"Okay," I said at ten-thirty to Neville and Luna. "Let's get started."
We stood up on a table and looked out over the common room. There were tons of people here! Neville started with his part, and we went on until the end, no one forgetting a line. When we were done, they all clapped, which was very unexpected. Had it all that obviously been a performance?!
"We're not here to show off our amazing people skills," I announced to the crowd. They all laughed. "We're here to do something about the war. Not just talk about it with McGonagall, not just learn how to be on the wrong side of it with the Carrows, but to actually do something about it. The Carrows are a big part of it, and we have to take them down. Does everyone still want to be here?" Everyone nodded. That was a relief.
"Good!" I cried. "Thanks for coming today. This was just an introduction, remember, and our first meeting won't be until next Wednesday, same time, same place. So, now, do any of you have questions?"
I think every hand was raised.
"Um ... yes?" I called to someone I didn't recognize and waited for them to ask their question.
"Uh, why did you guys say that last part together?" they asked. I groaned inwardly. Was it going to be these kinds of questions?! "Uh, to be catchy," I replied. It was all I could do not to roll my eyes. Everyone's hands went back up as soon as I finished answering the question. "Uh, yeah?" I asked a girl who was jumping up and down.
"Didn't you go out with Harry Potter?" she asked, her eyes wide and expression admiring. I was flattered. "Yes, I did. Might come in handy if you need to know, um ... no, I lied. I don't think that will come in handy at all- not for you guys, at least." They all laughed again. Maybe I wasn't such a bad public speaker after all.
Next, I called on a calm, studious-looking Hufflepuff with his hand high in the air and his spectacles shoved up against his eyes. "Yes?" I asked warily.
"This isn't the Charms Club?" he asked seriously.
"Uh, noo," I replied slowly. "I don't think so." He looked disappointed and got up to leave. "But any serious questions, guys?" I asked. No one's hand went down. "Ones that have to do with the DA?" I added. No one's hand stayed up. There was a general roar of laughter at this- just about anything is hilarious at eleven at night.
Despite the fact that there were no questions, we didn't get out of the common room until midnight, because the masses of people had to be shepherded out, all wanting to stay and socialize. It took a whole hour to make them all leave.
I was so tired after that. Being the president of anything was hard work. Being the president of anything having to do with a fight the most powerful wizard of all time and the closest thing to a living miracle the world had ever known was even harder.
Who woulda guessed?