I own it not.

"I will only have truly left this school when none who remain are loyal to me."Dumbledore

Neville nearly screamed, though he knew that would have been a stupid thing to do.

March was worse than any Neville could remember. An early Easter had made the school nearly empty, though this time Neville stayed behind. The DA was being warn thin, Neville's unpopular rule about no one under fifth year helping being followed, mostly. But he suspected that what he was holding might give a jolt to everyone's spirit.

"A Support Harry Potter Party?" Neville hissed. Colin Creevey smiled and shook his head, pretending like he was paying attention to his homework. They were in the Great Hall, because of one of the many, many rules the Carrows had imposed. Four hours of mandatory study time a day, in the Great Hall. Just another way to make sure they were under the supervision of Voldemort at all times.

Colin looked positively giddy. The sixth-year had grown up a lot during the year…all of them had…and this was one of the few times Neville had seen him really happy all year. He remembered back in second year when Colin used to idolize Harry and he smiled despite himself.

"What does Hagrid think he's doing?" Neville said, partly impressed by the half-giant's nerve and partly incredulous that he'd do such a stupid stunt. "He's one of the few things around here that are still decent." Neville thought morosely of all the things they were missing out on this year…no Quidditch, teachers that hated them, terrible classes, cruel detentions, and no Harry, no Dean or Ron or Hermione or the hundred or so other kids who couldn't or wouldn't come back…but even Neville knew that this was self-pity. Harry and them were probably in even worse situations, if they weren't in Azkaban by now.

It was another hour before Neville could talk to Seamus about it. "A Potter Party." Seamus snorted, shaking his head. "Well, Harry would be right happy. What would he say if he knew Hagrid was doing this?"

Neville had to laugh at the very thought of Harry knowing that Hagrid was throwing a party in support of him. "He'd probably turn red, like Ron does." His smile faded at the thought of his friends. After months of avoiding thinking about them, he had conditioned himself to believe that there really wasn't outside of Hogwarts. There was no Harry, no prophesy, no…anything.

Was that letting the Carrows win?

Deciding to think about that later, Neville turned returned his attention to Seamus once again, who had conjured his Patronus --- a lumbering brown bear --- and was stroking it carefully, his expression distant. Maybe he was thinking about Dean. "So, you going?"

"Where?" Seamus instantly brightened, remembering the beginning of the conversation. "Oh, definitely, mate. You're coming with me."

Neville put on a mock-injured expression. "I wonder who else knows about this?" he asked, mostly to himself.

The question was answered after sunset. Neville and Seamus had an easier time sneaking out of the building than they would have a year ago. The secret passages were blocked up, and the security was tighter than ever (most students thought it was to keep stuff in rather than out) but the two had learned so many tricks that year that they knew exactly how to get passed the Sensory Spells.

It was only when they got to Hagrid's little cabin that they realized exactly how many people knew about the party. Some mini-Hermione had cast a glamour so the outside of the cabin looked normal, but on the inside…

The party was full of DA members, and even some kids outside of the DA. Neville got quite a few "hellos" and managed to catch a glimpse of the Patil twins, Hannah Abbot, and Ernie McMillan before he was pulled into a bone-crushing hug. "Knew you'd come, Neville." Hagrid boomed, then let him go. Neville massaged his ribs as he smiled up at Hagrid. "This is so stupid, Hagrid."

Hagrid waved a hand. "Nah, it's important. I seen you all. Your spirit's been running a bit low."

Mickey pressed a bottle of Butterbeer into his hand. "Cheers, Nev!" he said, his voice loud over the noise. Neville hoped someone had cast a silencing charm around the cabin. Trying to smile, he raised the bottle to his lips. The warm liquid made him feel instantly better, and he started remembering other parties, similar to this one. After a Quidditch match, or to celebrate the end or term. They hadn't had a party all year.

Lavender Brown came over to him, beaming. "Isn't this great, Neville?" she said, nearly bouncing with excitement. "We haven't had a party in ages!"

Yeah, ever since Voldemort's been running the country. We should have celebrated that, shouldn't we? But he kept his opinion to himself. No reason to spoil everyone's good mood.

The party was surprisingly nice. Everyone was so eager for a happy event that it went on full speed for hours. Denis Creevey had brought along a small box of the Weasley's fireworks and them off before Hagrid could yell at him for nearly burning his house down. It wasn't until nearly midnight that the party started breaking up.

Most people had gone and it was only Seamus, Neville, Lavender, Mickey, and Colin left with Hagrid to help clear up. Lavender was just repairing a cracked vase near the window when she let out a shriek. "Oh…they're coming!"

And in one sentence, all of Neville's fear were coming back to him. It was so stupid to throw a Potter Party in the first place…they'd all get caught, and Neville didn't even want to think about how bad that detention would be. He looked up at Hagrid, hoping he had a plan.

He did. Going to the front door, he called Fang over to him. "You lot go out the back and run into the woods. The centaurs have been a rotton bunch lately, but they hate the Carrows more than you do, they'll protect you for the night."

Neville nodded, ushering the others to the back door. Hagrid threw open his door suddenly, with surprising force, and Neville inched open theirs, slipping through it in a second.

Wincing at the bright lights that suddenly illuminated the night, Neville ran until they were in the relative safety of the Forbidden Forest. He looked around, making sure they were all together. Seamus was nearest to him, and his face shone white in the light of the sickle moon.

A low wail of a dog proceeded an angry roar from Hagrid. Neville heard the thundering of Hagrid's gigantic footfalls, then silence.

Glancing around, Neville noticed that everyone in their small clearing was shaking, and not from cold. Someone else had gone, and they had lost another alley from Hogwarts.

Review?