Patronus' and Quidditch
The next month flew by for Harry and his friends. Ginny had been studying night and day for her O.W.L.'s, and the other three had been studying for their end of year exams. Despite Harry's confidence in the Quidditch team he increased the practices from one a week to two a week.
Harry continued having DA meetings, instead of learning new spells he had them run drills. He would time the groups to see how long it would take to get from various places in the castle to their positions. He was pleased at the progress they were making, the group that was to take the non-members to the fifth floor were able to leave from their dorm rooms and get to the corridor in four minutes.
Ginny, Ron and Hermione had reached the point where they couldn't advance any further in Animagus. Harry told them that it was ok, the same thing happened to him. He said that as soon as they passed this part they would complete their training quickly.
This was a busy weekend for the Gryffindor's, first they had a Hogsmeade trip on Saturday, and the last Quidditch Cup game of the year on Sunday. Ginny wanted to stay in the dorm on Saturday but didn't want to miss the last Hogsmeade trip either. Harry got her to compromise, she would go to Hogsmeade in the morning and they would be back by one P.M. so she could study.
"Ok, everyone ready to go?" Harry asked as he finished his breakfast.
"Yeah, lets go," Ginny said as she stood up from the table, "I really do have loads of homework to finish."
The group began their walk down the path to Hogsmeade. As they passed through the gates to Hogwarts Harry saw a large brown owl fly over head and into the castle. They entered Hogsmeade and saw that quite a few students were already there. They walked past Zonko's Joke Shop because they knew Fred and George would kill them if they found out the four of them were shopping at the competions shop.
They walked into The Three Broomsticks, and found a booth in a back corner. Harry went to the bar and waited for Madam Rosemerta to come take his order. He ordered four butterbeers and carried them back to the table.
"Here you go," Harry handed out the bottles as he sat down, "I can't believe this is our last trip to Hogsmeade this year."
"No kidding," Ron added, "this year has flown by. It seems like just last month we were getting our O.W.L.'s."
Ron finished his sentence and Ginny dropped her head to the table. She was so stressed she couldn't even handle it when someone said the word O.W.L.'s. Harry rubbed his hand on Ginny's back to comfort her.
Harry looked up and saw Hedwig fly into the bar and fly straight at him. She landed on the table and stuck her leg out in front of Harry. Harry reached out and untied the letter on her leg. Hedwig nipped at Harry's fingers until he gave her some peanuts from the dish on the table. Then she flew back out of the bar and went back to the castle.
"What does it say, Harry," Ginny asked, "who is it from?"
Harry read the letter to himself.
Harry,
Please return to Hogwarts as soon as you get this. There is something we need to discuss. Sorry to cut your trip short.
Albus Dumbledore
"I have to go back to Hogwarts," Harry said when he finished reading the letter, "Professor Dumbledore wants to see me."
Harry finished his butterbeer and stood up from the table and walked to the door. He stopped and walked back to the booth. He bent over and kissed Ginny on the cheek.
"I'll see you tonight," Harry said as he stood back up.
"Ok love, see you tonight," Ginny replied.
Harry walked up the spiral staircase to Professor Dumbledore's office. When he arrived he saw that Professors McGonagall, SnapeandHagrid were there, as was Arthur Weasley.
"Ah, thank you for coming, Harry," Dumbledore said as Harry walked over to the desk, "We are all here now, lets get started. Harry, I asked you to come back so we could discuss Voldemort's attack."
"I must disagree with this course of action, Albus," Arthur spoke up, "We should send all the children home now. We can't risk putting the students in that kind of danger."
"Minister," Albus spoke, "I understand your concern but I do believe Mr. Potter has come up with a plan to minimize the risk."
"Headmaster," Snape spoke this time, "Do you really think we should trust this kind of planning to a student."
"Yes, Professor," Albus spoke again, "I do trust Harry's plan. Harry, please explain the plan to the Minister."
Harry spent the next several minutes explaining his plan to Arthur and the rest of the Order members that were there. He then explained that there could be a few Aurors waiting in the Wizengamot Council Lounge to protect the students that arrive.
"Ok," Arthur answered, "are you sure that the DA members will follow through with your plan?"
"Yes, sir, I am completely sure they will follow my orders," Harry answered.
"Very well," Arthur gave in, "I guess Hogwarts is a much safer place for all the students."
"From what Professor Snape has told me," Professor Dumbledore spoke, "Voldemort is planning his attack near the end of May. I feel we should invite members of the Order who won't arouse suspicion when they aren't seen daily."
"Who are you thinking of, Professor," Arthur asked.
"Bill and Charley, Alastor, Mundungus and Remus," Dumbledore answered, "and obviously all of the staff will be here. The only way Voldemort can attack Hogwarts is by coming through the main entrance or fly in by brooms, either way he will try to go unnoticed for as long as possible."
"But, sir," Harry spoke up, "How will the students know the attack is happening, if Voldemort doesn't announce he is on the grounds?"
"I will post Fawkes on the Astronomy tower, when he sees the Death Eaters arrive he will come to me first so I can notify the staff, then he will come to you. When you see Fawkes, send your Patronus through the school. That will act as the catalyst for the DA to go into action, and the Order will also then come out of hiding. We will have Order members hiding at the main entrance as well so as to prevent Death Eaters from escaping that way," Dumbledore instructed Harry.
"Ok sir," Harry answered, "I'll inform the DA what the signal will be."
"Now I don't expect to catch them all, but we could definitely lower their numbers," Albus was ending the meeting, "Ok, Harry, you may go, please inform the DA as soon as possible."
Harry left the office and found his three closest friends in the common room waiting for him. He told them of the plan and called an emergency meeting. At the meeting he explained to everyone that if they saw his Patronus running through the grounds that they were to immediately initiate their plan.
"Are you telling us this because you think there is going to be an attack?" Robert Tooker asked.
"Well an attack is always possible, Robert," Harry answered, "but I realized that it could quite possibly be a surprise attack and we wouldn't all know right away. This was the easiest way I could think of notifying everyone fast."
"Ok," Robert spoke again, "how do you think they will attack?"
"I have no clue, Robert," Harry said honestly, "I am just preparing us for a possible attack. So if you see my Patronus put your plans into action."
The next morning Harry, Ron, and Ginny headed down to the Quidditch pitch early to get ready for today's match. They arrived and found the rest of the team already doing laps and running drills. Harry smiled he knew that they were going to win the Quidditch Cup with no problem.
The trio joined in the drills and spent the next hour warming up. Harry led the team back into the locker room where they all changed and Harry gave them another pep talk and went over their strategy.
"Neville, Seamus, don't worry about the other Chasers, go after Malfoy as much as possible," Harry paused while everyone laughed, "seriously, I want him running scared by the end of the match. This means that you Chasers are going to have to really be hard on their Chasers. Ron do what you always do and we will win hands down."
Harry led the team out of the locker room and onto the pitch. They were greeted by cheers from three quarters of the school. Harry kicked off from the ground and circled the pitch with his team.
The Slytherin team walked onto the pitch and were met by more jeers than cheers. Malfoy led his team on a lap around the pitch and then took their places. Harry flew over to Draco to shake his hand, Draco spit at Harry's hand. Harry said a few choice words to Malfoy and went back to his position to wait for Madam Hooch to start the match.
Madam Hooch blew the whistle and released the balls. Malfoy flew straight for Harry trying to knock him off of his broom. Harry dodged the attack and began to circle to look for the Snitch. Neville and Seamus were having a great time sending Bludger after Bludger at Malfoy. A few of them even hit Malfoy in the back. Madam Hooch scolded Neville once, he was able to convince her that hewas sure that Malfoy was after the Snitch.
"Weasley has the Quaffle, she passes to Rose," Dean was calling the game once again, "Rose shoots, she scores! Gryffindor is up twenty to ten. Slytherin with the Quaffle again they are flying at Ron Weasley star Keeper for Gryffindor, he blocks the shot!. What's this? Potter has been knocked off his broom by Malfoy!"