Disclaimer: Anything familiar to JKR's books probably comes from there and is hers not mine. Also, Harry Potter, Hogwarts, the Wizarding World, and anything else that has to do with it belongs to the lovely JK Rowling, not me. I'm just playing in her sandbox and building my own Hogwarts in it.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Harry looked around the table carefully. The group that had been gathered was made up of Ron, the strategy group, the leaders, and everyone with a colored Journal. It was Sunday evening, and all the testing had been completed. Regular training would begin the next afternoon.
Right now, however, they had something even more important to discuss: Plans for how to prepare for a battle that could come at any time during the school year.
Everyone knew Voldemort wanted Hogwarts. Voldemort also wanted to kill Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter. The easiest way to make it all happen was to attack Hogwarts with a large army, and thanks to all the information Harry was given through his various sources, they knew that Voldemort was building up his army quicker than anyone would like. Raids had decreased in number, but their deadliness had increased as a result. Things were becoming dangerous outside the castle walls, and everyone knew that the war would be coming to them eventually, so they would prepare.
"This is obviously a strategy meeting," Harry began, looking around the table. "Leaders are here to pass on instructions to anyone who needs them, and it's also good to get more opinions and ideas. Now, as our seventh years learned Friday evening, traps can make all the difference in a battle. Hogwarts is our home field, so we had best take advantage of it, eh?"
"Our wonderful teachers have agreed to help set up any traps we might create or think of to make sure they're invisible to those who might be looking for them," Ron stated as he took over, nodding in the direction of the colored Journal group. "However, before they're willing to do this, everyone else has to collect the traps or at least make the ideas so that they can be built, and we have to figure out where to place them."
"Why us?" Rose Zeller, a third year Hufflepuff, asked. "Why would we be doing most of the work?"
"Because you need to learn that we can't do everything," Maya suggested innocently, and Harry rolled his eyes.
"Some of us will be building any traps you can't," Hermione added, "so we'll be doing our share."
"We'll also be giving suggestions when we feel they'll help," Hannah said softly.
"Mostly, though, the reasons you lot are going to be doing most of this is because we have enough to do, and we want to see what you can do," Ginny interrupted before anyone else could make the young students feel even worse. "Everyone in this school has the mind to do this, you just have to try."
"We will help all of you," Harry promised, "but in the end, this is going to be your project. We've got other things we'll be working on to set up around the school. To help you, though, Tracey, Ginny, and I will be willing to make things you need to make your traps, and what we can't do, we'll ask the twins to make. If you need supplies from the twins, ask any of us, and we'll get them for you within the week. If you're unsure about the placing of a trap, we'll help you figure it out, and we might even make suggestions or change your ideas to fit better if we think it will help, but like I said, this is your project, not ours.
"Now, Ron, why don't you bring up the ideas you've already had?" Harry suggested.
…
"Hey, Bradley," Hermione called as she finally caught sight of the Ravenclaw she had been looking for using her Journal's Map.
"Oh, hi, Hermione," the sixth year Ravenclaw replied as he turned and saw who had called him. "Did you need something?"
"In fact, yes, could you come with me?" Hermione asked. Bradley shrugged and followed Hermione as she led him into the Den and one of its study rooms, where Padma and Terry were waiting for them. "I found him, finally."
"We saw," Terry replied, gesturing to his open Journal amongst the many sheets of paper, open textbooks, and half-filled notebooks.
"Okay, what's going on here?" Bradley demanded, though Hermione could tell he was trying not to be too demanding, obviously realizing who he was talking to.
"Near the end of the summer, Natalie came to us with an idea to help the HPs in a battle, and after some discussion with Harry and Tracey, we've got a possible idea to make it work," Hermione began. "Unfortunately, it's going to take a lot of research, time, and energy to make happen, especially if we want it to be done sometime in the next few months, hopefully before anyone attacks us. Here, come look at this." Hermione led Bradley over to the notebook where the most recent notes and ideas and research had been written, letting him read over the basic idea and skim the rest of it.
"You're trying to make a communication system that's portable and works completely off of magic?" he questioned, and Hermione nodded, spotting Padma and Terry doing the same out of the corner of her eye. "Well, you've already got an amazing start on this project. Why do you need me?"
"Because almost all of that research was done in the last week of summer," Padma told him, and Hermione watched as Bradley's eyes widened. "We're NEWT students and teachers of the HPs, Bradley, and we just don't have the time to research and work on this like we wish we did."
"What we need from you is for you to get the rest of the sixth year Ravenclaws and anyone else interested, except for the fifth and seventh years of any House, and research this idea," Terry continued. Bradley's eyes were wide, but he also seemed interested.
"We'll help when we can, and don't be surprised if Harry, Ginny, and Tracey suddenly drop in and make you go on a completely different path for your research," Hermione added with amusement in her tone, smirking slightly because she knew they would be doing just that, "but we decided we needed to hand off most of the research to someone else. Bradley, you're going to be in charge of this."
"You want me to be in charge of a project like this?" Bradley gasped, and Hermione could tell his shock level would have a hard time getting any higher than it already was.
"Yes," Hermione, Padma and Terry said at the same time. "You're the best person for the job," Terry continued, "and we know you'll make sure it gets done."
"What do you say?" Padma asked.
"I-I don't know what to say, but I'll make sure this project gets done!" Bradley declared, his shock giving way to determination. "I'd better go talk to the others about this… can we use this study room for the project?"
"Of course," Padma exclaimed. "We've already put that it's permanently in use for a project on the board in the main room. Just make sure you do any research in here so that none of the teachers get suspicious. It means you'll be checking out a lot of books from the library, or at least copying the pages from them, but it's best to keep all of the research in one place."
"Yeah," Bradley agreed. "Well, I'd better start asking people if they want to help…"
Bradley quickly left the room, and Hermione sat down in her chair in relief. They had been worried he would say no, and he really would be the best person for the job.
"At least we now know this project will be completed efficiently and effectively," Terry declared, and Hermione agreed quietly, unable to disagree with that.
…
"Hello, Professor," Harry said as he set his bag next to his normal chair and settled down into it. "I hope you had a good summer despite the circumstances."
"It could have been worse," Professor Snape replied. "Now, you've been keeping up with the raids, correct?"
"Better than most, I suspect," Harry sighed. "And before you ask, yes, I did make sure those who ran away due to their parents joining the Dark Lord had a place to stay for the rest of the summer when they came to me for help. If they still need a place after this school year, I'll make sure they have it, whether the war is done or not."
"Thank you for the reassurance," Professor Snape said with a nod, gratitude barely noticeable in his tone, but Harry caught it. Harry knew his professor truly did care for his students and their well-being; he just didn't show it very often. To hear that those with no home always had a place to go would be a relief for the man. "How much do you know of the Dark Lord's actions and movements?"
"From what I've learned, he's trying to attack less so that his forces aren't captured as often, but he's also planning his attacks more thoroughly so that they do more damage when they happen," Harry began, having expected this question and prepared for it. "My best guess is that he's building up to something big, perhaps even attacking this very castle sometime in the near future, like the Hat said."
"The Dark Lord has been working with the giants and Dementors and werewolves, getting as many of them on his side as he can to increase the ability of his army to do damage," Professor Snape explained, and Harry pulled his Journal out of his pocket to write this down. "He has complete control of all the Dementors, and the Dementors are breeding rapidly. Most of the giants will go where he orders and do damage, but he is still working to convert the rest. The werewolves, however, are split quite evenly between working with him and staying neutral; none will work against him."
"And what about the number of Death Eaters?" Harry asked after he finished writing all this down. He and the others had guessed at much of this, but to have it confirmed was both a relief and a scary thought.
"From the Pureblood families, he has gained most of the adults in Britain, and many from the Continent have taken his Mark as well," Professor Snape admitted. "However, while he has the older generation, whatever you've done here at Hogwarts has lost him the next generation. It has angered him greatly because he had been looking at the Slytherins and some of the Ravenclaws for more followers, and now he has been forced to look away from Britain to increase his numbers." Harry smirked as he heard this, enjoying the unintended effect of his actions at Hogwarts.
"Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, the Aurors working in their own countries aren't stopping the Dark Lord from gathering new followers, and his numbers increase every week by at least five, if not ten. By the end of this school year, his army will have hundreds of Death Eaters alone, and that is the most likely time for him to attack as he will feel he is at his strongest."
Harry sighed sadly as he heard this, but he dutifully wrote it down before asking his professor, "You have told the Headmaster about this, correct?"
"Of course, and he has standing orders for the Order of the Phoenix to be prepared to Apparate or Floo to Hogwarts at a moment's notice if the Dark Lord attacks," Professor Snape stated. "Unfortunately, even if Kingsley Shacklebolt does manage to get the Ministry's Aurors here, it most likely won't be enough with the numbers the Dark Lord hopes to be able to attack with. We would need hundreds of fighters and a miracle to win in the battle he plans to bring to this school. The best we can do is hold him off so that you students can escape."
Harry nodded in agreement while internally smirking. The Hogwarts Protectors might just be the tide changer in the fight when it came down to it, what with the traps and other plans they were making and would hopefully have ready by Christmas.
"Thank you, Professor," Harry said gratefully. "If you have any more news…"
"I'll be sure to pass it along," Professor Snape agreed with a nod.
…
"Do you remember when it would take at least a month before first years could get Journals?" Harry asked his friends as they looked around the Den as first years began learning from the older students how to use their new Journals.
"Yeah, and now they're getting them within the first two weeks," Susan agreed.
"How long do you think it will take for the first years to get Journals in, oh, ten years?" Maya wondered aloud as they all began walking towards the Room of Requirement to begin training.
"Less than a week," Neville stated matter-of-factly, not hesitating even a moment. His tone made it so that no one could disagree.
…
"You sent for me, Headmaster?" Harry asked as he sat down in the chair across from Professor Dumbledore, looking at the older man over his desk.
"Yes, I felt it was time for us to speak again, as it has now been two weeks since term has begun," Professor Dumbledore admitted, and Harry settled back into his chair, nodding. "I believe the Sorting Hat made it clear when it said there is a very good chance that Lord Voldemort will attack within the year, and my sources have confirmed this possibility."
"That's what I was thinking as well, Professor," Harry agreed. "My own sources have pointed to Tom trying to keep his Death Eaters out of prison because Minister Bones has been so effective in capturing them and not letting them breakout. He's also been building his army up, which points towards a large attack. What's a better place to attack than here? Tom wishes to kill both of us, and he wants Hogwarts, so why not do both at once?"
"My thoughts exactly," Professor Dumbledore sighed. "The professors are preparing for the chance of an attack, and the Minister has agreed to meet with me to discuss the possibility of an attack, but there isn't much more I can do without knowing when it will be."
Harry realized that the Headmaster cared for his students and didn't want them to have to go through a battle, especially not one at the level that Voldemort seemed to be preparing for. Of course, Professor Dumbledore didn't realize that his students knew what was coming, knew that they could die in the attack, and knew that they were going to fight anyway.
"Well, my information has to do with what foreign Ministries are doing, both to help themselves and us…" Harry began, hoping to distract the Headmaster from the thought of Hogwarts under attack. It wasn't really something anyone wanted to think about more than they had to, after all.
…
Harry heard Draco groan as he closed yet another textbook before banging his head onto the table. No, wait, he had let his head fall onto the textbook, Harry realized as he glanced over at his blond friend, one eyebrow raised.
"This is even worse than last year!" Draco complained, keeping his voice quiet so that he wouldn't get kicked out of the library.
"If you're complaining now, not even a month into the school year, I'm very afraid to find out what you're going to be like when Easter comes around," Astoria told her boyfriend as she finished writing either a word or sentence on her essay. Harry couldn't help but agree with Astoria, though he knew everyone was going to be complaining when that holiday came around, the OWL and NEWT students the loudest.
"Don't remind me," Draco muttered, lifting his head just enough to bang it down onto his book again, obviously not looking forward to that.
"What's the matter, Draco?" Harry sighed, putting down his pen to face his friend properly.
"Potions essay," Draco grumbled as he lifted his head to glare down at his sheet of parchment. "I can't find the information Professor Snape wants." Harry rolled his eyes as he glanced at the book Draco was using, knowing without even opening it that it was the wrong one.
"That's because you're looking in the wrong book, Draco," Harry informed him, reaching into his bag to find his copy of the correct text. "This is the book you're supposed to use. You can borrow that, but I want it back when you're done, got it?"
"Yeah," Draco replied, already flipping to the index. "Thanks, Harry."
"No problem," Harry told him with a shrug, actually looking at Astoria, who was thanking him silently. He really didn't mind since he had already done that essay last night, anyway. At least this would get Draco to shut up so that he could finish his Runes translation sometime in the next year. After years of being the son his father had wanted him to be, Draco really did know how to be a pain in the arse.
…
"Harry, do the students know that I can see their Journals?" Remus asked him one afternoon as they watched the other seventh years play an improvised game of hide-and-seek in the Quidditch pitch, using the spells Remus had taught them for the past three weeks to hide.
"Only those who stay with us," Harry replied while shaking his head. "I haven't mentioned it to anyone. Besides, they knew better than to use them during tests."
"Oh, I know," Remus agreed. "None of them use the Journals while I'm testing them in some way, but when I'm lecturing, most of the class uses them."
"That's because Journals are really good for taking notes, or did you not know that, Remus?" Harry asked in amusement. "I use mine to take notes all the time. They do have unlimited parchment, so it's quite useful."
"I haven't really thought about it like that," Remus admitted. "Forgot Samuel added that function to them…" Remus trailed off, but Harry just continued to watch his classmates enjoy themselves.
"Didn't think you had," Harry finally said after a little bit of silence. "Anyway, I'd best go join them. Can't let them have all the fun, can I?"
Harry quickly left the teachers' box they had been watching from, charming himself and pulling on his Cloak as he went, leaving behind an amused Remus.
…
"Much better!" Harry told the seventh years as he looked around the room. "For the most part, I only know the traps are in this room because I'm looking for them specifically and know how you hide them. Very few would spot them, now. Any comments before we leave and start something new next time?"
"I was surprised by how much effort goes into your pranking!" Anthony Goldstein called out, and everyone laughed as Harry just grinned.
"Surprises everyone when they realize it, even the twins!" Harry replied.
"I'll admit I didn't expect to be using Professor Lupin's lessons in concealment for this," Ernie Macmillan informed the group. "He wasn't lying when he said that those spells could be used in more ways than we could probably imagine."
"And those spells can also save your life if you use them well," Harry added. "Anyone else? No? Well, then, I'll see you again in two days. We all have homework to do, I know. Let's just survive our NEWT year so that the homework goes away!" There were groans and laughs from the seventh years as they left, leaving Harry to remove the charms from the traps before dismantling them.
…
"Does anyone else think that they don't really need the specialized lessons anymore?" Neville asked one afternoon in the Room of Requirement about a month into the school year.
"I've been thinking that since we started training them again," Susan admitted. "Those learning to heal have learned everything we know, and we're all learning together now."
"Most of them have learned as much as we can teach them, really," Astoria agreed. "I think it's time we start having one training session an evening for whoever can make it where we have them teach their fellow students what they've learned from us. They can all just come and go so that they get their homework done, and it will allow more time for other things to be done."
"If there's a minimum of three sessions a week, it might work," Harry slowly said. "However, I think we should make Sundays the day where we do mock-invasions with basically everybody, beginning them with strategies and plans being taught."
"That could work, but the aerial squad and strategists should continue to meet at least once a week," Ginny decided. "While we could probably get away with a monthly lesson in each specialization to make sure they're keeping on top of things, the aerial squad needs to constantly practice just like the Quidditch teams do."
"Yes, and we should have random tests in the evenings and on Saturdays where we call in various people and have them fight against us," Hermione said while she wrote the ideas down. "It will keep everyone on their toes because they'll never know when they'll be called or what environment they'll be fighting in."
"You know, this is probably the best sort of training we could offer them after how much work they've been putting in," Theo admitted. "We all know they'll train without us, so this might work."
"And if we have to, we can always add to the training at the later time," Padma added.
"Let's work on getting all of these plans completely straight before we introduce them to the others," Harry stated. "From there, we can figure out what to do."
…
The students of Hogwarts took to the new plan like a Hippogriff to air. First years were still being trained by Harry and his friends, but by going to the evening sessions and learning from the older students, they were picking up things faster than first years ever had before.
Cross-teaching had the advantage of passing on skills that many wouldn't have even tried to learn without it, and it allowed Harry and the others to just walk among the students and help where they felt it was needed.
This new style of training was working quite well, and everyone hoped they could just keep training like this rather than needing to go back to more intense training, but something made them fear the old training would come back eventually.
Posted: 4/25/12