Lily's Plan
By: Sheltie
I don't own Harry Potter at all
Chapter 38
Luna sat in her DADA class utterly bored. The toad was croaking, I mean droning on about talking down your opponent, which was a lot of hippogriff dung since Death Eaters would kill you before you even started to reason with them. Her mind then began to wander and thoughts of images started to appear. The images were blurry, unfocused. She wasn't in tune to the right station to receive them. With some subconscious tweaking of her mental 'antenna' the images started to come into focus, but before she could even get a read on them she was interrupted.
"Miss Lovegood."
Luna blinked as she saw the toad glaring at her openly.
"Yes professor?" she asked as politely as she could.
"Do you know the five ways of successfully talking down your enemies?" the toad asked.
Luna furrowed her brow. She had read the book that was assigned with the class like all of her friends, but saw no need to really memorize it since it would make for a better paperweight or coaster than reading material. Now there's an idea. Coaster Books, part coaster part book. An ingenious idea.
"Miss Lovegood!"
Luna blinked again.
"Yes ma'am?" she asked.
"Detention and ten points off" the toad said.
Luna wanted to argue, but knew it would be no use. Besides, she had no allies really in the class. So she was stuck with the punishment.
For the rest of class Luna tried to stay somewhat focused as she tried to get those images back, but sadly they were gone for good. She left knowing that Harry and the others won't like what had happened.
/Scene Break/
When Luna told her friends of her detention they were outraged.
"She has no right" Daphne said furiously.
"No, she doesn't, but we can do anything yet" Susan said sadly.
"I want to hex her" Neville growled.
"It will be alright. I will probably do lines like Padma. Everything will be fine" Luna said calmly.
"Are you sure Luna?" Harry asked with worry.
"Yes Harry. She can't do anything to me" Luna said firmly.
"Alright, but if something goes wrong tell us" Hermione said.
Luna nodded. She was so happy she had friends like this.
/Scene Break/
Luna arrived for her detention and found the toad grinning at her in a sadistic way.
"Have a seat Miss Lovegood. You are going to be writing lines tonight" the half amphibian half human said sweetly.
Luna took a seat and found a piece of parchment as well as a quill that looked vaguely familiar to the blond, but she couldn't for the life of her remember where she had seen it before.
"You are to write 'I will not daydream in class' over and over til I tell you to stop" the toad said.
"There's no ink, how am I to write?" Luna asked.
"This quill needs no ink to work. Now get started" the toad croaked, I mean barked.
Luna began to write as she felt something biting into the back of her hand. She stopped and saw shallow cuts.
"I didn't say you can stop" the toad croaked.
Luna started again wincing slightly at the pain as she continued. She saw that the letters she was writing was in her own blood. This got her mind going even with the pain coursing through her. A blood quill. She was using a blood quill.
It was illegal to use blood quills unless under very strict circumstances. They were used in signing of certain documents and other things. Blood quills were technically a dark item heavily controlled by the Ministry.
Luna suffered for three hours until she was told to stop by the sickly sweet smiling toad.
"I hope you've learned your lesson Miss Lovegood" the pond scum dweller said in her sugar sweet tone.
Luna said nothing as she left. Her hand hurt bad, but it wasn't totally terrible. She needed to tell her friends though she feared what they'd do. Especially Neville. She didn't want the boy to go on a rampage.
/Scene Break/
The next day Luna met with her friends in the Potter quarters with her hand wrapped in bandage. This of course was noticed by them.
"Luna, what happened?" Padma asked with max worry.
"I was given lines by madam Umbridge" Luna said.
"Okay, but you shouldn't need to bandage your hand for that. What did that slimy toad do to you?" Neville asked.
Luna was hesitant.
This was something the group had never seen with Luna. So Harry took over. He gently took Luna's un-bandaged hand and let her over to a comfy loveseat. He took her hand wrapped in bandage and gently unraveled the strip of cloth. What he saw enraged him, but he kept his cool.
"Luna, did she carve these words into your hand?" Harry asked.
"No Harry, she didn't" Luna said softly.
"What happened Luna, I promise I won't get mad" Harry said.
Luna took a deep breath and told Harry everything. Harry listened to it all holding back his rage. He wanted to spit roast the toad for attacking a girl he thought of as his little sister. But he kept his anger in check since he knew Luna wouldn't want that. He took a couple of deep breaths to control himself.
"This can't go unpunished Luna, you know that" Harry said gently.
"I do Harry, but with the climate out there now I highly doubt we'd get a sympathetic vote" Luna said.
"Then we'll have to do it in an unorthodox manner" Harry said.
Luna looked at Harry curiously.
"Come on, lets get back to the others" Harry said.
Luna nodded.
Once back and Luna retold her story Neville was pissed and showed none of Harry's tact. Daphne stuck Neville to his chair and told him she'd only release the spell once he was totally calm. Neville grumbled about evil snakes, but everyone ignored that.
"What are going to do about this Harry? I assume you have a plan?" Hermione asked.
"I do, we're going to need the Weasley twins for this though" Harry said.
"Why them?" Susan asked.
"They are going to prank the toad. This won't be the justice Luna deserves, but it will have to do til we have enough power to do more" Harry said.
The others nodded along with Neville, who had calm down. He wasn't totally happy with the option, but understood that they had to remain under the radar for the moment.
"Good, Hermione, Neville, tell the twins we need to talk to them" Harry said.
Hermione and Neville nodded and headed off to find the pranking duo.
/Scene Break/
"What do you need of us oh great leader?" Fred asked bowing in a grandiose manner.
"Yes, whatever you say we shall do" George said copying his brother's action.
Harry rolled his eyes and chuckled at the twins' antics.
"Stow it you two" Hermione huffed.
"Of course Lady Potter" George said bowing to Hermione.
"We wouldn't want to annoy you my lady" Fred said copying his twins' actions.
The twins shared a smirked with one another.
Hermione huffed and threw her hands up.
"This is serious guys, enough fun" Daphne said firmly.
Fred and George shut it at Daphne's cold glare.
Harry then told the twins what had happened to Luna and what he wanted them to do. The twins were all for it. They thought this was the best warfare. Prank the toad mercilessly. They began plotting with matching devious looks on their faces. Daphne and Padma joined in with some ideas that they had.
Harry left the four to plot and scheme and sat by his wife, who looked unhappy.
"What is it love?" he asked.
"I know that this is probably the only course of action we have Harry, but I just don't feel right about it" Hermione said.
Harry sighed.
"Look Mione, there's nothing we can really do right now. Until we find the last two portraits we're stuck and I for one don't want to let that smug toad get away with anything if I can help it" he said.
Hermione just nodded. She knew that Harry wouldn't let one of his friends get hurt without fighting back. But they still needed to tread carefully and pranking the toad just didn't feel right to her. Maybe it was because she was a prefect and it was her job to keep pranksters like the Weasley twins in line.
/Scene Break/
The Prank attack started off small. The twins had a spell that whenever the toad waddled it would sound like she was farting. This got laughter from everyone in the school including the other teachers since they hated to the toad just as much or more than the students. The next part was a bit trickier, but with some helpful elves a potion was slipped into Umbridge's drink every meal. Now the potion was not poisonous or anything. No, what it did to the one who drank it would be after every time they spoke they'd let out a croak of a toad. So whenever Umbridge spoke she'd croak at the end. More laughter came with this and the teachers were dying to give points to whoever did the prank.
Umbridge though wasn't pleased and began to tighten her hold on the castle. Her squad was doing more patrols. These patrols were more of bullying students who were either muggle-borns, muggle raised or half bloods. But the students seemed to unite on their own and began traveling in groups to counter the squads.
/Scene Break/
Meanwhile the hunt for the portraits was going nowhere really. The whole group was looking everywhere in the castle for the two remaining founders, but turned up nothing. Heck, they even checked the Chamber of Secrets, but found nothing. They even looked to where basilisk came out and found nothing in the tunnel except where the great beast slumbered.
"Well, that was a waste" Daphne said.
"Yeah, now we all smell like sewer filth" Susan said scrunching up her nose.
"It's going to take a lot of showers to get rid of this smell" Padma sighed.
The rest of the group said nothing since they were thinking the same thing. They were all given a wide berth when head back due to the smell radiating from them all.
/Scene Break/
Plans were being made for their first meeting of the DA or Defense Association. They decided to have it in Hogsmeade since Umbridge had no control there. But where to have it. Three Broomsticks was too obvious a choice and there weren't that many other meeting places there. So they decided to hold the meeting at a rundown place called the Hog's Head. Lily told them that the place was owned by Dumbledore's brother, Aberforth. He didn't always agree with his brother and liked Lily so he agreed to let the DA have a meeting in his establishment and made sure anyone who was paying too much attention would remember nothing.
/Scene Break/
The first meeting of the DA was set. Harry, Hermione and their friends waited in Hog's Head for their possible members to show. They sent out invites to all of them making sure to emphasize the need for it to be kept secret. Soon they came trickling in. It took a good solid hour, but all they had chosen decide to show up.
"Okay Harry, time to get started" Daphne said.
"Tell me again why it's me who has to talk?" Harry asked.
"Because you're the leader Harry" Padma said.
"But it was Hermione's idea" Harry argued.
"Yes darling, but I am just one of the brains behind this. You are the face" Hermione said sweetly.
Harry sighed and got up.
"Alright, could you all quiet down please. I'll get straight to the point why you are all here" Harry said.
The room went quiet as they waited for Harry to talk. Harry took a big gulp of butterbeer to moisten his parched throat.
"As all of you know, we're learning jack in defense" Harry said.
Murmurs of agreement were heard though Harry did see Hermione glare at him for his language.
"I for one am not going to stand for it since now is not the time to lack in the subject we all desperately need right now" Harry said.
"You mean You-Know-Who?" Ernie Macmillan asked.
"I am sorry, who are you talking about?" Luna asked airily.
"You know who I mean, You-Know-Who" Ernie said fuming slightly.
"Still not sure who you are talking about" Luna chirped.
None of the possible members said a thing for fear of the name.
"Look, this is a meeting to start a group that will learn spells and skills that will help defend not only yourself, but your love ones too" Harry said.
"Also get us good grade on our O.W.L's too, huh" Terry Boot said.
"Uh, yeah, I guess. If that's how you want to look at it" Harry said.
Padma frowned upon hearing this.
"Anyway, if you want to join then you'll have to get used to saying his name, Voldemort" Harry said.
Shudders and gasps were heard though the only ones not doing either was Harry, Hermione and their friends.
"Come on people, it's only a name for Merlin's sake. Nothing to be afraid of" Daphne said angrily.
"But, but, but" Marietta Edgecombe stuttered.
"Look, we'll work on that, but if you wish to join then you'll have to be swear that you will not tell anyone about this. This club isn't official in any way" Harry said.
"Harry is pranking the toad" Fred said.
"Bravo Harry, way to go" George said.
"Uh yeah, please sign the piece of parchment that will be coming your way. Once you do that Padma will be handing you out the way you'll know when we'll meet" Harry said.
"Hold on, what about Quidditch, we can't have it interfere with our practices" Angelina said.
"Yeah" Cedric said.
"Talk to Neville, Susan, and Padma. They will help organize things on your end so we don't meet during a practice for any team" Harry said.
"Where will we be meeting?" Cho asked.
"Right now that will be secret until the day of the meeting. On that day meet with your house rep and they will lead you there" Harry said.
Murmurs of agreement were heard with this.
"Good, I think we're done for today. Thank you all for coming" Harry said.
Once that was done with Harry spent a more relaxing day with his wife until they had to head back to the castle where they found Filch checking everyone's things.
"What's going on?" Padma asked.
"Madam Umbridge's new rule. I am to check everyone's things to make sure nothing dark comes into the castle" Filch said proudly.
The group made it through and shook their heads. They had to do something soon. Their rights were being pushed aside.
/Scene Break/
Neville sighed as he looked for a place for them to use to train in. There weren't many places they had to on pick from with the toad alert most of the time. They needed a private place that wouldn't be easily found. So far he was coming up empty. He made his way down another hallway looking for possible meeting spots. He was in a part of the castle seldom used. He frowned and saw an etching of a snake on the wall. This got him curious and followed where the snake was pointing. He got his wand out and made his way. Soon he dropped down a chute that had opened up suddenly. When he landed he cursed.
"That bloody hurt" Neville muttered.
He looked around and then lit his wand to have a better look due to the lack of light.
"Now where am I?" Neville asked himself.
He ventured cautiously since he didn't know where he was. It looked like an old cellar of some kind. He didn't know Hogwarts had cellars, but given it was a castle then it was bound to have a few. He found something, a ledge of some kind, but found that it was grooved with liquid inside it. He dipped his finger in it to taste it and spat it out.
"Oil?" Neville questioned.
He muttered a flame spell into the grooves and soon fire spread out creating light.
"Now that's neat" Neville commented.
Now with adequate light he made his way and found what he could say was the mother load. There were scrolls and rolls of parchment neatly stacked. Swords, shields of all kinds as well as daggers and bows too. He then turned and found a large portrait of a very aristocratic man. He had black hair that was long and tied in a ponytail. He had a goatee. He was thin and tall. He had a long thin sword by his side with a snake motif on the pommel. He wore fine forest green robes and had a ring with a nicely sized emerald in it that was held by the mouth of a snake.
"Geez couldn't even be more obvious" Neville commented.
He then waved his wand on the portrait to wake it.
"Oh bugger, what is it now?" Salazar asked with a yawn.
"Pardon me Lord Slytherin, but it time to awake" Neville said remembering what Luna had done when she found Hufflepuff's portrait.
"Who are you and where are we?" Salazar demanded.
Neville bit his cheek to stop any sarcastic answer he had in mind.
"My name is Neville Longbottom and as to where we are I am not totally sure since I've never been here before" Neville said.
"I see. Hmm, Longbottom, not a name that I know" Salazar said.
"Lord Slytherin, it has been many years since your time and many things have changed. Families have come and died out" Neville said.
"Yes, yes, I see. Now tell me what you want?" Salazar asked.
"I wish to united you with the other founders of Hogwarts, time has come for the founders to be awaken" Neville said.
"Mmm, I see take me to them and we shall if my help is even needed" Salazar said.
"Of course my lord" Neville said though he really didn't like Slytherin right now with the way he was ordering him about.
Neville shrank the portrait and looked for a way out. He found it after a half hour of searching. He exited out of a portrait and headed to find his friends. One down and only one more to go.
End of Chapter
A/N: okay DA is getting going and another portrait found. Next chap I'll probably have the group find Rowena's and things will come together. The toad will get what is coming to her don't worry. Thanks for reading and please review.