Chapter 20
The Aurors were dispatched and a giant force field was placed around Hogwarts. It would not keep Voldemort or Grindelwald out of Hogwarts long term, but it would at least provide the school with a warning signal if either of them did arrive. Landry and her friends were left in a state of shock. The group had finally been starting to find their new normal, but now everything had been turned upside down. The Wizarding and Muggle worlds were once again in grave danger from the two greatest foes they had ever faced before.
The group of teenagers tried their hardest to do just as Professor McGonagall had said and try to go about business as usual, but all of them found this to be extremely difficult. Having Dumbledore around as a constant reminder of the situation did not help. And Dumbledore himself was not having the easiest time fitting in. For starters, there was the awkward situation of the fact that there were now two Albuses in the group. Not to mention that the teenagers did not really feel as though they should be addressing the Albus Dumbledore by his first name. Then there was the slight issue that Dumbledore still had the brain and memories of his old self. Try as he might, even the great Albus Dumbledore himself could not for the life of him figure out the purpose of a fidget spinner. Plus, his tendency to speak in riddles was not what one would consider to be normal teen boy behavior. Still, this was apparently not entirely off putting to some of the other Hogwarts students.
One day, as Landry and Miles were walking with Dumbledore to class, a seventh year Hufflepuff boy approached them. "Hey," he said to Dumbledore, cutting him off as he was about to turn a corridor. "I haven't seen you around school before. What's your name?"
"Alb-" Dumbledore began to say, when Miles cut him off.
"Albert," Miles said quickly. "His name is Albert, he's been homeschooled until now."
Dumbledore, quickly catching on, nodded in agreement.
"Nice to meet you, Albert," said the boy. "I'm Roger. Roger Colins. And, just to let you know, I'm completely available. For anything you may need." Roger winked and strutted off.
Miles and Landry looked at each other in shock, then burst out laughing. "If only he knew," cried Landry. "If only he knew that he just flirted with Albus Dumbledore!"
Dumbledore did not react. He was contemplating something. Finally, he spoke. "Would it be…improper of me to take him up on that offer?"
Landry wrinkled her face in disgust. "Yes! It would be utterly and completely wrong in every way! You're literally over 100 years older than him!"
Dumbledore shrugged. "My body isn't," he replied.
"Gross!" said Miles, shuddering. "As your Headmistress-appointed mentors, we are putting an official end to that right now."
As the days went by, more and more articles started popping up in The Daily Prophet about Voldemort and Grindelwald picking up right where they left off and terrorizing muggles. Buildings were lit on fire, bridges were destroyed, and trains were derailed. The Death Eaters who were imprisoned in Azkaban had been broken out. There were even reports of dementor attacks from all across Europe. Everyone in the castle was becoming increasingly terrified. As Landry watched it all unfold, she knew that she couldn't just stand by and watch it happen anymore. She knew she had to do something, regardless of what McGonagall said. One day, Landry pulled out her glass stone and called each of her friends, asking them to meet her in the Room of Requirement that evening.
Hours later, Landry, Miles, Genevieve, Albus, Scorpius, and Dumbledore sat in their beanbag chairs in the Room of Requirement. All eyes turned to Landry as she stood from her chair. "I guess you're all wondering why I asked for you all to meet me here," she began.
"Not really," said Scorpius. "I mean, we're best friends, we often hang out in here together. It really isn't very abnor….." Scorpius trailed off, realizing that Landry had not been looking for logic at that moment.
"Right. So," Landry continued. "Obviously you're all aware of the current situation. Well, I've decided that I'm done with standing around doing nothing. I found the stone, I accidentally brought Grindelwald and Dumbledore back, and I left the stone in Ravenclaw tower, which allowed the Death Eaters to get it and resurrect Voldemort. It's partially my fault, there's no denying it. I'm not about to let other people fight this battle without me."
"What are you saying?" asked Genevieve, concerned.
"I'm leaving Hogwarts. I'm going to fight. I'm going to hunt down these dark wizards and try my hardest to help defeat them. Since I'm seventeen, I can do magic away from school, so I won't get in legal trouble for that. I asked you all here today because you are my best friends in the whole world, and I couldn't just leave without saying goodbye." Landry said.
"No way," said Genevieve, rising from her chair.
"Gen, I'm sorry, but there's no talking me out of this. I have to go," Landry protested.
"No, that's not what I meant. I meant that there's no way you're going alone. I'm coming with you!" Genevieve exclaimed.
Miles immediately leapt up. "I'm going, too! If you thought for a single minute that I'm letting the love of my life go off on a wild Death Eater chase without me, you were very, very wrong," he said, lacing his hand together with Landry's.
The three looked to Albus and Scorpius questioningly. They looked at each other, nodded, and stood up. "Count us in," they said in unison.
It was then that they all remembered that Dumbledore was there. They all looked to him, and he looked back at them. "Do excuse me for just a moment. I will be right back," he said. Suddenly, he disapparated. The teenagers gasped.
"Where do you think he went?" asked Genevieve.
Scorpius sighed. "Probably to rat us out to Professor McGonagall," he said, flopping down onto a beanbag chair.
A minute later, Dumbledore suddenly reappeared, but he was not alone. Beside him was none other than the Minister for Magic herself, Hermione Granger.
"Oh, it's worse than we thought!" Albus cried. "He didn't just tell McGonagall, he ratted us out to Aunt Hermione!"
"Don't place blame, so quickly, Albus," Hermione said. "It is true that Professor Dumbledore has told me about your plans, but I am not here to stop you. I'm here to help you."
The teenagers' jaws dropped.
"If you're going to do this, I'm not going to let you do it without proper supplies," said Hermione, removing a small purple bag from her shoulder. She opened it up, and stuck her whole arm inside. The teenagers gasped.
"Undetectable extension charm," she explained. "Now, here are some supplies I've brought for you. First, we have a tent-it's much larger on the inside, don't worry. Then you've got some standard healing supplies, including Essence of Dittany. That will heal almost any wound very quickly. It's particularly good for healing splinches. Next, a spare wand. In case any of yours are lost or broken. Also some food and water of course, and you should all pack clothes in here, as well. The bag is yours, too. I also must ask you to proceed with extreme caution. Death Eaters will not have mercy on you just because you are kids. Trust me on this," she said, subconsciously running her hand along her neck, where Bellatrix Lestrange had left a dark scar in her skin.
"We will, Minister," said Landry, taking the bag full of supplies from Hermione.
"I'll be going, as well," said Dumbledore.
"Well, we're set then!" said Genevieve excitedly. "With the Albus Dumbledore on our side, we'll be defeating dark lords left and right!"
"Don't overestimate me, Genevieve," Dumbledore said with a sigh.
There was an awkward silence, but Hermione eventually broke it. "Now, you kids go and grab anything else you might need from your dorms. Clothes, shoes, books."
"Testosterone potions," Miles added on.
"I'll stay here and discuss technicalities with the Minister," Dumbledore said.
The teenagers agreed, and they all ran off towards their dormitories to collect their things. Miles also made a stop at the hospital wing, where Madame Pomphrey provided him with enough doses of his potions to last a year. Landry met up with him on their way back to the Room of Requirement.
"Did you really mean what you said back there?" Landry asked. "About me being the love of your life?"
Miles turned red. "I, um, yes. I did, but I get it if it's too soon, or if that was too much, or-"
Landry cut him off by kissing him. "No, it's not," she said, after they pulled apart. "It's just…I feel exactly the same way about you." Miles grinned.
"I know we're young and people will tell us that what we feel isn't real, but I'm completely in love with you and I don't see that ever changing. I don't know what the future holds but I can't imagine it not having you as a part of it," Landry said.
Miles was tearing up. He wiped his eyes and sniffed, and then wrapped Landry in the tightest hug he had ever given. "I'm not going anywhere," he said.