"So what's the plan Harry!

Nevile voiced the collective thought of everyone who had gathered around Harry in a circle and all of them looked at him expectantly. Harry for the better part of the last three months had thought about this plan. He had also prepared for this exact moment. The dreaded speech! And yet his mouth felt dry. The light buzz from the firewhiskey had already left him. Harry wished that he was drunk or maybe a little light headed, for his Griffindor courage was failing him again and so he looked at his two best friends for support. They both nodded assuredly. So he began!

Lupin's muscle tensed as he heard the sound echo throughout Hogwarts grounds. Instinctively he took his wand out and bolted towards the nearest window. He was looking at the shadows outside. Searching for any sign that Greyback and his minions were coming back.

"What is it?" Demanded Aberforth.

"Snape wants Harry" Lupin whispered nonchalantly still concentrating on the shadows outside.

"Good heavens! Lupin…" Cried Aberforth. "We must help the boy now!" He added breathless and clearly concerned. His wrinkled face drenched with sweat.

Lupin fixed the curtains of the window satisfied for the time being and faced his former critic once again.

"So does this mean that the old bartender agrees!" Remus joked after a few moments of silence to which Aberforth simply raised an eyebrow and glared back.

"What is it that you are not telling me Remus?" He cautiously asked.

Lupin's lips curled into a thin smile as the Marauder in him whispered in excitement - "The order is here!"

He urged Aberforth to look outside of the window. Hesitantly the old man came forward and pulled back the curtains of the adjoining window towards the forbidden forest. At first it was just darkness and shadows in thick fog but then he noticed a faint light at a distance. Immediately Aberforth's eyes narrowed. Wordlessly he put a super sensory charm on his eyes and concentrated. At the edge of the forest a small orb of light had emerged from behind the trees. The orb remained still for a few seconds then with a slight flicker it transformed into a small blue flame.

"What is that?" He demanded but there was no response from the other man. Not able to look away from the window Aberforth nudged Remus in the shoulder a little too hard.

"Blimey! Aberforth… why don't you just watch eh!" Lupin protested.

Aberforth watched as the small flame started flickering again and with each quiver it grew larger in size. Sharp howls of the werewolves were clearly audible now coming from the forbidden forest. Only seconds till they break cover and came out. Aberforth kept his gaze fixed at the light which flicked once more then without warning the entire northern section of the forest burst into flames! The flames spread in a thin straight line and within seconds engulfed the entire forest border. He watched in awe as the small orb that had given birth to the flames transform itself into a Phoenix. The flaming faux Phoenix rose from the edge of the forrest. Twenty meters... Thirty meters! Then with a piercing sound it disappeared.

Greyback and his followers kept howling just beyond the tree cover unable to enter the Hogwarts ground indefinitely.

Aberforth closed the curtains of his pub and looked towards his sole drinking partner for the night. Determination in his eyes. He offered… "What now?"

"Then we'll drive them out of the gate towards the forbidden forest while the order alters the magical wards"

"Then we.. " - Harry motioned towards Hermione and Ron - "Should have enough time to find these dark objects and destroy them!" He finished then looked at everyone locking his eyes with them in the room. There was silence.

He half expected someone to shout - This is stupid! Or just laugh at his overly ambitious plan but instead Dean said - Wicked! Every Griffindor and Ravenclaw looked at each other in agreement. Hermione proudly beamed at Harry who looked visibly relaxed.

"So mate"… Nevile began. "Are the rumors true!" He paused for a moment as Harry faced him. "That you defeated Bellatrix!" He finished.

Harry winced at the mention of her name clearly not comfortable with the topic. "Yup!" - Offered Ron.

"Blasted her right out of the window" He added then noticed Hermione kept clutching her left arm. Anger rose inside him as he remembered her screams, inside the Malfoy manner.

"That bitch deserved it" bellowed Ron then put his arm around her.

"She put a cruciatus on Hermione…That bloody bitch!". Everyone inside the room gasped at this revelation. Ginny came forward and pulled Hermione in a hug. There was silence again.

"Well at least the bitch got plastered… That can't have felt good!" Dean offered.

That eased the tension inside the room as everyone murmured in agreement.

"So it's true then?" Came the awed voice of Colin Creevey after sometime.

"You guys thrashed two dozen death eaters… Just the three of you! He shouted in amazement.

"And we flew a Dragon." Ron added proudly as he came at the center of the gathering and struck a dramatic pose!

"A Dragon!" Colin's voice was almost hysterical.

"Harry stunned the Dragon wandlessly.. " Luna stated calmly.

"Whaa…!" Colin seemed on the verge of crying in admiration towards Harry. On an ordinary day this may have embarrassed Harry but as he was about to kill or be killed by Lord Voldemort, this simply made him annoyed. Hermione's pained demeanor due ro mention of Bellatrix didn't help his mood either.

"Yes.. Yes.. And I can also fart rainbows!" He barked.

"Now can we get back to the plan… Please!" He added quickly but not before Colin was able to click a photo of him and declared - "Perfect!.

Harry wanted to break the bloody camera but Hermione's voice calmed him.

"I think we should go now to the Great hall. Harry, you should wear the clock till we get there." She spoke and gestured Harry to take off the clock from his shoulders where it was magically attached like an aurors cape. Harry who was momentarily blinded by the bright flash took a moment to rub his eyes.

"No.." he croaked.

"But Harry… we need to keep you safe till the…"

"NO!" He erupted suddenly.

"No more hiding behind the… Cloak!" He added then looked at Hermione defiantly. She wanted to argue but Harry's piercing gaze stopped her. Those emerald eyes were set ablaze tonight and she was at a loss for words.

"None of us are hiding tonight!" he declared then once again made eye contact with everyone.

"None of us are safe no matter where we hide or from how long. The moment we chose to fight.. Chose not to play by you-know-who's rules…. So we'll fight them head on… And this time I'll be in front".

Harry concluded, then waited for anyone to say otherwise. He looked at Hermione one last time. A final understanding passed between the two. Then with a swift motion he turned around and strode towards the door and pushed it open. He entered the dimly lit corridor, wand ready in his hand, ready to hex anyone who tried to harm his friends. In the all black robe and with the cloak of invisibility wrapped around his shoulders, Harry Potter looked like a ghost. "No more…" he muttered under his breath as he walked pass the empty storage rooms towards the fourth floor study hall.

"You heard the man!" Nevile declared

"Too the great hall… Follow me..!" Hermione shouted then with Ron by her side marched toward Harry's direction. The Dumbledore' army soon followed as the room of requirements vanished behind them.

"It's Potter!" cried Draco Malfoy as he came running towards the oncoming wave of death eaters.

"This better work Potter" he cursed under his breath when he saw who was leading the charge. Antonin Dolohov's eyes narrowed as he saw Draco approach.

"You!" He bellowed.

So... Another updateHow was itI don't have a beta as of now so any suggestion or correction is welcome. Please review!