Ginny couldn't help but smile as she made her way to the DA meeting that night. Things were going well, really well. The past week, which Seamus had so snarkily named "Friendship Week," had almost completely broken down house barriers. Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws alike were causing mayhem for Filch, the Carrows, and the Slytherins. Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Bubble Machines were set up in nearly every hallway, modified to attack Slytherin passersby with a bubble barrage. Fanged Frisbees had been charmed to fly through the halls. The Carrows had received Nose-Biting Teacups at nearly every meal, much to their displeasure. The fifth-year DA members had been instructed to release Weather-In-a-Bottle in the Carrows' classrooms, which they so did with gusto. And, as if scared by their actions, Snape had spent most of the week locked away in his office. Though Ginny knew it would be naive to assume that he was scared of them, perhaps they had had some effect on him. It seemed as if everything was right with the world. The Carrows were suffering, the DA was growing stronger, and house partnerships were seemingly successful.
Some pairs had hit it off immediately, like fourth-years Jimmy Peakes and Owen Cauldwell, who were practically inseparable within a couple of days. They reminded Ginny of the twins with their cheeky grins and mischievous eyes. The display they pulled off with the Dungbombs on Monday in the second-floor boy's bathroom would've made Fred and George weep with pride.
Romilda Vane and Magdalene Bernard were another successful pairing. Magdalene's cool, level-headedness balanced out Romilda's bold, vivacious nature. They truly were two halves of a whole, and their minds worked brilliantly together. All of Romilda's apprehension about the Unbreakable Vow had seemingly vanished, for she and Magdalene had gone to Neville on Tuesday and asked to be bonded.
There were some pairings that weren't as strong as Neville and Ginny would've liked. Marcus Fenwick moaned to Ginny and Terry about how "thick'' and "simple-minded" Oliver Rivers was at dinner one night. Likewise, the seventh year Hufflepuff complained to Susan and Ernie in Charms class about the Ravenclaw's "stuck-up attitude" and his "lack of the concept of fun."
Lavender and Sally-Anne Perks were another pair that didn't quite mesh. Sally-Anne sneered at Lavender's "loopy" fascination with Divination while Lavender was irked at Sally-Anne's blunt personality. Ginny had a hunch, however, that the two girls were more alike than they realized. After her breakup with Ron, Lavender became a big fan of preaching about feminism to anyone who would listen. And Sally-Anne was just about the perfect example of an "outspoken woman," or so Megan had told Ginny. Ginny and Neville were quickly growing fond of their Hufflepuff counterparts. Megan Jones was kind with a wicked competitive streak that reminded Ginny of Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet and Neville had told her brightly one morning that Ernie Macmillan was "actually a pretty good bloke."
Things were changing at Hogwarts and, for once, it was going their way. It was nice to see Hufflepuffs becoming more daring, Ravenclaws more caring, Gryffindors more perceptive. Breakfast that morning had been a flurry of different colored ties at the three tables. Terry and Morag plopped themselves down at the Gryffindor table to sit with Seamus and Emilia while Demelza and Milo joined Hannah and Mick at one of the Hufflepuff benches. Savannah Spinnet and Maxine O'Flaherty giggled at an inside joke as they buttered their toast while Lydia Cooden and Padma Patil poured over the Daily Prophet together. The Carrows glared down at the disorder from their place at the staff table and continuously shot Snape confused glances. The Headmaster either hadn't noticed the mixed up tables or chose to ignore it. He stared into space, completely unaware of the Carrows' distress. Alecto's eyes found Ginny and they narrowed. Ginny had simply responded with a cheeky smile and raised her goblet of pumpkin juice in the air.
When Ginny entered the Room of Requirement for the meeting that night, she was surprised to see everyone crammed in a small huddle in the center of the room instead of their usual spread out positions sitting on the floor and leaning against the walls. Even Romilda, who wouldn't for the life of her follow the crowds because she was "too independent for that blarney," was peering over Andrew Kirke's shoulder with rapt attention as she whispered furiously in Magdalene's ear.
"What's going on here?" Ginny asked, bemused as she studied her surroundings. Instead of the room being divided into its usual three groupings by house, members of all houses were scattered randomly around the room. She gently pushed her way through the crowd to get a look at what was the center of attention.
"Give us a minute." An excited Seamus was crouched next to a huge wooden wireless radio that had been provided by the Room of Requirement, fiddling with its knobs. Jack Sloper was hunched over next to him and Anthony Goldstein knelt on his other side.
"A radio?" Ginny said in surprise as she studied the item. "Can I ask what you're doing?" She raised an eyebrow, taking in the excited faces surrounding her, and decided that she was definitely missing something.
Jack looked up and shook his head sadly. "Oh, Ginny. I thought that you of all people would know," he said in a fake patronizing voice. Ginny snorted and gave him a light shove, causing him to topple over and sprawl out next to the radio. "Ouch! Dammit, Weasley!"
"Bugger off, Sloper. What's going on?"
"I'm getting something here," Anthony announced loudly, interrupting the interrogation. His ear was pressed snug against the radio, causing his glasses to go slightly lopsided on his face. After twiddling with one last knob, he muttered, "Gideon."
Ginny's surprise at hearing her dead uncle's name was short-lived, replaced with wonder as the radio crackled and came to life. A cheer rose up from the crowd as people craned their necks to listen. Ginny found herself joining in on the excitement, though she didn't know why. She turned to Neville in confusion and he held up a finger, indicating for her to wait. Luna pulled her to her side, grinning happily. A muffled voice rose up from the radio.
"...hard for people to tune in but we appreciate the patience. Welcome back to another episode of Potterwatch, your new favorite news source. We provide a candidly correct take on the political climate and, most importantly, all things Harry Potter."
"No way." A smile crept onto Ginny's face at the introduction. Several other faces in the crowd also lit up with understanding.
"Oh, yes." Seamus's eyes glittered playfully. "Neat, huh?"
"Very."
"I'm your host, River. Joining me tonight are some special guests that I'm sure you'll all enjoy."
"Wait, is that Lee?" Ginny asked suddenly, recognizing the cheeky tone of voice almost immediately. She listened closely, nearly certain that it was the twins' friend talking on the radio.
"Blimey!" Demelza grinned, looking up from her spot in between Ritchie and Hannah. "It really is Lee, isn't it?"
"But before that, we've got some reports on deaths not mentioned by any other news source. Former Auror and Hogwarts professor Alastor Moody's body has just been recovered by the Order of the Phoenix-"
Ginny gasped, gripping Luna's arm. Moody's death hadn't crossed her mind in months but the reminder of his death suddenly hit her like a ton of bricks. Bill and Lupin had been unable to recover Moody's body so there was never a proper funeral like he deserved to have.
"...found to have been missing his famous magic eye. His close friends and companions are relieved to have retrieved the body. In other news, Daven Jones has been found dead in his Inner London home. His wife, Hestia Jones, is nowhere to be found and is presumably on the run with her sister, the famous Gwenog Jones." At that, Megan let out a little moan as she collapsed into Sally-Anne, who held up her friend by wrapping a tight arm around her waist. Ginny's eyes drooped in sorrow as she stared at Megan, who had only just told her the other day about the status of her aunts and uncle. "We wish the Jones sisters safe travels and hope they find refuge quickly. A Muggle family of four was found dead last week in Perth. Cause of death is unknown, but the Dark Mark was found hanging over their house. Now if you'll please join us in a minute of silence to honor these victims of war…"
The Room of Requirement immediately went silent as everyone's heads immediately dropped. Ginny saw some people take their neighbor's hand while others simply closed their eyes. She took Luna's hand and squeezed it. Her friend, eyes squeezed shut, returned the gesture.
"...thank you. Let us never forget these victims. It's their legacy we're looking to protect. Now, onto other news. Muggles in the Wizarding World are in immense danger thanks to the oppressive Ministry of Magic, which is infested with corrupt Death Eaters. Our usual correspondent for this segment, Royal, was sadly unable to be here tonight. But no need to fret, we've found him a couple of temporary replacements perfectly equipped for the job. Care to introduce yourselves, chaps?"
"Thanks, River. Hello listeners, the name's Rebel and it's an honor to be here."
"Bill!" Ginny suddenly shrieked, nearly falling over in shock when she heard the voice of "Rebel". She pointed at the radio and looked around the room wildly. "That's my brother! It's Bill!"
"Wow, what an introduction! Wotcher, folks. Call me Rocket. These times are incredibly tough for Muggleborns. The Ministry's Muggleborn Registration Commission has been set up to strip witches and wizards of their dignity, their rights, and their wands. Their philosophy is as follows: Muggleborns have somehow "stolen" magic and must be forced to go on trial to prove their innocence. It's inhumane and altogether a great sizzling pile of dragon bogies."
Luna tugged on Ginny's sleeve and smiled at her with twinkling eyes. "Tonks." Several other people snickered at the "dragon bogies" comment.
Ginny continued to listen to "Rocket" and nodded at Luna, a smile spreading across her lips as she envisioned the pink-haired witch. The chipper and profane voice of Tonks was so easily distinguishable.
"A large number of safe houses have been set up in the past six months as a response to the Ministry's new laws," Bill continued. "The Order of the Phoenix is working hard to transport Muggleborns around this network of safe houses, and they've had marvelous success so far. As of tonight, all people currently housed in the Southwark safehouse are being transported to a new location, more details to come when we learn more." A couple of people gasped, for several DA members had family members traveling around London safe houses. Maxine O'Flaherty swayed on her feet slightly, her face pale and wan. Terry Boot clenched Michael's hand so tightly that his knuckles were white. Wayne Hopkins ran a hand down the side of his face, exhaling shakily.
"To slightly alter the famous words of Albus Dumbledore, help is always nearby to those in need," Tonks chimed in optimistically. "One need only ask. There are a lot of enemies out there, but there are also allies as well."
"So to everybody out there on the run, please know that the Order of the Phoenix is fighting for you. We stand with you and we will protect you," Bill said confidently.
"Bill isn't the one who got married this summer, is he, Gin?" Romilda asked innocently as she tossed her hair over one shoulder. "Because that was bloody sexy as hell."
"Romilda," Magdalene groaned, facepalming. Ginny snickered and shrugged helplessly at Romilda, causing the younger girl to huff and stick out her bottom lip.
"A huge thank you to Rocket and Rebel for filling in for Royal this week, you two were brilliant. We hope to have you on Potterwatch again soon." Lee said, applauding them over the radio. Several other people whooped in the background of the studio and Ginny briefly wondered who else was there. For oftentimes wherever Lee Jordan was, the twins wouldn't be far behind.
"Of course, thanks for having us, River." Bill responded smoothly at the same time Tonks called out, "Where's my paycheck, then?" Several people giggled at her last comment.
"Now it's time for the crowd favorite segment of our show, Pals of Potter! Joining us tonight are three of Harry Potter's old friends. Please give a warm welcome to Rodent, Rooster, and Romeo!"
Dumbledore's Army leaned in towards the radio, eager to learn who the new guests were.
"Oi! We've discussed this, River! I never agreed on being called Rodent, I want to be called Rapier!"
"Shove a sock in it, Rodent, no need to mope. I think the name suits you very well. And I think your girlfriend would agree, too."
There was a moment of silence before the room suddenly burst into laughter, for the bickering was all-too-familiar for some of the older students. It was as if the owners of the voices had never left Hogwarts.
"The twins?" Asked Michael, looking to Ginny for the answer with a raised eyebrow.
"The twins." She confirmed, snickering as she and Neville made eye contact.
"Shut up, Rooster. At least I'm not named after a bloody bird."
"Better than being named after vermin, you numpty."
"I said I wanted to be called Rapier! Y'know? Like a sword?"
"Which one is which?" Andrew Kirke asked, screwing his eyes shut as he tried distinguishing between the two voices.
"Fred is Rodent, obviously."
"Nah, I think George is Rodent."
"You're daft, it's obviously Fred."
"It's Fred." Ginny decided after listening to the twins bicker on the radio for a few moments longer. "He's always been the whiny one.
"Pipe down you lot," a new voice scolded, causing the twins to fall silent. "We're on a fairly tight schedule, you know."
Lavender and Parvati gasped in unison and looked at each other with excited grins. "Oliver Wood!"
"How the hell did you know that?" Seamus scoffed, staring suspiciously up at them from his spot on the floor.
"Oh, not this again," Padma groaned, shooting Lavender and her sister a warning glance.
"We were both in love with him in the third year," Parvati interrupted her twin excitedly, clasping Lavender's hand tightly in her own.
"Who wasn't?" Emilia Insley muttered, rubbing the back of her head.
"I'd recognize that voice anywhere." Lavender sighed, twirling a blonde curl around her finger. Mick McManus looked up at her comment and scowled slightly.
"Sorry Romeooooo," the twins drawled on the radio, making rather unattractive smacking noises that were supposed to sound like kisses.
"Just start the damn segment," Oliver moaned and Ginny could picture him facepalming at that moment as Fred and George leered at him from either side.
"Have it your way, Romeo. Harry Potter has become quite the slippery bugger, hasn't he, Rooster?"
"Indubitably, Rodent."
"RAPIER!"
"Oi, pipe down! By now, dear listeners, you've all heard the news about Harry Potter's successful break-in at the Ministry eight short weeks ago."
"Heard he stole that gaudy necklace right off of Umbridge's thick neck," Fred chortled.
"Indeed he did. He came, he saw, he stole, and then he vanished. People may have forgotten about this but we at Potterwatch certainly haven't. So where is our Chosen One now? Care to comment, Romeo?"
"The truth is, Potter could be anywhere right now," Oliver said as the twins fell silent. "He's a smart one, that Potter. Some of our sources have claimed to have sighted him and his companions around London in mid-September. He hasn't been sighted since, but that doesn't mean he's been static."
"That's right!" Fred chimed in, and Ginny could hear Oliver grumbling about being interrupted in the background. "Our hero, Mister Potter, is probably in the midst of planning the assassination of Baldymort as we speak!"
"I don't know about taking down the Ministry," Lee chuckled as Bill chided Fred in the background. Tonks, who had been caught off-guard by Fred's nickname, sounded as if she was choking on water. "Then again, if anyone could do it, it would be Potter. Thank you, Romeo, Rapier, and Rooster! We will certainly be hearing from you again."
"A pleasure," Oliver said as the twins launched into a musical rendition of the poem Ginny wrote for Harry in her first year. She scowled down at the radio as she recognized the lyrics. Demelza and Emilia, who were the co-writers of said poem, snickered to themselves.
"And finally we would like to remind you that just ten days ago marked the 16th anniversary of the death of Lily and James Potter," came Lee's suddenly serious voice. The giggles died down immediately. Ginny looked down at her feet, immediately forgetting her embarrassment. Beside her, Luna put a light hand on her shoulder. The excited bustle from the DA had dimmed slightly at the news and people bowed their heads in respect.
"The Potters died so their son could live, some truly heroic actions. Harry Potter is our hero, our beacon of light, and the head of our rebellion. Without his parents' bravery, he wouldn't be here today. And we're truly grateful he is. And with that, this episode of Potterwatch has come to a close. We hope you'll tune in to our next episode which is scheduled for the same time in two weeks, the password is Lily. Stay safe and long live Harry Potter!" The members of Pottermore called out their separate goodbyes and then the radio went silent.
The room was silent as people stared at the radio in wonder. Suddenly, Ritchie Coote began to clap. The sixth years joined him, then the fifth years. Soon, the entire room was thundering with applause as people whooped and cheered for the broadcast.
"How'd you figure this out?" Ginny asked, eyes shining as people chattered excitedly around her.
"Jack's cousin works at the Wizarding Wireless Network station in Hogsmeade." Anthony smiled, patting Jack on the shoulder as the two of them pushed themselves up off the ground.
"The only decent bloke who works there, trust me. Sent me a letter about it, giving us the new password for this episode. Cool, huh?" Jack responded, chest puffing up in pride.
"Awesome!" Jimmy Peakes cheered excitedly.
"Those older Gryffindors sure are geniuses," Padma shook her head fondly.
"It sounds like it's a scheduled show," Ernie cut in, nodding at the radio. "And we have the password for next week."
"That really was brilliant," Neville beamed as he came to stand in between Ginny and Luna.
Ginny sighed in content. Hearing her brothers' voices had been a pleasant, unexpected shock. Letters from her family had been scarce and bland due to the Ministry's watch over the Weasley family as well as the Hogwarts system of searching through students' mail. Her thoughts suddenly drifted to Harry. Harry, who she had tried and failed to block from her mind. She had nearly forgotten about his escapade at the Ministry until the twins had brought it up on Potterwatch. She faltered as she recalled what Fred had said, Harry had stolen Umbridge's necklace. That was a detail that the Prophet had tactfully left out of the editorial. Why had he taken it? Was it part of his mission?
As Ginny thought about Harry's raid, a thought suddenly crossed her mind. A thought that made her exhale a quick gasp, causing her friends to look at her questioningly. A thought that turned into an idea. An idea that involved the Sword of Gryffindor.