Disclaimer: "The national revolution has broken out. The hall is surrounded" is an Adolf Hitler quote from the Beer Hall Putsch in 1923.
"I'm so expressive and I'm so obsessed with my ego and its message. Oh inform the press, invite the guests, I need the press tonight!" - Elton John, 1978
"Out – done!"
"No more NEWTs! No more NEWTs!"
"Ughhhhhh, I think my hand is going to fall off."
"We're FREE!"
The Marauders' joyous laughter bounced off the Castle walls as they barged through the door and spilled into the corridor. Several other happy students followed behind them as they went down to the Great Hall for supper.
"Whew, that was a long one, wasn't it?"
"Minnie's subject always is, mate."
"I'm just happy we got the human transfiguration question – piece of caldron cake!"
"Mmmmm yeah, I want some cake. Chocolate cake."
"Good idea, Moony."
"Hey, why is that we always get exam questions about our – ahem – extracurricular activities?"
"Luck of the draw, I suppose!"
Peter Pettigrew accidentally snorted in the middle of laughing and started to gasp for air; he felt someone hit his back and regained the ability to breathe. Sirius barked with joy before he took him under his arm and ruffled his hair with his knuckles.
"Oi, that hurt!" Peter panted once he wriggled out of his friend's grasp. He kept laughing as they entered the Great Hall, but stopped once he caught sight of Aeryn. She was sitting alone at the Gryffindor table with a large, gloomy frown on her face. The expression, however, was nothing new. It was the same one she'd been wearing for the past couple of weeks.
"What's wrong with her, Wormtail?" asked Remus.
"I dunno. I know she's been taking a lot of Calming Droughts lately, but she's been done with her exams for a day now. She should be celebrating."
"Hey there, grumpy," James teased when they sat down around her.
"Come on smile – we're done!" Sirius encouraged. He reached for a flask of firewhiskey beneath his robes. "Need some of this to feel better?"
"Padfoot!" Remus chided, "not out in the open, especially not tonight with everyone here!" His head moved towards the front of the room where the Hogwarts Staff and Board of Governors members sat. It was tradition for them to attend the last formal feast of the year, along with the Ministry's examiners.
But before Sirius could hide the contraband, Aeryn reached out and snatched the flask; Peter's eyes widened with shock as she tipped her head back, took several gulps and drew a sharp breath before handing it back. Sirius gave her a look of respect before tucking it away out of sight and Peter's mind went blank as he thought of something to do to comfort her. Nothing he did worked anymore. Ever since the last match of the season, she'd been impervious to all of his attempts.
"It's alright, dear," Peter began as the other Marauders fell into a boisterous side conversation. "I know you've been stressed, because of all the exams, but they're over now, ok? You don't have to be sad anymore – you're almost out of school. You can leave everything behind you."
His last sentence was for his girlfriend's benefit, but the sinking feeling in his stomach reminded him of the things he needed to leave behind as well. He hadn't meant to tell Luciana that Gemma was a Seer – it honestly slipped - and thought she'd forgotten the information since she didn't show a reaction to learning the news. But thankfully Luciana was gone and his secret was safe.
Or so he hoped. He hadn't heard from her, but that didn't mean she was completely out of his life. He knew she could call on him any moment and he would have to answer. What hisanswer would be, Peter didn't know – because he hated that she was so wicked, but still made him feel so alive in a way the Marauders never could. After living with them for a couple of months of their First Year, he found that he rather liked being the one who cozied up to others; James and Sirius attracted all the attention and Remus was smart, so Peter was popular by association. Life was easy. But with them, his need to follow and please was friendlier; with Luciana, and by extension Lord Voldemort, it was a twisted, selfish pleasure. He was following them to become a darker, more powerful Wizard.
But the past was the past, he reminded himself again. It was time to give up his flirtation with the Dark Arts; it was time to get back on the right track and join the Order with the rest of his mates. Just as Peter ran a nervous hand over his slicked back hair, Aeryn gulped and looked over at him with glassy eyes. He gave her a compassionate smile.
"Thanks, dear," she sniffled with a forced smile. Lily, Alice and Frank approached the table and Peter rubbed her arm affectionately and breathed a sigh of relief.
"'lo boys," Lily grinned. She sat down next to James and Alice and Frank took the seats across from them. "How'd the written portion go?"
"Smashing," answered Sirius. "I take it the practical half went well?"
"This one," Alice joked as she pointed at Frank, "almost forgot how to untransfigure the sea urchin back into a pillow."
"I was in a panic!" he exclaimed. "It took me a second to find the right spell."
"You couldn't have been worse than Lizzie," added Remus. "She wouldn't stop tapping her foot and grunting that she didn't know any of the answers and how it was so unfair."
Peter squeezed Aeryn's hand under the table. She looked over at him, a small, coy smile gracing her lips, and then down at her fork. Remus started offering large slices of bread to the rest of group and Aeryn gladly accepted a piece. Peter grinned. She was finally eating something.
As more students filled up the Great Hall, the atmosphere turned loud and chaotic; in their own little corner of the world, Frank started arguing with James about the best way to spot a unicorn. Peter went with the flow, bobbing his head and laughing when appropriate, but blinked in surprise when he noticed a black, fluid tendril creeping through the main doors. Frank and James's conversation turned into a recount of their illegal romps in the Forbidden Forest together, but Peter couldn't resist staring at the black cloud forming around the door. It was only several meters away from him.
"So then Prongs ran away -"
"I did not! You're remembering things wrong!"
The Ravenclaw table began to notice another small tendril slithering into the Hall, giving more weight to the distraction.
"What is that?"
"Help!" someone screamed when it suddenly crept up the doorframe. "Help!"
Dumbledore swiftly rose from his seat and moved to cast a protective spell, but stopped when another black swirl started to expand onto the ceiling. He paused, decided not to fight and slowly pocketed his wand. The entire Hall burst into screams and chatter. His friends started jabbering – "what the bloody hell are those things?", "where are they coming from?" – but the Peter's traitorous lips remained sealed. This was extremely Dark magic; it was a Death Eater attack, he could feel it in his bones.
"Everyone remain calm, please!" the Headmaster boomed and the Hall quieted some. The Staff, Board of Governors and Ministry officials were on their feet, but Peter noticed that one chair near the center of the table was empty. Professor Artro wasn't at her seat.
Of course, he thought. Of course, why didn't he suspect it before? She must be the ringleader!
The black mass quickly expanded across the entire ceiling of the Great Hall and dripped down onto the wall behind the Headmaster. A Board member immediately stood up and cast a counter curse towards the ceiling. The spell, however, bounced off the Dark magic and sparked and crackled in the air. Students gasped in horror and when the intermittent screaming finally died down, there was silence again.
Clack!
Clack!
Clack!
Clack!
Peter heard the sharp taps echo throughout the room.
Clack!
Clack!
Clack!
Clack!
"What's making that noise?" James hissed.
"Heels," Lily gulped.
"Are you sure?" whispered Remus.
"Oh yes," Alice nodded, "definitely heels. Mine sound like that."
Suddenly, the black cloud near the door separated, and as the tapping sounds grew louder, Professor Artro emerged from behind it with a large smirk plastered across her face, full of dramatic make up. She sashayed down the main aisle, stopped after a few meters and cast a quick Sonorus Charm to amplify her message as the main doors slammed shut and the cloud melted back together.
"The national revolution has broken out. The Hall is surrounded."
In a flash, the whole student body flew into pandemonium; Peter saw a few Ravenclaws exchange astute glances, some older Hufflepuffs rush over to the First Years to protect them and Aeryn pass out. He reached over and caught her just before she fell to the floor.
"You have our attention," said a Ministry examiner. "Now, what do you want?"
"I want," Professor Artro announced, "to be the next Headmistress of Hogwarts. And I am going to use my new influence to negotiate and change the Ministry to be more supportive of our Cause – all in the name of my leader, Lord Voldemort. It's our turn. To set the pure agenda for the Wizarding World."
She pushed up her silk black robes and revealed the Dark Mark tattoo on her forearm. Peter felt his blood run cold. This was it, the end game for the Hogwarts Death Eaters.
"The overthrow," Lily said, in shock. The Hall burst into whispers.
"Oh Merlin," said James, "the entire Board of Governors is here – she's going to force them to do it! Why didn't we see this coming?"
"Lily warned Dumbledore," Remus reminded him.
"Which means he'll have a plan," Sirius reassured.
"I hope so," Peter squeaked. He wrung his hands.
"And how are you going to accomplish this goal of yours? By force?" Evanora Bones, the leader of the Board of Governors, challenged. She stood up and raised her wand towards Professor Artro.
"Ah, ah, ah." Professor Stotch stood up and aimed his own wand at Bones' head. Several people gasped. "I wouldn't do that. I would sit back down and remain quiet."
Peter twitched violently. He was absolutely terrified; more of the organization was revealing itself and he didn't want to be caught in their mayhem. He didn't even notice Aeryn coming to.
"There are only two of you," Professor McGonagall mused. "Hardly enough to be giving orders."
"There are more," taunted Professor Stotch. "I made sure of that."
"He's quite the little helper," Professor Artro grinned.
Little helper … the affectionate nickname Luciana had given him as well. Then it all started to make sense to Peter; the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor's strategic plan must have been taking over the school and her protégé was the standing Herbology Professor. Was she also mentoring Luciana to help her form her own plan?
"Well, where are they?" a Ministry official asked. After a few moments of silence, Rabastan stood up from the Slytherin table and pointed his wand at the Headmaster.
"He - he's," stuttered Remus, "a Death Eater!"
"Yes," Sirius muttered, "about that …"
"Lestrange, sit," Professor Stotch hissed. "That is an order!" Rabastan took his seat with a grimace.
"You – you knew, didn't you?"
"Look, mate, calm down -"
"When were you going to tell me this? How could you, she's in danger now -"
"Oi!" James finally interjected. "Stop it! There's a revolution going on right now – here, inside Hogwarts!"
"Now you know there are more. I have trained a network of Death Eater students here in this room," Professor Stotch revealed. "They would be willing give up their lives to make sure this plan succeeds."
"A youth organization," Lily remarked. "If you can't apparate your means of force into the Castle, then why not convert the students already within its walls?"
"They are children," a Board member said. "They are no match for adults."
"Careful," Professor Artro challenged. "You do not know who has joined our ranks. So what are you to do? Open fire on a crowd of innocent students? I think not."
"She's bluffing," Sirius said through his teeth.
"How do you know that?" Peter whispered hoarsely. His thoughts whirred; he knew that Lestrange and Snape were already Death Eaters, but he didn't know how many others were out there.
"Think about it. The Death Eaters are well known, but not many students would actually be worthy of the Mark. There are probably a handful of 'em, but that's why Lestrange had to sit down. They have to remain hidden to seem stronger."
"She's got them in a bind, even if she is at the disadvantage," Remus lamented.
"But it's not sustainable," Lily said quietly. Before the Muggleborn could explain any further, Professor Artro's heels clacked down the aisle and the Hall immediately fell silent. The Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor grandstanded all the way to the adults' table and levitated onto the platform. She strode over to Stotch and kissed him passionately.
"I knew it," Aeryn muttered. Professor Artro patted her protégé's cheek and Peter immediately got flashbacks of his meetings with Luciana. He closed his eyes and remembered the way her touch scorched his skin.
"Sign them," Professor Artro announced after she had placed the necessary documents in front of the Board members.
When every single member silently refused, her temper flared.
"Sign them! Or I will curse you!"
"Now, now, Sabine," said Dumbledore. "No need to shout – they will do as you ask."
"Are you mad?" Professor Slughorn cried.
"They shall do it. We have no other choice."
The Board officials grumbled and griped, but succumbed to Professor Artro's pressure. Once they set their quills onto the table to signal their completion, the dictator cackled with glee as she swooped them up in her hands. She raised her arms over her head, yelled triumphantly, and once her celebration was over, strutted towards the podium.
"Good evening, students," she purred. "Now, all of you shall remain here until I come back from the Ministry. I have some politicking to do."
Professor Artro clapped her hands together and tried to apparate, but remained still.
"What?" she cried after failing again. "I'm Headmistress, I should be able to apparate out without reversing the spell!"
"Sabine?" Dumbledore interrupted.
"Quiet, old fool!" Professor Stotch lashed out.
"No," she said with a wave of her hand. "I want to hear what he has to say."
"In order to negotiate with the Ministry, you must lower your defenses," the former Headmaster remarked. "It seems you cannot leave otherwise. But why keep everyone here? You have what you want. Let the innocent go."
"I will not let any of you go," she growled. "I'm not that stupid. You're my leverage! They'll have to come to the table and discuss changing the agenda if I have you trapped here." The new Headmistress turned back to Loki. "The old man is right, however. It seems I must go outside the wall to apparate out, but you are to raise them as soon as I shut that door."
"The news hasn't broke yet, it will be safe," Profesor Stotch grinned. "Go, my love. Be swift."
Artro reached out her wand and yelled the counter curse; the black veins slowly opened just enough to let her slip out of the Hall. She slunk towards the main doors and let out a celebratory yell as she placed her hands on the old wood. Yet, when she opened the doors, she did not see the empty Entrance Hall that she was expecting. Ten Aurors waited outside, ready to pounce. One of them quickly cast a spell to force a wedge into the black mass, keeping the entrance open.
"Sabine Artro," Alastor Moody growled. "You are under arrest for high treason."
The Headmistress tumbled backwards in surprise, but immediately cast several dark spells. Most of the students collapsed to the floor under their seats for safety as the Aurors fought against her.
"We have to do something!" Sirius barked. Peter's breath hitched and he tried to melt into the Gryffindor table. He didn't want to do anything.
"I'm going to take the opportunity to curse Lestrange," said Remus. He moved to get up, but James grabbed onto his shoulder.
"Don't be stupid!"
"We should at least try and help the students," Frank added.
"We should stay hidden," Lily said softly.
"What?" Alice asked. "I can't believe you right now -"
"They knew this was coming. There is a plan, we just can't see it," Lily clarified. "If we try and help without knowing what it is, we could sabotage it on accident."
"Well – oof – fine! We'll stay hidden."
Spells bounced off walls, but there was no sign of any of the student Death Eaters as Evanora Bones overpowered Professor Stotch and threw him to the ground. Artro threw spell after spell at Moody, but suddenly tripped over another Auror's jinx. Moody immediately cast a spell to bind her hands behind her back and she screamed in defeat as the others stopped fighting. Peter peaked his head up to see what was going on.
"Off to Azkaban with you!"
"I have the right to a fair trial!"
"And I reckon you're going to lose. In fact, I will make it my personal mission to see you behind bars. Now lets go, traitor."
Artro continued to kick and scream as a group of Aurors escorted her out of the Hall; Moody threw once last glance at Dumbledore, gave him a friendly salute and levitated Stotch's unconscious body out the door. Peter exhaled the breath he didn't know he'd been holding and watched the rest of the Hall slowly get up and sit back down at their tables.
"Did – did that just happen?" Aeryn finally said. "I must be dreaming."
"You're not dreaming, love," Sirius grumbled. "That really happened."
"I honestly thought she was going to take over," James admitted. "Why couldn't she apparate out of here?"
"I suppose the Castle knew she was attempting a forced overthrow," Alice shrugged. "It didn't recognize her as the true leader of the school, so it wouldn't let her have the Headmaster powers."
"Dumbledore must have known that would happen. So he could let certain – erm – friendly Aurors know where to be at the right place and time to arrest her," Remus remarked. "You're right Lily, her plan was not sustainable in the long run. She only had power in the vacuum she created. Once it broke, she collapsed."
"She was just too confident," the Head Girl said with a shrug as she subconsciously moved her food around her plate. "She thought she had enough strength and support to get her way, but her plan was too weak – there were too many risks."
As Dumbledore rose to the podium and began to reassure the students that everything was alright, Peter tuned out completely; he was still so shocked. As he turned to towards Aeryn, he reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, and gulped as he thanked his lucky stars that he had decided to pledge his allegiance back to the right side of the War.
Author's Note: I think I will always want to tweak this chapter to make it better, but hey, there's my Great Hall Putsch for ya :D