Chapter 13 The Reorganization of Hogwarts
Harry was sitting across from Sirius, Miranda, and Sarlan. The four of them had been going over the records of the past two years of the fight. The records showed a terrible story. They were getting nowhere, infact they were losing ground. Slowly Voldemort was overcoming them. He watched them all as the three closed the last of the files.
"Okay Harry, it's bad, but I know you, you have a plan in mind, and you did when we first started this. Go ahead, what is it?" Miranda asked him, Harry tried not to glare, how had she known? He shrugged it off and began to outline his plan, it was risky, but the resistance was weakening, it needed to rise again.
***
"So Voldemort wants the skulls does he?" Dumbledore said, looking rather amused for some odd reason.
"Yes." Harry replied, he was seated in an armchair in Dumbledore's office. Also in the room was Snape, McGonagal and Miranda.
"And here I thought he was intelligent." Miranda said with an un-lady-like snort.
"If he gets those skulls he could kill everything!" This from a slightly horrified Snape.
"Ah but does he have anyone on his side who can get near them?" Dumbledore mused thoughtfully.
"Not likely, the skulls seem to favor those who are loyal to the rest of humanity, the Order agents whom I've tested all have higher than average results. Voldemort is trying to destroy most of humanity, he can't use them." Harry said, Snape relaxed a bit.
"Well there's nothing to worry about then." He said, relieved.
"On the contrary there is." Harry replied, he explained about the odd splotch of gold slowly coming into being on the skull's forehead, and how he was drawn to it, but couldn't touch it. "It may be nothing, but I doubt it, and I don't think it has anything to do with Voldemort."
"You're the researcher, what do you think would get it to show its purpose?" Miranda asked him. Harry thought hard, but nothing came to mind, he shrugged helplessly.
"I have no idea."
"Well keep us informed about it will you?" Dumbledore asked Harry nodded and left the room. Once the door shut Albus turned to Miranda. "Okay, I know you didn't come here just to chat. What's going on?" He asked her, Miranda shrugged her long blond hair back over one shoulder and leaned forward, her crystal-like, aqua, purple rimmed, eyes becoming deadly serious.
"Voldemort has been gathering more and more creatures and people to him. The muggles are frantic to stop him; right now there's been a meeting of all the world's governments to decide what to do. They're so scared they're actually cooperating! We would have given them Satan's base, but he's made it unplotable on a map and there's more muggle repelling enchantments on it that Hogwarts has. Most of the 1st and 2nd world countries have been trying to ferret out the muggle terrorist organizations in their countries. We do know that Satan's being thorough and well organized. And that Voldemort is really behind it, but he can't be everywhere. Satan's just his right-hand-man. There's one group of terrorists in every country, each has a leader, those leaders report directly to death eaters, hand-chosen by Voldemort. Satan gathers their reports and relays order between the terrorists and Voldemort. All of the terrorist groups think they're fighting for the person who's going to conquer the world. He gives them bits and pieces of his views, and promises them survival by joining him.
But the wizarding world isn't that easy. He needs people to be even more afraid and disorganized than they are now. And what has been a center for organization? Rebellion against him? What's been turning out witches and wizards who fight him? What SCHOOL has been a thorn in his side since he first began? HOGWARTS! He'll attack Albus, and soon, he needs Hogwarts and everyone in it out of his way." She sat back a little to watch their reactions.
"We knew he would attack." McGonagal said.
"I mean he needs to dispose of you soon." Miranda said firmly. Albus sighed and nodded he had known it would come to this.
"The students helped to fight him two years ago, but its different now. It's not just Hogwarts, its everyone. Albus.Sirius and I are going to change the Order of the Phoenix...and all wizarding society.drastically. And we need your help, we need the Hogwarts students." Albus looked up and met her eyes. He trusted both her and Sirius with his life, and they clearly had a plan brewing.
"Okay, what did you have in mind?"
***
Janice, Pearl, Stilgar, and the rest of the third year students, seventy- two in all, entered the great hall. The doors clanged shut behind them, the confused students looked around, they had been told to report here, what was going on. Then twelve death eaters stepped out of the shadows.
Terrified the students bunched together. The death eaters formed a loose circle around them. Many of the students slowly drew their wands.
"Put those away." Snarled one death eater, who appeared to be the leader.
"How did you get in here?" Janice asked in a shaky voice.
"We just thought we'd drop by for a visit.attack!" Stunning spells leaped form their wands, almost mechanically the students put up flimsy shields, but together it was enough, and no one was stunned.
"Think that'll save you huh? Weaklings!" The death eaters laughed.
"Don't let them scare you, everyone in the outer circle keep your shields up, everyone else, stunning.expeliarmus.hexes." Pearl said quickly to the others. The formation was one they'd been taught by some older students, a circle of shields, others firing spells through the shields outward. It worked only with the half shield, which created a circular shield in front of the person. Spells could only penetrate it one way.
The death eaters fired stunning spells, the shields held, the students fought back, some were to scared, one girl started to scream, another to cry. After ten minutes all were stunned. Then the death eaters suddenly vanished. The stunning spells were removed. The third years stood up shakily.
"Well done, you fought back, good work." They all looked towards the door, there stood the professors.
"This, students, was a test of how you would perform under an attack. You did well, it could have been better but you did well. Now you've got a half hour until lunch, how about you go back to your dormitories?" The headmaster suggested. The confused students left.
***
After two weeks everyone got used to it, twice a week students were called down to the great hall in groups. After the first time it was no longer by year, the first and second years were never called down, just third and above. Harry fought with the rest, but he knew the overall plan, the others didn't. Finally one evening Dumbledore stood to speak.
"Students I'm sure you've all noticed some changes happening. And now it's about to change even more. Tomorrow morning when you wake up the school will have been expanded; a new wing is being built on the grounds. We will call it the Lower School. The first, and second, years dormitories and classes will be held in this building, they will still be organized by house. For the rest of you the changes will be more drastic." He waited for the whispers to subside.
"For all students third year and above, forget whatever house you're in. There will be no house cup this year, and Quidditch is over. You will be sorted in groups, we'll call them armies, and each will have an animal. Since there are 532 of you there will be 28 armies, with 19 people in each. Each army will have a commander for it, a seventh year. You will live in the same dorm with your army, eat with your army, and fight with your army. Classes will still be by year. Prefects, please turn in your badges." He smiled out over the confused, shocked, and excited mass of students. "Everything will become clearer tomorrow, there will be no classes tomorrow while we all adjust to the change. Now lets eat!"
"Okayyy, I didn't really understand that at all." Ron said in confusion.
"We're being divided into teams, only they're called armies. 28 teams, 19 per team, of all ages, house doesn't matter. Will do everything with our army except have classes. 1st through 3rd years are going to another building, they'll live there." Harry explained shortly, Ron still didn't seem to get it.
"Oh I hope we're all in the same army." Hermione said with worry.
Harry personally thought that this was an excellent idea. They'd learn how to fight, and create stronger friendships and loyalties, and they'd be ready to fight. He knew what the long range goal was. Slowly take over the world, because if they didn't, Voldemort would. Only they would spread peace, and they would keep the peace. Eventually Voldemort would have no where to go, the whole world would be peaceful, and they would all be strong and ready to fight him. It would take years, but he had no doubt it would work.
Yesterday he'd decided to put aside the skulls, he could learn no more from them, and he was busy enough without them. Now he concentrated his spare time on the potion he was brewing to revive those poor comatose people at Saint Mungo's.
** The next morning was utter confusion everyone ate breakfast, then the rest of the school stayed in the great hall while the 1st through 2nd years went over to the other building. They were kept in their houses, the only changes would be that they would have very little or no contact with the rest of the school, they even ate in the other building. And they had their own set of teachers.
The remaining staff of the Upper School quieted the excited students, then Dumbledore stood with a long roll of parchment.
"I will now announce the armies, when you hear your name come up to the table, one of the professors will lead you to your new dormitory with the rest of your army. Now, Bat army, Commander: Dean Thomas." Dean gaped then walked up, Dumbledore called off the other eighteen, and Professor Sinastra led them away.
Next came the Horse army which Ira was in command of, then Draco got command of the Barracuda army, and then the Dog army, Hermione was put in charge of the Squirrel army, she led her eighteen away, which included Ginny.
Harry got command of the Wolf army, Professor Snape led them to their new rooms. There was one long rectangular room, which was divided in half by a silver curtain. One side for the girls, one for the boys, each side had two bathrooms. The beds were small and line dup end to end along both walls, and each had gray curtains around it. Each person had two shelves attached to the board at the foot of the bed and a small stand attached to the right side of the bed. Their trunks went under the bed.
Harry, the commander, had his own small triangular room with a small bathroom off of it. In it was a bed, a small filing cabinet next to a desk that had a chair at it. There was another chair on the other side of the room. A single window let in light and there were three brackets for torches, two above the desk, one above the bed, and two in the bathroom. On the desk sat a folder with instructions, Harry looked it over very quickly, he'd written most of it so he knew it.
The first thing Harry did was go and see his army, they were all choosing beds, he waited for them to be finished then called for their attention.
"Okay team, first thing will be to get all your things down here. Since there isn't much room please keep your things neat and organized. The people who make a mess can sweep, wash windows, dust, and clean the bathrooms since there's an inspection every Sunday by a teacher, and whenever else I think it looks too messy." There were a few groans.
"Secondly if anyone ever sees Mrs. Norris in here feel free to dye her fur however you want and we'll deliver her to Filch's office." This last was greeted with a moment of silence then laughter. Harry smiled and told them to go get their stuff, he'd shrunk his own and brought it with him.
Harry was sitting across from Sirius, Miranda, and Sarlan. The four of them had been going over the records of the past two years of the fight. The records showed a terrible story. They were getting nowhere, infact they were losing ground. Slowly Voldemort was overcoming them. He watched them all as the three closed the last of the files.
"Okay Harry, it's bad, but I know you, you have a plan in mind, and you did when we first started this. Go ahead, what is it?" Miranda asked him, Harry tried not to glare, how had she known? He shrugged it off and began to outline his plan, it was risky, but the resistance was weakening, it needed to rise again.
***
"So Voldemort wants the skulls does he?" Dumbledore said, looking rather amused for some odd reason.
"Yes." Harry replied, he was seated in an armchair in Dumbledore's office. Also in the room was Snape, McGonagal and Miranda.
"And here I thought he was intelligent." Miranda said with an un-lady-like snort.
"If he gets those skulls he could kill everything!" This from a slightly horrified Snape.
"Ah but does he have anyone on his side who can get near them?" Dumbledore mused thoughtfully.
"Not likely, the skulls seem to favor those who are loyal to the rest of humanity, the Order agents whom I've tested all have higher than average results. Voldemort is trying to destroy most of humanity, he can't use them." Harry said, Snape relaxed a bit.
"Well there's nothing to worry about then." He said, relieved.
"On the contrary there is." Harry replied, he explained about the odd splotch of gold slowly coming into being on the skull's forehead, and how he was drawn to it, but couldn't touch it. "It may be nothing, but I doubt it, and I don't think it has anything to do with Voldemort."
"You're the researcher, what do you think would get it to show its purpose?" Miranda asked him. Harry thought hard, but nothing came to mind, he shrugged helplessly.
"I have no idea."
"Well keep us informed about it will you?" Dumbledore asked Harry nodded and left the room. Once the door shut Albus turned to Miranda. "Okay, I know you didn't come here just to chat. What's going on?" He asked her, Miranda shrugged her long blond hair back over one shoulder and leaned forward, her crystal-like, aqua, purple rimmed, eyes becoming deadly serious.
"Voldemort has been gathering more and more creatures and people to him. The muggles are frantic to stop him; right now there's been a meeting of all the world's governments to decide what to do. They're so scared they're actually cooperating! We would have given them Satan's base, but he's made it unplotable on a map and there's more muggle repelling enchantments on it that Hogwarts has. Most of the 1st and 2nd world countries have been trying to ferret out the muggle terrorist organizations in their countries. We do know that Satan's being thorough and well organized. And that Voldemort is really behind it, but he can't be everywhere. Satan's just his right-hand-man. There's one group of terrorists in every country, each has a leader, those leaders report directly to death eaters, hand-chosen by Voldemort. Satan gathers their reports and relays order between the terrorists and Voldemort. All of the terrorist groups think they're fighting for the person who's going to conquer the world. He gives them bits and pieces of his views, and promises them survival by joining him.
But the wizarding world isn't that easy. He needs people to be even more afraid and disorganized than they are now. And what has been a center for organization? Rebellion against him? What's been turning out witches and wizards who fight him? What SCHOOL has been a thorn in his side since he first began? HOGWARTS! He'll attack Albus, and soon, he needs Hogwarts and everyone in it out of his way." She sat back a little to watch their reactions.
"We knew he would attack." McGonagal said.
"I mean he needs to dispose of you soon." Miranda said firmly. Albus sighed and nodded he had known it would come to this.
"The students helped to fight him two years ago, but its different now. It's not just Hogwarts, its everyone. Albus.Sirius and I are going to change the Order of the Phoenix...and all wizarding society.drastically. And we need your help, we need the Hogwarts students." Albus looked up and met her eyes. He trusted both her and Sirius with his life, and they clearly had a plan brewing.
"Okay, what did you have in mind?"
***
Janice, Pearl, Stilgar, and the rest of the third year students, seventy- two in all, entered the great hall. The doors clanged shut behind them, the confused students looked around, they had been told to report here, what was going on. Then twelve death eaters stepped out of the shadows.
Terrified the students bunched together. The death eaters formed a loose circle around them. Many of the students slowly drew their wands.
"Put those away." Snarled one death eater, who appeared to be the leader.
"How did you get in here?" Janice asked in a shaky voice.
"We just thought we'd drop by for a visit.attack!" Stunning spells leaped form their wands, almost mechanically the students put up flimsy shields, but together it was enough, and no one was stunned.
"Think that'll save you huh? Weaklings!" The death eaters laughed.
"Don't let them scare you, everyone in the outer circle keep your shields up, everyone else, stunning.expeliarmus.hexes." Pearl said quickly to the others. The formation was one they'd been taught by some older students, a circle of shields, others firing spells through the shields outward. It worked only with the half shield, which created a circular shield in front of the person. Spells could only penetrate it one way.
The death eaters fired stunning spells, the shields held, the students fought back, some were to scared, one girl started to scream, another to cry. After ten minutes all were stunned. Then the death eaters suddenly vanished. The stunning spells were removed. The third years stood up shakily.
"Well done, you fought back, good work." They all looked towards the door, there stood the professors.
"This, students, was a test of how you would perform under an attack. You did well, it could have been better but you did well. Now you've got a half hour until lunch, how about you go back to your dormitories?" The headmaster suggested. The confused students left.
***
After two weeks everyone got used to it, twice a week students were called down to the great hall in groups. After the first time it was no longer by year, the first and second years were never called down, just third and above. Harry fought with the rest, but he knew the overall plan, the others didn't. Finally one evening Dumbledore stood to speak.
"Students I'm sure you've all noticed some changes happening. And now it's about to change even more. Tomorrow morning when you wake up the school will have been expanded; a new wing is being built on the grounds. We will call it the Lower School. The first, and second, years dormitories and classes will be held in this building, they will still be organized by house. For the rest of you the changes will be more drastic." He waited for the whispers to subside.
"For all students third year and above, forget whatever house you're in. There will be no house cup this year, and Quidditch is over. You will be sorted in groups, we'll call them armies, and each will have an animal. Since there are 532 of you there will be 28 armies, with 19 people in each. Each army will have a commander for it, a seventh year. You will live in the same dorm with your army, eat with your army, and fight with your army. Classes will still be by year. Prefects, please turn in your badges." He smiled out over the confused, shocked, and excited mass of students. "Everything will become clearer tomorrow, there will be no classes tomorrow while we all adjust to the change. Now lets eat!"
"Okayyy, I didn't really understand that at all." Ron said in confusion.
"We're being divided into teams, only they're called armies. 28 teams, 19 per team, of all ages, house doesn't matter. Will do everything with our army except have classes. 1st through 3rd years are going to another building, they'll live there." Harry explained shortly, Ron still didn't seem to get it.
"Oh I hope we're all in the same army." Hermione said with worry.
Harry personally thought that this was an excellent idea. They'd learn how to fight, and create stronger friendships and loyalties, and they'd be ready to fight. He knew what the long range goal was. Slowly take over the world, because if they didn't, Voldemort would. Only they would spread peace, and they would keep the peace. Eventually Voldemort would have no where to go, the whole world would be peaceful, and they would all be strong and ready to fight him. It would take years, but he had no doubt it would work.
Yesterday he'd decided to put aside the skulls, he could learn no more from them, and he was busy enough without them. Now he concentrated his spare time on the potion he was brewing to revive those poor comatose people at Saint Mungo's.
** The next morning was utter confusion everyone ate breakfast, then the rest of the school stayed in the great hall while the 1st through 2nd years went over to the other building. They were kept in their houses, the only changes would be that they would have very little or no contact with the rest of the school, they even ate in the other building. And they had their own set of teachers.
The remaining staff of the Upper School quieted the excited students, then Dumbledore stood with a long roll of parchment.
"I will now announce the armies, when you hear your name come up to the table, one of the professors will lead you to your new dormitory with the rest of your army. Now, Bat army, Commander: Dean Thomas." Dean gaped then walked up, Dumbledore called off the other eighteen, and Professor Sinastra led them away.
Next came the Horse army which Ira was in command of, then Draco got command of the Barracuda army, and then the Dog army, Hermione was put in charge of the Squirrel army, she led her eighteen away, which included Ginny.
Harry got command of the Wolf army, Professor Snape led them to their new rooms. There was one long rectangular room, which was divided in half by a silver curtain. One side for the girls, one for the boys, each side had two bathrooms. The beds were small and line dup end to end along both walls, and each had gray curtains around it. Each person had two shelves attached to the board at the foot of the bed and a small stand attached to the right side of the bed. Their trunks went under the bed.
Harry, the commander, had his own small triangular room with a small bathroom off of it. In it was a bed, a small filing cabinet next to a desk that had a chair at it. There was another chair on the other side of the room. A single window let in light and there were three brackets for torches, two above the desk, one above the bed, and two in the bathroom. On the desk sat a folder with instructions, Harry looked it over very quickly, he'd written most of it so he knew it.
The first thing Harry did was go and see his army, they were all choosing beds, he waited for them to be finished then called for their attention.
"Okay team, first thing will be to get all your things down here. Since there isn't much room please keep your things neat and organized. The people who make a mess can sweep, wash windows, dust, and clean the bathrooms since there's an inspection every Sunday by a teacher, and whenever else I think it looks too messy." There were a few groans.
"Secondly if anyone ever sees Mrs. Norris in here feel free to dye her fur however you want and we'll deliver her to Filch's office." This last was greeted with a moment of silence then laughter. Harry smiled and told them to go get their stuff, he'd shrunk his own and brought it with him.