Disclaimer: "Ms. Amina Munir, we're proud to inform you that you are now the owner of Harry Potter." "Oh thank you! I…" * Ring * Oh man! It was only a dream…a very wonderful dream…
CHAPTER IX: DUMBLEDORE SPEAKS
"What do you mean?" Hermione gasped as they stared at the two of them in utter disbelief.
"We're not sure," Ginny began nervously. "But why else do you think Dumbledore call for an emergency meeting?"
"Maybe he just has a normal announcement to make," Ron suggested tentatively.
Harry rolled his eyes, but he wasn't quite amused. "We should hurry up," he stated as he led Ginny to the Great Hall.
"C'mon," Ron muttered, firmly leading Hermione into the hall.
The hall was already full of Hogwarts students, once they arrived. Everyone seemed rather subdued as they took their seats at their house tables. Even the Slytherins weren't jeering at the other students, but were calmly sitting at their table, while the Bloody Baron supervised his house. Hermione shifted closer to Ron for support, as Dumbledore stood up to make his speech, his face slightly paler than usual.
"Last night was any ordinary night. I dealt with mischievous students, listened Flich's complaints and answered letters from parents with questions about my school. I thought that would be it. I never knew that overnight everything would change. This morning, as I was changing out of my moon pajamas and wearing my special Headmaster robes, an important looking owl flew into my window. I immediately knew that this was no ordinary delivery. I had just received an urgent message from the Ministry." He paused there as his eyes flickered over to the teachers sitting with him at the table, everyone's attention upon him.
He, continued, "This letter informed me that Voldemort has risen once again." The hall buzzed with murmurs, as everyone turned to one another in shock and amazement. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat sternly as the students quieted down.
Dumbledore gave a small smile. "Many of you are probably wondering how on earth did this happen? My dear students, I myself was not expecting this to occur. But, Cornelius Fudge, the present minister, told me that in the Muggle world, seven Muggles have been killed."
All the students gasped at this sudden news, but he continued as if he hadn't received any interruption. "There were many witnesses at this sight and they have all sworn to have seen a green light, a loud incantation of some sort, and then a skull appeared high in the sky. This as all of you know, is the Death Mark." He paused to take a breath but went on.
"I am sure that all of you remember the Dementor revolt that occurred the previous year. It was a devastating result, since we no longer had these Azkaban guards. Thus, they have joined forces with Voldemort and his followers and are determined to once again destroy every wizard, unless they unite with him," he finished seriously. Everyone seemed to be in a trance as the sudden information seemed to sink into him or her.
"Now," Dumbledore spoke, clapping his hands together. "I have been advised to tell my students the truth. The reason why I have called all of you into the hall is because the Ministry wants something out of you. Due to the sudden events that happened last year, the Ministry requires all the help they can get. We lost some of the greatest wizards while battling the Dementors. Thus, they have asked me to ask my students to leave school and join them in the fight against Voldemort." Some students flinched at the mention of the Dark Lord's name, but he carried on.
"I know each and everyone of you would like to help defeat him, but I have set up an age limit; only those who are fifteen and above are allowed to leave school. Those of you who wish to leave and battle against the evil side, I want you to speak to Minerva and she will write your name down as a Warrior. Some of you are afraid, that I know. Some of you are shocked, that I know. Some of you want revenge." His somber gray eyes traveled over to where the trio was sitting. Everyone turned towards Harry, who was sitting calmly with Ginny's head on his shoulder. "And I know that his loyal best friend will never leave his side," he finished silently under his breath.
"So, I want all of you to attend your classes. There will be no Christmas break because the Ministry wants the students to stay together, while your parents go into hiding. Let me remind you that defeating Voldemort won't be easy and it will take a while, I guarantee you that much. So I want you to carefully think about what you're about to do before you give your name. The students will be leaving by next week; I myself will be going, along with some of our teachers. But, for now, please attend your classes and remain calm. Becoming too anxious will just trouble you more." And with that he didn't say another word, while the students began to empty the room, chatters ringing in the air.
"I told you this was going to happen," Harry hissed to them.
"Harry, calm down," Ginny requested politely, though rather tensely.
"What are you going to do?" Hermione questioned her two best friends.
Ron shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know," he admitted, as he started to leave the hall. Just then, a shrill voice rang from behind him.
"Potter, Weasley. Professor Dumbledore would like to have a word with you," McGonagall ordered.
"We'll meet you later," Ron reminded the girls, before giving Hermione a tight squeeze on the shoulder.
Harry turned to Ron as they followed the headmistress. "What do you suppose he's going to say to us?" he asked softly.
"Don't know," he replied while they waited for McGonagall to say the password in front of the leering gargoyle, which led to Dumbledore's office.
"Cockroach cluster," she declared, as it swung open. They stepped inside the office, where Dumbledore was sitting at his desk waiting patiently for them.
"Ah thank you Minerva for bringing them," he stated politely as he gestured for them to take a seat in front of him. McGonagall nodded her head curtly, gave the boys a final stare and then gently closed the door behind her.
"You wanted to see us," Ron began as he silently squirmed under the professor's scrutinizing gaze.
"Yes Mr. Weasley, I did want to see you," he replied leaning towards them. "Especially you Mr. Potter," he finished quietly.
"What is it Professor?" Harry questioned tensely.
"Harry," Dumbledore began slowly folding his hands across the table. "I want you to know that you don't have to do this if you don't want to."
"Do what?" he answered innocently.
"You don't have to fight against Voldemort."
Harry heaved a deep sigh. "Professor, it's not that I want to, but I need to go help the wizards battle against him. I'm expected to do this," he paused for a second before ending quietly, "Professor, he took away the only real family I had left. Don't you think I have the right to have my revenge?"
Dumbledore closed his eyes and opened them quickly. "I know…and that's what I'm afraid of."
"Professor Dumbledore, you don't have to worry," Ron spoke suddenly. They turned towards him. "Harry won't be alone on this, because…" he hesitated as they waited expectantly for him to finish. "I'm going with him," he finished boldly.
Dumbledore smiled. "I was hoping you'd say that, Mr. Weasley. But," he paused and raised his eyebrows at them. "Are you both absolutely certain you're ready to leave behind two of the most important people in your lives?"
Ron faced Harry, knowing those two people were Hermione and Ginny. "Are we ready?" he mouthed at his best friend. Harry nodded his head and reached for his hand. "We're ready," he answered for the both of them, as the headmaster exchanged glances between them. "They are very special, and I hope they understand," he commented as Ron broke away from the strong contact he had held over them and replied dreamily, "Yeah, she is special," while Harry rolled his eyes.
"Well then," Dumbledore started as he stood up, Harry and Ron following him. "I hope Mr. Weasley that you will stay with Mr. Potter every step of the way."
"I will," he responded firmly as they were led outside and Dumbledore excused them. The two boys didn't speak to one another until they reached their Charms class, where Hermione was engrossed in the lesson Professor Flitwick was currently teaching.
When they approached her, she looked up slowly from her book, as their presence cast a shadow over her book. Her eyes met Harry's and then traveled to Ron's, which were intent upon Hermione's face. Just then, she knew what happened. She didn't need words to tell her what they had just done. Instead, she lay down her quill, stood up and tightly embraced Ron, who immediately wrapped his arms around her, allowing her to cry in his chest. Everyone was quiet in the classroom, including Harry as the two best friends remained locked up in a warm hug.
***
CHAPTER IX: DUMBLEDORE SPEAKS
"What do you mean?" Hermione gasped as they stared at the two of them in utter disbelief.
"We're not sure," Ginny began nervously. "But why else do you think Dumbledore call for an emergency meeting?"
"Maybe he just has a normal announcement to make," Ron suggested tentatively.
Harry rolled his eyes, but he wasn't quite amused. "We should hurry up," he stated as he led Ginny to the Great Hall.
"C'mon," Ron muttered, firmly leading Hermione into the hall.
The hall was already full of Hogwarts students, once they arrived. Everyone seemed rather subdued as they took their seats at their house tables. Even the Slytherins weren't jeering at the other students, but were calmly sitting at their table, while the Bloody Baron supervised his house. Hermione shifted closer to Ron for support, as Dumbledore stood up to make his speech, his face slightly paler than usual.
"Last night was any ordinary night. I dealt with mischievous students, listened Flich's complaints and answered letters from parents with questions about my school. I thought that would be it. I never knew that overnight everything would change. This morning, as I was changing out of my moon pajamas and wearing my special Headmaster robes, an important looking owl flew into my window. I immediately knew that this was no ordinary delivery. I had just received an urgent message from the Ministry." He paused there as his eyes flickered over to the teachers sitting with him at the table, everyone's attention upon him.
He, continued, "This letter informed me that Voldemort has risen once again." The hall buzzed with murmurs, as everyone turned to one another in shock and amazement. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat sternly as the students quieted down.
Dumbledore gave a small smile. "Many of you are probably wondering how on earth did this happen? My dear students, I myself was not expecting this to occur. But, Cornelius Fudge, the present minister, told me that in the Muggle world, seven Muggles have been killed."
All the students gasped at this sudden news, but he continued as if he hadn't received any interruption. "There were many witnesses at this sight and they have all sworn to have seen a green light, a loud incantation of some sort, and then a skull appeared high in the sky. This as all of you know, is the Death Mark." He paused to take a breath but went on.
"I am sure that all of you remember the Dementor revolt that occurred the previous year. It was a devastating result, since we no longer had these Azkaban guards. Thus, they have joined forces with Voldemort and his followers and are determined to once again destroy every wizard, unless they unite with him," he finished seriously. Everyone seemed to be in a trance as the sudden information seemed to sink into him or her.
"Now," Dumbledore spoke, clapping his hands together. "I have been advised to tell my students the truth. The reason why I have called all of you into the hall is because the Ministry wants something out of you. Due to the sudden events that happened last year, the Ministry requires all the help they can get. We lost some of the greatest wizards while battling the Dementors. Thus, they have asked me to ask my students to leave school and join them in the fight against Voldemort." Some students flinched at the mention of the Dark Lord's name, but he carried on.
"I know each and everyone of you would like to help defeat him, but I have set up an age limit; only those who are fifteen and above are allowed to leave school. Those of you who wish to leave and battle against the evil side, I want you to speak to Minerva and she will write your name down as a Warrior. Some of you are afraid, that I know. Some of you are shocked, that I know. Some of you want revenge." His somber gray eyes traveled over to where the trio was sitting. Everyone turned towards Harry, who was sitting calmly with Ginny's head on his shoulder. "And I know that his loyal best friend will never leave his side," he finished silently under his breath.
"So, I want all of you to attend your classes. There will be no Christmas break because the Ministry wants the students to stay together, while your parents go into hiding. Let me remind you that defeating Voldemort won't be easy and it will take a while, I guarantee you that much. So I want you to carefully think about what you're about to do before you give your name. The students will be leaving by next week; I myself will be going, along with some of our teachers. But, for now, please attend your classes and remain calm. Becoming too anxious will just trouble you more." And with that he didn't say another word, while the students began to empty the room, chatters ringing in the air.
"I told you this was going to happen," Harry hissed to them.
"Harry, calm down," Ginny requested politely, though rather tensely.
"What are you going to do?" Hermione questioned her two best friends.
Ron shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know," he admitted, as he started to leave the hall. Just then, a shrill voice rang from behind him.
"Potter, Weasley. Professor Dumbledore would like to have a word with you," McGonagall ordered.
"We'll meet you later," Ron reminded the girls, before giving Hermione a tight squeeze on the shoulder.
Harry turned to Ron as they followed the headmistress. "What do you suppose he's going to say to us?" he asked softly.
"Don't know," he replied while they waited for McGonagall to say the password in front of the leering gargoyle, which led to Dumbledore's office.
"Cockroach cluster," she declared, as it swung open. They stepped inside the office, where Dumbledore was sitting at his desk waiting patiently for them.
"Ah thank you Minerva for bringing them," he stated politely as he gestured for them to take a seat in front of him. McGonagall nodded her head curtly, gave the boys a final stare and then gently closed the door behind her.
"You wanted to see us," Ron began as he silently squirmed under the professor's scrutinizing gaze.
"Yes Mr. Weasley, I did want to see you," he replied leaning towards them. "Especially you Mr. Potter," he finished quietly.
"What is it Professor?" Harry questioned tensely.
"Harry," Dumbledore began slowly folding his hands across the table. "I want you to know that you don't have to do this if you don't want to."
"Do what?" he answered innocently.
"You don't have to fight against Voldemort."
Harry heaved a deep sigh. "Professor, it's not that I want to, but I need to go help the wizards battle against him. I'm expected to do this," he paused for a second before ending quietly, "Professor, he took away the only real family I had left. Don't you think I have the right to have my revenge?"
Dumbledore closed his eyes and opened them quickly. "I know…and that's what I'm afraid of."
"Professor Dumbledore, you don't have to worry," Ron spoke suddenly. They turned towards him. "Harry won't be alone on this, because…" he hesitated as they waited expectantly for him to finish. "I'm going with him," he finished boldly.
Dumbledore smiled. "I was hoping you'd say that, Mr. Weasley. But," he paused and raised his eyebrows at them. "Are you both absolutely certain you're ready to leave behind two of the most important people in your lives?"
Ron faced Harry, knowing those two people were Hermione and Ginny. "Are we ready?" he mouthed at his best friend. Harry nodded his head and reached for his hand. "We're ready," he answered for the both of them, as the headmaster exchanged glances between them. "They are very special, and I hope they understand," he commented as Ron broke away from the strong contact he had held over them and replied dreamily, "Yeah, she is special," while Harry rolled his eyes.
"Well then," Dumbledore started as he stood up, Harry and Ron following him. "I hope Mr. Weasley that you will stay with Mr. Potter every step of the way."
"I will," he responded firmly as they were led outside and Dumbledore excused them. The two boys didn't speak to one another until they reached their Charms class, where Hermione was engrossed in the lesson Professor Flitwick was currently teaching.
When they approached her, she looked up slowly from her book, as their presence cast a shadow over her book. Her eyes met Harry's and then traveled to Ron's, which were intent upon Hermione's face. Just then, she knew what happened. She didn't need words to tell her what they had just done. Instead, she lay down her quill, stood up and tightly embraced Ron, who immediately wrapped his arms around her, allowing her to cry in his chest. Everyone was quiet in the classroom, including Harry as the two best friends remained locked up in a warm hug.
***