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Disclaimer; haven't written one for a while, so here it is, I don't own HP or his world, I'm just having fun writing about it!
Chapter 29 Return of the DA
The next evening at half six, Harry, Ron and Hermione left the common room, and Harry led them to the statue of the hump back witch.
"I thought we were going to the room of requirements?" Hermione asked.
"We are, after I check something out," Harry replied. "Well, I was actually hoping you would check it out for me, Ron."
"What?" Ron asked.
"Well, I want to see if this still leads to Hogsmead," Harry replied. "After the attack there, I don't know if you can still get out at the other side."
"If I transform, it won't take me long to run there and back," Ron supplied.
"That's what I thought," Harry replied, "Can you meet us in the room of requirements when you've finished? I told Neville to get them there at seven."
"Are you going to tell them the whole deal?" Ron asked Harry.
"No, but I think it will be helpful to have them ready to help with the other students," Harry replied.
"I won't be long," Ron smiled, and slipped behind the statue. The other two made their way to the room of requirements to wait for the rest of the DA. Harry wondered how many of them would show up, since they hadn't met in over two years. But he needn't have worried; at five to seven Neville arrived with Ginny, Lavender, Parvati, Seamus and Dean.
"The rest of them should be here soon," Neville announced, "I don't think I forgot anyone."
Sure enough Luna wandered in followed by the Creevey brothers and eventually one by one all the remaining members arrived; Ron came in a few seconds after the last lot. And took his place beside Hermione, quietly he muttered to Harry, "The tunnels fine and it still opens under Honeydukes."
"Thanks," Harry replied. Then turning his attention to the group of twenty some students all standing waiting to hear why they had been summoned. "Thank you all for coming. I realize that it has been a long time since we met here, there didn't seem much point now that we have real teachers again." The collective laughed lightly at this and then settled down as Harry continued, "I need to ask you if you're ready to help in the war again?"
"Are we going on a mission with you?" Colin Creevey asked keenly.
"No, nothing like that," Harry replied and noticed the others actually looked disappointed. "Well, I suppose it is a bit like that actually," the keen interest returned to their faces. "I want us to have a bit of a practice tonight and maybe tomorrow night, if I can get a hold of something that would help, so that you'll be ready to help protect the rest of the students when the time comes."
"Your killing us Harry," Ginny complained, "Just spit it out, why are we here?" she received a few nods to this.
Harry sighed and plunged in, "Alright, I want us to practice our Patronus spell, I know most of you have done them in class, but I want to bring in a boggart and have you practice with that."
"Are the dementors going to attack Hogwarts?" Susan Bones asked.
"Actually I think they might attack ….Hogsmead and you will all be there at the time," Harry said. "Look, I know you don't all understand but to cut a long story short. I'm almost sure that the war will arrive at Hogwarts soon and when it does it will be up to you lot to lead the rest of the students to safety, and the Patronus spells are just a precaution. If you don't want to be involved then no-one will think any less of you, but you have to keep it a secret anyway."
The room suddenly filled with chatter, they were all asking each other questions and trying to get Harry to explain more thoroughly. Eventually he held up his hands and said, "I can't give you details because I don't know them all yet, but I want to know if you will help me when the time comes."
"I'm in," Neville announced.
"Me too," Ginny added.
Then one by one all the rest of the students stepped forward and volunteered. Harry thanked them all and at the same time felt a sinking feeling in his stomach, what if he got them all killed with his crazy plan? He shook of the feeling and helped organize them into pairs and they began to practice. Almost everyone could manage a patronus and those who couldn't, managed at least a silvery mist. After half an hour, Harry had them go over their shield charms, then a few jinks and charms, before they knew it, it was almost ten and Harry let them out a few at a time promising to let them know about the next night.
"You know, I missed this," Neville smiled. "We should have kept it up, it was fun."
Ginny nodded in agreement and then with one last check on the map, Harry let them out. Ron and Hermione followed him back to the common room and they all went to bed. Harry lay there and wondered how he could find a boggart for the next evening. Relaxing his mind, he tried to seek one out in the castle. Eventually his mind touched something cold and he shivered. Then he smiled, it might be a boggart, hiding in one of the broom closets on the third floor, he would have to investigate in the morning.
The next evening, practice was vastly different, Harry had caught a boggart and had a huge supply of chocolate ready. The only problem would be to make sure the boggart always assumed the form of a Dementor, regardless of each student's own personal fear.
Harry thought he might have a solution; he stood by the crate and concentrated on projecting fear of a dementor. Then he signalled for Hermione to go first, she stood warily in front of the crate and held her wand in a trembling hand.
"Remember, concentrate on your happiest memory and then say the spell," Harry instructed them, Hermione indicated that she was ready and Harry opened the crate. Many of the students stepped back as a tall Dementor floated out of the box, Hermione hesitated for a moment and the said, "expecto patronus," a silvery thread pushed out of her wand and Harry said, "More focus Hermione."
Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders slightly and said, "Expecto Patronus!" her silver otter appeared from her wand and tried to chase the boggart dementor, which twisted for a few seconds obviously confused and Harry forced it back into the crate."
"Well done," He smiled at his friend.
"That was much more difficult," Hermione said quietly, Harry gave her a bit of chocolate and called on Ron next. Ron eventually managed after about four tries, at one point the dementor changed into a spider then back to a dementor and Ron yelled his spell to release his patronus. Neville volunteered to go next and received a round of applause for summoning his patronus first try.
Gradually all the other students managed to get a patronus, except Dennis Creevey, but Harry reassured him that this was more advanced magic than he had studied yet and the fact that he could even manage a silver mist was impressive. By ten o'clock, they had all tried once more and Harry was pleased to see they got it first time.
"If you are faced by a group of dementors, the most important thing is to stick together, they try to separate one person at a time," Harry shivered as he remembered watching the last dementor attack, "But they don't stand much of a chance if you stay in a large group."
Once again Harry let them out in groups of two and three and then went back to the common room. A few of the DA had wanted to make the meeting a regular thing again, but the rest had reminded them of their up coming exams. So the group agreed not to have another meeting unless Harry had some concrete news for them.
"How's the potion Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Fine, you'll have it tomorrow," Hermione replied. "You are going to tell Dumbledore before you give it to him, aren't you?"
"Yes, but I know he won't like it," Harry replied.
"I don't like it and Ron doesn't like it, but still," Hermione said quietly, "we're helping anyway. I just hope it's the right thing to do."
"So do I Hermione, so do I," Harry replied gravely.
"What about the Slytherins?" Ron asked, "Are we going to take them with the other students?"
"Well we can't exactly leave them behind can we?" Hermione said.
"Why not, most of their parents will be coming," Ron replied.
"Don't," Harry stepped between them, before they could start arguing, "Yes, you do have to take the Slytherins as well, preferably in the first group," Ron was about to say something, when Harry added, "But any of them try anything then you stun them and bind them, okay?"
Ron nodded and Harry let out a breath before bidding them good night and going up to bed. Harry had one last thing to arrange before he approached Dumbledore, and lying in his darkened room, he decided that he would speak to the Professor the next day.
The Daily Prophet arrived the next morning and Hermione gasped as she unrolled it. Harry was almost afraid to look, it was becoming too much of a ritual each morning, finding out what horrible thing had happened now.
AZKABAN PRISON DESTROYED, GUARDS KILLED
In the early hours of the morning, Azkaban Prison was attacked by Dementors
and Death Eaters. Over a hundred dangerous criminals have escaped.
The new wizard prison guards were out numbered and overcome. By
the time the Ministry received an alert and sent in the Auror's, there
was little left. The now hauntingly familiar Dark Mark was glowing in
the sky and the guards were found mutilated and dismembered, hanging
from the ruins. Now the magical community is forced to deal with a hundred
dangerous criminals as well as the threat from You-Know-Who. And we ask
our selves if the ministry is doing enough to protect us.
"There's more," Hermione continued, "A list of the guards and their ages, most of them were under thirty and a list of convicts that have escaped- including Malfoy and Nott! And all the death eaters they captured at the Riddle house!"
Harry forced himself to stand and with a glance at the top table he turned and headed off to find Dumbledore. Reaching his office Harry gave the password and ascended the stairs. He raised his hand to knock, when he heard a disgusting retching noise inside. He was about to burst in the door when it glowed slightly and Harry realised that Dumbledore had just sealed it.
Waiting with baited breath he heard a voice say, "I couldn't stop them, it was … I didn't …." Harry gasped as he realised the voice was Snape's, but instead of his usually arrogance all Harry could hear was pain and guilt.
"You know that no one could have stopped them, Voldemort planned it that way," Dumbledore was saying.
"But if I had gotten the message out quicker, if I could have saved some of them sooner," Snape whispered.
"Then your disembowelled remains would have joined them, hanging from the wall. You did not cause this Severus; you risk your life daily to prevent it."
"But it's not enough, if you had smelled it, all the burning flesh…" Snape was obviously distraught. Harry stood paralysed, he knew he should not be hearing this yet he couldn't make his legs work, he couldn't walk back down the stairs.
"I think that someone has just given the password, would you like to wait until I speak with them?" Dumbledore was saying inside.
"No, I have classes, I should go and change," Snape sounded defeated as he spoke. There was a shuffling noise and then the door glowed and Dumbledore opened it, his face was grey and his eyes sad.
"Thank you for waiting Harry, come in please."
"I'm sorry Sir, I didn't mean to intrude," Harry mumbled, hundreds of questions were sitting on the tip of his tongue, but he didn't ask them, he merely sat opposite the Headmaster and waited.
"It is always difficult for him if he witnesses the sort of attack he was called to last night," Dumbledore said quietly. "He feels personally responsible for each of the deaths. Several of the guards were ex-students from his own house."
"I'm sorry," Harry muttered, uselessly.
"You are much alike; you and Severus," Dumbledore said, "You both take the blame for acts committed by Voldemort."
"Sir, I …" Harry began, and then stopped.
"You?" Dumbledore prompted.
"I have a plan, I think that the time has come," Harry tried to sound confident."You're not going to like it though," he added.
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and said, "I've always known that I would not like what has to come, but I have resigned myself to it."
For the next hour Harry detailed his plan for Dumbledore, who other than asking a few questions about exact timing of the events, listened tentatively. Surprised at the Headmaster's seeming compliance Harry grew a little bolder, when he finished, he looked at Dumbledore. Harry had been pacing as he spoke, and now stood at the opposite end of the room, but he could see Dumbledore's face had paled even more and his eyes were glistening as though trying to hold back tears.
"Harry, you want me to fake my death and leave my children unprotected against Voldemort?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, for a few hours," Harry replied, "But your children, I mean the students; will be safely away from here by that time."
"Not all of my children," Dumbledore closed his eyes with a sigh. "You will not be safe, you expect me to abandon you to face such evil alone?"
"I am not a child," Harry replied. "And you have known since I was born that one day I would have to face him alone."
"But you will always be one of my children, Harry, all of my students are. Even Minerva, now is a grown woman and more than capable of taking care of herself, is one of my children," Dumbledore replied, "Even Tom, after all he has done…" Dumbledore opened his eyes and a single tear trailed down his face.
Harry wasn't sure what to do, he had never encountered Dumbledore showing any signs of weakness before, and it made him extremely uncomfortable to be faced with him now.
"Sir, it is the only way I can interpret the Green Flame Torch," Harry said.
"I know, and it fits into my own interpretation of it," Dumbledore said, "I knew I would be required to die, and leave you alone, I am just glad that it is not a permanent situation."
"One thing though, I need to know a secure place to keep the Death eaters prisoner, now that Azkaban has gone," Harry said.
"I will contact Madam Bones and arrange for a new temporary prison to be set up," Dumbledore replied. "Now the five people to set the wards, we should not include Severus, not because of a lack of trust, but because Voldemort would be suspicious if he did not take him the news of my death personally." Dumbledore had returned to his usual business like tone, which calmed Harry. "Minerva, Filius, William, Myself and I think I will contact Paddy Startlehex, he would be a great help. And Remus, just in case I cannot be revived in time."
"When do we start the rumours?" Harry asked, gulping slightly at the thought of not being able to revive Dumbledore.
"I think you will find out at dinner, this evening," Dumbledore replied. "I just hope it won't affect the students taking their exams, I'm rather proud of you all this year and I would still like you all to do well."
"I know, Hermione is worried about the same thing," Harry smiled. "When will you tell the teachers?"
"We will meet tonight, I will tell those who will be involved then," Dumbledore said, "The rest will be told when you are ready to begin."
Dinner that evening was a solemn affair, some of the other students had relatives who had worked at the prison and those who didn't were simply afraid of what would happen next. Harry felt a burning in his stomach; he knew that the worst possible thing for them at the moment would be to see the ever powerful presence of Dumbledore taken away from them.
Just after they had eaten their desserts, Dumbledore stood to leave the table and promptly collapsed. The teachers closest to him gasped and Madam Pomfrey rushed to his side. A stretcher was conjured, and Dumbledore was floated out of the room, followed by a very concerned group of teachers. Many of the students started to cry and the older students had to gather the younger members of their houses and take them to their common rooms. Harry found himself surrounded by many of the Gryffindor first years and he led them away.
Once in the common room, the students muttered and cried amongst themselves, Harry couldn't take the sound, he quickly disappeared to his room, only to be followed a few seconds later by Ron and Hermione.
"So he agreed then?" Hermione asked, sitting on the bed.
"Yes, he didn't really have much choice," Harry replied.
"So you're actually going through with this?" Ron asked, sitting close to his girlfriend.
"I don't have much choice either," Harry answered.
"But Harry, what if something goes wrong? What if we lose you and Dumbledore?" Hermione said in a whisper.
"You're not going to lose Dumbledore, it was just an act, he won't take the potion until the eleventh," Harry said.
"And you?" Ron asked. "You didn't say we wouldn't lose you."
"Well you won't if I can help it," Harry replied.
"And what if you can't?" Hermione demanded, "you just expect us to leave our best friend alone with God only knows how many death eaters and Voldemort?"
"Hermione, this is what I was born for," Harry replied, "The prophesy was made before I was even born, nothing can change that, so I either sit and watch while he destroys the world or I stand up and face him."
"You're a seventeen year old Harry," Hermione pointed out, "Seventeen year olds should be worrying about their exams and their girlfriends, not the fate of the world."
"I know that," Harry shouted back, "Don't you think I know that? But it can't wait any longer, at the moment he is still only a man. If I wait until he becomes more than that then he won't be able to die- just like the last time!"
"I'm sorry, I'm just scared," Hermione said.
"I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have shouted at you," Harry replied.
"What are we going to do now?" Ron asked, staring out of the window.
"We wait," Harry replied.
The next morning at breakfast, Professor McGonagall made an announcement, "I know you are all worried about the Headmaster after his collapse last night, but he wants me to assure you that he is fine. He is resting at the moment and I will be filling his post for a few days. Now I know this has upset you, but you must concentrate on your studies and focus on your exams."
"Why is she telling them that he's fine?" Ron whispered, "I thought we were supposed to think he was dying."
"I know silly, but look around, no one believes her, and if he really were dying they wouldn't tell us anyway," Hermione explained.
Harry quickly glanced about the room and realised that Hermione was right, none of the students looked particularly reassured by her announcement.