Birthday Surprises Chapter 68
Usual disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue. Please. Wish it were mine though. Ah, if only… Lolly, xxx.
Harry estimated the number of people following him to be perhaps thirty. A year ago, he might have been nervous about being the leader. Now, he felt cold indifference and quiet confidence. He was probably the most experienced person for the job. He led the way into the beginning of heated battle between good and evil, light and dark. He, Harry Potter, was finally fighting back.
***
Ginny, Ron, Hermione and the other members of Dumbledore's Army met in the Room of Requirement. Each of them was silently fuming that they wouldn't be allowed to fight alongside their leader. Ginny had taken the triplets down too, unwilling to be parted from them if it was unnecessary. Everyone sat in tense and nervous silence. 'What we need is a means of seeing what is going on in Hogsmeade.' Ginny thought. Moments later, there was a large pop and several screens appeared around the walls – apparently she had not been the only one to think that thought.
***
Ginny had never seen Harry look so…in charge before. It was slightly disconcerting at how natural it seemed to him. No one disputed any orders he gave, and no one dared defy him. Instead, he gave people a confidence that they would rarely have in such situations. He had the ability to lead, and to give hope and assurance. The man on the screen was a far cry from the child that had been so badly abused by his so called Uncle, and Ginny knew that his hellish childhood would only increase his survival instincts.
***
Hermione and Ron could only watch as their closest friend led the people of Hogsmeade towards battle. They had never seen him look so mature or so commanding as he did then. The other people reacted in a variety of ways, with everything from surprise, to awe, to relief that someone knew what had to be done, and trust in his orders. It didn't seem to occur to anyone to dispute his orders. For once, it seemed that his fame was a blessing.
***
Many people in the DA were awed by what they saw on the screen – few of them had seen Harry leading others such as he was doing at that moment. His lead was usually subtle. But subtle wasn't any use in battle, and Harry was apparently a very natural leader in such situations. It frightened the majority to know that the man on the screen, taking responsibility for everyone following him, was only seventeen. He had matured beyond his years, and was a stranger to most of them. They had never seen Harry fight before, except for the scuffles with Malfoy, which could hardly be called fighting, and it was all very new and strange. To Ron and Hermione, it was torture, having to watch their best friend fight without them.
***
Ginny turned from the screen, her anger at the headmaster rising. How could he make them stay when their friend was out there, fighting a battle with strangers? How could he not let them help his own Grandson? What had the DA been all about? Was it just a way of keeping them all busy while Dumbledore went about his own business? Icy cold anger seeped through her, and she finally knew how Harry had felt for so long – the helplessness was like poison. They were imprisoned in Hogwarts, useless and upset.
"This is ridiculous!" Someone burst out angrily. "We should be out there with him – that's the purpose of the DA, is it not?"
"How can he say that Harry wouldn't want us out there fighting? How does he know?" Another person added. Ginny sighed. Unfortunately, she couldn't disagree with the headmaster on that point – if it was up to Harry, he would face everyone and everything alone.
"Of course he wouldn't want us out there. But that doesn't necessarily mean that he wouldn't have let us go." Hermione said, her cheeks flushed with anger and frustration.
"Harry wouldn't want anyone out there." Ron clarified. "But he knows that people will fight alongside him, no matter what."
"I just wish we could be there. It's horrible being shut in here, not being able to do anything." Sally sniffed.
"Maybe there is a way…" Hermione muttered, remembering the passageway that Harry had used in third year. Maybe that would work. "Ron, come with me for a moment." They both left the Room of Requirement, talking in murmurs about the likelihood of the passageway being left open.
"I should hope not – if it is, then Deatheaters could use it – we know that Wormtail knew about it, there's no reason for us to believe that he won't have told Voldemort. But still, it's worth a try." Hermione reasoned.
"Yeah. Worth a try. What do we do if it is still open?"
"I'm not sure – gather the DA together, I suppose."
"I think we should make a plan before rushing into anything." Ron said, his mind already on strategy. Hermione nodded resolutely as they came to a halt beside the one-eyed witch. "Dissendium." Hermione muttered, tapping it with her wand. A slip of parchment appeared, taped to the statue. It was Harry's handwriting.
"Sorry Hermione, not today. The passage is locked up, as are all the other's leading to Hogsmeade. I decided, in a moment of either genius or sheer stupidity (you can choose which) that if people couldn't leave through the tunnel, then people couldn't use the tunnel to get in. Don't worry about me – I know you are. Just do me a favour and keep an eye on the triplets."
Hermione and Ron read the note in utter amazement – how had he done that? Eventually they headed back to the Room or Requirement, where everyone seemed to be waiting anxiously, and making a lot of noise while doing so.
