Hello Peeps, it's been awhile.

Thanks to whoever. I am glad to hear that!

Disclaimer : (reads off of script) I own nothing J.K.Rowling owns Harry Potter, Mandi owns Claire and plot. (Puts down script and picks up stick) OK Lawyers, one step closer and I hit you!


Chapter 11

Plans

Dumbledore stepped up to address the anxious crowd. The hall fell silent and looked up at the old man.

"I am afraid it is time we fight," he told them solemnly, "Voldemort will be attacking tomorrow."

Many people gasped and everyone began talking again.

"Tomorrow?"

"No!"

"Impossible, how would he know?"

"What are we going to do?"

"I'm scared!"

Dumbledore cleared his throat and attention was once again on him. "Claire is here to speak to you first, then my friend Remus Lupin will explain the plans. But first, will the members of the Slytherin house please follow me into this back room please?" he motioned to a door behind him.

Everyone, including the Slytherins, looked confused. They obeyed however and filed into the room. Dumbeldore closed the door behind him and left Claire to tell her story.

"What's the meaning of this?" Blaise Zabini asked Dumbledore once he had closed the door.

"I am afraid I cannot trust any of you," he replied. He raised his wand and used the disarming spell. The wands of all the students flew into an open trunk beside him.

"You can't do that!" Pansy Parkinson protested.

Dumbledore ignored her and locked the trunk with a series of complicated spells. He then lifted it to a shelf high on the wall, out of reach of even the tallest seventh year.

As he turned around, Crabbe and Goyle stood inches from him. "You can't do this," Goyle breathed into his face.

"I'm believe I can. It is safer for everyone if you are all kept out of the way."

"What makes you think you can't trust us?" Blaise challenged.

"Besides the fact that your friend Draco Malfoy recently attacked myself and Professor Snape in order to fly out the window on the back of a thestral?"

Many of the students turned to whisper to eachother.

"Maybe he was the only bad one," Blaise said, not giving up.

"May I see your arm?" Dumbledore asked calmly.

Blaise held out his right arm.

"Your other arm please."

Blaise stared at him and didn't move.

"As I thought. I know what many of you did over your summer break. You were trained. You were taught. You were tattooed. Therefore you shall remain here, without your wands. Good night."

He turned and exited the room back into the Great Hall. He used another series of spells to lock the door and sat to listen as Lupin explained the plan.

Claire stepped forward, extremely aware of how her hair fell in her face, where her hands were, and the fact that she slouched slightly.

She took a deep breath. "I can do this," she whispered to herself.

She used a spell to amplify her voice and looked up to speak to her peers.

"Well, I've been told to tell you all I know about the attack," she paused nervously, looking around at all the eyes staring at her. She continued, "Earlier today Dumbledore used a spell that allowed me to remember everything I had forgotten. I relived the time I spent as a captive of Voldemort. I was tortured and starved. When I arrived I was locked in a small dark room and was left alone for days at a time without food or water. Time passed very slowly, but I used that time to plan my escape. Voldemort was foolish enough to forget to take my wand away, that was a key point to my plan. But before I could put my plan into action, Voldemort started his own. He put me under the Imperius curse and we traveled for hours, by foot, floo powder, brooms, and magic, until we arrived at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Voldemort announced that he had to be somewhere else at the moment and that we should start without him. The Imperius curse was again placed on me, this time by a death eater. He had some fun with me, made me do ridiculus things, until another yelled at him. Shortly after I managed to throw off the spell. I took out my wand and stunned half the group. I then used the disarming spell and collected their wands, threw them on the ground and stomped on them. They, of course, chased me. At one point I saw some purple light fly past me, I later realized what it was. Finally the death eaters were stopped by a... um... friend." Claire glanced at Hagrid and he nodded, "I continued quickly to warn Dumbledore. As I opened the doors I knew for sure what the purple light had been, because there before me stood Draco Malfoy. The light had been a sign to warn him, sent by a death eater I had stunned. Needless to say, Malfoy erased my memory on the spot. You all know everything that has happened since, and you all must realize that we have to fight... we just have to," she ended plainly.

The room was silent as the students watched her. Claire couldn't tell if they fully believed her or not. Their looks seemed to be of mixed skepticism and awe.

Someone tapped her shoulder and Claire turned around to find herself face to face with Remus Lupin. He smiled comfortingly at her. She moved aside and he took the stage.

"I am amazed at Claire's talent," he said. "She was very brave, even in the face of the most evil wizard there is," he turned to her. "Good job. I'm very proud of you," he started clapping and soon the entire room was filled with applause.

Claire turned slightly red, smiled, then went to stand between Fred and George who both patted her on the back. She turned and saw Dumbledore slip out of the back room, alone, and sit down.

"Now," Lupin continued, "we have to go over the plans. We believe Voldemort will be bringing with him about twenty death eaters, a large host of dementors, a few giants, and perhaps some others. Who here can successfully use the patronus charm?"

Majority of the seventh years and a few younger students raised their hands.

"You will come with me then. We will fight off the dementors," he told them. "Minus those who've already raised their hands, who can use a strong stupefy curse?" Some students raised their hands. Lupin addressed them, "You will be assigned to Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick to attempt to stun the giants. The rest of you will be split into groups and assigned to other teachers to defend against death eaters, except for a select few who have been chosen to go with Dumbledore. First and Second years however are to return to their dormitories, accompanied by those who aren't able or aren't willing to fight. Spells will be placed on the entrances to protect against unwelcome intrusion. Those who apply, please leave now."

All of the youngest students left, followed by about ten others who looked very frightened. The heads of houses left with them to perform the protection spells.

The other students reported to those they had been assigned to. Dumbledore wove his way through the crowd, picking out those he needed.

At last he came to Claire, "Come with me," he said quietly. She followed him to the group and was instantly pulled into a tight embrace by Ron.

She was taken aback for a second but then smiled weakly and returned the hug. "It'll be okay," he whispered in her ear.

All she could do was nod.


Next chapter is coming up! Just R & R!