Chapter 26: The DA Is Tested

"Coming? As in right now?" asked a worried Harry.

"Yes, Rosie has just informed Julia that they're massing at Voldemorts camp and slowly heading this way," a worried look on Dumbledore's face. "Madam Pomfrey do the children not fighting have those pendants you created?'

"Yes Headmaster," said the nurse.

"Good, activate them now," instructed the wizard. Madam Pomfrey took out a pendant and began to chant. Harry turned around to see all the children not fighting begin to fall asleep. The rest of the students looked up towards the teacher's table to see what was going on. Dumbledore stood and walked around the table to address the children.

"It seems tonight will be our first test as an army. At this moment dementors are heading towards the castle." Several screams echoed the hall. "I would ask that anyone who feels confident that they can conjure a Patronus please follow Julia to the main hall. The rest of you remain here while the teachers and I split you up into groups." To Harry's surprise people didn't run or scream everyone took out their wands and stood ready to fight. He along with Julia began to head towards the main hall. Several of the DA members followed.

"Dobby, fetch Harry's and my broom," she asked the house elf as they left the great hall.

"Right, here's the plan. Ron, Ginny, Draco, Dean, Susan and Zacharias head to the astronomy tower. Hermione, Luna, Cho, Neville, Seamus and Hannah guard the doors. Ron will be covering your group from above," said Julia as she took her broom from Dobby. Dobby also brought Order robes for Harry, Ron, Hermione and Julia.

"Thanks Dobby," said Harry as he put his robe on and started to head for the door.

"Don't worry Harry Potter, Dobby will be helping," squeaked the house elf. Harry looked back at Hermione and Ron.
"Don't worry we'll be okay," said Ron in a shaky voice. Hermione walked up to Harry and gave him a kiss.

"Remember that while you're out there," she whispered in his ear. Harry gave her his boyish grin as he walked out side to mount his broom. Once he and Julia took off the two groups just stood there for a moment.

"You heard Julia, let's take our places outside," said Hermione as she took out her wand.

"Right, my group lets get up to that tower," said Ron as they ran up towards the tower. It was an eerie night, the moon was fighting to come out from behind the clouds and the forest, which normally was restless, was calm as a graveyard. Harry and Julia slowly flew above the castle so they could see over the treetops. The air began to get cold and Harry knew the dementors were getting closer.

"Rosie what's going on," said Julia out loud. They soon saw the bird flying from the direction of Hagrid's hut.

"They're coming from over there," panted Rosie. Julia and Harry slowly flew towards Hagrid's hut.

"Ron they're coming from over there," shouted Harry as he flew over Ron's group. Ron leaned over the tower wall to shout out to Hermione.

"Hermione!"

"Over there?" she pointed to where Harry and Julia were flying.

"Yeah!" yelled Ron. Hermione watch Harry with intense concentration. She knew that once he started to fight her group would be next.

"Wands at the ready everyone. Stick close to each other," Hermione instructed.

Harry and Julia continued to watch the treetops for any movement. It wasn't until the moon finally was able to shine that Harry saw the hundred or so dementors heading towards them.

"Steady Harry," whispered Julia. "When I say now we'll both shout out the spell. We'll probably only get one shout before they try to circle us. Take you're Patronus and circle it to cover us from behind." The dementors approach was methodically slow and as they got closer they began to spread out.

"Ready Harry," whispered Julia, who's broom was starting to freeze.

"Ready," breathed Harry.

"NOW!"

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" they both shouted. A stag and eagle leaped out of they're wands and began to take out dementors. But as Harry swung his around it began to disappear from hitting so many dementors.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry shouted, but in the back of his mind he feared they might be out numbered. Hermione watched as dementors charged at Harry and Julia, but once one group was taken care of another group would move in and each time getting closer and closer to Julia and Harry.

"Hermione!" shouted Ron from the tower. "Look!" He was pointing to a group of dementors that now appeared to the right of the one's already attacking. This new group was heading straight for the astronomy tower.

"Wait for this new group to get closer," said Hermione as everyone began to point their wands up towards the sky.

"But Hermione what about Harry and Julia," asked Neville.

"I'll worry about them you worry about that new group," said Hermione.

"Yeah but Hermione what about – Hermione?" Neville turned around to see Hermione sprinting towards Hagrid's hut.

"Harry to your left!" shouted Julia as she attacked another group of dementors. Both Julia and Harry were getting weaker and weaker. Harry began to hear his mother's scream but fought to stay awake.

" EXPECTO PATRONUM!" he shouted but his stag only took out a few dementors. Julia was now shouting out the spell every second as the dementors closed in on them.

"HARRY!" Julia shouted. He had almost fallen off his broom. Hermione was now right underneath Harry and Julia and saw Harry almost fall from his broom. She jumped into the pen next to Hagrid's Hut and bowed to Buckbeak, but as she mounted the creature she felt someone watching her. She looked over her shoulder to see a pair of snake eye's stair at her from the forest.

"Voldemort," Hermione whispered to herself. She quickly got Buckbeak off the ground and headed towards Harry. As she got closer she pulled out her wand and cleared her throat.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" she yelled. An otter came hopping out of her wand and smacked enough dementors that allowed Hermione to fly in and get Julia and Harry.

"Harry get on," she said as she grabbed him and pulled him onto Buckbeak. She then helped Julia get on just as the demntors were coming back for another attack. "Let's go Buckbeak!"

"Hermione you're flying," breathed a weak Harry.

"Don't remind me," she said as they got closer towards the school. Hermione landed the creature and let Neville help Julia and Harry off.

"Hermione look!" cried Luna, who was pointing in the direction of the lake. Hermione looked over to see dementors hovering on the other side of the lake.

"They're just staying there," said Cho. Meanwhile up on the tower Ron and his group were also starting to lose their battle.

"Everybody let's get in a circle, that way they can't get us from behind," shouted Ron.

"Good idea Weasley," said Draco as he took his place next to Ron.

"Malfoy we're not going to make it," whispered Ron. Hermione's group continued to try and help Ron's but they would only get a few dementors here and there.

"Luna find a house elf and have them get some chocolate for Julia and Harry, also have them find the other groups and have them meet me at the edge of the lake—"

"HERMIONE!" yelled Ron from the tower. Hermione looked up to see Ron's group was almost surrounded. She got Buckbeak in the air and again shouted the spell. The dementors were pushed back far enough for her to get up to the tower.

"Granger let me on," Draco yelled as she flew over them. Hermione quickly landed Buckbeak and helped Draco get on.

"Head straight for them when I say now we'll both shout out the spell, then we'll turn around and come back for another pass," said Draco has they took off. Hermione made Buckbeak gather up some speed then started to charge the dementors.

"NOW."

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" The otter and snake took out so many dementors that when they turned around for another go the dementors were gone.

"Ron, get your group down here," said Hermione as they flew past the tower. She landed Buckbeak and slid off the creature and headed straight for Harry who was being fed chocolate by Winky.

"Winky where are the others?" panted Hermione.

"They're coming miss," she said while handing Julia some chocolate.

"Ron. We have to get down to the lake," Hermione said as Ron and his group appeared at the door.

"Why what's going on at the lake?" asked Harry as he slowly stood up.

"That's what's going on," Julia pointed to the growing group of dementors that were waiting on the other side of the lake. The two groups slowly walked down to the lake. Minutes later the rest of the school joined them. Dumbledore stood in the middle along with Harry , Hermione, Ron and Julia.

"When I say now I want everyone to shout out the spell," the Headmaster instructed. "No one move until I say so." The dementors finally started to move but just as slow as before. Harry was still weak and had to lean on Hermione.

"Hold my hand," she said and as Harry did so he found more strength. Hermione looked over to the forest and saw the snake eyes looking straight at her.

"What is it?" asked a concerned Harry.

"Voldemort," she whispered. Harry's muscles started to stiffen and Hermione could tell Harry wanted to run over to the forest and face the wizard.

"Not now Harry. You'll have your time," came the weak voice of Julia. The dementors were getting closer and people started to get restless.

"Steady," Dumbledore said in a strong voice. Ron grabbed Luna's hand as did Draco with Ginny's.

"Wands at the ready!" Dumbeldore shouted. In unison everyone's wand pointed towards the lake, which was starting to freeze. Dumbledore took a deep breath and Harry knew it was time.

"NOW!" In one glorious chorus the spell rang out into the night, but instead of seeing a stag, eagle, otter, lion or snake all they saw was one Patronus. A Griffin that stood four stories high was standing on the lake. The light emanated from everyone's wand. The Griffin took one step and gave out a war like cry causing all of the dementors to flee. It then turned to its masters and bowed before it disappeared. No one moved nor spoke for several moments following, until a familiar laugh echoed through the air.

"VOLDEMORT!" Harry scream as he started to sprint towards the forest. Hermione and Ron were in close pursuit followed by Julia and the rest of the school.

"COME OUT AND FACE ME YOU COWARD!" Harry screamed as he ran, but once he was close to the forest the eyes were gone. Only the faint sound of the laugh could be heard. Harry turned back towards his classmates and saw the worried look on their faces.

"I'm not afraid," Harry turned back towards the forest. "DO YOU HEAR THAT! I'M NOT AFRAIFD!"

"Neither are we Harry," Neville stepped forward and put his arm around Harry. "Neither are we." The group slowly walked back into the castle. Harry saw Lupin, Moody, Bill, Charlie and Tonks all talking by the door as they approached.

"The school is secure Albus," grumbled Moody.

"Professor Lupin did you see the Patronus!" asked Neville.

"I did, well done. All of you!" Lupin smiled with pride at all the students, many of whom he taught. Many students were excited to see him and talked with him as they walked back into the great hall.

"Can all the professors and Auror's please follow me?" Dumbledore asked as they all headed to the teachers table.

"The castle is secure sir, but I can't be sure about the grounds," huffed Moody.

"Bill, Charlie and I were going sweep the edge of the forest and make sure there aren't an lingering dementors," said Lupin.

"Good. I think we'll keep the children in here tonight. Just to be sure," said Dumbledore who looked tired.

"Good idea. Tonks and I will keep watch over the hall while the ghosts and house elves patrols the rest of the castle," said Moody.

"Headmaster what about the other children," asked Snape.

"We'll have to alter their memory's and make sure they're in bed before the other children wake up tomorrow," Madam Pomfrey added.

"It's going to get harder and harder to fool them, especially if they're parents begin to send owls asking what's going on at the school," said Dumbledore.

"We'll just have to ask the ministry to keep any events like this one tonight out of the papers," said Julia as she watched house elves place bowls of chocolate on the tables for the children.

An hour or so later the children were in sleeping bags and lying on the floor. Harry managed to get a spot next to Hermione who was watching Draco and Ron talk about different strategies for the battle.

"How long have they been talking?" asked Harry and he leaned on his elbows to watch.

"About twenty minute and counting," laughed Hermione.

"Has the conversation been civil?"

"Very, they've even laughed a few times," yawned Hermione. She laid her head back down on the pillow and watched looked at Harry. "He was watching me tonight," she said in a low voice. Harry turned to look at Hermione and he knew who she was talking about.

"When did you notice?" Harry also laid his head down.

"When I went to get Buckbeak, I saw these menacing eye looking at me from the forest and for the rest of the night I felt like I was being watched," Hermione shivered as she spoke. Harry grabbed her hand and held it to his heart.

"Don't worry, he's not after you –"

"No he's after us."

"What makes you say that?" asked Harry.

"Because together we're stronger then he is and once we perform that spell he'll be after Ron and Julia too," whispered Hermione. "But don't worry, I'm not scared," she smiled.

"I know," Harry smiled.

"When do you think Julia will have the spell translated?"

"I don't know, Dumbledore said he'd cover for her tomorrow while she did it," said Harry.

"That would be great! A defense class with Dumbledore teaching, think of all the things we could learn," Hermione said as her eyes lit up. Harry chuckled.

"It's always learning with you."

"Yeah well one of the three of us should pay attention in class. Otherwise we'd all be dead by now. Even when I was petrified I helped you figure out how the basilisk moved around the castle," teased Hermione.

"It's true I don't know where Ron and I would be with out your help."

"Brilliant Weasley, just brilliant," came the voice of Draco. Harry and Hermione both laughed then closed their eyes. Draco glanced over at them then to Ginny.

"Weasley, is it weird to see Potter and Granger together," Draco whispered as he looks at a piece of parchment Ron had drawn on to show Draco several maneuvers the air squadron should perform.

"It was weird at first but then it felt like they'd always been together," said Ron who was looking at a piece of parchment Draco had drawn on. "Why do you fancy someone?"

"I do, but it's kinda complicated," said Draco trying to change the subject.

"Well does she like you," asked Ron looking up from the parchment.

"Yes."

"Then what's the problem?" asked Ron.

"See the thing is her brother doesn't like me much and I don't think he'd approve," Draco said.

"Sounds like a big prat to me, but don't worry keep doing things like you did tonight and I'm sure he'll see you're on the up and up," smiled Ron. "Well I should probably get some rest, I'll have to hate you again in the morning," said Ron as he laid his head down.

"Night weasel."

"Night money bags."