hol Really sorry this one took so long. I've just been so busy and wasn't up to writing. Should be back to normal now though. No one complained about the preview thing so I'm going to keep it in. This story might seem kind of jumbled because I got caught up writing about the build up to the meeting that it took up most of the chapter lol. Ah well, hope you'll like it. Here's chapter 7…

An Army Reunited

"Morning, Harry dear" was Mrs Weasleys greeting when Harry walked into the kitchen on the morning of the 15th. As always she was up cleaning before anybody else.

"G'mornin' Mrs Weasley" said Harry, stifling a yawn as Mrs Weasley conjured up several rounds of toast for Harry.

"Best eat up, Harry. Don't want to have to eat anything in the Hog's Head, now. Why you couldn't have it in the Three Broomsticks I'll never know" she said with a disapproving look on her face.

"I told you mum, it's safer. Not so many people round to butt in" said Ron, appearing from the stairs, closely followed by Hermione.

Once they had all eaten breakfast together and dressed they once again stood in the kitchen, preparing to apparate. They had decided to get to Hogsmeade early so they could look round the shops. Harry was particularly interested in visiting Zonko's Joke Shop. They had a new display of Super Safe, Super Loud Multi-Coloured Wand Stoppers that the twins had brought home. Mr Weasley wasn't too happy when instead of getting the parchment he'd summoned he got a bright pink blast from his wand.

After their goodbyes to Mrs Weasley (Mr Weasley was still snoring away upstairs), Harry, Ron and Hermione apparated to Hogsmeade. Again, they found themselves outside of the Hogs Head and as they walked up the snow-covered road they could smell the familiar mixture of stale mead and goats.

Ron suggested they go to the Three Broomsticks first for a mug of Butterbeer to warm them up. Hermione gave him a stern look after this, suspecting his crush on Madame Rosmerta – the landlady – was still present.

As they entered the Three Broomsticks, it was almost unrecognisable due to the fact that it was empty. The trio had only ever been in the pub on Hogsmeade trips from the school and it had always been packed with students.

When they had chosen a table and sat down Harry looked around at the other customers. There was a short witch at the bar, face hidden under a scarf, huddled over her drink. Harry had a suspicion that she was a hag but he was sure he recognised the shape of the woman. He dismissed it and continued looking around. There were only two other men in the room. Two wizards, both dressed in bright robes and chatting jovially over their mugs of fire whisky, were at the table next to where they were sitting. Harry caught odd pieces of their conversation about dragons before their own conversation started.

"So…" Hermione started, shooting uncomfortable looks towards the woman at the bar. "What's the plan for today then?" She had brought her voice down to merely a whisper, indicating that Harry and Ron should do the same.

"Hermione, why are you whispering? This place is empty" asked Ron, also looking around but his eyes never fell upon the mysterious huddled figure.

"It's that woman in the corner. I'm sure I recognise her… but it can't be. What would she be doing here?" She said, mostly to herself. Harry and Ron shared looks of confusion.

"Hermione? What's the matter? Who is she?" Asked Harry, taking a closer look at the lady, racking his brain for a matching identity.

Hermione took a swig of her mug.

"Oh, never mind. I think I must be going mad" she gave a small laugh and took a huge gulp of her Butterbeer.

"Shall we be off then?" She asked, standing up and taking her cloak from the back of her chair.

"But Hermione, we've only just got here. What's gotten into you?" Said Ron, looking affronted that she could even suggest he leave his Butterbeer untouched.

"Oh, Ron! Don't be silly. I know that you only want to stay so you can ogle at Madame Rosmerta some more. Besides, we have a lot to do and I was hoping we could pop up to the castle and see Hagrid" she said, lifting her nose as though the idea of Ron's 'ogling' hadn't fazed her.

"Hermione's right, Ron. It's 10:30 already and we haven't been anywhere yet" said Harry, also standing and taking his cloak.

"Oh alright. But we are coming back here later. We haven't been here in years" he insisted, a defeated look on his face.

They said thanks to Madame Rosmerta and trudged out into the blizzard. They decided to go to Honeydukes first and bought two bags full of magical sweets. Harry particularly liked the new Flame Flying Flumps – Breath Fire With Every Chew! Of course they were harmless and the flames were as cold as the snow around them, but Harry still thought them a genius invention.

It was Zonko's next and Harry bought 3 boxes of the wand stoppers and various other items that Fred and George would love. A large dent had appeared in Harry's pocket, having spent most of his money. They all agreed to use the remaining half hour to visit Hagrid up at the castle and then walk down to the Hog's Head with Ginny.

They were lucky to find the gates open today, allowing the students to walk down into Hogsmeade. When they reached Hagrid's hut they saw him coming out of the forest, closely followed by an even larger creature.

"Grawp?" said Hermione, looking at Hagrid's companion.

"Hermione! Hello" said Grawp, with a slight lisp. Harry was surprised at how advanced and civilised he had become. The first time Harry saw him was when he had attacked Hermione Hagrid and him in the forest, and that was only 3 years ago. Today, though, Grawp stood in a large leather outfit that Hagrid had clearly made himself. There were patches sewn together from different items of clothing. Harry could make out a full leather jacket, covering Grawp's knee.

"Er… hi Grawp" said Hermione, a look of slight fear across her face as she remembered their first encounter. Hagrid was pleased to see them and they sat in his cabin and talked for 20 minutes before any of them realised the time and Harry, Ron and Hermione set off to wait for Ginny at the path.

"Harry?" came a voice as they reached the path. Harry turned round to see Ginny and Luna rushing towards them. "What are you three doing here? I thought we were meeting you at the Hogs Head?"

"We came to see Hagrid so thought we'd meet you up here instead" replied Hermione. They walked down to the Hogs Head together and when they entered the musty pub they saw people were already waiting for them.

Harry looked round to see all the ex-Gryffindor members of the Army, a few Hufflepuff's but to his surprise no Ravenclaw's had turned up. He assumed, like Cho that they had decided against being in the Army so Harry started without them. He told everyone, in a hushed whisper, of all he had been told my Dumbledore and all that he had seen in the pensieve. There were a few expected gasps and looks of worry at the prospect that Voldemort was still alive.

"So…" he said. "We need about 5 people to set off to Albania with me. Ron and Hermione have already put there names down and obviously some of us can't go because of school" at this he shot a look at Ginny.

"I'm going" she said without hesitation.

"But Ginny, mum said you have to stay in school" to Harry's surprise it was George who voiced this objection. He had half expected Percy to be sitting there.

"I don't care. This is where I want to be. Helping the Army, not stuffed up in that school. It's horrible with Snape around. I'm not a kid no more. I can make my own decisions" she said, her anger rising. Harry stared at her, transfixed at how her cheeks flushed and eyebrows rose whenever she got cross.

"Harry?"

"Huh? What?"

"I just asked you what you thought". It was Ron. The Army were all looking at him so he stumbled a reply.

"Err… yeh sure" he said, not knowing what he was agreeing to.

"Thank you!" It was Ginny. He realised he had agreed to allowing Ginny on the mission. Sure it would get them closer but there was always the risk of what he had always dreaded, Ginny coming to harm.

"That's sorted then. So far there's Harry, Ron, Ginny and me. Anyone else?" asked Hermione, looking down the list of names.

"I will" this came from two people at the same time; Neville and Luna. This reminded Harry of when he went to the Ministry where he thought Sirius was trapped and Neville, Ginny and Luna had insisted on joining them.

That was it then. The six of them would be setting off the Albania. The thought of it still brought a sickening lurch to Harry's stomach.

"Just before we go I just want to breeze over the plans" said Hermione. "We will set off on the 1st of October, over 2 weeks away. We won't be able to apparate because if a witch or wizard is caught in Albania the punishment is instant death, and we're still not 100 sure of where we're going. We will have to use muggle travel. We will apparate to France. There is a wizard village just south of Paris which is ideal. The journey from there to Albania will take a couple of days so I have organised a stay in a castle in Croatia. The castle is owned by a Mr Cruentus. We will stay the night and go to Tirana from there. We should be back by the 4th. We can apparate back as long as we are careful. Right, that's it. We will organise another meeting when we get back. Everyone still has their coins right? It will be in the Burrow. Ok then… see you then" she finished. The reality of what he had put himself in for seemed to dawn on Neville's face as he looked positively petrified.

Harry looked around the Hogs Head while everyone was standing up to leave and it was then that he saw that huddled woman from the Three Broomsticks yet again. She stood up and walked towards the door and Harry caught a glimpse of her face. A toad-like face. It was Umbridge! That's why Hermione looked wary in the Three Broomsticks. She knew who it was.

As she walked towards the door Harry was sure he saw the evil woman incline her head towards him and give the slightest of a gloating smile. That was it, she knew their plans. Would she stop them? Could she stop them?

Harry, Ron and Hermione left Ginny and Luna in Hogsmeade so they could go around the shops. They were planning on staying on at Hogwarts until the Friday the 28th, ready to set off on the Monday. As soon as they had left Harry told the other 2 about Umbridge. They agreed she had no way of preventing their plans but Harry was sure she would do everything in her power to try.

Harry consoled himself by thinking of the next 2 weeks of freedom but all too soon the 1st of October crept upon them and they were again standing in front of the fireplace, preparing to apparate.

Chapter 8: The Castle of Cruentus – the selected 6 set out on there mission only to find all is not what it seems at the Croatian castle and they end up staying for a lot longer than planned…