Guilt and Innocence

Luna looked around the Great Hall as the five entered. The students seemed to pay little attention until they spotted Harry among them. Whispering instantly took over and Luna couldn't help the laugh that passed her lips as she turned to look at Harry.

"Seems some things never change, that's got to be a good sign."

They reached the front table and then as one turned to everyone in the hall. She was aware that many of the Professors were now gossiping obviously worried about what was going to happen. It was Remus that spoke up.

"We have just received word that Voldemort is on his way here."

Panic instantly broke through everywhere and screams were sent through the room. It was with slight amusement she saw sparks leave Harry's wand (it belonged to Ginny really) and the room fell into silence.

"Panicking won't help so stop right now. Word has been sent to the members of a secret order that have been working to keep the world safe. The Aurors and missing members will be here soon for the fighting to start."

He turned and grabbed a bacon roll and she saw Ron and Hermione follow suit. The hall fell quiet and she herself turned to find McGonagall looking at them. It was only seconds later that the hall door burst open.

She spun and saw Charlie enter with George and Lee, each man carrying armfuls of prank material that she knew they were going to use to distract the enemy. Behind them came the mass of Aurors at the front stood Dean, Kingsley and Tonks and with them came Hannah.

The group made its way to the front and all stood waiting. Out of instinct she herself turned to look at Harry and he looked surprised by this but shrugged.

"Okay so the outline of the plan was laid yesterday, each one of you should know what it is you are to do."

He looked at the teachers gathered around the main table, there weren't many and Luna wondered if he was surprised by that.

"You lot you're to help fight. I don't care what you do just take down the Death Eaters okay."

She looked as he turned towards the students but he seemed at a loss and it was Hermione that called out to them.

"I know you're all scared about this and you've got a right to be. People will tell you that you are only children and don't know the difference between right and wrong but you do. Others will say that you are not powerful enough to know how to stand shoulder to shoulder with an adult but they are wrong."

She took a breath and pulled Harry out from among them.

"This man here is Harry Potter. He once sat where you sit and he has always fought for your freedom. He was only a child when he faced Voldemort and I remember being told that we weren't strong enough to fight. They were all wrong."

"Today we have reached a crucial part of our lives, today we fight for freedom. I stand here in front of you not as your Professor but as a human who wants to live in peace, as a woman that wants to be free. If you feel that you are brave enough to fight, that you know enough spells to help us make a difference than stand with us, today we will be free."

Luna watched as those around the tables began to rise, there were around seventy that stood and she was pleased to see that the young students in third year and down had more or less all remained seated.

She quickly stood forward and looked at them all, then she spoke up herself.

"Those of you that are third years down will not fight today. I know that some of you will want to but you do not know enough spells not to end up hurt. You need to get out of this hall now go to the hospital wing and stay there; somebody will come to you when it is over."

As they stood up to leave she remembered something and yelled out over the noise.

"And stay away from Madam Weasley she is ill and needs to sleep, stay at the other side of the hospital wing and don't touch her."

Suddenly only a small group were left there and the Order members plus Harry removed themselves from everyone else taking seats around the Hufflepuff table looking at one another. It was Charlie that spoke up.

"What's wrong with Ginny?"

"She was the traitor."

Everyone seemed to react differently to Remus' news but Luna noticed those that had been informed of the traitor within the group although upset seemed relieved. She noted that Charlie seemed to pick up on this with his own brothers.

"Why aren't you two so surprised and upset?"

Hermione cleared her throat and Luna looked at her as she spoke up quickly.

"We discovered two days ago just before my attack that there was a traitor among us who was going to kill me. Due to something Harry said I worked out it was somebody who voted against bringing Harry here. I'm sorry that we didn't tell you all but we were all suspects."

Luna sighed and spoke up.

"She's fine though I've given her something that will make sure she won't have anything to do with the battle. She'll be punished after we defeat Voldemort. Now I think we better get things set up."

Everyone began to move out of the hall, among the first were the pranksters going to set up the traps and the Aurors who wanted to position themselves in secure places to surprise the enemy.

Luna sat next to Harry while everyone ran around and she looked closely at him, he looked tired and older than he was, almost ready to give up.

"Harry I know anything I say won't change the past five years, but good luck today."

"If I fail he's going to kill you all."

"If we're dead we won't have to live under his ruling."

He smiled at her and she did the same back.

"You're godfather would be proud of you."

"Thanks."

A loud sound came from outside and Hannah quickly shoved her head into the hall.

"They've arrived."