"I really don't see the purpose in doing this, 'Mione! We're not going to get a chance to have our event anyway." Ron grunted and leaned back in his chair in exasperation. Ink covered his finger tips and a smudge on his nose from when he had itched it. A pile of incomplete invitations sat before him.
"Don't you say that!" Hermione waggled her finger at him. "Everything will go fine and Gryffindor will put on their event!" Her tone said that she would not hear any arguments on the subject. She was addressing envelopes in her perfect handwriting and made anyone do over their invitations if they misspelled something or smudged the ink.
"Why even bother? Slytherin had the best event. Everyone knows that." Draco drawled from the other side of the room where he was teaching some younger Slytherins a few immobilizing curses.
"Shut up, Malfoy!" Ron grumbled back and picked up his quill again, looking as if he wanted to stab the Head Boy through the eye with it.
Draco merely grinned, winking at his girlfriend who was sitting at the table helping the Gryffindors with their invitations, and then turned his attention back to the younger students. There had been some people who had gone tense in the room expecting him to go over and get in Ron's face, but though there was always words exchanged between them, there had been no fights. The Houses were united completely even with the verbal pokes they gave each other.
"It does seem kind of pointless with all that's going to happen..." Harry added quietly, in agreement with his best friend.
"And with all that has happened." Ginny sighed, but went about her task with a furious purpose. "More students left after those twins disappeared and less wizards would come to Hogwarts now... Who knows how many would even want to come after..."
Rhyann sat silently, writing out the invitations to various wizards famous for their dueling skills. There was not a twitch or even a blink at the mention of the missing Mulciber twins. It had seemed like a dream. In essense, it was a waking dream for her. She had not meant to kill Imene, but it had happened and she felt no guilt about it. They could not let those children go after seeing her alive. She would not let them ruin everything.
The school went into a quiet flurry when the twins had been discovered missing. Draco had played his role well, causing a fuss and demanding that his cousins be found. The Mulciber family along with the Malfoys created trouble for Hogwarts as well. Nothing the Headmistress could say would mollify them. It was only Professor Snape that assured them all was being done and an investigation had finally concluded that the children must have went to the Forbidden Forest, or at least very close to it, and were snatched away.
She, too, did not think there would be any event for Gryffindor. Within a week, the Dark Lord would be mounting his final battle to take control of the wizarding community. The horcruxes had all been destroyed. Whether Voldemort was aware of that or not, none of them knew. Not even Snape was sure of it. They were confident they could hold Hogwarts against what would come, but they could not speak for the rest of the targets. After it all, it was almost certain the school semester would not be completed and thus the dueling competition would not go on.
"With all that has happened and what will happen," Hermione stated determinedly, "such an event to bring everyone back together for a fun time will be much needed. You all need to stop being so pessimistic."
"It's not pessimistic, it's realistic." Ron snorted but dared not to look up lest his girlfriend was glaring at him.
"Everything is planned out perfectly. We will win." The Head Girl continued, making sure to look at everyone in the room with that as if she could inspire confidence in them. "People are resilient. They bounce back quicker than you think. Our event will be much needed for celebration."
Draco came up behind the dreamer and rested his hands on her shoulders. "Granger is right, you know. We can't lose. It's all about your attitudes too. Call it optimism or confidence, whatever. Our victory is realistic."
Everyone gaped up at the Head Boy. Finally, Millicent gave a little huff and turned back to the book on her lap. "Now I really know the end of the world is near. Malfoy agreed with Granger!"
Before any laughter could erupt, the door flung open and Snape billowed in with his black robes. "It's happening now! At the last minute, the Dark Lord moved up the time. The Ministry is already being taken over. I want everyone where they're suppose to be! No dawdling!" He snapped at some of the younger students and they scurried out of the room, pale faced, but moving nonetheless.
The older teens all stood up, various expressions on their faces. Drucinda gripped her girlfriend's hand. "Why... why did he change the date? I mean, no one would know..."
"Many knew." Snape replied tightly. "It's his way of keeping even his own followers on their toes. He doesn't trust all of them. This way he can be sure to have the element of surprise."
"Is it still going to be the same here?" Harry asked, his eyes bright like green fire. His wand was already in his hand and both were closed tight in fists.
The Deputy Headmaster nodded. "Thirty Death Eaters to subdue the staff and students along with my help and those who are loyal to the Dark Lord." He glanced at Draco and Rhyann. "The first thirty will think it an easy task, expecting me to have done the majority of the 'subduing.' We deal with most of them and let one escape to inform his master. That will bring him here. Then the real battle will begin." He finished ominously. "They are already at the gates."
"Let's go then!" Ginny was the first to race out of the room followed by Drucinda, Ron, Hermione, Millicent, and Blaise.
Draco did not move from his place beside his love yet. "I still think I should stay here and protect Rhyann. She is too crucial to the plan to be left alone."
"Miss Rookwood will be the safest of all of us." Snape stated stiffly. "We need you down with us, Mister Malfoy." He did not appear to like to say so, but he had to admit the teen's magic was one of the strongest in the group. His reflexes were quick and his curses perfect.
"Don't worry about me." Rhyann assured him and gave his hand a squeeze. "This room will protect me. No Death Eater would be able to find it. Besides, I will be down there with you all in a way. We've all discussed this before. You know where you have to be, and there is no time to argue about it any more."
Draco knew they were all right even though he didn't want to leave her side. He darted in, giving her a passionate kiss. "I'll see you back up here when it's all over then." He then took off out of the room towards the front entrance of the school.
Rhyann had her breath taken away and could not reply, but mentally sent him her love and good luck. She had times when she was very worried about him. Draco was daring and took chances. What if he did so and got himself killed during the battle? She didn't want to think of it right now, but it sent a few shivers through her.
Unclenching one of his hands, Harry reached over and squeezed one of hers. "I know we can do this, Rhyann." The fire still burned in his eyes, but there was a flash of a scared boy about to face his darkest fear.
"I know it too, Harry." She finally got her voice back and turned to the final wizard in the room once Potter ran off.
Snape narrowed his eyes at her. "A lot rests upon you, Miss Rookwood. I really hope we can trust you."
"You can trust that I want my freedom from the Dark Lord's grasp and the only way to do so is to see him dead." Rhyann replied coolly.
Snape gave a little grunt in response to that. He still had his doubts about the dreamer, but he did know that she wanted to be free. "You know what you have to do then." With that, his robes swept around and he left the room, shutting the door behind him.
She could understand the professor's fear. If things did not go as they planned, he would be facing the worst punishment of them all. Rhyann reminded herself that she could not be worrying about Snape though. He did not want to be worried about either. He had suggested to her in the stages of planning ways she could help the other students and staff. Everyone but himself. She never offered up any help for him in case he got in trouble for she knew that he would glare at her and refuse it. Her energy had to concentrate on helping Harry any way she could when the time came that he had to face Voldemort.
Rhyann sat down in one of the chairs, drinking a big glass of water that appeared beside her. She would have to make sure she was well hydrated for she did not know how long she would be projecting. She had spent an entire afternoon away from her physical body before and found that she was dizzy with lack of water when she came back to it. This time she would not have to worry about that.
Closing her dark eyes, she began her meditative breathing. It took merely seconds to ready herself and project herself hidden near the gates. She knew the exact spot that she wanted to be at. She would be able to peer through the bushes at the approaching Death Eaters and none would see her because one would have to know how to walk through rock to get into the spot.
The dreamer was just in time to see the black robed figures walk by. All of them wore their hoods up but only some had on the ivory masks. They did not seem to be worried about anyone knowing their identities for they were completely sure of their victory. They would no longer have to hide their alliegence to the Dark Lord when he took over.
She was there mostly to count, to make sure there were only thirty. The number was correct. Snape had been told the truth. Yet she also made sure to look at the faces if they were exposed. She did not recognize many, but there was one she thought to be a cousin of Drucinda's. He did have the straight but button ended nose of the Notts.
Her mouth dropped open at the sight of one of the last Death Eaters without a mask in the line. Her uncle Darcy.
What was he doing here! Rhyann did know he was a Death Eater. She almost thought for a second that he was there to assure her safety, but then remembered he believed her dead. He looked tired and grim. In the depths of his dark eyes, she could see the sadness at losing her still. She had seen the wound in his mind. It would be one that would not heal for a long time.
She had not expected any of her family here. She had thought they would be with the group at the Ministry or the ones at the muggles' royal palace. Her heart fluttered and she went back to her physical body for a brief minute. Rhyann was going to have to make sure that Darcy was the one Death Eater chased off from the school. She did not want to risk him being hurt or killed.
None of her family was suppose to be there! In her own mind, she had imagined that the death of the Dark Lord would free them as well and they could be a family once again. She still wanted it. Her heart ached for it.
Rhyann projected herself to where Harry and Blaise were hidden behind a statue in the entrance hall. Snape was waiting at the doors to let the Death Eaters in, getting behind him so none would escape. The remaining staff and few seventh year students were hidden around the hall. "It is thirty. Over confident too."
The two teen boys nodded and Rhyann vanished, going around to each spot and informing people that the original number was correct. There was nothing for her to do after that. There were far more teachers and students than there were Death Eaters arriving. Plus they had the element of surprise.
She projected to another hiding spot outside, watching Snape silently letting the black robes figures into Hogwarts. The sun was setting at the moment and cast a orangish-red light upon the stones of the school. The crickets were beginning to chirp as well unaware of the immense important of what was going to happen.
Once all the Death Eaters were inside, it begun. There were cries of Hogwarts and surprised shrieks from the ambushed Death Eaters. She could not see what was happening from where she was hiding, but it seemed that the staff and students were making quick work of it.
Two managed to escape out the door, each running in separate directions. They could not disapparate from Hogwarts grounds and had to flee on foot. Snape darted out the door and chased after the one going in the opposite direction that she was hiding. The other Death Eater ran by her hiding spot.
The Rookwoods had always had a strange sort of luck. She couldn't stop a smile as she recognized Darcy. She had heard myths on the island from the crones that the raven was the symbol of the god of trickery and luck. For one had to have a certain amount of luck to get away with as many tricks as the raven did!
Rhyann altered her form, making her all silvery white and transparent. She stepped out of her concealed position and called to her uncle.
Darcy immediately stopped, whipping around. His face was red from the fight and running, but pale from the sight of his niece at the same time. "Rhyann..." There were tears in his voice. He was beholding what he believed to be her ghost. "Rhyann... why didn't you go on to the other side? Why stay here? I love you so much..."
"You have to run, uncle." She desperately wanted to go over and embrace him. The look on his face made her chest constrict. "Run as fast as you can and get back to your lord. Tell him that Hogwarts isn't going to fall."
"Yes... I will tell him." Darcy nodded, running a hand through his hair. It did not help gain back any of his usual calm coolness.
"You must promise me not to come back either. When your lord comes here, and he will, I don't want any of my family here for that fight. It is too dangerous. Please tell me you won't come back."
"Rhyann... I can't..." He was cut off by the doors being pushed open and the Headmistress along with a few other professors coming out.
"Run!" Rhyann disappeared herself, not wanting any of them to know she had contact with her uncle. She returned to her physical body and found herself wiping at tears in her eyes. She didn't know if Darcy would listen to her warning. She didn't know if he would be allowed to stay behind. Now it was only a matter of waiting for the real and final battle.