Chapter 17: Back to School

Harry woke up the next morning by Mrs. Weasley shouting through the door.

"It's Monday! You have to go back to school!" Ron rolled over in his bed. The right side of his face was red from laying on it while his hair was sticking straight up.

"Wha…?" he drooled into his pillow.

"School, Ron, we got to go back," Harry explained to his obviously confused friend.

"Oh…yeah…yeah," he said, getting up. The boys dressed and waited for the girls. It was obvious that the Knight Bus would be taking them back to Hogwarts.

"Well, off we go," Tonks said. It was clear that she didn't want to cross any lines with the Weasleys.

"'Ello, young riders of the Knight Bus! 'Ow are ye?" Stan said happily as they came up to him. Saying nothing, they piled into the bus and kept quiet during the ride to Hogwarts.

It seemed odd returning to classes; Hogwarts was in the back of their mind the past day. It felt as if they were entering a different world; one that was much less important. All of the students were already informed of what had happened to Percy, whispers could be heard whenever Ron or Ginny passed a group of people.

"I hate this," Ginny complained. "Everybody talking behind my back as if I don't know that my brother is going to be murdered before long,"

"That's no way to talk, Ginny. He'll be fine; you'll see," Harry said. Ron glared at him, then to a group of whispering second years.

"You don't know what you're talking about, Harry! You think you're all high and mighty, but you're not! My brother is in the hands of Voldemort and nobody is doing a thing to change that! Don't pretend that he's going to be fine, and don't pretend that you understand how we feel. Get out of my face, Harry, just go," Harry stared at Ron in shock, then turned his heel and went to the Great Hall alone. Harry threw himself onto the bench at the Gryffindor table; tears were stinging his eyes. How could Ron think that Harry didn't know how they felt? I lost my parents, he has no idea of what he's talking about!

"He's right, Harry," Hermione said from behind him.

"What? My parents died, Hermione! How could you all think that I don't know what it's like to lose my family?"

"You didn't know your parents. This is completely different; Ron grew up with Percy," she said. Harry stared at her, realizing that she was right. He never knew his parents, where Ron has known Percy all his life. Desperate to make up his mistake to Ron, he got up and searched the castle for him. It didn't take long; Ron was in the Common Room getting ready for classes.

"Ron, you were right. I thought I understood what you're feeling, but I don't. If you want, I'll make it up to you. I have an idea," Ron looked up at him waiting for him to go on. "We'll get Percy back ourselves,"

"Harry, that's insane. We can't go against Voldemort without help from the Order,"

"Yes we can. We've battled with some of the worst wizards known to have ever walked the earth. Back down in the Department of Mysteries we went against all of those Death Eaters! Don't even think about telling me that we can't do that again,"

"How can we do it, Harry? How will we get there? How will we get back?"

"Floo," Ron looked uncertain. "Ron, you're brother is being tortured; how can you even be thinking about this?"

"When?"

"Tonight, we'll bring some of the members of the DA from last year if they want to come," Ron nodded. At that moment Hermione came through the portrait hole.

"Where have you guys been? Classes! Remember? We're going to be late!" she stopped as she saw the serious looks on the boys' faces. "What's going on?"

"Come on, I'll explain on the way," Harry said, grabbing his bag. Once they were on the way to Defense Against the Dark Arts Harry began to fill in Hermione. "'Mione, we're getting Percy…tonight. We're going by Floo and we're bringing any volunteers from the DA," Harry was shocked when Hermione didn't abject to Harry's idea, instead she looked determined.

"We'll have to round them up, Harry. Do you still have the Galleon from last year?" Harry showed it to her. "Good, put in noon today; we'll meet everyone during lunch," Harry did as he was told. Ron jumped as he felt his own Galleon get hot.

It felt like an eternity as Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat in Defense Against the Dark Arts. The usually exciting class seemed more pointless the closer the clock came to striking noon. Harry could feel himself fidgeting in his seat as he stared at his watch, waiting. At long last the class ended, it was ten minutes before noon and therefore, there was plenty of time to get to the Room of Requirement. The Room of Requirement was what the group, known as Dumbledore's Army, used to practice their own Defense Against the Dark Arts the previous year. It was up to Harry to teach everything he could to the students willing to learn outside of Professor Umbridge's class, which taught next to nothing. Harry enjoyed teaching them for the most part, even Zacharias Smith, who was rude to Harry on more than one occasion.

The Room of Requirement was empty when the trio arrived. The room, which had been set up to practice magic last year, was now a smaller room with only a circular table in the middle with many seats around it. The table was made of black marble and the chairs were finely constructed polished wood. Harry sat down and Ron and Hermione took a seat on either side of him. It was then that members began to come in. Ginny and Neville arrived together and sat down, waiting for the others to arrive. Dean and Seamus arrived next along with Lavender and the Patil twins, closely followed by Cho. To Harry's surprise, Cho gave him a smile sat down. Zacharias Smith came in a short while after. Anthony Goldstein, Michael Cornor, Ernie Macmillan, Hannah Abbott, and Justin Finch-Fletchley also came through the door. Then at long last the Creevey brothers, Luna Lovegood, and Terry Boot came and it was time to get started.

"Well, I'm glad you've all come," Harry said.

"What's this about?" Zacharias Smith interjected.

"Don't interrupt me and you'll find out," Harry said. "Now, as you know, Percy Weasley has been kidnapped. I propose that since the Ministry wont get him back, that we do it ourselves. I'll take volunteers to the Malfoy Manor, where Percy is being held, by Floo; this is going to be dangerous, so don't come unless you're sure you're willing to risk your life," Harry looked around the group.

"This is crazy; have fun getting blown up," Zacharias said, as he got up and left. Everyone looked at one another, seeing if they were going to leave as well.

"I wont blame anybody for not wanting to go," Harry said.

"I'm sorry, Harry, but I can't," Michael Cornor said. Terry Boot and Anthony Goldstein nodded in agreement. The three boys left without saying anything else. Justin Finch-Fletchley left without saying a word.

"I think that this is insane…we have no business with this!" Padma Patil said. She got up and looked to her sister, expecting her to join her.

"I'm going with Harry," Parvati said. In a huff, Padma left.

"I'm going with you too!" Lavender said.

"I'll back you up, Harry," Ernie said. Cho nodded.

"Me too! Right, Dean?" Seamus said. Dean smiled.

"Well, you know I'm always behind you, Harry," Neville said.

"That goes for me as well," Luna Lovegood said, staring off into space. The Creevey brothers were almost jumping up and down from the excitement. Hermione gave him a 'don't let them come' look.

"Listen you two, I don't think you're ready for this," Harry said. The brothers looked crushed. "It's not because I don't like you or anything. It's just that you guys are just a little too undisciplined for this, no offense. Once you learn to control yourselves you'll both be extremely powerful wizards, I'm sure,"

"Yeah, sure Harry. You bet. No problem," Colin said. He and his brother Dennis left; both still looking as if their world had collapsed.

"Okay you guys, we have to plan this carefully," Harry said.

"Whatever you say, Harry," Ernie said.

"Er…right. Well, this is going down tonight. If you don't want to come, I wont blame you, remember that,"

"We said we're coming, so we're coming," Cho said. They all nodded.

"Okay then. Thank you all. You know how much this must mean to me and the entire Weasley family," they all nodded once again.

"We'll follow you wherever you go, Harry," Neville said. Harry could tell that he was being sincere.

"Tonight then, we'll get to the Malfoy Manor by Floo. Anyone have a specific preference for time?" they shook their heads. "Alright then, it'll be midnight, just to keep it simple. We'll all meet here at eleven thirty, I'll get here a little earlier to make sure that this room will have a fireplace and plenty of Floo powder for us…" The planning continued until it was time to get back to classes. As everyone left, they gave Harry a smile.

Harry's next lesson, Charms, also seemed boring. That day they were supposed to take notes on ancient spells, but Harry wasn't listening; he was writing the complete list of everyone going with him tonight.

Harry Potter

Hermione Granger

Ron Weasley

Ginny Weasley

Ernie Macmillan

Hannah Abbott

Neville Longbottom

Lavender Brown

Parvati Patil

Seamus Finnegan

Dean Thomas

Cho Chang

Harry looked at the list; were any of them going to die tonight? Fearing the answer, Harry forced himself to listen to Professor Flitwick. Legilimency went by in a breeze; it always did. But this time it felt as if it went by much faster; the clocks in the school must have found out that Harry was dreading that night. By the time it was over, it was already eleven o'clock. Instead of stopping by the Common Room, Harry went straight to the Room of Requirement. As he passed the area where the door was to appear, he thought we need a huge fireplace and lots of Floo powder…he walked past the stretch of hallway three times, concentrating hard. The large oak door appeared and Harry entered.

Inside, it was large enough for everybody to fit in. There was a magnificent fireplace at the end of the room, and right next to it, an enormous bowl of Floo Powder. Harry stood and waited patiently as everyone arrived. Before long, it was almost midnight, and everyone was prepared for what they were about to do. Harry looked each of them one at a time.

"This is your last chance to back out," he said. Everyone stood still; wands out, and ready to go rescue Percy. "Okay then…" Harry picked up a handful of Floo powder and everyone huddled inside the fireplace. He threw the Floo powder down; green flames soon erupted all around them. "Malfoy Manor!"