Later that night Ron, Hermione, Harry and I talked in the common room.

"That foul, evil, old gargoyle." Hermione growled, pacing in front of us. We're not learning how to defend ourselves. We're not learning how to pass out OWLs."

"She's taking over the school." I sighed.

'Security has been and will remain the Ministry's top priority.' Harry put the volume up, as the minister of magic spoke. 'Furthermore, we have convincing evidence that these disappearances are the work, of notorious mass murderer Sirius Black.'

"What in the bloody hell!" I yelped. "Sirius was clear of all charges! How dare he try and put this on him! I swear to Merlin that the first chance I get, I will turn him into a worm!"

'I rather enjoy this banshee side of you.' We all froze at the sound of the voice. 'Harry.'

"Sirius!" Harry rushed towards the fireplace. "What are you doing here?" We all gathered around, to see Sirius's face in the flames.

"Answering your letter. You said you were worried about Umbridge. What's she doing?"

"Making our lives a living hell." I grumbled.

"Training you to kill half-breeds?" He glanced towards me. "Well hello, love."

"Hey."

"Sirius she's not letting us use magic at all." Harry replied.

"Well, I'm not surprised. The latest intelligence is that fudge doesn't want you trained in combat."

I frowned. "Combat?"

"What does he think, that we're forming some sort of wizard army?" Ron asked.

"That's exactly what he thinks. That Dumbledore is assembling his own forces to take on the ministry. He's becoming more paranoid by the minute. The others wouldn't want me telling you this, but things aren't going at all well with the order. Fudge is blocking the truth at every turn, and these disappearances are just how it started before. Voldemort is on the move."

"Well, what can we do?" Harry asked.

The sound of a door closing caused us all to jump.

"Someone's coming. I'm sorry I can't be of more help, but for now, at least, it looks like you're on your own."

I watched as he disappeared, letting his words sink in. We had nothing, we were at a complete standstill. Staring out the window, I took comfort in the thunder.

"He really is out there, isn't he?" Hermione asked. "We've got to be able to defend ourselves. And if Umbridge refuses to teach us how. We need someone who will." They turned to me and harry.

I turned toward them. "I am in. Harry?" He gave me a stiff nod. "Better than a no, tomorrow we spread the word."

"I know just the place to meet." Hermione added.

"Alright, let's get to work."

It took us two weeks to get everything prepared. We spend most of the night slipping letters to each student under the door with the information. Seeing as it would be Saturday, we didn't have to worry about classes. We were careful in who we brought in many still believed it was a lie.

The next morning we left early just outside of school ground, a small pub empty and secluded. I probably would have picked a different location, but it works. Slowly everyone we had on the list showed up, now came the hard part.

"Hermione all you." I nudged her to get up.

"Um...hi."

I had completely forgotten we hadn't really had anything prepared, but hey she was killing it.

"So you all know why we're here. We need teachers. Proper teachers. Ones who had real experience defending themselves against the dark arts."

"Why?" One kid asked.

"Why?" Ron scoffed. "Because you know who's back you tosspot."

"So he says."

"So Dumbledore says." Hermione snapped.

"So Dumbledore says because he says." The kid said. "The point is, where is the proof?"

I scoffed. "How in the bloody hell do you want him to get proof? Oh I know how about we go, ask the dark lord politely to come for show and tell."

"If potter could tell us more about how Diggory got killed." Another of the boys asked.

Standing up I stood before them. "What is that you want? details? Is it not enough that he was murdered? Why are you all so fixated on that? Cedric was killed by the order of Voldemort. Oh, I know you want to know the spell he used correctly? How about I simply show it to you?" They leaned back in fear as I whipped out my wand.

"Athena." Harry placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'm not gonna talk about Cedric, so if that's why you're here, clear out now." Harry made a move to leave, just before I could grab him.

"Is it true you can produce a Partronom charm?" Luna asked.

"Yes." Hermione jumped in. "I've seen it, both Athena and Harry are capable of many things."

"Blimey, I didn't know you two could do that." Dean chuckled.

"And he killed the basilisk, with the sword in Dumbledore's office." Neville added.

"It's true." I mumbled.

"Third year, he fought off about a hundred dementors." Ron smirked.

"Last year he did fight you know who in the flesh." Hermione said.

"Wait." Harry sighed. "Look, it all sounds great when you say it like that, but the truth is most of that was just luck. I didn't know what I was doing half the time. I nearly always had help."

"He's just being modest." Hermione laughed.

"No, Hermione he isn't." I said. "If we are going to teach them and they are going to learn, they might as well start now. Best treat this as more than a class."

"Facing this stuff in real life, is not like in school. In school, if you make a mistake, you can just try tomorrow. But out there, when you're a second away from being murdered, or watching a friend die right before you're eyes. You don't know what that's like." Harry sat back down, waiting to see what happens.

Hermione sat beside him. "You're right, Harry we don't. That's why we need both of your help. Because if we're to have any chance at beating...Voldemort."

The youngest of the group spoke for the first time. "He's really back." Harry nodded.

"Well Fred and I are all in, lets get this started!" George yelled laughing.

"Confringo!" All eyes turned to me from the hole in the wall. "This isn't a game. Not something where you can get your thrill, adrenaline-pumping, and heart-racing for the hell of it. You do this and keep in mind that you are fighting for your life and the person beside you. There is a storm coming, a storm made of dark creatures, bad witches, and wizards. All coming for each and every one of us." Seeing the fear sweep into each and everyone's eyes, I knew it was finally sinking in. "So dig deep down and I mean deep because if this catches us unprepared we are good as dead." George slowly sat back down, mumbling a sorry. "Do not apologize. Simply do what I asked, find that courage."

Surely all lined up to sign the list now called Dumbledore's army. I watched as the youngest one slowly took the quill and signed his name. He was a first-year student, although I would personally have said no to him, he needed this much more than everyone else. As we headed back to Hogwarts, a letter fell just at my feet. Picking it up I quickly recognized the writing.

Athena,

Forgive me for not writing earlier, but as you can imagine some things are not running too smoothly. I have news of the request for the extension. It has been granted, we have until the end of the holiday break. I meant to let you know sooner, but I thought me being on fire surround by others was not the best time. As for the wedding date, I much prefer the week before Christmas. But the ultimate decision is all yours.

Sirius Black.

"What's he say?!" Hermione yelled.

"I think my ears just popped." Opening my mouth a few times, I handed the letter to her. "The week before."

"Have you decided where you wanted to have the wedding? What you are going to dress in? Who is invited and who isn't?" Hermione began babbling off all these questions.

"Mione stop! You are giving me a headache." Grabbing the letter back, I sat on a stone bench. Glancing back at Harry, I knew at the moment where my head was. "Let's worry about the army, then the wedding. Besides I still have three months."

And damn did they pass by quickly. We spent from three to four hours every day in the requirement room, working on our magic. Harry was in charge pretty much, he knew the more less-lethal spells, mine were sure to take a life away. At the moment we were still in the clear, no one has been able to discover our little secret.

At the same time Hermione, Ginny, and I were also working on the wedding. I told them right away, that I wanted something small and intimate. I wanted only friends and family. Sirius had sent me a wedding planner to get things done easier, luckily for us she was nice and made no fuss about what I wanted...well most of the time. After the decorations were chosen, the catering picked and invitations made, our sole focus was the dress, bridegroom, and bridesmaid. I had asked Hermione to be my maid of honor. Sirius had asked Remus. Ginny, Luna, Stacy, and Cho were bridesmaids. As for the men it was the twins, Ron and Harry. Snape had gotten tired of me asking him every day if he would walk me down the aisle, to the point that every time he saw me, he'd simply say yes and walk off.

Hermione walked in on me sitting on my bed with invitations yet to be sent out. "What's the matter?"

"The moment I send these out, it will be real. In a month I will be Athena Black. Do you understand what that means? I am going to be married! I don't want to get marry!" Falling to the ground, I took a few deep breaths. Hissing at the burning sensation I got on my finger. "Bloody hell!"

"What?"

"It burns!" Pulling the ring off, I frowned. It was the blood ring, but why would- "Oh god, Sirius!"