Chapter 8: An Army Begins to Form
When the six were finally released for lunch, Harry thought Ron would never speak to him again. Finally, the red-head had stewed long enough and was ready to make his complaints known. "He's bloody sadistic, mate! They all are. I will never survive these Sunday sessions."
Harry, for his part, shrugged noncommittally, "You can and you will, else he'll have my hide. So do me a favor and do survive. Mate, you're gonna eat all that?" Harry was incredulous. "That's all sugar!"
Ron glanced up. "Harry, does the bat also control what you eat? Even in the Great Hall?"
"He's not a bat, Ron," Harry scowled. "And the food I eat is appropriate nutrition-wise."
"You've changed," Ron sulked. "I don't think this is good for you!"
"Being an apprentice?" Harry glared at Ron. "It's the best thing to happen to me, Ron, and like it or not, Master Shadowman is important to me. Please accept him and show him the respect he deserves."
The group did not notice the three sets of eyes staring at them. "Well, Sev," the eldest began with a grin, "he's fully accepted his place. He's defended you to his friends. Do you accept this decision now? Surely, you see that your role has shifted from spy to advisor?"
"If it is the command of the Board, I will comply," Snape acquiesced, not taking his eyes off of the group, where new plans were unfolding for the day.
Ferraldin glanced at Ron who was still muttering, "I really feel you, Ron. Say, I cannot spend another hour in the library today. Is anybody up for some flying?"
Ron, his sore muscles forgotten, was enthusiastic. Ginny, while looking tempted, glanced first at Harry, then Terran, before shaking her head. "I'll have to raincheck it today. Harry, Terran, any chance either of you could join me for a talk with Silverwood? Snape or Saldor would do, too, but I have a favor to ask. Don't ask. You'll see later."
Both nodded, while Ron looked at Ferral. "Just you and I today, mate. Fred and George might want to join us, though. Hermione'll be in the library with Harry, I'm sure." The two boys shared a look of exasperation at their friends.
"Great. Any chance after that you might be interested in seeing if we can't get a date with Patil and Brown?" Ferral lifted an eyebrow and grinned.
Ron grinned. "I am liking you more and more every moment, Ferral." Harry and Hermione exchanged a sigh. At long last, Ron's more wild tendency appeared to have found a willing partner in crime.
Though, Harry acknowledged, perhaps that would mean he would spend less time in Snape's poor graces.
Both Ferral and Ron quickly finished lunch before hurrying off to find Fred and George, leaving Harry and Terran with the two girls.
"Do we try and stop them?" Harry asked the other three.
"Actually," Hermione was thinking aloud, "I wonder if Ferraldin and Ron's growing friendship will help them both. You have to admit, he and Ron have some eerily similar personality traits. Including jealousy of you, Harry. It must be hard for him to see you get on so easily with Snape, and your ability to lead comes on so easily."
Harry looked skeptical. "You don't think it will make them both more upset?"
Ginny shook her head. "No, I think they both need a normal friend. You're an incredible person, Harry, but sometimes it's hard for people who have great ambitions, but little motivation, to be around the shakers of the world. Not only are you getting rewarded for all of your hard work, but you are surrounded with powerful people who shape the world. They will offer one another a fraternity that you simply no longer can."
Harry sighed. "I guess it's worth hoping for."
Ginny arched an eyebrow at Harry as she picked up a carrot. "So, Harry, what's with the defense of Snape?" She saw Harry's expression darken. "I'm not saying you shouldn't defend him. You must admit that it's a sharp contrast from your earlier feelings about him, and I would think anybody forced to comply with such brutal-if necessary- training, would be reluctant."
Harry paused for a moment. He supposed it was a fair question, and one that he thought about frequently. He ignored Hermione as she briefly filled Terran in on the previous animosity between the student and teacher, including the part where the students had stunned Snape in the Shrieking Shack at the end of their third year. Terran looked surprised to learn that Harry wasn't always Snape's prodigy.
"He respects me, for one," Harry began as he ran his hand through his messy hair. "Once I proved my willingness to work, he began to trust me. Yeah, at first I was really reluctant, especially with bowing and 'milord,' because it seems so feudalistic, and, well, it felt very abusive initially. And, to be honest, I still feel that it is in some cases. The few times that Master Shadowman punished me physically, or even witnessed other masters doing so, he's been uncomfortable with it. He explains to me when I've done something wrong, and tends to err on the side of treating me more like an adult than a child. I am a better person because he's taught me to be a better person. I really feel that I have all this potential that I couldn't find on my own, and he's helping me.
"I know it sounds dumb and cheesy. But I think I'm going to get through this war because of him. But, I also really appreciate the moments we aren't training. And, well, never tell anybody this, but, I've never known what it's like to have parents. And he's obviously not my father, but, well. It's nice to have somebody making sure you don't get hurt, you know?"
He finally looked at his friends. Terran nodded ever so slightly, acknowledging that as an orphan, he knew exactly what Harry meant. Hermione was practically shaking in glee at Harry's admission, and Ginny, who smiled at him. "I'm sure he'd like to know that, Harry."
Harry vehemently shook his head. "Over my dead body. It's a matter of pride."
The girls rolled their eyes. "So, Ginny," Hermione prompted, "what did you want to talk with Silverwood about?"
Ginny shook her head. "Oh, nothing important. I need to learn how to fight better. I'll never learn to keep up with these brutes," she pointed at Harry and Terran. "But I would love to enter an intense training program, if I can convince them. I know that the Mastery does not allow women, but I know I have what it takes to fight."
"Ginny-"
"No, Harry," Ginny cut off what she knew was going to be a protest. "Nobody is safe until this war is over. If we're going to survive, we need to learn to fight. Especially Weasleys. We have been your strongest allies since you entered the wizarding world, and that won't go unpunished, if Voldemort has anything to say about it."
Hermione looked thoughtful. "You know, Ginny, you have a point. While I am not going to ever have the athletic capability to make me an excellent fighter, I have my strengths that we will need to work on for this war effort, and I will need to know how to defend myself."
Harry sighed. "Come on. I'm due to meet with Silverwood and Snape this afternoon anyway. Looks like they're leaving. Terran, are you coming?"
"I wouldn't miss this for the world," the other boy grinned, ignoring Harry's incredulous expression. "What? You know they are going to ask for an explanation. Hermione and Ginny will be twice as prepared as they expect, and you know those two are going to get what they want."
Harry resigned himself to his fate as he led the others to the conference room, that he and Terran had taken to calling the War Room. He just hoped the masters weren't irritated that he'd invited the others to this session.
Snape invited the four students in, gesturing for them to sit across the conference table from himself. Silverwood and Saldor, to Harry's surprise, were also seating themselves. "Master Saldor is here, as he will be helpful in planning what you are thinking about, Miss Weasley, Miss Granger."
"How much did you hear?" Harry asked, his face turning red.
Snape smirked at his apprentice. "I shan't reveal, as I'd prefer your over my dead body statement not to come to pass."
Harry's face continued to brighten and he stared down at the table. "Uh, ah. Ginny and Hermione wanted to talk to you," he attempted to push the subject away from the admission that the three masters were sure to have heard, and ignored that Silverwood and Saldor were clearly trying not to smirk at him, while Snape was openly gloating. After all, he'd overheard some pretty personal admissions from Harry in the Great Hall.
"Of course," Silverwood nodded. "Go on, but now you have realized that perhaps confidential information ought not be shared in a place such as the Great Hall?"
Harry sighed. He was right of course, but ignored it as Ginny began to weave the Potter-Weasley alliance in such a way that made it nearly impossible for anybody to disagree with her argument for more intense training than the other students. She pointed out the strengths in training a Weasley to be a bodyguard, which might cause opponents to underestimate the situation, and within twenty minutes, she had all three masters nodding at her.
As she closed her arguments, she drew Hermione in. Hermione indicated her research record, and the strengths that she could serve the war effort, because she had proven time again that her ability to do so rivaled McGonagall and Dumbledore, and that, while both had other responsibilities, she could focus more time and energy. She pointed out that she needed to learn to hone that ability, and how to communicate and interact with those in the field, and she could surely help.
Terran appeared to laugh outright at Harry's face, who was clearly reluctant to invite the others into the war-space, but knew that the two girls were right. Finally, as both closed their arguments, looking mighty pleased with themselves, Silverwood turned to Harry and Terran.
"Terran, as apprentice to the Master General, I would like to hear your observations on this proposal as it relates to strategy in war. Aeternus, as Junior Commander, your voice will be heard, also."
Terran glanced at Harry. "Sorry, Harry, I know you want to protect your friends, but their arguments are strong, especially if we can utilize the strengths of other students here, too. I think Harry needs a leadership team to surround and advise him, as he is only human. While the Board and Hogwarts staff will serve as Advisors, Harry should be developing his own army for the defense of the students, should Hogwarts be attacked. His leadership team will need to each play to their own strengths, just as any other army."
The three masters nodded at Terran, as Harry sighed. "No, you're all right, of course. We're all too young for war, but we must do what we can, so that when this is all over, we have lives and futures and families to return to. Terran, your idea of a leadership team is spot on. I'm not sure I can lead an army, though."
Silverwood ignored Harry's self-deprecating closing sentence. "This is fitting, as we'd initially wanted to speak about your hierarchy structure, Aeter. As Junior Commander, you report directly to me, parallel to my other officers. You are in charge of planning how to utilize the students who insist on fighting, and what limitations or requirements are. You'll be receiving more requests like Miss Weasley's, I'm sure."
Harry bit back a groan. It wasn't that this was a surprise, because he knew that it had been alluded to. But all Harry really wanted to do was go flying with Ferral and Ron. "Right," he ignored his deep desire to run away. "Well, hierarchical structure. I think I begin with my leadership team, who will require more training than the rest, so that they can help train the rest.
"Naturally, I'd like Hermione to focus on research. If Hermione can head up a team of students who are researching anything from healing to defense to offense, which will then be passed along to those participating in the fighting, that would allow more to get done.
"Ron and Ginny both have the personality to push people around- I say that with love, Gin- but I think that Ron needs to focus on strategy. He can work on movements, as he is terrible in academics, but a chess wizard. Beat McGonagall once, he did. He, with Fred and George, could lead a team of strategy and Alternative Methods, so they can put their heads together for more portable swamps and other ideas. I heard them muttering about 'Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder' the other day, and I must say it has potential.
"Ginny, with additional training, you could be a fantastic lieutenant, as your ability to think quickly on your feet and tell people to shut up could be good in high-stress situations. Terran, while you'd make a fantastic healer, I think you work best in the heat of battle, too. I'd want you to be another lieutenant. And, if I can ever figure out what is going on with Ferral, would be a great third one.
"Finally, I'd want Neville to work with Sprout and Pomfrey on training up a healing team. If war is coming, we need as many healers as we can get. We could use some of them for creating salves and potions, too."
Harry finished and took a deep breath. He'd said all of this without pausing to think, and, if he was honest with himself, he'd thought through this over the period of the last week, but hadn't bounced the ideas off anybody yet.
"Of course," Harry added, "I can't do this all on my own. I'll need you three to tell me when I'm making really stupid decisions," he admitted to his three mentors.
"As if we don't already deserve overtime," Snape muttered, causing Silverwood to snort, and Harry to glare.
As the masters finally agreed and dismissed Ginny and Hermione, Harry turned to say goodbye, surprised to find Ginny was already hugging him tightly. "We'll get you through this, Harry!"
Harry and Terran were finally released two hours later, after discussing ideas for training, uniforms, and titles. Leaving the room, Harry muttered to Terran, "It'd be less painful if I wrote Voldemort a letter and asked him to come pick me up for winter break."
Terran laughed. "You're speaking too soon. We need to find the others. You need to convene your first meeting and appoint everybody. You still have no idea how our illustrious Ron and Ferraldin are going to take being your lieutenants- it could go either really well, or piss poor."
Harry sighed. "Let's check the Library on the way to Gryffindor Tower."
As luck would have it, Ginny and Hermione were in the Library, no doubt getting a headstart on their roles. Harry was pleased to find that Neville was also studying at a table with them. He sent them ahead to the third floor corridor meeting space that would serve as his meeting place.
Terran continued with him to Gryffindor Tower, hoping to help deflect any protests from the two boys, who, last anybody had seen, had been hoping to find some dates. While the boys were in the Tower, neither were accompanied by any women, and looked quite put out by that.
Harry approached. "Ron, Ferraldin, would you care to join us in the third floor corridor for a meeting and a proposal. Ginny, Hermione, and Neville will meet us there."
The two boys exchanged a glance, shrugging at one another. "Sure," Ron agreed. "I'd rather not get slapped by Lavender again, thank you very much."
"Do we want to know?" Terran asked as they left the common room.
Ferral shook his head, "How should we know that women don't like to hear that they look nice!"
Knowing his friends, Harry sighed. He doubted their comments had been anything so innocent, as a polite "You look nice, today," but he dare not say anything at this point.
Ultimately, Harry needn't have worried about the two boys' responses. While Harry had a sense that the two boys had bonded immensely, they were both thrilled to be recognized for their talents, though Harry wasn't sure they'd outlive their jealousy yet. But it was a start.
He was beginning to have hope that maybe, he could do this.
