"Ah, come on, it'll be fun," Ginny wheedled.
"And Harry will be there," Hermione added.
"Oh, well if Harry's going to be there." Roxie and Hermione laughed. Ginny gave a weak smile and then looked at her feet. They gave the password to the Fat Lady and they entered the common room. Ginny bade them all goodnight, rather halfheartedly, as Ron forced a few little first years to move from the best chairs in front of the fire. Harry sat in one and Roxie sat in his lap. Ron sat in the other and patted his own lap. Hermione sighed and then sat down on his knee.
"So Roxie doesn't think she's going to come to the meeting," Hermione started.
"Ok," Ron seemed cheered. Harry glared at him. Ron corrected his statement. "I mean, Roxie I'm really sorry for being such a git," though he didn't sound sorry at all.
"So why don't you want to come to the meeting?" Harry asked. He rubbed her arm and kissed her neck.
"I just don't think that…what with Voldemort back to strength…" Roxie was floundering. Hermione and Ron flinched when Roxie said the name.
"But that's exactly why you need to come. Voldemort has already killed two of us, who's to say we won't be next?" Harry questioned.
"Way to be cheery, mate," Ron added.
"He's right though. I think now the meetings are even more important than they were last year," Hermione gave Ron a pointed look.
"I know, but…" Roxie didn't know what to say.
"What do you have to lose?" Harry gave her one of his soul-searching stares. "Please do it for me. It would be so much easier for me to sleep at night, knowing that you can defend yourself. I don't want you to die." How can I say no? Roxie kissed him.
"Ok, for you."
"Awww, that's so sweet," Hermione seemed near to tears. Roxie pulled a pillow from beside her on the chair and hurled it across the room where it collided with Hermione's head.
"So I think we should just use my coin and see who from the old group shows up. If there aren't that many, well then we can open it up to the whole school," Harry said.
"When do you think the first meeting will be?" Hermione asked eagerly.
"I don't know. Maybe…"
"I know you have the final Quidditch match on Saturday, so Sunday," Hermione finished.
"Umm…" Harry started.
"Great, well I'm off to bed. Roxie come on we have class in the morning," Hermione bossed. She kissed Ron and then walked over to the stairs.
"I'm coming mom," Roxie called to her. Then she turned to Harry and said, "I guess it's my bed time. See you tomorrow." She pecked him on the cheek and then followed Hermione, obligingly up the stairs.
Friday passed by smoothly. Roxie even managed to produce a semi-decent Babbling Beverage, though it was more silver than grey. She did, however feel that Snape could not fail her for it. Harry and Roxie were the second best, following Hermione, at the fire Charm, and were therefore some of the few who escaped without any extra homework.
Saturday was one of the happiest days Roxie had had at Hogwarts. The final Quidditch match passed by in a blur. One minute Roxie was walking out onto the field, the canary yellow robed Hufflepuff team doing the same on the opposite side of the field. Then before she knew it Gryffindor was ahead by fifty points. The next moment she was entangled in a many armed hug, floating down to the ground, smiling at Harry who had a tiny golden ball with wings in his hand. And then she was being lifted onto the shoulders of the Gryffindor fans, Harry opposite her with the cup raised high. Her next recollection was of her and Harry in the common room, entwined in one another as a celebration party raged around them. She went to bed that night, very content.
Sunday dawned chilly and gray. Roxie awoke to a scuffling in the direction of her roommate. Hermione was writing furiously on a piece of parchment. "What are you writing?"
Hermione jumped a little. "Oh I didn't realize that you were up. This is just a list of all the people that I can remember from last year. I want to see how many of them show up." Roxie just shook her head and rolled off her bed, to get dressed. "Ready to go?" Roxie nodded and the two of them walked down to breakfast. The ceiling was a dark gray with clouds swirling every where. Roxie and Hermione sat down and started to eat. They were talking when an owl swooped down and dropped the Daily Prophet in Hermione's lap. She paid the owl. "Do you mind?" Roxie shook her head and Hermione immersed herself in the day's top stories.
Moments later Harry walked into the Great Hall, leading a very sleepy looking Ron. Hermione folded her paper. Harry pecked Roxie and then sat down. "So are you ready for today? Got everything planned?" Hermione interrogated Harry.
"Yeah I think so."
"I can't wait," Ron said as he shoveled eggs and sausage onto his plate. The four of them chatted as they ate. When every plate was empty, including Ron's, they walked out of the Great Hall.
"It's only 10:00," Harry said, checking his watch. "The meeting isn't until noon."
"We could go out flying, blow off some steam," Ron suggested. Roxie and Harry nodded in agreement. As the three of them grabbed their brooms, Hermione got a book.
Three brooms shot into the air, racing each other around the pitch. Hermione shook her head at them and then became absorbed, once again, in her book.
Noon arrived, the four were making their way to the seventh floor. "So where are these meetings to be held?" Roxie asked.
"The same room that we used on Valentines Day," Harry responded.
"Used on Valentines Day?" Ron raised his eyebrows at the two of them.
"Oh shut up," Roxie retorted. But they had reached the painting of Barnabas. Harry paced up and down the corridor three times and then the door appeared. The four of them rushed in.
"Now we wait," Harry said. The four of them sat down on cushions in the middle of the floor. Roxie was looking around at everything. Everything they could possibly need was in here. Books, cushions for stunning, feather, everything.
Ten minutes later people began to trickle in, most looked excited, one boy even gave a squeak when he entered. "Colin Creevey," Harry explained. Roxie nodded, she had heard stories. Once everyone had settled down, Harry stood up. "Ok well it's great that all of you came here today. We have a new member too, Roxie. Most of you know her as…"
"Your girlfriend," one of the people snickered.
"No, I was going to say as one of the Gryffindor Beaters. But anyways, today I thought we would review Patronuses because most of you didn't quite get it last year." Everyone spread out and began practicing. Shouts of "Expecto Patronum" could be heard coming from everyone. After a few attempts by Roxie, Harry walked over. "You have to think of something happy."
"I am," Roxie stated. She was becoming frustrated.
"I mean really happy." Roxie closed her eyes. I never had to do the task. Harry and I are still together. Voldemort doesn't care. "Expecto Patronum." A silver bear erupted from the end of her wand. It cantered around the room.
"Good job," Harry whispered. He kissed her on the cheek and then walked around the room, watching others attempt to produce their own Patronuses.
At five o clock, Harry shouted at everyone. "That was great. Most of you have it now. I don't know when the next meeting will be. We'll use the coins or we'll tell you." Everyone left, talking about what their Patronuses and debating what they thought they would be doing next. Ginny hung back. Ron and Hermione started talking to her while Harry and Roxie tidied up. The door opened and Dobby entered.
"I has another message for you from Professor Dumbledore," Dobby squeaked as he handed an envelope to Harry.
"Thanks Dobby," Harry said. The elf bowed and exited. Harry ripped open the envelope. "He wants us in his office."
"Ok I'll see you later," Roxie waved and then started to leave.
"All five of us," Harry finished.
"Are you sure?" Roxie didn't want to get her hopes up.
"It says so right here." Harry handed her the letter. She scanned it and it confirmed what Harry said. "We better get going though, because it says he wants us there at 5:30." The five of them walked out of the room and started toward Dumbledore's office.
When they reached his door they knocked. A tired voice from within called them in. Opening the door, revealed Dumbledore, sitting behind his desk. He looked very tired indeed. Dark circles had formed beneath his eyes, but he still sat erect as ever. "Sit, sit." He gestured to the chairs that were once again in front of his desk. "So you had your first meeting tonight." The five of them nodded as they sat down. "Good, good." But Dumbledore sounded distracted. "Would anyone like anything to drink?" He raised his wand, but they all shook their heads. "Ok well then, now to the reason that I called you here. Where to begin, where to begin…I guess I should start by asking have any of you ever heard of Horcruxes?" The five looked at one another with confused expressions. "Ah…I didn't believe so. It's not something that you typically hear of. Well a Horcrux is, in the most simple terms, an object in which one can house a piece of their soul. It can save the person from death, unless the Horcrux is destroyed."
"So, sir, why doesn't everyone have a Horcrux?" Ginny asked.
"Well, Miss Weasley, in order to make a Horcrux, one must commit the most extreme evil act. I am speaking of course of killing. When a wizard kills the sould is torn apart. A wizard who wishes to create the Horcrux uses this moment to encase the part of his soul in an object. Now I believe that, and I think that I am correct in thinking that, Voldemort would want to ensure that he goes the farthest to evade death. The most powerfully magic number is seven."
"He made seven Horcruxes?!?!" Ron was shocked.
"I believe so Mr. Weasley."
"But that would mean that he had to kill…" Hermione was shocked.
"Seven times," Dumbledore supplied.
"So we have to destroy seven Horcruxes before we can kill him," Harry too was shocked.
"Well actually it's only six. The final part of his soul remains within himself. And you destroyed one, the diary. Leaving five. I, however, have destroyed four. A ring, a locket of Salazar Slytherin, a cup once belonging to Helga Hufflepuff, and his snake, Nagini. Voldemort felt a strong connection to Hogwarts, so I believe that he attempted to make a Horcrux from every founder. The only remaining artifact of Godric Gryffindor remains with me however." He waved to the sword. "This led me to believe that the final Horcrux was an object belonging to Rowena Ravenclaw. Through some careful searching, I believe I have found it. A mirror with an eagle on the front. It resides in the house of Voldemort's late father. Now, the task I am about to ask of you is going to be difficult and dangerous. Know that you have every right, and I will understand, to refuse." The five of them looked at one another thinking the same thing, there was no way they would refuse it.