Harry Potter and the Charmed Ones

Chapter 7

-Piper-

The first week of classes went by exponentially slowly. I never really thought about how boring it must be for teachers to teach the same thing over and over and over and over again. There are seven years at Hogwarts and each lesson only has two Houses in it, which equates to fourteen lessons. It's different for other Hogwarts professors because they teach different material at each grade level. My sisters and I, however, are covering basics for the first couple of months so every single lesson is the same.

So we have to say the same things fourteen times.

It's maddening.

But also rather enjoyable. I never really thought that I would enjoy teaching but I guess it's the material that makes me like it. I like teaching the kids about our magic. It's something I'm so vastly knowledgeable about and they're all excited to learn about it.

Also, as far as I'm aware, the kids absolutely love it here. I haven't spoken much to them – despite teaching at their school, I rarely see them – but when I manage a quick word in after classes or during meals they're always glowing. It wasn't until these moments that I realized we did the right thing by bringing them here. I know that the kids, especially Melinda, love being surrounded by magic. They don't have to hide it and even though our magics are different, the children can relate to the students here in ways they never were able to relate to their friends at home.

On Friday morning, Neville Longbottom (he's head of the Gryffindor House and has been very helpful to my sisters and me, showing up at our cottages in Hogsmeade and asking us if we need anything) approached Phoebe, Paige, and I during breakfast.

"How are you ladies doing?" he asked pleasantly. "Good first week?"

"Long," we replied in unison.

"I'm looking forward to relaxing this weekend," Phoebe said. "And exploring Hogsmeade."

Neville nodded. "Yes, it's always rather tiring at first." He glanced around and then back to us. "Can I have a quick word with you all?"

We exchanged glances. "Sure," I said.

Neville stood up and led us to a chamber off the Great Hall. It was empty and after Neville shut the door behind himself, he said, "Have you heard of Dumbledore's Army?"

"Nope," replied Paige. "What is it?"

"Dumbledore's Army was an underground anti-Voldemort society formed when I was in school," Neville explained. "It was founded in 1995 by Harry Potter and Ron and Hermione Weasley as a way for the students to rebel upon the Ministry, which was slowly being taken over by Voldemort. The adults had their organization, so we students decided to form our own. This society was imperative to us winning the Second Wizarding War, because during meetings we learned useful spells that aided us during the Final Battle. It was officially disbanded in 1998 following Voldemort's defeat."

Phoebe nodded. "Oh." She paused. "Why are you telling us this?"

"Well," Neville said, "In light of the recent news that demons are infiltrating our world, as well as your proclamations of something called The Source, Dumbledore's Army is having its first meeting in twenty-two years to discuss the course of action against these demons. Of course, you three are invited to attend the meeting – actually, you three will be the guests of honor. The DA needs to know everything that you know about demons and the evil in your world so that we can all figure out what is going on."

I blinked. "Wow. That's intense. A secret society to fight off evil? Don't you have a government for that?"

Neville nodded. "Well, yes, but the DA is more exclusive. As I said earlier, the Ministry became pretty corrupt during the War. Dumbledore's Army brings together the most trusted wizards and keeps its discoveries secret until it is deemed necessary to inform the public."

"That's pretty cool," Paige said. "And I like the name. When's the meeting?"

"It's tonight, at Harry Potter's house," said Neville. "I will be there as well as a few other professors and most of the Weasley family. However, I advise you not to mention it to anyone but your families, as not everyone is a part of the DA."

"Can our kids come?" I asked. "Or is it an adults-only thing?"

"The legal age in the Wizarding World is seventeen," Neville responded. "Of course, you could bring your children if they're younger then seventeen if you desire, but it's not recommended. They really won't be able to contribute much and it will likely only serve to frighten them."

I nodded. "Chris will be pissed that Wyatt gets to go and he doesn't, but he'll just have to live with it."

"Thanks for the information, Neville," Phoebe said. "We'll orb over there tonight."

-Wyatt-

I glanced up at the staff table during breakfast on Friday and saw that my mom and Aunt Phoebe and Aunt Paige were mysteriously not there. I glanced around a few times, fairly confused, until I saw them exiting a side door behind the table. I stared at them until my mom looked directly at me and waved me over.

"I'll be right back," I said to Molly and Fred and jogged over to their table.

"Want to go to a super secret meeting tonight?" Mom asked quietly as soon as I reached the table.

"A what?"

"It's secret, so keep quiet," she said, "but there's some anti-evil meeting going on tonight that we're going to and because you're of legal age you can come, too. Try not to tease Chris about it too much because he's too young."

I was still a little confused but I just said. "Okay. Who else will be there?"

"According to Professor Longbottom, many of the Weasleys will be there," she said, keeping her voice low. "And it's at Harry Potter's house. I'm sure there will be more, though, the Weasleys are just the only people we've met so far."

"Are Fred and Molly going?" I asked.

My mom shrugged. "Professor Longbottom said that seventeen is the legal age here, so maybe. You can ask them but don't mention it to anyone else."

"Why is this meeting so secret? What are we gonna do there?"

She clenched her jaw and I instantly knew that I had asked too many questions. "We'll tell you later," she said through her gritted teeth.

I nodded and hurried back over to the Gryffindor table, taking my seat between Molly and Fred.

"What was that about?" asked Molly.

I noticed other people looking at me, so I said, "Later."

Molly and I finished our breakfast quickly and stood up to go to our morning lesson early. Fred didn't have a lesson in the morning, but I still told him to come with us. He gave me a confused look but followed anyway.

"Do you guys know about some anti-evil meeting happening tonight?"

"Anti-evil?" Fred repeated.

"Are you talking about Dumbledore's Army?" Molly asked.

"I have no idea," I said. "All I know is that there's some anti-evil meeting tonight at Harry Potter's house."

Molly and Fred turned to each other and nodded. "Yes, that's the DA," said Molly. "We'll both be there since we're of age. The younger kids won't, though, and don't know about it."

"It would frighten them to hear that there's a meeting," said Fred, "since they know that the last time the DA was active, it was because of Voldemort."

"What does Dumbledore's Army do, exactly?"

"Try not to say it too loudly," Fred hushed. "It's very secret. It was originally an organization for students to rebel against the Ministry. Now, though, I guess it's to fight whatever demons are from your world."

"We don't really know much else," confessed Molly. "I guess we'll just see when we get there."

-Chris-

Wyatt really knows how to push my buttons.

He pulled me aside during morning break to tell me that he and our mom and aunts were going to some top-secret anti-evil meeting at Harry Potter's house and that I couldn't go because I wasn't the legal age. Oh, and since it's top-secret I can't tell anyone about it.

So basically life is completely unfair and I can't even complain to anyone about it.

I spent the rest of the day quietly moping until James asked me what was wrong on our way back to the Gryffindor Tower at the end of the day.

"Nothing," I grumbled.

"Do you get this pissy often?" he asked innocently. "Your time of the month?"

I glared at him. "No." I glanced over my shoulder to make sure no one was around before saying, "Apparently there's some secret organization meeting tonight at your parent's house. Pretty much my whole family is going except for me. I'm not supposed to tell anyone, though, so you can't say anything."

James looked confused. "A secret organization meeting at my house?" he repeated. After a moment, a look of sudden realization crossed his face. "I can't believe it! They're having a meeting and don't even tell me!"

"What are you talking about?" I asked, perplexed.

"The damn DA is having a meeting and none of them told me," James scowled.

"Wyatt said the legal age is seventeen, though."

"It is. Still. They should have told me!"

"Well, if it makes you feel any better," I said, "Wyatt will tell me everything they talk about afterwards, and then I can tell you. But only if you promise not to tell anyone else. If word gets out, it'll be traced back to me."

"Promise!" declared James.

We reached the Fat Lady painting and gave her the password. Our lesson had gotten out forty-five minutes early so there weren't that many people in the common room – mostly only sixth and seventh years that didn't have any afternoon classes. Lucy and Roxanne had decided to enjoy the nice weather and study outside until dinner.

"So, I've been meaning to ask you," James started as we sat in two chairs near the window. "My mum warned me not to, because it's rude, but… what kind of powers do you have?"

I grinned at him. "If I tell you, will you tell me about yours?"

James nodded earnestly.

So far, all anyone at Hogwarts had seen of my powers were when I used my telekinesis to throw a knife at a demon and orbing. Ever since then, I could tell that James had been bursting to ask me to show him more. This had been his first opportunity, though – every other time we were surrounded by our roommates, family members, or in class.

"I kind of have a lot," I said. "And I can't show you them all. You've seen me orb before. And remember when my Aunt Paige showed us how she can make an object disappear in blue lights and reappear in her hand? I can do that, too – it's called telekinetic orbing. I can also sense my family members, like where they are. When I'm older, I'll become a Whitelighter, like my dad was. When that happens, I'll be able to sense my charges, too."

"Isn't that what your aunt does, too?" James asked, completely awed.

I nodded. "I have all the powers that come along with Whitelighters, which you haven't learned about yet – like glamouring, cloaking, light manipulation, and omnilingualism."

James blinked. "Omni-what?"

I smirked. "It's the ability to speak and understand every language. Wyatt can do it, too, and Tamora and Kat can kind of. They haven't fully developed it yet. And Henry will be able to one day, also."

"Whoa," James said softly with wide eyes. "How come your sister isn't part Whitelighter, too? Do you guys, like, have different dads or something?"

I laughed. "No. My dad used to be a Whitelighter, but after I was born he clipped his wings and became mortal. Basically, he wanted a more normal life with my mom and Wyatt and me. He used to be able to orb and heal and everything, but not anymore. Since he was mortal before Melinda was born, she's full witch. But she's pretty damn powerful anyway."

James nodded. "So, the other powers… what do they do?"

"Glamouring changes my appearance, cloaking can make me unable to be sensed, and light manipulation means that I can create and capture light. And I can do electrokinesis, which is the power to project electricity."

"That's so cool," said James. "And you can do it all with your hands?"

I nodded. "It's pretty sweet. Now, your turn. What can you do?"

James took his wand out of his bag and twirled it in his fingers. "I can perform Stunning and Disarming spells quite well," he said. "But in order to show you, I'd have to injure you, so…"

"I'll just take your word for it, then," I said quickly.

"I can also cast a Patronus charm," he said, "which is used to ward off Dementors. They're not really around anymore, but my dad still taught me how to do it." He glanced around the sparse common room. "I can't show you, though, because it'll cause too much attention. It's really cool, though – a really bright ghost-type stag comes out of my wand and gallops around me."

"That is cool," I said. "You'll have to show it to me one day."

At that moment, I glanced up and saw Wyatt and Molly entering the common room. I waved Wyatt over and the two approached us.

"I hope you two aren't doing anything to complicate my job as Head Girl," Molly said as soon as she reached us.

"Nah," said James. "Chris's just showing me his powers. Well, not even showing me. Just telling me."

"Have fun tonight," Wyatt smirked down at me. I narrowed my eyes.

"Can't wait to hear all about the top-secret meeting of anti-evilness," I said back and Molly quickly shh'd me.

"You can't go around saying that!" she hissed.

Wyatt glared. "I told you it was a secret."

"And Mom told you not to provoke me," I replied. "You know me better than to think I'm going to take your shit lying down."

"Wow, I can't believe you let it slip to me that the DA is having a meeting today," James said in an anything but believable way. "I guess you'll just have to tell me all about it."

"You told him?" Wyatt asked me.

"He's not going to tell anyone," I responded. "Besides, his dad's running the whole thing. I figured he would have found out about it eventually."

Wyatt rolled his eyes. "That's the last time I'll ever tell you anything…" he mumbled, heading up the stairs to his dorm to deposit his bag.

"Bet it won't be!" I yelled after him.

-Phoebe-

Following dinner in The Great Hall, my sisters and I went back to our cottages in Hogsmeade to drop off our stuff and change clothes. We may be living in a world where the people wear strangely colored robes all the time, but, unless we're teaching, we don't wear them.

"So you're going to an anti-evil meeting?" Coop said as I changed into normal clothes.

I nodded. "Yeah. I think the meeting is for us to tell them what we know about The Source and demons and stuff."

"Are you going to bring the Book?"

I scoffed. "Of course not. We'll just tell them about our past experiences with The Source, I think. I just don't really know what else we can say, because The Source is obviously a different one than the ones we've defeated before, so there's not much we can report until we actually try to fight him."

Coop frowned and was silent for a moment before saying, "Are you planning on fighting him?"

"I don't know," I said truthfully as I pulled the clip out of my hair to let it down. "We haven't exactly talked about it yet. We're too busy trying to get into the routine of being professors. Maybe if there's another attack, but for now it's not a priority."

"Good." Coop smiled and stood up.

The door opened downstairs. "Are you ready?" Piper called.

"Coming!" I pecked my husband on the lips.

Coop and I trudged downstairs and I went into the next room to say good-bye to Patty and Penny, both of whom were playing with a magical dollhouse bought for them by the elder Molly Weasley. Afterwards, Paige, Piper, and I grabbed hands and orbed to Harry Potter's house.

We orbed into the main hallway and heard a rumble of voices from downstairs in the dining room. We followed the sound and entered the dining room, where about twenty or so people were seated and chatting. Wyatt was already there, with both Molly and Fred Weasley and a couple other students.

"Ah! You're here!" I heard Ginny Potter say and I turned to see her looking at us.

Everyone stopped talking and turned to look at us. There were a few familiar faces (all Weasleys, of course) but the rest of the people we had never seen before.

"Everyone, these are the Charmed Ones," Harry Potter said from his standing position at the head of the table. "Piper Halliwell, Phoebe Halliwell, and Paige Mitchell," he said, pointing to each of us in turn. "Ladies, these are most of the members of Dumbledore's Army."

He started rattling off names, many of which I'm sure I won't remember tomorrow: Katie and Lee Jordan, Lavender Gelson, Michael Corner, Dennis Creevey, Seamus Finnigan, Rolf and Luna Scamander, Ernie Macmillan and his son Gary, Padma Stretton, Parvati and Dean Thomas and their daughter Sarita, Alicia and Oliver Wood, Hannah and Neville Longbottom, Teddy Lupin, and then some Weasleys – not all, but Ron, Hermione, George, Angelina, Percy, Fleur, Victoire, and Dominique were there.

"It's nice to meet you all," Piper said.

"This isn't the full DA," Harry said. "Some people are too busy to come. This is the majority of it, though. Everyone here was a part of the DA during its founding period and they all fought in the Battle of Hogwarts – minus the students, of course."

"That's very commendable," I said, truly impressed.

Harry nodded. "It's great to see how far the DA has come. When we were in school, the official anti-Voldemort society was called The Order of the Phoenix, and the DA was simply a way to teach students defensive magic while the Ministry attempted to prevent such things. But now we are the official society."

The people around the room clapped proudly. Ginny bustled over to us with three cups of tea; she waved her wand and summoned three chairs, handing us our tea as we sat down.

"But that's enough about us," Harry said. "This meeting is really for us to learn more about you three."

"We don't know much aside from what The Daily Prophet printed in its story about you," Neville added.

"You know, we've been hearing a lot about this newspaper article," Paige said, "but we haven't seen it yet. What did it say?"

Hermione bent down and searched through her bag. Finding the newspaper, she scanned through it quickly. "All it really says about you," she said, "is that you are a group of magical witches who don't need wands and fight evil creatures like warlocks and banshees." She was quiet as she continued to scan. "It also says that you are excellent potions masters and have invented many powerful ones."

"That's all it says?" I asked, surprised. "They didn't do much research."

"I think they based all their information on the potions that we have recorded from you three," Hermione explained. "For example, they mention you as fighting warlocks and banshees because there are potions in books published in our world that are to banish warlocks and banshees."

"What do you guys want to know?" Piper asked. "We would be here for days if we had to explain all eight years of our fights against evil."

"First and foremost, tell us about The Source."

-Wyatt-

It was hard to focus on my mom and aunts' story for two reasons.

One, because I've heard it a hundred times.

Two, because Dominique Weasley was sitting directly across the table from me, in between her older sister and her mother. I was finding it very hard to keep my eyes off of her. She had beautiful, strawberry blonde hair, a perfect, white complexion, stunning blue eyes…

"Are you even listening?" Molly hissed in my ear.

"I already know the story," I whispered back.

My mom was talking about The Source and what abilities he had when they fought him. They also talked about what kind of beings were usually The Source's right-hand-man, like the Seer. They mentioned the kind of potions they knew how to make that were very powerful and that my mom especially was very talented at creating potions. The entire thing took about thirty minutes and, when they were done, the DA members were all clearly impressed.

"So, I'm confused – you killed this Source thing, but he's back?" Lavender Gelson asked.

"Well, kind of," said Aunt Phoebe. "See, The Source is a position. Any high-power demon can claim the role of being The Source. It's difficult but not impossible. This is the first Source in a number of years."

"Do you know how to defeat it?" Lee Jordan inquired.

My mom and aunts exchanged glances. "We're not sure yet," Aunt Paige admitted. "But that's because we don't know what kind of demon The Source is and what kind of abilities it has. We have a spell that we've used previously to vanquish The Source, but we are not in a position to guarantee that that spell will work on whoever The Source is now. We are, however, capable of creating potions to vanquish almost anything."

"Our main worry," continued my mom, "is the fact that The Source is probably working together with some wand-wizards. We don't really know how much that is affecting The Source's powers."

"How will you figure it out?" asked Alicia Wood.

"Experience," said Aunt Phoebe simply. "We'll have to go up against him."

"How will you find him?" Percy asked.

"Usually he comes to us," said Aunt Paige.

"So our children –" began Ernie Macmillan.

"I wouldn't worry about the children," said Mom. "The Source will want us, not them. He'll come to us specifically."

"We can protect the school," I piped up. Everyone turned to look at me, including Dominique. I blushed. "I mean, my mom and aunts are the most powerful witches in the world. And I'm pretty good in battle too – same with my brother Chris and my sister Melinda. We can protect everyone. That's why you guys brought us there, isn't it?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, it is. Neville and Oliver both told us about the demons that showed up during the opening feast – you guys defeated how many demons in fifteen seconds?"

"Four," I boasted.

"Demons are fairly easy to vanquish," Aunt Phoebe added. "Especially with all of us around. And I know that you guys can do binding spells or something, so I'm sure those will work on demons, too."

"Stunning spells, too, and Disarming," Neville said.

"So then what is our plan of action?" Michael Corner asked. "What do we do now? We know that there's this evil thing out there…"

"Honestly, there's not much you can do right now," Aunt Paige said. "We just don't really know anything yet. We don't know what The Source wants or who he is; we don't know how many, if any, wizards are on his side. We're really just in the dark as of now."

"I would just keep your eyes and ears out for anything suspicious," Aunt Phoebe continued. "If you think anyone is acting suspicious, let us know. If you hear anything strange, tell us. When it comes to The Source, we're the only ones that can really do anything."

At that moment, I heard the familiar sound of orbing from above us. My mom and aunts heard it, too, and we all looked at each other.

"What was that?" asked Aunt Phoebe at the same time that somebody yelled, "Mom!"

"Chris!" Mom shouted, standing up so quickly that her chair crashed to the ground.

My younger brother thundered down the stairs into the dining room, looking frantic. "There are demons at Hogwarts. You have to come now!"

"Chris –" Mom started, but Chris was already orbing out.

As was I – I began orbing out as I stood up and seconds later I was in the entrance hall.

There were three demons standing atop the main staircase. There weren't many students around – probably twenty – but it was enough to cause chaos. Melinda and Chris were there, and I also recognized Albus Potter, Scorpius Malfoy, Rose Weasley, and James Potter on the scene. Melinda had managed to freeze one of the demon's arms and I saw her wave her arm and send him crashing into the wall.

My mom and aunts had orbed in seconds after me. Aunt Phoebe and Aunt Paige immediately began rounding up students to get them out of the entrance hall while Mom started to assist in the battle.

She waved her hands in an attempt to blow up one of the demons but it only caused him to stumble. "They're higher-lever demons," she said to me, "which means they're probably more aware of what The Source wants."

"So what should we do?"

"Freeze and interrogate them," she said. She turned back to my aunts and said, "Get them all out of here."

The two of them nodded and started ushering the students out.

"But I want to fight!" I heard James Potter protest.

The same demon that Melinda had thrown into the wall threw an energy ball at her. My mom screamed her name and I began to run forward, but Melinda simply held up her hand and deflected it back toward him. The ball hit him and he vanished.

I was shocked – I hadn't realized Melinda was in such control of her powers.

Piper waved her hands and froze both demons. "Melinda!" she cried, also stunned.

Melinda smirked. "I do a lot of practicing when you're not around."

Mom and I jogged up the stairs to where Chris and Melinda stood near the two remaining frozen demons. I looked over my shoulder to the now empty entrance hall, though I spied Rose, James, Scorpius, and Albus peeking around the corner.

"We're going to interrogate them," Mom explained to Chris and Melinda. "I'll unfreeze their heads – Wyatt, I want you to be ready with an energy ball. Chris and Melinda, be ready to slam them into the wall if they unfreeze. Okay?"

We all nodded; I obediently conjured up an energy ball. Mom waved both of her hands and unfreezed the demons' heads.

The demons' heads jerked and they glanced down at their bodies, snarling. "Unfreeze us," one demanded.

"That never works," Mom said. It always awed me to see her battle demons because of how good at it she was. "We want you two to answer some questions for us."

"Never," the other spat.

Mom raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? Well, we could always blast your arm…" she trailed off, glancing at me. "Wyatt?"

I raised my hand back, as if to strike, but the demon still said nothing. "Wyatt," my mom said again. I glanced at her, unsure, and she nodded. I threw the energy ball at the demon's arm and it shattered. The demon screamed terribly and someone gasped.

Mom glanced over her shoulder and noticed the four heads peeking, with Rose's hand over her mouth. "Phoebe, Paige, shut the door!" she growled.

"Come back in here!" I heard Aunt Phoebe say, and the four heads disappeared and the door closed.

"Melinda, keep watch the hallway," Mom said. "Make sure no one comes in here." Melinda nodded and jogged off.

"Now, I'm going to ask you one more time," she said. "What do you guys want?"

"We're not saying anything," the demon with all his limbs said menacingly.

"I can blow up your arm, too," Mom snapped. "I have no problem doing it." She raised her hands, but the other demon cried, "Wait!"

Mom froze and glanced over at the demon. "What?"

"We were sent by The Source," he said, breathing deeply and sweating due to his pain.

Mom rolled her eyes. "Well, we know that."

"He wants to take over this world," said the demon. "He has spies here… he wants to take control of their government."

"Why does he want to take it over?" asked Chris.

"If he can get wand magic behind him, he will be unstoppable," said the second demon. "He'll finally be able to destroy you all."

"So then why does he keep sending demons to the school?" asked Wyatt.

"To shut it down," said the first demon. "If the school is shut down, it will be harder for you three to protect this world."

Mom looked down at Chris and me thoughtfully. Before we could ask any more questions, though, the demons both erupted into flames and started screaming – seconds later, they were gone.

"Shit," said Mom.

"The Source?" asked Chris.

Mom nodded.

"Mom, people are coming!" shouted Melinda. Mom and I approached her and saw Harry Potter, Oliver Wood, Neville Longbottom, and Teddy Lupin.

"It's okay, Melinda," said Mom. "Go and tell Aunt Phoebe and Aunt Paige that the kids can go back to their rooms now."

-Melinda-

While Mom stayed behind to tell the adults what had happened, Chris and I jogged down the stairs and opened the huge doors into The Great Hall. Aunts Phoebe and Paige had taken all the students that had been around when the demons attacked to sit around one of the middle tables.

"You guys can go back now," Chris announced and everyone looked up.

"Is it safe?" asked a third-year Slytherin.

I nodded. "Safe and sound!"

Slowly, students stood up and began to file out of The Great Hall. Aunt Phoebe and Aunt Paige came up to Chris and me and asked, "So what happened?"

"Before The Source killed them, the demons told us that The Source wants to take over this world," Chris explained quietly, so not other students could hear him. "He has spies in the Ministry and he keeps sending demons here because he wants the school to be closed down."

I gasped. "Why?"

"He says it will be harder for us to protect them if there's no school," Chris said.

"We have to start protecting the campus," Aunt Phoebe said.

"How are you going to do that?" came a female voice. We glanced around and saw that Rose, Scorpius, Albus, and James had hung back while everyone else left.

"We can write a spell," Aunt Phoebe explained. "My sisters and I are good at that – we can write a spell to prevent demons from being able to shimmer inside the grounds."

"Will it work?" Rose asked, looking extremely worried.

"Of course!" Aunt Paige said cheerfully. "Don't you worry. We know exactly what to do!"

"Let's get you guys back to your dorms now," said Aunt Phoebe, ushering us all out of the Great Hall. In the entrance hall, at the foot of the stairs, Mom stood, talking, with Mr. Potter, Professor Longbottom, Coach Wood, Professor Ulvaeous, Professor Flitwick, and Teddy Lupin.

"I've just sent the word that the castle is safe," Harry Potter was saying as we approached, slipping something into his pocket. "The rest of the kids will be here soon."

"So, what were you saying about an enchantment?" asked Coach Wood.

"My sisters and I can write a spell," Mom explained, just as Aunt Phoebe had, "that will prevent demons from being able to transport themselves magically onto this campus. It may take a couple of days, because this castle is extremely large and we'll need to come up with a spell and potion strong enough, but we can do it."

"We should probably check and make sure all the students are in their Houses," Professor Ulvaeous said to Professor Flitwick, who nodded in agreement. The two of them, along with Professor Longbottom, departed from the group and headed up the stairs.

"We'll have to have another meeting tomorrow night," Harry said to his colleagues. "Because of this new information."

"Can it wait, actually?" suggested Aunt Paige. "It's just – tonight was quite a scare. I don't think my sisters and I will feel comfortable all leaving the castle before we protect it."

"She's right," said Aunt Phoebe. "We'll let you know when the spell is cast and then we can hold another meeting."

Teddy nodded. "That's a good idea. That'll make everyone else feel safe."

"Uncle Harry?"

We all looked around to where Rose stood, her face white, with her cousins and Scorpius.

"Rose?" Harry's eyes darted around. "James? Al? What are you all doing here?"

"We were here when the demons attacked," said Rose in a small voice. She swallowed and then asked, "Are they… are they going to come again?"

"No, we promise," Mom said firmly before Harry could respond. She walked over to Rose and bent over, putting her hands on the younger girl's shoulders. "Don't worry; we're going to protect you. And not just Professors Halliwell and Mitchell and me – you can also count on Wyatt, Chris, Melinda, Tamora, Kat, Prue, and Henry to be watching out for you. That's why we're here. I promise, you have nothing to be afraid of."

Rose nodded meekly.

"Where's Hugo? And Lily and the rest of the kids?" Harry asked.

"They're all in Gryffindor Tower," said James. "None of them know what's happened, I don't think."

"Why don't you all go to bed, then," Harry said. "It's been an eventful day. Sarita, Gary, Molly, and Fred should all be back in Gryffindor Tower by now."

-Scorpius-

No one said much as we ascended the stairs of the castle towards our dorms. When I had gone down to the Great Hall for a late evening snack, I had not expected any of this to happen. I had gone with Melinda and the two of us sat with James, Chris, Al, and Rose, mainly because I wanted to annoy Rose, but it became amusing when I spied how bashfully shy Al was around Melinda. Chris and James were talking quietly to each other, so I spent my time poking Rose and watching Al and Melinda.

There were students wandering around in the entrance hall and it was because of that that we heard right when the demons arrived. People started screaming and we heard an explosion. Chris and Melinda were up and had sprinted off before the rest of us really even had a chance to react. By the time Rose, Al, James, and I had followed, Chris was shouting at everyone to get down and get out. Students were screaming and bending down, attempting to crawl out of the room. I didn't know what to do. I wanted to stay and watch, but I knew it wasn't safe.

Then we got to see their powers – Chris orbed over to the demons and fired energy balls at them, although it didn't really work. Melinda was unable to freeze the demons but she was able to telekinetically move their energy balls away from her. After about thirty seconds, Chris told her he had to go get their mom and he orbed out. I have never been more impressed with a battle before – Melinda single-handedly was able to deflect all energy balls thrown at her by the demons. She wasn't trying to defeat them, just to hold them off herself and the rest of the students around.

Half a minute later, Chris and Wyatt had arrived within a second of each other, followed shortly by the professors. Unfortunately, that was when Professors Halliwell and Mitchell ushered us out. We were able to catch of peek of Wyatt, Chris, and Professor Halliwell interrogating the demons, which was a mistake because it freaked out Rose when Wyatt blew off the demon's arm.

I thought it was pretty cool.

Still, Rose was pretty freaked out and she hung to the back of the group as we walked up the stairs. When it came time for the Gryffindors to get off on their floor and for Melinda and me to keep climbing, I stopped and turned to her. "Are you okay?"

Rose turned to me and blinked. "What?"

"You seem kinda upset," I said. "Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it?"

Rose continued to stare. "You want to help me?"

Her blank voice caused me to roll my eyes in annoyance. "You know what, never mind. I'll see you later." I began to climb the stairs after Melinda, but Rose's voice stopped me.

"Wait!" I turned back around. "I'm sorry. I was just… surprised. Sorry." She was silent for a moment. "I'm okay, though. Thanks. I think I'm just going to go to sleep." She was quiet again for so long that I started to walk back up the stairs again, but then she said, "I'll probably be by the lake tomorrow morning, though."

She didn't say anything more, like extend an invitation or anything, but I didn't mind. I smiled down at her. "I might be there, too."