A/N: As tribute to the upcoming book, I will try to finish this fanfic at chapter 70…. HP and the Deathly Hallows on 07/07/07…….. Nice marketing…..
Chapter 66: Grave News, Valiant Rescue
"So, what did the headmistress say?" Viktor asked Ianthé right before the Defense class. She came in early in order for her to tell Viktor the news.
"I think she might like the idea now. The horntail's really tame despite of its reputation…"
The bell rang and Ianthé walked to her seat. Students began to pile in as she took out her notebook.
Nikki sat down beside her, grinning from ear to ear.
"Something happened that made you so darn happy… Spill," Ianthé whispered.
"He owled me this morning…" Nikki whispered giddily.
"And?"
"That's it. He owled me this morning. Isn't it great?"
"He owled you and that's it?"
"He didn't write to me as the daughter of his boss or discussed anything to do with the dragons… He owled me as me…"
"Er…."
Nikki sighed exasperatingly, "Okay, he did not discuss anything related to dragon breeding. He owled me asking how am I doing here in Hogwarts."
"Oh… Apparently, he's concerned for your well-being?"
Nikki nodded.
"And that's supposed to be good news…" Ianthé commented flatly.
Nikki frowned, "You're such a killjoy…"
Ianthé smiled, "Of course I'm kidding, I'm happy for you."
"On the more serious side, when can Charlie receive the signal?"
Ianthé placed her hand on Nikki's, "We can ask Viktor later…"
Viktor was still doing a lecture about how a spell can be strengthened by determination from the caster.
"This lecture is interesting…." Ianthé whispered to her seatmate.
Ianthé and Nikki slowly moved after the bell rang.
"Is there a problem?" Viktor asked them.
Nikki nodded.
"How can Charlie know when to release the dragons?" Ianthé whispered, "I told her we should ask you since you're part of the aerial assault squad."
Viktor nodded in comprehension, "What about a Patronus?"
"Sounds like a good idea…"
Viktor smiled at them, "You might be late for your next class…"
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Lunch at the Great Hall brought a surprise for Ianthé and Nikki as someone approached them.
"Hey Ginny…"
The red-haired girl smiled as she sat down beside Nikki.
"What's up?"
"I called an emergency DA meeting tonight. You guys are also invited."
Ianthé checked her planner, "Yeah sure. Is there any problem?"
Ginny nodded, "That means you haven't heard of the news?"
Ianthé looked at Nikki and then back at Ginny, "What news?"
Ginny leaned closer, "There was a surprise attack this morning… It was absolutely terrible. Fred, or rather Professor Weasley, received an urgent owl from Mum."
"An attack?" Ianthé said unbelievingly. She looked at the staff table and saw that the headmistress looked distressed. Fred and Viktor were talking very seriously.
"Yes, and you wouldn't believe where they attacked… It was absolutely horrible…"
"Where?" Nikki asked.
"St. Mungo's… I mean, they attacked helpless people… Many patients got trapped when they burned the entire hospital. Muggles in the vicinity were also hurt."
The headmistress pointed her wand to her throat.
"I think McGonagall's going to announce something…"
"I demand your utmost attention…" the headmistress said, addressing the entire school eating lunch at the Great Hall.
"… The wizarding community has been devastated once again. Grave news has arrived about St. Mungo's attacked this morning by Death Eaters. Classes for this afternoon is cancelled due to this appalling act of atrocity towards innocent people. Please inform your House prefects if you have any relatives confined in St. Mungo's, and we will try to grasp some news regarding the survivors. On the entrance hall, a list of those who perished in the fire in St. Mungo's is posted. I am saddened by this news, but do remember that we must not let this destroy our will of a better future."
After the announcement, there was an assent of murmurs that rose inside the Great Hall. An amount of students from the four Houses walked towards the entrance hall to check the list.
Ginny looked at Ianthé, "George was with the Order when St. Mungo's was attacked. They were even earlier than the Aurors sent by the Ministry. It was total chaos according to Mum."
"Is George okay?"
"Yeah, he was a bit banged up, I suppose… but he'll live… Mum, though, she's in pieces…I mean, almost everyone in the family's in the Order, except for Percy who's a downright git……"
Nikki got closer to Ginny, "By the way, Charlie's here…"
Ginny was surprised, "Here in Hogwarts?"
"Not exactly. He's camping out… with the dragons… near the school…"
"He's the handler of the two dragons?"
"You better believe it…"
"Oh dear… If Mum finds out Charlie's not in Romania…."
"I think she might know of this eventually…" Ianthé said.
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"Where are you going?" Viktor asked Ianthé that night as she was about to step out of the portrait hole of the Head Girl's quarters.
"The DA meeting."
"Before you go, I forgot to tell you something important…"
Ianthé went back to the couch.
"Your father took in all the remaining survivors, the patients and the Healers, to the mansion for refuge. Our family is finally now known as one of the Dark Lord's enemies. We might be in trouble…"
"What are we going to do?"
"As of now, we cannot do anything… Your father managed to convince majority of the goblins to side with him. Death Eaters, however, are everywhere. Tarquinus cannot return as a spy. Everyone's just preparing for what is to come… the full moon… Do tell the DA that if ever they have relatives listed as missing, they might be included in the people that is in the mansion," Viktor gave her a list.
Ianthé nodded. She hugged Viktor tightly.
"I just wish for this to be over…"
"Me too…"
"I'd better go…" Ianthé stood up and walked towards the portrait door.
"I'll wait for you, okay?"
Ianthé nodded and smiled before she walked out of the portrait hole.
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Ianthé met up with Nikki near the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy on the seventh floor corridor.
"We're waiting for what exactly?" Nikki asked as she impatiently paced.
"Her…" Ianthé looked at the approaching girl.
Luna walked towards them, "Hello…"
"Are we waiting for Ginny?"
Luna nodded dreamily, "I was thinking of suggesting heliopaths for help…"
"Er…."
"Heliopaths… Those creatures that shoot fire…. They could be useful…"
Nikki just rolled her eyes.
A red-haired girl walked up the seventh floor, "You three are a bit early…."
A door appeared near the tapestry and they walked inside.
The Room of Requirement looked like a large common room with many couches spread out for the meeting in front of the fireplace.
"Cozy…" Ianthé commented as she plopped down a couch. Nikki sat beside her.
"I don't think Neville could make it. His parents who were confined in St. Mungo's are listed as missing… Poor bloke…" Ginny shook her head.
The door opened and Ernie McMillan and other Hufflepuff DA members entered the room. Almost all of them are gloomy because of the devastating news.
"Hey, are you okay?" Ianthé asked the Head Boy.
Ernie shook his head, "My aunt… she was listed as missing…."
Ianthé patted his shoulder.
People from the other Houses started to pile in and sat down on the couches. One of them was Neville Longbottom.
Ginny stood up, "Is everyone here?"
An assent of nods were seen.
"Okay… As all of you know, St. Mungo's was attacked this morning. I know some of you have relatives who died or missing. Do take this as a sign that Voldemort…"
Some students flinched at the name while others sobbed.
"….does not discriminate… He will kill Muggle-borns, half bloods and even pure bloods… What happened this morning… We should take it as another motivation to fight!"
The entire room applauded Ginny's speech.
Ianthé stood up, "I have something important to announce but keep in mind that what I will say will not leave this room…."
"… even before the Aurors arrived, the Order of the Phoenix arrived to rescue those who were 'trapped inside the hospital' according to the Ministry. They are now in a safe place, I couldn't say where, but I promise they are safe…"
Ianthé announced the names on the list, and sighs of relief was heard. She scanned the room for Neville. She found him sitting near the door with his head held up as he heard Ianthé's announcement.
"and lastly," she smiled, "Frank and Alice Longbottom…"
Neville sighed and was the receiver of several claps on the back.
The meeting proceeded with the further discussions and practice of some Defense spells.
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Ianthé went inside her quarters only to find Viktor staring pensively at the dying embers of the fireplace.
"Hey, a Sickle for your thoughts…" she sat down beside him.
"I'm just thinking of the odds of us surviving this war intact…"
"What do you mean?"
"Let's face the facts. I am assigned on the assault team. We'll be the ones attacking the Death Eaters."
"I have faith in you… We'll survive this together…"
"But there's a chance I may not…"
Ianthé's eyes misted, "There is still hope…"
Viktor wrapped his arms around his wife and hugged her tightly.