AN: Sorry about the wait everyone. I spent pretty much all my writing time on finishing another story. Now it's done I'm working on all my other ones so don't worry, this story will get more chapters in the near future.

Chapter 5: Seamus

My name is Seamus.

After the little surprise at dinner, Neville was up in arms and calling an emergency meeting with what had been determined as the elites of the DA. Why, I wasn't entirely sure. I mean, yeah, that thing had been creepy and unheard of even by the school's resident monster lover, but that was just unusual, not overly suspicious. After all, that bastard Snape had killed one after declaring that he had no clue as to what the hell it was and it's not like Death Eaters have to hide anything anymore.

But Neville wasn't interested in listening to me, so I just sighed and went along with him and Ginny to the Room of Requirement.

We were the last to arrive at the meeting, but considering that we made up most of the members involved it wasn't that surprising. Ernie had clearly been the first to arrive and designed the room for our use. There wasn't much more than the bare essentials. A spyglass and a few other enemy detectors were scattered around the room and in the centre was a large, round table with five chairs surrounding it, two of which were currently occupied.

Upon entering the room I had to hold back a laugh. Ernie looked at his wit's end as the final member of the DA's leaders, Luna, talked nonstop. Though he had come to respect her, Ernie still thought of Luna as a bit of a nutter and failed at dealing with her for long periods of time. As soon as we'd opened the door he'd turned to Neville with a look of sheer desperation, though Luna either didn't notice or care as she flipped a page in the Quibbler and moved on to talking about how a garden gnome's bite would bring good luck.

"Good, everyone's here, we can get down to business." Neville said firmly, earning an extremely thankful look from the only Hufflepuff in the room as he took his seat.

"That creature was definitely unusual. I've never even heard of anything like it." Luna commented as she put her magazine down, surprising me and Ernie. Though Neville and Ginny were quite used to it, we still found it hard to believe how perceptive and to the point Luna could become. "I already wrote a letter to my dad about it. I'm sure that he could find its name." Though we were both fully prepared for the unnecessary and usually strange line that followed and had stopped rolling our eyes.

"Yes, and it worries me. I can't help but feel it means something very bad." Neville stated firmly.

"But why are we discussing it?" I asked, trying to hold back my exasperation. "Snape killed one. The Death Eaters are running society. If they were using these things then they wouldn't have to hide it and wouldn't kill them. Snape would have told Hagrid to let those things go if they were on his side."

"Most likely they're just a crossbreed that someone's stupidly created and tossed into the Forbidden Forest. It's not like it hasn't happened before." Ernie agreed with a shrug. "I'm confident that there are plenty of creatures in the forest that will take care of them for us."

"You can't seriously believe that You Know Who is revealing all his cards do you?" Ginny retorted, surprising us and getting a thankful nod from Neville. "Creatures that can eat through almost anything and don't care what it is their teeth are targeting sound like the perfect dark creatures he would use. He may intend to hold them back as a surprise for if we revolt. And even if they're not part of his dark army, do you really want to rely on Death Eaters to protect us if they enter the school grounds? They'd be quite happy to use them for detention."

"Exactly. Either way, we have to know about them if we're going to protect the students from them. Knowledge is power and all that." Neville agreed, earning a compliant look from Luna before focusing squarely on me and Ernie.

"Well, I guess there's no point arguing." Ernie conceded with a sigh. "The revivers are all in agreement and it's majority rules. We're going through with this." I just nodded my head and rested it in my hand as I stared at Neville. Ernie was right after all.

Neville, Ginny and Luna were known to the DA as the revivers, or the big three. They were the only three people still in school to make it into Harry Potter's inner circle of friends, were the ones to regather the DA and they were the only ones that had previous combat history, making their leadership unquestionable. Ernie had made it to the Elites because Neville decided that each house affiliated with the DA would have a high member, someone who could orchestrate and relay messages from the other members from their house, sort of like captains. And of all the Hufflepuffs, Ernie was the most skilled and noble, the one the others looked up to. The perfect choice. Ginny and Luna had taken those positions for their own houses. Neville was declared the leader of the DA, over even the girls. I was the unusual case. A lot of allies were calling me Neville's right hand man because I'm usually with him and giving him my opinion when he frequently confides in me, but I'd say that I had a lower position than any of the others currently around me. I'm not sure how it happened, but I somehow ended up in charge of the behind the scenes work. Unlike the others in the room, I wasn't on the front lines, openly defiant. I created small distractions when others were being chased or to throw off the Death Eaters from what we were up to, or prepared stealthy escape routes to lead both allies and students we'd save away safely. The plan was for the Carrows to never see me at work, to always be under the radar. That meant that I needed to know what was going on and that I could gleam information that the openly active members couldn't and that was how I got my position at this table, nothing else.

"Good, it's decided. Now the question is how to get out and observe these things without being spotted or eaten and who's coming with me." Neville stated, looking around the table questioningly as we all frowned. "What? It's too dangerous to go alone and a big group is more likely to get noticed. Two or three people would be best."

"I agree, but that's not the part that has me worried." Ernie replied, turning towards the rest of us for encouragement and continuing on as all three of us nodded. "The problem is you going."

"What?" Neville asked, thrown for a loop. "Why is that a problem?"

"Because any action from you, or any of us at this table for that matter, has the instant attention from the Death Eater duo." Ginny answered, her tone clearly implying a 'duh'. "None of us could ever manage to sneak out and observe these things without being noticed and clearly we don't want anyone knowing that we're doing it. If they're a secret weapon or whatever, then the less the Death Eaters know the better."

"So you guys want to send our other members to a pack of dark, carnivorous creatures?" Neville raised an eyebrow challengingly.

"Hey, it's not like many of us have much more experience than anyone else." Ernie said defensively.

"They do want to do what we do." Luna agreed airily, though it was hard to take her contribution seriously when she looked like she was in a dream world again. "And plenty of them are talented."

"Harry trained them just as well as he trained us." Ginny added, though Neville still looked hesitant.

"I know, but-"

"Hello! What do I need, a flashing neon sign?" I butted in, growing a little cranky. "Remember me? Mr stealth and evacuation? This is right up MY alley, remember? I can do it."

I honestly could have slapped them all upside the head at that moment. And now they were all staring at me as if they'd forgotten I was there. Sheesh, and these airheads were running the show? I could understand some of Neville's old forgetfulness showing through, but what's the rest of their excuses?

"That's right! Seamus isn't a known troublemaker." Ginny grinned as realisation struck her. "And if anyone could get out there undetected, he can." Blimey, the way she said that made the obvious sound like a great, just discovered secret. I was starting to wonder when the disco ball, bright lights and celebration music was gonna pop up. Then again, I probably should stop those thoughts right there before the room created them. I'm not quite sure how it works.

"But if you do this then you could easily be discovered." Neville said hesitantly, giving me a troubled look. "If that happens then you will be closely watched too. you won't be able to do your job."

"Then someone else will just have to take over." I shrugged uncaringly. Personally, I was itching to get in on the action. Seeing as I tended to blow things up anyway, I'd taken to learning every fire spell I could and I'd proven to be a master of them. And I REALLY wanted to light up those pain in the neck Carrows' robes. Give their 'nails on a chalkboard' voices something to really screech about. It wasn't like there weren't others that could do my job anyway. I tended to bring in Terry Boot and Susan Bones along for the help on the bigger missions as it was, they could easily take my place.

"Seamus it is then." Ernie said approvingly as Luna gave us a satisfied nod. Seeing our conviction, Neville just sighed defeatedly. "But you'll still need a partner. Got anyone in mind?"

"I'll go with him." All our heads snapped up at that voice. It hadn't come from the table and it was a voice I'd heard so little of that I'd barely recognised it as a DA member's, let alone who it actually belonged to. Turning to the door I almost dropped my jaw at the sight of Anthony Goldstein, the male Ravenclaw prefect of my year. None of us had even heard the door open. We have GOT to learn to lock that thing.

"Sorry for barging in." He muttered nervously, biting his lip and fidgeting with his fingers as we stared with confusion and raised eyebrows at him. "I saw Luna and Ernie fiddling with their coins and knew you'd all be here and I was hoping for...a way to help. Sorry for listening in on your conversation, I didn't mean to." He added quickly as Ernie and Neville's raised eyebrows didn't go away. "I just thought...maybe..."

"I'll be glad for your help." I replied, offering the distressed blond an appreciative smile. "And don't worry about the eavesdropping thing, it's fine. What goes on at these meetings isn't anything we wouldn't tell the DA anyway."

"It's just easier on everyone if only those that need to be here are called." Ginny agreed warmly. "No sense in dragging everyone here and arousing suspicion when the group leaders will be doing most of the debating."

Seeing the other boys' faces relaxing into acceptance, Anthony let out a sigh of relief and relaxed, giving me a shy, but thankful grin.

I have to admit that I was a little surprised when I'd officially met Anthony in our fifth year. I'd never really talked to him in classes, it was only when I finally joined the DA right before it was forced to disband that I actually got to know him. He was already a prefect which made me assume that he was either a control freak or good with people, but he proved to be neither. Though I'd seen him comfortably talk with Boot or Corner, he was generally a bit shy and soft spoken. He was a nice guy, but I'd say he got the honour of his position through his studies more than anything else. That was the other thing I'd learned about him. He was a true Ravenclaw, very intelligent and reliable. I'd heard McGonagall and Flitwick both mention that he was even competing with Hermione's test scores in Transfiguration and Charms.

He hadn't really done anything to help the DA other than clean a few wounds after we rescued victims, which was why everyone was so startled to see him. Along with being shy, he didn't have the confidence to be seriously defiant and had kept his head down. It was actually pretty surprising that he was suddenly asking to help in what would pass as a big and dangerous mission for us. But if he's ready to take that step then I'd gladly help him on his way.

"Well, now that the team's decided," Neville started as he motioned Anthony to the table. Pulling out her wand, Luna gave it a series of waves and drew up another chair between her and Ginny, getting a thankful look from Anthony as he sat down. "I think that it would be best if plan how to get you guys outside without being noticed. We can't help much with getting you back in, but we should do all we can to help you get out. It is more important after all, if you want to discover anything about these beasts that you aren't discovered first."

"I...have an idea." Anthony muttered softly, shocking me again. Coming into our meeting and volunteering for a job we'd already decided on was shocking enough, but now he was actually contributing before even being prodded? Wow, his confidence was definitely improving.

"Well, we're all ears." Ernie responded, giving him an encouraging smile. Caring and loyalty were the most prided traits of Hufflepuff and it was exactly what Anthony needed to feel comfortable around us.

"You guys are almost always being watched, right?" He started, waving his hands around at the others and getting nods in return. "Well since you've dropped out of sight tonight, the Carrows will be really suspicious of you already, so my idea is to use that against them. You guys make yourselves look a little suspicious and meet up somewhere harmless while we sneak out."

"Not bad." Ginny mused, clearly impressed as she rested her chin on her hand.

"You could meet at the library. It's on the opposite side of the castle from the forest and it'll end with you looking innocent."

"But we'll still be suspicious enough to keep their attention." Neville agreed with a smirk. "The biggest trouble makers in the school gathered at the biggest source of information you'll probably ever find? We could be up to anything."

"Especially if you pick up the right books and make sure the Carrows know their titles." Anthony nodded, his voice growing a little stronger and more confident with our approval of his ideas. "There's some really good dark defence books that work have them scowling and if you speak up about spells in other books that might be useful..." He added, shocking me as a small, mischievous smile grew on his face before I laughed. This plan was brilliant. The Ravenclaw boy fully intended to drive the Death Eater duo nuts with nothing more than a study session. It was clever, it was sneaky and the others may even actually learn a good few new spells along the way for tomorrow's problems.

If he could make something so innocent as a study group seem suspicious than I had to wonder what he was be able to reverse it. But I'd that find out later for sure, right now I was content to offer him my hand.

"You are going to make one hell of an ally. I'm taking you as my partner. Merlin knows that with the disaster these guys plan I could use your clever brain to cover it up." I said brightly. His eyes brightening considerably, Anthony took my hand and shook it firmly, revealing a little more strength than I expected from the average bookworm Ravenclaw house.

The meeting adjourned not long after that. We just decided that it would all begin at seven thirty tomorrow night before taking off on our separate ways. Ernie was the first to leave, followed soon after by Ginny and Luna. Anthony was going to go next, however, just before he could follow his housemate, Neville grabbed his shoulder, earning a confused look from the blond.

"Hang on, you better take this with you." Neville grinned, grabbing Anthony's hand and dropping something round in it. Lifting it up, he frowned at the sight of a gold coin exactly like his own DA one. He opened his mouth, probably to tell us that he already had one when I chuckled and pointed to the edge on the opposite side. Turning it over he saw TM clearly engraved in the metal.

"This one was created by Ernie. It's for those of us who come to the leaders' meetings." I informed him, laughing as his jaw dropped. "You'll need it so we can subtly inform you of any changes to our plan or whenever our next meeting is. Like I said, I'm making you my partner and your little distraction plan proves that you're a genius."

"He's right. We want you in our circle. Do you accept?" Neville asked kindly.

"YES! I-um, mean yes, I'll accept." Anthony replied, blushing embarrassedly as we smiled at his outburst. "Well...I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Bye." He muttered before running out the door. Turning to each other, Neville and I just exchanged amused looks before heading back for our own common room, silently mulling over everything that had happened today.

I still didn't entirely understand why Neville was so sure that these new creatures were such a huge concern, despite how vicious they appeared to be, but I guess we'd find out either way soon enough. I'd prove or dispel Neville's fear of them tomorrow.

Personally, I was more keen to see just how capable my new partner was out in the field.