This is written for The Golden Snitch!

Halloween Costume Contest: Angel- Write about a character joining Dumbledore's Army.

Ollivanders Wand Shop: 15 Inches-Write about a Hufflepuff character. [Albus Dumbledore]

T'is a Figure of Speech: Throw in the quaffle!

I'm in Hogwarts, Slytherin!

It felt wrong.

I didn't want to be standing here, in the middle of The Hog's Head, listening to Harry Potter and Hermione Granger talk about learning DADA on their own. I could feel my body betray me, it was shaking, and now, it felt as if all the blood had rushed to my feet. Stars bursted under my eyelids, blinding me. I wanted out, to go back to my room, anything other than being here.

I felt someone squeeze my hand, and when I looked at the culprit, I wasn't expecting Luna. I didn't have anything against Luna, per say. It was just, weird. Why would she comfort me, when I have never really reached out to comfort her?

They say Hufflepuff's were the friendliest, the most supportive. But, I never really felt that way. For me, it has always been to stick to those closest to me, to those who have extended the proverbial olive branch my way.

Was this her way of showing more?

"Susan? Are you okay?" Asked Luna, her voice is a melodic undercurrent to the murmurings around us.

"Yeah," I answered, once I felt my tongue fall from the roof of my mouth. "Just a bit nervous, I don't want to get in trouble."

"What is the point of toeing the line, when you could be limitless in your learning; ultimately flying free?"

I thought about that, but I couldn't come up with a proper answer. I turned back to Harry, watching him stumble over his answers.

When more people questioned him about what he could do, I asked him if he could really conjure a Patronus. Which led to him asking about my aunt, Amelia. He showed me that he cared, that he knew enough about me. And, when he asked me that simple question, it brought back a flood of memories. About my parents, my other aunt, all perished by the hands of Death Eaters.

I finally decided that I would join, besides, more protection and knowledge was worth the risk. Especially if it would protect what I had left of my family.

I was glad that I listened to Luna, that I stuck around. I learned more in one lesson of the DA, then in five of the normal DADA class. I could actually conjure a Patronus! I was in the middle of re-casting the spell, to bring forth another meerkat, when the rumbling started.

Everything died down, the laughter, the swirling animals, it was quiet, all except for the banging on the wall.

We stood in a formation, ready to run when the wall finally broke down. We were throwing in the quaffle, as my dad used to say. After the last stone fell, we fled. As we were fleeing to different areas of the castle, I grabbed Luna's hand. We ran, letting the wind whip our hair, our feet guiding us to safety.

I wasn't afraid. I was finally free!