It turned out that everyone on the list opted to join the group, and so by the fifth meeting of Dumbledore's Army there were not only the original seven members, but fourteen children of original army members as well as four muggle-borns deemed trustworthy and interested in the cause.

Lily noted that the Room of Requirements seemed to have expanded to accommodate the extra members, and added extra chairs in a semicircle along the back wall so that all twenty five members could sit around and discuss whatever needed to be discussed. Rose pulled the contract out of her bag, and sat everyone down to explain it to them.

"Okay," she said, holding up the paper, "Here's how this works. This club is secret. You don't tell anyone about it. If you join, you sign the document. If you join and sign the document and you talk about it, the jinx activates. I cannot tell you what the jinx is or what the symptoms are or how to get rid of it. Once you join, you're joined for life. So if you join and sign, don't talk."

Patrick Finnigan, Seamus' son and the youngest member in only his fourth year, spoke up.

"And what happens if we don't want to sign?"

Rose smiled. It was a look of pure vindictive joy.

"Hugo here gets to obliviate you."

Hugo grinned, and the resemblance to his father was remarkable.

Patrick gulped, and everyone in the room looked at Albus and Lily to see if they were serious. Albus nodded, and one by one everyone signed their names to the sheet, which Rose then tucked back into her book bag.

"So let's get started," Albus said.

"Do we get to do Patronuses? Potter did Patronuses." Patrick piped up again.

"Yes, well my father had a slightly different need when he formed Dumbledore's Army the first time."

"I heard your Patronus was a doe."

"Er... no, actually, mine was a bull, and Lily's was a dolphin, I think, but she's not that good at it so I couldn't tell - "

"Whoa, how do you pick them?"

"You don't," Albus said, "They just sort of happen, but - "

"Are they big?"

"The more energy you put into them the bigger they are, but that's not the point because - "

"But I heard - "

" - WE'RE NOT DOING THOSE YET!"

The room fell silent as everyone turned to stare at Albus.

"We're starting with stunning spells and expelliarmus. Everyone pair up."


Two days later, Abigail and Lysander accompanied Lily to Hogsmeade in order to obtain a nice dress for the Slug Club Halloween Party. In truth, Lysander was also in need of proper dress robes for the occasion, seeing as he and his mother did not share the same sort of fashion sense. Because he so detested the neon green dress robes she had bought for him and Lorcan, it was the perfect opportunity to address the issue.

It was because of this that they entered the tiny robe shop on the main street at Hogsmeade. It was run by a squib by the name of Evangeline, who had spent so much time fixing robes for her many grandchildren, all magical, that she had found it only logical that she should open such a shop. She was a skinny, short old woman, but nevertheless the had a way of towering over whomever crossed her.

She was especially fond of the students, though, and often gave them discounts if they bought things for school, and so Lysander decided that he needed new robes for nearly every occasion. Needless to say, he and Evangeline were very good friends.

On their way down the street, however, they ran into Albus and Hugo, who decided to accompany them, and so the five entered the shop and Lysander requested something he had previously designed. Evangeline went into the storage room in the back to find the proper fabric just as three figures walked in through the front door.

Malfoy never went anywhere without Goyle and Parkinson, though Lily could never think of a reason why he hung out with such people beyond either a family habit or a need to blend in with his Housemates as a need for survival. At present it was three against five, but Goyle and Parkinson were big guys for their age, and could easily take on two each. Of course, it was Hugo who always went out looking to pick a fight.

"What the hell are you doing here, Malfoy?"

He looked Hugo straight in the eye.

"As I am sure you are aware, seeing that your cousin and friend are members as well, I am a part of Professor Slughorn's Slug Club, which is hosting the annual Halloween Party in a few days. I ave outgrown my dress robes and require new ones for the occasion. May I inquire as to what the hell you are doing here, Weasley?"

Hugo's mouth was open slightly and he stared ahead. Lysander stepped forward and waved.

"Hey Scorpius. I'm getting robes, and Lily needs a new dress so we're stepping down the street to find her something hot to wear. Hugo decided to accompany us."

"Er... right." Scorpius nodded, looking uncomfortable as Evangeline came back out carrying a bunch of fabric.

"Oh, Master Malfoy, so good to see you deary!" She walked around the counter. "Sorry, but you'll have to wait, Master Scamander's been here for a while."

"Not at all a problem, Miss." He smiled and bowed slightly. Evangeline beamed at him, ushering Lysander over to the stool where he stood as still as a statue as she fixed up robes for him.

Hugo glared at Goyle and Parkinson, while Albus just stood and stared, his face expressionless. Scorpius looked between Abigail and Lily, and decided against saying anything to either of them. Meanwhile, Evangeline was chattering away at Lysander and anyone else who was listening.

"I am so glad that you've got such a sense with clothing, deary, because I don't think that I could have ever come up with some of the stuff that you draw up. Do you ever think about designing? I'd like to keep you for myself but Madame Malkins' probably pays better and I - "

She stopped mid sentence. A cold mist was floating under the front door of the shop, and in the distance the faint sound of voices shouting started to reach them. Everyone moved toward the front counter, even Lysander, still in his half-formed dress robe. The mist continued to float in under the door, and after a few second the room became unspeakably cold. Evangeline stepped forward toward the door, as if to open it.

It slammed open, knocking her backwards. There in the doorway stood three cloaked creatures. Scorpius instinctively stepped forward, flinging his left arm out and holding Lily behind him as he brandished his wand in front of him like a sword. The creatures stepped forward and the sound of screaming filled the room.

Lily felt him begin to shake, and as the Dementors advanced she looked at the shaking form of the boy who was doubled over in front of her screaming bloody murder, and in that moment, Lily knew that she would never want anyone else in her life.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

The silver burst forth from her wand, galloping toward the three Dementors. It stopped just short of them, rearing up onto its back legs and kicking out with its front hooves. The Dementors retreated, and Scorpius had time to see a unicorn turn back and look at him before he fainted.