Chapter 4: In Which Plans are Made

"This meeting of Slytherin's Army is hereby called to order," Lily Potter drawls from her position slumped in an armchair in what was once the Slytherin Common Room.

Around her, knots of students gradually hush, although quite a few of the older ones look a little disgruntled at having to answer to a mere second-year—even if she is a Potter.

Professor Joshi-Yap leans against the doorframe, arms crossed, frowning. Vulpecula and Luther are each perched on an arm of Lily's chair. They look like bookends, framing her.

"So…" Lily says. "What's the update on our situation? Magnus? Tairi? Bree?"

Seventh-year Magnus Yaxley adjusts his glasses and speaks. "The Ministry're all gits." He says succinctly. "They think Integration's going great, since they don't have any other information. And apparently there's some top-secret group whose idea the whole thing was."

Hermogenes Bulstrode starts to raise his hand, glances around at his fellow former-Slytherins, lowers his hand, and says timidly, "I thought Abolition'd been in the works since the Battle of Hogwarts. I mean, lots of people think it's a good idea. Justin Finch-Fletchley, and Lee Jordan, the radio announcer…loads of important types."

"So why now?" demands Albus, roped unwillingly into Slytherin's Army along with Rose, Louis, Roxane, and Hugo. Lily isn't above using family connections, or the intriguing Bat-Bogey Hex she finally got James to teach her last summer.

Tairi Malfoy rolls her eyes. "We know 'why now.' It's obvious, isn't it?"

"Enlighten me," growls Al.

"It's Lily," Tairi asserts matter-of-factly.

"You mean it's her fault I'm stuck in the same room as Hamilton?" complains Tyler Higgins bitterly.

"Not directly," Louis speaks up, quick to come to his baby cousin's defense. "It's just, her being Sorted into Slytherin was a slap in the face for people who worship the ground her father walks on. They reckon there must've been a mistake. You can't have a Potter in Slytherin, can you?"

V smiles sharply. "Not anymore."

There's a small silence.

"Tairi? Bree? I'm waiting," Lily says imperiously from her makeshift throne. She doesn't seem to notice the whispers. Let them talk. If this is her fault, at least she's the one that's going to fix it. They have no idea how hard it is, being a Slytherin Potter. Being a Gryffindor Potter is even worse.

"Hamilton's group is getting more violent," Tairi says regretfully. "And they've started targeting first-years—anyone they say would've been in Slytherin, which, in practice, is anyone they don't like. So all of you who've got younger siblings might want to watch out for 'em. Otherwise, it's the way it's been since the beginning of the school year. The 'Puffs and the 'Claws are feeling the strain, too. Some of 'em side with us, some with Hamilton—most just want to stay out of it."

"Sensible," approves Scorpius. Al glares at him.

"Bree?" Lily starts, but the older girl is already speaking.

"I've heard things," Bree Urquhart says slowly, chewing absently on a strand of long dark hair. "I think Hamilton's planning something for Halloween. You know this place isn't going to be safe for meetings once everyone gets to Hogsmeade and stocks up at WWW. I think we should find a new meeting place. Our wards won't hold forever."

"That makes sense," agrees Lily thoughtfully.

"We're abandoning our own Common Room?" protests Summerby. "Won't that mean they've won?"

"Just a temporary setback," breathes Lily, "And I think I know just where we can set up shop." Her dark eyes gleam for a moment.

"Just make sure you conform to school rules," says Professor Joshi-Yap wryly. "I won't be party to anything…justly forbidden."

"Professor," protests Vulpecula, opening her eyes wide. "Don't you trust us?"

Silence.

"Me neither," mutters Al Potter sotto voce.

HALLOWEEN BASH!

Bring your friends! Bring your dormmates! Bring your classmates! Bring your enemies! And be prepared to be scared out of your mind!

October 31, 2020; After the Halloween Feast; Dungeons.

Be there or disappear!

"Did you get one of these?" Louis asks Melanie, waving the bright orange flyer.

The Head Girl and Chief Editor of Hogwarts' only newspaper, the Phoenix Feather, scowls up at him.

"Yeah, I got one. Stupid, isn't it? Anonymous, of course—whoever wrote it's probably looking to escape their everyday geekdom and have a bit of fun in the forbidden dungeons. Somebody's not taking their safety too seriously."

"You think we've really got something to worry about there?"

"Didn't you hear about Anne du Winters? She's a Hufflepuff, her grandfather's on the Wizengamot…a stray curse yesterday hit her as she was leaving Potions class. Madame Frost, you know, Pomphrey's assistant, told me they're thinking about sending her to St. Mungo's. Apparently it was a nasty curse."

"Do they know who fired it?"

"Nope. Could have been any of them—Hamilton, or even your cousin."

"It wasn't Lily."

"Whatever you say."

"No, really—you should come to the meetings. You'll like her."

"What meetings?"

"We're trying to get Slytherin House reinstated. And stop Hamilton and Goldstein and Corner and the others from killing anyone."

"Reinstate Slytherin? Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Rather keep things the way they are?"

"You've got a point there…how can I help?"

"Thanks, Melanie. You're a good friend."

"I was thinking," Tairi says later, once almost everyone has gone. Playful green light dances over the walls of the Common Room. Only Lily's inner, inner circle remain. "We should start practicing extra Defense Against the Dark Arts. Like what your Dad did during the war. Hamilton's not too bad with a wand, and the seventh-year Gryffs are almost all on his side. Better safe than sorry."

"Smart," seconds Luther. "We could all practice on each other. Love to give Higgins a reason to whine."

"A democracy?" frowns Lily. "I don't think that's a good idea…"

"'Course you don't," mutters Vulpecula. Lily chooses to ignore this comment.

"Who'd we get to teach it, though?" objects Scorpius. "I doubt Professor Longbourne'd agree to giving extra classes just to us."

"I know it's not strictly allowed…" admits Tairi. "But we really do need the protection."

"Maybe Professor Joshi-Yap?" suggests Lily.

"Maybe…"

They leave it at that for the moment.