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FOURTH YEAR – The return of evil

Young Phoenixes Unite

"Urgh! How can they say that? It's outrageous! Completely unfair!" Hermione mumbled to herself in the library as she furiously read through copies of the Daily Prophet from the past week and ruffled through magical law books. The Prophet reported on the attacks and listed the names of the dead and the cities where everything happened - London, Camden, Manchester, Pendle and York. The next issues declared that Dumbledore was trying to take over the Ministry by instilling panic when he described the involvement of the Black Hand and accused Lucius Malfoy of leading the attacks. The Ministry demanded proof, but would not accept testimony from underage witches or wizards, who were supposed to be under Dumbledore's influence.

"And now they accuse the Swansons of all people and they are trying to put Ely Swanson in jail! But, I can testify, I can go under veritaserum and tell them about how the Swansons and Snapes and Dumbledore saved me! They will not get away with this!" she loudly said to herself as read through the procedures for testifying in front of the Wizengamot.

"Hermione, Hermione!" she heard as Ron and Harry approached her spot in the library. She stood tall and faced them.

"Harry, I need you to take me to see your parents! They have to take me to the Ministry to testify! I will not let the Swansons be unfairly punished for the death of MY PARENTS!" she said determined. Ron and Harry looked at each other with worried faces.

"Harry, right now!" she exclaimed.

"Hermione, it's been an awful week and Dumbledore is dealing with this and..."

"Stop it Harry! Stop looking at me with pity and like I'm going to break any second! I will not rest and sit quietly while all this happens! My parents deserve better than that! I will fight and if you won't take me, then..."

"We'll go with you! Just just calm down a bit alright" said Ron as he got closer and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Alright, let's go" she said after taking a few breaths and giving Ron a half smile.

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"Hermione dear, I understand why you feel this way, but we can't let you do that" said Lily kindly.

"Why? It's the right thing to DO! I must go and testify!"

"The Ministry is not accepting testimony of underage witches or wizards" answered Severus.

"But if I take the veritaserum, then they have to believe me!"

"No! You can't take that and go to see them! It would be too easy" said Severus

"What would..."

"For them to make you tell them about where we took you, about the safe house. One of the McDavols is now in the Department of Law Enforcement and we don't know who to trust in the Ministry. We cannot have the safe house compromised" said Lily.

"But... "

"No buts, I'm sorry, but as your guardians we will not allow you to go and without our permission you can't. Estella is also being stopped by her guardian. We have a plan to make sure Mr. Swanson is found not guilty, so please Miss Granger let this go..."

"They killed my parents and now..." she said as tears gathered in her eyes. Seeing this Severus put his hands on Ron and Harry's shoulders and directed them to the door. Ron didn't want to leave, but Mr. Snape's seriousness made him start heading out. He turned as he reached the door and saw Mrs. Snape hugging Hermione and letting her sob on her shoulder, he took a step back towards them, but Severus put a hand on his chest and forced him out.

"We need to be with her and help!" said Ron standing outside the Snapes' office and trying to get back in.

"Lily will take care of her tonight son, she's a strong girl; she will be alright. Now please go back to your dormitories and..."

"No! I have to help her!" said Ron stubbornly.

"Mr. Weasley! There is nothing you can do right now. She needs a parent and you can't give her that. Lily and I can try to be there and be as close to what she needs as possible. We will take care of her" he said in a comforting tone.

Ron returned with Harry to Gryffindor tower, but when Harry went to bed he didn't follow. "I'll just stay down here for a bit" he told Harry.

"Ron she'll be ok. I know you are her friend, but I've had her as a friend longer and dad is right, she's strong" said Harry in a reassuring tone.

"I know"

Ron sat in front of the fire for what seemed like forever. He knew no other Gryffindors were out and about since he saw his siblings and Harry go to bed, so when he heard the portrait hole open, he immediately drew his wand. He was glad when he realized bushy brown hair was approaching.

"Hi" he said shyly.

"Hi"

Silence followed. "Why aren't you in bed?" she asked.

"Not tired"

She moved to sit on the couch next to him. They sat looking at the fire for hours and then both drifted to sleep, her head laid on his shoulder and his arm snuck around her waist. It was the best sleep they have had since Christmas day.

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The next few days went by quickly. Ron and Hermione did not speak about falling sleep in the couch together and began to keep a bit more physical distance since every bit of contact made them feel uneasy. Ely Swanson was taken for questioning to the Ministry and had not yet returned. Hermione began visiting the Snapes' office often and it seemed like she was stock either there or in the library for ages, only coming out for class or to eat.

A week after all students returned she told Ron and Harry to meet her after dinner in the training spot, the hidden room behind the mirror. When Harry and Ron arrived they noticed that she had not just called them, Estella, Melinda, Draco, Chrysta, Sam and Leah were in front of the room with her and crammed in there waiting expectantly were many Gryffindors including Fred, George and Ginny along with some Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws and even some Slytherins. Ron and Harry were called to the front with the others.

"Estella and I called this meeting to discuss the events that took place during Christmas break and recruit more members for the Young Phoenix Society" said Hermione filled with determination. Soon she was answering questions about how her parents died and telling everyone that it was six men in black masks that came in her house, killed her parents and moved to curse her, and that the Swansons were the first help that arrived followed by the Snapes and professor Dumbledore. The discussion then turned to the periculum attacks, the Black Hand recruitment, the victim list and how the Young Phoenix group began.

"Who started the society?" asked Ginny.

"It was my cousin's idea. He thought that if the Black Hand could recruit and train willing students, we could do the same for the good side. Except we don't make you commit to an unbreakable vow" said Estella firmly "Draco..."

For the first time since Draco joined the group he openly spoke of his spying activities, the enlistment scroll and the letter he sent Estella warning them about the plans of an attack outside Kings Cross. He also lifted his sleeves and showed the group the mark of the Black Hand and the knots of the unbreakable vow.

"So, that's the git she had to thank" George thought before saying "How can we trust you if you are one of them!"

Soon Draco muttered an incantation under his breath and it seemed like his skin unglued from his arms and it turned into gloves with the marks on it. "I was lucky enough to find out a bit about their plan before they asked me to sign the scroll, so we found a way to use these gloves and a special quill to have me sign without being dragged into that bloody vow" he said as he showed his clear arms now. "Estella and I will share this secret with anyone who is willing to help with spying and tricking the Black Hand, though it is dangerous so I understand if you leave this to me" he said firmly before putting the gloves back on and muttering the incantation that returned the gloves to be basically a part of his arms. Ginny Weasley felt a surge of admiration for the blond in front of her and let out an unexpected smile in his direction.

"So, you spy and practice what we learn in Defence against the Dark Arts?" asked Ernie McMillan.

"No. I mean, only Ella and Draco spy, and yes we do practice spells from class, but we also learn more about hands on combat and to protect and transport ourselves. Last term we practiced how to dodge and run from curses and to produce stronger shield charms than what we learned in class, if I hadn't learned that I would have died. We were planning on moving to learning patronuses, occlumency and how to make untraceable portkeys soon" said Hermione.

"And you should have help to learn even more" said the stern voice of Severus Snape who was closely followed by his wife.

"Dad! Mum!" exclaimed a surprise Harry.

"I talked to the professors and they are willing to teach us more than we learn in regular lessons. If you want to join just sign this parchment and you are in" said Hermione "If not..."

"If not simply come to stand by me and I will erase these memories for you and it will be like you've never heard of the Young Phoenix Society or the Black Hand" said Severus Snape. Within a few minutes the scroll was filled with names even though a few people left the room obliviated. Then the professors assigned the original Phoenixes to help the rest with catching up in smaller sessions and after a month the Professors would share new material. Assignments were given as follows, though Ely's students had to star with someone else until his return.

Harry Snape - Cho Chang and Blaise Zabini

Hermione Granger - Terry Boot and Ernie McMillan

Ron Weasley - Anthony Goldstein and Susan Bones

Estella Swanson - Fred Weasley and Neville Longbottom

Ely Swanson - Luna Lovegood (start with Harry Snape) and George Weasley (start with Ella Swanson)

Melinda Cooper - Daphne Greengrass and Alicia Spinnet

Chrysta Moyne - Lee Jordan and Colin Creevey

Leah McDowal - Katie Bell and Hannah Abbot

Sam Roberts - Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas

Draco Malfoy - Ginny Weasley and Angelina Johnson

Each group was to find the best days, times and places to meet. All Slytherins were given permission to go in the Snapes' office since they ran into too much danger by meeting with students from other houses anywhere else. They voted on leaders and chose Harry and Estella. They also took on the assignment of looking for a place big enough for everyone to meet and hold practices.

Hermione gave everyone enchanted coins that would tell them the day and time for the general meeting once it was determined. She also told them she had at least five more coins, so if they knew other students that would want to join they could have them contact her. The Young Phoenix Society was now revamped and Hermione was determined to learn and teach as much as she could. For the first time in two weeks she let out an honest smile to celebrate the first step into making this nightmare right. Ron looked at her and beamed, "she's back" he thought.

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