Plenum: a full assembly, as a joint legislative assembly

February 23, 1998

"Is everyone here?" Neville called, keeping his voice quiet even though he knew the Room of Requirement would seal in all sound for him.

Ginny stood up beside him, doing a quick headcount as the murmuring group turned toward them.

"That's all twelve of us," she said, trying not to sound disheartened.

There were still thirteen chairs grouped around the table, and fifteen more gathered round the walls, even though most were merely symbolic. Half of the DA had graduated since Harry, Ron, and Hermione had gathered it together two years ago. But the other half should still be students filling these chairs. And they would come back. Until then, Ginny and the rest would just keep their seats ready and waiting.

Next to Neville, on the other side of the empty chair waiting for Luna, Lavender, Parvati, and Seamus pulled their heads away from each other, Parvati slipping her gold coin back into her pocket. They'd been trying to get a message to Dean's family. Seamus had left them his own gold coin so that they might be informed if anyone heard anything about Dean.

Beside them, Anthony Goldstein, Terry Boot, and Michael Corner leaned forward, pushing a scrap of paper covered in lines and arrows towards the center of the table. Hannah Abbot chewed her thumbnail nervously as Ernie muttered something about silencing charms to Susan, who looked pale. Zacharias Smith sat glumly at Ginny's left elbow. He didn't really want to be here, but he still had his coin and they couldn't afford to let him slip out of their sight.

"Right," Neville said, clearing his throat. "I know there aren't very many of us, but we can't just sit around and do nothing, can we? Losing Luna…" he faltered. "That was tough. But she'll be back. So we've got to have some good news for her, right? Terry, have you got a plan?"

Terry Boot jabbed his piece of paper and the arrows and lines began squirming along like Oliver Wood's old Quidditch plays used to. Only this game had far higher stakes than the Quidditch cup. And they all could feel it.

It was rare that Neville and Ginny decided to try something that needed all twelve members (well, eleven really) of the DA that were still at Hogwarts. But things were getting worse and they were getting desperate. Ginny thought she'd go mad if she didn't do something.

As a tall grandfather clock in the corner struck midnight, Seamus led the group out of the room and into the corridor, clutching Terry's battle plan (so to speak; they very much hoped they didn't have to battle anyone tonight, but the thought loomed in the back of their minds as it always did). Neville and Ginny were the last to leave the room. They both looked back over their shoulders at the twenty-eight vacant chairs lining the walls and circling the table.

"My brother used to tell me that the only wishes that ever came true were made at midnight," Ginny whispered.

"Then I wish that a year from now we'll be able to fill all those chairs again," Neville whispered back.

A/N: Back on track! This portion of the story always fascinates me. What was it like for them? I guess that's the biggest question I pose to the fanfiction world. What was it like for the Marauders? For the next generation? For the professors? For the other kids watching the trio?

Well, I hope you liked it! Review please? :)