That night, Ron, Harry and Hermione were in the Gryffindor Common Room, "That foul, evil, old gargoyle. We're not learning how to defend ourselves. We're not learning how to pass our OWLs. She's taking over the entire school," Hermione said, pacing in front of the fire.
Then the radio had come on, "Security has been and will remain the ministry's top priority. Furthermore, we have convincing evidence that these disappearances are the work of the notorious mass murderer Sirius Black."
"Harry," a voice called out. Harry looked behind him and saw Sirius' face in the fireplace.
"Sirius," he said as he sat down near the fireplace. "What are you doing here?"
"Answering your letter. You said you were worried about Umbridge. What's she doing? Training you to kill half-breeds?"
"She's not letting us use magic at all," Harry answered.
"Well, I'm not surprised. The latest intelligence is that Fudge doesn't want you trained in combat."
"Combat? What does he think, that we're forming some sort of wizard army?" Ron asked.
"That's exactly what he thinks. That Dumbledore is assembling his own forces to take on the Ministry. He's becoming more paranoid by the minute. The others wouldn't want me telling you this, Harry, but things aren't going at all well with the Order. Fudge is blocking the truth at every turn, and these disappearances are just how it started before. Voldemort is on the move. Have you gotten the chance to read Ella's letter?"
"No," Harry said.
"Harry, Carlisle thinks he has figured out what is happening with Ella."
"What's happening to her?"
"Harry, Ella made an Unbreakable Vow with your mother when she was pregnant with you. Part of the Vow was that she had to tell you everything that affects you, no matter the situation. Molly forbad her to do so and because of that, she's dying," Sirius explained.
"Can Mrs. Weasley do that?" Harry asked.
"No but she can't tell Ella what to do. That's why she wrote you that letter. If you read it, she may end up being better. Plus Carlisle may have found an antidote to help her body from aging but it won't stop her from dying if you don't read the letter, Harry."
"Well, what can we do?"
"Someone's coming. I'm sorry I can't be of more help. But for now, at least, it looks like you're on your own."
"How will I know if Ella is doing well?"
"She'll find a way to tell you. I got to go," he said and his face disappeared from the fire.
They had gotten up and went to the window where there was a thunderstorm happening. "Harry, maybe you should get the letter and read it out loud. Maybe we can help," Hermione said. Harry nodded and went to his room and retrieved the letter and went back downstairs. "He really is out there, isn't he? We've got to be able to defend ourselves. And if Umbridge refuses to teach us how, we need someone who will."
"I got the letter," Harry said. "You know you don't have to be here to read it with me."
"Actually, we do, mate," Ron said.
"Yeah, I agree with Ron. We're here for you, Harry," she said. All three of them sat down by the fireplace. He opened the letter and got the first letter out and began reading, "My dearest Harry, If you're reading this, it means that I've died protecting you the only way I know how and I don't regret a moment of it. If I had to do it all over again, I would. I need you to understand this, my son that you can rely on Ella Cullen for anything. I've made a vow with her that she has to tell you everything that you ever want and need to know about me, your father and about anything that you can about us, especially about Voldemort and to love and protect you like you are her own son. Please understand that. She can protect you in ways that I cannot. Please ask her for help. I love you, my son. Please take care of yourself. Rely on any friends that you have. They'll help you too. Yours Truly, Your loving mother." By the time he finished reading the letter, he had tears in his eyes. "So she knew about this. I can't believe that I was blind all these years to not rely on her!"
"You did what you thought was best, Harry. You mustn't blame yourself," Hermione said.
"She's right, mate. You can rely on her now," Ron said.
"Read Miss Cullen's letter," Hermione said encouragingly.
He opened the letter and began reading it, "Dear Harry, Please understand that I never intended to leave Hogwarts the way I did but I had to. Ever since Voldemort had found me last June, he has been attempting to curse me to take my vampire abilities away and making me human. The effects of his curses aren't going as fast as he would like. Instead, I'm aging slowly because that and for the fact that he didn't factor in my vampire abilities. He won't rest until he can kill me. Honestly, I don't know what's to become of me yet and I believe that he doesn't either but he will go all the way to see me dead and for you to see that. I made a Vow to your mother that I would tell you everything both good and bad. Voldemort is getting stronger and he will try to find a way to kill you. You must be alert. Unfortunately, Mrs. Weasley doesn't agree with me that I need to tell you these things, despite the fact that I made the Vow with your mother. She's hell-bent on not allowing me to tell you. Sirius and I have told her what could happen if I don't tell you and it seems that she rather have me dead than have you know the truth. It has always been my intention to tell you not because of the Vow but because you need to know the truth to defend yourself. I do understand Mrs. Weasley's perspective because she's a mother and she's protecting you out of love, but what I'm doing by telling you is also out of love. Please know that I'm here for you regardless of what happens to me. Please find a way to defend yourself and please do rely on your friends. Voldemort wants you to fight him alone. He won't expect you to fight him with your friends beside you. Build an army if you must. Find a way so that Voldemort can't fight you alone. Yours Truly, Ella."
"So does that mean if someone is forced to back out of the Unbreakable vow, they die?" Hermione asked.
"That and if they voluntarily back out," Ron said. "The option is there but they'll die. Since Miss Cullen is a vampire and You-Know-Who is trying to take her vampire abilities away, it may have taken a different effect on her, especially since she made that vow with your mum as a vampire rather than as a witch."
"How do you know all this?" Hermione asked.
"Dad told me. He's been telling the lot of us stories about what happens in the Ministry of Magic."
"I wonder if You-Know-Who had a vampire on his side to test out the curses?" Hermione asked.
Harry thought about Hermione's question and out of nowhere, he had an epiphany. "That's it!"
"Harry, what are you thinking?" Hermione asked, a bit surprised at Harry's outburst.
"We need to talk to Dr. Cullen but…"
"But what?" Ron asked.
"I don't know. Ella's suggesting that I build an army but I don't know what the first thing to do is," he said.
"Leave that to me," Hermione said. "What is it that you need to talk to Dr. Cullen? He's with Miss Cullen."
"I need to write a letter and see if he could come and meet me here at Hogwarts," he said and headed towards his room to write the letter. Ron and Hermione looked at each other and shrugged. The next day, he went to the owlery and sent the letter to Grimmauld's Place. He felt somewhat better than he did the past few days. The only thing that dampened his spirits was that he wished he had read the letters days ago. The next couple of days have been somewhat hectic for everyone but Harry never felt better nor more focused than he has before. He was looking forward to meeting with Dr. Cullen about what he's learned. As the last class ended, he was walking towards the Great Hall and something caught the corner of his eye. He looked over to see what it was and saw that it was Dr. Cullen and Alice talking with Professor Dumbledore. He smiled and walked towards them. "Dr. Cullen, Alice, Professor Dumbledore."
"Ah, Mr. Potter, Dr. Cullen was just asking for you. He informed me that you needed to see him," Dumbledore said.
"Yeah, it's a private matter, really. I was hoping that we could talk in your house," Harry commented.
"Of course," Dr. Cullen said. They all walked to the Cullen house, just talking about school and life. Once they got inside, they went into the living area. "What is it that is important to discuss privately?"
"I read the letter that Ella wrote to me and it made me think about something and I don't know much about it. I thought that maybe it would help you with the research and find a cure," Harry commented.
"What is it?" Carlisle asked.
"I recall that Alice could see the future depending on if a person makes a firm decision, right?" Harry asked.
"Well, yes," Alice answered.
"I was wondering if there was a possibility that during Voldemort's time, he made some kind of connection with the Volturi and found ways to make a vampire human," Harry started to explain.
"But I would have seen Aro's decision," Alice said.
"What if Aro knew that and allowed Voldemort make them? You didn't know Voldemort at that time and weren't able to see his decisions," Harry suggested.
"Aro must have known about it and played with the holes of your gift," Carlisle stated.
"What if Aro knew something and told Voldemort about it? I was thinking that whatever Voldemort made, it was for a vampire who never knew magic and never practiced it. Maybe the reason that it's taking a slower effect on Ella is because she learned it and used it even before Voldemort used it. Maybe that's why Voldemort's frustrated because Ella was a half vampire/half witch by the time Voldemort cast it," Harry finished off. It left Carlisle reeling about this new revelation that Harry suggested.
"This is definitely worth researching, Harry, something that might even help Ella," Carlisle said. "This is something that I need to discuss with my coven, but first I need to look at the library here and see what books I can bring with us."
"By the way, Hermione and Ron are looking for you," Alice said.
"Oh, I forgot. I better go find them," Harry said as he stood up.
"Harry, I do appreciate you looking out for her. We will find a way to inform you on our research, okay?" Carlisle asked.
"I appreciate that. Thank you for coming," Harry said and he left to meet Hermione and Ron. While Harry was busy setting up time with Carlisle, it took Hermione the same amount of time to convince some people to meet her at Hog's Head for a special meeting and brought Harry and Ron with her on the day of the meeting. When they did, Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting in front of a group of students. "Um... Hi! So you all know why we're here. We need a teacher. A proper teacher. One who's had real experience defending themselves against the Dark Arts."
Zacharias asked "Why?"
"Why? Because You-Know-Who's back, you tosspot," Ron retorted.
"So he says," Zacharias said pointedly.
"So Dumbledore says," Hermione said.
Zacharias replied "So Dumbledore says because he says! The point is, where's the proof?"
Another male student said, "If Potter could tell us more about how Diggory got killed..."
Harry stood up and spoke up, "I'm not going to talk about Cedric, so if that's why you're here, clear out now. Come on, Hermione. They're just here because they think I'm some sort of freak."
Hermione grabbed his arm as he was just about to leave, "Harry, wait!"
Luna spoke up, "Is it true you can produce a Patronus charm?"
Hermione spoke for Harry, "Yes. I've seen it."
"Blimey, Harry! I didn't know you could do that!" Dean said, a bit shocked.
"And he killed a basilisk, with the sword in Dumbledore's office," Neville explained.
"It's true," Ginny said, supporting Neville.
"Third year he fought off about a hundred Dementors at once," said Ron.
"And last year he really did fight off You-Know-Who in the flesh," Hermione explained.
"Wait... look, it all sounds great when you say it like that. But the truth is most of that was just luck. I didn't know what I was doing half the time, I nearly always had help..." Harry said.
"He's just being modest," Hermione replied.
"No, Hermione, I'm not. Facing this stuff in real life is not like school. In school, if you make a mistake you can just try again tomorrow, but out there, when you're a second away from being murdered or watching a friend die right before your eyes or seeing someone you love on her knees drained by the hands of Voldemort... you don't know what that's like."
"You're right, Harry, we don't. That's why we need your help. Because if we're going to have any chance against beating... Voldemort."
"What do you mean seeing someone drained by You-Know-Who?" Zacharias asked.
"It's Miss Cullen," Hermione answered.
"How would you know?" He asked.
"She's right," Harry asked. "Ella… I mean Miss Cullen is hidden at the moment, and from what I'm told, she may be dying because of what Voldemort did to her at the end of last term."
Nigel who is in his 2nd Year asked, "He's really back?" Harry nodded. Then everyone stood up and lined up to sign the parchment where on top of it, it said, "Dumbledore's Army." As Ron, Harry, Hermione, Luna, Neville, Fred and George walked towards the Hogwarts, they started discussing various places where they could meet. Some places were either too small or too far away from Hogwarts to actually practice. They couldn't find a reasonable place for them to meet until Neville stumbled upon a room and decided to show Ron, Harry, Hermione, Fred and George.
Hermione was thrilled that Neville had found a place, "You've done it, Neville! You've found the Room of Requirement!"
Ron was confused, "The what?"
"It's also known as the Come and Go Room. The Room of Requirement only appears when a person has real need of it, and is always equipped with the seeker's needs," Hermione explained.
"So, say you really needed a toilet..."
"Charming, Ronald. But yes, that is the general idea," she replied.
Harry stood there somewhat in awe and finally said, "It's brilliant! It's like Hogwarts wants us to fight back!" They agreed that this would be the perfect place for them to secretly meet to learn how to fight. Harry reluctantly agreed to teach after much begging on Hermione and Ron's parts. They agreed to pass the word by mouth since they couldn't trust anyone, other than the names written on the paper. At the end of the day, Harry was awake in bed, thinking about what they have done that day and felt good that something good came out of it. That night, Harry had a nightmare where he dreamed that he was a snake slithering down the halls of a floor in Ministry of Magic. A voice was calling out, 'Harry' yet another voice saying 'Voldemort may be after something. Something he didn't have last time.' Then he saw Mr. Weasley standing with his back facing him. He slowly turned and saw a something he never expected to see. The snake was starting to attack him. He was shaken awake by Ron who went to get McGonagall. In turn, they took him to Dumbledore's office. In the next few moments, he had asked Minerva to gather all of the Weasley children. When they had arrived, Harry had explained that he had a dream.
Dumbledore asked with his back facing Harry, "In the dream, were you standing next to the victim or looking down at the scene?"
"Neither. It was like I…" he didn't finish what he wanted to say, instead asked, "Professor, will you please just tell me what's happening?"
Dumbledore went to a painting, "Everard, Arthur's on guard duty tonight. Make sure he's found by the right people."
"Sir," Harry tried to interrupt.
"Phineas, you must go to your portrait at Grimmwauld Place. Tell them that Arthur Weasley is gravely injured and his children will be arriving there soon by Portkey. Also ask them how Ella Cullen is doing."
Everard had come by and said, "They've got him, Albus. It was close, but they think he'll make it. What's more, the Dark Lord failed to acquire it."
"Oh, thank goodness. Next we need to…"
"Look at me!" Harry shouted. Dumbledore looked at Harry, in shock. Harry calmed down enough to say, "What's happening to me?"
Snape had appeared, he looked at everyone and was confused. "You wished to see me, headmaster?"
"Oh, Severus. I'm afraid we can't wait. Not even till the morning. Otherwise, we'll all be vulnerable." He had explained what he wanted Snape to do when he told him what Voldemort had done.