January 11, 1996

Persephone POV

The entirety of Seventh years, and a few Sanctuary members, have gathered in the conference room we used to meet with Amelia on Halloween. Sitting at a table off to the side, three of the four House Heads watch the group plan.

"Thank you all for joining us. I really appreciate your help," I say, before taking a step back. "Sam, Jackie?"

Samantha pulls multiple folders out of her bag, while Jackson pulls out hand drawn floor plans of Hogwarts, courtesy of a duplicate Marauder's Map. He gestures her to go while he unfolds and lays everything out. Taking a deep breath, she starts.

"We are here to set up safety precautions for the school and students." Opening the red folder, she continues in a grave voice, "While we can all hope that Vold- Tom Riddle has enough of a conscious to leave the underaged alone, but I highly doubt it. We need to set up a couple safe rooms and a way to communicate between them. Jackson, you're up."

"Sam's right. Tom Riddle has always been a cruel being, to the point that I wouldn't be surprised if he does attack here. Now, this map is special, because it is the most accurate floor plans of Hogwarts in existence. It shows-" Jackson is cut short by Weasley twins.

"Everyone," came from Fred.

"Everyone. Where they are," George says.

"What they're doing. Every minute." Fred adds.

"Of every day," they finish in unison, causing Harry to burst with laughter.

"That's the exact explanation those two said when giving me the Map two years ago. I can assure you it works wonders for avoiding problems," he quickly explains.

"Exact," Jackson picks back up. "There are a few rooms that aren't on the map. Each founder made rooms for their personal projects, unplottable and the locations a secret, even to each other. Harry and his best friend, Ron Weasley, found Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets. Flint found another yesterday, Helga's Room of Requirements." Marcus steps forward long enough to point out a section of the Astronomy Wing. "If we can locate all four, they should be adequate to protect the students."

"Our brother, a Gringotts Curse breaker, has offered to add extra wards around any rooms meant to harbor students," Fred starts.

"Unfortunately, Hogwarts is too vast to strengthen in alone," George finishes. McGonagall informs everyone that Hogwarts has guardians, powered by Ancient magic, to act as a front line defense.

"Everyone please try to search for these rooms," Sam chimes back in. "No matter your view or alliances, I think we can all agree that children are to be protected." Not a single member argues her point. "Thank you. Now that we've discussed locations, we'll need supplies for each room."

Severus speaks from his seat at the table, "Regulus earned his Potion Mastery in December. I have also contacted my previous mentor and another who apprenticed with him. The four of us will be brewing healing potions any chance we get. The other professors and I have made a list of additional potions the N.E.W.T students will be brewing." I can tell from his posture that he's debating his words. Avoiding McGonagall and Flitwick's eyes, he throws out the offer of Dark Arts training. Every Snake and Bird agree, along with a handful of Badgers and Lions. The others choose to train under Flitwick.

By the time the meeting is done, everything seems to be arranged. We agree to meet in a few weeks to keep everyone updated.

Reg slips his hand in mine, leading me towards our room.

February 4, 1996

Our current meeting has been eventful. A little Hufflepuff found, to even the teacher's surprise, Gryffindor's Armory. I honestly assumed that it had to be a Gryffindor to find it, the sword's strangest aspect. A group of Sanctuary members will go through it and determine if anything could be useful.

Harry gave the Pureblood Second Year a big bag of muggle candies, knowing her parents would never give them to her. After eating a pack of Skittles, she declared it her new favorite candy.

Ravenclaw's room hasn't been found yet, but Sam and Luna just left to go looking for Helena, hoping she'll help us. Luna seems sure that she will so I'll believe my little Seer.

The Chamber of Secrets has been rearranged again. Bunk beds are arranged in two areas, separating the Third Years and under from the upperclassmen. Better to preserve the innocence as much as possible. A make shift healing area is set up in the open mouth of Salazar's monument, creating privacy in the abandoned nest. A couple sections of pipe have been converted into changing areas or storage rooms. One of the portraits Dean painted for Regulus have been put with each room, so that Walburga can travel between the children.

The Room of Requirements will provide beds and other accommodations, but a stock pile of supplies is in a locked room just down the hall. Similar supplies will be placed in the other rooms once found and cleaned.

The House Elves are gathering nonperishable foods, both muggle and magical, as well as bedding and stuffed animals, anything they consider comforting. Nixie even has a few books of fairytale stories.

March 27, 1996

Severus paces beside his desk before starting tonight's lesson. "Tonight, we will be focusing on repelling Dark Creatures. Who here can cast a patronus?" Several hands shoot up, about a third of the room. "How many are corporal?" A number of hands lower, but over a dozen remain raised. "Good, you can help. I want at least wisps from each of you before you leave." Everyone fifth year and up, and several fourth years, succeed in the task.

April 1, 1996

An urgent knock sounds from my bedroom door. The family has the password, but only use it for important moments. Opening the door, Sam and Luna are practically bouncing in place.

"We found it, Rowena's room. It's hidden in the Restricted Section, so it took us a while to actually find it," Sam tells Regulus and I. "I spoke to Madame Pince and she agreed to help get the students in if need be."

"Helena also said to go to where the Lost Things are. You will find something important. Something to help end what she called the Monster of Men," Luna says, almost trance like.

"Severus and I will go in the morning. Would you ladies like to stay for the night?" Regulus asks. Both nod, adrenaline gone and wanting to avoid curfew

.

April 6, 1996

The Order members gather in the Great Hall for another meeting. Dumbledore is going over recent attacks and patrol schedules. It seems that Tom is getting desperate, attacking many Muggle Areas. Kingsley Shacklebolt has been tasked to watch the Prime Minister, while Amelia has assigned her most trusted Aurors to guard the Royal family.

"Does anyone else have something to discuss?" Dumbledore asks, before trying to dismiss everyone.

"Yes, actually," I stop the crowd. "A fourth horcrux was destroyed earlier this week. Sev, would you mind?" Severus pulls the tiara from his pocket, causing every Ravenclaw alumni gasp.

"That's four of the suspected seven. I also might know Helga's Chalice is, however, it'll involve cooperating with the Goblins of Gringotts," Regulus tells the crowd. Bill offers to act as a liason, to which everyone approves.

"The Seventh years have been working to make safe areas for students, in case of attack," Sam says. She goes on to explain the room set ups, supplies collected so far and how the rooms will be connected via portrait travel. When asked, she refuses to tell anyone the locations, even under Dumbledore's expectant stare. "The students will be safe, without outside intervention."

May 20, 1996

For the past month, all OWL and NEWT students have been meeting twice a week for study sessions. Every session is supervised by a Hogwarts Professor, usually Severus due to his younger age. Today, we'll see if our hardwork pays off.

We NEWT students are starting with practicals, while OWLs are taking the written first, with plans to swap after lunch. We're called one by one into a classroom to take the Charms and Transfiguration exams. With those completed, the instructors take us to the Quidditch pitch and divide us into groups of three with one examiner per group. We're giving instructions by the lead examiner and each lead to a training dummy.

"I will call out the spells description and you are to cast the appropriate spell for the situation. Cast the spell meant to levitate a dueling opponent."

The main instructor continues to call out spells while the examiners takes notes. After combat spells and counter curses, we finish the exam with magical beast protections. They have us face a boggart and dispel it, scores to be based on the length of time taken.

"Alright, for your final task; cast the spell meant to repel dementors. Do not worry if you cannot, as many experienced wizards can't either," the instructor says smugly.

A dark look crosses the faces of my fellow Seventh Years. As one, twenty seven people cast, "Expecto Patronum!" Seventeen corporal patroni run, playing tag, while ten wisps sit on the sidelines.

The shocked examiners dismiss us to the Potion's classroom for our brewing exams. Regulus kisses me at the door and wishes me luck, before going to find our unoccupied family members.

Occasionally looking around the room shows that not a single student is struggling. The requested brews are some of the stockpiled potions we've made for the safe havens. Protecting the students has improved our education more than I realized.

While lunch is served, the four tables are quietly discussing the exams or what they did during the free periods. Hermione is the only one in our group worried, thinking she may have confused two symbols in Ancient Runes. Ron reassures her as best he can, which seems to not only work, but also put a smile on her face.

The rest of the day passes in a similar manner, more exams then dinner. The Fifth Years are practically glowing with excitement over how well they did. Every Fifth Year, except Harry who blames his glum mood on a continuous headache. He's been having them, and the nightmares, more often recently.