Chapter 26 - The Way Things Change
The following morning, all the sixth year Gryffindors were still talking about the DADA class from the previous day. They had, for the most part, forgotten about what Remus and Sirius had told them about the classes being taught together, that is until Dumbledore stood up before breakfast and made his announcement.
"This morning alternate schedules will be handed out by your head of house, make sure you have your before you leave today. If one is not handed to you, please be sure to talk to your respective head of house before you go to your first class. I believe that's all, enjoy your breakfast," The headmaster said before reclaiming his seat.
The Great Hall was instantly filled with chatter. Each of the Gryffindors and Draco accepted their new schedules--Draco's had, oddly enough, been given to McGonagall--and scanned quickly over it. Harry was glancing over his when movement at the head table caught his attention. His brow furrowed as he saw a large owl land just in front of Dumbledore. The wizard pulled the letter from the owl's leg and carefully opened it. Harry noted that the sparkle in the old man's eyes faded slightly as he read the letter and turned to McGonagall.
Harry watched closely as the witch's eyes widened and turned toward the Gryffindor table. He didn't have a chance to figure out what was going on, as he was pulled into a conversation.
"What do you think they're going to do with us all?" Neville asked.
"Probably get to preparing us for what's undoubtedly ahead," Hermione said.
"Well, yeah, but all of us?" Ron said, glancing at the Slytherin table.
"They have to, Ron, they have to give us all the chance for an equal education," Hermione said, irritably.
"We're starting the D.A. again," Harry said confidently. "We've got to give those who are willing to fight along side us a bit of a boast."
The others nearby looked a bit taken back, "I thought you weren't sure if you wanted to continue it or not?"
"I've just got a bad feeling. I want to do something else with the D.A. too, I'll talk to you lot about that later though." He said.
"Mr. Potter?" Said a sharp voice from behind him.
Said wizard turned in his seat to see a grim expression on Professor McGonagall's face, "Yes, Professor?"
"Professor Dumbledore requests your presence in his office as soon as breakfast is over," She said, but Harry could tell there was more to her statement.
"Professor?" he said uncertainly.
"You're not in trouble, Potter. But please, bring Miss Jackson with you," she said.
"Emily?" Harry frowned, "Yes, ma'am, I'll make sure to catch her before she leaves."
McGonagall nodded, "Very well, Potter."
"What was that about?" Ron frowned.
"I don't know, but I'm not sure I like it," Harry sighed.
~*~
About a half an hour later found both Harry and a nervous young Emily in the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore had motioned for the two to take a seat and he took his own behind his desk. He looked at the two with an extremely grim expression, "I do hate to be the burden of bad news. Miss Jackson, I am afraid I have a bit of terrible news."
The little girl's eyes widened slightly but she nodded. She stayed silent in anticipation as to what the Headmaster had to say. "I received an owl this morning during breakfast, and I am afraid that your parents were caught in a Death Eater attack last night."
Emily gasped and Harry's eyes snapped to the Headmaster who nodded solemnly. "P-Professor Dumbledore-sir-are they alright? Please tell me my mum's alright!" the girl pleaded.
"I am sorry, Miss Jackson, the attack made by Voldemort's supporters was swift, clean, and brutal, no one survived the attack." Dumbledore said sadly.
The young girl began to tremble and her eyes filled with tears, she shook her head, "You're lying. Please tell me you're lying. Please?" she whimpered.
Harry searched the Headmaster's expression before allowing his to posse a silent question. Dumbledore gave a small nod and Harry rose from his chair and knelt in front of Emily's, pulling the girl into a hug and rocking back and forth gently. "It's going to be alright, Emily. I know it hurts, I do, but it will be alright."
Her body shook violently with the force of her sobs and Harry felt as though some one was twisting his heart with every one. He gently lifted her up and settled down in her seat, Emily in his lap, curled up against him as she cried into his shoulder. Harry glanced up at the Headmaster, "D-Do you know who led the attack, or even why there was an attack, sir?"
"I'm afraid not, Harry. I do know that it seemed as though they were searching for something. They raided the place where Miss Jackson's parents were staying temporarily. When the Auror's arrived on the scene, little remained but ruins of the building," Dumbledore sighed.
Harry's brow furrowed in thought. At Dumbledore's description something came back to him from several years ago, third year to be specific. "Sir, I-I over heard Hagrid talking about..about the night my parents were killed, I remember hearing him say that the house was left in shambles. Little remained but ruins of the house, my mum and dad's bodies, and me."
Dumbledore did not respond, the old man just closed his eyes and gave a small nod.
"So, does that mean...does that mean that they found whatever they were looking for?" Harry pressed.
"I do not know, Harry. The Order is doing everything they can to gather as much information as possible. Now, Miss Jackson and yourself have been excused from your morning classes."
Harry frowned in confusion, "Sir? Why have I been excused?"
"It would seem that young Miss Jackson has taken a liking to you, she seems to trust to more than anyone else in this school. You both have now went through similar ordeals, you can better help her to grieve." Dumbledore explained. "You may go."
Harry gave a slight nod and got to his feet, Emily still in his arms. Her sobs had quieted a bit, but the tears still flowed down her cheeks. The two made their way silently from the Headmaster's office, "Where do you want to go, Emy?"
Emily shook her head, "I don't know, I don't want to talk to anyone right now though. Is that alright?"
"Of course," he said with a small smile. "Do you want to walk?"
The girl nodded and Harry set her gently to her feet, though she didn't' bother to let go of his hand. "Where are we going?"
"I thought since you didn't feel like talking with anyone just yet, I'd take you somewhere where you could just relax, is that ok?"
Emily nodded again and followed quickly in stride with Harry. They made their way quickly to the corridor where the Room of Requirements could be found. He stopped the girl and walked back and forth in front of the door three times before it appeared. The little girl's puffy eyes widened as she fallowed Harry into the replica of the Gryffindor common room. The raven-haired wizard lowered himself into one of the chairs with a sigh, smiling slightly when the girl climbed into his lap.
"I'm sorry, Emily, I really am," Harry said softly as she curled up, resting her head against his shoulder. He held the little girl, rubbing her back gently as tears slid down her face once more. After a short period the sobs stop and Emily's breathing evened out. He glanced down and rested his chin on her head as his mind reeled. How could anyone be so heartless? This poor girl is an orphan now, he thought solemnly. He shook his head before he, himself drifted off.
That's where the two were found a few hours later. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Draco had used the Marauder's Map in order to find where the Boy-Who-Lived disappeared to. Hermione smiled as she approached them silently. They didn't know why Harry and Emily had been called to Dumbledore's office, nor did they know what had been revealed during the meeting, only that both Harry and Emily were excused from morning classes.
The other three entered the room and lowered themselves into chairs that had only just appeared, watching in amusement as the two slept, none noticing the dried tear track on the girl's face. Hermione put a hand gently on Harry's shoulder and gave a small shake, to which the emerald green eyes snapped open and his hand made for his wand before he realized who had woke him and where he was. He gave a small yawn as he shifted Emily in his lap, his arms still protectively around the sleeping eleven-year-old.
"So?" Ron asked without further hesitation.
"So what, Ron?" Harry yawned.
"Why did Dumbledore want to see you this morning and why were you excused from classes?" The red head said, rolling his eyes.
What looked like a heavy cloud passed over Harry's expression as he gave a soft sigh. He motioned at another just-appeared chair for Hermione to sit. After she had obliged his gaze shifted to Emily then back to his friends. "There was a Death Eater attack last night. The building were Emily's parents were staying was hit the hardest. According to Dumbledore it was, 'swift, clean, and brutal', no one survived," He said quietly, his gaze moving back to the girl curled up in his lap.
The looks of mirth and amusement that had previously occupied the expressions of the others had quickly disappeared, replaced with a range of new expressions. Ranging from the even and slightly hardened expression from Draco, to the solemn and concerned from Ginny, the one of disbelief and sympathy directed at Emily from Ron, and finally the mixture of anger, concern for the girl, and hatred from the one's who'd committed the deed from Hermione.
As though she knew she was being talked about, Emily began to stir and finally her eyes fluttered open warily. She began to smile but as soon as she realized where she was at, her expression fell once more. "How are you doing, Emy?" Harry asked softly.
She sighed heavily as she fell back against Harry once more, "I-I was hoping that it was a dream. When I realized I was waking up I thought it was a dream, then...then I woke up here and knew it wasn't."
"I wish I could tell you it was, Emily," He sighed.
Emily only just realized the rest of the group was in the Room and she gave them all slightly bashful glances, "Hello everyone," She said quietly.
"Hello, Emily," they said in response. Hermione reached from her chair next to Harry and Emily's and put a hand on the young girl's shoulder, "They won't get away with it, Emily, don't worry." The little girl gave a small nod before glancing at the clock. With a sigh she glanced back to Harry, "You were only excused for morning classes, you all need to go to class before you get into trouble."
"Are you sure you're going to be alright?" He asked. She just nodded and stood up After a moment of stretching she gave all of them quick hugs before giving them stern expressions, close in resemblance to those Hermione and Professor McGonagall were so skilled at. "I will be fine, but you lot have classes, now go."
The older group laughed and got to their feet all saying their goodbyes to the young witch. Once out of the Room of Requirement's the group split off slightly into their own, Hermione leaned in toward Harry and gave a sharp expression, "I meant what I told her."
"I know," Harry said with a nod. "I didn't voice it, but I think both she and Dumbledore knows that the next few battles and the final battle will be full of vengeance."
Hermione nodded herself then sighed, "Potions. We've got a long walk so be best pick up the pace. If I've heard correctly, Professor Snape is in a particularly foul mood today."
"Lucky us," Harry said with a wry smile.
/.\ /.\
=^..^=
Later on that evening, after classes, the group met up in the Great Hall, all of them at the Gryffindor table, including Luna and Draco. Emily had settled herself once more on one side of Harry while Hermione occupied the seat on his other. Harry found it rather curious, and amusing, that Draco had automatically taken his seat between Ron and Ginny and Luna had sat on the opposing side of the red head.
"So did you and Remus ever actually discuss what you'd be teaching in DA, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, we talked quite a bit about it, actually." Harry said, thoughtfully.
"Oh? Before or after you stormed out on him?" Hermione said with a slightly shake of her head.
Harry gave a sheepish smile before shrugging slightly; "I know that Dumbledore has every intention of training me throughout this year, from what Remus says it's going to be divided between Remus himself, Moody and Dumbledore. I think for the first few meetings we're going to want to do review."
"We should open the meetings to anyone who wants to come," Ron said with a slightly hesitant look.
"I agree," Harry said with a nod, not noticing the look of relief that passed his friend's face. "That's why I said we should just do review for the first few meetings. Let everyone get at least close to the level of the original DA, before proceeding."
The group nodded thoughtfully and Ginny spoke up, "I think that all years should be allowed, especially after what happened on the train."
"No," Harry said sternly, pointedly ignoring the scowl he received from the younger witch sitting next to him. "No, third year and up will be allowed in the main meetings. Maybe, if it's alright with the Professors, we can hold an additional meeting for the younger years and teach them basic defense just incase, but I don't feel comfortable teaching them the more advanced spells."
"Potter's right," Draco said as the youngest redhead started to respond and earning a scowl of his own from the next youngest witch. "Really, Gin, think about it. I agree that they need some of the knowledge, but to prepare them as we would third years and up, it's too much and too risky."
"There's one other think I've been considering when it comes to the DA," Harry said quietly. "The lot of you will have almost as much authority in the DA as myself. Also, I think it would be best if there are some meetings and some things that are only taught to you, for given reasons."
The rest of the group nodded and turned toward their own conversations and their meals. Harry also turned to his meal only for his fork to drop from his hand a moment later. Hermione glanced up curiously only to see the hand that had been holding the fork pressed against the cursed scar.
"Harry?" She said with a small frown.
Harry's eyes widened as he leapt sharply to his feet, the emerald orbs swept up and met the blue of the Headmaster's eyes. Both wizards nodded and Dumbledore stood at the head table, taking the other teacher's by surprise. "If I may have you're immediate attention," he said sharply, and silence fell across the Hall. "I would like those third year and lower to return to your common rooms as quickly, but as orderly as possible."
Everyone glanced at one another in confusion but the groups did as they were told. Emily looked up defiantly at those around her, only to see, almost instantly, that the others had overruled her objection. No one but Dumbledore and Harry seemed to know exactly what was going on, but the other's had their suspicions.
When the under years had made their way, hurriedly from the Hall, the third years impressively taking charge, wands out, Dumbledore turned back to the rest of the groups. In a tense but commanding tone the Headmaster spoke, "We have company on this evening. Those who are not prepared or are unwilling to fight on this evening, please, I ask you to return to your Common rooms and help take care of the younger students, and they will need some one with them."
At those words, several stood. At lease a half dozen from both Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw stood and exited the Hall. Most of the Slytherins gave Dumbledore a defiant expression before standing as well, but all knew they weren't heading toward the dorms but rather out to the gates of Hogwarts where the ensuing battle would take place. None of the Gryffindors stood, they simply regarded the rest of their classmates thoughtfully.
The old wizard gave the rest of the Hall a grim look as the Slytherin's who left, did so. After they were gone Dumbledore's gaze locked with Harry's, "Now, Mr.'s Potter, Weasley, Malfoy, Longbottom and Misses Granger, Lovegood, and Weasley, please join me at the Head's table."
The seven students did as requested and joined the Headmaster as well as the other teachers at the Head table. Glancing down at his students Dumbledore spoke clearly but quickly. "I ask that the rest of you align yourselves with one of the said students that stand before you. Each is talented and skilled. And each of these individuals has seen battles. Whomever you align yourself with here, know that that will be the group you bind yourselves to. You will fight together for the same cause. Also, after this battle, they will be the ones with whom you will train in the future. I ask that you do this as quickly as possible as we've got very little time to spare."
Turning to the professors as the students did as asked, "With each of the separated groups of students I will request that at least one of you be with each group. Minerva, if you will please take Miss Weasley's group; Severus, Mr. Malfoy's group, if you would. My dear Professor Sprout, if you would kindly take Mr. Longbottom's group. Filius, could you please head Miss Lovegood's group? Sirius, I would like you to head Mr. Weasley's group and Remus, you're to take Harry's group. Hagrid, if you could help Miss Granger's group."
With those instructions and the groups divided, the students who had remained and the able Hogwarts staff hurried toward the gates where a battle would soon ensue. Most were certain that the Slytherin students who'd left the castle had let the offenders who dared attack Hogwarts onto the grounds already. The majority was nervous as they approached the gates.
"Everyone, DA members, remember your training," Harry said loud enough to reach the ears of his peers. "They will most likely have Dementors with them, remember the Patronus. The Death Eaters themselves, will be there, remember our dueling techniques. Remember the shield charms. Come on, guys." He glanced to Hermione and the other's who were leading groups, "Remember Emy, guys, remember Emily."
Without another word, students and professors alike stood facing the weakening gates. With a heavy sigh Dumbledore glanced at his students and colleagues then back to the gates. As one the wands of all of them rose to the ready position, defiant expressions crossed every face, and they waited for the inevitable.
Author's Note: I know, it's a bit of a cliffie. It took a lot longer to get this one up than I had originally thought it would. I practically live at the store where I work now, so that's been a bit of a problem, but I really need the money inorder to fix my car and get ready for my Senior year. Anyway, I did put quite a bit into this chapter and I hope you enjoyed it. The next chapter will tie up a few loose ends, you'll learn a bit more as to what happened to Tonks during her disappearance as well as what made the rescue so easy. Anyway, if you'll review and tell me what you thought, and what you think will happen next chapter, it may just give me a few boosted ideas. ~.^
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