Adam and Ginny, once again heavily disguised, walked down the country lane that led into Little Hangleton.
Now that Ginny was well again, Adam didn't want to waste any time. So, while they waited to see if Hermione found any information about the orphanage, Adam and Ginny had decided to check out the one other relatively easy lead they had. The Riddle House.
Adam had Apparated to the same lane that Professor Dumbledore had brought him to the night he'd died. From there, Adam and Ginny then walked into the village.
Upon reaching the small cluster of houses, they walked in silence through the village, eventually reaching the track that led up to the Riddle House. There, Adam paused, staring up at the house.
"Are you okay?" Ginny asked, giving his hand a squeeze.
"Yeah," Adam replied. "I'll be alright. I don't really remember much about the house other than the room." He shuddered. "Come on, let's check it out, then we can get out of here."
The Riddle House itself was dilapidated, the majority of the windows were smashed, and the first door they found was hanging off its hinges.
Pushing through the door, Adam and Ginny made their way into the house. They started on the top floor and began working their way down, searching each room in turn. The house seemed completely deserted, with only a few rooms showing any signs of recent occupation and even these looked like they had been empty for months.
"I don't know why we're even bothering!" Adam suddenly exclaimed in frustration, once they had finished searching as far down as the first floor. "There's nothing here! If he's hidden it we'll never find it anyway!"
"We both…" Ginny hesitated. "We both felt something at the cave, didn't we?"
"Yes," Adam replied. "But there was no Horcrux there!"
"Exactly," Ginny continued. "So I reckon we were either sensing that the Horcrux used to be there, or more likely, the strong magical protections around it."
"I don't feel anything here yet," Adam replied slowly. "So that means there isn't anything here…"
"So far at least," Ginny replied. "We still need to search the ground floor."
Adam smiled at Ginny. "Thanks," he said. "You always know what to say, when I get all…"
"Moody?" Ginny answered, sticking her tongue out. "I understand you, love," Ginny replied, pulling him closer. "You have a lot on your shoulders; it's alright to get angry sometimes."
"Thanks," Adam said again. "Let's check the ground floor, then get out of here."
They continued to search the ground floor. Eventually, they found one doorway that led down to a cellar.
"It's down here," Adam blurted in a dull voice as he stared down a set of stone steps.
"You feel something?" Ginny asked urgently.
"No," Adam shook his head. "The room."
"Okay, I'll go down and check, then," Ginny said. "You stay here."
"No," Adam replied. He wasn't about to allow Ginny down there on her own. "We'll go together."
The two of them descended the stone steps and soon found themselves in a large stone room with several doors leading off it. They checked the large room and each door in turn. Each time they found nothing. At every door that they opened, Adam heaved a sigh of relief that it wasn't his room.
By the time they stood outside the last door, Adam realised that this must be his room. Gingerly, he put his hand on the handle and pulled the door open.
Inside was a completely bare stone room. He recognised it, having been intimately familiar with for it for several weeks.
"Oh, Adam," Ginny exclaimed, wrinkling her nose against the smell of the room. "They kept you in here?"
"Yeah…" Adam replied softly. "It was alright…"
"No, it wasn't!" Ginny cried. Adam could hear her voice quavering. "They tortured you in here!" She paused. "There's no window! And it smells!"
"I…" Adam replied hesitantly. "I only had a bucket."
"Oh, Adam…"
Adam stared at his old prison for a second, before pushing Ginny back out of the room and slamming the door closed.
"There's nothing in this house," he said. "Come on, let's get out of here."
Ginny August 27th 1997
It had been a week since their visit to Hermione's house, and Ginny and Adam were huddled together in the phone box near the tent, hoping that Hermione would have a lead on where the orphanage was.
"So you had to go to the library in London?" Adam was speaking into the phone. "But you found it!" Adam exclaimed. "Brilliant!"
He was silent for several seconds while Hermione talked.
"Oh…" he said, his voice suddenly thick with disappointment. "Over ten years ago?"
There was more silence, and Ginny could faintly make out Hermione's voice through the phone.
"Well, thank you for trying anyway," Adam replied. "Be safe, Hermione."
Ginny started to push the door to the phone box open, assuming the conversation was about to finish, but Adam did not put the phone down and she could hear Hermione speaking again.
"That was a big risk, Hermione," Adam continued. "Okay," he paused again. "I still think you should stick to the plan. They shouldn't stop you if they think you're going to King's Cross," he paused while Hermione spoke. "Okay, bye then, and good luck."
Adam put the phone down and the two of them quickly left the phone box and returned to the tent in silence. At this time of the day, there were normally Muggles working in some of the buildings in the industrial area, and it wouldn't do for them to overhear their conversation.
"What happened?" Ginny demanded, once they reached the tent.
"She found the orphanage," Adam began. "But it's been demolished and built over. It's been gone for ten years."
"Oh," Ginny replied flatly, fighting down her disappointment. Yet another dead end.
"She also thinks someone is watching her house," Adam continued. "So I told her just to stick to the plan. If they think she's going to King's Cross, I hope they'll let her go. She also managed to phone some other Muggle-borns… mainly other Gryffindors but…" Adam shrugged.
"That's great!" Ginny exclaimed. "The more people that escape, the better!"
"I just wish we could have done more…" Adam added softly.
"We can't, Adam," Ginny responded. "We don't even know where any of the other Muggle-borns live… plus, if we're seen helping them…" she paused, both of them knew what could happen to anyone they helped. "So…" Ginny ventured. "What now?"
"We have to keep going," Adam said, not sounding very confident at all. "Keep checking the locations, look for R.A.B. We have to do something."
"Where next?" Ginny asked.
He paused for a minute, then suddenly threw his hands in the air in frustration. "I don't know! Everything we know is based on guesses!"
"It's okay, Adam." Ginny replied, moving forward and hugging him. "We'll figure it out. Let's have a rest and then start planning our next move."
Ron September 1st 1997
For the first time in his seven years of school, Ron felt scared as he walked towards the barrier onto platform nine-and-three-quarters.
After much discussion, and yet another visit to the house by Yaxley, his mum and dad had decided that he should return to Hogwarts. Ron knew it had been a very difficult decision for them; he'd heard them up late at night arguing about it.
As he pushed his trolley through King's Cross, Ron kept his eyes peeled, hoping against hope that he wouldn't see Hermione and, if he did, that he would be able to warn her so she could leave before she was caught.
As he dived through the barrier with his trolley, Ron continued to look around. The atmosphere on the platform was different this year, gone was the excitement of leaving for Hogwarts. Now it seemed to be a chore, something that had to be done, but no one really wanted to do.
After kissing his mother good-bye, Ron hefted his trunk onto the train and climbed aboard. He still had not seen anyone he knew, but, just to make sure, he took a wander up and down the train and heaved a sigh of relief when he saw no sign of Hermione.
Once the train began to pull away, Ron realised he was supposed to be at the Prefect's meeting. Normally, Hermione dragged him along as soon as they were on board, but today there was no Hermione, and he had nearly forgotten about the meeting.
Tiredly, Ron made his way to the Prefect's compartment. When he entered, he very nearly walked straight back out again when he saw Malfoy and Parkinson strutting around.
"Ah, Weasel," Malfoy sneered as he entered. "I guess we can't blame you for being late, probably can't afford a watch."
"Malfoy!" Ron spat back.
"Sit down, Weasel," Malfoy drawled. "I have a meeting to run."
Ron slumped down in the closest possible seat, his dad's instructions to him running through his head. Keep your head down, don't attract attention to yourself.
"As I was saying," Malfoy was speaking again, "Pansy and I have been appointed Head Boy and Girl. We received personal communications from the school this morning."
That pretty much confirmed Ron's worst fears. Either McGonagall hadn't been made Headmistress, or the Ministry had chosen the Head Boy and Girl. There was no way Professor McGonagall would allow Draco Malfoy to become Head Boy.
He glanced around the compartment. The Slytherin Prefects were looking very pleased with themselves, while the Prefects from the rest of the houses were looking horrified.
It was only then that Ron noticed there were far fewer Prefects than normal in the compartment. There were no new fifth-year prefects and he and Demelza Robins were the only two from Gryffindor. Colin Creevey, the boys' Prefect in Adam's year, was Muggle-born so he was not present, and obviously Hermione too had been forced to stay away.
Ron hoped that Colin had also been able to escape and hadn't been captured by the Ministry, just for being Muggle-born.
"Now," Draco Malfoy began again. "The new Prefects will be appointed by the new Headmaster once we arrive at school. On the train the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff Prefects will patrol. Slytherins can have a well-earned break."
There was much unhappy muttering at this, but no one seemed to want to speak up against Malfoy.
I'm going to keep my head down, Ron silently chanted to himself. I'm not going to confront him over this.
"What are you waiting for?" Malfoy snapped. "Get to it!"
As Ron stood up and made his way towards the compartment door, Malfoy sauntered over to him.
"Oi, Weasel," Malfoy said as way of introduction. "I'll be watching you. Don't think you'll get away with having a murderer for a sister."
"Ginny isn't a murderer!" Ron spat in return.
Malfoy merely smirked at him. "That's not what the Ministry says. She's almost as bad as that Winters kid. I mean, Weasel, I know you're poor, but surely your father could have sold her off to better stock than that. Or is he a dim wit now as well as a Muggle lover?"
Ron felt himself flushing as blood shot to his face. He reached for his wand.
"Go on, Weasel," Malfoy taunted.
It took every ounce of self-control that Ron had to not hex or punch Malfoy there and then.
I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to risk my family's safety for Malfoy.
Ron knew that the Ministry would use any excuse to throw any of his family in jail. It would be the death of his mum if he disappeared, too.
Moving his hand away from his wand, Ron turned and walked away from Malfoy. Perhaps he could find Neville or… He froze, realising that Dean Thomas was Muggle-born, so he wouldn't be at school. It would only be him, Neville and Seamus in the room this year. Well, if he could find either of them, he could perhaps pass the journey in better company.
Ron rode the rest of the way in a compartment with Neville, periodically emerging to half-heartedly patrol the train. Eventually, they arrived at Hogwarts and, as they did every year, they climbed into a carriage and rode up to the school.
Everything seemed the same as it always was, except that there were far fewer students. It was amazing how many Muggle-borns were actually at Hogwarts. Ron fervently hoped they hadn't all been caught and imprisoned.
As Ron entered the Great Hall and took his seat at the Gryffindor table, he looked up at the staff table. Much to his relief, the faces sitting at the table all seemed to be familiar. He could see Professor Flitwick and Hagrid. As he watched the professors talking between themselves, Ron noticed that Hagrid seemed to be cradling his left arm. Had Hagrid been injured somehow?
However, even though he could see some familiar faces sitting at the staff table, there were many empty places. There was no sign of Professor McGonagall but she, presumably, would be guiding the first-years. Also missing was Professor Snape and the chairs that normally housed the Defence Against the Dark Arts and Muggle Studies professors were also empty. Well, Ron thought grimly, at least there's no Umbridge.
The most notable absence was that of Professor Dumbledore. The large chair, which he had occupied at the opening feast for every year that Ron had been at school, was currently empty.
Who is the new Headmaster? Ron wondered to himself, as he gazed at the chair.
By the time Professor McGonagall led the much shorter line of first-years into the Great Hall, there was still no sign of the Headmaster. Even so, she didn't wait for him and, much to Ron's surprise, she carried on with the Sorting, but this year there was no song from the Hat.
Once the Sorting had finished, Professor McGonagall returned to her usual seat and sat down. The hall waited in uneasy silence for something, anything to happen.
Then, the doors to the Great Hall slammed open, and Professor Snape strode up the length of the hall, his black cloak billowing behind. He was followed by two other figures in dark cloaks. There was one man and one woman. They both seemed to be related, both were short and broad, sharing similar facial features and black hair.
No, Ron thought despairingly as Snape made his way towards the staff table. Please no!
As Ron had feared, Snape stopped in front of the Headmaster's chair and the two cloaked figures sat down on other chairs at the staff table. Ron couldn't help but notice the looks that the other professors were giving the two newcomers.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts," Snape began speaking, he voice echoing over the hall. "This year we celebrate the dawn of a new era. This year we will focus on learning what you need to know to take your place in Wizarding society, a society that our Ministry of Magic is crafting at this very minute," he paused. "My name is Professor Snape, and I am the new Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Applause sounded from the Slytherin table, but the rest of the hall remained silent.
Snape held up his hand, and the applause ceased. "There are many changes this year to our staff and curriculum. Firstly, it is my pleasure to announce that the Muggle Studies and Defence Against the Dark Arts courses have been cancelled. Secondly, allow me to introduce the new Deputy Heads: Alecto and Amycus Carrow. They will be teaching Potions and our new course, Dark Arts, respectively." He paused once again, as if gauging the reaction from the students. "Finally, in line with our new era, and to enable you to focus on your studies, there will be no Hogsmeade visits or Quidditch Cup this year."
This announcement met with stunned silence from the assembled students. Even the Slytherins appeared shocked.
As he listened to the rest of the announcements, Ron felt the worry he had been feeling all day turn to fear. He was fairly sure the Carrows were both Death Eaters. Snape was Headmaster, Death Eaters were teaching two classes and there was no Quidditch.
You-Know-Who had taken control of Hogwarts.
September 3rd 1997
Despite his fears, up until now, the first two days of the new term had been fine.
However, as Ron left his first Dark Arts lesson, he felt dirty. The lesson had been taught by Amycus Carrow and, even though he hadn't seen any sign of the Dark Mark, he was now absolutely certain that he was a Death Eater. No one else, except perhaps Snape, could talk about curses with such joy.
In addition to Carrow being a Death Eater, he also couldn't teach. The lesson had consisted of them copying down a list of curses and then watching demonstrations of them. Carrow had told them about curses that Ron had never even heard of before. Sure, he knew about the Unforgivable Curses, but he had no idea there was a curses specifically designed to break bones, reverse your knee, and, apparently, there was even one that allowed the caster to cut off the blood supply to various major organs.
Ron didn't know what he was going to do when Carrow tried to make them practice those curses; there was no way he could use them on another person. They were just horrible.
Once the lesson had finished, Ron and Neville trudged down to dinner, gobbled it up and retreated to the safety of Gryffindor Tower. At least the Slytherins couldn't taunt them in here, and he didn't think any of the professors, other than McGonagall, could get in. While they were in Gryffindor Tower they were safe… at least for now.
It appeared that the rest of the Gryffindors had the same idea as Ron. Even though it was a warm autumn night, it seemed as if the entirety of Gryffindor was in the common room. It was heaving with students sitting around in small groups talking or working on early pieces of homework.
There were to be no shows of exuberance this year.
Ron grabbed one of his school books, squeezed onto one of the sofas with Neville and Seamus and started reading through the passage he'd been assigned. Before long, he looked up and stared across the common room. It just wasn't the same without Hermione… or Ginny or Adam or Dean… Ron sighed and returned to his reading.
Before long, he was disturbed again, this time by Professor McGonagall sweeping into the room.
"I need all the Gryffindors in here, immediately," she ordered in a brisk tone.
At Professor McGonagall's instructions, several Prefects dashed up the stairs and, eventually, the few students that had been up in their bedrooms trickled down into the common room.
"I expect all of you have realised that many things are different this year. Hogwarts is no longer the same school it was under Professor Dumbledore. With Professor Snape as Headmaster, things have changed." Professor McGonagall paused for what seemed an age before she continued. "There is little doubt now that Professor Snape has allowed agents of You-Know-Who to become teachers at the school and I must warn you all to be careful around them." Her voice lowered. "I am certain they will not attack you without provocation, but should you break the rules or anger them, then they will not follow the standard disciplinary practices that you will have been used to."
At McGonagall's announcement the occupants of the common room burst into frantic whisperers. Ron could see many of the younger children looking pale and scared.
"Quiet!" Professor McGonagall raised her voice, silencing the room. "You must not mention that I've had this conversation with you. Professor Snape is out of the school tonight, otherwise he would be keeping an eye on me. The other teachers will do their best to protect you from the Carrows and Snape, but I must warn you, do NOT antagonise them!"
"Professor," the small voice of one of the first- or second-years spoke up. "Can't we just go home?"
Professor McGonagall sighed. "I wish it were that simple. The new Ministry decrees state that attendance at Hogwarts is now compulsory for all children," Professor McGonagall's expression twisted, "of legitimate wizarding decent," she sighed. "And you can be arrested for not attending school."
The room was silent, all of them watching Professor McGonagall intently.
"There is no need to be afraid," she said smiling slightly. "Those of us who are loyal to Professor Dumbledore's memory will protect you, but you need to keep your heads down, ignore the harassment from the Slytherins, and do as you're told." She paused. "Do not mention this conversation to anyone and do not write about it in letters home, your mail is being monitored."
Several of the younger Gryffindors were now becoming more and more upset. Ron even thought he heard the sound of sniffling coming from somewhere in the common room.
Ron knew he was a Prefect, but how was he supposed to comfort crying children? If only Hermione was here, she would know what to do.
"Do not worry," Professor McGonagall reassured them. "There are people out there fighting for what is right, and we will not give up until this time of darkness has passed."
Then Professor McGonagall paused for a second, her eyes scanning the students, before continuing. "I need to get to the staff meeting," she hesitated. "Look after yourselves and each other. Remember, you are all Gryffindors together." She then turned and left the common room.
The Gryffindor common room was silent for several minutes after she left, everyone was too shocked to speak. Eventually, the students began to drift back to where they had been sitting before.
Ron collapsed into the sofa next to Neville and groaned. If Professor McGonagall was correct, then things were as bad as he'd feared.
"So they just expect us to sit here and do nothing," Neville ventured eventually.
"I guess so," Ron replied glumly.
"Well," Neville added with a short chuckle, "it's not as if we can do anything from here."
Ron was silent for second.
"We can do something," he whispered to Neville. "We didn't spend most of last year learning Defence from Harry only to sit here."
"We can reform Dumbledore's Army!" Neville exclaimed.
"Ssh!" Ron whispered furiously. "It needs to be a secret! But yes, we can. We can resist the Death Eaters and protect the younger kids."
"But how?" Neville asked.
"Do you still have your Galleon?" Ron asked.
Neville nodded.
"We can use the Galleons, plus tell as many people as we can. People we trust. We just need to be far more careful this time, only tell people we absolutely trust. This time, if we get caught we won't just get detention; they could throw us in Azkaban!"
Adam September 4th 1997
It was early evening and, as usual, Adam was sitting with Ginny on one of the sofas in the tent, currently finishing his dinner.
"That was really nice," Adam said with a grin on his face.
"I told you I could cook," Ginny smirked as she collected their plates.
Adam was silent for a few seconds as he watched Ginny cleaning up the dinner things. They'd come to an agreement about splitting up the chores around the tent. Today had been Ginny's turn to cook and she had been vehemently insistent that Adam did nothing.
Adam couldn't help but smile as Ginny skipped energetically back across the tent towards him.
"All done!" she exclaimed brightly.
Adam grinned back her. "I love you," he began. "Sometimes I feel just so lucky."
"Lucky!" Ginny exclaimed, stifling a laugh. "We're currently on the run from the Darkest wizard alive and our own Ministry of Magic, and you feel lucky?"
"I mean," Adam began, trying to explain himself, "look at me five years ago. I was living on the streets. Then I find out I'm a wizard and can go to magic school where I meet the best friend anyone could ever have asked for, " Adam waved his arms, trying to express himself. "I fall in love with her, and then, as if by some miracle, she falls in love with me!"
Ginny didn't respond verbally. Instead she practically leapt the final few feet towards Adam and plopped herself onto his lap so she landed facing him.
"I love you," Ginny said as she kissed him.
A short time later, they were disturbed by a loud popping noise, and Adam, who'd had his eyes firmly fixed on Ginny, suddenly looked up and saw an old, decrepit house-elf standing in the middle of their tent.
Adam swore loudly, leapt up off the seat, sending Ginny flying in the process, and pointed his wand at the elf.
"Kreacher?" Adam asked hesitantly.
"Master…" the elf practically spat out.
"Adam?" Ginny asked, picking herself up from the floor.
"It's Kreacher, Sirius' old elf," Adam replied, then, turning to Kreacher, he ordered. "Tell me why you're here."
"Grimmauld Place," the elf ground out. "Master must come and take care of some business."
"It's a trap, Adam!" Ginny exclaimed.
"No!" Kreacher spat back. "Filthy blood traitor miss lies. Master must come!"
"Don't call her that!" Adam roared back at Kreacher, taking a step towards him threateningly.
"How did you find us, Kreacher?" Ginny asked in a friendlier tone. "Who told you where we are?"
"F…" Kreacher gasped, as if trying to cough up something unpleasant. "…Miss, he doesn't have to listen to her."
"Tell me how you found us," Adam snapped at Kreacher.
"Hogwarts Headmaster, told Kreacher to find you and give you information," Kreacher replied. "Master told Kreacher to obey the Headmaster."
Adam paused, thinking back to the meeting Professor Dumbledore's office when he'd first found out about Kreacher. He'd told Kreacher to obey the Headmaster, but at the time he'd meant Dumbledore.
"Who is the Headmaster?" Adam asked.
Kreacher gasped and gagged but didn't respond.
Adam sighed. "Tell me who the Headmaster is!" he ordered.
"Professor Snape!" Kreacher gasped out.
"Snape!" Ginny gasped in horror. "They made Snape Headmaster?"
"Well, they already control the Ministry," Adam replied grimly. "Looks like they now control Hogwarts, too."
"Master must come and take charge of his house at Grimmauld Place!" Kreacher said again, bowing his head.
"Quiet, Kreacher," Adam ordered.
"He's blatantly been sent here by Snape to try and get you to go the house. I bet they'll be waiting for us."
"Yeah," Adam replied. "But equally, we can't let Kreacher go back to Hogwarts. He could tell them where we are."
Ginny nodded in agreement, before continuing. "How did he find us anyway?"
"Kreacher," Adam said, turning to the elf. "Tell me how you found us? Did you tell Snape where we are?"
Kreacher struggled against the orders for several seconds, his facial expressions twisting as he fought not to respond. "Kreacher can always appear for master," he gasped, "and Kreacher wishes he could tell the noble Headmaster where his Master is."
"Kreacher," Adam said, glancing quickly at Ginny and noticing the relieved look on her face. "You will not tell anyone anything about where we are. You will not tell anyone anything about us at all."
Kreacher began to gasp and grabbed his throat. "But… Mistress Black… The Headmaster…"
"Kreacher," Adam continued. "From now on, you will only obey either myself or Ginny. You will not return to Hogwarts."
"No!" Kreacher exclaimed. "Master can't make me obey," he grabbed his throat again. "The Muggle loving—"
"Kreacher!" Adam exclaimed, taking a step forward. "You will not insult Ginny!"
Kreacher shrank backwards from Adam in fear, bumping into the table in the centre of the tent and knocking it over.
Upon seeing Kreacher's reaction to him, Adam immediately felt a surge of guilt. He wasn't intimidating. Was he?Was Kreacher afraid of him?
"Kreacher," Adam replied in a softer tone of voice. "You may make me angry, but I won't hurt you."
Kreacher didn't reply. Instead, he was staring into the ruin of the table, and all the things that had been piled on top of it.
"Kreacher?" Adam asked, uncertain what the house-elf was doing.
Ginny quickly advanced towards the elf. Then, apparently seeing what he was doing, she leapt forward, trying to grab onto something.
"The Locket!" she cried out, and Adam saw Kreacher trying to rip the locket out of Ginny's grip.
From what Adam could see, the house-elf was extremely strong and Ginny was about to lose her grip on the locket. He stepped forward, ready to pull Kreacher off Ginny.
"Adam, no!" Ginny exclaimed. "Kreacher! Let go!"
Immediately, with a wail of despair, Kreacher released his grip and flopped to the floor.
Adam looked at Ginny, who was standing there with the locket in her hand.
"You told him to obey me," she said with a shrug. "What was all that about, then?"
"Kreacher," Adam said, slowly approaching the elf and kneeling down in front of him. "Tell me whose locket that is."
Kreacher brought his head up and stared right into Adam's eyes.
"Master Regulus'," the elf said in a quiet voice.
"Regulus Black?" Ginny questioned, coming up and kneeling next to Adam.
Kreacher nodded.
"Kreacher," Ginny said, obviously picking up that Adam was trying a softer approach with the elf. "Tell me what Master Regulus' middle name was."
Kreacher stared at Ginny, his mouth moving silently, before turning back to Adam and choking out, "Arcturus."
"R.A.B!" Ginny exclaimed.
Adam nodded back excitedly at her. They had managed to see through Snape's trap and by pure luck had a new lead!
"Kreacher," Adam said, turning back to the elf. "You will tell me everything you know about this locket."
Ron September 6th 1997
Ron stood in the Room of Requirement, looking at the others that had assembled there. It was a paltry gathering compared to their lessons last year with Harry. There were fewer than fifteen of them now.
"Er…" Ron began hesitantly. "Thanks for coming."
It had taken a great deal of effort to gather the army once again and Ron had been in constant fear that someone would betray them to the Carrows, but, much to his relief, no one had been waiting for them in the Room of Requirement. It seemed as if they were safe for now.
"So," Ron continued, "I think we're all agreed that things are wrong at school, and we have to do something."
Some of the room's occupants, mainly the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, broke out into muted whispers.
"We're being taught Dark Arts, for Merlin's sake!" Neville exclaimed suddenly. "That can't be right! Can it?"
"Professor Dumbledore and Harry told us last year that You-Know-Who had returned," Ron continued. "I'm certain that he is now controlling the Ministry and that Snape is also working for him!"
"How do you know?" Michael Corner called from the back of the room. "I know things aren't good, but how do you we know He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is responsible."
"They came to my house over the summer and tried to arrest Ginny for treason!" Ron shouted back. "Ginny! My sister! For treason!"
"What did she do?" Hannah Abbott asked.
"They came for her just because she was with Adam," Ron snapped in response, beginning to get angry now. "And don't anyone dare bring up that nonsense about him killing Professor Dumbledore. If anyone actually believes that, then you're too stupid to be here."
The room was silent.
"It's all true," a quiet voice spoke up from the back.
Ron saw that the person who had spoken was Susan Bones, who was currently standing next to Hannah Abbott. Ron was surprised to hear her speak, since he couldn't actually remember her ever speaking up in a meeting before.
"I…" she began. "Auntie Amelia just vanished and then…" she hesitated. "Then this horrible man came to the house…"
"Was his name Yaxley?" Ron interrupted. "He came to ours as well."
"That was him," Susan continued hesitantly. "There is no way he should be working in the Ministry. It took my auntie years and years to get her job and he just appeared from nowhere."
"Does anyone else have any doubts?" Ron questioned to group again. When no one responded, he continued, echoing Professor McGonagall's words from a few days ago. "Good. There are people out there fighting for what is right, but we have to do our part here."
"We need to look after the younger students, stop the Slytherins from making our lives a living hell," Neville continued, recapping for the other houses what the Gryffindors had been discussing for several days.
"But how is that really fighting?" Terry Boot spoke up from the back of the room. "If things are really that bad, then surely we need to do more than just protect each other and stop the Slytherins."
"Well…" Ron began hesitantly, "I…"
"You don't have more of a plan?" someone else called out.
"It's not just up to Ron to come up with a plan, you know," Neville snapped out in response, surprising even Ron. "We're all in this together. We need to work together. When there is something bigger that we need to do, then we'll plan."
"So for now we can just watch," Luna Lovegood said dreamily from the back of the room.
"Exactly!" Ron exclaimed. "We'll meet reasonably regularly. We can practice safely here and when something happens, then we can act."
That seemed to meet with agreement from the room and, once they had set the date for the next meeting, the others began to trickle back to their common rooms.
Once they were gone, Ron sighed with relief. Dumbledore's Army was back, and he'd even managed to do it without Hermione.