Dedicated to ayexcalum for the beautiful cover on the side - I really love it :3 

Song For This Chapter: Little Numbers - Boy

Ch. 15: Hell-o Hogwarts

    After New Year's, Molly decided that we had best return to school to get back into the swing of things. During our time at Sirius's house, I had met Bill Weasley and even helped host a dinner in while Lana and Fleur came over. Molly simply insisted that Bill eat with us, sitting him directly across from Fleur.

    The two couldn't possibly be more interested in each other. Lana and I kept exchanging withering glances towards each other as the night droned on; no doubt we would be seeing a lot more of Fleur and Bill dates in the near future.

    Ginny and I were upstairs, packing our things, when Hermione burst through the door, hauling her thick trunk behind her. "We only have five minutes before we have to leave, and I can't find my book!" She rushed towards the window sill, but came up empty handed. 

    "Uh," I furrowed my brow, nodding towards the bed she had been occupying for the last couple of days. "Did you check under your bed? Perhaps it fell under there last night?" 

    Hermione ducked her head under the sheets, but it was for nothing. The book was missing. "That's incredible," She spat out the word as if it was a curse. "Where could it possibly have gone?" 

    "Why don't you ask Kreacher?" Ginny piped up, titling her head to the side. "There is a chance he could know where it is..." 

    Hermione huffed out an exasperated sigh and stormed down the stairs to find the decrepit house-elf, however, she paused, turning to me before heading all the way out. "Could you find Harry and tell him it is time to leave?" 

    "Sure thing!" I called out as her head disappeared behind the corner. As soon as she was out of ear shot, I glanced lazily at Ginny. "Could you find Harry and tell him it is time to leave?" 

    "No," Ginny giggled, shaking her head at me and folding up some cardigans to put into her trunk. "You're done packing - don't be lazy."

    I made a gurgling sound of distaste before groaning and zombie walking downstairs, feet echoing roughly with each heavy footstep I took. "Why are you so mean to me?" I whined, clomping down the stairs. Ginny only snickered at me, ignoring my protests. 

    As I rounded the corner, Sirius's reassuring voice wavered into my ears. "Besides, Harry, the world isn't split up into just 'good' and 'bad' people. We've all got both light and dark inside of us," He lowered his voice towards more loving tones as I inched closer to the door, craving to hear more of Sirius's sermon, "What matters, is the part we chose to act on," I smiled lightly, leaning against the wall next to the open door. "That proves what we really are." 

    Sighing, I pushed myself into view and knocked on the door, smiling a little. "Beautiful words, Sirius," I nodded towards Harry and he spared his godfather a small hug. "Harry, it's time to go." 

    Sirius walked Harry to the door, smiling down at him. "When all this is over, we will be a proper family - you will see." I turned away from their loving scene, I felt as if I was intruding. After a little while, Hermione let out a triumphant cheer, hollering towards me that she'd found her book. 

    Hogwarts hadn't changed in the slightest when we returned. It was still the same hell on earth that Umbridge was continually residing over, sticking people with her pitch-fork every now and again. Hermione and I spent our sixteenth birthday drowning in Defense Against the Dark Arts essays and me helping her master her up coming Potions exam.

    Meanwhile, Harry and Cho were developing a thing; there was not a moment were they weren't hanging out together. I felt happy for Harry, but, speaking as a completely objective third party observer with absolutely no personal interest in the matter, I just wasn't entirely sure that Cho and Harry were made for each other. Plus, Ginny was acting gloom lately and spending more time Dean Thomas.

    Walking beside Blake after Potions class, she blathered on about George and how he hasn't been talking much to her any more, and how she wished he would pay more attention to her. I was zoned out, but I nodded occasionally to convince her that I really did care about her problems. Maybe I was a bad friend.

    Hermione brushed past me to grab Harry away from Cho as they walked in front of Blake and I. "Elle, you too." She nodded as I excused myself from Blake as she pouted a little, running off to tackle a Slyterin girl that, I hoped, was one of her other friends.

    "What's up, Hermione?" Harry rose a brow, sparing Cho a wistful glance as she moved on without him. Love sick puppy.

    "Hagrid's back," She grinned, eyes darting between Harry's excited smile and my confused one. 

    "The Care of Magical Creatures teacher?" I prodded. I had never really met him, but Hermione had informed me that they were close with the half-giant. "Where has he been all year?"

    Hermione and Harry shrugged while walking down towards his little hut, just brining me along for the ride. "Hagrid will want to met you - I've told him about you, but he has been too busy to really meet with us recently," Hermione trailed off.

    As we walked, Hermione grabbed Ron and all three of them began racing down the grassy hill slopes as fast as possible while I trudged behind, not really in the mood for running. "Come on then, Elle!" Hermione cheered, grabbing my hand and tugging me behind her - forcing me to rush down hill.

    Winded by the time we reached the little shack, I heaved a deep breath and earned looks of amusement from the Trio. "Shut up," I hissed, blushing slightly, "Not all of us can be marathon runners you know!"

    Ron turned towards me, putting a finger over his lips. "Shhh, you hear that?" He whispered while Hermione and Harry nodded, sneaking around to the side of the hut so we all could peer into the large, stain glass window.

    "I'm going to ask you only once," A shrill, devilish voice sounded from inside the hut, and, as I peered in, I could make out the the plink blob that was Umbridge. "Where have you been?"

    The giant man grumbled under his breath - just the tone of his voice rumbled the house a little. "I tol' ye. I wen' away for me health." The half giant, obviously Hagrid, muttered, "To get a bit o' fresh air."

    Umbridge scrunched her nose up at his statement as if she smelt something foul. "Yes, and as game keeper, fresh air must be hard to come by." 

    "That bitch."

    Hermione cast me a small look. "Elle." Only shrugging in response, we all listened in as the toad began to talk once more. 

    "Well," she heaved, "If I were you, I wouldn't get too used to being back." Her eyes narrowed sharply, "In fact, I would not bother unpacking at all." Hagrid had nothing to say in response as Umbridge brushed herself off and stalked to the front door, making us scatter in fear in case she spotted us. 

    Once she was a good hundred, perhaps more, feet away - Hermione allowed us to sneak inside the Hut, greeting Hagrid with a timid hello. "Hello, Hagrid," Hermione waved her hand, motioning towards me with a small smile. "This is my twin, Elizabeth." 

    Sending her a sharp glare, I stepped forward. "You can call me Elle, I don't like Elizabeth." I smiled politely, sending him a wave that mimicked Hermione's. "It's nice to meet you."

    "Nice t' meet ye too, Elle." Hagrid nodded towards me while I looked up at his beaten face, furrowing my brow a little. His face and hands were covered in scratches, and, he has a thick lump on his forehead that was paired with a purple and blue black-eye.

    "So," Harry sat down, titling his head to the side as we joined him. "We have you been this whole time. We've missed you." 

    Hagrid smiled a little while getting a fairly large slab of raw meat out of a chest and placing it over his bruised eye. "Tha's sweet, I was away on top secret business. This can't go an'where, ye hear me?" He prodded, looking around at each of our faces, sparing Hermione and I special glance as Hermione reassured him that I could be trusted.

    It felt nice to be in the loop.

    Hagrid lifted the meat back onto his face, giving in to our questioning stares. "Dumbledore sen' me ta strike a deal wit' tha giants." Hermione spared Hagrid a shocked look but allowed him to go on. "Try ta get 'em ta join wit' the cause."

    Harry cringed slightly, motioning towards his face, "So, is that what happened?"

    "Well, I ain't the only one tryna win them ov'r." Hagrid muttered darkly. Ron paled a little and glanced down at his mug of tea that Hagrid had kindly handed out to everyone. "Death Eaters."

    "Yea," he nodded, stirring some sugar into his own large mug, "Tryna get them to join You-Know-Who." Hagrid sighed, shakily his head. I winced a little as some old lint fell from his greasy beard. "I did all I can do, gave 'em Dumbledore's message." He shrugged letting the conversation drop while tossing the steak towards his dog, he'd been begging at Hagrid's feet the whole while.

    Outside, the wind picked up and dark grey clouds rolled in, casting out the sun. "There's a storm brewin', Harry," Hagrid sighed, shaking his head, "Just like last time. We'd best be prepared when she hits - 'cause she'll be a big one."

    The rest of the week, things continued to get worse. There was an explosion at Azkaban - releasing ten Death Eaters - and all the Ministry could think to do was place the blame on Sirius Black, as if it wasn't completely obvious that a greater force was behind this. 

    After the Daily Prophet released the idiotic interview with Cornelius Fudge, Dumbledore's Army received a few more recruits. Seamus Finnigan has agreed to follow Dean Thomas to a few meetings, finally signing up when he pieced together that Voldemort really was out there - he even apologized to Harry, which was gratifying to see, even if I didn't witness their fight at the beginning of first term.

    "What are we learning today, Harry?" Luna's voice wafted through the quiet room as people began coming into the Room of Requirement, ready for the next lesson. 

    "I've got something special planned," Harry smiled towards her, motioning for the class to gather around, "Today - we are going to go over the Patronus charm." There was a hushed murmuring as people began to get excited about the spell. It was a rather advanced piece of magic and no doubt everyone wanted to know what their spirit animal was.

    "Now," Harry paced between the groups of teenagers, instructing everyone to ready their wands. "Repeat after me, while waving your wand in a circular, clockwise, motion." He waved his wand around as an example while I clutched my wand tightly in my hand, slightly nervous about the magic. I'd never produced a patronus before.

    "Expecto Patronum," Harry called out, silver light billowing from the tip of his wand and collecting together to form a large silhouette of a stag. "See? Not as hard as it seems." 

    His stag galloped around the room for a few moments before dispersing into a cloud of smoke, sensing that it was no longer needed. Harry cleared his throat, "I want you all to think of the happiest memory you have, hold it clear in your mind - then emulate it in your spell." 

    Biting my lip, I searched through my mind, looking for my happiest memory. My first thought was something to do with Fred, but slowly, something more important cropped up. The present Fred had given me just recently. Being reunited with Jenna and Lana - sure, Fred was involved, but he wasn't the happiest memory.

    Grinning, I watched as Blake tried for her fourth time, a chipmunk jutting out of her wand and scampering across the room and joining Luna's rabbit in a race. I chuckled at the little creatures, it was amazing how much they resembled each other. "Oh my gosh," she squealed, "it's so cute!"

    "Alright - watch the master, Elle," Fred chuckled, nudging me with his arm and holding his wand out in front of him. "Expecto Patronum." He blurted, smoke billowing out of the tip of his wand, slowly collecting to form a lean, regal looking wolf. 

    Raising a brow, I snickered a little, earning a confused glance from him. "I'm sorry, I just thought it was going to be something hilarious - like a goldfish!" I jested, twirling my wand in my hand. Fred's wolf growled a little, pointing it's muzzle at me in irritation.

    Rolling my eyes, I muttered the charm under my breath, bringing my memory into the enter of my mind and dwelling on it, letting it fill my bones and seeping into my chest. "Expecto Patronum." I called, watching as silver shot from my wand, flying across the room at an alarming rate. 

    Then, after it was in a secluded area, it began to take shape. Tilting my head to the side, I raced after the animal in hiding, trying to figure out what it was. "A coyote?" I murmured, reaching down to pet the creature as it nervously hedged it's way closer.

    Peering around, it realized that there was other glowing animals and then became really excited. Jumping around like a lunatic, the coyote skipped over to the chipmunk while Blake and I giggled at each other. It was odd, the patronuses. It was almost as if they were real beings, not just castings from our wands. 

    Fred's wolf edged it's way towards my coyote and began to walk up to it when my patronus glowered at it slightly, not sure whether she liked the wolf. Before they could really get acquainted, Hermione distracted me, causing the patronus to disappear.

    "You know, Elle," She stifled a giggle and stuck a hand on her hip while trying to keep a straight face, brown eyes fizzing slightly. "Both the coyote and the wolf are part of a very few class of rare animals."

    "Rare for what?" I rose a brow, silently realizing that I really wouldn't want to know what she had to say. No doubt it was something embarrassing and really smart. However, the more curious part of me really wanted to know. 

    Hermione's brow twitched, her eyes seemed to sparkle a little as she gave me a deep look paired with a sweet smile. "They mate for life," she teased, making a blush spread across my cheeks as I shoved her lightly.

    "Shut up, 'Mione," I rolled my eyes, watching as her otter swam circles around her and Ron's jack russell tried chasing it down. It didn't take an animal expert to see what that was all about. I was about to tease her about her own charm when the lights flickered and the chandelier across the room rocketed slightly.

    Slowly, everyone began to lose focus, their patronus charms flickering out by the few. Again, a low boom sounded through the room, shaking the walls and causing the mirrors around the room to quiver with the impact. Harry and Ron approached the far wall, where the banging was being produced, and held out their wands protectively as the lights flickered once more. 

    After another rough shove, the glass mirrors along that wall shattered, falling down to reveal a small hole in the cobblestone bricks. Nigel swayed over towards the hole to peer inside, but Harry gave him a sharp eye, pulling him away.

    "I'll make short work of this," a sickly sweet voice shot out from the other side. At the sound, other students trembled and glanced around, slowly backing up to the entrance as if to make a run for it, but they were too late. "Bombarda Maxima," Harry tossed Nigel to the side as the wall exploded, chunks of solid rock tumbling everywhere.

    As soon as the dust settled, Umbridge and her lackeys filed into the room - scowls on their faces. In Draco's arms, he shoved Marietta forward; Cho Chang's best friend. The one that Umbridge had been threatening for information. In horror, I took in the blistering boils that trailed across her forehead in the words: 'SNEAK'. The work of Hermione's parchment no doubt.

    Marietta cringed at our glares and broke down, tears welling up and falling down her face while Draco sneered in pure joy at all of us, sending Hermione and I special glares of contempt. Fred heaved a puff of shock out of his mouth as he stood up tall beside me, sliding his hand into mine tightly - trying to reassure me. Lip quivering, I glanced up into his deep brown eyes, honestly scared to see what Umbridge would do. There was a moment of silence before Umbridge hissed out only two words, sealing our fate:

    "Get them!" 

~~~

Sorry if you felt it was a little choppy, I had no inspiration for this chapter ;( 

PS: be sure to leave your questions! :3