Harry Potter and the Secret of Gairech

7. Amber Barnacle

A twilit room with wooden tiles on the floor. Tiles gleaming with blood. A man in farmer's clothing, crouching over a struggling animal, staring up at him in horror. His mouth opened in a plea: "Please... please don't." But two dark figures stepped forward, blocking the farmer from view. They couldn't block out his scream.

Harry sat up in bed. His breathing was shallow and his scar was burning like fire. He listened in the darkness, but his classmates seemed to be asleep. 'At least this time I didn't scream,' he thought bitterly, and pulled the blanket higher. These hideous pictures were driving him crazy. He lay in bed, his hand pressed against his throbbing scar, and stared at the ceiling above him. These visions had to stop. It had taken long enough for him to understand and accept that they weren't an advantage, that they made him vulnerable. If Voldemort succeeded in getting a hold of his mind, who knew what he would do next...

'If only I'd taken those Occlumency classes with Snape more seriously,' he scolded himself, grimacing as his scar gave another throb. "I know you've just killed again - now leave me in peace!" he hissed and turned over onto his stomach, his face pressed into his pillow. 'Think about something else, something nice...Or - even better- think about nothing at all...'

He couldn't carry on like this. Harry sighed. But there was only one way to stop this flood of images, and he wouldn't enjoy that any more than he enjoyed his nightmares...

***

The next few days passed peacefully. Harry had expected to find news about Voldemort's latest murder in the Daily Prophet, but that wasn't the case. When the next week had gone by without the smallest article, Harry gave up waiting.

After breakfast they made their way to the Charms classroom. They had just reached the fourth floor and were turning into the main corridor when Ron bumped hard into a girl and dropped his books. "Oh, sorry!" The girl seemed to be in a hurry, but looked apologetic. "I didn't mean for that to happen." She bent over hastily and helped Ron to collect up his books.

"Don't worry about it," Ron said, straightening out a few pages in his copy of 'One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi'. The girl handed him the rest of his books and looked at him in embarrassment, brushing a strand of blond hair out of her face. Her amber-coloured eyes looked genuinely apologetic. "I... I have to go," she murmured, and hurried past them towards the stairs.

Ron stared after her in surprise. "Who was that?"

Hermione bit her lip thoughtfully, and Harry gave his friend a crooked grin. "Unless I've suddenly become colour-blind... a Slytherin?"

***

Luna barely looked up from her magazine.

"Yes, that's Amber Barnacle," she told the trio, turning the page. "She's in the fourth year."

Harry was pleased. It had been a good idea to ask Luna about the girl - no one else knew as many Hogwarts students as she did. "She sat next to me on her first journey in the Hogwarts Express," Luna continued. "There was no room for her in her cousin's compartment."

Hermione frowned. "She has a cousin here? Who's that?"

"Draco Malfoy," Luna answered, starting the crossword puzzle.

***

"Are you mad?" Ron stared at Harry in bewilderment. "You want me to talk to that.. that... to Malfoy's cousin?"

"You've managed it once already," Harry grinned, helping himself to the roast potatoes.

Ron looked anything but enthusiastic. "Why don't you do it yourself?"

"She didn't bump into me." Harry tucked into his meal. "And anyway, it was you she was looking at the whole time."

His friend almost spat out his meatballs in horror. "She was what? You're seeing things! She's a Slytherin, for God's sake!"

"So?" Hermione interrupted him sternly. "She apologised to you, instead of rushing past. She helped you pick up your books even though she was in a hurry. She wasn't the least bit hostile..."

"Maybe she didn't see the colour of our ties," Ron grumbled. "She can't be a nice person."

"Because she's a Slytherin?" Ginny sighed.

"And Malfoy's bloody cousin!" Ron slammed his fist down on the table. "We can't just invite her along to our meetings!"

Neville looked at him timidly. "But we agreed to find a few approachable Slytherins, so that we'd have someone from every house in the group..."

"To make friends," nodded Hermione. "Ron, it's so important!"

"Then you talk to her," he said stubbornly.

Hermione folded her serviette and put it to one side. "Alright then, I will, since you're too pig-headed."

***

They had started to arrange the first meeting of term for the remaining members of the DA. As clubs were no longer forbidden, as they had been under Umbridge's brief rule, they no longer had to act in secret, and could talk about it openly with their classmates. Harry was sitting with Ernie, Luna and the Creevey brothers, and arranged a convenient time for them to meet before the start of Quidditch training. They were joined by Michael and Cho. Cho had obviously stopped being angry with Harry, and had stopped ignoring him. She now seemed satisfied with the way things had ended the previous year, and appeared to get on very well with Michael. She had also stopped throwing poisonous glances at Hermione whenever she was nearby.

"If you're looking for your girlfriend," Michael greeted Harry, "I'd look near the lake. That girl with a mane like a lion who's talking and laughing with a Slytherin." He seemed as surprised as Ron had been at lunch.

Harry scribbled down the date and time for the next meeting on a piece of parchment and handed it to Cho. "Ah, she's talking to Amber." He said it so casually that Michael looked confused. Harry sighed. "Listen, it's bad enough that most of the Slytherins have prejudices against everyone else. We shouldn't have any, if we find one or two decent Slytherins."

"How do you know that Amber's a decent person?" Michael grumbled.

Harry grabbed his schoolbag and stood up. "A first impression? And I think I'll go and get another one. See you in Herbology."

He left the group and strolled down to the lake. It was a glorious autumn day and most of the students were spending their lunch hour out of doors. Hermione and Amber were sitting under a tree next to the lake. Harry waved to the girls and they waved back. He smiled and joined them.

"Hermione's just told me about your group," said Amber, leaning against the tree trunk. "I'd like to come along, if I wouldn't be in the way. Oh..." She laughed and held out her hand. "We haven't been officially introduced. I'm Amber Barnacle."

"I know," grinned Harry, shaking hands with her. "I'm Harry Potter."

"I know that too," she laughed.

They leant over the parchment that Harry held out to them, and he told Amber the time and place of the meeting. They had arranged to meet on Wednesday evening. There was an empty room next to the Charms classroom which was big enough and which they would be allowed to use.

"Can I ask you a personal question?" Harry asked after a while.

Amber looked at him curiously. "What question?"

"Why you're in Slytherin."

She laughed and tossed back her blond hair. It was the same colour as Draco's, Harry realised. But apart from that she seemed nothing like her cousin.

"For the last few centuries it's been a scandal in my family if anyone doesn't end up in Slytherin. It's tradition."

"But the Sorting Hat..." Harry began, but Amber interrupted him. "In its way the hat is corruptible too. It rarely happens that it sends someone from a well-known family to a completely different house from the one all their ancestors belonged to. Besides, I never objected to being in Slytherin. I wanted to be."

"You wanted to be in Slytherin?" Hermione asked.

Amber nodded. "Sure. My father wouldn't have been happy if I'd have ended up in Hufflepuff. That was his greatest fear. He didn't think I was selfish enough to be in Slytherin and was prepared for the worst...and I wanted to give him a nice surprise."

Harry and Hermione stared at her open-mouthed, and she laughed.

"And? Was he pleased?" Hermione chuckled.

Amber grinned. "Pleased as punch. He fell to ground and thanked his holy demons for saving him from such ignominy." She laughed louder. A group of Hufflepuffs, who were passing by, looked at her uncertainly and sped up a little.

Harry gave Amber the parchment and she promised to come to the meeting. On the way back to the classroom, Hermione gave him a friendly nudge. "What will Ron say when we tell him what nice people there are in Slytherin?"

Harry smiled. "He'd rather eat a Quaffle for breakfast than believe it..."

***

However, neither of them had the chance to speak to Ron before Potions. To start the lesson, Snape growled out a complicated recipe for the Carraig-Potion, which was used to turn objects and plants into stone. Harry almost miscounted his palusos scales as he thought about what he should say to Snape. Actually he didn't want to say anything to him. He would have preferred not to be dependent on the bad-tempered teacher. But he knew that Severus Snape could not be avoided if he wanted to get his visions under control.

To his satisfaction he managed to produce a potion that was the right colour, and immediately corked a sample of it in a labelled bottle. Each student was supposed to bring a sample to Snape at the end of the lesson, so that he could test the potion's effectiveness. But before Harry could hand in his bottle, Malfoy pushed his way between Harry and the desk, a malicious smile on his face. Unseen by Snape, he knocked the bottle from Harry's hand and it smashed to pieces on the floor.

"Oh, Potter, how clumsy of me," smirked Malfoy as he placed his own sample on Snape's desk. "I'm so sorry..."

Fuming, Harry ignored the oily smile that Snape gave when he saw that Harry had unfortunately cleaned his caldron before handing in the sample. Once again he had nothing to show for his practical work. He could already see a triumphant Snape throwing him off the course. He felt like wringing Malfoy's neck on the spot.

Hermione shot him a sympathetic glance as he walked back to his place. He didn't have time to make another potion. The lesson was already over and the students were leaving the classroom.

Harry slowly packed his things together and watched the others leave. When the last of them had disappeared through the doorway, he stood up too. He looked over at Professor Snape, who was brooding over a piece of parchment on his desk and didn't notice him. Either that, thought Harry, or he was simply ignoring him.

He felt terribly awkward as he walked hesitantly around his desk towards Snape, who still hadn't looked up. The splinters of glass from his bottle were still lying on the floor, and Harry stepped over them with a sigh. It would be a miracle if Snape even listened to him without chasing him out of the classroom. Harry's throat was bone dry. Finally he gave a little cough.

"Er... Professor...?"

Snape looked up and stared at him. His piercing gaze did nothing to increase Harry's confidence. There was a moment of complete silence, and Harry took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, Potter, but there can be no excuse for the broken bottle," said Snape coolly, glancing down at Harry's Carraig-Potion which was still shining wet on the floor.

"That's not what I'm here about," answered Harry. Not only would Snape refuse to give him a grade for the missing potion, he was now going to get even further into his teacher's bad books. The Potions master raised his eyebrows in a question. "I..." stammered Harry, "... I wanted to ask you if you could give me Occlumency lessons again... and to apologise...for..." Snape's gaze was now so piercing that Harry thought his eyes would bore deep holes in his head. He forced himself to continue: "...for not taking the lessons seriously. I...I'm sorry."

He had said it. Harry felt slightly sick. Now Snape would use this admission of weakness to humiliate him and send him out of the room. But the teacher was silent. He put the parchment aside and leant slowly back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest.

"So, you'd like Occlumency lessons..." he drawled. "Why the sudden interest? Are you hoping to amuse yourself by dragging out more embarrassing memories from my past?" His voice was so cold that the dungeon seemed snug and warm in comparison.

"No, sir," said Harry quietly. "And I didn't enjoy it."

Again Snape's dark eyes seemed to bore into him. "So you didn't enjoy watching your heroic father tormenting your hated teacher as a schoolboy?" he asked acidly.

Harry dropped his eyes. "He had no reason to do that."

"Of course he had a reason!" Snape said so loudly that Harry jumped in alarm. "You've heard his reason for yourself, Potter!"

Yes, he'd heard... "It's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean...".

"No," Harry murmured, forcing himself to raise his eyes. "What I heard wasn't a reason and it wasn't an excuse. But Professor - I don't want to talk about my father. I..."

"Because I could end up spoiling that image you have of a perfect father and all-round nice guy?" Snape snorted, rolling up the parchment on his desk.

"Up till then everyone had said nice things about him!" Harry's fear of his Potions teacher had vanished and been replaced by a rebellious defiance. "How was I supposed to know that he could be an arrogant idiot too if no one told me? Because friends never say bad things about their friends, no matter what they've done!"

Snape had been about to turn away from him, but he stopped. He voice was now quieter, but still cutting. He looked searchingly at Harry, raising his eyebrows. "Potter, did you ever have the desire to own somebody? Not just the wish - the desire!"

Harry looked at him in surprise at the obvious change of subject. "The desire to... what?"

"Answer my question!" Snape shouted, bringing the roll of parchment down smartly on the desk so that the potion bottles clinked together. "Yes or no?".

Harry had jumped back a step and was staring at his teacher in horror. "No, sir," he answered in a small voice.

Snape rested both hands on his desk and leant forward. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Harry. "Your father did. He wanted to own Lily. Not to win her in a fair fight, no, he wanted to own her, whatever the cost! And he was so, so sure that he would get her!"

For a moment Harry stood as if rooted to the spot, and then, quite suddenly, he understood. Yes, now he understood everything.

"You loved her," he blurted out in surprise, and couldn't help but stare at Snape in bewilderment. Instead of losing his temper again, Snape remained silent and pressed his lips together. But even without an answer, Harry knew that he was right. Back then, his father had been trying to impress Lily, so that she would go out with him. And Snape must have had an eye on her too. That would explain the rivalry between the two young men that had escalated into hatred. But...

"You called her a Mudblood," said Harry, and now it was his turn to speak coldly.

Snape raised his eyes and nodded. He answered so calmly and seriously that his words seemed to resonate in Harry's ears. "Yes, I did. When you're humiliated to that point you say the wrong things out of sheer desperation, just to preserve a scrap of pride. Even the pride that prevents you from accepting someone's help."

Harry didn't answer, but he understood. He himself was often too proud to ask for help, even when it was the right thing to do. False pride - as he had painfully come to realise. And in disbelief he found that for the first time ever while in Snape's presence he actually felt sympathy for this man he had always hated so much.

"In the following generation the roles seem to have been reversed," Snape remarked, packing away the roll of parchment and the bottles of Carraig-Potion. "Thursday at six-thirty," he added shortly. Harry looked at him in astonishment. "Occlumency lesson in my office," Snape growled. "And I would advise you to be punctual!"

It took a moment for Harry to process the fact that Snape had actually agreed to teach him. Still surprised, he stammered out a "thank you, sir", grabbed his schoolbag and threw it over his shoulder. He hurried to the door, worried that he'd misheard and that Snape was about to send him to the devil. He wound his way through the rows of tables and had just reached the door when he heard a soft "Reparo!" from behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Snape pick his now repaired bottle of Carraig-Potion from the floor. Some drops of the potion had remained on the glass and were now inside the bottle. Snape turned over the bottle in his hands, examining its contents. "Not much left, and it's rather dirty... but as a sample it will do." He looked up. "Shouldn't you be in the Great Hall by now, Potter?" he snapped.

A smile stole across Harry's face when he saw Snape put his sample with the others as he left the dungeon.

***

"I'm proud of you," beamed Hermione when he told her and Ron about his conversation with Snape. "It's so important for you to carry on with Occlumency lessons."

Ron pulled a face. "In his shoes I'd rather give it a miss, knowing Snape."

"Well fortunately you're not in his shoes," Hermione snapped, and Ron pulled his chair a little further away from her.

"Alright, alright," he reassured her. "I was only joking... But I look forward to seeing Malfoy's face when Snape reads out the marks and he hears to his surprise that Harry's didn't fail!"

8. Viribus Unitis

Everyone came to the meeting. Amber came a little late and was the last to arrive. Everyone looked up as the Slytherin searched for a free place to sit. Many of the group seemed surprised and suspicious. Harry noticed this immediately and waved to Amber with a cheerful grin. She smiled back and sat down next to him in the seat he had indicated. When the members of the DA realised that Amber was obviously welcome they seemed to relax a bit. But some still appeared suspicious. Before Harry could say anything, Amber cleared her throat.

"I know that the relationship between Slytherin and the other houses is usually rather strained," she admitted with a faint smile, "but some of us are nice people - at least I hope so." Some of the students smiled.

"I invited Amber to our meeting," Harry explained. "I think it's important to have representatives from every house in our group."

Ron grimaced but said nothing. Zacharias didn't look to pleased either. Hermione looked at them both sharply. "Have you forgotten what the Sorting Hat has told us these last two years? We might be in different houses, but we have to stick together. Actually we need more Slytherins." She looked at Amber. "At least two or three more. It would be good to have more of a balance."

Amber nodded. "I'll look around for people who might be interested, if you like..."

"So they can come along, learn all the defence curses and then use them against us?" snorted Zacharias.

Harry looked at him thoughtfully. "Actually I wasn't planning to practise curses... Not like we did last year. We've got a new teacher for Defence Against the Dark Arts who's made it clear that she plans to catch up with everything we need to know. And the higher classes have Certamensis with Professor Sesachar. I think the group should develop into something new..."

Michael frowned. "And what, exactly?"

"We originally got together to practise the skills we'd need to defend ourselves in dangerous situations." Michael was still looking at him doubtfully, and Harry met his gaze. "Now we're together because we're a community formed of students from more than one house who have learnt to trust each other. Right?"

Some students looked uncertainly at Amber, but nodded.

"That should be our new aim," Harry continued. "To promote unity between our different houses. To get rid of this pig-headed rivalry."

Ron grinned. "Aye aye, and how are you planning to win the Quidditch cup with an attitude like that, captain?"

"Quidditch is just a sport, Ron!" Hermione growled. "And you shouldn't see it as more than that. When you come face to face with Voldemort," - several people in the room jumped or suppressed screams at the sound of this name - "the Quidditch cup won't help you much."

"Well I dunno, I could whack him over the head with it... it's heavy enough..." Ron mused. Hermione rolled her eyes. Dean and Zacharias laughed softly.

"I'm serious, Ron," sighed Harry. "Even if I have a bad feeling about it sometimes... We have to try."

"If the group only exists to promote unity and communication between the houses, is the name really suitable?" Neville asked. "Dumbledore's Army... That sounds so... military."

Ginny nodded. "True. Maybe we should think of a new name for ourselves?" She looked questioningly at Harry, who in turn looked at the rest of the group. There was a murmur of agreement.

"Any suggestions?" Hermione asked, pulling out a quill and parchment.

They spent a good ten minutes brainstorming for the right name. They weren't really satisfied with anything. But then the suggestion that everyone liked straight away came from none other than Amber.

"What about Viribus Unitis?" she said. "Together we are strong."

Ernie looked at her with a broad grin. "Are you sure you didn't just hire that Slytherin uniform?"

Everyone laughed, including Amber. She didn't seem to mind the odd anti-Slytherin joke from members of the group. She was generous enough not to take offence, and showed a sense of humour. The group was quickly warming to her.

"So we'll call ourselves Viribus Unitis," Hermione stated, took a fresh piece of parchment and wrote down the new name of the group in large, neat handwriting. The next thing was to write the name of the group leader, as before. Hermione paused. "How would it be if we had four leaders? One from each house? I mean, just because it was our idea and Harry was the leader of the DA... We're aiming for something different now. And if we want to achieve our aim that might be the best way to organise things."

Harry nodded. "Yes, that sounds good. Who'll be the Hufflepuff leader?" He looked around the group. "Zacharias?"

Zacharias looked at him in surprise. He had often contradicted group decisions and not always co-operated. Because of this he was amazed that Harry had chosen him. His classmates looked at each other for a moment and then nodded. "Good idea," said Ernie. "Zacharias." Hermione wrote down Zacharias as the leader for Hufflepuff.

"Ravenclaw?" Harry asked next.

Michael pointed to his friend Anthony, who usually kept very quiet. "Tony would be my choice. I'm too moody for the job."

He laughed, and next to him Cho giggled. "I would be too."

"Objections?" Harry asked, and everyone shook their head.

"Anthony Goldstein for Ravenclaw," Hermione wrote.

"Amber should be the leader for Slytherin," grinned Lavender. "No competition... at least, not yet."

Harry smiled. "True, easy question. Or do you have an objection, Amber? - No? Good - Amber Barnacle for Slytherin."

Hermione wrote down the name.

"And Gryffindor..." Harry continued.

"Don't bother ask - you already know the answer," Ron interrupted him. "Write down Harry's name, Hermione."

"No, she won't - not if someone has an objection!" said his friend shortly.

"Okay..." Ron stretched out his long legs and looked around with a fake yawn. "Any objections?" No one said anything. A few students giggled.

"See - you needn't have bothered."

"That's not true," Harry growled at him. "You have to ask before you make someone a group leader."

"I have now," answered Ron, amused.

"Harry Potter is the leader for Gryffindor," Hermione interrupted their argument. "And now the regular members. Should I write you down in house order, or...?"

"Any old order," said Susan Bones. "Who cares about houses?"

Terry Boot grinned. "Exactly. We're a brand new house of our own now, aren't we?"

"There are exactly twenty of us here," Hermione announced after a while, once she had finished writing down the names. "Quite a big club..."

"And we need more members," Harry mused. "Especially some more from Slytherin. The best thing would be if the leaders listened around in their houses to find out who might be interested in our group. We don't have to meet all at once, if the timing is difficult."

Tony, Amber and Zacharias all agreed and said they would look around for a few more students.

Finally, Ginny pointed to a crate in the corner of the classroom. "I've brought some Butterbeer. I think we should drink a toast."

"To Viribus Unitis?" asked Colin Creevey.

Luna nodded. "Absolutely. To Viribus Unitis, and to us!"

***

With a loud crash the door to the boys' dormitory was thrown open and Harry woke up with a start. He squinted through the half-light, listening to the footsteps stomping purposefully towards his bed. The next moment, someone had grabbed the curtain and pulled it wide open.

"I can't believe you're still in bed!" A shrill voice made him open his eyes at last. Then he closed them again hastily. His eyes were still bleary with sleep and the sunlight was much too bright.

"Hermione, this is the boys' dormitory," he grumbled, trying to pull the blanket back over his head. Hermione caught hold of it and pulled it back.

"I know!" she said coolly. "It's just that, in case you're interested, the Quidditch team is ready and waiting on the pitch - all that's missing is their captain."

Suddenly the sunlight didn't seem so unbearably bright and Harry sat up in bed. "The practice is today?" he asked in horror, reaching for his glasses.

Hermione stuck out her chin and folded her arms. "Quite right. It's today. The first official practice and you oversleep! It's unbelievable!" She shooed him out of bed like a hen from its coop and tossed him a shirt and trousers. "Now get a move on, for heaven's sake!" she urged him.

By the time Harry reached the field, all the remaining team members were there. He gave them an apologetic grin. As the Weasley twins, Alicia Spinnet, Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell had left the school, the Gryffindor team needed four new players. As arranged the previous year, Ginny remained in the team as Chaser. After trying out all the students interested in playing for Gryffindor, the team decided on Katherine D'Oro San from the fifth year and Jessica Erk from the third year as the new Chasers. Both girls were quick, and very good at avoiding Bludgers and opponents. The search for the right Beaters proved more difficult, but in the end Harry decided on Belma Sen from the fourth year, and Randolph Dorn from the fifth. The trials for new players had taken several hours, and it was already time for lunch. Harry sighed, then without bothering to change he walked into the castle in full Quidditch outfit. His team-mates did the same.

As Harry headed towards the Gryffindor table, Zacharias jumped up from his seat and came towards him. He was holding a piece of parchment that he put into Harry's hand with a grin. "I've found another five students who are interested and want to come to the next meeting." He looked proud. Harry smiled at him and glanced over the names. He hardly knew any of the Hufflepuffs. It really had been high time to form a club like Viribus Unitis and change this sorry state of affairs. "Thanks, Zacharias," he said, putting the parchment in his pocket.

The Hufflepuff shook his head slowly. "No, thank you..." He looked at Harry questioningly. "Why did you suggest me of all people?"

Harry smiled. "So you'd see that despite all your grouching, you're one of us," he answered, giving him a pat on the shoulder as he walked past.

This scene between the two Quidditch players, who should have been rivals, had not gone unnoticed. Many students who didn't know about the club stared at Harry and Zacharias from their different tables. Sitting at the teachers' table, Dumbledore had also seen the short conversation. But unlike the puzzled students, he was smiling.

***

On the way to the dungeons, Amber came to meet them. She gave them a cheerful wave, which the Slytherins behind her observed with suspicion and horror, and gave Harry a piece of parchment as she walked past. "My recommendations," she said with a wink. "And they're all interested in joining."

Harry unfolded the parchment, glanced at it and then looked at Amber in surprise. "There are nine of them!"

She nodded. "Yes. From different year groups, obviously..."

"Nine Slytherins?" Ron couldn't believe it. "Did you tell them what Viribus Unites is about?"

Amber had stopped. "Of course. And they all thought it was a good idea. Or rather... two of them weren't so thrilled, but they understood that it was the right thing to do..."

Harry glanced over the names. "Marvin Slainte, Jerry MacKillian, Aicha Chamllal, Robert Kurzawe, Lisa Lux, Jannina Samide, Elizabeth McAllister, Max Tefarikis and Violetta Ziob."

He looked up. "Violetta's in the seventh year. How do you know her?"

"We had a long conversation in the library," Amber grinned. "She's okay."

"How do we know that?" Ron asked.

A wide grin spread over Amber's lips. "In her third year here she beat up Draco. The two of them can't stand each other."

"Okay, that settles it." Ron grinned from ear to ear.

Later that afternoon, as Harry was on the way to the Gryffindor common room, Anthony overtook him. He also had a list with four names on it. A few minutes later, Hermione was copying down the names from the parchment. "With all the people on the list we'll have thirty-eight members." She calculated. "That's wonderful. That's more than we expected.

"Forty-four," Harry corrected her. "You've forgotten the six leavers who are still loyal to the group."

He was right. The Weasley twins and Lee Jordan had made it clear that they would always be available if needed. And Angelina, Katie and Alicia had said the same thing when they left.

Harry, Hermione and Ron exchanged satisfied glances.

"We're on the right track," Hermione said. "We should have started all of this much earlier..."