Chapter 13: The Wizarding Army

Hermione smiled as Lucy exited the classroom and, even though she didn't feel like it, Lucy returned the smile to Hermione. Being the polite person that Hermione was, she didn't question the conversation between Lucy and Professor Babbling but then again, she'd probably heard it through the door. They headed down to the dungeons for potions and on their way they were joined by Harry and Ron. 

"Alright?" Harry asked Lucy, she didn't even realise she had a sullen look on her face until she saw Harry's concerned expression. "Did Ancient Runes go well?" 

"I suppose you could say that," Lucy shrugged. "But I'll try and get out of the subject alive..." 

Ron snorted. "Lets hope you do something like Hermione did when she rushed out of Divination." 

"Ronald, Professor Trelawney doesn't speak a word of sense. So, that is why I stormed out of her class. I will not take a class full of nonsense." Hermione groaned as they advanced down the stairs to the dungeons. 

"Morning all," Shona said as they came into view of the queue outside of the potions classroom, Snape standing in the doorway with his arms folded as well as Umbridge holding a clipboard. Lucy felt like hiding behind Harry but she knew she couldn't stay hidden from the old bat forever. 

"Miss Snape, do you think it's acceptable to walk around like that?" Umbridge asked Lucy. Lucy looked at her skirt, her socks, her shoes. What could be wrong?

"Walk around like what?" Lucy asked, still studying her appearance. 

"You'd have thought you could dress yourself in the morning, at this rate we'll have to get daddy to help you!" Umbridge stepped towards Lucy and waved her wand, she suddenly felt her tie tighten around her neck, as though Umbridge had made it strangle her. She heard the Slytherin's laugh and tried to keep calm. "Well, I should have guessed you wouldn't be able to dress yourself. Five years of being homeless, you must have the manners of a pig." 

"Professor Umbridge," Shona said sweetly stepping in front of Lucy. "Is there something wrong with my appearence?" 

Umbridge turned to Shona and saw that her appearance was much worse: her shirt was un-tucked, she might as well not be wearing a tie because it was almost un-done, her sleeves were rolled up, a button on her shirt was un-done and the shoes she wore what might as well been muggle football boots. 

"This is exactly what I expected from a Worthing..." 

"I didn't disappoint then." 

"Professor, wouldn't it be more prudent to start the lesson now rather than stand out here and waste time on things like uniform?" Snape spoke up, he could feel the anger rising up in him and he couldn't lose his temper. He couldn't lose his job. 

"Yes, that would be better..." 

The students shuffled into the potions classroom and took their usual seats and waited for Snape to finish writing the work on the chalk board at the front of the room while Umbridge furiously took notes on her clip board with her quill. And just when Snape was about to begin talking Umbridge stepped forward.

"You applied first for defense against the dark arts post, is that correct?" Umbridge asked sweetly as she circled him, still taking notes. Snape stared blankly ahead and stood very still. 

"Yes." Snape replied blankly. 

"But you were unsuccessful?" 

"Obviously..." He replied, face still blank and Ron snorted. Umbridge nodded then, holding her clipboard, she left the room. Snape whipped around and smacked Ron on the head. 

"Nice going, Weasley. We all get hit by Snape at some point." Shona winked. "What's today's lesson about, Snivs?" 

"Turn to page 39 — " 

"3! Ha! You were going to say 4 weren't you?" 

"Outside, McGuire." 

"Alright, I'm going, I'm going." 

*       *       * 

"I'll tell you what, if she ever accuses me of having the manners of a pig again I'll kick her so hard she won't be able to sit down for two weeks," Lucy snarled, later that day as both Lucy and Snape stood on the viaduct looking out on the scene below them.

"Not before me," Snape shook his head. "She might be a teacher but she doesn't have the right to insult students." 

"Says he!" Lucy laughed. 

"So, how did Ancient Runes go?" Snape wondered, ignoring her comment.

"Alright I guess," she shrugged. "Professor Babbling thought I was a fool though." 

"And why's that?" 

"Because I'm taking Ancient Runes because of this stupid knife that's got a few symbols on. She thinks I'm absolutely barking." 

"Well, if you want to help the gifted and maybe help us find a way to defeat Lord Zuc, you do what you think is right. You're fifteen years old and it's OK if you make some decisions yourself." 

"Some?" Lucy questioned, raising an eyebrow. 

"You are still a child, you know. Help is always at hand when you need it." Snape stared out into the distance and Lucy didn't dare disturb his deep thought. He closed his eyes for a few moments, letting the light breeze pass the two, but was interrupted by Lucy. 

"Do you think that mum would be proud of us? For practically trying to save the world?" 

Snape lifted his head slightly but still stared ahead, his expression was unreadable. Lucy knew she had crossed the line, she shouldn't have touched on a subject so personal that pained Snape so much. Of course he still loved Lily, of course he did. 

"Lucy." His voice was terrible, it was pained. He sighed then faced her. "I know you desperately want to know more about your mother and — " 

" — we should head down to Zonkos later, we've got to get some more jokes." Fred said as he walked alongside his brother as they entered the viaduct but then they stopped. "Oh, I think we're breaking an entry, we better go." 

"No! Wait!" Lucy stood up straight and approached the two. "I haven't seen you much since Shona had a fight with you. Why are you avoiding me?" 

"I'm not avoiding you, I can't find you." 

"You can easily find me! Last year you wouldn't stop stalking me!" 

"Only because I was trying to protect you from Cedric..." 

"And now you completely blank me?" 

Fred bit his lip. "Sorry..." 

"It's fine, just go..." 

"No, I'll go." Snape spoke up. "I'll speak to you later, Lucy." 

"Dad! I want to know — " Lucy protested but Snape cut her off. 

"Later." And with that, he walked off. 

Lucy placed her head in her palms and groaned but to her surprise Fred had put an arm around her and was forcing her into an embrace. She opened her eyes and looked up to find him giving her an apologetic smile. 

"I really am sorry, you know. You can get me back later," he whispered. "I've been an idiot." 

"You're forgiven but don't think you won't get a slap next time," she winked and he liked his hand in hers. 

"Lets go down to Hogsmeade, we've got Zonkos jokes to buy. Right, George?" 

"Right, Fred!" George replied. 

"Oh, Sirius sent this to me to give to you — " Fred reached into his robes and pulled out a letter with fancy writing on the envelope and handed it to her. 

"Thanks." She took it and as Fred guided her towards Hogwarts she read the letter: 

Dear Lucy 

How dare that git of a father take you away from headquarters without me having a chance to say goodbye! Who does he think he is? (Yes, I know he's your father but he's still my sworn enemy.) More to the point, congratulations on not getting a one way ticket to Azkaban. If you want a first hand experience on what it's like there, you can just ask me and trust me it's not my ideal place as a holiday...
How's school going? I hope you're getting good grades, better than I ever got I hope and for goodness sakes pay attention in classes this year O.W.L.S are very important (says he who got 'Troll' in practically everything...) 

Good luck with your classes and what not. 

- Sirius 

P.S) Don't worry about Zuc, if he ever comes for you again just...offer your dad up as sacrifice! It's a win, win situation here! 

Lucy placed the letter in her bag just as they had reached Zonkos, Fred and George led themselves in while she sat down on a bench and waited patiently. She didn't have the time or inclination to visit Zonkos, not now anyway. 

"Hey, Lucky!" 

Lucy looked up to see Neville, she forced a smile on her face as he approached her. He looked a little rushed but for some reason he looked urgent for once.

"Um, hi, Neville," Lucy replied weakly. "What are you in a hurry for?"

"Get Fred and George and come down to the Hog's head! We're having a meeting. Harry, Hermione and Ron are hosting it."  

"And why might my half-brother be holding a meeting in the Hog's head?" Lucy wondered as Fred and George stepped out of Zonkos, empty handed and looking a bit miserable. 

"I can't really tell you out here in case — " he bent down and whispered in her ear. "In case Umbridge is around and overhear's us." 

"Just tell me, Neville," Lucy rolled her eyes. 

"Dumbledore's Army recruitment."

"What?" 

"You'll find out there." 

"Alright..." Lucy stood up and the four of them walked towards the Hog's Head which was already filled up with many students that had presumably been invited to the meeting that nobody knew the topic of. Lucy took a seat next to Shona and waited for one of the golden trio to speak. 

Hermione stood up first. "Um...hi. So we all know why we're here. We need a teacher, a proper teacher. One who's had real experience defending themselves against the dark arts."

"Why?" Zacharias Smith asked. 

"Why?" Ron repeated. "Because you-know-who and Lord Zuc are alive you — " 

"Carry on, Hermione," Lucy interrupted, a few people turned around to stare at her. They'd all been a little shocked at her actions since she got detention with Umbridge. 

"So who says?" Zacharias interrupted again. 

"So Dumbledore says!" Hermione snapped.

"So Dumbledore says because he says? The point is, where's the proof!"

"Potter could tell us more about how Diggory got killed." Michael Corner spoke up. "And Lucy could tell us all about Lord Zuc."

"Listen here, Corner, the only thing I'll tell you about Lord Zuc is that he almost teared me to shreds!" Lucy spat and stood up, Shona pulled her back and made her sit down. 

"I'm not going to talk about Cedric, either. So if that's why you're here you might as well clear out now," Harry sighed standing up. "Come on, Hermione, lets go they're only here because they think I'm some sort of freak." 

"Harry, wait — " Hermione protested.

"Is it true you can produce a patronus charm?" Luna wondered, looking at both Lucy and Harry. 

"Yes!" Hermione and Shona said at the same time. 

"I can produce one too, Snape taught us how," Shona said, walking to the front and standing by Ron. 

"Blimey, you two, I didn't know you could do that!" Dean Thomas gasped. 

"Harry killed a basilisk and Lucy fought off vampires!" Neville said. 

"It's true," Ginny nodded. 

"Heard he fought about four hundred dementors at once and in the holiday's Lucy attacked a knight from the medieval islands on her own!" Ron smiled. 

"OK! OK! Shows over!" Lucy stood up. "I fought a chess piece, alright? A life size enchanted chess piece, it's no big deal! You know, I shouldn't even be here — " 

"You aren't going anywhere," Fred grabbed hold of her coat. 

"Look, it all sounds great when you say mine and Lucy's achievements like that. But truth is, I don't know about Lucy, but I've almost always had help." Harry whispered.

"My father's there twenty-four seven for me. I don't do anything on my own," Lucy bowed her head in shame. 

"How did you fight off Zuc then?" Zacharias asked. 

"I..." Lucy began but she was a bit lost for words. 

"She outsmarted him, she used his own defences against him. He wore armour but she tore it off and  used it as defense for herself. She even scared his army," Shona spoke up. "I didn't believe it at first but then I really believed that she did it, she might not be the best fighter but she's most certainly smart. Even though I hate to admit it, she probably got it from Snivels." 

"Thanks...but, facing this stuff in real life is not like school. In school, if you make a mistake you can just try again tomorrow..." Lucy said. 

"But out there, when you're a second away from being murdered, or watching a friend die right before your eyes...you don't know what that's like." Harry added. 

"You're right we don't," Hermione sighed. "That's why we need yours and Lucy's help. Because if we're going to have any chance of beating Lord Zuc and...Voldemort..." 

"Is he really back?" Colin Creevy asked. Harry nodded slowly. "Is Lord Zuc real, Lucy? Are the medevial islands too?" 

"Yes..." Lucy nodded and the room fell silent, as though it was finally coming to realisation that the Wizarding world was in deep trouble. 

"Alright here's the deal," Shona said getting everyone's attention again. "Who votes Harry as a teacher?" Everyone stuck their hands up. "How about Lucy?" Almost everyone stuck their hands up. 

"You don't want me as a teacher, I just about know how to say 'expelliarmus'," She laughed and a few laughed with her. "I'm serious though, Harry would be a much better teacher." 

"I'm not going to teach without you, there's the deal," Harry said and everyone looked at her. 

She froze. 

"Fine..." Lucy rolled her eyes. "But I am not responsible for personal injury!" 

And at once people began to leave, but not before signing their names on a sheet of paper. Which was still called 'Dumbledore's Army.'

But it was also called 'The Wizarding Army.'