The Great Hall of Hogwarts castle was noisy, as hundreds of students entered through the huge double doors and sat down at their respective tables. Ravenna had never seen so many students in one place – let alone all together in a single dining hall. Yet here they all were, spread out across four long wooden tables – tables that dwarfed the Morgan le Fay ones.

And the stares. These people immediately recognised Dan and Ravenna, and all the others, for what they were: outsiders. It made them curious, and gossipy. Ravenna couldn't stop a blush from spreading across her cheeks.

"Welcome back, everyone!"

The hundreds of students quieted immediately as Professor Dumbledore's voice boomed across the hall. Ravenna wondered how he did that. Some kind of spell to enhance his voice, surely.

"I hope you've all had a most wonderful Christmas break. Over New Year's, Hogwarts has gone through a rather significant change. You may have noticed the forty-six new students in your midst, or the ten new teachers at our High Table."

Dumbledore spread his arms out to gesture at the Morgan le Fay teachers sitting among teachers Ravenna had never seen before. Slughorn sat right next to him, with Fauns and Trindine a few seats further up.

"These new Hogwarts residents come from Morgan le Fay, a wizarding school down in the Welsh valleys. However, due to the hard work of Professor Slughorn, Minister Minchum, and myself, it has been decided that Hogwarts and Morgan le Fay should be one and the same school. Our two schools have merged. So, please welcome our latest batch of students and teachers to Hogwarts."

Dumbledore started clapping, but the Great Hall stayed quiet. Except for the whispers, of course. Stubbornly, Dumbledore continued his lonesome applause until not just his teaching staff, but also the students started to join in.

"Some of you might know Morgan le Fay's reputation," he continued finally. "And for those I want to dispel a common belief. Our new students might struggle in some areas, yes, but they will excel in others. Just like all of you. In fact, a handful of Morgan le Fay students have proven their strength, resourcefulness, and wit by saving the life of the Minister for Magic himself this week. So do not underestimate them."

Gasps were heard all around, and even from halfway down the Hall Ravenna could see the smile underneath Dumbledore's long, silver beard. She exchanged a knowing grin with Dan.

She examined her best friend as his focus returned to the front of the Hall. He'd been doing well since he got out of the hospital. His arm was still wrapped up in a sling, but that was only so that he didn't move his shoulder too much. He'd been complaining loudly about the fact that it was his wand hand, so he wouldn't even be able to cast spells during the first week-or-so at their new school. Ravenna listened gladly. If he was complaining, that meant he was doing better.

"Indeed. It was very impressive," Professor Dumbledore agreed cheerfully. "But there is another aspect to this merger. From now on, Hogwarts will have a Morgan le Fay programme, headed of course by the wonderful Professor Slughorn. This programme aims to help students who struggle in certain subjects. It will involve extra tutor lessons, taught by our brilliant new teaching staff, and any other help or support one might need in this area. This is not only meant for our new students, but for everyone. You shouldn't be surprised to be contacted in the near future about subjects you are behind on. This goes especially for fifth-years and up, after they've attended their careers advice meeting."

Grumbling broke out. Someone on the far left table shouted, "We don't want extra lessons!"

Professor Dumbledore waited patiently for his students to settle down, before he responded. "I understand that, but since you also don't want to be behind on your classmates, and want to achieve the career you've chosen, this is the compromise we're going for. Now then, our new students have already been sorted into their respective houses, so please make them feel welcome. The Prefects have a special task of helping them all settle into their new home. Please join me in welcoming our new students!"

He applauded again, and this time the student body followed his example. The Hufflepuffs on Dan and Ravenna's table waved at them, and some who sat nearby held out their hand.

"Hi!" said a girl opposite to Ravenna. "My name is Hannah. I'm a Prefect, along with Benjamin over there, so if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to come to one of us. What year are you guys entering?"

"Thanks, Hannah," Dan responded. "We're in lev— I mean, in year five."

"Oh, so am I! You both will join my class then, brilliant! That'll make it so much easier to help you settle."

While Dan chatted to the girl, Ravenna's gaze wandered down the Hall. The Morgan le Fay students were spread out across all four of the tables. Ella and Ezra had both been sorted into Ravenclaw, which was the table next to Hufflepuff. Ella was already talking happily with some of her House-mates. Ezra watched the conversation with unconcealed amusement. All of a sudden, Ella turned around in her seat to see Ravenna looking at her, and waved. Ravenna nodded back with a smile.

Dumbledore sat down and the table filled itself up with an entire feast; platters and platters filled with all sorts of food. Dan's eyes widened.

"I think we're going to like it here," he said, nudging her. "I mean, look at this fabulous feast."

Ravenna laughed. "It's not bad, is it?"

Her best friend reached out to take one of the platters filled with sausages, but he stopped halfway through. "I hope Willem would be happy with this change. This is what he fought for, isn't it? Us and Hogwarts students being treated the same way."

"Yeah," said Ravenna, scanning the Hall for her schoolmates. They looked awkward and out of place, but most of them had a tentative smile on their face. "I think he would. We all finally have a future."

Ravenna looked up at the massive stone statue of a gargoyle, smack in the middle of the seventh floor hallway. It stared down at her with contempt in its lifeless eyes.

Now what?

When they'd arrived at Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore had asked her to come see him at his office after dinner. Hannah had, very kindly, shown her the way up to the seventh floor of Hogwarts castle, but she had to get back to Benjamin to help show the new students to their dorms. So now Ravenna stood all alone in front of the statue that marked the entrance to Dumbledore's office, with no way to get in, or even to let him know that she was there.

Why wasn't there a door for her to knock on?

"Er... Hello?" she shouted, hoping her voice would reach beyond the statue. "Professor Dumbledore? I don't know how..." She sighed. This was pointless.

She'd already half-turned to go, thinking she'd find him tomorrow, when the statue suddenly moved. Slowly, the stone creaking under the movement, the gargoyle stepped aside to open up the way to a set of stairs. It was a spiral staircase, so Ravenna could only see the lowest steps as the rest rotated out of view.

With a hesitant glance at the – once again unmoving – gargoyle, she stepped onto the stairs and made her way up. At the top she found a door. Dumbledore's voice immediately called for her to enter when she knocked. His office was huge – much larger than Slughorn's had been. It had many windows with portraits hanging between them. Shelves were cramped with all kinds of silver instruments that Ravenna had never seen before. Some of them made squeaky little noises.

"Ah, Miss Inkwood, thank you for joining me." He gestured towards the chair on the other side of his desk.

"Hey, is that..." She had barely reached the chair when her eye caught a large, open birdcage in a corner of the office. In it sat the most beautiful, fiery bird. She'd seen it before.

"Fawkes," said Dumbledore. "Fawkes is a phoenix. You've met him before, haven't you?"

"Yeah," Ravenna chuckled. "I owe him one, in fact. He saved my best friend's life."

"Fawkes is very fond of people," said Dumbledore as if that was an explanation. "Speaking of that night, I wish to ask you something, if I may be so bold. I have been told about your statement to the aurors, in which you explained how Alois Mallow managed to convince you and Mr Cork that what the Death Eaters were doing was a good thing."

Ravenna shuffled in her seat uncomfortably.

"I wonder, how do you feel about them now?"

Her eyebrows raised. Is he serious? "How I feel about the Death Eaters? They killed my classmate right in front of my eyes. I hate them, obviously, and I would do anything to stop them from hurting anyone else."

Professor Dumbledore nodded. "I'm glad to hear you say that, because I think you may have the chance to do just that."

"What do you mean with that?"

"Voldemort is a very powerful and dangerous man."

She shivered, wishing he wouldn't use the name, but didn't say anything.

"While I managed to drive him away this time, I have no doubt that he will return. You, my dear, might well still be a target for him."

"You think he'll come after me again?" Fear squeezed her heart painfully. "What about my friends? And my dad! He's already been attacked by them once before."

"We have alerted him of the issue," said Dumbledore. "The aurors helped him put charms around his house and he has been shown where to apparate if something might happen. Your friends, and yourself, should be safe here at Hogwarts."

"Oh." She sagged in her chair, her mind reeling with all the ways in which the Death Eaters might pose a threat. Luckily, the old headmaster seemed to have considered this too. "Good."

"However," he continued, "Voldemort was right about one thing. You."

Ravenna grasped at her robes above her knees, feeling her muscles tighten. "What does that mean?"

"You are indeed very powerful," he explained as if he was talking about something as exciting as the weather – which, by the way, turned out to be exactly the same in Scotland as it had been in Wales: cold and rainy. "You might well be able to turn the tide of what will soon be a war. So..." He leaned over his desk and peered over the rim of his spectacles. "If you really want to stop the Death Eaters and their master from ever hurting anyone again, I would ask you to consider helping me do just that. I'm need to put an end to Voldemort's terror, and I could use your help in doing so."

Ravenna's jaw dropped. Help him fight the Dark Lord? Of course she wanted nothing more than to stop him, but... What made him think she was capable of that?

"Obviously you will finish your education first and foremost. In fact, I will do my best to help you learn to control your magic. In the meantime, I would like for you to consider my offer."

"Yes." The word escaped her before she'd well and truly decided on anything.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Excuse me?"

"I will join you." She nodded as if to emphasise the words. "I want to stop them. For Willem, and for everything they've done to us. I – no, we can't be safe until he's gone. But... how do we do this?"

"Well!" said Dumbledore, weaving his long fingers together. "I'm planning on getting together a group of people who might be willing to help. You, my dear, are the very first member of this team."

"A team, huh?" Ravenna chuckled, as the tension dissipated a little now that she'd agreed. "What's this team going to be called?"

"I haven't thought of a name yet," said Professor Dumbledore, leaning back in his chair. "I'm open to any and all ideas."

She pinched her lips together, glancing around the room. A team that was supposed to stop the Death Eaters. That was supposed to stop the Dark Lord. What should it be called?

Her eyes landed on the magnificent bird, still sitting quietly in his cage, as if he knew just how important this conversation was. The image of Dan lying on the ground, as the decay spread across his arm, filled her mind.

"We should name it after Fawkes," she said. "He deserves some recognition for saving my best friend."

"An excellent idea!" said Dumbledore. "The phoenix is the one who saved Dante Mulberry, and now the Order of the Phoenix will save the wizarding world.