Hi everyone! Once again, so sorry for the super long wait! I'm assuming school started back up for most of you as well. September always seems to be such a busy month. But don't worry I'm not forgetting about this story, hopefully this long chapter will make up for it! x

Chapter Sixteen

For the first time in a long time I felt a complete sense of glee. I have only ever seen Hogwarts from few pictures we came across in textbooks. Though unfortunately, but very obviously, we would not be traveling into the castle the normal way. I would not be seeing the castle from up close like I dreamt of doing. Instead, we would be taking a very long tunnel to enter through a secret passageway inside Hogwarts. As we were packing our things that night Idella and Luna shared the same expression I did, pure happiness. Yet Selina sat there staring out the window without packing a thing. "You know we can't stay here right?" I whispered over to her. Luna and Idella were in a different conversation. Selina simply nodded at my comment. "Then why aren't you packing? We leave before sunset."

"Cole isn't going to know where I am," she then said. It was the first time she has really spoken her thoughts without me having to drag them out. "When I go to Hogwarts he will have no chance of finding me there. How will I find him? The longer I keep waiting the harder it will be."

"He doesn't know where you are now but he knows that you are safe," I told her. "You won't be safe going off on your own. When this whole thing is over I am sure you will find him." Just as I would be reconnected with Kent and my father.

"But what happens in the end?" she said glancing over at me with an empty expression. "If this is a war then a battle must be coming right? Some kind of ending. And that means death." She was worried for his safety amongst the Death Eaters. I didn't blame her, I just wish she didn't put that thought in my head. It made me think of my father's safety all the more. There have already been many deaths, but was she right? Were more people going to die because of this?

Before dusk, Fred and George called for us to leave. I thanked Fleur and Bill for allowing us to stay with them for so long. Shell Cottage began to feel like a home to me. We then apparated. I lost my balance when we landed and ended up face down on a damp and dusty hardwood floor next to Idella. "Been a while since you've apparated?" Fred laughed looking at me.

"That obvious?" I responded with a smirk as he helped me up. To my surprise an old man was standing in the room with us.

"This is Aberforth-" George began saying.

"Dumbledore. Aberforth Dumbledore, I read about you!" Idella said. She looked between Luna and I. "He was in one of the textbooks I had to read." A small smirk crept up on the serious looking man's face before returning to its stern glance. Albus Dumbledore had a brother?

"You must get moving quickly," he said to Fred and George. "The Death Eaters have been patrolling the area at strange hours and investigating our houses. Especially mine," he mutter bitterly.

"No time to waste then!" George said turning to a portrait of a young blonde girl who nodded at him.

"That's Ariana Dumbledore..." Idella whispered as we got closer. I didn't even know there was a girl in the Dumbledore family. When I thought of the name Dumbledore I only ever thought of the Hogwart's Headmaster. The portrait swung open to reveal a dark and narrow hole.

"It's a rather cozy journey," Fred said turning and looking towards us. "Only the elite get to travel to Hogwart's this way." I couldn't help but smile. This was probably the absolute worst way to get into Hogwarts, but it wasn't like we could take the small boats and walk through the front door unnoticed.

"Well of course, it was made for a Dumbledore wasn't it?" George added. Aberforth practically rolled his eyes but amusement was clear on his face.

"Go on," he told us. We all stepped into the dark and cramped entrance way before we were able to lit up our wands. Once the light gave a clearer view of the tunnel, I think I preferred it in the dark. Everyone but me had to crouch down. Charlie kept hitting his head on the ceiling. He and Luna walked ahead of Idella, Selina, and I. For once being short worked towards my advantage.

"Too late to turn around?" Selina muttered from behind me. I almost forgot she was with us due to her being dead silent and moody the entire morning. Her hazel eyes scanned the muddy looking walls next to us.

As we continued it felt like we were walking forever. I kept on waiting to see the opening but nothing. Fred and George were trying to keep us entertained by pretending to be tour guides of the 'elite tunnel'. "And to your right you will see only the finest underground mud Hogwart's has to offer. It is known for having several magical powers such as clearing skin and conditioning hair," Fred said in a tour guide like tone.

"Care to demonstrate Selina?" George teased knowing she was the least happy to be here.

"Yeah, hold on, let me just rub some mud on my face," she replied unamused.

We kept walking and walking until the dirt and dust started getting to me. "And to your left there are some tunnel rats, pureblooded of course," Fred stated. Selina and I jumped back a bit in order to avoid the rats scattering away from the lights of the wands.

"Those aren't rats they're Xenolopes," I heard Luna say. Selina rolled her eyes while looking at me. Idella even looked at me with a hint of a smirk. They were in fact rats.

"Really? What are those?" Charlie asked her with a smile causing her face to light up. Luna was probably used to people doubting her creature facts...even if they were wrong. Selina shook her head once again.

After seeing Hogwarts 'best' spiders and rock collections, I was relieveded when we saw the end of the tunnel. Fred and George stopped at the wooden barrier and muttered a spell to cause a doorknob to appear.

"We thank you for joining us today. If you would please exit through the gift shop," George said jokingly while opening the door for us.

"Tips are also very much appreciated," Fred added. Laughing as I passed them I finally stepped into Hogwarts castle. The room we entered into was set up very strangely. What was this place? There were hammock like beds all over the messy room, but no people.

"Salem had nicer dorms than this," Selina stated looking around.

"These are not dorms," George responded quickly. "This is the Room of Requirement." I've read about that! It only appears to those who are in need. Clever, very clever. Idella's eyes lit up as well as she looked around realizing where we were.

"Everyone should be coming back very soon. Meals are mandatory now." We got settled over in the corner. Finally the main entrance began appearing on the wall and everyone came back from breakfast. Ginny was thrilled to see Idella and gave her a massive hug, turning to hug Charlie, Luna, and I as well.

I recognized Seamus and Neville from the wedding. "Luna you're back," an unfamiliar student said. "Who are they?" he said bluntly looking at the rest of us. Many other students dressed in their Hogwarts robes walked over to us curiously.

"Everyone this is my cousin Idella," Ginny said motioning towards her.

"Should've guessed she was a Weasley with the hair," someone said and we all laughed. Strange how fire red hair ran in their family.

"This is Charlie and Bradley who have also been helping the Order," Ginny continued pointing towards us. "And this is Bradley's cousin Selina." She was sitting on one of the cots with a miserable expression.

"Hey I recognize her!" the same kid with the blunt tone said. "She's the USA Ministers Daughter. He's working with the Death Eaters, what is she doing here?" Murmur spread across the room. Selina looked at me with a 'told you' sort of expression.

"Oh quiet everyone," Ginny said in a louder tone. "She wouldn't be here if it wasn't safe now would she?" Eventually everyone moved on and began moving around the room. Neville came over to talk to us and tell us all about what has been happening at Hogwarts, and things were bad.

Fred and George left after an hour. There was some food stored in the room but it wasn't very good but I was starving. We managed to last a whole day and the room kept getting even more crowded. It was killing me to know that outside this wall was all of Hogwarts, but for now I was trapped in here for obvious reasons. Ginny kindly offered Selina an old book since she was sitting in the corner staring at the wall. "I've read this before," Selina responded taking it out of her hand. "What about the Daily Prophet or something current?"

"We don't get those anymore. They're banned. Hogwarts is pretty much banning all Prophets and books they don't want us reading," Ginny explained.

There were no windows so it was hard to tell what time of day it was. We each got our own cot since the students had to return to their dorms for curfew. Everyone around me fell asleep quickly, but my thoughts kept me awake. I want to go out and explore the castle so badly. I wonder what Kent and my father would think with me being at Hogwarts. Somehow I managed to fall asleep because I woke up to a new, but very familiar voice. "Bradley!" he called. My eyes widened as I sprung up from the cot.

Kent was standing there with Fred and George. "Oh my-" I could barely finish my sentence because I tackled him into a tight hug. "I had no idea you were coming here, especially not so soon."

"We finished the mission early," he explained. "I'm so glad to see you." He kissed me quickly despite all of our friends being in the room.

"Alright there's time for that later," Fred said tapping him on the shoulder. The two of us laughed. "Lupin needs you all to dissect a few more textbooks for him." They dropped a few books on the table. "We will likely be back tomorrow all day since it's Saturday." The two turned to leave.

"Girls on one side, boys on the other," George added in a teasing voice looking at Kent and I. I couldn't help but smile and hug him once more. It was nice to see him safe. Kent and me sat reading our textbooks together. We kept taking breaks to talk about what we missed even though there wasn't too much of a change in our world. He believes their mission was successful, but you never know with werewolves. Kent apologized for not being able to protect Idella. He saw the whole incident go down and could not get to her quick enough. It wasn't his fault and Idella has accepted her fate. Her first full moon was in a little over a week and as it got even closer I am sure she would begin getting nervous. For now she was calm. I asked if he heard anything about the trio but nothing. I was worried about them. We only got to see them for a short period of time. Did their mission to Gringotts go successfully? It wasn't as if we would know since the Death Eater affiliated Ministry was in charge of publishing articles and Hogwarts banned it anyway. Only time would tell, I hoped they were safe.

Since it was a Friday night, many of the students snuck out after curfew to sleep in the Room of Requirement. Ginny, Neville, Seamus, the Patil twins, Dean, and a few others were staying in the room with us. They were telling us about their horrible day when a figure began walking towards the blank portal that lead to the dark tunnel. It was Ariana. She was silent but was motioning for someone to follow her. "I'll do it," Neville said quickly jumping up from his hammock.

"Need someone to come with you?" Ginny offered.

"I'll be alright. Aberforth must have some more food for us," Neville stated stepping into the portal and closing it behind him. My stomach was growling and I could see Neville and Ariana returning through the portal. Yet he wasn't holding any food to my dismay.

"Who's that with him?" Seamus said in his thick Irish accent trying to get a better look. We all tried to identify the figure behind Neville but it wasn't very clear. As if there weren't enough surprise these past few day, Neville returned with Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

Let me know what you think! We're getting to the end here! On the plus side it is almost October and that is my favorite month!