Emily Potter - Book 5 - Order of the Phoenix

Chapter 34 - Dumbledore's Army

Emily ate lunch at the Gryffindor table to discuss the venue for the meetings, she sat closely to Harry, Hermione, Ron, and fellow Gryffindors who were also members of the D.A. Angelina Johnson had just arrived and told the Gryffindor Quidditch team that practice for tonight was cancelled due to heavy rain.

"Good," said Emily quietly, when she had announced her news, "Because we've found somewhere to have our first Defence meeting. Tonight, eight o'clock, seventh floor opposite that tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy being clubbed by those trolls. Can you spread the news to the others?"

Angelina looked slightly taken aback but promised to tell the others; Emily returned to her plate of sausages and hash browns. When he looked up to take a drink of orange juice, she found her brother watching her. "What?" she said thickly.

"How are you so confident that no one would find us there?"

"I've hid in the room of requirement before. Trust me, our plan will work. Somehow." said Emily, shrugging. "Oh well, that's all right then," said Hermione briskly and she raised no more objections.

Together with Harry they had spent most of the day seeking out those people who had signed their names to the list in the Hog's Head and telling them where to meet that evening.

"Wait – " Emily said abruptly when she caught sight of a brown haired Hufflepuff girl, "Marlene!" She called after her in the hallway, catching a few surprised glances from other students. Marlene Bates turned around with Derek Pulcher by her side, her eyes widened in shock when she heard her name being called by Emily. Harry followed his sister's lead and walked up to them, casting them curious looks as to why Emily needed the two.

"We need to talk." She said, taking Marlene's wrist who in turn took Derek's arm. The two were dragged to an empty broom cupboard where Harry stood outside of to stand guard, why he did it he had no idea. "I don't mean to be rude, but what's this about?" Derek asked with his shoulders slouched due to the small space. "I need you two to join my brother and me – " She paused for a moment, looking at Marlene first, "Harry and I along with twenty-six others are in a – well I wouldn't call it a rebellion but it's verging on that. We all know how crappy a job Umbridge is doing and that's why we made this group so that Harry and I could teach you two how to defend yourselves against Dark Wizards, Merlin forbid the day that you guys will be attacked but you'll never know."

Emily switched her attention to Derek, remembering the day they met, "Derek, you're from a whole other universe. Literally, you transferred here from Romania. You know things that neither Harry nor I would know about, we need you there."

"And what would you need me for?" Marlene asked, bewildered to have been let in on a secret as deep as this, "I don't think I can contribute anything to this." Emily smiled at her, chuckling, "Don't be so sure with that." She took out a small tin box from her robes' pocket. It was the enchanted lock picking kit she had recovered from Filch's file cabinet through Fred & George. Emily took Marlene's hand and placed the tin box on her palm, "I believe this belongs to you." She said, sighing, "I don't know if you know this but to make such a magical weapon requires the sharpest of minds and the bravest of hearts. And truthfully, Marlene, you own both."

Marlene's face had almost turned as red as a tomato at Emily's words. She felt completely blown away when she returned the lock picking kit to her, Marlene was in total fear when a Prefect had confiscated it from her years before. Not only was it a family heirloom but due to the loss of it, she could no longer sneak around the castle and its' secret passageways. " I-I don't know what to say, Em."

"You don't have to say anything," She said with a lopsided grin, "If you two made up your minds and decide to join us, go tonight at eight o'clock, seventh floor opposite that tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy being clubbed by those trolls." Emily said in a grave whisper, "But if you choose otherwise, it's fine by me. But I would feel obligated to obliviate you."