The Order and The Ravenclaw (A George Weasley Love Story)

The Hogs Head

Once they had arrived, it was pretty clear Lyra wasn't a huge fan. She hesitately followed the loud boys in, surprised that Hermione would pick this place over one of the other pubs.

Fred went up to the counter while the other three found seats. They were the last to arrive, and Lyra was also surprised with how many others had turned up.

“Hi!" Fred said once he got to the counter. "Could we have . . . twenty-five butterbeers, please?”

The bar man grumpily began to grab butter beers from under the bar. Once Fred had twenty-five he came over to the table.

“Cheers,” he said beginning to hand them out. “Cough up, everyone, I haven’t got enough gold for all of these . . .”

Lyra went to grab her coins like everyone else, but Fred hit her on the head. "Put your coin away Stone or I will hex you."

She would have normally argued, but people were already looking at the two curiously so she let it go placing her coin purse back in her pocket.

The group around them settled and Fred took his seat. Soon everyone was looking expectantly at Harry, but Hermione was the one to speak.

“Er,” she stumbled  “Well — er — hi.” Everyone looked away from Harry to her now. “Well . . . erm . . . well, you know why you’re here. Erm . . . well, Harry here had the idea — I mean — I had the idea — that it might be good if people who wanted to study Defense Against the Dark Arts — and I mean, really study it, you know, not the rubbish that Umbridge is doing with us”

Lyra could feel her nervousness in waves, and focused on sending her confidence and pride. She was a Perfect and she could do this. 

Hermione began again, her voice stronger “because nobody could call that Defense Against the Dark Arts”

“Hear, hear,” a boy Lyra did not know chipped in. Lyra could see this reassured her even further.

“Well, I thought it would be good if we, well, took matters into our own hands and by that I mean learning how to defend ourselves properly, not just theory but the real spells —”

“You want to pass your Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. too though, I bet?” interrupted another boy.

“Of course I do,” Hermione answered quickly, “But I want more than that, I want to be properly trained in Defense because . . . because . . . Because Lord Voldemort’s back.”

Lyra's breath hitched in her throat, she gripped the edge of the table trying to stop the rising sense of fear in herself and those around her. George gently placed his hand over hers and loosened her grip. He gave her a reassuring squeeze and she leaned into him. The fear drifting away as fast as it come.

Hermione allowed gave the group a moment to gather themselves, Lyra of course not being the only ones effected by the name. “Well . . . that’s the plan anyway. If you want to join us, we need to decide how we’re going to —”

“Where’s the proof You-Know-Who’s back?” a rude Hufflepuff boy butt in, his tune dripping distaste.

“Well, Dumbledore believes it —” Hermione began.

“You mean, Dumbledore believes him,” he said cutting her off again, and the mood in the room quickly shifted again.

“Who are you?” said Ron snapped at him. 

“Zacharias Smith,” said the boy, “and I think we’ve got the right to know exactly what makes him say You-Know-Who’s back.”

“Look,” said Hermione, as calm as ever. “that’s really not what this meeting was supposed to be about —”