"Not bad, old man." Evan quipped at Oakey, her lips split into a manic grin. You'd might say the former Ravenclaw was enjoying this, that's because she was.Rueful. Righteous and ready for a fight, she was in her element. For while Evan's heart lie in painting, sculpting and art, her blood was that of an Eastwood woman. and Eastwood women were born choosing violence.

With a flick of her wrist, Evan's wand was tossed into the air only to be caught effortlessly a moment later. Funny thing, really, to be back here. and with Drew's father by her side. They call had reached almost everyone it seemed, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, siblings, and alums. and they looked might angry. The Neo-alliance had made a bad decision when they'd taken Hogwarts, they'd make sure they knew that now.

"Is that Mark's beetle on your back?" she asked, pressing forward through the rubble and wreckage, eager to come face to face with the losers picking on children.

There was absolutely no way Kitty was missing out on this.

He knew there was weird stuff going on at the Ministry, he just knew it! It was definitely unlike what he was expecting—what with the whole subjugation of Muggleborns and blatant anti-Muggle sentiments—but he didn't know how to change it.

Well, until now.

Kitty Apparated to the Hogwarts gates and saw everybody already here and ready for battle, breaking down the enchantments around the castle. He joined in, and once they were in, he had no hesitation as he infiltrated the grounds with the crowd. He knew he would be of help—he was a freaking Sentinel, after all, and he had earned that title. It was time to show some Alliance weirdos what he was made of.

Oliver had been painting when he had heard the phoenix song from his pin. It had been given to him by Kaiser, after a discussion about their mutual concerns about the Stemp House kids at Hogwarts. Oliver would do anything for them. And that included fighting a war. So he'd been recruited into this Order of the Phoenix, which was a bit overwhelming but his resolve remained strong. It wasn't just about the Stemp House kids, but about making the world safe for all the children. But it was also about the Stemp House kids, who were the reasons he was prepared to infiltrate Hogwarts and fight for.

Oliver was fired up enough he could barely imagine how he would be feeling if he had children of his own currently at Hogwarts. Thankfully Elena and Alexei were merely months old, and safely at home with Dragomir. After tuning into the radio and hearing the minister's call for action he had hugged his husband tightly and promised to be home as soon as he could.

And then there he was, wand raised and looking at the broken gate to Hogwarts. He was ready. Time to save some children.

Emilia knew something big was coming, she'd been mentally preparing for it ever since Tomasz tapped her, offering a pin along with his trust. The auror had promised her family that she'd do her best to be safe. She'd asked Camden not to worry, told him this was part of her job. And then she'd come, calm and focused, ready for anything.

There was an energy flowing through the group and it was electric. Emilia felt it running through her, too. She felt it when the gates were breeched and she saw it in the faces of those around her as they moved towards the castle, towards the enemy. They were ready to fight. She was. And that fight was about to begin.

____

Our babies are in that castle.

It was the first thought she'd had when she heard the broadcast. It was the first thing she spoke out loud to Alec afterward. They had to go get them. They had to go fight for them. She was scared out of her mind to face off against such evil, but what scared her more was not going, not knowing what was happening, not trying. So they'd come. One hand was holding on to Alec's, one was holding her wand so tightly her knuckles were white. These monsters had her babies trapped and Ella Summers was channeling all her mama!badger rage in their direction, so they were in for quite the show.

"There's Oakey," She said as she spotted the familiar head of hair in the crowd. She felt comfort in seeing her old friend, but there was also fear. Every person she knew in this crowd was in danger. But also, every person in this crowd was brave and knew this was worth the risk.

Daichi Katharos apparated alongside his son near the gates of Hogwarts. He had been at the Ministry at the time that the Minister had made the emergency announcement and as a father he could not stand idly by and watch children be subjected to evil forces.

The fourty year old man and his son had arrived at the moment that a blast went off that blew away the protective gates in a show of brilliant lights and he quickly took out his phoenix feathered core wand from out of his trusted wrist holster. At first, he did not want his son coming along. It was dangerous and the thought he could possibly lose him today plagued on his mind but Dorian was of age and he would be a great asset in helping out. ”Please, please please be careful” he said, worry in his eyes.

With the new regulations in work at the Ministry, Dorian Katharos had not been able to get his apparating license yet. As a muggleborn, he got rudely denied when he had applied for one a couple of days ago. So he apparated while holding on to his father’s arm, his wand already at the ready in case a battle was already busy.

Luckily, that was not the case and he looked over as the gates blew away before looking at his father. He was nervous, very nervous. The thought that this could be the last that he could see him pained him but they both agreed that they could not sit by and let the students be in danger. ”You too ,Dad. See you at dinner” He said with a small grin and moved towards the gates.

As a pensieve reviewer in the Magical Law Enforcement , Kevin Hirase did not spend much time outside of the evidence room. So when he had heard the Minister’s voice through the intercom, the man was eager to help out. Socializing was not his thing but action, battles, that he enjoyed. He looked up at the huge castle in the distance. He had not been here since he had been expelled in his fourth year and now as a thirty two year old he was defending a place that had thrown him out.

But that was in the past and he wasn’t going to let something that happened a long time ago stop him from helping out the poor students stuck in there.

Wand at the ready, Kevin checked if his colleagues were present yet and before he helped blast the gates open. Firing multiple non-verbal spells at the ironwork until it blasted apart. A grin formed on his face as he thought that he had always wanted to do that when he had been a student .

Chloe Adara was ready for this ever since Simone Krafft cruciod her and Bain manhandled her to the holding cell. Actually, who was she kidding, she was ready for this since the moment she hadn't heard from her now twelve year old son in months. And when she heard the broadcast from the Minister, the time to act was now. The time for revenge against Simone and Bain. The redhead didn't need to be told twice and she hoped to see some of her coworkers fighting the good fight as well. Judging from their reactions about no muggleborns being granted apparition licenses, she figured they would be. Oh look, there was Daichi! She felt comfort in at least seeing him there, as she gripped her wand and glanced over to her mother, "You sure up for this?" She was ready to go all protective lioness, but her mother? She felt uneasy about her being there.

"Chloe Michelle. If you ask me that one more time." Amelia shook her head. She was here for her grandson, of course. And for all the students here. The last time she was here was about six or so years ago when she'd taught flying and had been the healer, but this time was different. She was here to make sure her boy was safe. She was here to bring justice. The former badger looked ahead at the blasting of the gates, fully prepared for anything that lay ahead.

If Genevieve hadn't heard the announcement on the radio to show up at these very gates, she was probably within days of storming the gates herself. Her children were in this castle, and none of them was very good at self preservation. In fact, were any of those Stark kids good at keeping their heads down? It was hard to imagine.

Speaking of Stark connections, Viv spotted Ella and Alec in the crowd that was gathering. "What are we waiting for? We don't even have to go over the wall. Charge or whatever."

It had not taken long after the announcement from the Ministry for Ignatius Blackthorne,
the patriarch of the House of Blackthorne, to spring into action, gather his sons together, and head off for Hogwarts. But he could only find two of them, which was troubling. However, he had no time to look for the truant, Hamlet, and could only hope that his middle son, who had always been overly proud of his Pureblood heritage, had not been persuaded to join the wrong side. So now here he was in all his glory, tall and leonine with icy blue eyes and that flowing mane of white hair and bearing himself erect despite his age. In his time, he had been a formidable wizard, suspected of more than a flirtation with the dark arts himself, but now he was apparently grimly determined to find out what had happened to his niece, Violet, and to wreak vengeance on those responsible for any harm that may have come to her.

With him were two of his sons, the learned and crafty Helicanus and his younger brother, Horatio, looking scared to death but determinedly gripping his wand.

Her children. Her. Children. NO ONE hurt her children. EVER.

It took a lot, a LOT to make Sophie Mordaunt see red, and it turned out the Neo-Alliance keeping her children hostage was just enough for this former badger to not say a word to anyone around her once she arrived. She didn't even try to find familiar faces, although she knew they'd be there.

Nope, she was going in. Being a self-proclaimed Charms Queen while attending that very same school came in handy in times like these, and Sophie did not lower her wand after helping to cast the spells to blow away the gates.

Out. Of. Her. Way.

Ha. THAT had been why her children hadn't contacted her and her husband in so long. Mandy could've sworn they had automatically become rude teenagers the moment they had stepped into that school, but no, it turned out it had just been the Third Wizarding War brewing. Who would've thought.

ANYHOW, that was BAD, and after hearing the Minister say they were going to basically break into the school to save the kids, Mandy couldn't NOT go. Who did those people think they were, keeping CHILDREN in like that!? Not to mention Mandy had always had it up to HERE with this Pureblood nonsense, even though she was a Pureblood herself. It was time someone taught those people a lesson once and for all. And she was here to up the number of the resistance and to make some damage in the process, if she could. And oh, she could alright.

This wasn't the kind of circumstance Marcy wanted to be the reason why she came back to Hogwarts. She wished it had been a happy occasion, a celebration of sorts, or perhaps even to teach a seminar. But no, children had been kept hostage by yet another bigoted group. That would've been enough to have brought her there to fight, but her very own grandchildren were attending that school at the moment, too.

Wand at the ready, Marcy had her game face on. She was ready.

It had felt like a long time coming, to be honest. In some ways, the meeting in her backroom had felt like it had happened ages ago, and in others just yesterday. Either way, Elizabeth hadn’t wasted a moment once she’d gotten the call. Even as the tail end of the minister’s broadcast had echoed through the bookshop, she’d closed the doors and apparated to where she’d needed to be. First, back home to assure Rob that she would try not to get killed and to leave messages for their kids and grandchildren. Since there wasn’t time to check on all of them when the Order needed her, the messages would have to do. Then, to Hogwarts where she’d helped cast the spells to breach the gates with the others, only inwardly flinching a tiny bit at destroying Hogwarts property. It was necessary. They had kids to rescue and people to fight. Onward and inward and all that jazz.

Bryony had been of two minds for a while now, what with her probably not-so-veiled distrust of her current boss. Being an Auror had been her dream, but she wasn’t about to use it to hurt people who likely were known by her. People who didn’t deserve it at all. All the anti-Muggle sentiment had ultimately led her to accept an offer to join the resistance, and as the call went out, she had acted, Auror reflexes at the ready. She’d gone home to speak with Braedon and say good night to Sophia, then Apparated to the sides of her fellow Aurors who hadn’t ignored the call either, wand at the ready. Frankie and Emilia. She was ready to do her job. She was absolutely ready to fight.

Marley had argued with him, but Slade had felt a responsibility to go. He’d been teaching defense for years now, he had relatives who were affected by the insanity that was the Hogwarts lockdown, now revealed to be as insidious as he had expected. He felt it would be irresponsible for himself not to show up to assist, and he’d trusted Ophelia to take care of his princess. To take her somewhere safe if things proved to be essentially as bad as he thought they were. If the Neo-Alliance had in fact breached the Ministry along with taking over Hogwarts, as the Minister had said in the latest broadcast, things were very very bad. He wasn’t about to let history repeat itself and not end in the same way as it had before.

A lot had gone down since Jake had heard the Minister's broadcast, much of it to do with making sure his family were safe and secure and ready to move if things at Hogwarts should go south. Aslan - who was, of course, a member of his family - had provided him with some useful gifts, most of which he had safely tucked away to be within his reach at a moment's notice.

Now he was marching on the school with all the others who had answered the call, not just because it was his duty as an Auror, and a wizarding citizen, but for the love of his children, the ones he had not seen in months. All the way up to the gates, Jake had been watching those around him, trying to determine who exactly was a member of this new Order of the Phoenix, who had been working underground this whole time. Would be nice to shake their hands, you know? But later. At the same time, he wondered exactly how many among their group, and who, might not be here for the same noble-hearted reasons as the (hopeful) majority. Who was not so genuine? Jake had no doubt that someone would infiltrate, it was pretty much an open invitation... just a question of who.

There were, at least, several faces among them he recognised. Like Paton, from Law Enforcement, and Espinosa too, Kevin Hirase, and Vivi James. How many here had kids up at the school, children who maybe knew his own? How many of those familiar faces were here to fight with the Neo-Alliance? He supposed he'd find out soon enough. With the rest of the group, he helped blast the gates away, and entered the grounds of Hogwarts, trying hard not to think about what he had discovered the last time he'd been here.

Jake had hugged his children, and his grandchildren, extra tight that evening, but three more of his children (and of course it was those three) were up ahead in that castle. Three of his, and hundreds of others. They were freeing them from this Neo-Alliance. They were getting them all back.

_____


Silent and stoic, Kaiser marched with the rest of the group towards Hogwarts, a place he hadn't expected to see again, not so soon. Memories of the last few hours swam in his head, some with great clarity, most a tangled mess of apparently unrelated threads, and a handful steeped in a bone-deep agony that had little to do with duelling Alphonsine Rosier. Distracted, either too inside his own head or maybe too separated from it, he didn't even notice the familiar faces around him, not even one he knew fairly well, a short distance away. His head thrummed again, with a subtle, almost gentle ache.

In some respects, he shouldn't have been here. The healers had advised against his even leaving the Spell Damage floor, and Candela had been as thrilled about his turning up to fight as he'd been at the thought that she might do the same. Kaiser knew he couldn't tell her what to do, but he hoped she understood how much he needed for her to be safe and happy, and to be there for Elio too. And he hoped she would understand, one day, exactly how much he needed to do this, and not just because he was in the Order. He had to be here, for Charles, and for Fletcher, and for Trent, who had each given him something different that he wasn't quite able to define, and which he had taken into his... his soul, or whatever he had that passed for one. He was here for Noah and the rest of the Stemp House kids too. And for himself.

It was selfish, but he couldn't see it, wasn't able to, not today. Kaiser knew, at least, that he might be more hindrance than help in a fight, based on recent experience, but he could help with the casualties, even if he couldn't heal them himself. He could be of some use.

Kaiser knew he would never find redemption, but he had to do something.

The gates were down, and Kaiser lowered his wand arm, realising he'd been part of the effort to blast them away. He pushed ahead.

Anger coursing like fire through her veins, Penelope had quickly taken care of things with Zeppelin and Sage, making sure they were safe and promising to bring Ivy back, before heading to the gates of Hogwarts. She'd been ready to beat down these gates the moment they'd confirmed communication was cut off, so aiming her wand at the gates alongside everyone else, shooting spell after spell at them, watching them get blown away...it was a small relief.

She would not let her guard down though, looking around at the others who had gathered, many of which she recognized...her colleagues Paton, Espinosa, Hirase, James, Keighley, Upstead...and her friends, Ella and Alec. And there were likely even more among the crowd that she couldn't spot.

That was good. The more people here that she could trust, that she knew would be helping to take down the Alliance, the better.

The Alliance would pay for whatever they had done to the kids. To her kid.

Vi Holden Salander knew her best mate, Tory, was going to be here. Once she had heard the announcement herself, she had almost run out the door but someone needed to watch her and Ace's son. Oct.... He was a year old... She couldn't let her son grow up in a world like this. She couldn't let these people to do this to her former residence- to people who were like her and her brother.

Leaving home in the middle of the night had been the hardest for her. The Seer had kissed the top of her son's forehead and kissed her husband before heading out the door to find her brother waiting for her. She'd be back. She had a promise to keep.

Folding her arms, she scanned the crowd looking for Tory. She was afraid that if she hadn't come... he was going to do something reckless like getting himself killed or worse - thrown in jail AGAIN somehow. She stopped briefly before seeing Oliver and a small smile graced her lips. She was glad he was here too.... It was nice to see another familiar face...

And then she spotted Tory. He was always easy to spot as he was much taller than most other people. Seeing him brought a smile to her face and she sorely wished that this was a different event and not this one... but ... still... she was glad to be fighting by his side. She just wished Mel, Etta, Prim, Matt Solo, and Ace were here.... But someone had to watch their son. She sorely missed her baby... Forcing a brave smile, she looked at Tory. "Tory. I'm here. Simon came along with me. He insisted it so we don't go y'know 'Gryffindoring'." She mimicked quotation marks as she spoke before turning back to look at her brother to find him standing quietly. Tilting her head, she glanced back at him. "Si, you okay?"



Simon Erik Holden had received a phone call from his sister telling him to turn on the radio and to hear the broadcast. The now - THIRTY something year old naturally obliged much to his chagrin - thankfully his wife, Bianca, had talked some sense into him listening to his sister. ONce she had hung up and he had listened to the whole she-bang, he facepalmed. Of course Vi would head there in a heartbeat..... It was the right thing to do... He knew it. He had sighed, rubbed his face, leaned over to kiss his wife's forehead and promised he would return.

He and his sister had met outside of her house before apparating here. They had to find her friend, Tory. He stood back from the group as he watched his sister greet her friend and just took the whole sight in.... Hogwarts... He hadn't been here in YEARS. He felt somehow frozen in time as he stared, letting the memories flood in. Merlin. It had been eons since he had last stepped foot on these grounds. He had been but a starry eyed boys what dreams of being the Watson to Ethan Mordaunt's Sherlock Holmes. Memories came flooding back of their own hardships but also of their fun times of them teasing each other about significant milestones - friendships, embarrassing times in front of a Healer (seriously he was still grateful for West Odessa for bailing out of that one), awkward crushes, and dangerous curses (Romanos being a Cold One - heh, nice one, Zanderman....)

His sister's voice brought him back to the present and he simply nodded before forcing himself to take a step forward to offer his hand to Tory. "Good to meet the infamous, Tory. Simon Holden. Professor on hiatus.... but also Consulting Detective." With that, he flipped a business card over to Torrance just in case he ever needed it.

The action got a LOUD eye roll from his sister.

Lucille had heard the news about Hogwarts and she had to make sure her cousin Fiona was okay. The woman was actually pro-Alliance due to a couple of negative experiences she had with Muggles but she felt conflicted at their methods. She hoped that the advice she had given her cousin before the start of the school term about toeing the line had helped. Lucille had her wand ready to fight but the question was, which side would she be fighting on?

Half-Blood Daisy Swann had been on assignment for work when the news about the Neo-Alliance and their treatment of those not of Pureblooded status. She knew she just had to do her part in battling them. Daisy hadn't been recruited by the Order but she was proud to be fighting alongside them. Wand at the ready, the former student surveyed her surroundings.

Missa didn't even think. The moment the broadcast went up, she was on her way. This was certainly not how she had imagined returning to Hogwarts but here she was. Eiji had come to mind, her own family had come to mind but they would understand. They had to. Even if she hadn't wanted to be an Auror one day, she'd still show up. She could never be on the sidelines.

With Gabriel on her side, and the members of the Order in her sight - she was there. Her wand amongst the ones which had taken down the door. It had not been easy and she was sure nothing ahead would be either.

"Ready for this?" Glancing at Gabriel, she quickly asked.

Finally news, even if they weren't what Leo Kitridge had wished for. The moment he had heard the broadcast from the Minister of Magic, his thoughts had went straight to Cassie and the kids that were at Hogwarts and in grave danger. He needed to get to Hogwarts and fast. Running out of his bookstore with his jacket on backwards, and forgetting to lock the door Leo apparted to the meet up spot by the winged on the grounds. This wasn't how he had pictured he'd revisit Hogwarts again. It had been under more plesant and fun circumstances, but you didn't always get what you wished for right? Hopefully Cassie and the kids were all right.

Evan Donovan was one angry man. Let it be known that he had been angry for months now but that was beside the point. The feeling of a war brewing had been building up for quite sometime and now that it was here, he was ready.

When that call came through he dropped everything. The shop he now owned near his own home was closed up and locked down early before he apparated straight home to tell his wife he was headed to Hogwarts. He was going to get their KIDS! Not one, not two or even three kids. Hogwarts was where all FIVE of his youngest children currently were. His prides and joy. The lights of his life.

After a quick kiss and whispered promises to return home safely with their babies, along with a change of clothes that were more protective. Calls were made quickly to his older children making sure they were all keeping out of harms way. Then a final call to his sister who also had kids at the school, he knew she would be there and her husband too.

It seemed like hours passed already but it couldn't have been more than minutes. Evan apparated as close to Hogwarts as he could manage, gripping his wand tightly in his hand, eyes quickly scanning the large crowd of angry people for his family. All he could think about was... 'Where were his kids?'.

*****
The only thing worse than an angry father was an angry mama. Hadleigh Paton wasn't an angry women. Normally everything she did was met with a level-head and a smile. That wasn't happening today. None of her children were at Hogwarts... yet... but her cousins were. Two of them. So were all FIVE of her baby siblings. With how many years between herself and those five, she felt like she had helped raise them all. They were hers. No angry sister here. Hady was an angry mama.

What made matters worse was the husband. Did he really expect her to remain at home like he asked her to? Frankie was an Auror, an amazing one but even the best of the best could experience a not so great day. They had been through that before where she had nearly lost him... she wouldn't let it happen again.

It was after the husband had left and the call from her own father than Hady took matters into her own hands. Her four little ones were brought over to her fathers home to be kept safe with her stepmum. From there she slipped away and apparated directly to the meeting sight, hoping that she wasn't popping into a full fledged war zone.

Luck must have been on her side. Hadleigh got there moments just in time to see the gates of Hogwarts crashing apart. Wand gripped tightly, hazel eyes a blaze with pure anger she moved through the crowd to find that head of blonde hair that had left her at home. Everyone else she knew to be here could find her if they wanted to.

PSA: ALL CHARACTERS ARE ORDER OF THE PHEONIX ALIGNED BUT NOT OFFICIALLY RECRUITED MEMBERS
________________________________________

This was not how she had ever imagined herself returning to Hogwarts. Then again, she was sure this was a sentiment that every graduate and every parent felt profoundly as they gathered outside the gates. While she felt it was a bit too...barbaric to just go blasting down the gates like this, Kurumi Rasting (nee Hollingberry) was not about to say anything about that. She too...wanted to get inside the grounds as quickly as possible and find her daughter.

Adorned in dragonhide, her dragonologist attire, her violet eyes scanned the crowd looking for her father. There was something deeply profound about marching together like this and not simply because she had spent the majority of this past year holding him in contempt for the legislation he was passing. In a sad and heartbreaking sort of way, Kurumi could understand and even relate why her father would feel he could align with people like the Neo Alliance. She still did not know under what circumstances he had been pressured to do what he had done, but she still maintained faith that her father would never EVER do anything to purposefully bring harm to his people. Even if that was exactly what he had done...and she was not sure that her son would ever forgive him for it. Or the rest of the wizarding world, for that matter...

Maybe...someday...once they left here with Rebecca, once all the children (and the future of the wizarding world by extension) were safe and sound...

Eyes sweeping the crowds again, her heart elated at seeing former peers and classmates. Each with a unique memory attached to them that effortlessly was recalled to memory as her eyes passed over them. Swiftly and with precision to her movements, Kurumi moved towards Vivi and Ella (who she had just seen not all that long ago at the reserve) and Alec ... when she passed by Missa. Her heart dropped a bit and she knew...how much Eiji would have wanted to be here. She did not know how well international travel was at the moment, but she did know her brother would likely stun him before allowing him to even try.

"Missa," she spoke affectionately but with a sturdiness to her tone, her eyes flicking towards the other gentleman with her and offering him a small smile as well. "Stay alert out there...and as the headmaster of my time at Hogwarts would always say, constant vigilance. It's...an honor to know I'm fighting alongside such a remarkable young woman." It was more than a request. Giving her son's girlfriend a loving squeeze on the shoulder, she finished her short and hurried strides over to the group of familiar faces and stopped beside Vivi. "Wish I could say I brought cookies," she greeted, her eyes watering a bit at seeing everyone come together like this. It was a poor time for lighthearted humor, surely, but it has slipped out. "When we find our children...and end this tyranny...I'll bake a huge batch for us."

Wiping her eyes, because tears would just cloud her vision and she still had the triplets home with Lewis to think about as well, she looked around again and saw...was that Oakey? It was hard to tell without a smart set of antlers attached.

____________________________

Victor García Massey had been tracking the papers and following the graffiti's of the mark of the Deathly Hallows from Diagon Alley to elsewhere in Europe and beyond. The wall in his office like some sort of board and mind map one would expect to see in Magical Law Enforcement. His investigation skills were lacking, but the parallels were glaring and when the Minister's broadcast had played over their home radio...he had not been the least bit surprised. Surprised only in that the day had come, and he had already prepared Minerva what what this would mean. He would not exactly call what had gone down between them a fight, though he was also not oblivious to the emotional strain his need had caused, but he had much to make up for once he (hopefully) came out the other side of this war. At least he knew she was safe with her father on the farm with her siblings. At least he had that to hold on to as he weaved his way through the crowd with his wand in hand.

"Oliver!" he called, picking up the pace and moving beside his friend and co-worker. He was a bit surprised to see the other man here, though he supposed this may be a mutual reaction. Neither of them gave off a particularly fighter sort of aesthetic. There was no need to discuss why either of them were here, so instead he simply wrapped his friend up in a brief but very sturdy hug. "Let's bring them home. All of them."

All the Stemp House children who were somewhere inside this castle. His family.

____________________________

Airey Flamsteed only seemed to return to Hogwarts when times were rough, the last time he had been among the ancient stone castle being when a portal into another dimension had manifested itself and a horrifying monster wrecked havoc and terrorized students due to an exponential growth in poltergeist energy that then resulted in an inverted response to the magical properties embedded in Hogwarts. It was an on-going research project in Mysteries. It felt good to be able to recall this information, these memories, so freely.

It had only been hours since he had been released from the Imperius Curse placed upon him, he did not want to dwell on just how long he had been under that influence and that mirror prison before THAT, but the elixir that Jane had given him as a trial was working wonders and surely the only reason he was both vertical and physically capable of being here.

...the rest he would...figure out. Once he had his sons and daughter in his arms. Once the Flamsteed Family Constellation (though technically an asterism and even then one could not technically rearrange the stars) was reassembled. He had never known fondness in the way he had discovered since becoming a father. He needed his children back. He trusted that June was keeping an eye on them...doing whatever she could to keep them safe. She always had been reliable like that. He may even feel so inclined as to hug her if they won this. Hug everyone, for that matter. His suit could handle it.

And as he scanned the crowd and noticed entirely too many of his former pupils...he did not feel the same sort of awkwardness he always did when they came to work at the Ministry. There was...a humbling sort of sentiment too it. How curious.

Making his way around, Airey spotted LeoBALD and the nostalgia embraced him unnecessarily. "Just like old times," he chuckled dryly as he came to a stop beside his former colleague.

____________________________
Hearing his grandson's voice had been more rejuvenating than any potion or charm anyone could have cast upon him. Wand in hand and with his people, Minister Charles Hollingberry strut forward with narrowed eyes and an intense focused energy that lengthened his strides. Guilt wore heavily on his shoulders, the weight of the reality he had lead his people to. All this...even his call to march on Hogwarts and fight just...it wasn't him. The Minister was holding out on a small, fleeting hope. A hope that he could find sweet delicate Alphonsine's brother and have a conversation. Prejudices tended to disappear when people got to know one another and Charles could not even begin to fathom what these Rosier twins must have gone through to come to the point that they were now. But he still believe that, innately, Alphosine was not evil. She was not some monster and no that was not any lingering effects of enchantments speaking for him. That was his own fool of a heart who believed in the goodness of people. He saw the earnestly and pain in her voice while she pleaded in his office. That was not the voice nor the face of some soulless monster, it was a cry for help from a terrified little girl.

And in Rosier, somewhere, Charles was certain there was a terrified little boy.

Though this softness did not hinder his determination nor his resolve. It did, however, intensify the guilt.

Breathing in the scent of lavender essence he had spritzed his collar with earlier, a reminder for what he was fighting for, Charles took note of who was present and found himself both relieved and alarmed to see Kaiser here already. Relieved in that he had clearly been discharged from Mungo's and therefore okay after the squirmish in his office. Alarmed in that...he did not wish any harm to come to the young man knowing what was waiting for him back home. He did not want harm to come to any of his people, for that matter. Though so much damage had already been done...

He could see his daughter reunited with friends from her Hogwarts days off in the distance as well, though he dared not move too close or else find himself distracted. He had one aim he must focus on: finding Lucien Rosier.

This should have been like any of fight. Like any other task at work. She was a Hit Witch. Her parents had worked in law enforcement. Her parents had been in charge of both the aurors and the hit wixen. She'd grown up with stories about fights, and battles. But this was different. This was Hogwarts and there were innocent children in that castle. Even if Emma Ferguson hadn't been a recruited member of the Order of the Phoenix, she would have been here anyway. But Fletcher had recruited her, and if anything, everything had been leading up to this. It hadn't been how she wanted to return to Hogwarts. But here she was. She'd trained for this. This was her job, however dangerous it was. She was here to fight, and she was here to win.

The woman pushed her blonde hair away from her face as she apparated to the gates, just in time to see them being blown in. It felt real here. A battle. A war. All those meetings at Flourish and Blotts had lead to this. Her wand was in her hand as she stepped forward. This was it. She was here to take down the neo-alliance, and she wasn't going to go down without a fight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RachieRu

This should have been like any of fight. Like any other task at work. She was a Hit Witch. Her parents had worked in law enforcement. Her parents had been in charge of both the aurors and the hit wixen. She'd grown up with stories about fights, and battles. But this was different. This was Hogwarts and there were innocent children in that castle. Even if Emma Ferguson hadn't been a recruited member of the Order of the Phoenix, she would have been here anyway. But Fletcher had recruited her, and if anything, everything had been leading up to this. It hadn't been how she wanted to return to Hogwarts. But here she was. She'd trained for this. This was her job, however dangerous it was. She was here to fight, and she was here to win.

The woman pushed her blonde hair away from her face as she apparated to the gates, just in time to see them being blown in. It felt real here. A battle. A war. All those meetings at Flourish and Blotts had lead to this. Her wand was in her hand as she stepped forward. This was it. She was here to take down the neo-alliance, and she wasn't going to go down without a fight.

Scottie landed. Poofed here. Whatever. HE. WAS HERE.

And he had contacted his siblings as soon as the wireless announcement had went out. He was still fired up from what had transpired in the Minister's office, but he was glad he no longer had to play the role of a puppy dog to Bain's big dog attitude. His eyes narrowed as he came to a stop next to the blonde.

"You ready, Emma?" he asked softly. "Don't get yourself killed. Dad'll never forgive me for getting us involved in this," he said, lightly, but also...you know, not. Because that was a very real possibility. His wand was at the ready, waiting for Charles, most likely, to make the next call. Where was Fletchy? Part of him wished he could go take care of Bain Goldwasser back at the ministry....who WAS going to hold down the fort there? Or were they saving the kids first and THEN going to take down the stronghold there?

Scottie didn't know, nor did he care. He was ready to take down some Neo-Alliance scum. Kaiser was here, too, and he was glad the guy was looking better than he had in the office. His heart raaaaaaaaced.

Grae wondered if she should feel more apprehensive. Merlin, this was war. And she was about to throw herself into the battle. But all she could think about when she landed onto her alma mater's grounds with a pop was the fact that her sister wasn't going to fight with them. Even worse, Capri had tried to talk them out of it.

She truly didn't know where her sister got her elitist attitude from. Sure, their father had occasionally made some pro-Pureblood comments in the past. But their mother was perfectly accepting of Muggles. And when it all came down to it, Mr. Fairfield would never stand for such horrific treatment of anyone—regardless of their blood status. Where Capri went wrong, she would never know.

The number of people that had turned out was surprising. But if what everyone was saying was true, they'd need a much larger army to defeat the Neo-Alliance. Her eyes scanned the crowd, and she moved toward her colleagues (Chloe and Daichi) as she spotted them. If she was going to fight today, at least she could fight alongside people she cared about.

Grae tried to brush aside the anger at her sister as she joined the group moving toward the castle. There would be plenty of time to sort out their differences later. But now, it was time to save Hogwarts.

Jasper really needed to find time to visit Hogwarts when he wasn't on some life-threatening mission. It was a beautiful place, indeed. Too bad he wouldn't have time to enjoy it. There was a war to win.

He hadn't needed any convincing to join the revolution. This was for his family. As long as the Neo-Alliance was in power, his loved ones were in danger. And although he had no personal ties to anyone at Hogwarts, he wouldn't stand for any of it. Which was why he was here, heading forward, wand in hand. Heart pounding and skin already clammy from nerves. Ready to make a stand.

January had nearly gone mad, waiting for months on end without hearing anything from Hogwarts. Knowing that something evil was growing inside the wizarding world without any ability to stop it. She had been going stir crazy. She missed her daughter. She missed her best friend. And she missed Charles, too. He had been a father figure to her over the last several years and she really needed that again.

So when January arrived at the grounds of Hogwarts, She sought out the man in the crowd and walked up beside him as they breeched the gates. She slipped her hand into his, like a daughter would to her father, and gave it a light squeeze, hoping he knew how grateful she was to see him, and be there with him.

"You're going to find him, aren't you?" The Headmaster, of course. The leader of the Neo-Alliance - the organization that had stolen so much of their lives. To be honest, she didn't even need him to answer - she knew where he would go. "I'm coming with you," she said firmly. Because the thought of him going alone was absurd and she wanted to take him down as much as Charles did. She was, however, fighting the urge to just run through the castle and find her daughter, AND to find William. She needed to know that they were breathing. William, at least, was rather good at getting himself into trouble...

Did she ever think she’d be back at Hogwarts again? Only when it was time for their 10 year reunion and she got to come back ’n flex with years of professional quidditch under her belt and the FITTEST and SMARTEST and BADDEST WITCH of a wife by her side. So in short, yes. Yes, she did think she’d be back, but not so soon. And not for war. But she did have a couple of years of professional quidditch under her belt (minus the little stunt that got her benched for a season or two, but we don’t talk about that here — that’s for therapy) AND the FITTEST and SMARTEST and BADDEST WITCH of a wife. So it was almost the way it always played out in her head.

Almost. EXCEPT!!!

Zoryn Spinnet Chosen knew NO one here. Which was a TRAVESTY. Actually, no, that was a lie. She knew likeeeeeee five people here excluding Faith Chosen (re: FITTEST, SMARTEST, BADDEST WITCH - and wife). People would know HER right? She was on MAGAZINES. And POSTERS. And she obviously had her priorities straight, duh.

Pushing her way to the front--it was hard to do anything from all the way back here, being short was NOT helpful in times of war--with Faith, Zor drew her wand and targeted the front gates with several furious spells. Huh. Why didn’t they ever try this when they were sneaking out past curfew as kids?

Once the smokey spells had cleared and it was evident that the gate had come down, Zoryn took a look around her and—HEY!

”Hawthorne!?!” Did Zoryn for a second doubt that the old Headmistress wouldn’t remember her? Not a chance. Zoryn was her FAVORITE student. Obviously. ”Never thought you’d see me again, did ya!?” So it was war. Let them have some laughs before things got real gory. ”Are you sure your bones are strong enough for this, ma’am?” Zoryn meant no offense by this, by the way. Regina Hawthorne had to be what? EIGHTY years old now?

She did know war involved ... running and fighting and general STAMINA right? Did the old lady have it in her? Zoryn Amari Chosen neé Spinnet had her doubts. No offense. Times two.

____________

Leading up to this moment, he trained day and night. The pin he wore, a constant reminder of what was ahead. Tomasz was not so much afraid for himself, but for Shivali and Rajender, who were in the castle. Even without the allegiance, without the pin that Kaiser had given him, Tomasz would fight tirelessly for his family. With his family.

Speaking of which, Tomasz arrived here with his brother, Quentin by his side. Moving silently, he took his place next to Emilia and others from his department. He recognized many faces. There were many from The Order, some from his work, several from Hogwarts. He was amongst friends, but also amongst enemies too. This is something he kept in mind.

Though he wanted to look for more faces, to take mental note of who he would be fighting with or against, Tomasz kept watch on what was ahead. The blasts of the gate. His help in taking it down. The time had come and Tomasz was ready, fueled by anger and determination.

Did Josephina Nairne (neé Hadley) think she would be back at Hogwarts? No, but then again back in 2071 she would have said the exact same thing and yet she had found herself there for the subsequent fifteen years. Hogwarts was truly a second home for the former Arithmancy and Muggle Studies Professor, so even though her own son had since graduated, she was one to stand for intolerances of ANY kind. So when catching up with her former students, as was common for the five foot four witch, Fletcher had mentioned vaguely about the reformation of the order and of course Josephina was keen on doing anything to help rid the wizarding world of these prejudices that had been resurfacing again. She kissed her husband and son farewell and departed shortly after her pin alerted her it was time. She might not have been a current Hogwarts Professor, but some of these students she tutored over the summer and she taught many of their parents. You don't mess with the youth of Hogwarts.

Arriving at the gates in time to see the blast, she couldn't help but feel her heart warming at the sight of many of her babies already present, ready to fight for Hogwarts. For their future. Not only were her former students there, but she also spotted Airey and Leobald in the crowd and while this wasn't a social gathering, she felt comforted to know she was fighting alongside her former colleagues as well. Neo-alliance didn't have a chance.

PSA: Josephina Hadley is presently a private tutor for Arithmancy/Charms/Muggle Studies, so if you'd like to say she tutored your students, you're welcome to do so <3




Did Louise want to fight on behalf of the order? Not particularly. But she wasn't pro-alliance either and hated the mistreatment of muggleborns. She wasn't a fighter and yet the look in her boss' eyes when he had spoken to her. When he had gifted her the pin. She couldn't exactly say no. She had no children of her own, but when he talked about his daughter .... when she hung out with Arabella and her triplets .... she had no choice but to be there. For them. For her family overseas. She had no direct connection to Hogwarts other than her seventh year being spent at the school when she competed in the tournament, but she would have done the same had it been Ilvermorny that had been compromised. One wizarding school compromised was the equivalent of all of them, wasn't it? She didn't want to think of her mother's family and the muggles on that side being mistreated just because they couldn't do magic. And so she had gone to the meetings at Flourish & Blotts. For them. For those who didn't have a voice. She had to because the alternative .... the tyranny of the neo-alliance that she'd seen first-hand with working at the ministry and their latest regulations ... was frightening and she frankly didn't want to see it anymore.

Gabriel Melo, Jr., was HERE. He had no idea where here was, having never attended Hogwarts himself, but luckily Missa knew how to get here.

He had his wand, he had almost a year and a half of YATI training under his belt, and he was ready to fight some bad guys! These Neo-Alliance people? Going down, Gabriel was certain of it. Certain enough that he’d barely remembered to send a message to his twin before heading off to battle.

And now he’d finally get to see where his mother and sister had gone to school.

He spotted several of the Real Aurors and other law enforcement folks (though no Mr. Bain, of course). He noticed a lady talking to Missa...why were they talking about cookies? This was no time for cookies!

Gabriel was surprised to find he was nervous. Why was he nervous? They were smashing gates open and dueling with the bad guys. This was pretty much what he had always wanted. He had even remembered to stash a few of his Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes products in his pockets, in case a distraction was needed. Dungbombs, for example, surely these Neo-Alliance people had noses and could be distracted by a truly terrible smell.

For now though, he nodded, armed only with his wand and his courage, as he followed Missa and the others through the gates. Yes, yes he was ready for this.

****

The last time he’d walked through these gates, Lars Svensson had been a terrible father and a mediocre professor. But that had been many years ago, and he was trying today to be a good grandfather--and by extension, a better father than he’d once been. And he had two grandchildren in that castle. There had been no question he was going to fight for them, once he heard that broadcast.

He would not let them be brainwashed. Hadn’t any of these Neo-Alliance followers paid attention in History of Magic class? Anti-Muggle rhetoric would not win.

Brandishing his wand, the grey haired man looked around at the others coming to fight for truth and justice. Nobody he recognized, most of these fighters were much younger wizards. That was good. Let the young make the history.