Author's Note: This is my first story, picking up in the first half of Harry's 5th year. Enjoy and leave reviews!
I am also sad to announce that I am not JK Rowling and therefore own none of her characters, plot points, locations, or... well, anything else.
"Hey Potter!"
Harry turned around looking for the source of the shout, but didn't see anyone he knew. A few seconds later, the girl called again - causing Harry to wonder what on earth could be so important that a random Slytherin girl he didn't know was calling after him. With a vague sense of misgiving, Harry walked over to her, letting Ron and Hermione know that he'd catch up with them in the Great Hall.
"Can I help you?" he asked.
"We want in on your defense lessons."
"What defense lessons…?" Harry asked, trying to appear innocent while internally panicking. If Slytherins knew about Dumbledore's Army after only 2 meetings than Umbridge would know in a matter of days.
"Don't play dumb with me Potter. I'm friends with some of the Ravenclaws you invited, and they were talking about it where I could hear. I want in."
Harry considered for a moment. Was it better to risk a Slytherin in their midsts or to upset an outsider who already knew about them? He knew that there wasn't really a choice, but he was reluctant to let such a total stranger into the only part of his life that wasn't absolute troll shit.
"Is it just you?" he asked to stall "Or are there others? You said 'we' the first time, but switched to 'I,' and there's a difference."
"I have a couple of friends who are interested too, but why should it matter, I thought you were going to teach anyone who wanted to learn how to defend themselves? At least, that's what Padma said earlier. Or do you honestly think that we're going to side with that hag Umbridge just because we got sorted into a different house than you?"
She had him there, and he knew it.
"Okay, you can come. But you'll have to sign the same list everyone else did agreeing not to tell Umbridge - or anyone else - before I can give you any more details."
The dark-haired Slytherin considered that for a moment. "Deal," she said finally.
"Okay. I don't have it with me, but I'll grab you after class in the next couple of days." He started to walk away, but turned back, curious. "Why did you want in on this so badly?"
"He's back. And joining him has never been an option for me."
Harry stared at her, more than a little bit impressed as she spun on her heels and walked down the corridor. He had to admit to himself, that Daphne Greengrass was not the least bit unattractive. Harry shook his head and headed down to the Great Hall.
"You WHAT?"
"Ron, calm down you prat, I told Daphne that she and a couple of her friends could join DA. What's your problem?"
"Mate, I get the whole 'helping anyone who wants it' thing, but they're in SLYTHERIN! Why would they want to work against Umbridge? Hell, they're all pure-bloods, why would they even be afraid of You-Know-Who?"
"Well Ron, you're a pureblood, and last I checked, you aren't planning on working for Voldemort either" Harry retorted, making sure to emphasize the Dark Lord's name, knowing Ron still couldn't stand it. He was simultaneously gratified and disappointed when he saw his best friend flinch at it. "Besides, if I'm judging people based their house and blood status, I'm no better than Malfoy."
Hermione smiled at that, glad to see that at least one of her two friends was starting to overcome his prejudices. After all, the house divisions were rather stupid. "I agree Harry," she chimed in. "Besides, I have Arithmancy with Daphne, and she absolutely loathes 'those Slytherins,' especially Draco. She rants about him to her friend Tracey all of the time." She noticed Harry looked slightly relieved to hear that, and made a note to question it later.
"Okay, so maybe she's not a complete nutter, but the Ice Queen, Harry? She didn't get the nickname from her warm and sunny disposition," Ron raved.
"Look, she believes me and she wants to learn. Until I have any reason to distrust her, she's in."
Ron gaped at Harry for a second before conceding. "Suit yourself mate, but I'm warning you, she'll be nothing but trouble." He turned back to the essay he was supposed to have been writing while this debate had been raging for the past half hour.
Harry, having finished his work gazed out the window, praying that Ron's words wouldn't turn out too prophetic.