Here's Chapter 3! Hope you enjoy! ;D

Chapter III: Dumbledore's Army.

Dean and Charlie find themselves in the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade for the meeting that Harry, Ron and Hermione have arranged. They manage to drag Jo and Ash along, even though they both think it's stupid and pointless because what can that trio do? But Dean and Charlie want them to go, so that's how they find themselves sitting beside them, looking at the trio with sceptical gazes on their faces.

Dean says nothing about the looks on their faces, and allows them to sulk where they sit, because after all, if they don't want to pass their Defence NEWT, that's up to them. He does; Charlie does and probably the other twenty people in the tavern want to pass their exams as well. Or more importantly, learn how to defend themselves.

He looks around the room, his green eyes scanning to see what familiar faces he can find; Fred and George are there, with Lee Jordan. Ginny Weasley is there as well, Fred, George and Ron's younger sister, as is Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan and Neville Longbottom. It's then he realises that the majority of the people are Gryffindors.

There are other people there as well, some he doesn't know, like the girl with blonde, almost silver hair that reaches her waist, but when he sees her blue badge with the Ravenclaw raven, he nudges Charlie's side with his elbow and nods over to her, 'Who's that?'

'Luna Lovegood. I like her; she's a little crazy but who doesn't love a little bit of craziness?' She smiles as the girl, Luna, feels their eyes onto them and then waves her hand at them. 'And she's got this awesome thing, where she doesn't give a damn what anyone thinks of her. She's awesome.'

Dean gives her a smile as she rants on about the girl, and when Charlie notices, she flushes a deep pink.

Dean chuckles but says nothing else as he continues to scan the room for more familiar faces when his eyes meet a pair of bright blue eyes and he does a double-take the second his eyes go to pass over them.

His eyes widen as he finally realises that he's staring at Blue-Eyes - no, wait, Castiel. He knows his name now. Though, if he's perfectly honest, he does find himself referring to him as Blue-Eyes still; it seems more accurate and just a better name than Castiel. But that could just be because he's yet to talk to him - and who knows, that may change if he ever got up the courage to talk to him.

Nearly two months and he's yet to talk to him.

It occurs to him a moment later that Castiel is in fact staring at him as well, and Dean's eyes widen just a little bit further when Castiel raises his eyebrow at Dean. He turns away from him as soon as Castiel does this, clearing his throat as he turns his attention back to Charlie and tries not to think of the heat that's growing on his cheeks.

'What happened to you?' Charlie questions but he just shakes his head, and then nods to the front when Hermione stands in front of the crowd, clearing her throat and wringing her hands together nervously. She glances back to Ron and Harry, who are still sitting on the desk.

'Right,' she starts and the room falls silent, and Dean finally feels the weight of Castiel's gaze leave the side of his face. 'I think you all know why we're here. We need a teacher.' She states this before she sighs, and looks briefly back to her friends. She turns to the front again. 'A proper teacher. One who's had real experience defending themselves against the Dark Arts.'

'Why?' Someone questions from the back and Dean is torn between rolling his eyes and turning to glare at the idiot, instead he does neither, keeping his eyes on the front because yes, this is definitely what he wants; what he's been praying for and he's finally getting it!

'Why?' Ron asks mockingly. 'Because You-Know-Who's back, you tosspot!'

Dean snickers.

'So he says,' the voice questions again and Dean turns, looking to find Zacharias Smith, sitting beside Ginny with a sneer on his face.

He frowns at the younger student, before turning back to Hermione as she speaks, 'So Dumbledore says.'

'So Dumbledore says because he says,' Zacharias counters once more and Dean turns to him again.

'Seriously mate, shut up.'

'Why? The point is there's no proof he's back!' He turns his gaze away from Dean and back to Harry. 'Potter could tell us more about how Diggory got killed.'

Dean feels the atmosphere change in the room completely at the mention of Cedric's death. The truth is, no-one is over it. Dean hardly knew him, talked to him once or twice, teased him about how Harry was going to win and he remembers how Cedric teased back.

But there were people in this room who knew him better than that; Cho went out with him last year, probably loved him seeing as they went out for ages, right up until his death. And there were other Hufflepuffs here as well, and you don't go through years of Hogwarts without knowing everyone in your House. Dean knows the new First Years already; by name, personality and jokes with them constantly, teaches them constantly because Toad-Face isn't doing a damn thing; isn't doing her job.

And with the mention of his death; the first loss that Hogwarts has suffered in the time they've been there, it's enough to chill the room. For everyone to fall silent, their eyes falling to the ground and wondering whether or not it's a good to be here today.

Dean entwines his fingers together, playing with them in order to keep his mind from the sight of seeing Harry draped over Cedric's body as he cried about how Voldemort was back and how Cedric was dead; how everyone started crying once they realised what had happened; how Cedric's father ran from the crowd, previously with a smile as he thought his son had won the Triwizard Tournament, only to dissolve into tears when he realised that wasn't the case.

Dean sighs and minutely shakes his head. He turns to the side just a little and notices Castiel standing with his head bowed; his eyes closed and Dean frowns. Castiel must've know him - Castiel took over from him as Prefect for crying out loud! Dean's sorely tempted to get up and comfort him, but how do you comfort someone you've never talked to?

Dean turns back to the front as he notices Harry stand.

'I'm not going to talk about Cedric, so if that's why you're here, you might as well clear out now.' He turns to Hermione. 'Hermione, let's go, they're just here 'cause they think I'm some kind of freak.'

Hermione grabs ahold of his arm, and by the look on her face, she's got a whole argument prepared for why he should stay, but she doesn't even get to use it, because someone calls out with another question.

'Is it true you can produce a Patronus charm?'

Dean raises his eyebrow at the airy voice and turns to see Luna Lovegood looking at him expectantly. He then turns back to Harry with the same raised eyebrow because he wants to know if that's true. Sure, he talks to Harry and they're friendly, but he's got Hermione and Ron to share his secrets with and Dean's got Jo, Ash and Charlie, so it's hardly like they know everything about each other.

But seriously? A Patronus charm? Dean's found even more respect for the younger boy if this is true.

Harry says nothing and just stares at Luna for a second, and Dean can see him wracking his brains on what to say or why she's asking that, and he's so caught up in his own thoughts that he doesn't answer straight away.

So, Hermione does it for him.

'Yes! I've seen it.'

'Blimey Harry! I didn't know you could do that!' Dean Thomas jumps in, echoing Dean's thoughts and he relaxes a little when he realises he's not the only one that didn't know this bit of information.

'And… and he killed a Basilisk!' Neville speaks up. 'With the sword in Dumbledore's office!'

'It's true!' Ginny agrees, and Dean remembers that of course she'd know that, because she was taken to the Chamber of Secrets in her first year, and Dean forgot about that! How Harry saved her from certain death. How can people doubt his skills and knowledge?

'In Third Year he fought off about a hundred Dementors at once!' Ron declares, adding to the list of Harry's triumphs.

Hermione wears a proud smile on her face as she turns back to the crowd, but before he speaks, Dean notices the way Harry is looking, as if he doesn't understand why everyone is making a big deal about this. As if no-one understands it; as if it's all lies.

And Dean knows it's not. Some he remembers hearing about; some are new, but he knows what Harry Potter is capable of, and he knows they wouldn't lie about stuff like this.

'And last year, he really did fight off You-Know-Who in the flesh.' Hermione states, but Harry turns to her and stops her from saying anymore with an agitated "all right!".

'Look… it all sounds… great when you say it like that, but… the truth is, most of that was just luck! I didn't know what I was doing half the time; I nearly always had help.'

'He's just being modest.' Hermione states but Harry shakes his head and retorts, 'No, Hermione, I'm not!'

Before he continues, Dean is tempted to tell him that it's okay he had help! That there's nothing wrong with needing to get told what to do from someone else, and if anything, it makes him more human. More like them; it makes the goals seem not that impossible! And if he had help, why can't he help them learn these spells?

But before Dean can say any of this, Harry is talking again, 'Facing this stuff, in real life is not like school… in school, if you make a mistake you can just try again tomorrow, but out there… when you're a second away from being murdered, or watching a friend die right before your eyes… you don't know what that's like.'

The atmosphere loses the spark it had gained when listing all of Harry's triumphs, and goes back to how it was when Cedric was mentioned, because, in a way, he was mentioned again. Everyone sits around and stares at the ground as Harry slowly sits back down into his seat. He traces the patterns of the wooden floor, but then he feels Hermione's sit down next to him and looks up.

'You're right, Harry, we don't. That's why we need your help.'

Dean smirks because she's gotten that thought as well; realised that if Harry needed help, they need it too, and they definitely do need it if they're supposed to survive this.

'Because if we're going to have any chance of beating… Voldemort,' Hermione finally says his name after a second or two of deliberation, and Dean's head shoots up, because he knows how afraid she was of saying the word; saying his name. And that's when he was supposedly gone. Now, he's back and she's saying it, and if that doesn't show how much Hermione wants this, Dean doesn't think anything else will.

'He's really back?' Colin Creevy question and Harry says nothing, but only nods his head slowly, almost as if he's too raw to actually say another word.

And Dean can't blame him. A room full of people who want to learn from him? Dean would be freaking out as well!

The room falls silent once more, and everyone looks around trying to decide whether or not they're going to do this, but Dean's already made his mind up. And apparently Neville has as well, for he stands just as Dean is about to, and Dean stands the second Neville takes a step towards the table, flitting in behind him and he looks over his shoulder, noticing how Charlie stands behind him but Jo and Ash are still sitting on their seats, looking at him with wide eyes and Ash has his mouth open. He just sends them a grin and the moves forward as Neville moves out of the way and goes to talk to Hermione.

He picks up the quill and signs Dean Winchester under Neville's name, happy that he's finally doing this; that something is finally happening.

Another thought occurs to him, however, and he walks over where Harry and Ron are standing, looking at the long line that's formed. Harry wears a humble look on his face and Ron is making no attempts to hold back his wide smirk.

'Is there an age limit to this, Harry?'

Harry raises his head and his green eyes clash with Dean's own before he shrugs.

'I'd rather not have to teach First Years or that, to be honest, but if you're asking for your brother, I think I would let him come. He's smart, determined, and something tells me if a fight broke out, he wouldn't leave, so the more he knows, the better.'

Dean nods his head, the smile he wore at having finally done something about Umbridge and his NEWTs, falls off his face when he realises just what Harry said; what he means.

'So, you think there's going to be a fight? Or a war?'

'I don't want there to be, but Voldemort's back and I know people who says it feels like it did the first time around.'

Dean nods once before he shakes his head, 'Right, this has turned too depressing for my liking. See you around, Harry.'

He claps Harry on the shoulder and turns, noticing Charlie, Jo and Ash standing just off the side of the desk, and Dean walks over to them. He looks over George's shoulder, who's in the process of signing his name and sees Jo Harvelle and Ash Miles. Dean turns to them with a smirk on his lips.

'Shut up and don't say anything.' Jo warns, shoving his shoulder as he walks over to them and he does nothing but chuckle as they leave the Hog's Head, stumbling out onto the cold, snow-covered ground of Hogsmeade.

Dean wraps his arms around his chest, but a moment later has to wrap one around Charlie's shoulder who burrows herself into his side.

'Back to the castle, My Queen?' Dean smirks down after saying goodbye to Ash and Jo who say they're going to spend more time looking around Hogsmeade, but will see them in the Great Hall for dinner.

Charlie looks up at him, a wide smile on her face that shows all her teeth, 'Why, yes, Handmaiden.'

And Dean does nothing but laugh as he steers them towards the castle.

~oOoOoOoOoOo~

They haven't found anywhere to hold their little Defence class, nor have they settled on a name, and Harry's definitely not starting until they have room they can really practice in, but nonetheless, Dean is still excited that he's got something to look forward to.

He mentioned the little club to Sam, who was all too happy with the idea. Dean made sure to tell him that he's not to go blabbing about it to anyone else, and then found himself grinning like an idiot when Sam asked if he could tell Jessica and bring her along.

Dean just shrugged and told Sam what Harry told him, that he doesn't want a lot of the younger students there, but he has no doubt that Harry would be willing to make an exception for Jess as well, who was determined to join the second Sam shouted her over and informed her about it.

However, Dean's even more determined to get this thing rolling when he heads to the Great Hall, and sees Filch up on the ladders, adding another Educational Decree to the other twenty million that adorns the wall outside the Great Hall.

'What's this one?' He questions Jo as soon as he stops beside her. She looks up at him, tucking a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear before she shrugs.

'Haven't seen it yet.'

They wait until Filch comes back down from the ladders and they can finally read what it says.

Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four: All Student Organisations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded. An Organisation, Society, Team, Group, or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students. Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge). No Student Organisation, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor. Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an Organisation, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.

Dean scoffs before he shakes his head and walks into the Great Hall, hearing Jo follow behind him.

'So, she's expelling people now, just for getting together? As if the whole, "not being able to stand within two inches of each other" garbage was bad enough. Who the hell does this bitch think she is?'

'I don't know, but Dean?' Jo calls and Dean stops in his journey to the Gryffindor table, turning to look at her with a raised eyebrow. 'I'm convinced now. I'm convinced that He's back and the Ministry is trying to squash Harry and Dumbledore for speaking against them; all of these Educational Decrees are too suspicious and coincidental for my taste, and I just wanted you to know that. To know I'm joining this because I believe, not because you wanted me to.'

Dean says nothing but just grins at her, because he knows that Jo is like him in a sense. The whole, "talking about feelings" malarky is more trouble that it's worth, and he's more than willing to just take everything she said and smile about it instead of telling her that he's happy she's finally come around; that's she believing and willing to fight with him.

He can say that with a smile and a small punch to the shoulder, which is exactly what he does.

'So, given anymore thought of the start date, Harry? After "Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four, I'm even more determined to show this bitch what Hogwart's is about.'

He gets a disapproving look from Hermione for his words, but a chuckle from Harry and Ron, and that's what he focuses on instead.

Harry opens his mouth, but immediately shuts it and before Dean can question him about it, he hears Umbridge's shoes clicking against the stone floor directly behind him, and knows what that means. The toad is walking up the aisle behind him.

He doesn't turn to stare at her, but he is tempted to, just to make sure she isn't listening in, but he guesses he's not when Harry leans slightly across the table and declares, 'I'll tell you later in the Common Room, and you can pass it on to the people you know; like your brother and Charlie.'

Dean nods his head, sending one more smirk to Harry before he turns, giving into his need to look at the toad to make sure she's not closer than she should be or is listening in. He doesn't like turning his back on her, he's discovered; not even for a second. It makes him feel unsafe, and if there's one thing that Dean Winchester can't stand, it is feeling unsafe.

He spots her up at the table at the front of the Great Hall and he can feel himself relaxing, because right now, she isn't a threat, and he can concentrate on his breakfast without worrying that he's going to turn and find her standing behind him.

He's looking forward to starting this now, not because it'll go against one of Umbridge's little laws that she's created, but because it means he's doing something; something big and bad is coming, he's thought it for a while now and Harry's pretty much confirmed it for him.

He wants to fight, he wants to be able to stand and protect his friends and family, and right now, he's not going to be able to do that. He knows Harry and he knows what he's been through, and he knows, that if anyone can teach them how to protect themselves, even if it's just long enough for the "real" help to get there - the "real" help that Dean wants to be someday - or just to get away and hide, it's going to be Harry Potter, because he's been there and done it, just as he said.

And whilst Dean can't imagine what it's been like for him, he can relate to him and he knows that Harry is just like him.

He just wants certain things to be over.

And surely this is one way to put an end to his feelings; by fighting the bad in the world, but doing good, by finally making the people in his life proud of him.

That'll put an end to his feelings, right?

Please review! It'll make my day! ;D

~Charlotte.x