I was going to Quidditch practice with my friends when Mr. Fitch blocked our path on the hallway with a smirk.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"Quidditch practice" I said frowning at him.
"Haven't you heard?" he chuckled. "All Quidditch events are canceled"
"What?" we asked.
"Professor Umbridge ordered to all events of Quidditch to be canceled to the years that have O.W.L.s or N.E.W.T.s" he said.
As we glared at him, he gave us another smirk and walked away.
"We have to do something" Thomas said angrily. "She's crazy!"
I nodded and tried to think what we could do. I had started all of this, and I would find a way to end it.
I sat in the courtyard with Thomas, Hermione and Jenna, when Fitch came carrying a trunk and suitcase. He set in the middle of the courtyard and soon Professor Trelawney came carrying a bag and crying. We stood up and students gathered to watch the scene. Umbridge came out, wearing pink, as always, a smug smile in her face and stood in front of Trelawney. Trelawney, clutching her bag and crying, tripped on her suitcase as she stepped forward.
"I've lived and taught in Hogwarts for sixteen years, you can't do this" she stammered between sobs.
"I can" Umbridge said showing her a piece of paper.
Professor McGonagall pushed her way between us and went to comfort Trelawney.
"Something you want to say, dear?" Umbridge asked sweetly.
"There were many things I would like to say" McGonagall said coldly, and continued to sooth Trelawney.
Dumbledore walked out of the castle and after looking around, his cold eyes settled on Umbridge.
"Minerva, please, escort Sybil back inside" he said.
"Thank God" Hermione sighed.
She didn't like Trelawney, but that didn't mean she hated her to the point she would like Trelawney to be fired and homeless.
McGonagall took Trelawney back inside, who stopped to thank Dumbledore, still crying.
"Let me remind you, Dumbledore, that under the terms of the Educational Decree number 23…"
"You have the right to dismiss my teachers." Dumbledore finished coldly. "You do not, however, have the authority to banish them from the grounds. That power remains with the headmaster"
"For now" she said. She was so calm while threatening, with such soft voice, and sweet smile, that she could be labeled as a psychopath.
Dumbledore glared at her for a moment then looked around at the students.
"Don't you all have studying to do!" he yelled walking back inside the castle.
Students started to scatter, and we watched as Harry ran between people, pushing his way, trying to get to Dumbledore. The professor didn't stop even though Harry called out his name loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Meet us in Gryffindor's common room tonight" Hermione whispered to me.
I nodded and she ran to get to class.
"What are we going to do?" Hermione asked pacing around. "This is absurd. If she convinces Fudge to give her Dumbledore's position, we are lost. Dumbledore is the only reason she still is somehow reasonable… even if only a little"
Harry told us to shush and turned up the radio's volume. It was reporting the Ministry's declaration that the disappearances were caused by the notorious murderer Sirius Black, and besides that, there was no reason to fear.
"Are any of you getting news from the Order?" I asked. "My parents don't tell me anything"
"Neither mine" Ron said. "Mum just said we might spend Christmas at the headquarters"
"Harry!"
We turned to the fireplace and Sirius face appeared in the flames.
"Bloody hell! How…" Ron said as we got closer.
"Sirius, we just heard the Ministry's declarations about you" I said.
"Don't worry… Now, Harry, you said Umbridge is taking over Hogwarts? What is she doing? Training you to torture breeds?"
"The foul, evil old gargoyle doesn't let us use magic!" I snapped.
"We aren't learning to defend ourselves, Sirius. We aren't allowed to get our wands in class" Harry said.
"I thought that would happen. Of course she won't let you use magic. Fudge doesn't want you trained in combat"
"Combat?" Ron asked frowning. "What? Does he think we're forming some kind of wizard army?"
"That's exactly what he thinks" Sirius said. "That Dumbledore is assembling his own forces to take on the Ministry. He's becoming more paranoid by the minute. The others wouldn't want me telling you this, Harry, but things aren't going at all well with the Order. Fudge is blocking the truth at every turn, and these disappearances are just how it started before. Voldemort is on the move"
"What do we do?" Hermione asked.
"Someone is coming. I have to go. Sorry I can't help. I'm sure you'll think of something" he said hurriedly and his image disappeared.
"We are not learning to defend ourselves, we are not learning how to pass the O.W.L.s" Hermione mumbled. "He's out there. We need to learn to defend ourselves. And if Umbridge won't teach us, we need someone who will"
She looked at us, and Ron followed her gaze. They both looked expectantly at me and Harry.
"Us? You want us to teach you to defend yourselves" I said.
"Of course. Harry had more practical knowledge than us, and so do you, Cedric" she said. "And it's not just that. There are more people that want to learn… We should form a group"
"And how will we have these 'classes'? Umbridge will figure it out" Harry said.
"Well, we still have free time and permission to go to Hogsmeade" Ron said.
"You're going to teach people Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Robert asked.
"Yes" I said. "Harry and I"
"Potter?" he asked and I nodded. "And I'm sure that if Umbridge found out…"
"We probably would be expelled. And in trouble with the Ministry"
He grinned and said he would be at the meeting.
"This is mad" Harry said as we walked in an empty street of Hogsmeade. "Who would want to be taught by me anyway? I'm a nutter, remember?"
"And I'm your lying puppet" I said and grinned. "Maybe a nutter and a lying puppet are better than old toad face"
"Yeah, it can't get any worse" Ron shrugged.
"Thanks. That's really inspiring" Harry said sarcastically.
"This is it" Hermione said.
We looked at the old pub, it was in a pretty bad state.
"Nice" Ron said.
"I thought a place where no one would see us would be better" she explained. "This place is always empty"
We got inside and after nodding to the owner that was after his goat we went upstairs. It was a small room. Several Hogwarts students were there, some standing, most seated. Hermione led us four to the chairs behind a table and everyone was staring expectantly.
"Hi" Hermione said awkwardly as we sat. "You all know why we are here… We need to learn to defend ourselves, properly… We need to be taught by someone who knows what they're doing, and have experience…"
"Why?" a student I didn't know asked harshly.
"Because You-Know-Who is back, you tosspot" Ron snapped.
"So they say" he said nodding to Harry and me.
"Dumbledore says" I said.
"Dumbledore says because Potter says and you support him" he said. "The point is… Where is the proof?"
"People are disappearing, like last time…"
"That's Sirius Black" another student said.
Harry's head snapped up, and then turned to Hermione. He was losing his patience.
"We were attacked by You-Know-Who and Death Eaters during the last task. Harry almost died" I said.
"If you told us more about what happened…" a girl said.
"No" Harry said shaking his head and turned to us. "Let's go, they're just looking for gossip"
"They don't believe us, Hermione" I said.
"Wait!" Hermione said as we started to get up.
"Is it true you can produce a patronus charm, Harry?" Luna asked.
We turned to her and Harry nodded.
"Yes, I've seen it" Hermione said.
"He did it this summer to protect himself from dementors in Little Whinging" Ron said.
"Blimey, Harry! I didn't know you could do that" Dean Thomas said.
"He killed a basilisk, with the sword in Dumbledore's office" Neville Longbottom said.
"And last year, they both not only were Triwizard champions, but they fought You-Know-Who in flesh and Death Eaters" Hermione said.
"Wait" Harry interrupted. "That all sounds great when you say like that. But 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 being modest" Hermione interrupted.
"No, Hermione, I'm not" Harry said frowning.
"It's not like school" I said. "In school, if you make a mistake, you try again. But in real life… When you're a second away of being murdered or watching a friend suffer and die… It's different"
"That's why we need your help" Hermione said.
I nodded and turned to the other students.
"She's right. We all need help. We need to help each other. Umbridge is making impossible to learn how to survive real life. Nothing is well. He is back, and we need to know how to defend ourselves. We need to know how to defend our friends, our family… everything we care about. We have to do something, anything, to try to stop this to turn into a dark time, like in the past. We need to be prepared"
Ginny was the first to step forward. She put a sheet of paper in the table, took a pen, and wrote down her name. Fred, George, Thomas, Jenna, Cho, Luna, Neville and Dean followed, and soon we had a list full of names from all houses. Even a couple from Slytherin. We signed our names at the top, and when Harry was finished signing his name, he gave the group a name.
Dumbledore's Army.
"We need a place to meet" I said as we walked back to Hogwarts.
"The Shrieking Shack" Ginny suggested.
"Too small" Harry said.
"The Forbidden Forest" Hermione suggested.
"Not bloody likely" Ron said.
"As Ron put it," I said with a smile. "Few people will want to go there"
"We'll figure something out" Harry said.
"Harry, what happens if Umbridge does find out?" Ginny asked.
"We'll be expelled, probably" I said.
"Who cares?" Hermione laughed. "It's sort of exciting, breaking the rules"
We all looked at her like she had a second head.
"Who are you and what have you done to Hermione Granger?" I asked chuckling.
"Anyway, at least we know one positive thing that came today" she grinned.
"What's that?" Ron asked.
"Cho couldn't take her eyes of you, could she?"
Harry looked away, his cheeks turning pink. We laughed and Ginny frowned.
"I thought Cedric was dating her" she blurted.
As we glanced at her, she blushed in embarrassment. Clearly she didn't mean to question about what was going on with Cho and Harry.
"We are just friends" I shrugged.
She nodded and Hermione, with one last glance at Ginny, changed subjects.
Something light hit the back of my head, and a peanut fell on the table. Thomas looked amused. I looked behind me, and Hermione was discreetly waving me over. She got up and started walking out. I got all my stuff and ran to catch up. I met her in the hallway, with Harry, Neville and Ron.
"Neville got a place" she said smiling.
We followed Neville as he explained he was walking around, thinking where we could practice, and suddenly doors appeared in the wall. As we approached said wall, the doors appeared, and we quickly entered.
"The Room of Requirement" I chuckled. "You've found it!"
"The what?" Harry and Ron asked.
"The Room of Requirement also known as Come-And-Go Room" Hermione said. "The room appears when in a moment of need, and is equipped with the seeker's need"
"So… If I needed a toilet…?" Ron asked.
"Charming, Ron. But yes, that's the idea" Hermione said. "And it doesn't appear on the map"
"What map?" I asked confused.
"Marauder's map" Harry said.
"What?"
"A map, that Harry's father, Sirius, Lupin and Pettigrew created, that shows all castle and people in it" Hermione explained. "We'll show you sometime"
"Alright" I nodded. "So, why is it good this room doesn't appear in it?"
"Well… It has been confiscated before" Harry said with a shrug. "Lupin gave me back though" he looked around at everything. There was a steel mannequin-like doll with a wand in hand, clearly to practice spells. The room had a lot of mirrors, making it appear even bigger than it was. "This is amazing. It's like Hogwarts wants us to fight back" he said smiling.
We discussed when we should meet and walked out of the room, the doors disappearing in a moment.
"Cedric, how long have you been in here?" Thomas asked plopping down on his bed.
"Since my last class was over" I answered while putting away books and parchments. I had been trying to finish assignments before the deadlines so I had free time for Dumbledore's Army.
"So you don't know yet" he sighed, "Potter, Weasley and Hermione must want to talk to you"
"Why?"
"Umbridge banned all students' activities in groups. It's not allowed to be in groups with more than three people. She prohibited the foundation of groups"
"She knows" I said and got up. "I'm going to talk to Harry and Hermione"
"You can't go in Gryffindor's common room. Umbridge prohibited students to visit other houses' common rooms" he said. "She knows, it's only a matter of time for us to be punished"
"Scared?" I asked teasingly.
"No. I am just a little worried. Aren't you? We have second year students in the Army! I can handle detention with Umbridge, but I don't think they can"
"I am worried about that too. But they knew the risk and they accepted" I said.
"So, the meeting is still going to happen?" he asked as I walked to the door.
"Yes"
I walked around for almost an hour, looking for Harry, Hermione or Ron. They probably were in their common room and it frustrated me that I couldn't go there. Dinner would be in two hours, but Umbridge would be in the Great Hall, watching us, and we wouldn't be able to talk. I sat in the courtyard, knowing that if they tried to find me, Hermione would search there. We had met there several times before, surely she would think of it.
I sat there, waiting for Hermione, in the cold. Winter was coming, and it would be a harsh one. I remembered how Hermione and I trained at the headquarters during the summer. Hermione had a great potential. I was sure she would be an amazing witch. Her only problem was that sometimes she over thought things. She was a know-it-all but that interfered on her practical abilities. We would need to focus on her reflexes, she needed to be quicker. I worried just thinking how much in danger she would b in real battle for over thinking.
"Diggory"
I looked up from my hands and saw Snape walking to me from the castle.
"Professor" I greeted.
"The Headmaster wishes to speak to you" he said.
"Dumbledore?" I asked frowning. Why would Dumbledore want to talk to me?
"Yes" he said rolling his eyes.
"Alright" I said getting up. "I'm going to his office. Thank you"
He just nodded and walked away. Snape was never the most loves teacher. Just Slytherin students liked him, and not all of them. He was always the most hated… Until Umbridge came along. I had nothing against Snape. I knew he was in the order, so I knew he wasn't that bad. But still, I didn't quite like him. I looked around one last time, almost hoping Hermione would finally show up. I went as quickly as I could without attracting attention to Dumbledore's office, avoiding colleagues on the way, and hoping no one would know my destination. I just knew this wasn't supposed to be of public knowledge. I knocked on the door and he called me in. I hesitantly stepped inside and closed the door. He was by his pensieve and kept his eyes on it.
"Thank you for coming so promptly, Mr. Diggory" he said.
"You're welcome" I said quietly. "How can I help you, Professor?"
"Tea?" he asked and walked to a table with tea set.
"Ahn, sure" I mumbled following him.
He gestured for me to sit on the armchair across from him. He gave me the teacup and we both sipped in silence.
"This office is protected from spying spells" he said casually, as if commenting on the weather. "We can talk freely"
"Alright" I said and asked the first thing that came in mind. "News from the Order?"
"Lupin didn't have luck contacting werewolves. They are not really welcoming" he said and put his teacup down. "I've heard you've gotten close to Harry and his friends"
"Yes" I said frowning. "If you don't mind me asking, Professor… Why have you only heard of that? Why are you ignoring Harry?"
He sighed and leaned back in the chair, watching me closely.
"What I am going to tell you here, Mr. Diggory, must not leave this room"
My frown deepened as I found a new meaning on what he was saying.
"You mean Harry can't know" I stated.
"I mean no one should know… Because it would get to Harry eventually" he said.
"Fine. I won't say a word to anyone" I promised.
"I think Harry's mind is somehow connected to Voldemort's" he said.
"What?" I asked alarmed. "Isn't that dangerous?"
"In some ways" he said. "I do not know if Voldemort is aware of the connection, so it might be harmless, for now. However, if Voldemort is having access to Harry's thoughts, it can be dangerous for Harry to know much"
"You mean we should let Harry in the dark"
"Not completely in the dark" he said. "But, let's say… If Harry was aware of the connection, it might trigger something on Voldemort's mind. It might let him know of the connection and he would try to use it to his advantage"
"So, Harry should be unaware of the connection"
"Yes… I will keep my distance of Harry because perhaps that way Voldemort will be less tempted to do something"
"Harry will be suspicious. He already is. He's going mad wondering why you aren't talking to him" I said.
"Mr. Diggory, as much as I wanted to, I cannot only worry about Harry's present. I have to think what is better for everyone's future" he said and I nodded. "Professor Sprout has told me you want to be an Auror"
"Yes" I said nodding.
"Well, you would have to excel on your N.E.W.T, what I am sure, won't be a problem" he said with a small smile. "But it would be better to have practical knowledge. Perhaps you should find a way to learn how to use spells, and teach…"
He knew.
"Professor, we've created…"
"Mr. Diggory" he cut me off. "Have you heard the saying 'the more the merrier'? I believe that for some kind of information the saying doesn't apply. The less I know, the merrier"
"Of course, Professor" I said with a smile.
"I am sure whatever it is that has Umbridge so troubled and creating all kinds of Educational Decrees, must be good"
"It is, Professor, be assured of that" I said.
"I believe you also realized that by passing the N.E.W.T., and becoming an Auror, not only you would be in danger, but you won't be in touch much, since you will be working for the Ministry"
My smile faltered and turned into a frown. Dumbledore continued drinking his tea with biscuits casually, waiting for an answer.
"It's my last year, I'm leaving, unfortunately" I said.
I had realized that at the end of the year, I would be gone and wouldn't be able to help Harry anymore.
"You know, Mr. Diggory, I hope Professor Umbridge will be dismissed by the end of this year" he said and sipped his tea. "So, perhaps next year I would be searching for a Defense Against Dark Arts teacher, someone with capability to be an Auror, but refused to work for the Ministry. Someone who knows the truth about the danger we all are in and knows why the students need to learn to defend themselves" I had a huge smile by then. Me, Defense Against Dark Arts teacher. "Of course, since Umbridge is still the professor and High Inquisitor, this is mere wishful-thinking. Only if Umbridge is out it would be a real possibility"
"Of course" I said.
"Now, Cedric, the real reason I asked to speak to you" he said. "I need you to keep an eye on Harry for me"
I stared at him for a moment, waiting for him to tell me it was a joke.
"Are you serious?" I asked.
"Deadly serious"
"You want me to be your spy?" I asked scowling.
"Not a spy, perhaps I wasn't clear" he said. "I do not want someone to watch Harry and then tell me what he is doing. I trust Harry, and I think half of what he is doing isn't good for me to know. But, I need someone he trusts to keep an eye on him. Ms. Granger and the Weasleys are close to him, but have no reason to watch him closely. You know about the connection, only you do. I need you to watch Harry for any sign that he's affected by such connection. And I need someone to… guide him in what he must do"
"You want me mother him?" I asked chuckling.
"Not how I would put it… but yes. I want someone to mother him. He can't know. It must be someone who understands him, and he trusts"
"You really want me to mother him?" I asked without laughing, but with a scowl.
"Cedric, see as… watching out for your friend"
"I already to that"
"Then do it more. More watching" he said and sipped his tea.
I did not want to mother Harry. I did not want to watch Harry. Harry was smart, he knew what he was doing. Of course, with Dumbledore distancing himself, it was clear Harry was second thinking everything.
"Alright" I muttered. "I'll… watch out"
"Wonderful. Now, Mr. Diggory, you should go to the Great Hall to dinner. I am sure you need to use that opportunity to talk to some people"
"I need" I confirmed and stood up. "Thank you, Professor"
"For just tea?" he asked innocently. "You're welcome, Mr. Diggory, but I must admit, I didn't prepare it"
I nodded with a smile, understanding he was implying that if anyone asked, it was only tea. I headed for the door, but when I was about to open it, I remembered something.
"Professor?"
"Yes?"
"I see the creatures that lead the carriages. When we arrived in Hogwarts" I said and he inclined his head. "Harry and Luna Lovegood can see it too, and she said they are Thestrals. I did some research, and it is said that…"
"A person can only see Thestrals if they experienced death, saw someone die" he finished.
"We couldn't see them before. I didn't experience death this summer. Neither did Harry"
"Mr. Diggory, perhaps you are not evaluating what happened in the graveyard clearly" he said. "It had been predicted by Professor Trelawney that night that a student would die after getting the cup, and the chosen one would watch his enemy resurge"
"So I was going to die?" I asked scowling. I would die and they let me go in that maze. They knew what was going to happen and let us go?
"Professor Trelawney predicts a student is going to die every year, Mr. Diggory. And she saw all that happen in parts. She had said someone would die but it was a dangerous task and I couldn't so anything, you all were aware of the risks. We, at first, ignored the prophecy" he said with a deep frown. "It was after you and Harry decided to get the cup together that she saw someone, you, dying after getting it. And just after you got to the graveyard that she saw Voldemort resurging. Somehow, Voldemort stopped her from seeing all this happen before, when it could be stopped. So we waited, hoping you would come back safely"
"I didn't die. Harry didn't experience my death. I didn't experience anyone dying" I said. "Yet, we can see Thestrals"
"Yes, I think that is curious" he said. "Perhaps it's because you were supposed to have died, or because you almost did when Pettigrew attacked you. Harry had a unique experience related to his dead parents in the graveyard. Maybe it was because you both saw someone half-dead come back to life" he shrugged. "You both experienced death in some level. We can't be sure. Mr. Diggory, we live in a magical world. Perhaps to you, who always lived here, you see it reasonable. But if we live in a magical world, why would everything be reasonable? We basically defy nature. So, it is… natural, that some things won't have an explanation" he finished with a smile.