Disclaimer: Same old deal. I own nothing written by JKR. I definitely don't make money off it. My lack of a substantial account balance at Gringotts will be proven by the trustworthy Goblin Nation. On another note, if I somehow write something and matches something someone else wrote anywhere else, please let me know and I will credit them.
Author's Note: This chapter and something that happens in the next was originally one chapter. I did however had trouble connecting the events so I split it and you all have another wait for the next. I do feel sorry for the delay that I am posting this one without having completely finished the other. Thank you for those who are following and a massive cheer to those who review! Even if it is to complain about my characterization. Brilliant Lady, I'm working on it.
Canon Discontinuity Warning: According HP Lexicon/Wikia, JKR indicated that there were twenty-eight students in the DA. I believe that she simply couldn't expand the story to fit more than that amount and manage to publish the one book. I do not have such limits, so I am putting quite a bit more characters in the DA and story in general. While Ravenclaw and Slytherin number the least, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor have more representatives than indicated in the books and movies. Regarding class schedule, I will try to go by canon. But the way she writes schedules is so very confusing that I make no promises.
Currently listening to: Oasis's What's The Story album. Part of the Chapter's set to "Morning Glory".
Chapter Six: Learning
27 October, 1999
Harry was still smiling to himself as he walked down the flight of stairs. When he reached the landing, there was archway which led to a hallway he could somewhat recognize. He walked through it, and found himself around the corner from Potions class.
Feeling inquisitive, he turned to see where he came from but only saw a blank wall. Automatically, he placed a hand on it. He felt nothing except solid stone. He briefly scanned the length of it, however he didn't find the carving Professor Mirabilis spoke of.
Curiosity stoked, he resolved to find it another time. He looked around where he stood for some sort of reminder to see where he was at. He noted that he was a few steps away from the stairs he knew led to the courtyard, as indicated by some daylight illuminating the area. He took care remembering the place where he stood in reference to the distance from where he was to the staircase. Then he moved with haste to class.
He arrived at Potions with three minutes to spare. He noticed Ron in the back of the class, sitting at the last seat included in a set of benches with Lavender and Parvati. The former was more or less keeping his attention on her. Since he felt awkward after what happened last year, Harry inwardly cringed at the thought of sitting at the empty seat next to his Yule Ball date. He quickly looked for Hermione. His other friend never sat away from a professor, even if that professor was a surly and caustic person. This was the one subject they shared where she sat away from him and Ron.
He was not surprised to find her at the front-most bench row of the class in between Daphne and Neville. The former had an open seat on her left, with Tracey Davis further to the left of her position. Neville had the last open seat on his right which Harry swiftly made his way to.
While he had a fairly good mood after cheering up Luna, he had no doubt that sitting with the Slytherins in this class would simply bring back the foul mood Umbridge wrought at lunch. He needed all the energy to control himself around Professor Snape as he sat and unpacked his Potions notes. Since First Year, the teacher plainly antagonized him so much that he didn't very much respect him as an educator and considered him a bully.
As he unpacked, he thought that the man focused entirely too much on insulting him by comparing him to his dead father. He understood, from Remus's stories, that James and Snape simply didn't get along. He just couldn't understand why he deserved the same treatment. He would always think inwardly, 'I'm not James Potter. I'm Harry Potter,' every time the man started the comparison. He just couldn't say that out loud, however. On the other hand, he thought that the professor could badmouth his mother in a similar manner.
That thought didn't sit well with him at all. He was quite relieved that any happenstance in which the Potions Professor would rant and rave about Lily Evans Potter has not come to pass whatsoever. 'It could be worse.' Harry supposed, and took a deep breath to focus on the present. He remembered what Luna told him at lunch, and applied it to the present.
He should not worry about something he has no control over, and must focus on what he can.
He just finished unpacking his supplies when the resident Potions Master emerged from his office, walked towards his desk and dropped a book on it then faced them all. He began class with a little, but abrasive lecture.
"I hope I would not have to say this, yet I recall from experience you are all better forewarned. Although I have doubts you would all remember. After all, the same experience has taught me that no matter how much important information I tell some of you, the simplest instructions somehow evaporate into nothingness from the grey mass you have between your ears. Nevertheless, I will say my piece. I will only do so once, so you better listen. Remember and store the words I say somewhere within the fluff you call your brains would keep them."
As usual, the sharp sermon carried over a silent class, where his gaze seemed to stop on one student in particular for longer than the others at certain points. Harry silently strove to ignore the look he got, delivered in such an acidulous tone and focused on the message instead.
Professor Snape continued in a slow drawl, "I will neither tolerate questions nor discussions about what happened in the Great Hall earlier. For the duration of this class, I expect your utmost focus and diligence. I cannot be any clearer than that." He let his words sink in for a few moments before deeming the class ready to move forward.
The man walked around the front of the room as he spoke, "We have covered the Draught of Peace extensively just by reading since the start of this term. I hope that at this point: you could recite the ingredients, when to add which. In which direction to stir and when. And how to prepare these ingredients forward and backward. But I don't believe you have yet reached that level. Before I let you waste my time and some of the more precious ingredients in attempting to brew this difficult potion, you shall study its properties and how important it is that you follow each step to the letter. Finnegan, what do you do with a moon rock?"
Seamus froze at the flash question. It was so sudden that it took some time for him to pull his thoughts together. But he made no indication that he was going to answer looking so dumbstruck that it opened a gateway for the professor to say, "I would like to obtain your answer some time this century. But it appears you have no idea. Greengrass?"
Daphne promptly but slowly replied, "I would personally leave it in the cupboard, sir. The potion needs moonstone." The second part of her response came much quicker, showing that even she had to think on the answer.
"Exactly. Ten points to Slytherin. Moon rock and moonstone are not the same ingredient and should never be interchanged. Moonstone is a feldspar gemstone otherwise known as hecatolite. It is not to be confused with either moon rock or stardust. There are four simple ingredients for this potion," he stopped as he saw some still staring dumbstruck at him, and asked, "Why are none of your writing this down? It appears I overestimated your intelligence, once again." He proceeded to review the entire chapter with them. "Finnegan, remember: Moon rock is not a moonstone."
As the professor broke down the steps for the potion one by one like they were simpletons in a remedial class, Harry felt enraged on his dorm mate's behalf. He and Seamus might have had a rocky start at the beginning of the term. But they have slightly eased back into a civil if not so personable friendship as before. Even if Seamus did not fully believe Harry about Voldemort, he could not refute the fact that Umbridge's class was a simple waste of time.
Dean had talked sense into him so that the both of them were able to join the DA and learn what he could not in class. As long as Harry did not call Seamus's mum a close-minded ignoramus for not believing in Dumbledore, Seamus and he got along fairly well. In return, the Irish did not badmouth the Headmaster. Further thoughts away from Potions were cut off by the professor asking him a question.
"Potter! Why must a potioneer be careful to add only the exact amount of ingredients as directed?"
"Because there are," He spoke as slowly as he dared while gathering his thoughts quickly. He actually knew this, because he wanted to brew one successfully to help him out this year. "There are multiple side effects caused by improper ingredient addition. One of the effects could be that instead of the intended calm the potion is meant for, the potion with extraneous ingredients could put the drinker to sleep like the Draught of the Living Death but without the antidote."
Harry felt the man's surprise when he took a moment longer to respond with a civil, "Precisely, but five points from Gryffindor for taking too long to answer." before moving along to the next important item to remember. "This is a time sensitive potion. And you can be sure that it will be on the O.W.L.S later this year."
The rest of the double Potions period was spent answering the same questions but by different individuals. The professor worded them differently each time. By the end of it all, the dry reading they spent the past half of the term had been presented in an entirely new manner that had Harry learning the material with a bit more enthusiasm than previously.
As he paid attention, he wrote down what he could regarding the questions and answers exchanged on a different parchment about the brewing process and properties. He noted the tricky ways Professor Snape phrased each one. Such as, when he substituted a tablespoon of hellebore syrup versus an ounce of it. He never made such an observation before. Then again, he never had full focus like this before.
As the class went on, he noticed Snape gave out information tidbits that the book did not provide. Even if each tidbit was laced with his usual vitriol. As such, Harry simply focused and gathered more knowledge as the lecture kept going. The professor never called him again but he learned a lot more than he previously thought possible as he simply kept the task of note taking and listened without losing concentration.
Without Ron muttering or fidgeting beside him, he noticed that he was able to process information very well. It was almost like he just learned he could do magic all over again.
He was thrilled during all the note-taking.
Harry had forgotten the normally acerbic nature of the professor until the class ended and he dismissed them.
"Next week, we'll see if any of you sufficiently learned today. For homework due when we meet again on Monday, I expect a two foot essay detailing the brewing steps for this potion. Do try writing it in your own words, but cite the book if you must copy the instructions word for word." He closed his book, and secured papers on his desk before leaving through a side door that led to his office.
Harry thought it weird that the professor always gave them the same instruction before they had to brew a potion. In the quiet of his thoughts, however, he realized something he never had before. The professor gave them an option to copy the book word for word, or to write what they could understand regarding the text instead. A bit puzzled at this, he packed up his things.
Usually at this time, Ron would mutter quietly about how the class was finally done and some other bit or another about Quidditch. It didn't give him much room to just stop and think. He had that now as he picked up his fairly filled notes and stared at them in thoughtful surprise.
He wrote down quite a bit. Skimming through the length of it, he felt as if he transposed the entire lecture on the parchment. What was even more interesting to him was the feeling that he had actually retained what he had written down. He never felt that way before. It made him feel pleased. He recognized the feeling when he was a first year and was ready to learn potions. Before he was singled out by the potions' professor and lost his zeal about learning the craft. He recognized it similar to what he felt after the first session of the D.A., when he realized that things were working out.
Someone dropped a book with a small bang, which interrupted him from his introspection. Harry finished packing up then looked around the class.
Neville looked frantic as he was still jotting down Snape's last words. Hermione had finished packing except her planner, which she was writing some things in.
Daphne was talking with Millicent Bulstrode before she turned around in her place. He saw her drop a note in Hermione's bag surreptitiously as she leaned to shoulder her things. She gave him a small but expressionless glance before facing away. He pretended not to watch her walk away with her housemate out of the class.
Hermione chuckled suddenly, surprising him. She told him softly, "You need to work on your facial expressions and body language."
"What?"
"If you're going to be nosy, the least you could do is to act inconspicuous." She placed her planner away and stood from her seat. In the same low volume, she continued, "You were watching Daphne. Don't."
Neville was packing up his things as Harry replied quietly, "She slipped something in your bag."
"I know. I'll tell you if anything in it is something you need to know. But for now, you need to not look and give away our friendship."
Harry frowned, "But you two were sitting together."
"Harry, we always sit here. Nothing changed except you joined this row today. You always sit with Ron and Malfoy and the others in the back. Now why is that?"
"Er," Harry hesitated to answer but plowed right on. "Because Ron was sitting with Lavender and the only open seat available was next to Parvati."
Hermione kept silent as she started to walk outside of class. He and Neville followed.
Harry ventured, "Are you okay?"
"I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because you got quiet right after I mentioned Ron, and Lavender. I know you feel something towards him. Well, everyone in our dorm room knows except him. I wasn't sure what to say earlier. But I think I can ask if you're okay."
She breathed out heavily, unable to control herself. "Was it that obvious?"
He and Neville chorused, "Yes."
She shrugged, "Well, I can't say it didn't surprise me. Cause it did surprise me. Them getting together was not exactly something I expected. But with you two around? I will be fine." She shot them a brighter smile than Harry anticipated she could muster.
He and Neville exchanged a look. The latter asked, "Are you sure? You don't look fine. We're here for you if you need to talk."
She took a breath. But she kept quiet as she led them to their next class. She replied once they were outside. "I appreciate you asking. I'm not a hundred percent certain if I'm okay. However, I am a hundred percent certain of this. It isn't the end of the world that Ronald is with that girl. I admit I am not happy about the development and how I found out this morning. In spite of all that, I find that I don't exactly care too much about it right now. You were right earlier at lunch, Harry. It's our O. year and we have things to put first on our priority list. And that list is what I will turn my focus on."
Harry noted that she didn't sound confident at first. However, her tone became more firm and decisive as she spoke. The conviction in her last words reassured him so after seeing Neville nod in admiration, Harry let it go. "Speaking of lunch, what do you think will happen in Umbridge's class?"
She thought about her answer before saying, "I am not sure. Neville? What do you think?"
"I'm just hoping she doesn't drain Gryffindor out of House Points or give us all detentions. With my luck, both will happen."
All three shuddered at the idea. Neville continued, "I probably shouldn't have mentioned that. It's like inviting a vampire to your seventeenth birthday and telling a Belmont about it as they walk through the door." They gave him a questioning look so he expanded, "It's an expression that basically says that someone's welcoming trouble. Or creating a self-fulfilling prophecy."
They soon reached the hallway where DADA was located in where their fellow Gryffindors loitered in the hallway some doors away from the classroom. Each one was quiet as they looked at each other to determine whether or not all of them were there. They made a deal to all enter at the same time so that no one gets singled out for being late even if they still had ten minutes to get to class. So they remained outside, leaning against the wall to wait.
Dean and Seamus arrived shortly after Harry, Hermione and Neville. They nodded a greeting before settling for a short wait. Soon after, they saw Ron and Lavender arrive and join Parvati further up.
A few moments later, Fay Dunbar quickly strode into the hallway waving their book. She loudly whispered, "Sorry! I left my book in the tower. Should we go in now?"
Seamus replied, "If we must!"
Those who heard stifled their laughter before entering the room silently. The woman in pink was sitting at the front of the class like usual. They each grabbed a seat, where they settled and took out their books.
The class bell has not signaled the start of the lesson yet, but their teacher stood from her seat to address them. "Good afternoon, class."
As if they were in primary school, Harry and the others responded as she expected them to. Everyone learned to do so, after he received a detention for not complying. As a whole, the Gryffindors decided it was less painful to follow such a puerile mandate.
She proceeded with her instructions, "I want you all to read chapter twelve for today. Those who read ahead, may continue where they left off."
No one questioned her, and simply resigned themselves on another useless hour. Harry had to harness a lot of self-control as he read the book. Slinkhard expressed himself in many ways to avoid duels and spellcasting as a proper defense against the Dark Arts. Voldemort and his followers were out there. And no one in school was learning how to fight them.
However, he paused just before voicing his thoughts as he remembered Luna's words from lunch. About forces beyond understanding. And he remembered telling Hermione to hold off on researching what happened to the ghosts.
How did he phrase it? Priorities, his subconscious reminded him. He remembered he had other priorities to consider. He can't lead the DA if he had detention.
So instead of looking up from the book, he turned the page as he ignored the words and thought of the DA. Specifically, what he needed to do.
He needed to make sure the Slytherins won't be a problem before they integrate with the rest of the DA. He needed to keep track of what the DA has learned and what else they have to. As he pretended to read about "the art of negotiation", he thought of how best to counteract the lack of professional instruction they received from Hogwarts this year. From there, he couldn't stop the subsequent ideas zipping through his mind.
He paused mid-thought. He was getting a bit overwhelmed. There was a lot to do. But at the same time, he felt they were simple enough.
He turned the page back, pretending he was rereading a passage. The action gave him an idea to break down his list of things to do.
He began from the start. If Daphne was able to participate, then surely other Slytherins can as well. For that to happen, he needed to talk to Malfoy. But that was easier said than done.
Harry thought really hard. How could he get to talk with him civilly?
He recalled that Hermione and Daphne did not fully display their friendship. Although he understood that both girls have publicly acted polite towards each other, if he didn't know the extent of their friendship, he would assume both were being merely civil towards each other.
The key there, is that both were being covert. And Hermione implied that they pass each other messages secretly. If that is what he had to do, how could he pass Malfoy a surreptitious message?
Someone sneezed and brought him out of his thoughts momentarily. He noticed it was Neville, who turned to grab a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his nose clean. They briefly smiled at each other when they made eye contact which then brought their so-called teacher to ask, "Is there something you'd like to share with the class, Misters Potter and Longbottom?"
Harry barely kept himself from reacting. However Neville clearly understood the gravity of the situation and said, "No, Madam. Lord Potter simply was exercising good manners by checking up on my well being and showing his relief that I am not ill."
The class, at this point, has unanimously stopped reading. The well known quiet and shy boy spoke up deliberately dismissive of the woman. It was unlike him.
Harry noted the inflection of his voice was similar to how Draco normally spoke. Haughty, and without peer. He checked on Umbridge's reaction. She looked displeased.
"Mister Long-"
"Pardon my intrusion. However, kindly address me as either Lord Longbottom, or Heir Longbottom. If you please, Mistress Umbridge." His tone was polite, but only just. An air of condescension was seeping through the otherwise well-mannered words. He continued to say, "I may not have yet formally surrendered to the responsibilities being part of the Wizengamot, yet I am the Heir Apparent to the Longbottom seat. In addition, I was present with my chosen Regent during Lord Potter's trial. We were both treated as adults this past summer. As such, I believe we are entitled to being addressed properly as decreed by our laws. Laws that I believe you were meant to take no exception from, Madam. May Magic strike me down right now, if I speak falsely."
There was a light that shone on him. It grew brighter and eventually settled on softly ruffling his hair back before dimming slightly. It was as if an aspect of magic played with his hair and judged his words to be honest and true enough to stick around.
The woman opened and closed her mouth in an apparent speechlessness.
As if tiring to wait for her to speak, Neville defiantly brought his father's wand out and put the tip on his handkerchief to speak the word, "Abluo." The spell did its job then he folded it up and placed it back in his pocket.
Umbridge looked ready to curse him. "Deten-" the word was almost complete but the candles in the room shimmered out and back on once the doors burst open.
The ghost of Slytherin peeled away from one of the walls. He looked about the silent classroom then said, "Well met and good tidings, Heir Longbottom. It is an honor to see an exemplary code of conduct. Five points to Gryffindor for a well cast cleaning charm." He turned to the squat woman in pink who went from speechless in shock to speechless in anger. "Don't speak, woman. Helena was too soft with you. Then again, you were almost fortunate that you did not anger me the way you did her. To ensure her warning does not go unheeded, I will be overseeing this class along with my friends."
A squad of suit of armors all quietly marched into the room. Their normal clanging movements were absolutely quiet as they fell in line up against the walls. They lined up closest to the front, where the division of Umbridge and the students were most prominent. Two broke from the ranks to march to where Harry and Neville both sat. Each then took a knee beside them on their right.
The anger disappeared from the toad-like woman's face. Instead, uncertainty took its place.
The spectre nodded at her speechlessness and marched around the room as he spoke, "Allow me to teach all of you a bit of Hogwarts. These suits were created by the gentle Helga Hufflepuff. They mainly served as sentinels of the castle's inhabitants during wartime. As peace spread throughout the lands, their function changed throughout the millenium. Still, they served the students who live inside the castle walls. In the past half century, they have become simple observers who sometimes entertained the students."
The Bloody Baron stopped a moment, and looked around to see everybody engaged with the information before turning to the rapidly reddening lady. The anger started to come back. "This adaptability was a feature added by Rowena Ravenclaw. She hoped and thought that one day, Hogwarts would have peace, and that students would need simple joy over protection. Unfortunately, she did not live to witness the halt of those troubled times. Before the ladies Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff passed, they had appointed me as their leader of sorts. In the event that times change once more."
The Baron's gaze could have melted a glacier in the middle of the Arctic Ocean as he looked into Umbridge's eyes and said, "So allow me to congratulate you, Madam. You have reactivated their protection abilities. As such, we will be overseeing this class as indicated by the Founders. At a ready!"
A quick roar of agreement burst from the armors. In unison, they withdrew their swords from their sheaths and placed them in a salute before half of the squad placed them back. The latter group looked ready to charge while using their gauntlets at a moment's notice. The half that kept their swords had taken their shields from their backs.
All in all, the entire contingent looked ready to rip Umbridge a new orifice should she act against them.
With a feral grin, the normally stoic spectre of Slytherin displayed quite a bit of bloodlust and excitement. "Your move, Madam."
At this, Umbridge looked absolutely dumbstruck. Harry noted that she looked lost as she marched back to her seat and kept quiet for the rest of the class, eyeing the suits of armor warily. She instructed the class, "Keep reading."
Five minutes of silent work passed before the Bloody Baron saluted the armors and the sentinels saluted back. They sheathed their weapons and positioned themselves against the wall. They remained on guard for the remainder of the class.
The Bloody Baron frowned at some point and shook his head. He went to the nearest students he could speak with, namely Dean and Hermione. He spoke with them briefly before Harry saw Hermione and Dean take some parchment and a quill out of their bags. They kept an eye on Umbridge who normally did not permit them to do so. She just wanted them to read.
However, the shocked instructor ignored them. She was quite preoccupied, and was looking warily at the armed guards in the room.
The Bloody Baron exchanged a few words with Neville first and then came up to him, "I don't believe we've met Lord Potter. I used to be called…" At this he paused, as if catching himself before continuing, "Never mind what I used to be called. My name now is simply Baron. Bloody Baron, if you wish. For even in death I am indeed a baron. And I am indeed bloody." He gave him a small smile, which Harry returned. "I am unsure what this woman's objective is. But you cannot learn without being able to remember and understand what you read. Please feel free to take out some parchment and a quill to jot down what you need to in order to learn."
When Harry has done so without Umbridge overreacting, it gave the rest of the class the courage to bring out note-taking supplies as well. The ghost nodded at them all, before walking about the classroom like an inspector.
Harry wasn't about to look at Umbridge's reaction. Instead he focused on what he wanted to get done. Like someone lit a fire under his arse, he started jotting down key words very quickly. The parchment he took out was soon filled with abbreviated notes and concepts about true Defense Against The Dark Arts for the D.A. Not the psychobabble written by Slinkhard.
He did exercise some caution. He wrote in the most illegible cursive he could manage to read himself and hide his thoughts. Just in case Umbridge or anyone else gets a hold of it before he could stow it away. He wished he could hide the contents from people he didn't want to be privy to it, like the Marauder's Map. He didn't notice that the parchment he wrote on glow a little.
As he wrote down 'and ask Daphne to inspect the location,'. He could not help the thoughts from wandering to another subject. How he could talk to Malfoy soon? Would this weekend work if he could catch him some time before the Slytherin went to Hogsmeade? Thinking about Hogsmeade brought up the memory of a recent conversation with Neville about ordering Honeydukes chocolate in bulk.
That was it! He just needed to order some chocolate to conceal a note to propose a meeting.
After adding that idea to the list, he mentally groaned. He had so many things to do. As he panicked, he told himself to get a grip.
He started a fresh section in his roll of parchment to list things he had to do. It reminded him of the time when he had to handle his homework and Dudley's and finish Aunt Petunia's chore list all at the same time. He was in the library where one of the teachers who treated him nicely helped him organize his school work. The school teacher once called it a "Goal List". Back then, he didn't understand why.
He slowly recalled that as he listed each item he needed to do, he must arrange them according to what needs to be done the soonest and ones that need to be done eventually. It was through this process that a memory resurfaced.
'A dream only exists here, Harry,' Mrs. Pennington said as she pointed to her head. She taught him more than Miss Collins, the teacher whose hair he turned blue by accident. Harry remembered her also telling him, ''But for them to come true, they must become something else. A goal. And a goal is like a dream with a deadline. Let me show you how to make a Goal List."
It inspired him to work hard, and to flourish in secret. He couldn't quite remember why she had to move away. He could remember that her son who was a few years older was sent to a prestigious boarding school and her husband was a doctor. But he could not remember why she had to leave.
It made him feel angry that when she went away, he had forgotten what she taught him. But that anger brought him to his current situation. Since he remembered another thing she told him.
"If you ever forget anything on this list, don't worry. Just do whatever still applies or keep going and get as much done." Then she gave him a carton of apple juice to drink and worked on something else.
So Harry figured that he simply had to get back to the task at hand.
With each thought he listed, he stopped feeling overwhelmed. And he simply became determined to complete each task.
When he finished the list, he felt less anxious. Except for two clashing items on it. How could he approach Malfoy really soon? He couldn't go to Hogsmeade. There was something he had to do that conflicts with the trip. He wished that Hermione still had her Time Turner so that he could use it and be in two places at once.
The bell tolled, indicating that the class finished. Harry dried the parchment. Then he packed up his things, and secured his belongings on his shoulder then walked out with the others.
The sound of a clang behind him had reminded him that there was a suit of armor which escorted him out of the class. It kept the Defense teacher from approaching him.
Nevertheless, the Fifth Year Gryffindors kept quiet as they all marched out of the classroom. The armed guards kept them company until they reached the end of the hall. They lined up against a wall and the students watched as they sunk into the stone. As they uttered gasps, the Bloody Baron shimmered into sight, and said "They will be watching over all of you, and there are plenty more of them throughout the castle. I must confess I had forgotten about being able to do this. I can only offer my apologies for acting too late. Too much blood has been spilled on these grounds already."
Harry felt everyone turn to look at him as the ghost looked at the ground. He kept his eyes on the Baron in order not to meet anyone else's eyes.
Everybody knew about his scar. Not the one on his forehead. But the one he had to carve onto himself. 'I must not tell lies', it said.
He was hard pressed not to feel embarrassed about the fact that everybody knew it. And he was rather angry that no one was doing anything about it. But Harry felt that even if things were changing now, it shouldn't be talked about in such a public setting.
He felt as if everyone was stripping him bare when they looked at him. And it wasn't a nice feeling. Before further negative emotions came to surface, the Grey Lady appeared, and spoke with the Baron in a language nobody understood.
Hermione moved close to Harry and whispered, "I heard my great aunt and uncle speak in a similar way. I think that's Anglo-Saxon."
The Bloody Baron held up a hand just as the Fat Friar and Nearly Headless Nick appeared as well. "I may keep your secrets, but do not presume that I will not do what is right from this moment forward. If you are quite finished speaking in ingvaeonic so that none may understand you I must now continue what I was meant to do."
Even with the blood on his spectral clothing, the ghost looked quite honorable and dignified as he turned to them and gave a bow. "I must take my leave now. Merry meet again." He disappeared with a shimmer without giving away what he was feeling when his counterparts showed.
They heard a sigh from the Grey Lady who simply disappeared. The Fat Friar tried to stop everyone's curiosity by saying, "Please hurry to your dorms so you can freshen up before supper." Then disappeared as well.
Nick shook his head at the way they all left him to deal with the fallout of their dramatic exits. But he wasn't the Gryffindor ghost for nothing. He faced the Fifth Years. "I cannot tell you anything. I am bound from speaking about these events. But I can say this, as you can tell things are changing. And they will keep on this path. If I offer any more than my opinion, which is that I believe you all should watch over each other, and prepare in any way you can, then I will be breaking some pacts that anchor me in this plane. So I hope you all understand that I cannot give you more than that. Especially you, Mr. Potter."
Harry nodded, and was the one to lead everybody else to their tower. But it seemed the events of that day pierced through the normal jovial and rambunctious group of students. They all walked quietly and took their house ghost's advice to heart. Together, they kept an eye out for the slightest bit of antagonism from the Slytherins in the halls. Or if Umbridge somehow found a way to the Seventh Floor from her classroom. They were even able to avoid any trick steps on the way.
They reached the Fat Lady who opened up for them as Harry said the password. They saw the Third and Seventh Years on the couches, waiting for them. They were students who had Umbridge before them while they were in Double Potions.
George Weasley, indicated by a name tag he put on around his neck stood up and said, "The Baron met with us after our class. Did he meet with you?"
The Fifth Years were about to nod response when Hermione asked, "Wait, the Baron just met with you?"
Angelina replied, "Yes. He gathered us in an unused classroom one floor down. According to Poppy Baxter," she indicated a determined-looking Third Year who sat in the center of her group, "The Baron did the same with the Third Years. He told us that things will be changing around here. And if we need help from Umbridge, we have this safe word to use. Did the same thing happen in your class?"
Fay spoke up, "It was weird. He showed up in the middle of our class. I was trying not to fall asleep while reading the book, but one moment the class was Dullsville, and the next moment? The Baron brought in the suits of armor from the hallway."
Dean added, "Things started happening when Harry was about to get detention again. For just looking at Neville."
Fred, who also wore a name tag, asked, "Umbitch was about to give Harry detention?" It was not in his nature to sound angry, but he looked as if he was ready to hit someone.
At this point, Harry sighed knowing he'll have to speak up even if he didn't want to. "Yes. But the Baron interrupted her."
Poppy asked, "What happened?"
The rest Fifth Years made themselves comfortable in the common room as they waited for Harry to share the events. By this time, the rest of the Gryffindors have started to come down from their dormitories.
Before a group of them exited the Common Room for supper, they were all flagged by the Weasley Twins. "House meeting now," Fred supplied at the confused looks they received. "Don't worry, it shouldn't take long."
As one of the most respected in Gryffindor, the others passed along the message. The first two groups of younger years sat in available chairs. Others were about to sit on the floor when George conjured a couch. He then looked towards his fellow upper years who copied him.
Hermione joined them in making the rest of the house comfortable. Her ease with conjuring lounge chairs took some of the students by surprise. Her added assistance sped up the process considerably. When she non-verbally conjured a pillow that whacked Harry's hastily thrown up shield, everyone gasped. She continued with her conjured weapon to attempt hitting Harry five more times before enlarging it and setting herself down on it on the floor.
Her friend asked while still keeping the shield active, "What was that for, Hermione?" Harry knew from experience that as long as that pillow was in existence, he could get whacked at any time.
"For not helping. You could have made yourself useful and conjured a few things, you Lazybones."
The green-eyed boy grinned, "But you had it well in hand. Or wand, as it were."
"Just for that, I'm not helping you tell the others about what happened." From where she positioned herself, she could easily make eye contact with the Fifth Years. She gave them a glare which seemed to convey the message, 'And don't you dare help him either.'
So Harry braced himself to tell the story to the entire Gryffindor House alone. As he spoke, he learned that even if he was right there when everything happened, he was clueless as the rest regarding what was going on. He started with how a simple glance set off Umbridge, and ended with how Nearly Headless Nick warned him that he could not explain why things were happening.
When he was finished, he waited for some questions. It didn't take long for his housemates to process the recap, as a younger student spoke up,
He noted that she seemed to cradle her hand as she asked, "What does this mean for us? Do we still have to attend detention?"
A few others nodded, and mirrored her actions. Some were the people Harry heard of receiving detentions. Looking around right then, he realized he wasn't alone in his suffering. He thought of other houses, and dreaded that there were more of them.
"I admit I don't really know for sure. But, if I were you I wouldn't." A feeling of protectiveness and conviction washed over him. He uncovered the back of his hand. "The Baron said that enough blood has been shed here in Hogwarts. On top of that, he kept the woman from giving me detention today. If Umbridge recently gave you a detention, I suggest that you ignore it." He held up his hand for everyone to see. "If she tries to do something other than teach in her class, I am going to take a stand like the Grey Lady did earlier at lunch."
Their own house ghost shimmered into view, nodding. "I don't think it would come to that. But what Harry said is correct. If that woman gave you a detention for any reason before today, ignore it. She'll have to go through us. For now though, you all best get to dinner. Do not draw attention to yourselves just yet. Especially with the village visit tomorrow. Leave your things here, Fifth Years. The Elves will take care of them. And I request you do not protest, Miss Granger."
Hermione blushed and nodded.
Everyone sitting stood from their places and marched out. As they walked out of their tower, Harry spoke one last time to address every one, "We should let those affected in other houses know. Everybody who will listen."
He received nods in reply as everyone exiting the Common Room. He felt Neville and Hermione flank him on either side when he reached the corridor.
"Well said, Ickle Harrikins." The Weasley Twins, sans nametags, said on either side of him.
"Thanks. I've meant to ask, what was up with the nametags?"
"We think Hogwarts-"
"-the castle, to be clear-"
"-had spelled us-"
"-so we weren't able to do-"
"-something like this."
As one they chorused, "Whew. I thought we were stuck like that forever."
Hermione quipped, "A shame really. I quite liked it when you two were more serious. Oh no wait, that is an affront to Sirius." The last part had been whispered loudly enough to be heard by Neville, Harry, the Twins and herself but softly enough not to be heard by the rest.
"What does he-"
"-have to do with-"
"-this conversation?"
At this point Harry chimed in, "Well I think Hogwarts did all of us a favor. You two were a bit more pleasant back there. No offense. But you two are very confusing most of the time."
"Why thank you Harry." One of them said. He tipped an imaginary hat.
The other wagged his finger, "Ah, but you cannot distract us from the subject."
They chorused, "Why was Sirius Black brought up?" Much like how Hermione whispered the name, both pitched their voices to be heard by their group only.
Hermione asked her friend, "Should we tell them? I'm thinking hell will break loose if we do. We cannot unsay it if we tell them."
Harry shrugged, hiding his mirth. She was being slightly cruel. But she made a valid point.
Neville added, "Not sure what is going on but maybe if hell breaks loose it would actually be a good thing? I don't mean to butt in but I think Sirius Black is not how the Ministry paints him to be."
Hermione patted him on the back "We'll talk about that later." She turned to Harry, "I agree though. When directed properly, it could be a very good thing."
The Twins once more chorused, "The suspense is killing us. Please put us out of our misery."
The three Fifth Years burst out into laughter as the older Gryffindors acted like they lost something precious.
Harry took a fortifying breath and decided to torture the twins just a moment more. "Just so you know, this knowledge is quite powerful and only known to a select few. Can I trust you to keep it a secret?"
"Of course!" They saluted him.
Hermione and Harry exchanged glances. He said, "I reckon they're truthworthy enough."
She said, "So do I. Well then gents here it is. Sirius Black is known by another name. Aside from rhyming with the word 'serious' and possibly be responding to that with the most replayed joke ever, the man known as a mass murderer and betrayer to the Potters is actually quite harmless. Well, if harmless was a Weasley Twin, then yes he is quite harmless. Sirius Black is otherwise known as-" she never got to finish the thought because she had sneezed.
As Neville produced a different handkerchief from another robe pocket to help her out, Harry decided to end Hermione's sentence with one word, "Padfoot."
A few corridors away in the Great Hall, a pulse of vibrating excitement rushed through the moment the Weasley Twins learned about a living Marauder.
