A/N: Thanks to Luna Lovegood's Magic, Readerforlife, DarkHeart81, RoryAceHayden147, Edmund O'Donald, junebugbug96, ell the weasel, theflowofmusic, randomharmony13, alexlee4samjeane, master-moehri86, ..girls, Neeps513,dougal74, DrowningCloseToMe, , SkyTreader52, and SamanthaTran for the reviews!! It's so encouraging to hear back from you all. I realized tonight that I've been sorely lacking in my thank yous, so I decided to do them all at once. Enjoy the next chapter!!
Hermione and Harry were the last to arrive in the Room of Requirement—Luna, Neville, and Ron were already sitting, talking. Much to Harry and Hermione's surprise, the Weasley twins were also present. Hermione crossed her arms and scowled as Harry shut and bolted the door.
"What are you two doing here?" Hermione knew the Weasley twins were generally known as troublemakers, and if they said one wrong word about this, all of them would be in a lot more than trouble.
"Well, little Ronnykins was trying to escape the Gryffindor common room," Fred began.
"While we were still discussing the Quidditch tryouts, and how much he has to live up to this year." George clapped Ron on the back.
"Of course, Ron couldn't keep this a secret for very long, and he told us that he had to go study with you and Harry." Fred began to smile and lean back in a smug way.
"Which we knew Ron wouldn't be so anxious to do…so we offered to come with him." George also gave a proud smirk, and the two exchanged glances.
"Fine." Hermione was close to snarling, "Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall have suggested that we begin to…practice our Defense against the Dark Arts, as our newest professor seems to be convinced that practicing spells is a waste of time."
Harry smiled at Hermione and spoke softly, "We need to come up with a list of students to approach about joining this study group. We feel that it needs to be offered to many, but not necessarily publicized. Does anyone have any other ideas of whom we could approach? People who wouldn't be anxious to rat us out?"
"Well, Harry, I do think we should include Katie Bell and Angelina. I think it will be easier to work these meetings around practice if they're both here. Besides, the four of us and Lee Jordan are rather upset with this Umbridge business. I'd say all three of them would be safe enough." George shrugged his shoulders and Fred nodded along.
"And we should include Dean and Seamus," Ron grinned suddenly, "It's not like we'll be able to hide the late nights from them. Lavender Brown would probably like to join us too, I suppose." Ron suddenly turned a shade of pink, and Fred and George rolled their eyes.
"And Michael Corner," Ginny offered suddenly, "he's rather good with spells, and he'd never turn us in. He wouldn't come without Zacharias Smith."
Hermione was furiously scribbling names, but she took a moment to glance up and speak for herself, "What about the Patil twins?"
Every nodded in agreement.
"There's also Ernie Macmillan. I know he's considered stuck up and rude, sometimes, but he's incredibly smart. I think he should be on our list." Harry spoke firmly, "He's kind of like a male Hermione."
His last remark earned him a quick slap and a grin from Hermione.
"The Creevey brothers are very intelligent…" Luna spoke in her normal daydreamy tone, "although there are often wrackspurts following them around…but I'm sure that will clear up as they get older."
"There's also that Susan Bones girl," Fred's forehead furrowed for an instant, "She could do a world of good, I think. After all, she has contacts in the ministry. Amelia Bones?"
Harry's jaw dropped, "Amelia Bones was part of the board that accused me this summer. She was the only one that seemed to think I deserved a fair trial."
"I'd say Susan Bones is a yes, then." Hermione began to fold up her piece of parchment. "Very well, I think each of us should talk to the people we suggested. Writing letters to them is too risky…it will have to be done in person and in secret. Does everyone understand?"
Everyone aside from the twins nodded.
"Alright," Harry gave everyone a grin, "Hermione and I were talking, and we wanted to start with the most basic of spells—Expelliarmus. Then once Hermione or I have seen that you've mastered that, you can move on to Stupefy. So, pair up, and let us know when you think you've done well enough.
The pairings were quick, and not surprising—Fred and George, Ron and Ginny, and Neville and Luna. Harry was once again surprised with the space in the Room of Requirement. There was more than enough room for them all to spread out and get to work. Fred and George immediately moved on to Stupefying each other—Harry and Hermione had them lay pillows out around them so that they wouldn't hurt themselves when they landed. Ron and Ginny quickly followed suit, but Neville was struggling with Expelliarmus, still. Luna had the hang of it, and she seemed to be trying to help Neville, but Hermione had to take over in the end.
"Here, Neville," she took his hand in her own, "try this wand motion, and make sure you're keeping eye contact with Luna. If the spell misses her, it certainly won't work. You can do it, Neville."
She watched him with anticipation, and he attempted the spell again. Luna's wand flew out of her hand.
"There you go!" Hermione smiled at him and hugged him, "All you needed was a little confidence, Neville! Try it a few more times, and you can move on."
Neville was smiling, and continued his practice.
Fred and George were both looking rather bored as they continued to cast their stupefy spells, so Harry walked over to them.
"I think I need to teach the two of you the spell that Hermione came up with a few days ago." Harry grinned at them.
"She's coming up with her own spells now?"
"Bloody brilliant, that one is."
"Yeah, she's something else. Here, let me demonstrate for you. When I say ready, I want one of you to cast a jinx at me." Harry lifted his wand and spoke so the twins could hear, "Avis Includo! Protego Maximus!" He then smiled at the twins and said, "Ready."
Fred grinned and cried, "Tarantallegra!"
Harry grinned back at Fred as the spell ricocheted off of the shield and struck Fred. Fred began to dance uncontrollably, until George muttered the counter curse.
"What was that, Harry?" Fred wheezed, trying to catch his breath.
"That was a new shield spell Hermione's discovered." Harry walked over to the nearest shelf, and spotted just the book he was looking for—surprise, surprise. "Here, this book will give you a list of spells for various animals. You conjure the animals, then say 'includo' if you want them to protect you, and then 'Protego Maximus'. If you want them to attack, however, you say 'Obsepirius! Oppugno!'."
Fred and George stared at Hermione from their spots. She was busy working with Ginny and Ron, and thankfully didn't notice.
"I think once you two get good enough at this, you'll be able to practice while moving around the room. It will certainly make things more interesting, and you'll become awfully good aims. Anytime you have mastered what the class is studying, I'd suggest you work on these spells. It's not an easy feat—Hermione doesn't have it mastered yet, and she came up with the idea." Harry motioned for the two to get to work, and soon the room was filled with birds, butterflies, and other animals.
Unfortunately, the havoc of all the animals eventually distracted the students from their focus, and Harry and Hermione dismissed the class. The two then remained, casting depulso spells on the creatures they could, until Hermione finally realized that she could cast a "Depulso maximus" spell, and get rid of all the flying, crawling, animals. She did so at once, and the two collapsed on cushions.
"I'd say these lessons are going to come in handy, wouldn't you, Harry? I mean…we got so much done tonight. Neville mastered Expelliarmus and Stupefy, and the others were completely ready to move on. Fred and George were already working on the new protection and attacking spell…we'll just have to teach them Depulso, I suppose. We're going to learn so much this year! I can just feel it." Hermione beamed at him.
"Yeah, I'd say so, Mione." Harry smiled and took her hand, yawning, "I'm glad tomorrow is Sunday. I'm going to sleep for ages and then finish up my homework in the afternoon, I think. I'm just so tired."
"I know what you mean…" Hermione struggled to keep back a yawn of her own, and then sighed, "I suppose we should head back to the dormitories. We can talk with Ron for a little while and then head to be. It's almost midnight already, Harry."
She sat up and attempted to stand, but Harry kept a strong hold of her hand. He sat up next to her and took her face in his own, "You're not leaving without a kiss, you aren't." He grinned at her, his emerald eyes shimmering in the dark.
"Oh, Harry! I almost forgot that we were…" Hermione giggling, giving him a hug, "So much has been going on…I completely forgot that we were a couple for a moment. Everything is so new, and I…I…"
Harry kissed her gently, his hands slipping around her waist.
"I know what you mean, Mione. Everything has been happening so quickly. We have these lessons, and Sirius is still missing, and classes, and O.W.L.s, and now we have a hidden relationship." He smile and kissed her again, "Don't feel bad about forgetting now and again. I'll always be here for you."
"Always, Harry?" She looked up at him, concern etching her features.
"Well, as long as Voldemort doesn't get me first." He was joking, but she smacked his chest anyway, "I'm kidding, Hermione. Really, I am first and foremost your friend. I will always be here for you as your friend—no matter what happens between us." He dipped his head down again and gave her another kiss, finding himself lost in her scent and the way her smooth lips felt beneath his own.
Hermione was fighting the urge to shiver—for some reason his touch was giving her tingles throughout her body, it was like having a chill. The way he held her against him made her feel like he needed her there, like he would never be happy without her—it made her feel beautiful and desired. She fought back tears of joy, and sunk into his arms. She broke the kiss and buried her face in his shoulder.
"Hermione? Are you okay?"
"I'm just happy, Harry. So very happy."