Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this fanfiction. Harry Potter and all characters from the Harry Potter Series are property of J.K. Rowling.
New Beginnings
Chapter Ten: The Door in the Wall
The following Wednesday Harry was sitting on one of the large stone tables in the courtyard leading to the Quidditch field on a particularly nippy September day. He was already in his Quidditch robes of scarlet and gold along with his brown leather Quidditch pads.
Harry pulled his robes tighter around him.
"Hey," said a voice Harry recognized instantly.
"Hey, Hermione," Harry said, turning to see Hermione walking briskly towards him, hugging herself in an effort to minimize the cold.
"Ron said he'd be down in a minute as soon as he finds all his pads."
"Right," Harry said looking toward the Quidditch field. Practice would start at 4:15 sharp and since Professor Lupin was mysteriously absent from their Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, due to the coming full moon, Harry had extra time to prepare.
"What are you doing out here?" Harry questioned, shivering slightly as a gust of wind penetrated his robes.
"I came to watch the practice of course." Hermione said. "I'm starting to regret that..." she laughed as her teeth chattered slightly.
"Hermione, c'mon, go back inside. It's our first practice. Believe me; it won't be that good."
Hermione shook her head vigorously; her jaw clenched to stop her chattering teeth.
Harry scooted towards her in order to keep her warm. They sat there for a moment, their shoulders touching precariously.
"Have you thought anymore about what animal to be?" Hermione questioned propping her feet up on the bench while her scarf whipped around her neck.
"Not really." Harry admitted reluctantly. "All I know is that I want it to fly..."
Hermione rolled his eyes. "I guess you would since you seem to love flying so much."
Harry laughed.
"Well there are a lot of animals that fly..." She trailed off. "Harry... I have a bit of a problem."
Harry faced her, concerned. "What?"
Hermione smiled. "It's pretty silly actually. -- I'm starting to think I couldn't have picked a worse animal for me. I should have picked a rabbit or something...."
"Why?" Harry said alarmed. "I think a Pegasus is a brilliant animal for you!"
Hermione sighed deeply. "It flies," she said simply.
Harry was confused. "So?"
"So? So, I hate flying!" Hermione said, a bit hysterically, putting her face in her numb hands. Harry tentatively put an arm on her back and patted her awkwardly.
"C'mon, Hermione; it's impossible for anyone to hate flying... It's too much fun!"
Hermione's head flew back up, her bushy hair flying in all directions. Harry pulled his hand away so it would not get lashed by her locks.
"It's possible for me!" she said indignantly. "How could I pick a Pegasus? I'm absolutely petrified by flying!"
Harry smiled and cocked his head to one side so she would look at him. "You just said it Hermione! You're scared. That's easy to get over!"
"Well how am I supposed to do that? I don't even want to get near a broom, much less turning into a bloody flying horse!"
Harry couldn't help himself and laughed out loud, rocking forward with one hand upon his stomach. It didn't seem remotely cold anymore. Then, out no where, came a fist that punched him hard in the shoulder.
"Ow!" Harry yelled, still laughing.
"It's not funny, Harry!"
Harry stopped laughing with effort and rubbed his bruised shoulder. "Hermione," he said smiling, "if you really want to be a Pegasus, I'll help you get over your fear..."
Hermione gave him a skeptical look, as though she already knew what Harry was about to offer. "And how will you do that?"
Harry held up his Firebolt. "I'll give you flying lessons..."
Hermione stopped him. "Nah ah! No way! There is no way on earth that I'll get on that thing!" she said gesturing to Harry's broom.
"C'mon Hermione, if you want to be a Pegasus then you have to get over your fear!" he said exasperated.
"You'll do something awful like flip me upside down or..."
"C'mon, Hermione. I'd never do that. You're safe with me..." Harry said, forcing himself to wear a serious look.
Hermione let out a sound like a hissing cat, her eyes narrowed. "Fine," she said at last. "But you got to take it slow and I'm only doing this so I won't be afraid of flying. Don't expect me to come and play Quidditch with you and Ron anytime soon."
Harry laughed. "That won't be a problem." Harry said, trying to imagine Ron or one of the Weasley brothers picking Hermione to be on their team in Quidditch.
"Hermione, Harry!"
Harry turned around to see Ron racing across the courtyard towards them, wearing his Quidditch uniform and carrying his Comet Two-Sixty, which was swinging madly over his shoulder. Harry and Hermione instantly separated.
"Hey, Ron," Harry said, getting up. "Ready?"
"Yeah," he answered, out of breath. "What are you doing here, Hermione?"
"I came to watch the practice! Is that so hard to believe?" she said, throwing up her hands.
Harry thought it was rather hard to believe and nodded his head vigorously behind Hermione's back. Ron laughed and together all three of them walked to the Quidditch field, Hermione baffled as to why her best friends were laughing so hard.
Ten minutes later, as Harry, Hermione, and Ron were sorting out Quidditch uniforms from a large crate labeled "GRYFFINDOR", a distant bell rang across the lawn announcing the end of lessons. It was not long after that when Katie arrived, already in her uniform, with Jamie following in her wake.
The locker rooms began bustling with movement as Harry shuffled trough play after play in his Quidditch folder for the ones he wished to try on the field. Ron was unlocking the storage room door to take out the four Quidditch balls, while Katie helped Hermione find a robe that would fit Jamie's the petite figure.
Charlie entered five minutes later and Katie immediately abandoned her cousin to help Charlie find a uniform. Ginny and Dean entered last; both of them sharing Dean's large leather jacket; Ginny with her arm in one sleeve and Dean's in he other. Ron let out his usual low growl, as had become custom every night when they were in the common room together.
Soon the team was standing over the lush grass that seemed abnormally green due to the fact that there was not a single cloud in the dull blue sky. Harry looked up into the stands where he could just make out Hermione figure, sitting at the very top with her legs crossed, slowly turning the pages of some unknown book while she clutched a scarf to her body so it would not be taken by the wind.
"Alright," Harry projected over the field to his teammates most of whom were shivering as a particularly strong wind bellowed through the stands. "I want to start by warming up," Harry said with a hint of irony. "Chasers follow Ron and start goal practice..."
Jamie, Katie, and Ginny followed Ron to one the left goal posts. Harry looked at Charlie and Dean, his Beaters. He had been afraid of this. He was sure Katie and Ron would be able to train Jamie and Ginny well, but as to the Beaters...
Harry turned hesitantly towards them, unsure of what to say. "Well, er... I don't really have... well... any Beater experience..."
"But we do." said a voice directly behind Harry.
Harry jumped and spun around. "AH!" he screamed.
Harry had whirled around to face the answer to his prayers. Two people with unmistakable red hair were smiling down at him...
"Fred! George! What are you doing here?" Harry said in disbelief as George clapped him on the back and Fred seized his hand, giving it a jovial shake. Harry heard pounding feet behind him and soon Ron and Ginny had joined them, Ginny hugging each of her brothers in turn, tightly around the middle.
"What are you two doing here?" Ginny inquired shrilly still holding on to Fred.
Fred and George grinned broadly as Katie and Jamie came to join them, while Charlie and Dean looked a little confused, knowing they were Fred and George Weasley (who didn't?) but unsure as to why they were here.
"Fred. George! What brings you here?" Katie said smiling as George gave her a one-armed hug.
"Would you all just shut up?" Fred shouted over the wind and the distant clatter of Hermione running down the stands. "We're here to help out Harry with the team..."
Harry smiled gratefully.
"And..." George finished for him, "'cause well...the store's been kinda boring ever since school started, so we thought we'd lend a helping hand and er... catch up on business opportunities," he said, balancing on the balls of his feet and looking about him with excitement.
Fred and George were both wearing the green dragon skin jackets Harry had seen them wear at King's Cross last summer, looking just wealthy as they did then. They all stood quietly for a moment before everyone laughed.
"Well c'mon," Fred said gesturing towards Dean and Charlie. "We've got work to do."
Ten minutes later Harry called in his teammates to start the real practice. Fred and George had borrowed two old school brooms and had been hitting Bludgers left and right along with Charlie and Dean.
Soon all the team was involved in a mock game. Katie, Jamie, and Ginny were swerving and swooping up and down, throwing the Quaffle in quick succession. It was amazing to watch. Ron was balancing on his broom watching the Chasers intently, ready to intercept the large red ball whenever it left a Chaser's finger. Dean and Charlie hovered around the Chasers and Ron to keep the Bludgers far out of reach for them. As Harry watched he was amazed at how good they all were, like a well oiled machine; they never went wrong...
Harry watched as Katie, Ginny, and Jamie fly into a tight knot and then separate in all directions. It was impossible to tell who possessed the Quaffle until Jamie produced it from behind her and threw it into the far left hoop, completely undetected by Ron who had been following Katie. But Harry was not disappointed by Ron as he had been, constantly, last year. Ron saved half the goals that Katie, Jamie, and Ginny attempted, which was pretty good considering the Chasers were the best Harry had seen in a long time.
Harry looked around and saw Fred and George hovering on their brooms, away from the action, talking with Hermione in the stands.
An hour later Harry called the practice to halt as the sky around them grew steadily darker and shades of pink and orange reflected over the rolling clouds that had appeared from the West.
"Alright, that was a great first practice, everyone. We obviously need a little work in some areas," Harry said, looking at the grass, not wanting to cause anyone to think they were a problem. "So we'll meet again Friday after class; don't be late!"
They all left looking severely winded, with sweat soaking their uniforms, but also extremely satisfied. Soon Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Fred and George were the only ones left.
"That's was a great practice Harry!" Fred said as they walked across the darkening lawn.
"Yeah it really was," George added. "I have a feeling Gryffindor is gonna win the Cup again this year. Those Chasers are amazing!"
"Who knew Ginny was that good..." Hermione said fondly, coming in step next to Fred.
Ron snorted.
Harry laughed and turned to Fred. "Are you leaving tonight?"
"Well, we could stay a while, Bill's watching the shop."
"We could catch up with old friends...sell a few things...wreck havoc on certain teachers..." George said with a sly grin.
"George." Hermione said reprovingly.
"Hey, hey, hey Hermione, you may be a prefect, but we are adult wizards and do not take orders from bossy little school girls!"
Everyone laughed including Hermione and together they climbed the sloping hill which led to the castle's entrance and into the Great Hall for dinner.
"Harry," Hermione said sliding her legs under the table and sitting down. "I think it's about time we tell everyone that the D.A. is going to start up again."
Harry took a sip from his goblet. "Right now?"
"Yes," she said scooping mashed potatoes on to her plate.
Harry looked around the Great Hall full of students eating dinner, though there was a large group of excited students from every house congregated at the end of the Gryffindor table where Fred and George were selling sweets.
He saw Ernie Macmillan biting through a steak two tables away. Farther on, he saw Cho chatting with a blonde hair boy who was two seats away from Michael Corner who was moving the peas on his plate with a fork, apathetically; all members of the D.A.
"Go ahead Harry," Ron said sitting down at Harry's right.
"Alright," said Harry submissively getting up and walking toward the Hufflepuff table where Susan Bones was sitting awkwardly, crossed legged, on the wooden bench with a book on her lap. He was reminded of Hermione.
"Susan," Harry said quietly, sitting down next to her.
Susan pushed back her long mousy-brown hair and her eyes widened in surprise.
"Harry?" Susan said rather loudly, closing her book.
Harry lowered his voice as half a dozen Hufflepuffs looked curiously in their direction. "Hey, can I talk to you...er."
She got the hint and stood up and together they walked to the back of the Hall.
"Ok..." she said prompting him.
"Ok. Hermione, Ron, and I have talked to Professor Lupin about the D.A.," At this, Susan looked up at him attentively. "And he thinks we should start it back up again, oh, and he is going to help me teach everyone. So er... of course you can still be in it if you want to, but we need more members, you see, because of the 7th years that have left." Harry said quickly.
Susan looked toward the Hufflepuff table where it seemed half of its occupants were staring keenly at them.
Harry spoke hurriedly. "So if you know any Hufflepuffs, 4th year and up, that you er... think would like to be in it, tell me or Hermione and then we can decide when to have our first meeting."
Susan nodded. "So you want me to tell Ernie and Hannah too?"
"Yeah, that'd be great."
"Alright," she said smiling.
They walked back to the Hufflepuff table where their audience was pretending to be eating.
"Alright, see you in class Harry." Susan said nonchalantly, sitting down. Harry nodded and began walking away when he heard a girl say "So Harry Potter's your new boyfriend..."
Harry rolled his eyes and continued over to the Gryffindor table only to find Ron had taken his seat and had moved Harry's plate and goblet to the space next to him; he was now sitting closer to Hermione.
Bemused, Harry sat down in his new seat.
"So what'd she say?" Hermione said immediately.
"She said she'd tell Ernie and Hannah." Harry said, adjusting his plate.
"Good." Hermione said, scooting down the bench a little.
"I guess we should tell a Ravenclaw now, huh?" Ron said looking toward the table. "We could get Ginny to tell Michael Corner...or Harry can tell Luna."
"C'mon Ron," Hermione said exasperated. "Don't you think it would look just a bit suspicious if Ginny just got up and talked to her ex? And Harry can't go because he already caused enough attention when he spoke to Susan. The same would happen if he talked to Luna."
"So whadda we do?" Ron said sharply.
"I'll go tell Anthony Goldstein." Hermione said simply.
Harry and Ron looked at her.
"He's a prefect!" Hermione said, rolling her eyes.
Harry and Ron looked at her.
"That means I can use some prefect excuse to talk to him without it looking suspicious." Hermione said exasperatedly.
"Oh!" Harry and Ron said together.
Hermione sighed hugely, stood up and walked to the Ravenclaw table. Harry saw her interrupt Anthony's conversation by tapping him on the shoulder. After a few words Anthony got up and he and Hermione walked out of the Hall hurriedly. No one seemed to suspect anything odd.
And so it happened a week later that Harry, Hermione, and Ron climbed the many spiraling stone staircases to the seventh floor with Professor Lupin to the Room of Requirement. Hermione had programmed the golden Galleons she had created last year, which informed each D.A. member of the upcoming meeting, last night.
It was seven o'clock and the sounds of students' rumbling had long ago died down from the distant Great Hall, six floors below them. The foursome reached the final step touching level ground as Hermione reached for her side, out of breath.
"So what exactly do we do?" Lupin said, coming to stand in front of a bare wall of dark stone.
"Well, we walk past this wall three times," Hermione said, gesturing to it, "while we think about what we want from the room. Then the door should appear..."
Lupin raised his eyebrows and sighed with a slight smile gracing his unshaven face. "Alright, let's go."
Hermione walked passed the wall first, her eyes tightly shut and her mouth moving to form silent words, crouching slightly after the long walk up the stairs. Harry followed closely.
....Let it be just like it was last year. We need a place to fight, to train. Let it have lots of books for Hermione and let no one but us know where it is. Let it just be like it was last year.... Harry thought.
Harry reopened his eyes after his third passing of the wall, which was no longer bare. He stopped abruptly and collided into Hermione; a moment later Ron ran into him, followed by an "umph" as Lupin rammed into Ron's gangly form.
Harry helped a flustered Hermione up off from the floor and the four of them turned to look at a highly polished wooden door set with a large brass handle below a large array of locks.
Harry walked towards it and touched the brass handle. Suddenly, the sounds of many clicking of locks and sliding of bolts from the other side, as though some unknown being was letting them in. The door creaked open slightly and Harry led them inside.
The room was almost exactly as he remembered it. There was a large cleared space in the middle of the gigantic room above which a chandelier full of candles shined over. The whole back wall was full of books whose gold lettering glittered in the candle light and to Harry's left were tables piled with Dark detectors and silk cushions. The only drastic change Harry could notice was a great scarlet banner above the book cases in which the mascots of three of the four houses were woven together to form a "D" and an "A"; below, in cursive gold lettering full of flourishes, were the words, "Dumbledore's Army".
"It's perfect!" Hermione squealed as she literally threw herself at the book cases and ran her fingers over the myriad of books.
Harry turned to look at Lupin who was staring up at the ceiling, his mouth frozen to form the word "wow". Ron was walking along the room picking up the various Dark detectors with not much interest, when a sound at the door made everyone turn.
Dean and Ginny had arrived, arm in arm, staring in amazement about them.
"Just like I remember it," Dean said fondly.
Ron growled deeply. Dean released Ginny.
Not a moment later did Katie enter bringing Jamie along side her. They were followed quickly by Seamus, Neville, Parvati Patil, and Lavender Brown. The room became full of noise as the students greeted their professor and milled about the room. Padma Patil entered with Anthony Goldstein, Zacharias Smith, and Terry Boot laughing and chatting with two apprehensive looking students Harry guessed were going to be new members. Ernie Macmillan entered exuberantly with Susan, Hannah Abbot, and Justin Finch-Fletchley. They brought three shy looking 4th years that quickly joined the two Ravenclaws and began talking in low whispers. Charlie Dobbs entered and Katie disengaged herself from a conversation with Susan and went to greet him. Harry skimmed the room for Cho. She was not there and Harry sighed with relief as a strange sense of uneasiness left him, but then the door creaked open one last time and Cho entered, her black hair gleaming in the light with Michael Corner at her side.
The room became considerably quieter as Cho entered, looking uneasy but wearing a look of pride so no one would notice. She had not brought Marietta, who had ratted out the D.A. last year to Umbridge almost causing the expulsion of everyone in this room. Lupin looked to Harry in confusion.
Hermione broke the silence. "C'mon everyone, grab a cushion and come sit in the middle," she said in her bossiest voice possible. Everyone moved toward the left wall and grabbed an either gold or crimson pillow and sat on the deep mahogany floor.
"I'm glad everyone got the message about today's meeting...Er...as you know we are here to start the D.A. up again with the help of Professor Lupin who has generously accepted to help us..."
Lupin smiled around at the students, all of whom smiled back enthusiastically.
Hermione continued. "Yes...and we are also here to elect a leader, which I have decided should be determined each year..."
Harry shook his head and smiled as a few angry outcries and sounds of disapproval came from the group of students. Many of them looked towards Harry as though they expected him to push Hermione aside and say it was obvious they still wanted him as their leader.
"And..." Hermione said, raising her voice slightly, "to induct new members to Dumbledore's Army."
Hermione pulled a long roll of parchment from her bag and walked to the right wall and pinned it on a large bulletin board below a smaller banner which emblazoned the Hogwarts crest. It was the list Harry remembered Hermione write a little less than a year ago in the Hog's Head. The ink looked newly written as it shined with the look of fresh ink. Harry's name was at the very top followed by Hermione's and Ron's but near the bottom the name of Marietta Edgecomb had been scribbled out vigorously.
Hermione walked back to the front of the room. Lupin was watching her with a looked of astonishment, hilarity, and an odd sense of pride.
"Now to elect a leader..." Hermione said her voice becoming steadier and then said, as though it had been rehearsed, "A leader must be someone you can trust; who you believe will always work for the end of evil and in support of good and honor. Raise your hand if you have a nomination."
Susan raised her hand. "I nominate Harry."
Everyone laughed.
"I second that," Ron said jokingly.
"We have a nomination for Harry James Potter. Are there any others?" said Hermione.
No one raised their hand.
Hermione smiled slightly, or Harry could have just imagined it in the candle light. "Say 'aye' if you want Harry to contin..."
The booming sound of many "aye"s drowned out Hermione's voice.
"Done," Hermione said this time clearly smiling. "Alright now we need to induct the new members. Would all the new members please come to the front?"
Harry watched as Charlie and Jamie stood up among the others and walked to the front with five younger students. Meanwhile, Hermione was pulling out yet another roll of parchment from her school bag.
The seven lined up next to Hermione, Charlie looking like a giant tree among six saplings. Harry wondered why he had not been in the D.A. last year.
"Before you become members you must know what you're getting into and what we stand for..." Hermione said, scanning the parchment quickly with her eyes. "If you believe in the promotion of good over evil and wish to perfect your skills to defeat it at all costs then please sign you name upon the list." She said gesturing to the list under the Hogwarts banner.
No one moved for a moment as though they hadn't understood what they were supposed to do until Charlie stepped determinedly towards the right wall and walked to the roll of parchment tacked on the board. Charlie signed his name with gusto and handed the quill to Jamie who signed her name, looking determined. The other five signed quickly, wanting to get out of the spotlight.
"Thank you Hermione," said Professor Lupin as the last fourth year signed her name. He rubbed his hands together for a moment. "From what I understand," he said glancing toward Harry, "you all have learned a great deal since the last year. A wide variety of curses, jinxes, and such, am I right?"
Everyone murmured their agreement.
"Well there isn't much I can teach you besides the occasional hex that may come in handy." He paused. "I think it's about time you all branch out into a new area...namely dueling. That is something I can teach you..."
Harry looked up at Lupin in interest, as was everyone else. It was true that Harry had taught the D.A. every jinx he knew but to actually put them into use in an actual duel was something they had not even ventured into.
"Dueling?" Ron said skeptically leaning back on his elbows.
"Dueling is an essential skill to learn when dealing with...less than friendly wizards. If you don't know how to duel, how to use certain spells at certain times, then you really don't have a chance." Lupin said rationally as every one mumbled in agreement and Hermione nodded her head silently.
"This sounds like the Dueling Club," Katie said smiling.
All of the older students laughed.
Lupin smiled. "So are you up for it?"
There were many enthusiastic yes's as Harry looked about him. Dean was rubbing his hands while Susan leaned to whisper in Hannah Abbot's ear, and Ron looked at Harry nodding and smiling slightly. Harry smiled back.
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I'm sorry this late-coming everyone. I know this isn't one of the most interesting chapters but believe me when I say that the next chapters are when things really get interesting....~Michelle AD