Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Harry Potter series. That credit goes to the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling. Go Jo! I also do not own some of the material used. Again that belongs to Jo and Warner Brothers.

Chapter 12 The Rebellion Begins

Ron was pleading with Hermione as they walked down the stairs of the common room.

"Please…" he continued to beg.

Hermione rolled her eyes as they reached the bottom.

"Honestly, Ron. Must I do everything for you?" she asked.

"You don't have to write all of it. It's just with these O.W.L.S.," he said.

Ron put his hands together and fell before Hermione.

"I'll do the introduction," Hermione sighed.

Ron stood up and put both his hands on her shoulders.

"Thanks," he said.

"Who's…" Hermione began, hearing the portrait door closing.

Who could be coming in now with it pushing eleven she thought?

"Harry," Ron gasped.

"What are you two still doing up?" he asked.

Hermione put her hands on her lips.

"What are you doing barely getting in?" she asked.

Harry looked down and tried to shield his left hand.

"Detention," he said.

Hermione glanced at Ron, then back at Harry.

"You should have been back hours ago," she said.

"I…" Harry began, unconsciously rubbing his left hand.

Hermione and Ron noticed this.

"Is your hand all right?" Ron asked.

Harry immediately stopped.

"It's nothing," he said.

"Let me look at that," Hermione demanded, taking his hand.

Ron and Hermione gasped when they saw the cuts on Harry's hand.

"Bloody hell," Ron said.

Harry yanked his hand out of Hermione's.

"You have to tell Dumbledore," Hermione said.

He shook his head.

"I can't," Harry said.

He looked away as Hermione took a deep breath.

"Then tell Sirius," Hermione said.

"No," Harry yelled.

"It's simple, Harry…" Hermione began.

When Harry turned, Hermione could have sworn she saw a hint of red in his eyes.

"Hermione, this isn't simple. Whatever's happening, it's not simple," Harry said.

Hermione sighed as Harry headed to the boys' dormitory.

"If only there was a way to contact Sirius," she said.

"Harry's been writing to him, but he hasn't said anything about Umbridge," Ron told her.

They started heading back up the stairs due to the stares they were beginning to get.

"We have to do something," Hermione said.

"Like what?" Ron asked.

"I don't know. Give me time to think," Hermione said.

She sounded a little panicked.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm sent," Ron said.

"I am as well," Hermione yawned.

xxx

Ginny glanced up at Ron as he and Hermione joined her in the morning for breakfast in the Great Hall.

"He's being mental," Ron said, sitting hastily next Ginny while Hermione sat across them.

Harry wanted to be alone, which Ron and Hermione didn't think was wise at all.

"He'll come around," Hermione said.

Ginny looked down, knowing who they were talking about.

"Let's hope," Ron said, taking some French toast.

Ginny shook her head violently, causing Ron and Hermione to look her way.

"He'll be alright. He has to be," she said.

"Do you ever stop eating?" Hermione asked Ron.

He was inhaling his food like there was no tomorrow.

"What? I'm hungry," Ron said.

Hermione turned and noticed Harry walking towards them.

"Harry," she said.

Ginny and Ron heard this and looked at Harry, too.

"Mind if I join you?" Harry asked.

"Of course not," Hermione said.

Harry silently sat in the empty seat by Hermione.

"Sorry I've been so distant," he apologized.

"We understand, mate. You needed your space," Ron said.

Ginny was avoiding Harry's eyes at all cost.

"You have to admit, I was a bit of a git," Harry said.

"Well…" Ron began before gasping after being kicked at from under the table by Hermione. "Of course you weren't."

xxx

Hermione sighed after watching Harry join them in the empty common room late that night.

"We have to do something," she said.

"Like what, Hermione?" Ron asked.

"We have to learn how to defend ourselves," she said.

Harry took a deep breath.

"Hermione, you know Umbridge…" he began before being cut off.

"You'll teach us," she said.

"Me? Hermione, did Snape slip something in your pumpkin juice this morning?" Harry asked.

She rolled her eyes.

"She has a point, Harry," Ron said.

He slapped his forehead in disbelief.

"Ron, not you too," Harry moaned.

"You've gotten past You-Know-Who three times. Not to mention fought hundreds of Dementors at once," he said.

Harry looked down and sighed.

"You really think I'd be able to teach luck?" he asked.

"Don't be modest," Hermione said.

Harry shook his head in frustration.

"It's true! That was luck," he said.

"But you did it, didn't you?" Ron asked.

Harry sighed as he looked down. Hermione and Ron were really serious about this.

"Even if I agreed, who'd want to be taught by me?" Harry asked.

xxx

After the first DA meeting at the Hogs Head in Hogsmeade, Ginny, Fred, George, and Neville followed Harry, Ron, and Hermione back to Hogwarts.

"Well, that went well," Harry said.

Ron fought a laugh as Hermione turned to Harry.

"If you're trying to be funny, it's not working," Hermione said.

"Where exactly are we going to practice?" Neville asked.

"The Shrieking Shack," Ginny suggested.

Harry turned and shook his heed.

"Too small," he said.

"The Forbidden Forest," Hermione suggested.

"Like bloody hell we will," Ron said.

"Care to make a suggestion then, Ron?" Hermione asked.

He looked down in defeat.

"What if we're caught," Fred asked, though they knew all too well this didn't worry Fred or George.

"Who cares?" Hermione laughed.

Ron looked over at her in shock.

"Who are you and what have you done with Hermione Granger?" he asked.

They all began to laugh.

xxx

Harry, Ron, and Hermione jumped as Neville came running into the common room, out of breath.

"Neville, what is it?" Hermione asked.

They allowed him to catch his breath.

"I don't know how, but a door just appeared out of nowhere," Neville said.

Hermione's eyes grew.

"You found the Room of Requirement," she gasped.

They looked at her, confused as to why she had such a huge smile on her face.

"I… I can show you," Neville said.

"Let's go," Hermione told them.

xxx

The Room of Requirement was now full of students, being taught by Harry.

"You guys are doing great," Harry smiled.

Harry watched and laughed as Hermione yet again sent Ron's wand flying into the air.

"Will I ever be able to disarm you?" Ron asked.

He began to laugh as Hermione began to, also.

"I guess we'll see," Hermione said.

"I think that's enough for today. Just keep practicing and I'll see you later," Harry informed them.

AN:

Yay! Another chapter down.