Alexander Chronicles Year 5: The Growing Darkness
Chapter 14: The Houses of Hogwarts
…
Alex thought about Hermione´s suggestion most of the night, and when he got up the following day he leaned that, she had talked to one other person about it.
"So has Ganger told about the idea that you and Harry teaching us defence?" Daphne asked as she and Alex were walking around the school.
Alex signed, "She involved you as well?" As Daphne nodded, Alex continued. "But yeah she told me. It is ridiculous right?"
"I don´t think so."
Alex stopped and let go of Daphne´s hand. "You are kidding right? Me as a teacher."
"You taught Harry and Blaise how to cast a Patronus in our third year."
"No, I just had a head start, we learned the spell together."
"Then there are the spells you have taught me and the others. Every time you learn a new spell then you have to tell about it,"
Alex shocked his heard. "Yes, but you tell me about magical stuff as well, like new potions. We study together."
"Then there is Jack Bennett." Daphne said with a smile. "I know that you have taught him a good number of spells."
"No, that is different!"
Daphne just looked at Alex, "how so?"
Alex shrugged, "I dunno, it just is."
"Well then explain it." Daphne said still smiling.
Alex opened his mouth to do that, but stopped, as he couldn't. "Well, but that is one person. You and Hermione wants me to teach how many:"
"True, but let me ask you this. You have the chance of helping your fellow students to lean how to defend themselves. Do you really want them to be defenceless? They don´t have that chance now, that is why you helped Jack. You wanted him to know how he could defend himself." Alex paused as he looked at Daphne. "You are a teacher Alex."
"Fine, I like to pass my knowledge, but only to those I trust."
Daphne smiled and kissed Alex on the lips. "Nobody is saying that you have to teach everything you know."
Alex paused, "maybe."
Daphne gave him another kiss. "You know I your girlfriend would be very happy if you do this. We need a good defence teacher this year. So if you do this, I might reward you."
Alex felt himself blush. "What?"
Daphne just smiled and gave Alex another kiss.
…
Nobody mentioned that Alex should give Defence lessons for a while then during a quit evening at beginning of October, Hermione asked again.
"I was wondering, "whether you'd thought any more about Defence against the Dark Arts, Alex."
"Of course," Alex said with a heavy sigh, not looking up from his book, "can't forget it, can we, with that hag teaching us -"
"I meant the idea Ron, Harry, and I had about you teaching us."
"Wait a minute," Draco interrupted. "You want Alex to teach you, Potter, and Weaslebee Defence against the Dark Arts?"
Hermione gave a small nod, "well not just us."
"Interesting," he murmured. "Can I join?"
"We don't even know if it's for sure, Draco," Alex said, finally looking up from his book of Asiatic Anti-Venoms, and then turned to Hermione. "And yeah, I have thought about it for a moment or two. I know you have talked with Daphne as well, in order to convince me."
"And?" said Hermione eagerly.
"Maybe," Alex replied with a shrug.
"Actually sounds like a good idea to me," Draco said, more interested in the conversation than Snape's work.
Alex sighed and leaned back in his chair. "You do remember what I said that night? What Potter said? About having help and luck."
"Yes, Alexander," said Hermione gently, "but all the same, there's no point pretending that you're not good at Defence against the Dark Arts, because you are. You were the only person last year who could throw off the Imperius Curse in an instant with no trouble at all, you can produce a full corporeal Patronus, you can do all sorts of stuff that full-grown wizards can't, Viktor always said -"
Alex´s eyes shot up. "Viktor?" he repeated. "You mean Krum? You are still in contact?"
"So what if I am," Hermione said coolly, though her face was a little pink. "I can have a pen pal if I want -"
"Of course you can." Alex said, "but when you say pen-pal?"
"Look," Hermione began, ignoring his comment. "He said you knew how to do stuff even he didn't, and he was in the final year at Durmstrang." Alex rolled his eyes and went back to looking at his book. "Well, what do you think? Will you teach us?"
"Who is us? Because right now I count you, Daphne Potter, Weasley-"
"And me." Draco added.
"Yes Draco, Blaise and Tracey. But there is more right?"
Hermione nodded, "yes properly. Actually, I think that you should teach everyone that wants to lean. Alexander we talking about V-Voldemort. Everyone deserve a chance to defend against him. You can give them that opportunity Alexander. You have to give them a chance. And I know Daphne will agree.
Alex considered this for a moment then said, "Yeah, but I doubt anyone except you two, Ron, Harry, Daphne, Blaise, and Tracey would want to be taught by me. I'm a nutter, remember? Or is it a psycho, a liar, a killer or all of the above."
"Well, I think you might be surprised how many people would be interested in hearing what you've got to say," said Hermione seriously. "Look," she leaned towards him. "You know the first weekend in October's a Hogsmeade weekend? How would it be if we tell anyone who's interested to meet us in the village and we can talk it over?"
"Why do you have to do it outside school?" Draco asked.
"Because," said Hermione, returning to the diagram of the Chinese Chomping Cabbage she was copying, "I don't think Umbridge would be very happy if she found out what we were up to."
"Oh right," Alex said.
"Listen, Harry, Ron, and I have been sounding out people who we thought might want to learn some proper Defence Against the Dark Arts, and there are a couple who seem interested. We've told them to meet us in Hogsmeade." Hermione explained. "I ask Daphne to do the same."
Alex nodded, "okay. I do it."
…
Alex was actually happy that he had said yes, and it wasn´t just because Daphne´s reward was a long snogging session in the chamber. No, it was also because he knew he was doing the right thing. If Umbridge and the Ministry wouldn't give them the chance to learn how to defend themselves, they had to do it.
Alex looked forward to the Hogsmede weekend; it gave him the will to ignore Umbridge´s comments. Harry was doing the same.
The morning of the Hogsmeade visit dawned bright but windy. After breakfast Alex, Daphne, Blaise, Draco, Tracey, Hermione, Harry, and Ron queued up in front of Filch, who matched their names to the long list of students who had permission from their parents or guardian to visit the village.
Alex was behind Harry, and strangely witnessed Filch sniffing the he gave a curt nod that set his jowls aquiver again and Harry walked on, out on to the stone steps and the cold, sunlit day. Alex followed seconds later.
"Er - why was Filch sniffing you?" asked Ron, as they all set off at a brisk pace down the wide drive to the gates.
"I suppose he was checking for the smell of Dungbombs," said Harry with a small laugh. "I forgot to tell you…" And Harry recounted a story of when he was sending a letter to Sirius and Filch demanding to see the letter. Hermione found this story highly interesting, much more, indeed, than Harry did himself.
"He said he was tipped off you were ordering Dungbombs? But who tipped him off?" Hermione asked.
"I dunno," said Harry, shrugging. "Maybe Nott, he'd think it was a laugh."
Alex looked at Draco who shrugged.
The group with Harry, Hermione and Ron in front, and Alex and his Slytherin friends behind, walked between the tall stone pillars topped with winged boars and turned left on to the road into the village, the wind whipping their hair into their eyes.
"Nott?" said Hermione, sceptically. "Well… yes… maybe…" And she remained deep in thought all the way into the outskirts of Hogsmeade.
"Where exactly are we going?" Alex suddenly asked. "The Three Broomsticks?"
"Oh - no," said Hermione, coming out of her reverie, "no, it's always packed and really noisy. I've told the others to meet us in the Hog's Head."
"Hog's Head?" Blaise asked.
"It is that other pub." Daphne explained. "The one that isn´t on the main road. It is a bit uh how can I put it uh dodgy, but students don't normally go in there, so I doubt someone will overhear us."
"Are we sure about that?" Alex asked.
Daphne didn´t answer right away. "As sure as we can be."
They walked down the main street past Zonko's Wizarding Joke Shop, where they were not surprised to see Fred, George and Lee Jordan, past the post office, from which owls issued at regular intervals, and turned up a side-street at the top of which stood a small inn. A battered wooden sign hung from a rusty bracket over the door, with a picture on it of a wild boar's severed head, leaking blood on to the white cloth around it. The sign creaked in the wind as they approached. All eight of them hesitated outside the door.
"Well, come on," said Hermione, slightly nervously. Harry led the way inside with Alex and Daphne bringing up the rear.
It was not at all like the Three Broomsticks, whose large bar gave an impression of gleaming warmth and cleanliness. The Hog's Head bar comprised one small, dingy and very dirty room that smelled strongly of something that might have been goats. The bay windows were so encrusted with grime that very little daylight could permeate the room, which was lit instead with the stubs of candles sitting on rough wooden tables. The floor seemed at first glance to be compressed earth, though as Harry stepped on to it he realized that there was stone beneath what seemed to be the accumulated filth of centuries.
There was a man at the bar whose whole head was wrapped in dirty grey bandages, though he was still managing to gulp endless glasses of some smoking, fiery substance through a slit over his mouth. Two figures shrouded in hoods sat at a table in one of the windows, and in a shadowy corner beside the fireplace sat a witch with a thick, black veil that fell to her toes. They could just see the tip of her nose because it caused the veil to protrude slightly.
"Actually, I'm not very sure about this," Alex muttered, as they crossed to the bar. He was looking particularly at the heavily veiled witch. "Has it occurred to you Umbridge might be under that?"
Daphne cast an appraising eye over the veiled figure.
"No, Umbridge is shorter," she said quietly. "And anyway, even if Umbridge does come in here there's nothing she can do to stop us, Alex, because Ganger and I have double- and triple-checked the school rules. We're not out of bounds; I specifically asked Professor Snape whether students were allowed to come in the Hog's Head, and he said yes, although it would be very unhealthy."
"And we have also looked up everything about study groups and homework groups and they're definitely allowed. I just don't think it's a good idea if we parade what we're doing." Hermione added.
"No," Harry said dryly, "especially as it's not exactly a homework group you're planning, is it?"
The barman sidled towards them out of a back room. He was a grumpy-looking old man with a great deal of long grey hair and beard. He was tall and thin and looked vaguely familiar to Alex. "What?" he grunted.
"Eight Butterbeers, please," said Hermione.
The man reached beneath the counter and pulled up three very dusty, very dirty bottles, which he slammed on the bar. "Sixteen Sickles," he said.
"I'll get them," said Harry quickly, passing over the silver. The barman's eyes traveled over Harry, resting for a fraction of a second on his scar. Then he turned away and deposited Harry's money in an ancient wooden till whose drawer slid open automatically to receive it. The Hogwarts students retreated to the furthest table from the bar and sat down, looking around. The man in the dirty grey bandages rapped the counter with his knuckles and received another smoking drink from the barman.
"You know what?" Ron murmured, looking over at the bar with enthusiasm. "We could order anything we liked in here. I bet that bloke would sell us anything, he wouldn't care. I've always wanted to try Firewhisky -"
"They are pretty good. I would like one myself," Alex added making Daphne slap his arm.
"You are a prefect!"
"And."
"Then you don´t drink stuff like that. Beside when have you even tried that?"¨
Alex shrugged, "last year." Alex didn´t say when as he didn´t want to bring up bad memories either from him or from Daphne
"So, who all did you say is supposed to be meeting us?" Harry asked, wrenching open the rusty top of his Butterbeer and taking a swig.
"Just a couple of people," Hermione repeated, checking her watch and looking anxiously towards the door. "I told them to be here about now and I'm sure they all know where it is - oh, look, this might be them now."
The door of the pub had opened. A thick band of dusty sunlight split the room in two for a moment and then vanished, blocked by the incoming rush of a crowd of people. First came Neville with Dean and Lavender, who were closely followed by Parvati and Padma Patil with Cho and one of her usually-giggling girlfriends. Then (on her own and looking so dreamy she might have walked in by accident) Luna Lovegood; then Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson, Colin and Dennis Creevey, Ernie Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones. Then Erik Jensen entered followed by three Ravenclaw boys; Alex was pretty sure were called Anthony Goldstein, Michael Corner, and Terry Boot. Beside Michael was Ginny , closely followed by a tall skinny blond boy with an upturned nose whom Alex recognized vaguely as being a member of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. The Weasley twins Mellissa Robinson and Lee Jordan entered next; all three boys were carrying large paper bags crammed with Zonko's merchandise. Then to Alex surprise Lisa Turpin entered along with Mandy Brocklehurst. Finally two younger Slytherin girls and one boy bringing up the rear; one of whom Alex recognized as Daphne's younger sister, Astoria.
"Hermione, I think you need to reread the definition on what a couple really is," Alex said to her. "This is not a couple of people, this is a boat load."
"Yes, well, the idea seemed quite popular," said Hermione happily, "Ron, Harry, do you want to pull up some more chairs?"
The barman had frozen in the act of wiping out a glass with a rag so filthy it looked as though it had never been washed. Possibly, he had never seen his pub so full.
"Hi," said Fred, reaching the bar first and counting his companions quickly, "could we have… 30 Butterbeers, please?"
The barman glared at him for a moment, then, throwing down his rag irritably as though he had been interrupted in something very important, he started passing up dusty Butterbeers from under the bar.
"Cheers," said Fred, handing them out. "Cough up, everyone; I haven't got enough gold for all of these…"
Alex watched numbly as the large chattering group took their beers from Fred and rummaged in their robes to find coins. He could not imagine what all these people had turned up for until the horrible thought occurred to him that they might be expecting some kind of speech, at which he rounded on Hermione.
"Hermione, what exactly have you been telling these people?" he asked in a low voice. "What exactly are they expecting?"
"I've told you, they just want to hear what you've got to say," said Hermione soothingly; but Alex continued to look at her so furiously that she added quickly, "you don't have to do anything yet, I'll speak to them first."
"Hi, Alex," said Neville, beaming and taking a seat opposite him.
"Hey Neville," Alex greeted back. He glance around, noticing that Cho sat next to Harry, her friend did not look to happy about it. As a matter a fact, she looked like she didn't want to be there.
In twos and threes the new arrivals settled around Alex, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, some looking rather excited, others curious, Luna Lovegood gazing dreamily into space. When everybody had pulled up a chair, the chatter died out. Every eye was upon Harry or Alex.
"Er," said Hermione, her voice slightly higher than usual out of nerves. "Well - er - hi." The group focused its attention on her instead, though eyes continued to dart back regularly to Alex and Harry.
"Well… erm… well, you know why you're here. Erm… well, Alexander and Harry had the idea - I mean." (Alex had thrown her a sharp look.) "I had the idea - that it might be good if people who wanted to study Defence Against the Dark Arts - and I mean, really study it, you know, not the rubbish that Umbridge is doing with us." (Hermione's voice became suddenly much stronger and more confident.) "- Because nobody could call that Defence against the Dark Arts -" ("Hear, hear," said Anthony Goldstein, and Hermione looked heartened) "- Well, I thought it would be good if we, well, took matters into our own hands."
She paused, looked sideways at Alex and Harry, and went on, "And by that I mean learning how to defend ourselves properly, not just in theory but doing the real spells -"
"You want to pass your Defence against the Dark Arts OWL too, though, I bet?" said Michael Corner, who was watching her closely.
"Of course she does. Just as I would," Daphne said at once. "But more than that, I want to be properly trained in defence because… because…" she took a great breath and finished, "because Lord Voldemort is back."
The reaction was immediate and predictable. Cho's friend shrieked and slopped Butterbeer down herself; Terry Boot gave a kind of involuntary twitch; Padma Patil shuddered, and Neville gave an odd yelp that he managed to turn into a cough. All of them, however, looked fixedly, even eagerly, at Harry and Alex.
"Well… that's the plan, anyway" said Hermione. "If you want to join us, we need to decide how we're going to -"
"Where's the proof You-Know-Who's back?" said the blond Hufflepuff player in a rather aggressive voice.
"Well, Dumbledore believes it -" Hermione began.
"You mean, Dumbledore believes them," said the blond boy, nodding at Harry and Alex.
"Who are you?" said Ron, rather rudely.
"Zacharias Smith," said the boy, "and I think we've got the right to know exactly what makes them say You-Know-Who's back."
"Look," Daphne said, intervening swiftly, "that's really not what this meeting was supposed to be about -"
"It's okay, Daph," Alex said.
It had just dawned on him why there were so many people there. He thought Daphne and Hermione should have seen this coming. Some of these people - maybe even most of them - had turned up in the hopes of hearing his and Harry's story firsthand.
"What makes me say You-Know-Who's back?" Harry repeated, looking Zacharias straight in the face. "I saw him, Alexander saw him. But Dumbledore told the whole school what happened last year, and if you didn't believe him, you won't believe us, and we're not wasting an afternoon trying to convince anyone."
The whole group seemed to have held its breath while Harry spoke. Alex had the impression that even the barman was listening. He was wiping the same glass with the filthy rag, making it steadily dirtier.
Zacharias said dismissively, "All Dumbledore told us last year was that Cedric Diggory got killed by You-Know-Who and that you brought Diggory's body back to Hogwarts. He didn't give us details, he didn't tell us exactly how Diggory got murdered, I think we'd all like to know -"
Harry opened his mouth, but it was Alex who spoke first. "It was a man named Peter Pettigrew, a death eater, that murdered Cedric," he said. "Cedric and I reached Triwizard cup, when we touched it both of us were portkeyed to a graveyard in Little Hangleton. Cedric didn't ask to be there, he wasn't even supposed to be there. He was at the wrong place at the right time. Peter Pettigrew was given the order to kill Cedric by Lord Voldemort himself, and he did. Murdered him in cold blood with the killing curse, and with no bloody remorse." Everyone was quiet as they stared and listened to Alex. "There Zach, does that make you happy?" he said, staring hard at the Hufflepuff. Zacharias shook his head and looked down. "Now, if that's what you wanted, you can leave now."
Alex looked over at everyone, but nobody moved. They just sat there and starred at Harry and Alex.
"So," said Hermione, her voice very high-pitched again. "So… like I was saying… if you want to learn some defence, then we need to work out how we're going to do it, how often we're going to meet and where we're going to -"
"Is it true," Astoria interrupted, looking at Alex, "that you can produce a Patronus? Daphne have told me you can."
There was a murmur of interest around the group at this.
Alex nodded, "I can. Since I was thirteen."
"Is it true it is a Corporeal Patronus?" Susan Bones asked looking at Alex and Harry.
Harry looked at Susan, "uh you don´t happen to know a Madam Bones do you?"
Susan smiled, "she is my aunty I'm Susan Bones. She told me about your hearing. So - is it really true? You make a stag Patronus?"
Harry nodded. "Yes, it is true. Alex can cast one as well. It is a eagle."
Astoria gave Alex an impressed look, and then she smiled at her sister, who squeezed Alex´s hand.
"Blimey, Harry!" said Lee, looking deeply impressed. "I never knew that!"
"Mum told Ron not to spread it around," said Fred, grinning at Harry. "She said you got enough attention as it was."
"She's not wrong," mumbled Harry, and a couple of people laughed.
The veiled witch sitting alone shifted very slightly in her seat.
"And did you kill a Basilisk with that sword in Dumbledore's office?" demanded Terry Boot. "That's what one of the portraits on the wall told me when I was in there last year…"
"Er - yeah, I did, yeah," said Harry.
Justin Finch-Fletchley whistled; the Creevey brothers exchanged awestruck looks and Lavender Brown said "Wow!" softly.
"And in our first year," said Neville to the group at large, "he and Alex saved that Sorcerer's Stone from You-Know-Who." Hannah Abbott's eyes were as round as Galleons.
Alex shocked his head, "no that was Harry."
"And what about Alex´s amazing antics during the Triwizard Tournament with the merpeople and the creatures in that maze," Tracey shouted ignoring Alex. "And the advanced magic he used against that Hungarian Horntail."
"And he's pretty good at duelling," Daphne added. Blaise nodded in agreement. There was a murmur of impressed agreement around the table.
"He has extensive knowledge on Defensive Magic," Draco put out.
"And he's also a quick thinker," Harry spoke up. "He was the one who got us out of the graveyard. If it wasn't for him, I may not be here today."
"When you say it like that," Alex started, and everyone fell silent. "You make it seem like I'm some kind of underling of Dumbledore or something. And I'm not try to be modest here, but...I did have help..."
"Not with the dragon, you didn't," said Michael Corner at once. "That was some serious magic you did, some I've never seen before. Especially when you were engulfed in that fire but came out unharmed."
"Yeah, then there were the illusions. " Erik added.
"Yeah, well -" Alex began. "Okay, maybe I did some stuff I did on my own, But Harry -"
"Are you trying to weasel out of showing us any of this stuff?" said Zacharias Smith.
"Here's an idea," said Ron loudly, before Harry could speak, "why don't you shut your mouth?"
Perhaps the word 'weasel' had affected Ron particularly strongly. In any case, he was now looking at Zacharias as though he would like nothing better than to thump him. Zacharias flushed.
"Well, we've all turned up to learn from him and now he's telling us he can't really do any of it," he said.
"I don´t believe that is what he said." Mellissa said as she gave Zacharias an annoyed look.
"Would you like us to clean out your ears for you?" enquired George, pulling a long and lethal looking metal instrument from inside one of the Zonko's bags.
"Or any part of your body, really, we're not fussy where we stick this," said Fred, causing a few people to laugh, including Alex.
"Well, all of this is because you says you-know-who is back. I still have my doubts about that." Michael Corner said and a few nodded.
Alex signed, "okay, but you still agree that you doesn´t lean any defence right?"
"I do."
"Okay, then what will you do when another dark wizard attacks your family?"
"Well uh," Michael began. "I would call the aurors." He said after a little while.
Alex gave a fake smile. "Brilliant plan, so how long until the aurors show up?"
"What do you mean?"
"Or rather how long do you think it will take for a dark wizard to kill or torture your family? If you can´t defend yourself, then you most likely be dead before help arrives. So I actually don´t care if you believe me or not. If you want to lean defence then you are welcome."
Michael nodded, "right."
"Yes, well," said Hermione hastily, "moving on… the point is, are we agreed we want to take lessons from Alex and Harry?"
There was a murmur of general agreement. Zacharias folded his arms and said nothing; though perhaps this was because he was too busy keeping an eye on the instrument in Fred's hand.
"Right," said Hermione, looking relieved that something had at last been settled. "Well, then, the next question is how often we do it. I really don't think there's any point in meeting less than once a week -"
"Hang on," said Angelina, "we need to make sure this doesn't clash with our Quidditch practice."
"No," said Cho, "nor with ours."
"Nor ours," added Zacharias Smith.
"Ours as well." Draco said.
"Yeah because Quidditch is more important than leaning how to defend ourselves." Daphne snorted.
Angelina eyed Daphne, "still."
"I am sure we can find a time that suits everyone." Hermione said sounding a bit impatient, "but as Daphne said leaning the defence is important."
"Well said!" barked Ernie Macmillan. "Personally I think this is really important, possibly more important than anything else we'll do this year, even with our OWLs coming up!" He looked around impressively, as though waiting for people to cry "Surely not!" When nobody spoke, he went on, "I personally am at a loss to see why the Ministry has foisted such a useless teacher on us at this critical period. Obviously, they are in denial about the return of You-Know- Who, but to give us a teacher who is trying to actively prevent us from using defensive spells -"
"We think the reason Umbridge doesn't want us trained in Defence Against the Dark Arts," said Hermione, "is that she's got some… some mad idea that Dumbledore could use the students in the school as a kind of private army. She thinks he'd mobilize us against the Ministry."
Nearly everybody looked stunned at this news; everybody except Luna Lovegood, who piped up,
"Well, that makes sense. After all, Cornelius Fudge has got his own private army."
"What?" said Harry, completely thrown by this unexpected piece of information as Ron and Alex exchanged puzzled glances.
"Yes, he's got an army of Heliopaths," said Luna solemnly.
"No, he hasn't," snapped Hermione.
"Yes, he has," said Luna.
"What are Heliopaths?" asked Neville, looking blank.
"They're spirits of fire," said Luna, her protuberant eyes widening so that she looked madder than ever, "great tall flaming creatures that gallop across the ground burning everything in front of -"
"They don't exist, Neville," said Hermione tartly.
"Oh, yes, they do!" said Luna angrily.
"I'm sorry, but where's the proof of that?" snapped Hermione.
"Hermione, just drop it," Alex interrupted. "Now, can we get back to deciding how often we're going to meet and have our defence lessons?"
"Yes," said Hermione at once, "Right."
"Well, once a week sounds cool," said Lee Jordan.
"As long as -" began Angelina.
"Yes Quidditch, but there is something even more important:" Daphne interrupted.
"Yes leaning defence is important, I only-"
"No, that is not what I meant. We being here. It is amazing really."
Alex looked at Daphne, "what do you mean?"
"Just take a look."
Alex did, but he failed he see what was so amazing. Sure there where a good number of students, but was that it. "I don´t get it."
Serval others shock their heads as well. "Just look at us." Daphne began explaining. "Students from Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Huffepuff and Gryffindors sitting together as friends and allies."
Hermione gasped in shock, "You are right."
"I still don´t get it, we have met like that before." Alex said.
"I know, but not like this. Alex it is not just a group of friends meeting. This is the houses of Hogwarts uniting."
There was a silence as everybody thought of the meaning of Daphne´s words.
"Right," Hermione said. "The next thing we have to decide where to meet."
This was rather more difficult; the whole group fell silent.
"Library?" suggested Katie Bell after a few moments.
"I can't see Madam Pince being too chuffed with us doing jinxes in the library," said Harry.
"Maybe an unused classroom?" said Dean.
"Yeah," said Ron, "McGonagall might let us have hers, she did when Black was practicing for the Triwizard."
"I doubt she will give us permission this time or rather Umbridge would stop her if she did."
"What about the Chamber of Secrets?" Draco brought up. Everyone went silent and stared at him, and Alex elbowed him. "What? It's just a suggestion."
"Yeah, I don't think anyone here would want to practice next to a dead and decaying snake," Parvati replied. "Much less a dark and scary place that could be filled with dark magic." Draco rolled his eyes. "Don't roll your eyes at me, Malfoy. What are you even doing here? Or your Slytherin friends? Shouldn't you be worshipping Umbridge or something?"
Draco was about to retort, but Alex spoke first. "Okay let me make something crystal clear. Draco Malfoy is here because I invited him." Alex paused to make sure that everyone was looking at him. "Every Slytherin is here because I trust them. I trust them a lot more then I trust you Parvati." Parvati didn´t reply, but her eyes flickered. "What Daphne said is true. This is a chance of every house to unite. I will play my part in this. I want to teach you. I want to teach all of you. However if anyone here can´t accept that another house is here. Then you are free to leave, after I put a small memory charm on you from ever remembering this meeting." Parvati and everybody else nodded, making Alex smile. "Okay then."
"You can do memory charms too?" said an impressed Astoria. Alex gave a nod though in truth, he had never tried a memory charm on anyone at all.
"Right, well, we'll try to find somewhere," said Hermione. "We'll send a message round to everybody when we've got a time and a place for the first meeting." She rummaged in her bag and produced parchment and a quill, then hesitated, rather as though she was steeling herself to say something. "I - I think everybody should write their name down, just so we know who was here. But I also think," she took a deep breath, "that we all ought to agree not to shout about what we're doing. So if you sign, you're agreeing not to tell Umbridge or anybody else what we're up to."
Fred reached out for the parchment and cheerfully wrote his signature, as did everyone else of Alex´s friends, but there was several people looked less than happy at the prospect of putting their names on the list.
"Er…" said Zacharias slowly, not taking the parchment that George was trying to pass to him, "well… I'm sure Ernie will tell me when the meeting is."
But Ernie was looking rather hesitant about signing, too. Hermione raised her eyebrows at him.
"I - well, we are prefects," Ernie burst out. "And if this list was found… well, I mean to say… you said yourself, if Umbridge finds out -"
"You just said this group was the most important thing you'd do this year," Harry reminded him.
"I - yes," said Ernie, "yes, I do believe that, it ' s just -"
"I am Head Girl, and I have signed the paper." Mellissa said in a cold voice. "So I am pretty sure you can as well."
"McMillan, this is Hermione Granger, you know, know-it-all, top grades, usually follows the rules," Alex spoke. "Do you really think she would really leave that list lying around?" Ernie didn´t respond, and there was a few others that stilled looked uneasy. "If you don´t sign this paper, then you are out. Do you want that?"
"No. No, of course not," said Ernie, looking slightly less anxious. "I - yes, of course I'll sign."
Nobody raised objections after Ernie. When the last person - Zacharias - had signed, Hermione took the parchment back and slipped it carefully into her bag. There was an odd feeling in the group now. It was as though they had just signed some kind of contract.
"Well, time's ticking on," said Fred briskly, getting to his feet. "Mellissa, George, Lee and I have got items of a sensitive nature to purchase; we'll be seeing you all later."
In twos and threes the rest of the group took their leave, too. Alex too left his Gryffindor friends behind to join his Slytherin friends for the rest of the trip.
"Well, I think that went well," Blaise said, wrapping his arm around Alex. "So congratulations Professor Black?"
Alex shrugged. "I'm just still a little apprehensive about this," he said, looking at his friends. "I am not a teacher you know."
"You did a pretty good job at teaching me and Harry the patronus charm."
"You know I would like to lean that charm as well." Daphne said grabbing Alex´s hand.
"It might take a while before everybody else will be ready to try that spell. I have to start small disarming, stunning, and defending."
"So none of your fancy curses." Draco asked.
"I teach them to you, but there are some I want to keep private."
…
Chapter end