Author's note: Here's the next chapter, as promised within two days. Hope you all like it!
midnightangel86: Whoa! Slow down! Haha! Yes, it's coming. The parents are obviously going to react badly; you'll see that in the Christmas chapter. Whereas Snape is concerned he is yet to make an appearance. Harry and Ginny are going to get together in the 16th chapter and yes, Ron is on his way too! Thank you for the review!
Maesde: Here's the next one! Hope I didn't keep you hanging for long! For Draco/Mione's talk I did my best. I'm glad you liked it. Thank you for your review. I hope you like this chapter as well!
Hermionemalfoyforever: Thank you for reviewing again. It means a lot!
Starzinmieyez: Hehe! Yes, seventy five stares are definitely going to be very awkward! Thank you for the review!
Legionary Prime: Yes, I didn't like that part from the book as well, so I decided to change it a bit. I'm glad you liked it. Thank you for the review!
Scythemaster: Thank you. It meant a lot and I'm glad that you found it interesting. Thank you for the review. Hope you like this chapter as well!
…
Seventy five pairs of eyes stared as the small Slytherin group led by Hermione walked in. They stared at them with hatred and disgust mixed with malice and they made no effort to hide it. They openly stared and looked ready to murder them.
"I told you it's not a good idea." Draco whispered in Hermione's ear.
"Yes, I'm already feeling the pain of getting ripped apart limb by limb." Theo spoke, his voice trembling and Hermione couldn't help but smirk at him. After all revenge was all everyone wanted from them. Blaise just glared at Theo.
"Don't worry they won't as much raise their wand on you without Harry's orders." Hermione said as she gave Theo a broad smile.
Draco spotted Potter making his way across the room towards him. He turned back to the room when he reached them and said in a surprisingly strong and loud voice, "What are you all looking at? Time is already less and we have much to achieve."
To Draco and other Slytherins astonishment the students didn't fire back at Harry but instead took his word and began practicing again. He then turned to face the Slytherins and a small scowl appeared on his face which got reflected on the Slytherins faces as well.
"I'm glad you came." He said nodding at each of them, his voice strictly professional. They nodded back at him.
"I guess Hermione must have given you a brief idea about DA?" Harry asked making eye contact with each of them.
"Yeah. She did manage to give us a scare." Blaise said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"But it's amazing. Fucking army. Who knew you had it in you Potter." Theo said a look of amazement on his face.
"I'm glad you found it worth appreciating Nott." Harry replied raising his left eyebrow in question.
"I think we should get over this." Draco said speaking directly to Harry.
Harry nodded. "You won't be participating in anything tonight but you'll sit there and watch." He pointed over to the fireplace where there was a raised platform with a black couch and two armchairs. "I want you all to sit and observe. See how the DA works and what you'll get to learn if you decide to join."
At this point Draco spotted Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Ron and Ginny Weasley making their way towards them.
"They are picking up faster than we thought." Neville said addressing Harry. He did not glance at any of them but stared at Harry all the time. Draco then noticed the reasonable changes the clumsy boy had gone through. In fact he didn't look like the clumsy-and-forgetful boy but instead in his place stood a more confident and grown up version of him. His features were pronounced and he stared at Harry with a new found intensity. Draco raised his eyebrow at him when he saw his hand clutching Lovegood's.
"That's good. The less time they take to learn, the more we can practice." Harry said, patting Neville's shoulder in an appreciative way.
"But there are a few who are still struggling." Ron said, and Draco was actually taken aback with the formality of his tone.
"Okay, do one thing; make a separate batch of those students and tell them to be here day after tomorrow. I'll teach them personally."
Ron nodded and Harry turned back to face the Slytherins. "We are the DA Core." He said motioning to the six of them. "We do the major stuff over here, planning, teaching and all. So today you'll observe. You are free to ask any questions if you want and if you are reluctant or do not wish to ask me, you can ask Hermione or any six of us."
The Slytherins nodded mutely at him. "Okay then, Hermione lead them to the couch and resume the teaching I have to talk to a few people."
Harry and the others disappeared in the huge crowd and Hermione led them to the couch. The couch was on a raised platform which gave them a good overlook over the huge room. They could see what was going on, on the far side the room without having to strain their necks.
"I'll see you in an hour. Call me if you have any questions or want to know anything. By the end of the meeting you'll have to announce your decision." She then left and walked over to the left side of room.
The Slytherins were silent for the major part of the time, just making some comments here and there as the DA trained. Draco couldn't ignore it then, but he appreciated the effort Harry was taking. He saw him teach with his full dedication and power. During the whole meeting he did not lose his clam when he had to teach the same spell to the third year five times in a row, something which he would have never achieved without hexing the boy into oblivation.
And at that moment he couldn't help feel but jealously bile inside him. He traced Harry with his every move and he realized he had similar reflexes like him. He envied him, and Draco did not run from this reality because he knew it as true. Harry was far more brave than anyone he had ever seen or heard about before. He felt anger surge through him when he saw him walking with his head held high with dedication, with no trace of regret or worry. Draco envied that courage and will power with which Harry faced the world and which Draco could never have. As if Harry sensed his thoughts he looked up. Bright green eyes met cold grey ones and Draco suddenly knew what he had to do.
"Okay everyone." Harry said standing on the raised platform just inches away from where the Slytherins were seated. Everyone stopped in their tasks and looked up at him.
"I am very proud of you all today. You all have made much remarkable progress in such a short time." Everyone applauded with enthusiasm and pride.
"It's not every day that we get to train together, but today that we have I don't want to miss this opportunity. So divide into groups of twenty five. We'll play a small game." Everyone got excited with the prospect of playing a game and they immediately formed three groups. "Every DA Core member chose any of the three groups please." The DA Core members choosed their groups, earning excited whispers from their respective groups.
"Alright. Now I'll animate three opponents who you'll have to fight with whatever spells that had been taught to you till today. The group which destroys the opponent first will win and I've something planned for the winners." Everyone cheered and applauded loudly. The Slytherins themselves got excited and they could almost feel the tension of the three groups.
Harry flicked his wand and three rusty, steel soldiers appeared out of one corner of the room. The three groups formed circles. Hermione and Neville's group was on the extreme left, while Ron's was in the centre with Luna's in the extreme right. Harry muttered another nonverbal spell and flicked his wand. The opponents got activated and moved at the centre of the circle. Draco felt intrigued with Harry's powers as his eyes swept over the old soldiers.
"On the count of three. Ready everyone?" A chorus of yes was heard across the room and Harry started the count down, "One…two…three. Attack." The soldiers attacked the moment Harry's word got out and a chorus of hexes and spells were heard across the room. Some hexes missed the opponent and hit the wall, some hit the students but they weren't fatal, some simply vibrated off the walls.
Harry paced the platform his eyes intent on the three groups, shouting a few curses and suggestions at every group. The Slytherins were on the edge of their seats by now. Their heart raced with excitement as they saw the students trying to fight back their opponent who fired spells at the speed of light.
"This is fucking amazing. I cannot sit here any longer and watch." Theo jumped up from his seat and ran down the platform. He joined Ron's group in the centre. Ron openly gaped at him when he saw Theo running at him, his wand out. Ron's eyes almost came out of their sockets when he started firing at the rusty soldier.
"Look out!" he shouted at Ron as the soldier aimed a good stinging hex at him. Theo pushed the still gaping Ron out of the way as the hex collided with the opposite wall. Both the boys landed in a heap near the entrance of the circle.
"Thanks." Ron said, still refusing to believe that a Slytherin had saved him.
"Not bad ha? It's okay anyways." Theo grinned and Ron smiled back at him. They nodded at each other and fired hexes at the soldier covering each other's back the entire time.
"He lost it. Idiot!" Blaise said, slumping in his seat.
"You can't ignore it, but it's amazing." Daphne said her eyes still focused on the small battle.
"Yeah you can't." Draco said and Blaise raised his eyebrows at him.
"Are you saying, my dear Drakie that you plan on joining this?" he asked slowly, as if asking to a two year old.
"Theo doesn't seem to mind."
"And since when did you care what Theo did?" he asked, maintaining his calm and raising his voice a little over the shouts and screams.
"Look man, this is…look I hate to admit it but I guess this is the chance which I think I have been looking for." Draco said in one breath.
According to him, it was the perfect opportunity and he wanted to make the best of it. He knew he would never get another opportunity as good as this and the fact that Potter was offering it to him was least bothering him. He wanted a chance and he was getting it. Who gave him and who he was did not matter.
"I know. But the danger will increase. The Dark Lord won't let us live." Blaise argued. He wanted to make sure Draco had thought this through.
"We'll die anyways." Daphne said, joining in on the conversation. "Everybody knows the Dark Lord does not give shit about his followers. They are just disposable pawns in his game. And we are going to get disposed off anyways so why not do it with a change?"
She had a point Draco knew which Blaise wouldn't ignore. Blaise was intelligent and he had lost far too many members of his family at Voldemort's mercy than to the Aurors. He nodded his head to Draco. "Okay, I want to do justice to Uncle Ronnie's death. I'll want to make that git suffer." He hissed venomously.
Draco knew how much his uncle's death had devastated his best friend. Blaise was close to his uncle and Voldemort had killed him for a mistake so small that would have never come up if it wouldn't have been for Avery to find out. His uncle had handled the situation well but still Voldemort had killed him and since then Blaise had turned neutral quite openly. Draco nodded back and so did Daphne. The Slytherins had decided and they just waited for the meeting to get over to announce their decision.
The small battle ranging in the room was in full swing. Everyone threw hexes with their best force and energy. Some were injured while some covered the backs of others. There were shouts, screams and spells ranging and bellowing in the huge room. Luna's group had lost a chunk of students who were injured but cheering loudly, similar was the case with Ron's. But the most noticeable thing was Ron and Theo's chemistry. They constantly had each other's back and smiled and grinned when they stopped the hexes.
Finally Hermione's 'Expelliarmus' rang through the room. Everyone stilled as the soldier burst into tiny pieces. No one spoke for a minute but then a loud cheer and applause and whistling rang through the room. Everyone hugged and patted her appreciatively on her back.
"Excellent." Harry shouted over the applause and cheering. Everyone quietened down and looked at Harry. "That was wonderful. Now the prize of the winning group." Everyone's breath stopped as they waited for Harry to continue.
"The winning group will have this week off, and a party for all DA tomorrow at 8:00pm." The cheer and applause that rang through the room would have rivalled the cheer Hogwarts witnesses at the end of the every year. Harry knew they had been working their asses off for the last month and none of the students had taken a day off and they deserved it.
"So now every one of you can go and take a good rest and prepare yourselves for the party. As far the Slytherins are concerned…" he turned to face them and beckoned them forward. Theo rushed up and joined his friends. "They will announce their decision now."
He walked over to Draco and waited for him to announce his decision. "We have decided to join." Draco's voice rang through the room and silence hung in the crowded room. No one said anything and Harry stared at his once enemy. He gave him a short nod and called Hermione forward to take their oaths. After the oaths were taken he addressed the DA again.
"I know most of you still don't trust the Slytherins but I ask you'll to trust me. They have taken the oath in front of everyone. This is one reason why Veritaserum was not used." Draco and Blaise raised their eyebrows at this. "If they try to betray us they will be punished as per the rules. So we can trust them as long as we don't see them paralysed by the breach. The Slytherins will have to cover up huge portion so I want you all…" he again faced the Slytherins, "…to be present at all DA as well as DA Core meetings."
The Slytherins nodded. Harry again faced the DA. "That's all for tonight. See you all tomorrow." The DA members slowly started to pile out of the Room of Requirement. "Can you guys hang on for some time?" Harry asked as the Slytherins turned to leave. Draco looked at Blaise and he nodded his head. "It's not much; I think we just need to talk." Harry said, sounding casual. Draco found it necessary to talk to, how they are going to survive without taking each other's heads off.
After the last DA members left, the doors closed with a huge sound and the DA Core members slumped into the couch and armchairs rather gracelessly. The Slytherins, maintaining their pride sat with manners.
"That was one hell of a practice." Ron said, yawning loudly. "And now I'm hungry."
"So am I." Theo said, agreeing with Ron. Everyone looked at them with shock and Harry then realised how much Theo and Ron were alike. He shook his head and called Dobby, who for his embarrassment started with Harry's greatness. After Harry's failed attempts at convincing Dobby to shut up did he stop and brought some snacks much to the delight of Ron and Theo.
"So what do you guys actually do?" Blaise asked, speaking after a long time.
"We plan everything, from lessons to teaching materials to strategy." Neville answered confidently without spluttering.
"Interesting. When do you do this stuff?" Draco asked remembering how Hermione would disappear for days at a time.
"After the meetings." Ginny said opening a rather thick book from a near table which Draco was sure he would have never touched far from reading it.
"You mean after this kind of practice?" Theo asked unbelievingly.
"We are normally not this tired, since we train in groups." Hermione answered. "So we sit in here till the wee hours of the morning researching and planning stuff."
"Wow." Theo said, his eyes widening in surprise.
"So what do you wanted to talk about Potter?" Draco asked looking straight at him. Small creases appeared on Harry's forehead as he replied.
"Look I know this house rivalry is going to be a huge problem for all of us, it's inevitable. But the house rivalry will only prove to be a pain in the upcoming war and time. So I think it's high time we should forget it and work together."
Draco knew how much true it was. The house rivalry was going to be the death of them all if not stopped now.
"You do realise Potter that not all Slytherins will approve right? More than half of the Slytherins want your blood." Draco continued.
"I do realise it Malfoy but this is the only chance of making a change. I know not many Slytherins are neutral or against him, hell if there is even one but you four are. And I think it's enough to bridge the gap."
"So that is it then. We will give our best but you have to understand that it's not easy for us." He knew it wasn't necessary for him to say that but he just wanted to make sure Harry understood.
"I know. And this is going to work only if all of us are willing to do it. It will fail even if one of us backs out. "
"Don't worry." Blaise said. "We are Slytherins, we stay true to our word and when we commit, betraying is the last thing on our mind and believe me Potter you are not the only wanting revenge from that bastard. There are many of us who have lost a lot of people we care for at his mercy and I think it's time to end his reign."
Harry gave him an appreciative nod. "Okay so we need to find out a way to cooperate without harming each other. Any ideas?" he looked around the room at everyone.
"It's simple." Daphne said, "We spent more time together. That is the only way in which we can overcome each other's differences and actually get to know each other."
"This is brilliant." Hermione said smiling at Daphne who winked at her. Everyone sat in silence for a minute considering the idea. When Harry was sure no one would speak he spoke, "I think this will have to work since nobody can think of anything else."
Everyone nodded reluctantly across the room. "We spend majority of the time here." Luna spoke clutching Neville's hand tightly in hers. "So you guys can come and hang out anytime you want." Luna spoke as if they all had been best of friends.
"Yes that way we all can spend time getting to know each other and Harry can teach you all as well." Hermione continued already finding the idea brilliant.
"Okay." Blaise said, sounding not so sure of the idea.
"We practically stay here." Ron said leaning forward on his armchair. "We sometimes stay the night here when it becomes too late for any of us to head back." Hermione was actually taken aback from Ron's words. He actually liked the idea!
"Alright." Draco said as if settling the matter. "We will do it. We will come whenever we can and learn from you."
Everyone nodded in acceptance. "So what do we do now?" Theo asked looking around at everyone.
"The thing which we do when we are too lazy to research and plan." Ron said, a wicked smile already covering his face.
"Which is…?" Theo asked excitement clear in his tone.
"Plan horrible things for Umbridge!"
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Yes, the main part of the story begins now.
Next chapter: Draco talks to Harry!