After the death of Minerva McGonagall the days passed in a daze of teaching, training Colin Creevy, running and marking. Finally Saturday arrived, along with Harry's first meeting with the DA.
"Ok. Heres the situation. The shit is hitting the fan, but what else is new? Trouble is, the shit from last term hasn't been cleaned up. I know you all saw Hermione and me in uniform earlier in the week. Do you want to know why?" there were a number of nods. "We received intelligence that Voldemort was going to try to break his death eaters out of Azkaban. He has managed that so many times in the past that it is safe to say the Dementors are working with him. So, along with Snape and Flitwick, Hermione and I went and evacuated them to Hogwarts." There was a collective gasp that echoed around the room. "That's not the worst of it, one of our own is being targeted, and for once the one in danger isn't me!" There was a giggle from some of the older members. "Your illustrious leader Miss Ginerva Weasley is being targeted! Are you going to stand for that?" There were some scattered 'no's and shaking of heads. "WHAT?"
"HELL NO!" The room erupted in yelling.
"Your god damn right we aren't, now this is what I propose to do. The death eaters use unforgivable curses, so I say we use cold, unforgiving steel" Harry removed his gun from the holster. "Yours will arrive in a few days, I will let you know when and where, but not all of you will be asked to attend. If you don't get the message, don't be offended, you wouldn't want this assignment anyway." Harry said as he left the Room of Requirement.
Harry and Hermione were sitting in their sitting room marking essays.
"Hell of a first couple of weeks on the job huh?" Harry asked. Hermione just laughed and nodded her head.
"We are never going to have a normal year here are we?" She asked.
"I bloody hope not, it would be boring just to teach." Harry quipped.
"Speaking of which, with Remus back how's the DADA schedule working out?"
"I'm taking the first and second years. Remus is taking the third and forth years, and we are sharing the NEWT class. I'm doing PT with them and Remus is teaching them."
There was a knock on Hermione's office door.
"Come in." Hermione called, as Ron strode through the door. He sat down on the couch opposite Harry.
Harry nodded at his old friend. "Ron."
"Potter." Ron said stiffly.
"Potter is it?" Harry began, his voice hardening, "I guess you had better be Weasley from now on then."
"What ever Potter."
"Oh for FUCKS sake!" Hermione yelled. "Would you two grow up?"
"I am a grown up Hermione. And part of being a grown up is being man enough to face up to your responsibilities."
"That's hardly fair Ron!" Hermione began "Harr-"
"No Hermione, what's unfair is having to tell your mates parents how they died defending someone else. What's not fair is having your baby sister crying on your shoulder because the man she loves ran away. Don't talk to me about fair Hermione, as far as Potter is concerned." Ron's temper ran away with him. Harry stood up and left.
The following Saturday, Harry stood inside the Gryffindor locker room.
"I know Ginny is team captain, and that I'm not meant to be in here," Harry began, "but one time for the good times, I asked her if I could do this. Today my friends, you go into battle, not against death eaters, not against Dementors, not even Lord bloody Voldemort himself, no no no, today you face your worst enemy, Slytherin. Now I know you can't promise victory, but you better win! You know, about 4 years ago, Professor McGonagall told me she loved to see the Quidditch cup on her desk. ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE ME TAKE IT OFF HER DESK?"
"NO!" the team roared.
"ARE YOU GOING TO LET GRYFINDOR DOWN?"
"HELL NO!"
"ARE YOU GOING TO LET MINERVA MCGONAGALL DOWN?"
"FUCK NO!"
"THEN GO OUT THERE AND MAKE HER FUCKING PROUD!"
Ginny stepped forward, "McGonagall on three." The team piled their hands on top of one another, Harry put his on top "1, 2, 3!"
"MCGONAGALL!"
At the end of wrestling training the next day Harry gave his students a run down of the match card "… Then we have the Hogwarts Battle Royal. I don't care who wins this, talk it out amongst yourselves. With that said, since there is now a title on the line, the new title is called the McGonagall Cup, I think it would be nice if a Gryffindor won it. With the title in mind Ron Weasley, Fred & George Wesley, who incidentally are joining Lee Jordan on commentary, and finally Professor Remus 'Moony' Lupin, the last Marauder. And Dennis, you are my ring announcer. Next up will be the Fatal 4 Way for the Hogwarts title. And in that we are going to have, 'The Flaming Phoenix' Ginerva Weasley, who will be accompanied by Professor Granger, Julius Malfoy with Professor Snape, Nicky Bruster with Professor Sprout and Big D, that's Dick Bancroft accompanied by Professor Flitwick. Then, the main event; me versus Draco Malfoy. Then there is a final match, after we go off the air, for the live audience. It's going to be a Royal Rumble match where every one, with the exception of Draco and myself, on the card takes part in an over the top rope battle royal. All right every one? Well then go shower up, Dennis wait a minute." Harry saw the fear in Dennis eyes as he joined Harry in the ring.
"Sir?" he asked.
"For Gods sake Dennis I have known you for 6 years, call me Harry. We are friends. And since we are friends, I am going to ask you a favour. And it is a really really big favour. But before I tell you what it is, I need you to promise me that you won't tell a soul about it!"
"Sure Harry, you have my word." Harry dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out a box and proceeded to show it to Dennis. "Harry is that an engagement ring?" Dennis asked with awe.
"Yeah it is Dennis. Now here is where you come in, I have booked the match so Ginny and Professor Lupin are the last two in the match. After you announce the winner, my music will start, I need you to announce me, and make sure Ginny and Lupin are ring side. Can you do that?"
"Sure Harry!" Collin said enthusiastically.
"Good Lad, see you in class."
Harry was sitting in his office with Hermione and Ginny when Dumbledore came into the room.
"Forgive the interruption Professors, Miss Weasley. I will have the weapons for you ahead of schedule, they will arrive by Wednesday." Dumbledores customary twinkle was absent from his eyes.
"Thank you sir, I know this is distasteful, and quite frankly, so very very wrong, but we truly have no choice."
Wednesday evening Harry, Hermione and Ginny stood on a raised platform in front of 20 of the DA's best and brightest.
"OK. We can't do much tonight, but I do have several, shall we say, gifts for you." Harry began handing out large boxes. "Inside these boxes you will find your uniforms. They are grey two piece muggle military sneak suites, they are warm and durable. Also there is a pair of boots with soft rubber soles and a bullet proof vest. The full uniforms are to be worn when we meet, with the vest on the out side, but I want you to want you to wear the vests under your school uniforms at least 2 days a week, so you get used to it."
Hermione began passing out smaller boxes made of metal.
"These boxes," she began, "contain the weapons." She took one out "It is a Berretta Point 45 calibre, it is capable of holding 12 rounds in a bottom loading clip." She ejected the clip from the bottom of the gun. "We will show you how to load the gun and pass out ammunition, or bullets next time we meet. There is a holster, and several spare clips and a belt. The gun goes in the holster, also included and that clips to the belt at either your left or right hip. Needless to say if we see you with your weapons at inappropriate times they will be taken away from you, and you will be removed from this program. This is TOP SECRET!" Ginny began to pass out jewellery boxes.
"The DA has the Galleons," She began. "But you are a special branch of the DA, and as such you have special medallions. Each has your house crest on the front, and the back will warm up when the date and time of the next meeting is visible. You need to be here at every meeting, no exceptions." Harry stepped forward again.
"OK guys, that's plenty for today. Conceal your weapons, they are your responsibility, we don't want them to get nicked, pure bloods won't know what they are, but muggle borns will. We don't want any accidents. Remember they cost the school a hell of a lot of money. Go rest up, because I promise you, at your next training session you will need plenty of energy, we are going to run, jump, fall and learn how to fight, shoot and cast spells at the same time."