Chapter 20: DA

(Harry POV)

"Have you thought about what you are going to say?" I ask Bella as we walk down to the DA meeting together. Ron and Hermione already left. We decided to go in shifts so that it wouldn't be obvious to the inquisitor's squad.

"Yeah, I just hope that I don't forget it." she was shaking nervously. I started to reach out and grab her hand, but I stopped myself. I had been doing that a lot lately. I couldn't stop thinking about the way her face had looked so close to mine. She had light freckles over her nose that I never noticed, and one of her dimples is deeper than the other. I couldn't get the image out of my mind.

We had made it to the door. "You're going to do great Bella. Don't worry, I've got your back." I rubbed my hand on her back. She smiled up at me.

"Let's do this."

I opened the door. Everyone was on the floor, gathered around in a circle talking. Once we walked in, it grew silent. They were all looking at Bella with apprehension. I looked over to see Neville's face turning red.

"Hell no." He spit out. "How could you bring HER here Harry!?"

"If it would have been my choice, she would have been here for the first meeting." I said taking a step forward. "And if you have a problem, Neville, you are welcome to leave. These meetings are open to anyone who I deem trustworthy, and I trust Bella with my life." I looked over at her. She looked shocked. I was a little surprised myself.

"Does anyone else have a problem?" Nobody spoke up so I continued, "Good. Now, I will not be teaching today. I have asked Bella to come in and teach us all wand-less magic. It could be very useful in battle if you are ever disarmed."

I motion for Bella to stand next to me. "Bella, it's all yours." I sat down on the floor next to Hermione and Cho. I could see Neville out of the corner of my eye. He had his arms folded over his chest, and his whole body seemed to be tensed up. He better control himself.

"Um… Hi…" Bella started. She was still shaking a lot. I motioned for her to take a deep breath.

She did so, and then continued more confidently. "I guess I will just start off by asking what questions you guys have about wand-less magic. I know you guys must be curious."

Cho raised her hand. Bella smiled hesitantly at her. "You don't have to raise your hand."

"Oh, right. Sorry." Cho said "I was just wondering, how you learned it, if you don't mind me asking." She raised an eyebrow.

"Not at all." Bella smiled wider, "Wand-less magic, is a fairly modern form of magic. In a class that I had back at my old school in the states, we had a lesson on modern magic. Our lesson on Wand-less magic wasn't very long. Only a few students in the class showed any signs of being able to successfully do it."

She paused and scanned the room of faces. Then she continued, "The lesson really stuck with me though. When I got back to the orphanage for the summer, I had loads of time to practice it, and I got really good at it."

She smiled again at Cho, then addressed the whole group. "Any other questions?"

"Can you do all spells without a wand?" Ginny asked.

"Awesome question. 10 points to Gryffindor." We all laughed, then she continued, "As you guys know, wands do not create magic, it is created in ourselves. Wands help us channel and control our own magic. When doing magic without a wand, it can be very tiring. Some simple spells will have no effect on you. Then if you get into the more complicated spells, it makes you tired and weak. Some will make you pass out if you try, and I imagine trying a spell as difficult as the unforgivable curses, may kill you."

Everyone fell silent. She paused, "Any more questions?" The silence continued.

"Alright then, I suppose I will get into actually teaching. Everyone please stand up." We all obeyed.

"Now, this takes a lot of concentration and control. You are all going to have to relax and focus if you want to be able to do it."

Ron spoke up, "Do you think you could demonstrate something for us?" He eyed me when he said the word demonstrate. Very funny. I elbowed him.

Bella smiled at him, understanding his joke. "I would love to demonstrate, Ron." She walked over closer to us, and stood in front of me. My heart started involuntarily beating faster.

She put her hand over my face and snapped. I felt my glasses lift off of my face and fly above my head. After a few seconds, she reached up and grabbed them and handed them back to me.

"Thank you for the demonstration." Ron said, smiling to himself.

She gave him a nod and continued. "Now, I think we are ready to try this. Would everyone please start taking deep breaths, and empty your mind."

Well that was easier said than done. Everyone in the room started breathing deeply. Some even closed their eyes.

"Awesome. Now imagine the spell 'lumos'. Repeat it in your mind. Focus all your energy on it."

The room got quiet once she stopped talking. The silence carried on for a while then she continued. "Then, when you're ready, focus all of that energy into your fingertips." She paused again. "When I first started, I said my spells out loud, so I would suggest that you do as well. When the energy is there, and you are ready, say your spell and snap your fingers.

All over the room, members were saying spells and snapping. Several sparks of light were seen throughout the room. Hermione was able to hold the light in her hand for a moment, but then she lost it.

"Great job guys! That was really great for a first try. I got nothing my first attempt." Everyone was excitedly talking around the room. Even Neville was smiling about his small spark of light. "Mastering this takes a lot of practice, so don't get discouraged. Why don't you guys practice on your own, that way you don't have to listen to me blabber while you try to concentrate."

For the remainder of the lesson, we all attempted the spell on our own. A few more people were able to hold the ball of light in their hand for a few seconds (including me), but we all lost it eventually. Hermione could hold hers the longest.

Time flew by, and before we knew it, it was time to head back to the dormitories.

"That was really impressive guys. Pretty soon, you're all going to be masters."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a hand go up in the air. Astonishingly, it was Neville. Bella looked just as shocked as I was.

"Y-y-yes Neville?"

"I was just wondering, what is the most difficult spell you have done without your wand?"

"Good question…" Bella's eyebrows squeezed together as she thought. Then she smiled.

"Expecto Petronum." She snapped her fingers, and a sea turtle Petronius appeared in her hand. It swam around the room for a little bit. Then Bella closed her hand and it vanished. She looked a little winded.

"That is a pretty tough one. It tires you out for sure." She ran her hand through her hair. I saw Neville give her a small smile that she returned. Finally, that battle was over.

"Well guys, it's time to start heading back in shifts. We will notify you about the next meeting, but it probably won't be until after Christmas."

People started to leave in their groups. I walked over to Bella, as did Ron and Hermione.

"A sea turtle, huh?" I asked

She tucked a loose hair behind her ear. "They have always fascinated me. How they hatch on the beach, and have to find their own way to and through the ocean all by themselves as babies. It's amazing." I nodded in agreement and understanding.

"Harry," Hermione nudged me and gestured across the room. Cho stood at the back by herself, looking at the wall of articles on the wall. The group she usually walked with had already left.

"Well, we will see you back at the dorms then." Ron gave me a wink and started walking towards the door, and Hermione followed. Bella gave me a small smile that didn't meet her eyes, then she followed after them.

I let out a nervous breath, and then walked to stand beside Cho. She was looking at the newspaper clipping on Cedric. I looked over at her face. Her cheeks were stained with tears, and fresh ones were building up under her eyes.

I stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. Then I said the first thing that came to my mind, "What's up?" oh smooth Harry. Really nice one.

"I'm sorry," she sputtered, "it's just… learning all this stuff… makes me wonder… if he'd known… if he'd…." she trailed off and let out a loud sob. I was way in over my head.

"He was really good at it. But if Voldemort wants to kill you, you don't stand a chance."

"You survived when you were a baby."

"No one knows why though, it's nothing to be proud of." Why is it every time I have a conversation with Cho, it is always about Cedric?

"I know it must be horrible for you," She said whipping her tears, "Me mentioning Cedric. I suppose you want to forget about it.."

Well when you say it like that, it sounds really bad, but it's not really a memory that I'm very fond of.

"You're a really good teacher, you know." She said, finally managing a small smile.

"Thanks," I muttered awkwardly. This is not going as planned. Maybe I should abandon the mission, but my feet seem to be glued to the floor.

"Mistletoe," Said Cho pointing up. Harry's Heart started beating faster.

"It's probably full of nargles." Shoot. Why did I say that?

"What are nargles?"

"You'd have to ask Loony- I mean Luna." She let out a small laugh that sounded like a sob.

"I really like you, Harry." She leaned in closer. They looked at each other for moment. Then he saw her eyes flicker to his lips.

Harry got back to the Gryffindor common room to find Ron, Hermione, and Bella sitting on the chairs by the fire. They all had books open in front of them, but only Bella seemed to be looking at it.

They all stopped talking when I walked in. I took a seat on the floor in front of the fire. My whole body still felt like it was full of static. I looked up to find them all staring at me.

"What are you guys working on?"

"Finishing our potions essays." Bella answered, holding up her potions book.

"Don't avoid the subject," Ron interjected, "What happened?"

I sighed. "Um… Well… She started crying about Cedric the second I walked up to her. So that was a good start."

"Woman are so emotional." Hermione threw a pillow at Ron.

"Shut up, now go on Harry."

I sighed and continued, "Then she talked about Cedric, so that was romantic."

Bella let out a small laugh. She was keeping her eyes fixed on the fire.

"And then somehow we ended up under some mistletoe…"

"Oh, now it's getting good." Hermione elbowed Ron in the ribs.

"Then she told me that she liked me, and leaned in just like Bella said." Hermione and Ron both kept leaning in closer to me. Bella was still looking at the fire.

"And…." Ron prompted.

"And then I pulled away."

"WHAT?!" All three of them said together.

"I just couldn't do it. It didn't feel right."

"What do you mean it didn't bloody feel right?! The girl you have had a crush on for years was practically asking for you to kiss her, and you don't because it doesn't feel right?!"

"I can't explain it, Ron. Maybe it was because she isn't over Cedric." My eyes flickered to Bella. Our eyes met, then I looked back at Ron. "Or maybe it was something else. I don't know. I just couldn't do it."

"You're bloody mental." Ron said shaking his head

Bella started closing her books. "I think I'm going to call it a night. I will see you guys in the morning."

"Night" we all said together. She lazily walked up the stairs and out of sight.

I turned to find Hermione staring up at me, with a sly smile on her face.

"What are you so smiling about?" I asked, curious.

She raised an eyebrow, "Bella finished her potions essay yesterday."