Harry Potter, the boy who lived, looked at the group training in the Room of Requirement. A little over seventeen years ago he, Hermione and Ron had gathered a different group here, a group of people that came to be known as Dumbledore's Army. The group had become a well-known force during the Second Wizarding War and proof that no matter how young you were you would always be able to take a stand against darkness.

Now here was a second group, fit with the same determination to defeat the darkness as the ones gathered here so long ago, but this time their numbers might diminish fast unless they were able to stop whoever was possessing Remus Lupin. Seven of them were in their final year and once they graduated in the summer their powers would vanish. He did not doubt that they would still try to bring down the new dark wizard, but without their powers death would be a lot more imminent.

"Harry? Are you alright?"

He blinked and woke up from his thoughts, turning towards his old friend Hermione Granger. Ron and Ginny had offered to go back home and help their parents with the children this week, leaving Harry and Hermione at the castle and in charge of the training.

"I'm fine", Harry said and smiled. "I was just... thinking about the past."

"It brings back a lot of memories, doesn't it?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, I guess it does. They're getting quite good at the Patronuses."

He nodded at the students in the older group who had by now been practicing summoning Patronuses for the past three weeks. Everyone was now able to summon a non-corporeal one, which served as good-enough protection from one Dementor, but Harry had no doubt about if the dark wizard decided to use Dementors in battle he would use many more than just one. It was important that at least one in the group was able to summon a corporeal Patronus when that happened.

"The younger ones can start practicing it later this week as well", Hermione agreed. "We also need to go over our list of charms and curses and see what we should focus on next. They all need more to add to their arsenal."

Harry smiled.

"I'm glad I let you plan this whole thing, Hermione."

"That's what I do; I'm a teacher", Hermione pointed out.

"Yes", Harry said. "How are the students doing? In class, I mean."

"Everyone's sad I can't demonstrate the spells, but other than that people are doing great. I have no doubt we might be able to introduce more to this group soon."

"Have you found some that might be suitable?" Harry asked.

"There's a boy in the fourth year, Danny Ericson, who has proven himself to be an excellent spellcaster", Hermione answered. "He's always one of the first to succeed with a task and to hand in papers."

"A Ravenclaw?" Harry asked, guessing due to Hermione's description.

"No, a Hufflepuff", Hermione answered. Harry nodded, impressed.

"Hermione, do you think we should teach them... how to... transform?" he then asked. Hermione frowned at him.

"Harry, if you are insinuating that we ask them to try and become Animagi we won't be able to defeat the new dark wizard until years from now. Training to become and Animagi takes time and focus; it's not something you can learn in a month's time."

Harry nodded slightly and looked back at the group of students in front of him.

"Yeah, I know", he said. "Just an idea."

Hermione nodded, then headed back to the younger students and started pointing out things they did well and things they could practice more. Harry turned and looked at the group he had focused on during the past few weeks; the ones who had completed their OWLs. The two Gryffindors, Mariah and Kyle, seemed to be enjoying each other's company more each time they came to the trainings. Taimoor was the only Slytherin, but did not seem to mind that at all and was one of the more determined in the group, wishing to save Sirius, his relative, more than anything.

Then there were the Hufflepuffs; Natasha, Brianne, Nick and James. The relationships between those had been tense ever since Harry had met them and he had asked Hermione about it; apparently Nick and Natasha were best friends, but had attended the Christmas Ball with Brianne and James, respectively, and since then things between them had been tense.

The Ravenclaws always brought books with them to the room and often helped analyzing how things could be done differently to improve the group's strength. Benvolio still struggled somewhat with the English but was in other ways a very good addition to the group, especially with his knowledge of Italian jinxes. He had become Rebecca's official boyfriend soon after the Ball and the two often practiced together. The four seventh-year students, Molly, Toby, Hazel and Sandra, were the quietest in the whole group, but had proved that a bookish head could come in handy when it came to remember various charms and curses.

All in all, Harry thought his half of the group was a very diverse one, but it worked perfectly. They completed each other.

"Expecto Patronum!"

He turned his gaze towards Brianne and watched as the white shield materialized in front of her, but instead of keeping that shape it continued to spiral forward until it landed on the floor, where it changed shape.

"A wolf!" Mariah, who was standing close by, cried out. "A wolf! Sandy, it's a wolf!"

Brianne simply stared at the glowing object in between her and the fake Dementor. It looked like a wolf, in every way, and even raised its head to howl at its opponent. The Dementor was pushed back into the box and the wolf soon vanished into thin air, leaving everyone staring at where it had been.

"Well done, Brianne!" Harry called and hurried forward.

"I did it?" Brianne asked. "Did I... I did it?"

"You absolutely did", Fred Weasley agreed as also he came over.

"We got our first corporeal Patronus", Hermione said with a wide smile. "Well done, Miss Beach."

The other students gathered around, smiling widely as they congratulated their friend on being the first to accomplish the task.

"Now you all know it's possible", Harry said once they were done with their hugs. "Everyone will be able to do this if you focus enough."

"Harry, who taught you to cast a Patronus?" Brooklyn suddenly asked. Harry's smile froze.

"Yeah, I mean, we all know you learned it very early, but someone's got to have taught you", Caitlin agreed. Harry averted his gaze and happened to notice Teddy, who was standing somewhat further away. He was still a bit of an outsider to the group and probably was not sure about coming forward for the hug. Even though he had his mother's ability to change looks at will, he had kept his looks very much like his father's ever since the training had started. Therefore when Harry looked at him he saw someone with Remus' kind, green eyes looking back.

"Teddy's father", Harry eventually responded, causing the boy's head to shoot up in surprise.

"Lupin taught you?" Rebecca asked. Harry nodded.

"He thought I might need it, and I eventually did", he said. "Just like I believe you will all need it if we're going to be able to defeat whoever is controlling that same man right now."

"We're doing it for them, aren't we?" Kylie asked. Harry shook his head.

"No just for them; for everyone. Just think of everyone you care for; your families and your friends. If we do not manage to stop this new dark wizard, everyone will lose their powers once they graduate. Some of you are already very close to that line."

"But how are we going to defeat him?" Hazel asked. "He knows all that Lupin knows; won't he be expecting something like this?"

The others nodded in agreement and Harry could feel their gazes burning into him.

"It's our best chance", he said. "Be prepared for any kind of attack and defeat him. There's not much else that we can do."

The students seemed to accept this encouragement and went back to their stations when he ordered them to. He congratulated Brianne one more time before he made his way to the door.

"Where are you going?" Hermione asked.

"Hazel's right", Harry quietly answered. "Whoever is possessing Remus might have a clue that we're doing something like this. We need something else, something that will surprise him."

"Like what?"

The door opened and Harry walked out into the empty corridor.

"Like the help of someone unexpected."