The following weekend Harry found himself sitting in the Hog's Head with Ron and Hermione, waiting for the other students that they had invited along to show up. Naturally the rest of the Weasley siblings were among the first of those to arrive at the meeting point- the twins more so with the thought of rule breaking than the desire to be prompt. Once Hermione nodded to Harry to signal that everyone who was due to turn up was sat in front of them, he erected a silencing charm around the group just in case of any onlookers.
"Well, we all know why we are here. We need a teacher. A proper teacher. For those who want to learn how to fight and duel properly rather than from reading through textbooks. We are thinking of creating just that, a secret organisation to be able to do just that."
"Is it true you can conjure a patronus Harry?" Luna asked in her airy voice.
"Yes, he can, I saw him do it in our third year," answered Hermione before Harry could even open his mouth to reply. The conversation continued on in the same manner for a while, with others asking questions about Harry's many triumphs and Ron or Hermione then answering before he could do so himself.
Finally Harry took over the conversation, "look, it all sounds amazing when you put it like that but I was just lucky, I almost always had help. I just know that in the fight against Voldemort he will not stand there and wait for you to pull out one of your textbooks and fight him with knowledge rather than sheer power. We need to know how to cast the spells, and how to protect ourselves against them as there will be times when you don't have anybody around to help you. Sign your name on the piece of parchment if you are in. We need to find a place to practise where Umbridge will not find out or, more importantly, find us."
Everybody who had turned up to the meeting had agreed to join up to what would henceforth be known as the D.A. or Dumbledore's Army, as written on the header of the parchment. They all left the Hog's Head in small groups so that there was no unnecessary attention drawn to them in case Umbridge found out and punished them for meeting in such large numbers. Each person leaving there with the idea of trying to find somewhere that they could all get to easily enough but that they would not be discovered as easily.
It took almost a week before Harry thought about the Room of Requirement. Although it would normally provide him with his piano and a razor blade, he did not doubt that it could also provide them with the perfect place for the D.A. to meet up and train without it being found by others. The very same day that Harry had thought of this Neville came to him in private and said that he himself had found the ideal place for the D.A. to meet up, a room that appeared in front of him on the seventh floor. With a small smile Harry told him of the magic in the room and that he was right, it would be the opportune place for them to meet. Having figured out where they were going to be training Hermione informed Harry of the Galleons that she had made that would tell the members the day and time of the next meeting. These were soon handed out to the names on their list by either Ron, Hermione, or Harry himself, along with instructions on how to get into the room that would become their meeting point.
It was another week before the students found a time when they could all get together and practise, although after trying to arrange that first meeting it was decided that there would be two or three meetings a week when all of the trio were free and then each week would be a different thing so that if someone could not come on one particular day they did not miss out as they could come and learn the same thing later in the week. Alternatively if they wanted to get some extra practise (Neville) they could come in for every meeting so that they had extra time making sure that the spell was done perfectly before moving on to the next.
The evening before the first meeting Hermione sat informing Harry on how the coins worked, and how he could send out the next meeting time using his own coin. She also explained how the coins could only be read by those to whom the coin belonged and anyone else who looked on at the coin would just see an ordinary Galleon. Finally she explained the charm that she had placed on the parchment everyone signed when Harry explained his nervousness that someone might double cross them and go straight to Umbridge, that if anyone who signed the sheet went to Umbridge the writing on the piece of parchment would glow red to inform them of her knowledge of the event as well as the fact of the 'punishment' that would befall them. Although Harry felt somewhat better about the idea of the D.A. remaining secret he was still nervous about having to teach others, especially those that were older than him and knew more magic than he did, so he went down to see his new favourite professor in the dungeons.
Giving the password, Harry walked straight into Severus' chambers, knowing that the man would be informed that he was in there and would arrive as soon as he could so he sat on the couch with the book he was reading in there the last time he came, 'Alice in Wonderland', particularly liking the Hatter and the Caterpillar, Absolem. It was twenty minutes before Snape returned to his rooms as he was on duty however he did not fret over a student being alone in his chambers due to his knowledge that only his Godson and his soon- to- be son knew the password to his rooms and that neither of them would mess about in there or play with things that they knew not to touch. As soon as he walked into his rooms and saw Harry rather than Draco he immediately undid his robes and hung them up before sitting next to Harry.
"What's wrong Harry?" he asked as he pulled the boy into a hug.
"Nothin'," Harry drew out the word before smirking as he continued talking, "just wanted this book, you can go." Severus mock glared at the fifteen- year- old at his dismissal and when Harry poked his tongue out at the man he made a point of grabbing his tongue between two fingers.
"Want to try again brat?" Harry nodded, somewhat dismayed that he was unable to answer due to his captured tongue, with a smile that simply said 'I win' Severus released the boy's muscle and gestured for Harry to speak.
"I just thought I would come down here and see you is all."
"Are you sure? You seem worried about something. Is it Umbridge, has she been giving you trouble again?" As Severus spoke those final words he took Harry's hand in his own and turned them so he could check and make sure that the scars on the backs of his hands had not been reopened and the boy was putting off telling him like he had the first time.
"I'm fine. Honestly, I am. I'll go if you wish."
"No, you can stay if you so desire, I will not force you to leave, nor will I ever. I was just worried is all, especially with the trouble that Umbridge has been giving you the last couple of months." Severus picked up his own book and the two men sat there in companionable silence as each of them read their own thing. Harry feeling better, for he desired the company of the man more so than the words that he could offer in comfort.
Harry left before curfew and went straight up to the dormitory upon reaching the common room, climbed into bed and tried to get some sleep before the big day he would be having when he awoke.
After breakfast Harry, Ron and Hermione all went up to the Room of Requirement together, knowing that it was too early for the meeting however they decided that they would sit down together there and try to figure out the best way to have the room set up as well as a plan for what they would be doing each week, starting with disarming your opponent and shield charms that afternoon, ending the year with a fully apparitional patronus by the time the school year finished, all three hoping that the curse would remain and the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher would, once again, only last for the one school year. Granted they were hoping that Umbridge wouldn't even last that long however they knew that they should expect at least that long.
All too soon the others began turning up in time for the meeting and Harry started to teach them the weeks planned spells. Even Neville managed to complete each of the spells perfectly at least once by the end of the session, although he vowed to come to every meeting that he was free for as he had never done this well with any other teacher, or in any other subject, except for Herbology.