"Hello, everyone. I trust that you all had a good Christmas holiday?" Harry stood in front of the DA, pacing up and down in front of them.
"I had a pretty interesting holiday with my parents and sister myself," Padma was the first to speak up. "they took Parvati and I to India for it, to visit some relatives there. Also did a bit of exploring as well and learned loads."
Parvati rolled her eyes.
"I also managed to acquire a book with some interesting Indian spells in it while there. Two, actually. I got a copy for you as well. Consider it a gift or payment of sorts for helping us out with the DA and all that." Padma shrugged.
"Thanks, Padma!" Harry flashed her a grin with Padma returning a small smile. "Give it to your sister to give to me when you can."
Harry turned to the others in the group. "What about the rest of you? Did you learn anything over the holidays that you think could be of use to us? Spells of any kind, information that's going to affect us here at Hogwarts? Things of that nature!"
They spent a few minutes catching up on the relevant topics before Harry got into the true topic of their meeting.
"Great! Now that we've got all of that perfunctory-"
"I'm surprised that he still remembers how to use such large words," Hermione whispered to Ron.
"What does that word even mea- oh, wait. Never mind. Context clues and all that," Ron whispered back to Hermione.
Harry pretended not to hear them.
"-issues out of the way, we get to the real point of this meeting. Today, we can get started on seemingly harmless spells and using them against your opponent. Think about it!" Harry exclaimed. "They won't be expecting 'little' or 'weak' spells in a serious duel, now would they? NO!" Harry shouted, startling several of them.
"Even in everyday situations, those seemingly harmless spells could be used in ways that would make them lethal. Again, think about it! A well placed trip jinx when your opponent is close to the edge of somewhere high. A few tickling jinxes where they literally die of laughter because they can't breathe. How about a simple levitation charm going wrong when you're rearranging the furniture in your house, accidentally crushing yourself or someone else? There'd be much more than furniture to clean afterwards..." Harry trailed off as he took in the horrified looks on the faces of most of the DA members.
Most of them.
Fred and George actually looked thoughtful as did Luna, but the Creevey brothers looked downright eager, which would have scared him in the past, but now, Harry was too far gone to care.
Harry chuckled at their reactions.
"Oh, come on! If we're going to do well in the real world, we're going to have to think a little bit differently to Voldemort and his Death Eaters..." As Harry raised his wand, those nearest to him scrambled to get out of the way, eliciting another chuckle from him.
"Ron, if you would assist me with this one?" Harry flicked his wand, casting a charm that produced bubbles under and around his red-headed best friend's feet.
Caught off guard, Ron slipped and fell, but not before Harry had cast a Cushioning Charm to break his fall.
"See?" Harry gestured to the fallen Ron, who had started swearing as soon as he hit the floor. "That was a simple spell that you could use to help yourself out when doing some cleaning around the house. Dishes? Laundry? Various surfaces? You're all set. However, twist its purpose and you get this."
He inclined his head towards Ron who was giving him a look of sheer loathing, even as Hermione and Susan helped him up.
"Now, pair up with each other and have a go for a few minutes with what I've told you in mind. I'll help you as you need." Harry inclined his head to them, giving them the signal to go ahead.
"What you did back there," Colin started towards Harry once the meeting was over, his brother close behind him. "I saw it."
"Oh?" Harry raised an eyebrow at the younger boy. "What do you think that you saw?"
"Using everyday spells to bother the soul out of Umbridge, of course!" Colin exclaimed.
Harry started at him.
"Well, that wasn't really the point of it, but do what you will, I suppose. Little things for now, just to offset her. Remember, that as much as Umbitch is horrible, Voldemort is so much worse."
"Harry's right, Colin." Dennis spoke up. "Being able to defend ourselves and others is the real goal here."
"Let's just make things clear here, though," Harry's face broke out in a grin. "That doesn't mean you can't practice a bit on the old toad, now does it?"
Colin and Dennis looked at one another, then burst out laughing.
"Oh, Harry, I swear, you should be a comedian and not an Auror like the rumours say you want to be!" Colin exclaimed.
"Remember what I said about rumours?" Harry raised an eyebrow at him.
"I remember!" Dennis exclaimed. "They're mostly lies and shouldn't be trusted!"
"I just had a marvellous idea, though."
A look of dawning recognition appeared on Harry's face. "Rumours. They say that actions speak louder than words, but we can combine the two to drag Umbridge's sanity right out of her and throw it right into the Great Lake for the Squid to tear to pieces!" Harry cackled, his previously relatively calm demeanour disappearing, much like he had been in the previous term when he first decided to act.
"I'm so glad you got us involved in this, Harry. This is going to be so much fun…" Colin chuckled.
"Remember, boys. Rumours are the order of the day and subtle, everyday spells, if you must," Harry made sure to remind them. "Nothing too flashy. Make her lose her guard a bit, all while still giving her a healthy dose of paranoia."
"Gotcha, Harry!" Dennis exclaimed with a smile.
"Now," Harry checked his watch. "We have to get out of here. Don't want to get caught out of bounds by her or her minions, now do we?"
"Not at all!" Colin and Dennis exclaimed in unison, looking briefly horrified.
"A Disillusionment Charm should help," Harry suggested. "Just remember that you're still solid though, so don't go bumping into anyone you don't want to find you!"
"Right. Let's go, Colin, let's go!" Dennis and Colin hurried to apply the Charms on themselves and hurried out of the room.
Harry checked the Marauder's Map to ensure that they were well on their way before leaving the Room of Requirement himself.
In her office, just as Umbridge was getting ready to wrap up her work for the evening, a chill ran down her spine.
"Potter," she snarled. "He's up to something, isn't he?"