Chapter 37 Meetings
A/N new chapter, sorry but these are probably going to come a little slowly over the summer. Life seems to take more time in the summer, but they will come! Shouldn't be longer then two weeks between chapters, that's the extreme. And if it takes me too long, I'm sure my little buddy on facebook will get me back on track. ^_^ still not many people on there. Just search Juniper E Potter in the search thing, theres a little cartoon of June as the pic, I'll probably be updating that soon too… so, come join me! And I'm still looking for people who will draw fan art! I have a few, on facebook, but I want more! I'm greedy like that… anyway! Enough babbling!
Special Note, Sygsyg, one of my reviewers who doesn't sign in before reviewing, I have one little question, what iPod do you have that gets ? I know its not the nano, cause mine SO does not do that! My curiosity is peaked!
Ahem, anyway, on with the chapter!
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The third Saturday of the term saw June and Draco having a little alone time near the lake. June had her head in her boyfriend's lap, reading a book. Draco stared off at the lake, a million things going through his mind, his fingers running through his girlfriend's hair.
June could tell that Draco had something to tell her, he was always really quiet when he did. Usually she couldn't get him to stop talking. Must something big… if its too big, he probably needs a little encouragement… his thinking so hard is more distracting to my reading then his chattering…
"Draco." He looked down into her big eyes, her glasses had fallen down her nose, so he got the full impact of emerald gaze.
"yeah?"
June smiled, "you're thinking about as loud as humanly possible, why don't you tell me what's on your mind. Maybe I can help." She knew it was about her, otherwise he would have already told her. He told her everything, whether she wanted to know or not. Like Theodore's masturbatory habits. So none of her business…
Draco closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said "I'm playing Seeker this year."
June waited. No way is he done.
He kept his eyes closed, but his mouth was going a mile a minute. "It's only until you come back. But the kid we've been training is a half blood, and he told his mom, and she flipped, so he's not allowed on the team. Then Carter came up with the idea that the Chasers should try out for the position, since its much easier to train a Chaser then a Seeker, so we did and they said that I was the best, but still not very good, so I'm going to have to train a lot on the weekends, and the first match is against Gryffindor, and you know I only have until November to train, so we won't have a lot of time together and I promise its only until you come play again." He paused for a breath, and finally opened his eyes.
He looked down into June's face, and noticed it getting red…
"are you mad at me?" Draco asked pitifully.
June burst out laughing. She had been trying to hold it in, but she just couldn't help it, the sad puppy look was the last straw.
When she calmed slightly, she pulled him down for a kiss. When he pulled back, his eyes were a little glazed, and she was smiling. She sat up and turn to face him.
"Draco, I don't care if you play Seeker this year." He looked confused. "I said I didn't want to play this year, and I meant it. I hope you do really well, and I have a few things that are going to be stealing my time as well."
Draco nodded, "yeah, Blaise told me about the class."
June nodded, "that and one other thing. If you can manage to schedule your training sessions on Thursdays, then we should be fine. You can't train all the time. We can still do our homework together, we still have Prefect Duties together, and we still have classes together." June gave him a little kiss on the mouth, "we will have plenty of time together, I don't want you to worry."
Draco grinned and nodded. "what night are the Class Meetings going to be on?"
June shrugged, "I don't know, I'm letting Blaise, Millie and Hermione plan everything."
Draco nodded, "I thought Daphne was helping too."
June laughed, "she's been in the library for a week, and she'll be in there all next week to I imagine. She's in charge of protecting our first meeting room, and Hermione gave her something to do too. I saw her list, I feel a little sorry for any of these people who come thinking they'll be getting us in trouble."
Draco swallowed hard, "are they that bad?"
June grinned, "apparently Durmstrang trains you in the art of defending yourself, we will have no worries of being ratted out."
Draco just nodded.
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October, and Intro Day June had given her girls, came quickly. June had picked a random day, but it turned out to be the first of October, and a Wednesday. The next day would be her first Occlumency lesson with Snape, but tonight she would be meeting the people who were maybe interested in learning Defense from a 5th year. A famous 5th year. What the hell was I thinking?
June sighed, they were just finishing a Care of Magical Creatures lesson, and then she'd have three hours till the first Meeting. Professor Gruby-something was still teaching, June had stopped enjoying this class some time ago. They'd been covering Nifflers for over a week now, the cutest little thieves you ever saw. They went after everything shiny, and June had yet to have a day pass where one of the little monsters didn't go straight for her throat or wrist. Last lesson Draco had stunned one to get her charm bracelet back, the teacher was not amused…
As terrifying as Hagrid's pets usually are, I really prefer him teaching…
Blaise grinned at June when they were dismissed. "are you ready? Everyone is excited."
June sighed.
Millie frowned from her place at Blaise's shoulder, "what's wrong? Did you change your mind? Are you nervous?"
"You better not have changed your mind!" Daphne said as she caught up, "I just got that room finished!"
June smiled, "I haven't changed my mind. I thought you finished the room days ago?"
Daphne crossed her arms, "well, I finished making my list of spells, but I had to rest between certain days, so I just finished it at lunch. The room took power, the paper took skill."
June frowned, "paper? What paper?"
Daphne shrugged, "something Hermione wanted."
Blaise gave a very exasperated sigh, "I've told you not to call her that! You call everyone by their last name unless they're in your House!"
Daphne scowled, "June calls her Hermione, and she calls me Daphne, why should I follow your silly rules? I'm only here for a year, what difference does it make?"
Blaise just shook her head, Millie giggled, and June elbowed Blaise. "Don't tell her stuff like that. If we're all going to be in this club, we're going to have to get a little friendly."
Blaise scoffed, "are you going to tell them that? Because most of them wouldn't talk to us until they saw Granger or Weasley with us."
June frowned, "yes, I will tell them that. Now, I don't want to talk about this anymore," June rolled her eyes, "I have a feeling I'm going to need all my strength."
Millie giggled, the other two went on bickering over what who should be called and why.
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June walked past Umbridge's classroom on her way to the meeting. It was two minutes past the time everyone was supposed to be there and June was right on schedule. She had chosen a simple purple dress with a brown belt around her waist. No House colors, no House association.
She felt a wave of magic flow over her as she walked through the door, everyone turned to look at her, parting like the red sea. She walked down the center of the group, stepping onto the small stage someone had set up for her. Hermione, Blaise, Millie and Daphne were sitting at a table on the stage, looking out at the crowd, Hermione had a blank length of parchment and a quill in front of her.
June smiled at the crowd. "hello, does everyone know why we're here?"
June looked at the faces, she could see Draco, Neville, Ron, Dean, and Seamus right in front. June had studied the list, so she'd be able to recall everyone by their first name. Lavender Brown, the Patil twins, Padma and Pavarti, Cho Chang, Marietta Edgecombe, and Angelina, Katie and Alicia from the Gryffindor Quiddich Team were all in a group. Luna and Ginny were off to one side, Colin and Dennis Creevey, Michael Corner and Zachariah Smith with them. Hannah Abbot, Susan Bones, Ernie McMillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Anthony Goldstein and Terry Boot were all grouped together, Fred and George Weasley right behind them with their friend Lee Jordan.
Ginny spoke up, "Because Umbridge can't teach!"
June grinned, "Most of you know me, but just for the sake of it, I am Juniper Potter, you may call me June. You are here to learn Defense. This will not be our regular room, this is just a precaution, if you sign up to join, you will be informed of our meeting place, if not, you will not be able to get the rest of us in trouble. Does anyone have any questions so far?"
"Are we breaking the rules?" Ernie McMillan, her fellow Prefect.
June smiled, "I don't think we are, but I also don't think Umbridge will like what we're doing. I have a feeling that Miss No-Change-for-the-sake-of-Change, would not like me teaching her subject behind her back. I have a feeling that if she found out about this, we'd all be in trouble. However, I happen to know for a fact that Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall all think this is a fabulous idea."
"you asked permission?" Zachariah Smith, the git, sneered. Like a Hufflepuff could successfully sneer at a Slytherin.
June narrowed her eyes at him, "we have several Prefects in here, I knew the rules would be an issue. I am prepared for this." She raised her wand and pointed right at him, "Are you?"
His face tightened, but he lowered his head in submission. June lowered her wand.
"The Professors know about it, but I wouldn't recommend talking to them about this. This club is strictly secret, they have been asked to deny all knowledge."
"why should we learn from you? There are 6th and 7th years in this room, you're hardly an expert." Marietta asked snidely.
June grinned, "I am so glad you asked that. Why don't you come join me up here?"
She took a step back as the girls up their scrambled to get out of the way. "Why?"
"Well, as you said, you are a sixth year, therefore more knowledgeable and experienced. Why don't you come up here and give a practice Duel for the demonstration? You did just volunteer." June was grinning larger then a Cheshire Cat.
Marietta looked to Cho, who gave her a 'you're on your own' look. Marietta shook her head, and took another step back.
June nodded, and looked around, "anyone else wanna give it a go?" no one moved. "fine, then I'll just give you my list of accomplishments. Somehow, the Killing Curse bounced off my head when I was a year old. When I was eleven I used my brain to defeat a fully grown Mountain Troll, get the Sorcerers Stone before Voldemort could, and get my group of Slytherin's to accept my Gryffindor friends. When I was twelve I killed a Basilisk and a shadow of Voldemort, last year I was a forced Champion in the Triwizard Tournament, and was set against Voldemort once again. I am top of our class in Defense Against Dark Arts and Potions, I am the daughter of an Honorary Unspeakable, and the Goddaughter of an Auror. I live with a werewolf." June looked around at a lot of stunned faces. Every one of them had heard the rumors of all these events, but no one had really believed any of it.
"So, You-Know-Who is alive?" Hannah asked in the silence.
June frowned, "I'm sorry, but yes he is. I saw it with my own eyes and I can feel him everyday." She brushed her hand across her forehead lightly.
"But, you're a Slytherin, and there are so many Slytherin's in here." Terry Boot said.
June raised an eyebrow, "so? You think all Slytherin's are evil? Including the Electus? And about my friends, I think you should be able to trust them, if only because I trust them. Its not you're job to protect this group, its mine. If we get caught and they attempt to punish anyone in this group, I want all of you to point to me. I will protect you all to the very best of my ability."
"Why are you teaching us?" Luna asked dreamily.
June smiled, "for two reasons actually. The first is the simplest, we fifth years have our O.W.L.s this year, and I don't want anyone to fail. The second reason is because, someday, you may need to protect someone you love or yourself, and I want you to be able to do that. This is my way of protecting you, and I hope you pass on the favor." June sighed, and stepped back, she waved Blaise forward and sat down at her spot at the table.
Blaise looked around at the audience, "ok, we need to come up with a name. something we can call this without anyone knowing what it is."
"Like Defense Association?" Cho asked quietly.
Blaise's mouth twitched, "like that yes, but we would call it the DA or something, so no one knows what this is."
"Dumbledore's Army!" Ron shouted.
Blaise cringed, "a little too dramatic, besides, a lot of us are from neutral families, not light families."
"Justice League." Justin Finch-Fletchley said nodding, the muggleborns all giggled a little.
"Teens Against Crappy Teaching." Daphne said from her spot at the table. "we can call it Tact."
That got more laughs.
"I second that!" Anthony Goldstein shouted. A few people cheered in agreement.
Blaise was smirking, "all for?" Hands went up. "against?" no one moved. "then we are TACT! Thank you Daphne." Blaise went to sit down, Millie getting up to give her a seat.
Millie walked to the front of the room. "a few rules before we all sign up!"
Everyone watched skeptically.
"rule number one, during TACT meetings, everyone is to be referred to by their first name." a few people looked uncomfortable, but most nodded. "this will all be very uncomfortable is we stay separate, so during TACT meetings, none of us belong to any House. We are all Hogwarts students and TACT members. Rule number two, you will not discuss TACT with anyone outside of meetings. You may mention TACT, but no details. You may not bring in new people without getting permission first. Rule number three, June is in charge. Her word goes. Hermione, Daphne, Blaise and myself are her Seconds. We are only in charge if June is not present and still limited when we are. We keep the Peace and help with the practicing." Millie smiled, "that is all for now, but if problems arise we will add or change these rules as necessary." She stepped back and sat down in Hermione's seat as she stood.
Hermione placed the sheet of parchment on the center of the table, the quill and ink next to it. She had scribed Teens Against Crappy Teaching across the top in perfect handwriting. She turned back to the group.
"This is the sign up sheet. Every member must sign their full name. Signing this paper is agreeing to the rules making you an official member." Hermione turned and handed the quill to June. She stood up and signed her name at the top of the page. Blaise and Millie followed, then Hermione, then Daphne. The people in the room started lining up, everyone signing their names. Hermione checked it over once they were all done, and with a nod, Daphne got up, and she sat down.
Daphne had a bag. She smiled. "we needed a way to let you all know when the next meeting is without talking to everyone individually, so Hermione came up with this." She reached in a pulled out a large golden coin.
"Money?" Seamus asked, confused.
Daphne grinned, "no one will find it odd for students to carry around a galleon. This is fake money, please don't try to spend it. It looks, feels, and weighs exactly like a galleon, the charms on it are very impressive, the only being it won't fool is a Goblin." She held it so the crowd could see its face. "On the front we have the Hogwarts seal, and on the back is the school motto. When June has instructions for us, the coin will heat and vibrate and the instructions will appear on the back."
"How cold this fool anyone if it looks nothing like a normal galleon?" Susan Bones asked.
Daphne glanced back at Hermione for a second, then answered, "The parchment you just signed was charmed. Only those with their full names signed with the honest desire to be in this club and follow our rules will be able to see the coins. The coins also have your name scribed into the edge, so they'll be like your badge of membership."
A few people looked slightly uncomfortable that they'd been spelled, but no one said anything.
Daphne looked at the edge of the coin in her hand, and called out, "Anthony."
The meeting was dismissed after they handed out all the coins, and they were reminded to not speak of this with anyone outside of the meetings. And,
"all Quiddich schedules should be given to me," June said before anyone could leave, "I don't want this to clash with anything else you'll be doing."
"You just want to spy on our Quiddich practice!" Zachariah Smith yelled out.
June frowned, "I'm not playing this year. I really don't care if my House wins the Cup this year. But, if you'd rather miss a TACT meeting or two, then don't tell me. But I promise you, if you miss a meeting, you will get special attention at the next one." If she had said it any different, it may have sounded like a good thing…
The Hufflepuff stomped over to her, stopped barely inches from her face. "is that a threat?"
June smiled, "so you do wish to duel me? Step up on the stage, I'll happily take you on."
He backed up a step, and climbed up onto the stage. June stepped up to the opposite side.
"I'm sure all of you, except perhaps Dennis, were here for Lockhart's Dueling club, but I'll review it in case you forgot." June addressed the room with a smile, everyone had returned to their previous spot to watch the show.
Zach was standing in his position, fuming and beet red.
June wasn't even facing him. "you stand across from your partner, approximately eight to ten feet apart, and salute your partner." June took her place and held up her wand in a salute, Zach followed after. "Normally you would have someone presiding over the duel, and he or she would count down and start the duel." She motioned to Blaise, who obliged with a "3, 2, 1!"
June waved her wand as Zach shot a stinging hex at her, it bounced off her quickly erected shield. Zach sent another hex, but it bounced off as well. June started talking, Zach kept throwing infantile spells.
"this shield, which I will teach you at a later date, will protect you from most of the spells we learned in our years here, either in the Halls or in class. It will hold for as long as you can concentrate solely on the shield. This makes for a very good defense, but it is impossible to go on the offence while it is up."
June dropped her shield just after a jelly-legs jinx bounced off it. She waved her wand in an arc and shot green sparks at her opponent. The sparks hit his arm as he tried to block physically. He froze in shock, waiting for the effects to take place, and in his moment of hesitation, she shouted "Expelliarmus!" and his wand hit her palm as he flew backwards.
June turned back to her class, smiling and holding up his wand. "a little subterfuge is sometimes the best strategy, different colored sparks will make people react in different ways, green is a good one if you want them to pause. Red will be ignored by more experienced fighters, yellow usually has them flinging themselves to the floor, and blue will also usually be ignored. Purple will confuse them, there are very few spells that light up purple." June turned to look at Zach, who was picking himself up and making his way over. "distract your enemy, then disarm them. If your fighting someone who doesn't stop after being disarmed, I recommend stunning or binding spells. We will learn those in this class as well." June handed Zach his wand back. "thank you for demonstrating, I would recommend you read a book on attack spells, the ones you used were mostly first and second year spells."
He grumbled and got off the stage.
June smiled, "I will see you all next week, instructions will appear before Wednesday, which, unless it coincides with any Quiddich practices, will be our normal day for class. Tuesdays will be fall back plans, and Friday is last resort. Saturday afternoons may be added, depending on progress and what you guys want to learn. Have a nice evening everyone."
It was almost curfew, and people left in droves. Daphne and Hermione watched everyone carefully, on the Marauders Map, Filch's cat walked right by the group, and didn't even react until they stepped on the stairs leading off the third floor.
"perfect, the masking spells keep them covered for fifty feet in every direction." Daphne said with a grin.
Hermione nodded, "its connected to the room?"
"Its cast on the parchment and connected to the coins, actually. This means we'll have to post the list in the Room of Requirement."
Hermione nodded.
June sat at the table with her four lieutenants. "so, how did I do?"
Millie smiled, "you were great!"
June smiled as Blaise snorted, "Did any of the names change color?"
Hermione nodded, "a few turned red or green, but no purple or yellow yet."
June nodded, "no blue?"
She shook her head, "no blue. They all really signed it."
June nodded again, "good. I'm heading to bed, you guys'll take care of the room? You have a week to move all the spells Daphne, you may want to teach a few to the others."
Daphne nodded as everyone bid June a goodnight.
Blaise grinned, "did you see the look on Smith's face when she took his wand?"
The other three spent a few hours giggling over choice moments, and used the Marauders Map to get back to their Dorms. Hermione just pretended she was on patrol.
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The next day, after dinner, June made her way to Snape's office. The official story was that she was getting extra Potions tutelage for a Potion's apprenticeship. Unfortunately, according to her reading, this wouldn't be nearly as fun as Potions.
Snape must have been hoping she could pick it up from the books, because according to her research, the only way to teach, person to person, was to mentally attack the student to get the practical.
She had her form down, but she didn't know how it would hold against Snape… the books said to clear her mind, and she did, several times a day. She did it when she woke up, she did it when she went to bed, she did it when she flied, because that's what she used. One book told her that she needed to find a focus, the author used writing as an example. Clear your mind, and think of writing. Don't think of words, or plot or characters, just the physical action of writing. The way your hand moves, the way your mind flows. June didn't like writing, it meant homework, essays, un-fun stuff. So she thought, and she had just thought, I'll go flying to clear my mind, then I'll try again. When it came to her. Flying. Her mind was totally clear when she flew around the lake. So she started there. She flew around, then she'd land and try to recreate the mentality. After a few weeks, she had it down. She could fly anywhere, any time. She could even fly during class, she found she retained more information by doing this. She was ready to try, but if she failed, this would be a painful process…
Snape was sitting at his desk when she came in, he closed and warded to door. No one would disturb them, unless it was an emergency.
They didn't speak, they didn't need to. June stood at one end of the room, and thought of flying. Snape stood across from her, looked directly into her eyes, and pointed his wand at her.
"Legilimens!"
June could feel him, he entered her mind, she thought for a moment that she had failed, but her mind responded almost on its own, and rose higher. She couldn't see the ground anymore, it was just sky. She could feel the wind on her face and in her hair, and blue and white all around her. She felt him leave her mind, and her eyes refocused.
Snape was a little wobbly, but he pulled himself together well enough. "that was very good, I've never seen anyone use that particular technique before."
June smiled, "you're not afraid of heights are you sir?"
Snape laughed humorlessly, "I don't mind being above the ground, but there not being a ground was a little disconcerting."
June chuckled.
"ok, we'll go again, and see how long it takes you to break. I'll be pushing harder this time."
June nodded, and focused.
He came in a little faster this time, much harder too. she felt her mind slipping, she could feel her thoughts at the very edge of her mind, then she flew up. She went higher and higher, he didn't get disoriented this time, he didn't retreat, he knew what to expect, so she just flew. As she steadied, his pushing turned into pulling, it felt like he was pulling her down. Like he thought that if he could just pull her to the ground, her defense would break. They pulled and pushed for a long time, eventually, June could see the ground again. The second it appeared in her mind, she was getting closer, much closer, and fast.
The connection broke when she hit the ground, Snape could have gone fishing, but he didn't see the point. Or he was tired. Both were sweating and panting with the effort.
"How often do you practice that?" Snape asked, leaning over, hands on his knees holding him up.
June wiped the sweat off her brow, she was leaning against the nearest bookshelf. "I do it in class mostly. I tried it once, and when I realized I hadn't taken a single note, but remembered everything perfectly, I kept it up. Its great for History."
Snape was smiling, "and here I thought I'd actually have to teach you. So, have your dreams stopped?"
June shook her head, "nope, I dream about a spinning door almost every night, and the nights I don't, I'm pretty sure are Death Eater Meetings. You guys had a few Muggles join the fun last Wednesday."
Snape didn't answer, but she could see the truth in his eyes. "maybe this won't work on your scar, the connection could be too deep. I'll speak with Dumbledore about it. But first, lets see how long you last after being broken."
June nodded and stood straight again.
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"Next time we'll work on you pushing me out, instead of just blocking me." Snape said, as they finished up a calming draught. They had kept up the Occlumency lessons for a few hours, but he wanted her to calm down and rest her mind before she tried to sleep, so they brewed potions for the Hospital Wing.
June nodded as she washed the stirring rods, knives, cups and bowls they had used. "is that still part of Occlumency, or is it bordering Legilimacy?"
Snape stopped the last vial. "its borderline, you did want to learn it."
June smiled, "yeah, I want to become and Animagus too, doesn't mean someone here will teach me."
Snape frowned, "you could ask your Godmut, I believe he was about your age when he managed it."
June shook her head, "he's not here. I'm thinking about asking him over winter break, but Professor McGonagall is right here, I'm sure she'd be a better teacher, I'm just not sure she'd teach me."
Snape glanced over at her, "you want Animagus lessons? Along with Prefect Duties, your little defense class-"
"excuse me, we have a name now, we are TACT"
"Tact, Occlumency and Legilimacy, and studying for your O.W.L.s?" Snape asked, exasperated, then, "wait, Tact? What does that mean?"
June grinned, "tact: for those not witty enough to be sarcastic."
Snape rolled his eyes, "you know what I meant, smart ass teenager."
June laughed, "that's a good one too! we could be SAT! but, T.A.C.T. is Teenagers Against Crappy Teaching. Daphne came up with it."
He just shook his head. "if you'd like, I could run it past Minerva, but if your head explodes, don't say I didn't warn you. Now go to bed, SAT."
June laughed and headed off to her warm bed. She was going to sleep really well tonight.
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June woke up in a cold sweat, and shivered. She couldn't remember what she dreamed, but her heart was still racing, and she held a very deep fear in her heart.
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A/N: so? What do you think? Great? Horrible? Did I screw anything up?
Want your opinion again! IF I make Snape an Animagus, what should he be? and try to think of him the way I wrote him, not the way Harry Potter saw him. No bat. Try to be a little original, I've seen a lot of ravens, cats, etc, my Snape is a little lighter then JK's Snape. So, if at all possible, stray from the solid black category.
And while we're at it, what do think June's Animagus will be? if she finds a teacher. Should she? I always thought Harry should have done it, would have made camping easier… and I always wondered what he'd be, you know? Would he be 'just like his father' and be a stag? Would he be unique for once?
Let me know!
ok! I have a special treat for you today! One of my readers has posted her very first story! It's a very funny little story of what should have happened to Umbridge. I thought most of you would like it since I've gotten so much "I hate Umbitch" feedback. Its her first story, so constructive criticism is appreciated. I know my reviewers pretty well, and some of you can be a little harsh, so I must say, "if you can't say something nice, please say nothing at all." I happen to think its very good for a first story, possibly because I still have some of my first stories… trust me, hers is better, and she's younger then I was.
So, I present to you, Mistress of Magic22's very first story!
.net/s/6096279/1/Dolores_First_Day#