Chapter 16: The Defense Tree

Harry looked over the assembled crowd of students, doing his best to stave off the headache that was already beginning to make itself known. Why did I agree to do this? It wasn't the first time he'd asked himself that question, and it probably wouldn't be the last. Unfortunately, he wasn't entirely certain why he'd finally agreed to Hermione's repeated requests. Sure, there were some reasons. It would help him develop more ties with his fellow students and it would annoy Umbridge if the students that she didn't approve of were to improve more than her chosen favorites, though it would probably be best if she didn't know he was responsible. But still, it would be a lie to say that he was terribly enthusiastic about the whole thing.

But regardless, he was here, so he should do his best. Keeping in mind Peter and Heather's oft repeated warning that people would always be watching and judging him due to his status as a celebrity in the wizarding world, he forced a smile on his face as he walked to the front of the room.

"Good evening, everybody. Thanks for coming," he began. "I'm not quite sure what you're all expecting. To be honest, this wasn't my idea, it was Hermione's. I know she's done a bit of research into how other schools teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, so I'll let her talk to you all for a minute, and then we can figure out what we'll do moving forward."

Deep down, Harry felt just a smidge of satisfaction at the brief look of panic on his friend's face as she walked to the front, but she covered it well.

"Thank you all for coming," she said, echoing Harry's earlier words. "I know that we're all unsatisfied with the level of instruction that we're getting from Umbridge. And while she claims that the extracurricular club is intended to make up for the poor content of her classes, it's very obvious that ensuring we all receive a quality education in defense is not her main priority. As such, as Harry indicated, I have written to the Department of Magical Education. It turns out that there are very well-developed curricula for Defense Against the Dark Arts which are mandatory for all magical schools in Britain except for Hogwarts. I've reviewed these standards briefly, and while they may be a little light on actual spells, they are much better than the content Umbridge is giving us."

"So, what, you'll copy those lesson plans or whatever and we all learn them?" an older boy that Harry didn't recognize asked.

"Well, actually, I though that it would be more effective if Harry were to learn them and then teach us all," Hermione replied.

"I would be willing to help people with the spells that I know," Harry interjected, "but I can't promise that I know all of them."

"You really think a little third year can teach us anything?" another boy scoffed.

Before Harry could reply, Colin Creevey piped up. "He beat Lockhart last year!" the small boy called out.

"And he killed a troll as a first year," Neville added.

"Not to mention kicking those Slytherins' arses when they attacked Hope," a boy in Ravenclaw robes yelled.

While he was grateful for the show of support, Harry didn't want this to devolve into an argument over his abilities. "Like I said, I probably won't know all of the spells, but I am willing to help people learn the spells that I do know. If you would rather, you can learn them on your own, or maybe you can approach one of the teachers. I doubt Umbridge would help you, but maybe one of the others would."

Most of the students looked a bit dubious at that idea, but at least there were no more protests about Harry's qualifications to teach.

"Okay, I'll make copies of the curricula that the DME sent me. I can have them ready for the next meeting," Hermione finished. "Which will be…" She looked over at Harry.

"Friday, same time, same place," he announced quickly, but his focus was elsewhere. Harry studied his friend closely. She now seemed just a little uncomfortable.

"In order to keep track of who is in the group, how many copies of the standards we'll need, and stuff like that, we'll need a list of who is here," Hermione said, fidgeting a little. "And we need to all agree not to tell Umbridge, so if you want to be a part of the group, you need to commit to keep it quiet. So if you do want to participate, sign the list, but you're agreeing not to tell people what we're up to."

Some of the students, such as Fred and George, signed with no hesitation, but not everyone was so quick to comply. Rather, many of the other students were looking noticeably uneasy.

"Hermione, we really shouldn't be signing something like that," Ernie Macmillan said awkwardly.

The girl in question rolled her eyes. "Ernie, do you really think I'm just going to leave it lying around?"

"Well, no," the boy replied lamely. Not seeming to be able to find any other objection, he signed, then left quickly.

None of the other students protested, but Harry could see that some were still a bit anxious about the whole thing.

Harry suppressed the urge to smile as he glanced over at Hermione. His female friend was glaring so ferociously at the newspaper in front of her that he wondered if she was trying to use accidental magic to set it on fire.

"Something in the paper you don't like, Hermione?" he asked, keeping his voice light as he began to dish up his breakfast.

"Oh, just more proof that magical society is horrendously biased against non-magicals, as if we didn't already know that," the scowling girl replied.

"What is it this time?" Neville inquired as he helped himself to the scrambled eggs.

Hermione's response was to pick up the paper, clear her throat, and begin to read. "Based on a recent surprising report by noted druidic ritual experts Algernon Mendethanes and Atticus Rosier, the Ministry of Magic has authorized an extensive, on-going study to determine exactly how modern muggle technology detrimentally impacts the ambient magic all around us, frequently referred to by experts as the 'thaumasphere'. This report, compiled from Mendethanes' and Rosier's findings from a small, privately funded study conducted over the past three years, serves as a wake-up call to our society, and in response, the Wizengamot yesterday gave approval for the 'Technological Impact on Magical Equilibrium' or TIME study.

"While a few misguided members of our community have expressed surprise or even disapproval of this new development, there is wide-spread support for this study among informed citizens. 'It is good that we will finally be taking a close look at just what the so-called non-magical advancements are costing us,' said Mister Lucius Malfoy, 39, speaking from his Wiltshire mansion. 'It is our duty to protect ourselves from harmful influences, even those that may not be readily discernible, and I feel that the TIME study will give us the tools to do just that,' Victor Grey, chairman of the Foundation for the Future, stated in a public address.

"As part of this study, sensors designed by Mendethanes will be placed in key locations throughout the muggle parts of Britain in order to more accurately measure the harmful effects of technology – the crude and often dangerous machines and other objects which muggles use to compensate for their lack of magic. Minister Fudge was quick to reassure the populace that the TIME study would not be financed by tax galleons. Although it was approved by the Wizengamot, it will be privately funded by donations from concerned citizens and organizations such as the Foundation for the Future."

Hermione threw the paper on the table with a snarl, not caring that it also hit some of the food on her plate. "I cannot believe that anyone would fall for this sort of ridiculous garbage."

Harry shrugged. "The Prophet writes whatever the ministry tells it," he pointed out. Though he knew it wasn't the best idea, he added, "and you can't say for sure that they're wrong. Non-magical science recognizes that technology can have a negative impact on the environment. Not just because of regular chemical pollution, but because of light and sound pollution as well."

"I cannot believe that you would say something like that," Hermione hissed.

Harry held his hands up in a placating gesture. "I don't support anti-muggle prejudice or blood bigotry, but we won't know if there are harmful effects of technology without a study like this. It doesn't hurt to investigate. Once the findings have been reported, then you can protest the conclusions if you feel there was something invalid about their methods."

An owl landing in front of Harry put an end to the heated discussion. Surprised, Harry opened the small, cylindrical package and found a copy of the newest edition of The Quibbler.

ATTACK ON HARRY POTTER!

OUR HERO'S NEAR BRUSH WITH DEATH –

WHO IS BEHIND THESE ATTACKS?

Harry flipped through the pages quickly, skimming the article with a broad smile on his face. Really going to have to do something nice for Luna, he thought as he read. Even with The Quibbler's rather limited audience, the article on both attacks, including the irregularities of the trial and the extremely limited investigation, would put the ministry on the defensive. And of course, the allegations in a separate article regarding Auror Gibbon's somewhat less-than-legal actions in covering up a number of crimes against muggles at Lucius Malfoy's behest over the years were just the cherry on top.

Given the very eccentric design of Hogwarts, with moving staircases, shifting hallways and fake doors, traveling between any two points in the castle was quite a trek. As such, it hadn't been difficult for Harry to adjust his usual paths to pass by Sinistra's office at least once a day to see if his mysterious informant had left a message. But it wasn't until the first Thursday after the Quidditch game that the sign indicating a new message finally appeared.

Harry quickly made his way through the library aisle to where the message was hidden. It had taken some time for him to find the spot when he had left his letter agreeing to his informant's terms, but now that he knew the spot, it took just a moment to reach under the shelf and pull the letter free from the metal lip. Continuing to walk as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred, he casually made his way back to the table and slipped the letter into his bag.

After studying for about fifteen more minutes, he finally gathered his materials and walked out of the library, taking the quickest course back to Gryffindor Tower. He bounded up the stairs to the third-year boys' dorm, then paused to double-check that he was alone before opening the letter.

Potter,

Umbridge knows about your DADA group. Don't know what she's planning.

Harry resisted the urge to sigh. Well, that secret didn't last long, he thought bitterly.

Harry waited until classes were finished before telling Neville and Hermione the news. Fortunately, it wasn't difficult to find a deserted classroom near the tower to use for their discussion.

"Someone must have told Umbridge," Neville said thoughtfully.

"They couldn't have," Hermione protested. "Harry, your source must be wrong. None of the students at the group could have told Umbridge."

There was a note of confidence and finality in Hermione's voice that sent a chill down Harry's back. "Explain," he said, his tone making it clear that this was not a request, it was a demand.

Hermione seemed startled, but relented. "I put a jinx on the parchment. If anyone tries to tell Umbridge, we'll know exactly who they are and they will really regret it."

It took a few moments for this statement to sink in. And when it did, Harry was thanking every deity he could think of that he had pulled Hermione and Neville away to this classroom. "You put a jinx on the parchment," he repeated, but where Hermione's voice had been filled with pride and grim satisfaction, Harry's was filled with barely restrained fury. "Circe's eyeball on a stick, Hermione! What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that we need to keep this a secret from Umbridge," the girl protested, clearly taken aback.

"You don't use magic on people without their permission!" Harry roared.

"Hermione, that's the type of thing that can get you sent to Azkaban," Neville said, much more quietly, but no less emphatically.

"Not to mention, it doesn't keep them from talking. It punishes them if they do, and a punishment only serves as a deterrent if people know about it. Which…" Harry floundered for a minute, gesturing emphatically as he tried to think of the words. "They didn't," he finished.

"What sort of a jinx was it?" Neville asked, a deep frown on his face.

"They'll get pimples spelling out 'SNEAK' on their forehead," Hermione said softly.

It was with a great deal of effort that Harry resisted the urge to hit his head repeatedly against the wall. "The only thing that would do is make it look like we have something to hide," he snarled. "And, yes, we would like to keep it a secret if we can, but we weren't actually breaking any rules until you used magic on other students without their consent."

"I was just making sure that nobody would tell Umbridge. They all agreed when they signed that they wouldn't tell her."

"Just because someone promised not to talk about something doesn't mean that it's okay to curse them if they break that promise," Neville pointed out. "What happens if they just talked about it somewhere were someone like Malfoy could overhear? Would that trigger the jinx?"

To Harry's dismay, Hermione frowned in thought, clearly unsure of the answer. "We needed to do something to keep the group a secret," the girl insisted once more.

"Let me make something very clear, Hermione," Harry said, his voice now a dangerous whisper. "You do not get to make decisions like that for me. We've had this discussion before. If you have an idea for something that impacts all of us, then you tell us and listen to our thoughts on the matter as well. Because right now, if someone did tell Umbridge and got hit by that jinx, they would probably blame me as well."

"If the parchment was destroyed, that should eliminate the jinx, provided that it hasn't actually cursed anyone yet," Neville suggested.

"Good idea," Harry said, looking over at Neville appreciatively before turning back to Hermione. "Go get the parchment and bring it back here so we can see you destroy it," Harry commanded, his eyes blazing furiously.

"Or what?" Hermione countered, just as angrily.

"Or I will go and tell Umbridge everything, including the fact that you were the one who put the jinx on the parchment without informing anyone else," Harry thundered, his expression furious.

Hermione stepped back, an expression of shock and hurt on her face as though she had been slapped. "You would… she would… do you realize what she would do to me?"

"Which is why you shouldn't have done it!" Harry exclaimed. "Now go get the parchment."

Still looking hurt, Hermione exited the room quickly.

Harry paced across the small room, breathing deeply as he tried to get his temper under control.

"I cannot believe she did that," he snarled a few minutes later.

Neville gave a non-committal shrug. "Hermione does tend to think that she knows better than anyone else. And a lot of the time she does have good ideas," the fair-haired boy pointed out gently.

"That doesn't give her the right to make decisions that affect us without consulting us first."

"No, it doesn't," Neville agreed. "But I'm not sure that getting angry is the best way to convey that to her."

The door opened, and Hermione entered with the parchment in hand, her eyes on the floor as she held it out to him. Harry felt a momentary surge of guilt, which he forced down ruthlessly.

"Burning it should work, right?" he asked, looking at his two friends, who both nodded. Quickly conjuring a tall stand with an ashtray-like dish on the top, Harry put the parchment in place, then drew his wand. "Incendio." Fueled by his anger, the powerful flames shot out even more ferociously than he had expected, quickly consuming the enchanted list. A cleaning charm destroyed any trace that the parchment had ever existed.

"Is there a way to tell if the jinx is gone for good?" Harry asked.

Hermione made no response, her expression still downcast, but Neville shrugged. "Outside of telling Umbridge ourselves in order to test it, I don't think so. But with the parchment gone, there shouldn't be anything still holding the jinx together. I think," he finished, clearly less than confident.

"We'll just have to hope for the best," Harry concluded with a sigh.

He glanced over at Hermione, who had already turned and begun to walk toward the door. For a moment, he was filled with the urge to say something to her, but he just couldn't figure out how to put his thoughts into words. And then the door shut, and it was too late.

It was no real surprise the next morning when they read in the paper about a new educational degree banning the Hogwarts students from forming groups without the approval of the High Inquisitor. And while Harry had initially been quite ambivalent about the whole idea of the defense group, as he saw the smirk on Umbridge's face at breakfast, he was more determined than ever to push back. He wasn't going to allow her to win on this one.

And as he studied the exact wording of the decree, he had an idea.

"We can change the defense group into a chain," he whispered to the other members of the trio. Well, mostly to Neville. While Hermione was sitting in her usual place next to them, she was picking miserably at her food, something which made Harry feel a little guilty.

"What do you mean?" Neville asked.

"We can't meet in groups of three, but meeting in pairs is fine. So, I teach you and Hermione, but not at the same time." Harry frowned as he tried to think of how to explain it. "You and I meet and I teach you, and then at a different time, I meet with Hermione and teach her. Then you each have two people that you meet with to teach them. Hermione could meet with Susan Bones and Padma Patil, and you might meet with, say, Ernie and Ron, or maybe Terry. Each time, you're just meeting one-on-one, so we're not breaking the rules. And then those people have two others that they teach, and so on. That allows people to set their own schedules and practice for as long as they need to until they learn the spells, and Umbridge can't complain."

"Is little Harrikins finding ways around the mean teacher's rules?" one of the Weasley twins asked as he suddenly sat down in the empty seat to Neville's right, startling the third-years.

"We want in," the other twin added.

Harry quickly explained his idea.

"Ah, so not so much of a chain. More of a tree," the first twin replied with a sage look.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Whatever you want to call it. Everyone should plan on teaching at least two other people, except for the people at the very bottom of the chain." On seeing the look on the twin's face, he quickly added, "or tree."

"That should work," Angelina Johnson agreed. Harry looked around to see that their little discussion was drawing more and more attention.

"Then spread the word that the meeting tonight is canceled, but we'll get in touch with everyone about this new idea in the next few days," Harry ordered. "But for now, we need to get back to breakfast before anyone gets suspicious."

After classes, the Gryffindors who were interested in the 'tree of learning' as it had come to be known gathered in the common room, much to Percy's displeasure.

"I should report you all for violating Educational Decree Twenty-Four," he threatened.

"Except that we haven't done anything to violate the decree," Hermione countered quickly. "We are forbidden from meeting regularly, but given that this is the first time we have met, and we intend for this to be the only time that this group gathers, we are in no way disobeying any school rules."

"Not like that would stop you, would it, Percy" a Weasley twin said accusingly.

"You think we didn't see how proud you were when you read about the decree?" his brother continued. "That little smirk you get when you set a new record for how far you've managed to stick your head up someone's arse? You were the one who told Umbridge, weren't you?"

Percy flushed a little, but made no attempt to deny the charge. "As both the Head Boy and a member of the Inquisitorial Squad, it is my duty to assist the High Inquisitor in enforcing the school rules."

"And you just couldn't wait to go running to her," Angelina snarled.

Oliver, of course, had come to a slightly different realization. "It's your fault that the Gryffindor Quidditch team has been disbanded. And now Umbridge is refusing to give us permission to reform!"

Judging by the gasps throughout the room, this was the first most people had heard of this piece of news. Harry wanted to roll his eyes. Yes, he liked quidditch too, but sometimes it was a bit ridiculous how much people obsessed over it. Still, if it made people dislike Umbridge even more, he certainly wasn't going to complain.

Surprisingly, the glares from every corner were enough to cow Percy, who slunk off to one corner to continue studying.

With the distraction gone, Harry brought the group's attention back to the task at hand. "Alright, so I'll teach Fred or George, who will start their own tree to cover fifth and fourth years. I will also teach Neville and Hermione, who will start trees covering third year and down. But don't worry about including Luna Lovegood. I'll teach her personally," he said.

"Why are you working directly with Luna Lovegood?" a twin asked.

"And how do you even know her?" his brother added.

"Her dad's been doing me some favors with getting things published in The Quibbler," Harry responded casually. "Now, back on topic, does that plan work for everybody? Any concerns?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"Okay, then I'll meet with my people tomorrow. Contact your people, explain the plan, and find a time to meet," he instructed.

As the group split up and went their separate ways, Harry called Fred and George over.

"I need a favor," he said without preamble.

"Name it," one of them replied immediately.

"Can you prank the Slytherins at breakfast on Sunday morning? A big prank, hit them all."

Both boys looked at him in surprise, but Harry just smiled.

A/N - Sorry for missing last week. I've been making some adjustments to my storyboard for this book, and I needed a little extra time to make sure that I had things figured out the way I want.

Also, this isn't trying to be bashing on Hermione, because I really do like her, but there are plenty of times in canon where she does something a bit questionable (or in a few cases, absolutely outrageous) and nobody says a thing. Case in point, not warning anybody that she put a jinx on the DA list - a jinx so severe that Ministry experts can't figure out how to reverse the effects, and Marietta still showed signs of it months later.