Part 1

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Water dropped into a large bowl from a vase Percy held. Inside the bowl was a ticking wrist watch. A clock next to it clicked at the exact same rate. "All right. As you can see, the watch is unaffected by the water. It also is in perfect sync with this clock. Now it's your turn to try."

"Relosopo." Cedric flicked his wand, instantly turning his owl into a watch. He put it in his water bowl, its ticking matching Percy's clock perfectly.

Percy flicked his wand, turning the clock back into his owl, Hermes. He then brought the owl over to Fred and George who had somehow managed to convince Percy to lend Hermes to them. They kept waving their wands, but whispered their spell incantations. Percy eyed them very closely, waiting for any funny business. He knew they were up to something, but he wasn't sure what.

They turned Hermes into a clock then back. Then he noticed the smoke coming from a desk in the back. A hufflepuff girl was frantically waving for Percy's help, pointing at what looked like a baby dragon sat on their desk. Percy blinked a few times before walking over to the student's desk. He quickly turned the dragon back into a rat as the student breathed a sigh of relief.

Percy demonstrated the spell for the student again moving her through the spell as she eventually got it to work. Then he went back to the desk as the Hufflepuff started working on her own again. Percy made sure to watch out for another incident, but the rest of the class went by without too much trouble. He took back Hermes and went into this office to work.

As he sat down, Hermes flew over to his cage. The owl went to drink from his bowl, when "We got the funk" started playing from his mouth. Percy turned to the owl who kept opening and closing his beak as the sound stopped and started. For a few minutes Percy was too stunned to take action. Then he tried a few spells that didn't seem to get rid of Herme's condition. He stormed out of his office, certain that Fred and George had something to do with the issue. As he made his way into the hallway he checked to see if any students were still around. There weren't. He turned around and noticed motion into a nearby room.

Percy went toward the room and for a split second could've sworn he'd seen Peter Pettigrew. When he looked around the room was empty, but something wasn't right. He pulled out his wand when he heard voices nearby.

"Rotten kids, always causing trouble around here. When I find out who filled my office with pixies, they're dead!"

Percy opened a door at the back of the classroom to see Argus tending to a very angry Mrs. Norris. "Argus?" He lowered his wand, putting it away. "What happened to you?" He pointed at a few bite marks in Filch's hair.

"Some trouble making student's what happened! Filled my entire office with pixies!" He grumbled, continuing to patch Mrs. Norris up.

"Do you need medical treatment? I'm sure the Hogwarts matron can treat your wounds. Or I could if-"

"Pahf, I don't need help. I need to catch whoever did this."

"You really should get those bites treated." He stopped for a moment. "Uh...Argus. Did you see a fat disheveled man come in here?"

Filch raised an eyebrow. "No...why?"

"Well, I thought I saw. Nevermind, must've been nothing. You really should get that looked at. I'll see about dealing with those pixies in your office." Percy headed out of the room as Filch kept grumbling.

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Part 2

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Harry looked at the new defense against the dark arts teacher. He hadn't paid her much thought during the banquet. Maybe a few predictions about how she'd leave her position, his personal favorite being Ron's theory that she'd be kidnapped by centaurs. Now that he'd gotten a better look, she held her head high enough to see the ceiling. "Now, as I'm certain you're all aware, defense against the dark involves incredibly dangerous spells that shouldn't be used by children. Therefore we will be studying from books and primarily limiting practice to defensive and friendly spells."

Umbridge flicked her wand and several books floated out of her desk. Hermione started looking through the book as Umbridge started a monologue about how great the ministry of magic was and that the students should be honored that the minister himself would appoint someone to help educate them.

She was cut off by Hermione's raised hand. "Uh...Professor?" Umbridge turned to Hermione. "I'm not seeing any spells to take down an opponent. For that matter, I don't see any defensive or shielding spells."

"I don't see why you would need anything like that."

Harry and Ron looked at each other, then back at Umbridge. Harry just raised an eyebrow, while Ron just shook his head chuckling. "Ok, I'll admit it. I just thought you were uptight, but that was a good one. So, when do we learn how to fight Grindlewald?"

"What?" Umbridge shook her head. "Kids these days. No manners at all, perhaps this will teach you some discipline. 5 points from Gryffindor."

Ron's eyes went wide. The entire class was dead silent as everyone stared. Then Harry spoke up. "Hold on. What was that about?"

Umbridge turned to Harry. "What was what?"

"Why did you suddenly chew out Ron for no reason?"

"For not meeting adequate standards of conduct. Not to mention suggestions of such dangerous activity as going after such a dangerous dark wizard."

Harry looked at her in disbelief. "We're already in danger. Disappearances all over the place, dark wizard attacks. What if that happens here?"

"Those hardly seem like something a child should be concerned with. There's no reason to believe an attack would happen here." Ron and Hermionie both looked at each other as Harry felt the massive scar under his shirt. Umbridge kept speaking. "Besides, even if it did, you'd be protected by your teachers. Now, if there are no further interruptions, let's get started with the lesson."

"Y-you do know I was in a coma."

"Detention tonight Mr. Potter, the next interruption will make it a week's worth."

Harry sighed, grumbling back in his seat.

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Part 3

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The transfiguration room was packed with students for the first meeting of Dumbledore's Army. Cedric and Harry had settled on the name that summer. Cedric had to admit, he liked the name, even if Dumbledore himself wasn't a fan. It was also really of Percy and Mcgonnagle to let them use the transfiguration classroom. When Ron and Hermionie showed up, he couldn't help noticing Harry wasn't with them. He walked over and asked. Ron's face was covered with fury as he spat out something about detention.

"What?" Cedric was taken aback. "On his first day?"

Hermionie's voice was coated with venom. "Umbridge gave him detention for saying we needed to defend ourselves after she claimed an attack couldn't happen at Hogwarts. I have half a mind to report her to the Headmaster. He was in a coma! What kind of-" She couldn't even finish the sentence in her frustration.

Cedric raised an eyebrow, then nodded. "All right. I'll have a talk with her tomorrow to figure out what happened. Maybe I can sort this out since I'm a school prefect. Until then, try not to get involved. That might just cause more problems."

"Yeah, good luck with that. Woman's got more screws loose than my dad's old car." Ron said.

"All right. I guess I'll have to show the first spell on my own." Cedric made his way to the front of the classroom, and the room got completely silent. "All right everyone. Thanks for coming to the first meeting of Dumbledore's army. Now, as a show of hands, how many of you have experience dueling?" Several hands went up. "All right. Now, how many of you know how to cast the disarming charm?" Less hands were raised, but there were still a few. "Ok then, Ron would you mind coming up here for a demonstration?"

Ron came up, whispering to Cedric. "Honestly, not that experienced with this one. I think you might have to cast."

"That's fine, I got this. Just stand over there." Cedric pointed and Ron walked over to the side of the room. He raised his wand in a dueling stance as Cedric faced him. "Expelliarmus!" Cedric sent Ron's wand flying into the wall.

Ron got it back as someone in the crowd yelled. "What about the stronger version?"

Cedric winced, but Ron shrugged, motioning for him to do it. Cedric called for Cho and Hermionie to get a mattress for Ron to hit. They got in dueling stances again and Cedric flicked his wand. "Expelliarmus!" This time Ron collided with the mattress, bouncing back and landing on his butt. He rolled over, holding his stomach as he got up. Ron winced, but gave a thumbs up as he walked over to Hermionie.

Cedric turned back to the crowd of students. "As you just saw. The disarming jynx can vary a little based on what you want to do. It can disarm someone pretty easily, but the more powerful versions can knock someone back, or even out cold. It's pretty simple, but man is it useful."

People started finding practice partners to work with and Cedric went around helping anyone who asked. After the meeting was over and the classroom was mostly empty, Cedric saw Luna Lovegood hanging out in a corner reading a book. He walked over to her. "Hey Luna, you got a minute?"

Luna looked up. "Oh hey Cedric. What's up?"

"I was wondering if you could help me with something."

"Are you still trying to create a spell?"

Cedric nodded. "Yeah. I've been working on something to stop someone's wand from working. Or at least limiting what spells they can use."

"Really...that's interesting. How much progress have you made?"

"Honestly, not much. I've been working with the disarming charm since it affects wands, but I'm not sure if the link extends to the wand itself, or just applies a force to it."

Luna thought for a moment. "Well...since you mention it. I do remember my mom talking something about that. I believe she was talking about a book called Unicorn's Hair."

"Unicorn's Hair...I've never heard of that book. Wonder if they have it in the library. Thanks Luna." Cedric headed out the room, and started walking down the hallway with Cho.

A/N: I always like to think of Luna as a misunderstood genius or even prophetic character. I mean, she is a Ravenclaw.