Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns all rights to Harry Potter
Authors Note: Thanks to everyone who has supported me and the story so far through reading, following, favouriting and reviewing, you all rock.
Special thanks to Milford833, penniesinthepool itachi847, Syntani and vickilpatterson who are the latest people to favourite and follow the story, all support is much appreciated.
Chapter Forty Eight:
The first few days had now passed in the beginning of December and with the beginning of the month came lengthy and heavy snow blizzards. Hagrid could be seen out in the grounds each day clearing the paths of snow and heating up the brooms to remove all ice from them.
Harry's detentions had finally ended at the beginning of the month having been extended due to his continued assertions that he was telling the truth. In the end, Umbridge seemed to grow bored of torturing him with her quill, much to Harry's relief.
Today, the fourth of December being a Monday Harry was to be found sitting in the common room during one of his free periods studying his defence text books looking for more advanced defensive spells to learn and practice so as to be better prepared. He had no wish to be caught out again as he had been the last time he'd faced Voldemort in a duel.
"Harry", Hermione's voice cut through his intense study and he looked up at her. He wasn't surprised to see that she was with the rest of their friendship group. He greeted them and asked "everything alright guys?".
The group exchanged looks with each other and then they all looked towards Hermione who sighed and said "Harry we've been thinking...".
"Ooh ominous", he joked only for his grin to fall from his face as they didn't laugh, "what's the matter?".
"Nothings wrong...not really", Hermione responded for the group, "it's just that...well...what with Umbridge being named High Inquisitor now and having power to change lesson plans we feel...we feel that...". Hermione looked to the others who nodded encouragement or shrugged. She rolled her eyes at their lack of helpfulness. "We feel that we should start practising spells and learning spells together given that Umbridge has decreed Sirius should teach nothing practical".
"Sirius hasn't kept to that though has he", Harry pointed out with a grin as he thought about the last lesson they'd had on Friday where Sirius had been teaching them all about the backfiring jinx and Umbridge had come in to the classroom. Sirius, having put wards on the door had been able to warn them all to put their wands away and pretend to be studying the theory of said spell.
Umbridge had been so confused as she claimed to have heard laughter and spell fire from within the room. "Oh I was merely amusing myself", Sirius had claimed, causing Umbridge to exit the room with a tight lipped smile on her face. Needless to say, all of the students had shared a laugh with Sirius when she was gone.
"Sirius can't cover like that all the time", Hermione countered reasonably, "if he keeps it up he'll be caught and then he'll be dismissed just like Professor Trelawney was".
Harry thought back to that moment the previous week when Professor Trelawney had been sacked as Professor of divination due to her histrionics and genuinely bad teaching methods. Despite Harry's dislike of her and the whole subject of divination he'd still felt angry that Umbridge had been given the power to sack staff.
He recalled that there had been a nasty showdown between Dumbledore and Umbridge with the wise old Headmaster declaring that the toad like liaison woman may have the power to sack staff but certainly did not have the power to banish them from the grounds. He shuddered at the phrase she'd uttered in response. "Not yet", she'd said.
That morning as Harry had opened his copy of the daily prophet he'd been horrified to read that Fudge had just invested in Umbridge the power to banish non-staff from the castle and grounds. He had then heard the wailing from the Staff table as Umbridge had none too kindly informed Trelawney that she was to leave the castle immediately. It had made him burn in anger that the horrible woman could treat people in such a way.
Harry sighed. "I know", he said heavily, "you're right Hermione it's just...where can we practise that that nosy woman won't find us?".
"I asked Dobby and the other house elves earlier in the kitchens", Ron informed Harry, speaking for the first time, "he said that there's a room within Hogwarts they call the come and go room".
"It's real name is the Room of Requirement", Neville added, "Dobby and the others told us that all we need to do to enter is pass by the way three times and think of what we want the room to be".
"So if we ask for a practise room hidden away...". Harry grinned as he tailed off and then finished "...they'd never know where we were".
"We'd be able to practise all our spells and learn new ones all with the toad being completely oblivious!", Daphne exclaimed to nods from Lauren, Luna and Ginny.
"It's a brilliant idea", Harry announced. He frowned then. "Where is the room?", he asked the others.
"It's up on the seventh floor so it's well away from anyone's office and all prying eyes", Lauren answered.
Harry nodded in satisfaction. "I suggest we check it out tonight after everyone had gone to bed", he pointed to himself, Ron and Neville, "Me, Ron and Neville will make sure it's what we need and let you all know tomorrow".
As he said this, the others cast each other wary and embarrassed looks. Once again it was Hermione who spoke for them as she said "the thing is Harry we thought that some others might want to practise and learn spells with us".
"A sort of club", Neville added.
"Better to all learn together so we're better prepared", Ginny put in.
Harry looked to each of them in turn and demanded "just how many people have you told about this idea?".
"Just a few", Hermione answered even as Ron replied "twenty".
Hermione glared at Ron as Harry exclaimed hotly "twenty?!".
Hermione sighed. "I know it's a lot of people Harry but there's more out there than you think who believe you about Voldemort returning and are interested in a defence club".
"Maybe there are", Harry replied testily, "but how do you know these people don't just want to hear my proof for Voldemort's return?".
Hermione looked embarrassed. "We don't", she confessed but then added "but surely the more people who hear the truth the better it is...right?".
Harry shook his head and asked "when do I have to meet them?".
Hermione smiled and explained "I've asked them all to meet us in the Hogs Head in Hogsmeade on the next Hogsmeade weekend".
"The Hogs Head?!", Harry was aghast at the thought of entering such a place. He'd only been in there once as a youngster, with Sirius and remembered the place as being dirty and uncomfortable.
"Well we couldn't very well meet at the Three Broomsticks could we?", Hermione defended herself, "too many prying eyes, especially from fellow students and teachers".
Harry had to admit that his bushy haired friend had a point but even so he didn't like the idea of going into such a dusty, seedy, run down place full of hags and dark wizards and witches. Still, if that was where Hermione had told the others to meet them then the Hogs Head it would have to be. He just hoped Hermione knew what she was doing that was all.
That week went by largely without incident and on Saturday morning, the latest Hogsmeade weekend rolled around. Third year students and above filed out of the castle laughing and joking happily, wrapped up warm against the cold in sweaters, winter coats, scarfs and gloves, their permission slips nestled protectively against their chests. At the front gates stood Argus Filch the perpetually sour faced and grumpy caretaker of Hogwarts who eyed each student with suspicion as they handed him their signed slips for inspection.
Harry and the others in their group headed down the winding lanes from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade chatting all the while about unimportant issues so as not to arouse suspicions in their fellow students or the teachers who walked on both in front and behind them. "What time do we have to meet the others?", Harry whispered to Hermione as she walked on his left side. To his right walked Daphne, her hand clasped in his.
"I've said two o'clock this afternoon", she replied also in a whisper, "better that they've eaten first, they'll be in a better mood then".
Harry snorted. "Is there a better mood for learning about Voldemort being back?".
"I suppose not", Hermione conceded reluctantly.
They spent the morning admiring the scenery bathed as it was all in white and browsing the shops. They spent an hour in Honeydukes perusing the stock and purchasing selections of sweets. At midday they headed for the Three Broomsticks and pushed two tables together so they could sit as one big group before they all ordered their lunch.
They were just finishing their food when a voice said "Harry, good to see you". It was Fred or possibly George. Even after all these many years Harry couldn't tell them apart.
"We were just looking for you", one of them said as the other one added "we're coming to this meeting of yours".
"We'll walk up with you", finished one of them.
The Twins called over their friend Lee Jordan and together the three of them walked with Harry and his friends all the way from the Three Broomsticks up to the Hogs Head.
As Harry walked up the path past the stone wall to the front door of the Hogs Head he shook his head at the sorry state of the place. The windows were grimy with dust and dirt, looking as if they hadn't been washed in a long long time, one window was broken and had yet to be fixed and the sign that bore upon it the name of the pub was hanging lopsided from it's pole, swinging in the December breeze. Harry shivered at the cold and hurried inside the pub with the others.
It was no cleaner inside the pub than it had been outside, Harry noted unhappily. There were cobwebs hanging from the rafters and many securing beams, the tables and bar were thick with dust and grime from hands, glasses and many spilt drinks. Flies buzzed round the tables and bar causing the man standing behind the bar to swipe at them with a fat hand.
Not for the first time did Harry think just how much like Albus Dumbledore did Aberforth look. The looks, however, were as far as it went. Aberforth was gruff and could be downright unfriendly compared to his older brother and as evidenced by the state of the pub was not big in the way of cleanliness. Harry could even see the younger Dumbledore brother wiping a glass with a stained dishcloth.
"More bloody students", Aberforth remarked in irritation. He nodded to a corner of the pub "if you're looking for the others they're over there and if you want to stay you'd better all buy something to drink".
Thinking quickly, Harry ordered them all a butter beer each as the group pooled their money together to pay for it. They took the none too clean foaming tankards away from the bar and over to the corner in which their fellow students were sitting or standing. As they approached, Harry could hear them chattering away to each other.
Harry saw many faces he knew including Dean Thomas, Parvati Patil and her sister Padma who was a Ravenclaw, Lavender Brown, Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet who played with he and Ron on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Zacharias Smith, Cho Chang and her friend Marietta Edgecombe and, much to his surprise, Blaise Zabini of Slytherin. Even more surprising was that Blaise had been joined by none other than Millicent Bulstrode who looked rather uncomfortable despite the squeeze of her hand by Blaise.
There were a number of others that didn't know but no matter whether he knew them or not he greeted all of them with a polite and grateful "hello, nice to see you all here".
Hermione and the others went to stand next to Harry as he spoke. "Well we all know why we're here", he said, "we need to learn defensive magic to fight against Voldemort..." several people flinched at the name as Harry carried on "...and his Death Eaters".
"What really happened in that graveyard?", Smith asked pointedly. It sounded as if he didn't believe Harry.
"I didn't come here to talk about what happened in the graveyard", Harry replied, "so if that's what you've all come for you may as well leave".
He was about to say more when his cousins voice hissed in his ear in a whisper "it's better to tell them, that way they know for certain you're telling the truth and will be properly onboard".
Harry looked at her and raised an eyebrow. He whispered back "and why do I have to convince them?. If they don't believe me then they shouldn't be here".
His cousin rolled her eyes and replied quickly. "Most of them are scared Harry. Many of them will have heard from their parents what the first wizarding war was like and don't want to live through one. No one wants to believe that old snake face is back...but most of them will listen and join us if you speak up".
Harry stared at her for a moment. He chewed on his bottom lip and ran a hand through his hair as he thought. He had no wish to explain what had happened in the graveyard. It all felt too fresh. And how to explain the terror of the situation and how he and Cedric managed to escape?.
He shook his head at the daunting task before sighing. He turned to face the crowd of students and declared "alright...I'll tell you but be warned it's not a pleasant tale to listen to".
He had opened his mouth to begin when the door to the pub opened again. Harry whipped his head towards the door and grinned in relief at the sight of Cedric searching the pub for them. When the seventh year spotted them he hurried over to join them explaining "sorry I'm late. Had to talk to Professor Sprout about an assignment".
Harry motioned to Cedric who walked over to join him, stopping briefly to kiss his girlfriend Cho on the lips. "Hope I haven't missed anything", the seventh year said.
Harry's face was grim as he replied "no, you're just in time". He sighed and told Cedric "this lot want to hear the full story of what happened in the graveyard".
Cedric shuddered in front of him and clearly felt as uncomfortable as Harry himself did. "Lauren reckons we should tell them...says it'll get them onboard".
Cedric was silent for a moment before responding. "Well I don't much want to talk about it but it seems the sensible thing to do to build up trust and counter the disinformation by the daily prophet". Harry nodded. The two of them faced the crowd of students and between them they told the full story of Voldemort's rebirth from their arrival in the graveyard to the appearance of the spirits and Harry and Cedric's escape via portkey back to Hogwarts. Harry even explained about the fake Moody trying to kill him later on.
There was much "oohing" and "ahhing" as the students listened and more than one gasped out loud in horror at the events.
When they were finished, Millicent who'd been quiet all the way through picked her way through the crowd and towards Harry and Daphne who were standing side by side. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you...either of you", she said contritely, "it's clear now you were telling the truth and I should have realised you wouldn't lie...I'm really sorry". Her face was full of sadness and her voice choked as she asked them both "can you ever forgive me?".
Seeing the genuine look of shame and sorrow on Millicent's face Harry made his mind up at once. He pulled her in to a fierce hug and replied "of course I forgive you".
The reunion and hug that was shared by Millicent and Daphne afterwards was even more emotional as they shed many tears and Millicent promised never to doubt either her or Harry's word again.
"Oh come on!", Zacharias Smith snapped, "you people don't seriously believe this crap do you?", he demanded of the room at large.
"Well I certainly do", Ron declared. Just behind him were Daphne, Ginny, Lauren, Hermione, Neville and many others who declared their support too. Zacharias stormed out of the pub in disgust.
Harry felt glad as he'd never got on with the Hufflepuff much. He was also glad that the boy had left before they'd begun their discussion of the defence club.
"Now that that bit of unpleasantness is out of the way", Harry said as he turned his attention from the departing Smith "who wants to join our defence club?".
"What's it called?", Cho asked pertinently.
"We were going to call it Dumbledore's Army initially", Harry informed them, "but then we decided that would cause unnecessary problems for Professor Dumbledore given the Ministry are already paranoid about him". He turned to Hermione "tell them the name we've settled on", he said.
Hermione cleared her throat. "We've decided to call it the Defence Association. We're aware that the initials are the same as Dumbledore's Army but we'll have documentation with the real name on it as proof of the club name and it's purpose to hopefully avoid trouble".
Once the issue of the name had been settled Harry and Hermione stood side by side as their other friends, Harry's cousin and many others including Cedric, Cho and Fred and George came up to sign their names on the list of those involved. Even Blaise Zabini signed his name and when Harry raised an eyebrow he explained "my mum is a muggle-born so you can imagine I want to stop Voldemort". Harry nodded and shook the Slytherins hand. "Glad to have you onboard Blaise", he said to the other boy sincerely.
"Glad to be onboard", Blaise replied equally sincerely before Millicent signed her name down and the two of them left hand in hand.
Several students at the meeting wanted to know why Harry should lead the lessons which led to his friends and others including Colin Creevey listing off his achievements such as duelling Voldemort, taking down a basilisk and holding off dementors with his Patronus.
Many of the students were impressed by these accomplishments and the doubters settled down their doubts having hopefully been silenced.
Two days passed by before Harry and the others had the Room of Requirement looking perfect for spell work with the walls and floors padded out, training dummy's against several walls and a chalkboard with chalk and cloths standing next to it. There were also seats for anyone to sit down in if they felt tired.
Wednesday the sixth of December was passed by far too slowly for Harry's liking but eventually he and the others were on their way up to the seventh floor in small groups as they headed to the first meeting of the Defence Association. Harry was both excited to teach and very nervous at the same time for he'd never taught anyone defensive or offensive magic before.
When Harry and his friends reached the Room of Requirement they passed by the section of wall three times and some double doors appeared in the wall. They entered closing the doors firmly behind them. Out of the corner of his eye Harry had spotted Filch but he wasn't worried for he had clued Sirius in on their club and Sirius had promised to talk Peeves into distracting the odious caretaker.
Harry stood in amazement at the sheer number of people waiting inside the room for the first meeting of the DA. There were more people there than had signed up in the Hogs Head. Harry looked at Hermione and without him having to say a word she knew to go round the students and take the names of those who had not yet formally joined.
Ten minutes later Harry and Ron who were the two strongest in defensive magic were stood in front of the assembled students. "Thank you all so much for coming", Harry began enthusiastically, "it means so much to have all of you here and ready to learn in spite of the decrees that Umbridge has passed as the High Inquisitor. We all know why we're here so lets make a start".
Harry turned to the chalkboard behind him and chalked up the word "Patronus". He turned towards the other students and said "today we learn a very useful spell called Expecto Patronum which can be used for a variety of reasons but the most key use for it is to repel enemies".
Harry wrote up the words "Expecto Patronum" on the board and then asked "can anyone tell me the creatures this spell repels most?".
There was silence for a moment and then Dean Thomas raised his hand "uh...dementors?", he guessed.
Harry grinned. "Right you are Dean", he said. He wrote "dementors" on the board and then explained to many of them "many of you here will have felt the dementors horrible effects from when they entered the Hogwarts Express two years ago and from their time guarding the gates".
Most of the students shivered and shuddered in response. Even the normally stoical Hermione was unnerved by just the mention of the evil creatures.
"And many of you will remember how they made you feel for even the brief time you spent near them". Many students nodded. "This spell will ward them off and protect you from their powers. To cast the spell you go like so". He gestured with his wand to a point across the room and said calmly "Expecto Patronum". As casually as anything a gleaming silver stag burst forth from the tip of his wand, galloped round the room and disappeared at the point which he had aimed for.
Nearly everyone made noises that showed they were impressed by this feat. "How did you do that?". One first year squeaked, his eyes wide in awe.
"He's done it before", Colin Creevey informed the boy, "he learnt how to do it back in his third year to fight off the dementors and he saved several lives by conjuring it".
Harry felt warm at the praise but he didn't let it show as he said "I know you were all probably impressed with that but that won't be the form your first Patronus takes". He shook his head "it took me...oh I don't know how many attempts for Professor Lupin to to even help me get the wording right and then I had to select the right memory".
"Memory?", Blaise enquired, sounding intrigued.
"The Patronus charm requires the caster to think of a memory", Harry explained to them, "but not just any memory. It has to be the happiest memory you can think of. The one time in your life in which you felt happier than you've ever done before".
Blaise and many of the others seemed surprised by this as Harry continued "and even with the right powerful memory you'll still only have vapour to start with. It takes months of practise to get a form and just as much time to cast your Patronus for longer than a few seconds". His voice was serious and his face set in a grim cast as he said "make no mistake though, if you master this spell you will have a powerful weapon against the dementors. It is even useful in knocking over mortal enemies".
Having completed his explanation Harry together with Ron, Hermione and Neville divided the class up into groups and instructed them to do what he had just informed them of.
There were many attempts to conjure Patronus' but, unsurprisingly, no one had a full form by the end of that first lesson, however Ron did manage to a strong non-corporeal Patronus that Harry explained would have held the dementors off temporarily. He clapped his best mate on the shoulder "well done Ron".
The first meeting broke up and Harry instructed the students to exit the room in small groups in order to avoid the detections of Argus Filch. Once the room was empty, save for Harry, his friends and his cousin Harry turned to the others and said "well that went well I thought, for a first lesson".
"Very well", agreed Hermione. The group exited the Room of Requirement, making sure to keep an eye out for Filch and Harry kissed Daphne goodnight and ruffled Astoria's hair earning a "hey stop that!" from his girlfriends younger sister. The Gryffindor's parted from the three Slytherins and the two groups headed off for their separate common rooms at opposite ends of the castle.
Later that night as Harry settled down in the darkness of the dorm room his mind was abuzz with what a success that first DA meeting had been. He couldn't wait to hold the next meeting and continue with the progress of his fellow students.
Eventually, his mind calmed down enough for him to fall asleep but his dreams when he slept were not pleasant.
He dreamed he was walking down a corridor. The flooring was black tiles. It was dark, lit only by a single oil lamp on the wall. He had dreamt of this location several times before and so recognised it at once upon this occasion. Harry frowned in his sleep as he saw a person walking slowly ahead of him. He could only see the back of the person who was wearing a brown cloak over old brown robes. On their head they wore the sort of pointy cap favoured by wizards at the Ministry leading Harry to believe it must be a man.
The next thing Harry knew the man was turning around and he felt shocked as Arthur Weasley stared straight at him. Mr Weasleys eyes widened and his mouth opened in terror as if he was about to scream. Harry couldn't understand why his best friends father would be so afraid of him. When he tried to this out to Mr Weasley he found that his voice was a cold hiss.
The next thing Harry knew him...or something that he believed was him was leaping at Mr Weasley, striking him. Mr Weasley fell to the ground shouting out for help.
Harry's eyes snapped open, he sat bolt upright in bed. His heart was racing, his mouth was dry and he felt fear as he fumbled for his glasses in the dark. Managing to find the glasses he slipped them on his face and snatched up his wand using it to light the lamp on his bedside table.
He must have cried out when he'd been sleeping for he heard Ron's voice from outside his hangings "Harry!".
"Come in!", Harry whispered.
The hangings were pulled open to reveal Ron and Neville both looking worried and pale. He beckoned them in and whispered at them "close the hangings".
They duly did so and approached him. Harry explained all about the nightmare and what had happened in it. "I've been dreaming about the same location for weeks now. Always the same place" he told them. "It never changes", he shook his head, "and yet tonight it did".
He looked up at Ron wondering how to tell him what he'd seen. How Ron would take it and how he could convince his best friend that it was happening now rather than just a dream.
"This is going to sound crazy guys but I'm certain it's something that's happening now and somehow I was...I was there".
"What is it Harry?", Neville asked nervously.
Harry blew out a breath and then said to Ron "is your dad protecting the prophecy tonight?".
Ron paled as he answered "he might be, I'm not sure".
"Then we need to inform Dumbledore", Harry declared as he leapt out of bed and threw on his dressing gown.
"He needs to know now because I think your dad might be in danger".
"And just what is it you need to inform Professor Dumbledore about that involves Mr Arthur Weasley?", asked the cool voice of Professor McGonagall.
Harry sighed feeling sure she wouldn't listen and would just tell him it was all a dream.
He turned to his Head of House and said "I know you'll think it was a dream but it's happening now I tell you and we have to save Mr Weasley".
"Save him from what Mr Potter?", McGonagall asked seriously.
"There was a large snake", Harry answered, wondering if the Professor might actually believe him. "The snake was commanded to attack Mr Weasley and he did. He's in danger right now!". He shouted the last two words.
"Calm yourself Mr Potter", his stern Head of House reprimanded, though he could see she was worried. She looked at Neville "back to bed please Mr Longbottom".
"Oh but Professor...".
"No buts Mr Longbottom, back to bed. I shall see Mr Potter back here safely later on but for now I think Mr Weasley and Mr Potter are needed in the Headmasters Office".
Harry felt relief flowing through him. If there was one man who would believe him and spring in to action it was Dumbledore. He nodded to Neville who stopped protesting and went over to his bed, watching Harry and Ron leave the dormitory.
In a short time, Professor McGonagall had roused Ginny, Fred and George from their dormitories and together with Professor McGonagall, Harry and the Weasley children were led up to the seventh floor and Professor Dumbledore's Office.
As they entered the room, Harry felt no surprise at the sight of Professor Dumbledore sat behind his desk in his familiar purple and orange robes, looking at them through his half-moon spectacles. "What can I do for you this evening Minerva?". He looked from her to the students and back again.
"Mr Potter here has something he wishes to inform you about", Professor McGonagall pushed Harry forwards gently.
Harry explained as best he could. When he was done the old wizard stood up from his desk, strode over to one of the portraits which Harry knew contained Sirius' ancestor Phineas Nigellus Black and he said seriously "Phineas I must ask you to inform Sirius of a serious incident at the Ministry. He must get help to a certain corridor at once. He will know which one when you mention it to him". The former Headmaster nodded once and strode from his frame.
A little while later as Harry wrung his hands and muttered to himself worriedly Phineas returned and informed Dumbledore in a relieved tone "they got to him just in time Headmaster. My Great Great Grandson wishes me to inform you that Mr Weasley is expected to make a full recovery though he will need a long stay in St Mungo's and will only be out a few days before Christmas".
"Thank you Phineas", Dumbledore said gratefully. The portrait nodded and went back to sleep.
Dumbledore turned to the assembled students and their Head of House. "Under the circumstances I believe it necessary for Fred, George, Ginny and Ron to head straight from here to Number Twelve to meet your mother. I'm sure she is most anxious to see you. You shall spend tomorrow there before returning on the eighth of December. I shall explain to your fellow students about your absence so you needn't worry" he assured them.
Harry hugged Ginny and murmured some words of comfort before giving manly pats on the shoulder to Ron, Fred and George assuring them he'd been thinking of them and to pass on his best wishes to Mr and Mrs Weasley.
Soon the four Weasley children were gone and Harry was left alone with the two adults. He slumped down in a chair and asked the Headmaster despairingly through tears "what does it all mean Professor? I...I was the snake...I think".
"Harry you cannot have been the snake", Dumbledore assured him as he patted him on the shoulder, "for one thing you cannot transform into an animal at will and as such you could not become a snake". His mentor smiled at him "furthermore", he added, "you did not leave this castle tonight and could not possibly have been there when the attack occurred".
"But then...how? why?", Harry pleaded.
"I do not know for certain Harry", Dumbledore said, "I have a few theories but I must do some research on this. I will let you know on Saturday night during our next occlumency lesson whether I am correct in my thinking".
Harry was too tired to think any further and so replied "okay Professor".
Harry didn't get a wink of sleep for the rest of the night as he lay in bed in the darkness of the dormitory, listening to the snores of the other boys and pondering just what it all meant.