Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. They belong to JK Rowling
I decided to write this because I've always wanted to see more of Harry teaching the DA.
Harry lounged in an armchair by the fire, finishing up a piece of homework in the Gryffindor common room. He had been there for the last hour, struggling with his potions essay on befuddlement draughts.
He chewed the end of his quill and consulted his potions textbook, hoping to find something useful in its pages, but his mind was elsewhere in truth. There was another meeting of the DA tonight, and he couldn't believe how well it was going so far, even though it had only been running for a few short weeks. He smirked in satisfaction at the thought that the secret group was operating right under the nose of Umbridge and she didn't suspect a thing.
Sighing, he put down his paper and quill. The meeting must be soon by now so the homework would have to wait. He checked the time; quarter to eight and the meeting was starting at seven. I'd better check the marauders map before I go, he thought. A large group of students congregating on the seventh floor at the same time would look suspicious if Filch, or even worse, Umbridge, found them. He felt the coin Hermione had charmed in his pocket, prepared to send a message warning everyone to stay away if necessary.
He rushed up to his dormitory and stowed the map and invisibility cloak in his bag. As he walked through the castle, students pointed in his direction, which was accompanied by the usual whispering. Usually, he was immune to this sort of behaviour, but it had been getting to him a bit this year. He felt like an imaginary snake stirred in his chest at times, ready to lash out.
When he arrived at the room of requirement, Ron and Hermione were already there waiting for him.
"Hello Harry, how is your potions essay going?" Hermione asked him.
"Fine," he grunted, his head hurting and not really wanting to talk about homework. He was up to his eyes in it most of the time anyway.
"Well, Ron and I have been in the library looking up some defensive spells we thought might be useful for you to teach - well, me anyway."
"Oi, I'm really behind on my homework!" said Ron, while Harry nodded at him in sympathy.
Just then, the door creaked open and members of the DA began to flood into the room in groups with people from their house. Luna Lovegood was on her own, gazing around the room slightly glassy-eyed, but was soon joined by Ginny. Harry noticed Cho of course, and his heart did a little back flip. Finally, the last person filed into the room (Zacharias Smith) and Harry cleared his throat.
"Right," he said, but it came out too quietly and everyone was still talking amongst themselves. The noise was hurting his head a bit.
"Right!" he said again, much louder. This time everyone in the room turned towards him and became silent.
"I'd thought we'd put everything we've learnt so far into practice with a bit of duelling," Harry announced. Several people started murmuring excitedly to their neighbours at this, several of the boys narrowing their eyes at each other, offering a silent challenge. Others looked nervous.
"Does everyone remember how to cast a shield charm from the last lesson? It's the main thing I'd like everyone to focus on tonight," Harry went on.
There were a few nodding of heads at this, but at least half the room looked apprehensive. Although they'd been working on the charm for the last couple weeks, at least half of the DA were still having difficulty with it.
This was not lost on Harry and he said, "I know not everyone has got the hang of it yet, but maybe you'll find you can do it when you're under a bit of pressure." He had an idea on how to do just that.
He had often found that when he was in dangerous and potentially life-threatening situations, he produced some of his best magic. Though a bit of duelling practice may not be as high stakes as trying to steal an egg from a Hungarian Horntail or drive away a hundred dementors, he hoped the general effect would be the same and help those struggling with the charm… or maybe they would crash and burn.
"Okay, let's make this interesting then," said Harry. "Everyone leave a big space in the middle of the room and form two lines either side please."
He still found it bizarre to see his instructions followed and a moment later there was silence as everyone formed the two lines, a sense of anticipation rife in the air.
"Okay, first up," said Harry, and an evil thought crossed his mind, "Ron and Hermione... how about you two?"
Ron went beet-red and mouthed at Harry, I'll get you for this. Hermione tried to keep her face blank, but wasn't able to completely hide a hint of an amused smile.
Harry could not wait to see this. He heard Fred and George whispering a bet to each other.
The two entered the circle and surveyed each other intensely, Ron holding his wand casually at his side while Hermione held hers ready. "Okay," said Harry. "When I say go... three, two, one, go!"
Poor Ron had barely even raised his want before Hermione jabbed her wand in his direction lighting fast and yelled, Impedimenta! The Jinx blasted Ron off his feet and he landed on the floor several yards away from where he'd been standing. Harry cupped his hand to his mouth to stifle his laughter, and could see some of others doing the same.
Ron got up, sulking and rubbing the back of his head while Hermione and several of the girls giggled, shooting glances at Ron and whispering amongst themselves. George handed Fred a few sickles.
Harry walked into the centre of the room and said, "Well done Hermione, that was a great use of the impediment jinx! Ron, next time don't hold your wand down so low, okay? You didn't have time to put your guard up… this time, I'd like you to try to jinx Ron again please Hermione, while Ron attempts to cast a shield charm. Is that clear?"
Both nodded and resumed their positions, Ron holding his wand at the ready this time, determined.
Harry counted them down again and Hermione yelled, Stupefy! while Ron shouted, Protego! at the same time. Hermione's jet of red light bounced back at her and she managed to duck just in time and the spell hit a shelf of full books behind her, looking at the books scattered on the floor. Unfortunately for her, this cost her precious seconds and she didn't react quickly enough when Ron followed up with a disarming charm. Hermione's wand flew out her hand and clattered onto the floor. There was silence for a moment, then a couple of the boys started clapping and thumped Ron on the back. Fred handed George's sickles back to him.
"Excellent, Ron!" said Harry, and the redhead muttered a word of thanks, looking rather pleased with himself. "You were very good as well Hermione, but don't get distracted by looking at where the spell went next time." She nodded at this, huffing in slight frustration and went to retrieve her wand. Then, she walked over to Ron and stared up at him.
"Well done, Ron," she said, giving him a small smile.
"Er, thanks," Ron replied.
Harry was feeling exceptionally pleased with the first practice duel and had cheered up enormously. He waited for everyone to quieten down again before eagerly saying, "Right, who's next? Do we have any volunteers?"
Not a second had passed when Ginny said, "I'll do it," walking confidently into the duelling space.
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Okay then, who else?"
"I'll take her on," said an arrogant sounding voice. Zacharias Smith.
This is getting good. Please get him, Ginny, Harry thought to himself.
Similar to Ron and Hermione, the two combatants stared each down, Smith with a cocky grin on his face and Ginny with narrowed eyes, bordering on slits.
"Ready?" said Harry. "Three, two, one-"
But smith had decided to cast a jelly legs jinx on, "one", instead of, "go". Unfortunately for him, Ginny had her wits about her and cast a very swift shield charm just in time, sending Smith's jinx back at him. He collapsed onto the floor with a yell, his legs becoming very wobbly.
"Honestly," said Ginny, shaking her head.
Harry's stomach was cramping up with contained laughter, but he begrudgingly performed the counter-jinx on Smith's legs and helped him up. Smith dusted off his robes, shooting a nasty glare at Harry and Ginny in turn.
"Excellent work, Ginny." Harry told her. "Alright you two, go again."
For the next hour and a half, each member of the DA took turns to duel each other with varying results, but with an overall improvement as time went on. Neville almost performed the shield charm correctly, but it wasn't strong enough to direct Dean's jinx back at him and instead the jinx ricocheted sidewise and hit one of the dark detectors placed in the corner. Luna seemed to have little problem with the shield charm itself, but her offensive spells were a mixed bag; one of her stunning spells only singed Michael Corner's eyebrows. Harry would often give bits of advice to the participants, such as the importance of precise wand movement instead of the extravagant flourishes he had seen going on. He spent most of the time with Neville, who was still struggling for confidence, and he hovered around Cho several times.
Harry checked his watch. He had been so absorbed in what was happening, he hadn't realised it had gone nine, which was past curfew for fifth years.
"Right everyone! That's enough for one night, it's a bit past curfew! But you're all coming along very well!'"
There were a few disappointed looks at the prospect of the meeting ending, but everyone looked happy with the night's work - even Zacharias Smith. Nobody particularly wanted to get caught by Umbridge or Filch past curfew either.
As everyone filed out the room, telling him goodnight and asking when the next meeting was, Harry saw Cho smile at him while looking him up and down before she left. Harry felt a bit warm around the face. This was not unnoticed by Ron, who sniggered.
"Oh, shut up," said Harry, giving Ron a playful shove.
As the room of requirements door vanished with pop, Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off down the corridor, Harry checking the marauders map and holding his invisibility cloak ready. After a while, Hermione said, "I think that was a very good lesson, Harry. You really are a natural at teaching."
Harry spluttered a bit at her praise. "Oh, I-I don't know about that. I'm not as good as Lupin was."
"No, but he's a fully qualified wizard while and much older. And you aren't far off him."
"Yeah, honestly mate, I'm learning loads from you," added Ron.
"Thanks," said Harry.
Though Harry was certainly not having a very good year, often feeling anger and despair bubbling beneath the surface, the DA and his two best friends were a light in the dark. They kept him going and he went to bed feeling slightly happier that he had done in some time.
Let me know what you think. Thanks!