The hall was filled with chatter as everyone that was still in the hall discussed everything that they had learnt so far during the book, much like those who had left the hall were doing. They were only four chapters in and had already learnt a few things they hadn't expected to learn, such as the amount of trust that actually existed between the trio.
Over where the staff were sitting, many of the teachers were discussing what they had learnt much like the students were.
Severus Snape was one teacher not talking. Instead, he was sitting in silence as everything he had learnt was whirling around his mind, battling to change everything he thought he knew about Potter. He had been so convinced that Potter had been arrogant, a spoiled brat who was waited on hand and foot at home. Now, to find out that his childhood had been eerily similar to his own. He pulled himself out of his thoughts, putting his inner turmoil aside for the moment to go through that night when he was alone and in his private quarters.
"It is no wonder that he doesn't ask question in class," Pomona said. Minerva and Filius both nodded in agreement.
"I am at least thankful that he feels comfortable asking Miss Granger questions and for help when he needs it," Minerva agreed.
"It's nice to see how close those three are. It's good to know that Mr Potter has such a strong support system," Filius added.
"It is astounding to hear some of the things that Mr Potter's accidental magic did," Minerva said.
While the teachers continued to discuss Harry, majority of the students had left the hall in groups. One such group was the trio that most of the discussions currently occurring were based around, since Hermione and Ron had dragged Harry off as soon as they were allowed to leave.
Ron and Hermione had continued to drag Harry through the castle until they reached the Room of Requirements. When Hermione pulled the door open and Ron pushed Harry through before the two of the followed, they found themselves in a room very similar to the one they used for DA meetings. The only difference was the area for spell practice was smaller, with a few comfortable chairs taking up the empty space.
"Are you ok Harry?" Hermione asked once they had all sat down on the cushions that they normally used while waiting for the rest of the DA; they completely ignored the chairs. Harry shrugged.
"I'm fine," he replied.
"You'll tell us if you're not, right mate?" Ron asked. He knew how stubborn his best mate could get when it came to showing he was uncomfortable or in pain.
"I'll try Ron. And you know the pain isn't too bad until the end of the year, so I should be fine until then."
"If you're sure mate."
"I am."
"Why didn't you tell us about your home life Harry?" Hermione asked after a few minutes of quiet.
"It never came up. Besides, you know how I am. You should know that I'm not rushing to tell people about what happens at the Dursleys."
"But Harry, that's child endangerment, child neglect, child abuse, the list can go on. You could get them arrested and you would never have to see them again," Hermione protested.
"It's fine Hermione. It's in the past. And things have been better since the end of second year, especially after third year and I could use Sirius as blackmail. And can you imagine what the wizarding world you do if they found out about how the Dursleys treat me. It's better to be kept quiet."
"It still happened though. At the very least let us help you. We can make it so that you never have to go back," Ron said.
"I have to go back every summer. The blood wards there keep me safe. Without them, I probably would have died at the end of first year," Harry said stubbornly, crossing his arms.
"Screw the blood wards, Voldemort has your blood anyway. Let us help you Harry. And who cares what the wizarding world would do if it got out; you'd be safe," Hermione said. Harry fixed his gaze on Hermine, looking her straight in the eyes.
"It would matter Mione. At the very least my life would become gossip, splashed around the front page of the Daily Prophet for who knows how many days or even weeks. And that's the best outcome. If it got out that it was muggles that treated me like that, do you know how people would react. Those that already despise muggles would see it as proof that muggles are below us. People who don't have an opinion on muggles would start to hate them. And even worse, I bet you that there would be revolt as all those people who love the Boy-Who-Lived want to get revenge on the Dursleys, and any muggle."
"He's right about that Mione," Ron said quietly once Harry had calmed down from his rant.
"I know, but I hate it. Can't we do anything," Hermione pleaded, tears starting to gather in her eyes. She hated to think about how terribly her best friend was treated, to think that he was abused.
"I have two more summers with them. The one after this year and then only a month after sixth year until I turn seventeen. Then the blood wards break, and they are important regardless of the fact that he has my blood, and I'm gone. I can survive only three months left with them Mione. It could only be two months if I get to the Burrow for my birthday this summer. I will be ok," Harry said gently, moving over slightly and drawing Hermione into a hug.
She squeaked slightly in surprise, since Harry didn't normally initiate physical contact further than an arm around the shoulders or the occasional holding hands, before she broke down, wrapping her arms around Harry and sobbing into his shoulder. Ron shuffled closer too, wrapping his arms around Hermione from behind, offering her more comfort as she cried.
"I'm sorry. I just, I hate the that you just put up with it when we could help."
"It's ok. And you do help. You sent me food when Dudley was on a diet. You send me letters, so I don't feel alone. You send me presents to remind me that people really care about me and my birthday. You let me come to your house during the holidays and let me experience things during the holidays that I wouldn't have otherwise. You do so much without even realising it," Harry said, still not releasing her from the hug.
"Once you leave though, once you turn seventeen mate, can't we do anything to at least make them pay for how they treated you?" Ron asked, looking Harry straight in the eye over Hermione's shoulder.
"Maybe. But the wizarding world still couldn't find out about it," he replied with a shrug. Hermione pulled back, wiping her eyes and she sat back on her feet.
"You could get muggle investigators onto them," she suggested.
"What?" Ron asked. Harry shrugged, having never actually ever heard about investigators.
"Muggles who will investigate people, to find out if they have committed any crimes, like fraud or embezzlement that wouldn't be found normally," Hermione explained.
"That could actually work. I know that Vernon has at least paid some of the employees under him less than they are owed and kept the extra for himself, since he bragged about it once," Harry replied slowly. Ron grinned, grabbing some parchment that he had in his pocket and asking the room for a quill. They put their heads together and started to plan how they could get Vernon arrested without people finding out about the abuse.
Back in the Great Hall, many members of the DA that hadn't gone for a walk or left for other reasons had gathered around in a group in the middle of the hall, most of them standing since they had been sitting for so long, while a few lounged on the cushions and beanbags on the ground. The group was a mix of the three houses in the DA, being comprised of Fred, George, Lee, Angelina, Katie, Alicia, Lavender, Parvati, Ginny, Neville, Luna, Terry, Michael, Anthony, Padma, Lisa, Susan, Hannah, Justin, and Ernie, as well as Bill, Charlie, and Tonks who had decided to join them.
"None of you seemed surprised when Harry started talking to the snake at the zoo," Tonks commented, bringing all the attention of the large group onto her.
"We already knew. We found out in our second year," Padma replied with a shrug.
"How did you guys react? I mean, it sounds like it would have weirded me out," Bill said. Bill, Charlie, and Tonks glanced around the group when no one answered, everyone else exchanging looks that they didn't understand.
"It was a little weird, but, after the shock wore off, it just became another thing that happens around Harry, Ron, and Hermione," Neville finally replied.
"What do you mean, just another thing that happens around them?" Charlie asked; he and Tonks had graduated the year before Harry got to Hogwarts, so hadn't heard the rumours. Charlie did know about the dragon but had assumed that that was a one off.
"There are so many rumours that go around the school each year about things the trio have done," Parvati said.
"But none of the teachers will confirm or deny any of the rumours, and no one can get the trio to talk about it," Lavender agreed.
"At least we'll get to hear about what they get up to each year in these books," Terry said.
"That is true. But reading about last year will be hard, especially for Harry," Susan said with a sigh.
"I hadn't even thought about that," Angelina said. The group was quiet for a few minutes before Katie spoke up.
"I just want to know what they did to lose one hundred and fifty points in one night and still get detention for it. There were no rumours about that."
"They must have really freaked McGonagall out, something like wrestling a troll," Lee said.
"They couldn't have wrestled a troll! They were eleven and twelve," Alicia protested.
"I said like that. I don't reckon we'll actually read about them wrestling a troll, but it had to have been something that freaked her out," Lee said, raising his hands in defence.
"No teenager could have wrestled a troll though, let alone a first-year," Justin pointed out. "That would be like saying that they fought an Acromantula."
"But they couldn't have fought an Acromantula. They wouldn't have had a chance to see one, let alone come out alive after seeing one," Hannah protested.
"That's why I said they couldn't have. Just like they couldn't have wrestled a troll," Justin said.
"Both of those are things we won't read about, even in their crazy adventures," Michael said.
"That's why I said it. What do you reckon we won't read about?" Justin asked.
"Well, if we're going by monsters they won't meet, then we won't read about them meeting a giant," Michael decided.
"Agreed. That is something we won't read about. Just like we won't read about them seeing a dragon hatch," Parvati said. Charlie shifted slightly, knowing that the trio had seen a baby dragon in their first year, so they may have been around to see it hatch. Rather than saying anything though, he added his own idea.
"Even if we do read about any of those, which is extremely unlikely, I bet we won't read about them flying on a dragon."
"Flying on a dragon? They'd more likely get eaten. That's as dangerous as riding a centaur, which is what I think we won't read about them doing," Anthony said.
"Riding a centaur? That's suicidal. That's like saying they'll break into the Ministry. Which they won't," Alicia protested.
"That's why I said we wouldn't read about them doing it."
"Forget about breaking into the Ministry, riding a centaur is as bad as breaking into Gringotts," Bill said. "Which is something else we won't read about them doing, since I don't think Harry will die in the books that are written from his point of view, and they're not criminals."
"Are we trying to suggest that we'll read about things that could almost kill them?" Luna asked.
"I thought we were just talking about things we wouldn't read about them doing, but I guess them almost dying in those situations is something we won't read about," Ginny said before shrugging. "I was just going to say we won't read about any of them ridiculing Malfoy Senior like they do Malfoy. As nice as it would be, we probably won't read about it."
"Even though we won't read about it, I want to hear them find a way to control Peeves, or even just scare him," Neville added with a small shiver.
"Both of these would be funny to read about. I just wish that they manage to get Rita Skeeter to stop being a cow. But we probably won't read about that. No one's ever managed anything like that though, so I doubt a group of teenagers could," Lavender said with a sigh.
"Well, something that I would like to read about, and am sure we won't, is Harry, Ron, and Hermione finding out the identities of the Marauders. We've been looking for years," Fred said.
"Who are the Marauders?" Ginny asked.
"No one," Fred and George replied quickly. Ginny raised an eyebrow.
"You know that it will probably be in the books if Harry knows about them."
"Yeah, but that won't be 'till the third year, if it's included at all," George replied airily.
"Fine, keep your secrets. What do you think we won't read about?"
"We won't read about them getting into another house common room. Fred and I have been trying since our first year so we could prank the other houses, but we've never managed it. Can't even find them."
"I don't think we'll read about Harry casting a corporeal Patronus. We all know he can cast one that's mist, but not a corporeal one," Susan said.
"No, someone mentioned him doing it," Hannah added.
"But we don't know that he actually can. That could just be a rumour. So that's what I don't think we'll read about," Susan said stubbornly.
"Forget Harry casting one. I bet we won't read about him teaching others to successfully cast one," Ernie said.
"Um, Ernie? You do remember that Harry said we'd start with the basics and work our way up. And you know He used dementors last time, so it would be a good thing to learn," Hannah said, making sure to carefully word it so that she wouldn't give away the DA, or what she was really talking about, if anyway was listening in.
"But we don't know if that includes Patronuses, although I will agree that it would be useful, based on last time. And we don't know if he manages to successfully teach it."
"That's true. Even if he did teach it, the chance of any school-aged witch or wizards being able to cast a Patronus, let alone a corporeal one, is extremely low. From what I've heard Mad-Eye say, most aurors can't even cast one," Bill agreed.
"See, that's what I mean. We won't read about it," Ernie said.
"Fair enough," Fred said.
"What do you reckon we won't read about Katie?" George asked, turning to the third chaser of the group.
"Time travel," Katie said with a fierce nod.
"If you wanted something impossible, you could have gone with something at least heard about in legends. Like them going into the Chamber of Secrets," Tonks said, rolling her eyes. Everyone who was still in school exchanged uneasy looks, while Ginny hugged herself tightly.
"What are we missing?" Charlie asked, worried about the reactions that Tonks had gotten.
"The Chamber of Secrets was, uh, opened three years ago," Alicia said.
"What?" Charlie, Bill, and Tonks asked. None of them had heard about anything like that.
"Yeah, that's when we found out that Harry could speak Parseltongue. Which was not a good thing with everything else going on," Neville said.
"What happened?" Tonks asked.
"With Harry? Everyone believed he was the heir until something proved he wasn't. With the Chamber? No clue," Lisa said with a shrug.
"One day there was talk about someone being murdered and the school having to close, and the next is that that student was still alive, and Ron and Harry winning awards for service for the school, plus 200 points each," Susan said.
"And no one explained anything. I'm glad that everyone was fine, but a little explanation would have been nice," Lavender said.
"Well, then you don't know that they did get into the Chamber. They may have just found the entrance and let the teachers deal with it, so I'm not going to change it," Tonks decided.
"If you were going to create drama based on Slytherin, you could have said that we weren't going to read about them finding Slytherin's Locket," Padma said eventually.
"Slytherin's locket?" Ginny asked.
"Each of the founders is said to have a specific item that they were well known for. Slytherin's was his locket," Padma explained.
"And, like how they won't find Slytherin's Locket, I bet we won't read about them finding Hufflepuff's Cup," Hannah agreed.
"Or Gryffindor's Sword," Angelina added.
"What about Ravenclaw's Diadem?" Luna asked. "I feel that it's time for it to be found again."
"But it's Ravenclaw's lost diadem. Lost, Luna. No one has seen it since the Founder's time," Anthony said slowly.
"That just means it fits. And I think that we won't read about them finding out who the Grey Lady is," Lisa said.
"The Grey Lady?" Bill asked.
"The Ravenclaw ghost. No one knows who she is, and she never talks to anyone," Lisa explained.
"Come on Lisa, that would be like saying they'll find out why the Bloody Baron is covered in blood," Terry said, "which everyone knows isn't going to happen."
"No one would ask the Bloody Baron that. One of the Gryffindor sixth years asked when I was in first year and the Baron followed him around for a month," Bill said with a shudder; having the Bloody Baron in the common room for a month had not been pleasant, especially as a first year.
"And that's why it's something we won't read about happening, just like how we don't think we'll read about the other things," Lee said.
"But what happens if we do read about some of them? I mean, some of them could actually happen," Ginny said. And she knew for a fact that Tonks' suggestion happened, otherwise she wouldn't be alive right now. And those who had been at Grimmauld during the summer knew that Harry could cast a corporeal Patronus, since he still had his soul.
"Then we should have all chosen Divination when we were choosing subjects," George joked, even as he folded up the parchment that they had written the predictions and who each belonged to was on and handed it to Fred.
"But honestly Ginny, none of them are going to happen, except the Patronuses," Fred agreed, pocketing the parchment. Ginny looked down and didn't say anything. None of her siblings, except Ron, obviously, knew that she had actually been taken into the Chamber and that it had been her opening it; most of the school was just told that the heir had taken her and was going to kill her; no one else had even seen the message he had made her leave on the wall.
No one else said anything as people began to stream back into the hall, making the multi-house group split up and head back to where they had originally been sitting. The last people to come back were the trio that had been at the centre of many conversations, all three of them wearing bright smiles as if they had just accomplished something great.
Once everyone was seated, Dumbledore stood up and the hall fell silent.
"We are going to continue reading now. Is everyone back?" No one said anything in response, so Dumbledore nodded and sat down, allowing Filius to cast the spell at the book again. The book glowed again and then started to read.