Chapter 3

Harry had given Fred and George a good portion of his winnings from the Triwizard tournament and called it a loan to get them off the ground for their shop. Just as long as they never told their mother where they got their money and they had to buy Ron new dress robes.

Ron and Hermione became prefects. When they got to Hogwarts Rosemary was dismayed to find Dolores Umbridge was the Defense against the dark arts professor there were a few things she remembered about her and none of them were good. She refused to teach practical defense of any kind.

Rosemary went to Harry, Hermione and Ron and said "I have absolutely had it with that toad of a woman at this rate none of us are going to pass our OWL's or NEWT's and none of us will be able to defend ourselves either."

Ron said "yeah but what can we do about it?"

Rosemary smirked and said "maybe we can slip her one of Fred and Georges nosebleed nougats they haven't figured a way to stop the bleeding yet."

Hermione said "that would kill her, we don't want to kill her we just want to get rid of her. How about we find a teacher of our own."

Harry said "Fudge appointed her I don't think she is just going to walk away besides if Dumbledore couldn't find someone appropriate what makes you think we can."

Rosemary chuckled and said "why don't you teach it Harry, you know loads of defense. I could help you and we could ask Sirius and Remus to help too. You know they know all about defense. It could be like a club but secret I don't think Umbridge will like it if she were to find out and she would ban it or something."

Harry said a bit reluctantly "I don't know about teaching it but I like the idea of a secret defense club."

Hermione smiled and said "perfect you just let me and Rosemary work it all out."

They spread the word to people they could trust and met at the Hogshead to let everyone know what was going on they all agreed to sign up they found the Room of requirement to hold their meetings and using the marauders map came and went unseen.

When everyone was there for their first meeting every year was represented while most were Gryffindors there were a few Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff too.

Rosemary turned to Harry and asked "do you want to start the first lesson or should I?"

Harry said nervously "I am not sure where to begin."

Rosemary nodded and said "Well I don't know what all of you might know so our first lesson is going to cover the three most basic of defenses. Blocking unwanted spells, disarming and stunning. We will get to more advanced difficult spells in coming meetings but for this one we will stick to the basics."

Rosemary and Harry showed everyone how to block, disarm and stun. They paired them up and had them work on what they were taught. They went around encouraging and correcting where it was needed. By the end of the first meeting everyone had managed to block and disarm and many even were able to stun.

By the end Harry was confident enough to address the group he said "Alright that went really well. Our next meeting will be in three days just after dinner and we will start on a bit more advanced spells now that we know you all can do the basics."

As they were headed back to their common room everyone was in good spirits Harry was walking next to Rosemary, Ron and Hermione were just behind them.

Harry said "that went much better then I thought it would. Did you see how excited Neville was when he disarmed Parvati?"

Rosemary smiled and said "Yes, it is amazing what someone can do when they aren't being terrorized by a frightening teacher or being taught by someone who is incompetent. Studying the incantations and wand movements is important but the secret to preforming any spell is confidence in yourself. Neville lacks confidence more than anything else."

Harry asked "Rosemary why did you want to start the DA. It was more then just wanting to pass your NEWT's and help us pass our OWL's isn't it."

Rosemary sighed and said "Yes it was. The dark lord is imprisoned, they tried to administer the dementors kiss on him but the dementors wouldn't do it. I don't know for sure but I don't think there is enough of a human soul left in him for the dementors to recognize him as a human, or maybe he is so much like a dementor himself they think he is one of them. I don't think they are going to be able to keep him locked up forever one day he will escape. You can't tell me that it can't be done because Sirius did it and he is a great wizard but he is no dark lord. I wanted to start the DA because I want to make sure you and everyone else are as prepared as best as you can be when he returns. I called it the DA because that is what Fudge is most afraid of that Dumbledore is using the school to train us all up for an army. He thinks Dumbledore wants his job, which is ridiculous but Fudge is delusional. What do you think we should teach next?"

Hermione helped them with planning lessons. They met a couple times a week. Everyone looked forward to it but everyone was also very busy with studying, quidditch and the DA. It was a big blow when Umbridge kicked Harry, Fred and George off of the team. Ginny became the new Seeker. Rosemary and Dean Thomas became the new beaters.

Rosemary may not have looked the typical type for a beater but on the pitch she was an unstoppable force.

Sirius had bought her a firebolt when he heard the news. Buckbeak had been returned to Hagrid and christened with a new name he was very happy to be among the Hippogriff herd again.

Umbridge was a nightmare she was passing decrees banning all kinds of things clubs included. She was interviewing the staff and she fired Trelawny though Dumbledore was able to keep her from being evicted. He hired Firenze to teach in her stead.