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Chapter Three: D.A.'s D-A-D-A
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"Puffskeins!" said Ron. The Fat Lady swung open. "I had a Puffskein once," he sighed as they climbed through.
"A Puffskein?" asked Harry.
"Big yellow fluff balls, so cute!" said Hermione. She was in an exceptionally good mood, being back at Hogwarts.
"Cutest thing in the world, the way they suck out your bogies when you're sleeping." Ron shuddered slightly as he said it.
All the same, Harry could tell that Ron was also in an exceptionally good mood. Hermione had revealed that she had broken off her correspondence with Viktor Krum. Harry had spent a long time wondering why Ron hated Hermione writing to Krum, but in hindsight, Harry had a fair idea why-
"What about the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?" asked Hermione, interrupting Harry's musing.
"Er- what?"
"The new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," she repeated, slightly impatiently.
"What about it?" said Ron, unconcerned.
"There's the small matter of it not attending the feast!"
Harry and Ron glanced at each other. "What do you want us to say?" asked Harry quietly. "We don't know any more than you do."
Hermione was put out. He had a point. Hermione opened her mouth to speak again, but was interrupted by the arrival of Professor McGonagall in the Common Room. She cleared her throat loudly. Gryffindor House looked up.
"Good evening, everyone. Welcome back," she said in a strained voice. "I'll be blunt. Worryingly, we have been unable to find a suitable Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." Hermione gave Harry and Ron a superior look. "Before continuing, I would like all Gryffindor members of the 'Dumbledore's Army' group to remain behind in the Common Room. The rest of you may return to your dormitories until you are called."
The entire House exchanged astounded looks, and most of them slowly climbed the stairs to their dormitories, glancing back into the Common Room to see what was going on. It was not until everyone else had left that Professor McGonagall began to talk.
"As I have just said," she began earnestly, "Professor Dumbledore has failed to hire a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Now, I have a fair idea of what went on in the Room of Requirement. I believe you practised all manner of jinxes, hexes and curses as well as the defensive spells. Young Mr Malfoy was admitted to the hospital wing by someone's most excellent Bat Bogey Hex." Ginny blushed furiously. McGonagall gave her a quick smile, "But all the same, we do not use hexes on other students." Harry caught her mutter, "Even if they deserve it."
"Now, I'm sure you all have a fair idea of what I'm about to ask you," she said in more audible tones. "The other Heads of House are doing the exact same thing as I speak. I want you to teach the other students how to protect themselves."
A stunned silence ensued. Hermione was beaming in a way that said she had been expecting this since McGonagall entered Gryffindor Tower. But her grin vanished suddenly and she looked thoughtful. Biting her fingernail, she stuck a hand in the air.
"Yes, Miss Granger?"
"Professor, last year - I mean - we didn't - none of them wanted to - there were no Slytherins," she finished lamely.
"I know," said the Professor, "so you'll be teaching them, too."
Neville looked at Harry, and mouthed, 'Slytherins?' McGonagall caught it and said, "Yes, Longbottom, Slytherins. You will share that duty with the other Houses. Of course, you will only be expected to take First, Second, Third and Fourth Years from Gryffindor House. There will be a few Slytherins in every class. Don't look so worried - it's only until Dumbledore can find a permanent teacher!"
The assembly sniggered. Their previous Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers had included two Death Eaters (one disguised as a retired Auror, one with Voldemort coming out of the back of his head); a dim but self- obsessed celebrity; a very competent werewolf and a sadistic civil servant. None had lasted longer than a year. Now that the Dark Lord had returned, an able teacher was especially necessary.
Then Professor McGonagall dismissed them and sent up the message that the others were to return to the Common Room.
Chapter Three: D.A.'s D-A-D-A
::::::-------------
"Puffskeins!" said Ron. The Fat Lady swung open. "I had a Puffskein once," he sighed as they climbed through.
"A Puffskein?" asked Harry.
"Big yellow fluff balls, so cute!" said Hermione. She was in an exceptionally good mood, being back at Hogwarts.
"Cutest thing in the world, the way they suck out your bogies when you're sleeping." Ron shuddered slightly as he said it.
All the same, Harry could tell that Ron was also in an exceptionally good mood. Hermione had revealed that she had broken off her correspondence with Viktor Krum. Harry had spent a long time wondering why Ron hated Hermione writing to Krum, but in hindsight, Harry had a fair idea why-
"What about the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?" asked Hermione, interrupting Harry's musing.
"Er- what?"
"The new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," she repeated, slightly impatiently.
"What about it?" said Ron, unconcerned.
"There's the small matter of it not attending the feast!"
Harry and Ron glanced at each other. "What do you want us to say?" asked Harry quietly. "We don't know any more than you do."
Hermione was put out. He had a point. Hermione opened her mouth to speak again, but was interrupted by the arrival of Professor McGonagall in the Common Room. She cleared her throat loudly. Gryffindor House looked up.
"Good evening, everyone. Welcome back," she said in a strained voice. "I'll be blunt. Worryingly, we have been unable to find a suitable Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." Hermione gave Harry and Ron a superior look. "Before continuing, I would like all Gryffindor members of the 'Dumbledore's Army' group to remain behind in the Common Room. The rest of you may return to your dormitories until you are called."
The entire House exchanged astounded looks, and most of them slowly climbed the stairs to their dormitories, glancing back into the Common Room to see what was going on. It was not until everyone else had left that Professor McGonagall began to talk.
"As I have just said," she began earnestly, "Professor Dumbledore has failed to hire a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Now, I have a fair idea of what went on in the Room of Requirement. I believe you practised all manner of jinxes, hexes and curses as well as the defensive spells. Young Mr Malfoy was admitted to the hospital wing by someone's most excellent Bat Bogey Hex." Ginny blushed furiously. McGonagall gave her a quick smile, "But all the same, we do not use hexes on other students." Harry caught her mutter, "Even if they deserve it."
"Now, I'm sure you all have a fair idea of what I'm about to ask you," she said in more audible tones. "The other Heads of House are doing the exact same thing as I speak. I want you to teach the other students how to protect themselves."
A stunned silence ensued. Hermione was beaming in a way that said she had been expecting this since McGonagall entered Gryffindor Tower. But her grin vanished suddenly and she looked thoughtful. Biting her fingernail, she stuck a hand in the air.
"Yes, Miss Granger?"
"Professor, last year - I mean - we didn't - none of them wanted to - there were no Slytherins," she finished lamely.
"I know," said the Professor, "so you'll be teaching them, too."
Neville looked at Harry, and mouthed, 'Slytherins?' McGonagall caught it and said, "Yes, Longbottom, Slytherins. You will share that duty with the other Houses. Of course, you will only be expected to take First, Second, Third and Fourth Years from Gryffindor House. There will be a few Slytherins in every class. Don't look so worried - it's only until Dumbledore can find a permanent teacher!"
The assembly sniggered. Their previous Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers had included two Death Eaters (one disguised as a retired Auror, one with Voldemort coming out of the back of his head); a dim but self- obsessed celebrity; a very competent werewolf and a sadistic civil servant. None had lasted longer than a year. Now that the Dark Lord had returned, an able teacher was especially necessary.
Then Professor McGonagall dismissed them and sent up the message that the others were to return to the Common Room.