A/N: I'm sorry this chapter took so long. I went on vacation, and it took a long time to write, but here it is.

The new and improved Dumbledore's Army:

He awoke the next morning, not remembering anything of the dream. He looked over to Ron's bed. He was gone. Harry got dressed and headed down the dormitory steps to the common room. When he got down, Ron and Hermione were waiting for them.

"Good morning Harry!" said Hermione cheerily.

" Morning," he said yawning.

"There's a trip to Hogsmeade in two weeks. Should be fun" said Ron, pointing to a notice posted on the bulletin board.

"Yeah," said Harry. In the back of his head he was making a mental note to ask Sarah to go with him to Hogsmeade. "Let's go get some breakfast."

They nodded in agreement and they headed down to the Great Hall. When they sat down, Harry absentmindedly, glanced over to the Ravenclaw table where Sarah was sitting with Luna and a couple of other Ravenclaws. Harry noted that he was not the only one looking at her. Terry Boot and Anthony Goldstein, two members of the DA, were also staring at her, as were some Hufflepuffs. When Sarah caught his eye, she and Luna got up and made their way over to the Gryffindor table. She sat down next to Harry, and said excitedly, "There is going to be a Hogsmeade weekend soon. I'm so excited. It's going to be so much fun!"

"Yeah, er, would you like me to show you around the place?" asked Harry nervously. His stomach did a backflip similar to the time when he had asked Cho out, but this time it was different. Instead of a feeling of nervousness and fear of rejection, it was a feeling of hopefulness, and well, some nervousness.

But before she could answer there was aloud rustle of feathers, and some shrill hoots. It was mail time. (Here is where I would break out into The mailtime song from blue's clues, but I'll refrain.) Sarah jumped. It was not only from surprise. It was also because a large owl had landed right in front of her and spilled her pumpkin juice all over her, Harry, and Luna, who were seated beside her. Hermione did a quick spell to clean it all up, before turning to her letter. In fact all of them had gotten a letter, and it was all in the same parchment, with the Hogwarts seal! It turned out that a little less than thirty people had received the envelope. They all tore it open and found a short note, on heavy parchment written in green ink. It said:

You have been selected to be in a club called Dumbledore's Army. It is a Defense Against the Dark Arts club, which has been extended over the summer, and a new leader has been picked. I, Albus Dumbledore, will be teaching the club, and have hand selected some of the finer students of the school who have the potential to excel in a club such as this. In fact the students who attended club meetings regularly last term all received Outstandings on their Defense Against the Dark Art exams. The first meeting will be held at 7:00 on Thursday night. I hope to see you there.

                                                            Albus Dumbledore

"What is this?" asked Sarah

"Well," started Ron, "The DA is a club that me Hermione and Harry started last year, because our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was a total bloody Nazi!"

"You can say that again." Said Ginny

"She was a total bloody Nazi. Anyways, she forbid any clubs so we had to practice in secret. Harry taught everyone. And then a girl told and we couldn't practice anymore. Dumbledore took the blame, and was fired. But he's back now."

"And a good thing too" added Hermione. "But I don't think Umbridge would have stayed even if Dumbledore didn't come back."

"Why not?" asked Sarah.

"Because of Fred and George, my twin brothers." Said Ginny "They pulled humungous pranks on her, and when she found out who it was, it was too late they grabbed their broomsticks and flew out, in the Great Hall in front of everyone. And after that everyone played pranks on her until the day she fled with Peeves at her heels."

They all laughed in reminiscence, but Sarah asked, "Who is Peeves?"

"Our poltergeist. He's always causing trouble. Doesn't listen to anyone, but the Bloody Baron, the Slytherin ghost, or Fred and George." explained Harry

"Oh." She then picked up her schedule which was being handed out by teachers. "Hmm lets see. I have every class with you Harry except for Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures. I'm taking Ancient Runes instead." Harry smiled to himself. He loved the new schedules that did not require you to be only in a class with your house.

"I have every class with you too! And I'm taking Ancient Runes." She said looking at Harry's schedule.

"I've got everything with you lot too, except potions," Ron said with a shudder. "Hey we've got Defense Against the Dark Arts tomorrow. I can't wait to have another Lupin class. Remember the first time we ever had a class with him?"

"Oh yeah, Snape in that dress. That was my all time favorite class." Said Hermione laughing.

As they walked out of the Great Hall on their way to their common rooms to get their books, Sarah said to Harry, "I'd love to go to Hogsmeade with you." And she walked off in the direction of the Ravenclaw tower.

He walked into Potions ten minutes later with his books and sat down next to Hermione. He took out his cauldron and potion ingredients, and thought to himself, 'This year I'm gonna do this class right. I'm not going to let that stupid git Snape make fun of me anymore. I'm going to pay attention and prove him wro-' He stopped paying attention. Sarah had walked in. She was talking animatedly to Terry Boot and Anthony Goldstein, and she sat down in front of Harry, and partnered up with Terry, while Anthony paired himself with Ernie Macmillian. Draco Malfoy was paired with Neville, who seemed happy that he was partnered with Snape's favorite student. The rest of the Slytheirns were glaring at Draco. If looks could kill, Draco would have been dead on the floor.

Snape walked in angry and sour as usual, and started talking immediately about the potion they would be working on that day, without even looking up. When he did, he stopped short in his explanation and said, "Malfoy, interesting choice of partners. I would expect you to pick someone who is not so much of a blubbering idiot."

Malfoy remained silent, and Neville turned red. The Slytherins smirked but everybody else glared at Snape. "Very well then, if you insist. So, the ingredients you will be needing for the Veritaserum are on the board and you can go get your ingredients from the cabinet.

By the end of class, everybody had managed to successfully brew the first part of the Veritaserum, except for Crabbe and Goyle. Even Neville's was perfect, because of his partner.

"We will finish our potion next class and I would like two rolls of parchment on the uses of Veritaserum by Wednesday. Three for Crabbe and Goyle."

"Can you believe it," said Neville as they were leaving the classroom, "two rolls of parchment on the first day of school!"

"That Veritaserum smelt absolutely awful," said Sarah.

"It did, I swear I was going to puke." said Hermione.

They walked up into the Great Hall, still discussing the class, and their hatred for Snape when Katie Bell walked over to Harry and Ron, "Harry, Ron, we have Quidditch practice and tryouts on Friday at seven."

"OK, see you then," said Harry

"So, we have Care of Magical Creatures now. It's going to stink without Hagrid. I suspect he's still working on the giants." Said Ron.

"Yeah maybe," said Harry glumly, not looking forward to the class in which he would probably learn to ride a unicorn. That seemed boring after taking a ride on a hippogriff.

"Well. I'm glad I'm no tin that class anymore. Although it was fun being with Hagrid, sometimes I think he is a little much, if you know what I mean. Plus, what's the point if he's not there anyway." said Hermione.

"Yeah," said Harry absentmindedly. He wasn't paying attention to Hermione, he was paying attention to Sarah, who had crossed the room and sat down at the Ravenclaw table next to Luna, Terry, and Anthony.

"Harry!" He snapped back to reality.

"W-What?" he stuttered.

"Aren't you paying any attention to us? Hermione just said that she thinks we should talk to Professor McGonagall now." explained Ron

"For what?" asked Harry.

"Animagi!" said Ron, a little too loud. Fortunately, nobody heard him.

"Ron! Could you be a little quieter?" scolded Hermione. He just glared back at her.

"Oh, right, yeah. Lets go." said Harry, ignoring his friends glaring at each other. And he turned around and left, up to the transfiguration wing.

When they got there they saw Professor McGonagall at her desk, muttering something under her breath. "Professor?" Hermione said, getting her attention.

She looked up, startled, "Yes? Do you three need something?"

"Well, Professor, we've been reading up this summer, well I've been reading up this summer and we want to become Animagi, but we're underage and the only way we can do it legally is to get  a registered Animagi to give us lessons, and we were wondering if you could," said Hermione, all in one breath.

It seemed that Professor McGonagall was thinking this over, as it took a while for her to finally answer, "I'd have to talk it over with the Headmaster, but I think that it should be ok. I will inform you of when are first lesson will be, but you know you are going to have to work extremely hard at this." She looked over each of their nodding faces, and then when she seemed satisfied, she picked up a pile of papers and left them there.

"Well," said Ron breaking the silence, "That was easier than I thought it would be," and he gave a small smile.  Then they all broke into huge grins, and walked happily toward the Great Hall to catch the end of lunch.

After they ate the remains of the stew that had been served for lunch, Ron and Harry set off across the great lawn, still happy about the Animagi lessons. When they got there, they joined the crowd that was gathering by the forest. Harry had been wrong. They were not going to learn how to ride unicorns. They were learning about thestrals.

"Now, I know some of you will not be able to see the thestrals, but Hagrid told me to continue the lessons from last year about them," came Professor Grubby-Plank's voice from the center of the group. Ron, Neville and Harry looked at each other. They didn't need lessons. They had flown them all the way to the Ministry of Magic just last year. "Now follow me into the forest." said the Professor.They started walking into the forest with the group, when Malfoy joined them.

"Well, I guess I'm joining the club of people who can see the thestrals," he said with a sigh. Harry gave him a questioning look that led him to explain further. "When the Ministry came in to get my parents, they're was a bunch of Death Eaters over, and they killed Avery." Malfoy then got a glazed over look in his eyes, then shook his head chasing the thought away, "Evil bastard deserved it." There was a finality in his voice, that warned them not to venture into it further.

Finally, the class reached a clearing, where Professor Grubby-Plank laid down a chunk of meat and whistled, just as Hagrid had done last year. Soon enough, half a dozen thestrals appeared from the clearing. "Now, I would like anyone who can see the thestrals to step forward."

Harry, Neville, and Malfoy were the only people to step forward. "Well ok, better fewer than more in this case," she said to herself, then to them, "Well if you would just approach one of the thestrals," she said nodding in the totally opposite direction of where the thestrals were. Obviously, she could not see them. This made Harry think. Could Hagrid see them, or did he just have a lot of experience with them?

"Harry, please follow directions." she said sharply, drawing him out of his thoughts.

"W-what? Oh, right." He turned red and walked up to the thestral nearest to him, and put his hand on its gray head.

"Now class, can anybody tell me why a thestral can only be seen by certain people?" Several students raised their hand. "Miss Brown?"

"Thestrals can only be seen by people who have seen…" she paused dramatically, imitating Professor Trelawney when she was about to make a prediction, "…death."

Some of the class gasped, but Ron only rolled his eyes and threw a look at Lavender that clearly said, 'she's crazy'. The professor, however, said, "Very well, Miss Brown, five points to Gryffindor. Thestrals can be very dangerous creatures if not taken seriously, but they can also be very handy." Harry could have sworn she had looked directly at him when she said this. "They can be ridden, flying or walking. They also serve an important purpose on the grounds at Hogwarts. Does anybody know what it is?" Now only Ron and the people who could see the thestrals raised their hands. "Mr. Weasley?"

"They pull the carriages from the train station to the castle on the first day of school," he said, proud that he had been the one to answer.

"Correct again. Another five points to Gryffindor." Ron smiled, and blushed. "So..umm..Sir? How many thestrals are there now?" she said this looking at Draco. He turned around and counted  all the thestrals that had now crowded into the clearing. "9" he said once he had finished.

"Ok then, today, class we are going to be riding the thestrals. I need the three of you to lead Lavender, Parvati, Anthony, Terry, Ron, Justin, Ernie, Crabbe and Goyle to a thestral.," she waited while they were all shown to a thestral and had ther hands on its head. "Now get on your thestral," she waited again, but this time it took longer. Ron managed to get right on, which surprised the class, but everybody else was having trouble, and soon Harry Draco and Neville were helping everybody up. "ok now go!' She flailed her arms around, and hit a thestral nearby in the but. It took off quickly, and made Lavender scream.

"It's ok dear, it's ok!" she shouted up to her, and she calmed down. Then everybody else took off, to shouts of glee.

After they had finished their ride and the next group had gone and landed, the class was over and they headed back to the castle for their next class.

Thursday night soon approached, along with it the first DA meeting of the year. Harry was excited, and wondered what they were going to be learning this year as he walked down the steps to the Great Hall, where the meeting was to be held. He sat down in between Sarah and Ron, and watched the rest of the members filter slowly into the Hall and take seats. When everybody had entered there was just short of 30 people, the majority being Gryffindors. He noticed that Draco and Ginny kept exchanging nervous glances across the table. He and Ron exchanged glances and Ron was about to say something, when Dumbledore walked in, flanked by McGonagall, Snape, and Lupin.

"Welcome," came his booming voice. "You are all members of Dumbledore's Army. Most of you were in this club last year, but for those who were not, Dumbledore's Army is a club started by Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley, in which students can learn offensive and defensive spells to fight against Voldemort and the Death Eaters.

At Voldemort's name, several people flinched. Dumbledore noticed. "Fear of a name, only increases fear of the thing itself. Noone should ever fear saying the name Voldemort." This time noone made any obvious objection, although a couple of people shifted in their seats uncomfortably. "Now, for the new people and for those who have not yet mastered it, we are going to start the year with the Patronus Charm, which is a spell to deter dementors.  May I ask Harry Potter to come to the front to demonstrate?" It was not a question but a command. So, Harry got up and went to the front of the room.

When he stood up there is face turned red, and he looked out at the rest of the students, feeling foolish. Then he caught Sarah's eye, and she smiled, he turned even redder, but thougt of that first day at Diagon Alley when he met her, and said strongly, "Expecto Patronum." His usual silver stag erupted from his wand and galloped around the room, but instead of fading away like it usually did, it stayed, and walked around surveying everyone.

"Good Job Harry! You can go back to your seat now." Dumbledore then turned to the rest of the class and said, "Now, focus on a happy thought, and say the words Expecto Patronum."

Harry went back and sat next to Hermione. Everyone else had stood up and the hall was filled with students yelling Expecto Patronum. He watched Sarah trying the spell. She noticed him staring at her, turned red, and tried again to no avail. Harry also turned red and turned away. But it wasn't long before he was looking at her again. This time, however, it was for a different reason. She had produced a patronus,  and it was…a doe. At the moment this happened, Harry's stag from before came galloping across the room towards them. Fortunately, by then everyone was watching the two Patronus and didn't notice Harry and Sarah's beet red faces. The two Patronus merged into one bright silver light that blinded everyone, and then burst into a million stars that snowed onto the students, amongst cheering, partly because of excitement, and partly because the stars seemed to lift away all sorrows as they touched them.

After the excitement died down and Harry and Sarah's blushing faded to pink, Draco made an eagle Patronus fly around the room. Watching the eagle, Harry's eyes rested on Dumbledore and McGonagall whispering to each other at the Head Table. He strained his ears to hear them, but the noise of the students all around him drowned out everything. The only thing he could make out was, 'Harry,' 'patronus,' and 'what does it mean'

What did it mean? Why had his patronus acted so weird? Why was Sarah's patronus a doe? Maybe it was a sign, but what did it mean?!

He kept thinking along these lines, until Dumbledore stood up and said, "Good job, everybody! Because of Quidditch practices and homework, we will not have another meeting until next Thursday, same time, same place."

He stood up to leave, and Sarah said, "Good night Harry." "Good night" he said awkwardly back. Then he walked out of the Great Hall and up to Gryffindor Tower, were he flopped on his bed and fell immediately asleep. He had the same dream as the first night back at school, except this time he remembered it. He woke up with a start and said, "The key." …………

*

A/N: That better be long enough for you! That has got to be the longest chapter possibly in the whole story thus far. Well now I better get started on chapter 9. I don't think it will  be quite so long, but I won't even bother unless I get at least three reviews, even if you only say one word!