Chapter 8
D.A. meeting
The next morning Harry awoke to find Hermione on his bed shaking him. "Hey sleepy head," she said, "Time for all lover boys to get up." Harry smiled at her, "I think we stayed up a little late," he said shaking his head to clear it. "I know, I'm tired too." She said yawning, "But we have classes today." "No," said Harry burying his head in his pillows. Hermione started tickling him. Harry started laughing very hard, "Hermione… stop… it" he said between laughs. "When you get up…" she said. Harry pulled her down. "Hey," Hermione said, "Don't do that!" Harry started tickling Hermione. "Hey!" Hermione said gasping between laughs, "Stop." Harry crawled over her and sat up, "When you get up," he said laughing. She picked a pillow and walloped him with it. Harry grabbed one, "Pillow fight!" he said. Hermione and Harry stopped; playfulness gone, Harry leaned down, Hermione slid her arms around his neck, closer and closer. KNOCK KNOCK came from Harry's door, "Come on Harry, it's Ron, we're going to be late." Came a muffled voice. "Perfect timing!" Hermione groaned. "Just a minute Ron," said Harry a little on the impatient side. "Harry, I'm very close to slugging that little…" Hermione started, "He's turning into a nosy git." "Herm, I know it's frustrating." Harry asked. "Yeah," replied Hermione, "Very much so… I've also noticed my temper has been getting shorter." "Really?" asked Harry smiling. Hermione hit him with a pillow, "Yes," she replied. Hermione left through the second door leading to their mutual bathroom, which then led into both rooms. Harry got up and dressed quickly, when he opened his door, Hermione was waiting but Ron had left. Harry and Hermione walked down to breakfast talking and laughing about past events.
After eating a very fast breakfast, Hermione and Harry ran around looking for a place for the D.A. to meet, they had previously agreed to the Room of Requirement, but Dumbledore was insistent that they find one that wasn't known. They couldn't find anywhere suitable, they decided to make one, according to what they had been taught by Neo. They concentrated on the wall they had selected, it started to waver in form, Harry and Hermione both felt their necklaces grow hot before settling down to body temperature, the wall caved in and then rushed toward them faster and faster, to be stopped so the wall was flat, Harry concentrated on making a door, Hermione concentrated on books for learning and spells that would protect their location. Harry now concentrated on the lock and made the password a mentally sent word, 'Cerberus' while pressing on the door that didn't appear to be there. Hermione finished and turned her attention to Harry, "What's the password?" she asked. "Oh, Cerberus," Harry smiled, "Herm," he said looking around, "I love you." Hermione smiled, "I love you too Harry," she said quietly into his ear while hugging him. Harry held her hand, "Come on Herm, let's see how we did." They approached the door, they both pressed one hand to the wall and held each other's hand, they looked into each other's eyes, 'Cerberus' they both thought. The door rumbled slightly and slide away. Books on Defense against the Dark Arts abounded in variety. "Herm, you do a wonderful job," said Harry. "You didn't do so bad yourself," replied Hermione. Hermione and Harry went to their first class, Potions, and worst of all, Double Potions, they ran back to the common room and grabbed their stuff.
The Slytherins were already waiting for Professor Snape. "Well, Potter, Granger, or should I say mudblood?" asked Malfoy. Harry started to react harshly, "Harry, no," said Hermione as she blocked him, "Don't." "Don't what mudblood? Is Potter going to save you from the wretched Malfoy again?" Malfoy sneered. "No, he was going to throw you across the dungeon, maybe it was a good idea," snapped Hermione. "Oooh, touchy mudblood aren't you? Well Potter, you want to get back at me, I hear Professor Snape is putting on a Defense against the Dark Arts group; we'll be fighting and that sort of stuff. Of course, you might want to be careful I don't give you another scar to match," Malfoy sneered. "Really?" asked Harry, now his interest was peaked, "When?" "Tonight at 6:00 it'll run for two hours, plenty of time for me to beat you to a pulp Potter," sneered Malfoy. "D.A. doesn't begin until 9:00, would you come and watch?" Harry asked Hermione affectionately. Hermione looked at him, "Harry, but, but… that could be dangerous," replied Hermione in a whisper. "Na, not for us," Harry responded. Hermione gave a sigh, "Yes, I'll come, but you'd better come back with me in one piece! You don't; then you're in real trouble," Hermione said in a serious whisper. Malfoy looked at both of them, "Cat got your tongue Potter?" asked Malfoy with a glance in Hermione's direction. Hermione stiffened, they had killed her cat too. "No Malfoy," said Harry with a dangerous look, "I am just thinking about the best way to send you home in a matchbox."
"Settle down," said Professor Snape, the door banging shut. Harry and Hermione quickly found seats far away from the crowd. "Welcome to our N.E.W.T. Potions class, today we will be learning a transfacial potion, one that will allow you to change your face into another," said Snape, he waved his wand at the board then the student cupboard, "There are the instructions, and everything can be found in the student cupboard, now begin." Harry and Hermione quickly started following his instructions, Harry surprised himself by making it perfect. A slight gold mist rose from it. Snape looked around, "Your caudron should now have a rising gold mist," he said. Harry looked around at the other tables, no one had a golden mist, except him and Hermione, who were now the only Gryffindors in Potions. "Potter, 10 points from Gryffindor," sneered Snape. "Why?" asked Hermione and Harry together. "Because obviously Miss Granger helped you," said Snape. "We didn't," said Hermione. "We didn't what?" asked Snape evidently interested. "I didn't help him," said Hermione. "Another ten points for lying Miss Granger," sneered Snape. Harry turned an angry red, but didn't say anything.
After Potions their next class was History of Magic. Harry found himself concentrating very well and making good notes, "Herm, go ahead and sleep, I'll take notes," Harry said quietly, "You deserve a good rest." Hermione smiled sleepily at him, "Careful, I might take you up on that," replied Hermione. Within 10 minutes she drifted off, then she awoke with a start, Harry was gently shaking her, "Herm, it's almost 6:00 let's go," Harry said. Hermione smiled at him, "Thanks, I feel much better," said Hermione. They proceeded to the Defense against the Dark Arts room; it had been transformed into a fighting room. Harry watched as Snape stepped onto the table, "Today, we will be practicing the Rejection charm and others learned in previous years, the Rejection charm throws your opponent across the room, there is no defense, but it can be avoided. Can I have a volunteer," Snape looked around the room, "Ahhh, Potter, up here." Harry winked at Hermione, she grabbed his arm, "Don't," she pleaded. "Don't worry, I won't hurt him," Harry said quietly, "Much." Harry stopped at the opposite end of the table, "Now the words for it are, 'Ejectus opponentus'," Snape explained. He turned his eyes on Harry, who could see a muscle in Snape's cheek twitching in dislike and anticipation.
Harry calmed himself with a relaxation technique. "EJECTUS OPPONENTUS," shouted Snape, a white light flew from his wand. Harry ducked, it missed and blew apart the wall. "Malfoy, Potter, you two will start," said Snape, who was unhappy that he had missed. Malfoy stepped up, Snape whispered in his ear, Malfoy sneered, "EJECTUS OBSCARUS." Harry held up his wand, the spell stopped in mid-air shinning brightly. Harry glanced at Hermione, she smiled at him, "ENOUGH," said Harry in a loud voice, "This is not time to fight among ourselves, this is the time to unite against our common enemies." "RICTOR SAMPRA" yelled Malfoy. Harry threw the previous one aside and held up his wand again, this time allowing it to strike it, it disappeared as the wand absorbed it. "Malfoy, it is enough," said Harry, "UNITE WITH US OR DIE WITHOUT US." Harry predicted as he jumped off and joined Hermione, "Let's go," he said quietly.
He couldn't forget the look of shock on Snape's face. Hermione grabbed his hand, "You know, I think you did a good job, back there," she said happily. "I try, for only love of you," answered Harry. Hermione turned pink, they ran into Ron on the way up, Hermione visibly stiffened, Harry remembered she didn't like the fact he had interrupted them twice. "Are we having D.A.?" asked Ron. "Yes," replied Harry. "Well, we've been waiting," said Ron. "Waiting? I put down 9:00," said Harry surprised. "Well, we wanted to start early," said Ron.
Harry entered the Room of Requirement. "Hey guys, bad news," said Harry, "We can't hold it here." The rest of the members groaned. "But there is good news," he continued, "We've found another place." "Where?" asked Seamus. "Down the hall, come on." Harry said leaving the room. All the D.A. members followed him, when they reached the place Harry and Hermione pretended to push stones, after pushing 3 each they thought the password. The door slide open, candles were lit and the room had a golden glow. "Wow," said Dean, "this is great." Hermione and Harry smiled knowingly at each other. After they entered Harry sealed the door as he sensed someone approach it was Malfoy, "POTTER," he called. Harry looked out, "What?" he asked warily. "SPITUS EGYPTICUS." The spell flew toward Harry, he curved his palm and the spell deflected off of it. Harry gave Malfoy a mental push, Malfoy flew backwards surprised. "Enough," said Harry forcefully. Malfoy ran to tell a teacher. Harry whispered and Malfoy continued to run, Harry smiled and opened the door, closing it behind him, he sighed, "Okay we're going to begin by learning an anti-disapparation jinx, Hermione would you please?" Hermione looked at him with concern, "Sure," "Honey, is there something wrong?" she whispered to Harry as he passed. Harry smiled at her; it was the first time she had called him an affectionate name other than his own. "Yes, let me tell you later," he replied in a whisper. Hermione taught them a few spells, they were starting to learn faster and faster. Harry picked up one of the good sized walking sticks and then he looked around at the swords he had helped Hermione decorate it with.
