DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything I didn't create. Maria is mine and the plot is mine. The philosophy reference in this chapter comes from the book Sophie's World. Also I am aware the book reference is odd cause this is one but bear with me I really like that reference it is almost directly from Sophie's World.

At the Hog's Head, Harry sat with Ron and Hermione waiting. They had decided to have the first meeting of the D.A. here in honor of last year. Shortly before noon, people started arriving. Many people from last year didn't show up, but some did. The first to arrive were Ginny, Neville, Katie, Dean, and Seamus. Lavender and Parvati, with her sister from Ravenclaw, Padma, were next. Luna Lovegood, Anthony Goldstein and Terry Boot, all from Ravenclaw, were next. The next pair was Colin and Dennis Creevey. Ernie Macmillian  and Hannah Abbott from Hufflepuff followed them in before the door closed. Andrew Kirke and Jack Sloper, the Gryffindor beaters, and first new members, were next. Justin Finch-Fletchley walked in with his arm around house-mate, Susan Bones. Much to Harry's surprise, the next arrivals were Cho Chang, tucked under Ginny's ex-boyfriend, Michael Corner. Harry was sure neither of these to would return. Just as Michael took his seat, the door swung open. Fred and George, with their friend Lee Jordan, walked in. They had graduated the previous year so everyone was confused. They were followed closely by Sirius, Lily, James and Lupin.

            "What?" Sirius joked as he took a seat, "We're third year and up!"

Ron groaned. The door swung open to reveal Maria, still carrying the tumbleweed from that morning. She did not however, join her classmates. Instead she threw them an odd look and took a seat as far away from them as possible. Once again, she donned headphones, but this time she didn't write. The door swung open one last time. Professor Snape stood there. Harry assumed he was there to meet Maria, but much to everyone's disappointment, he took a seat at Dumbledore's Army.

Hermione looked at over at Maria, "I suppose I had better be polite," she muttered. She then rose and approached the girl sitting alone. "Hello, Maria!" she said with false cheer, "I suppose you are here to join Dumbledore's Army."

Maria looked at Hermione as if she had sprouted wings, "What on Earth is Dumbledore's Army?"

"It's  a club we have all formed to learn Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"I see," Maria looked around Hermione to see the students…and teachers…and ex-students sitting there, "Would it terribly disappoint you all if I was to inform you we have a Defense Against the Dark Arts class?"

Hermione huffed, "What more useful could we be practicing? Especially with V-Voldemort, honestly everyone just needs to get over that name, back?"

"Philosophy," Maria replied.

"Philosophy? How would that help us?" Hermione glared at the girl, unaware the whole pub was now listening to her conversation.

"Well, I won't go into details, that would take days. Instead of giving you all the background information, I will skip right to the point. How do you know you exist?"

Hermione smiled, the girl should have known how smart she was, "I think, therefore I am. Also from philosophy."

"How do you know you think? How do you know the thoughts in your head aren't just placed there by the person who is really in control, how do you know we aren't just a thought? Or a Dream? Or a Book? How do you know that every movement we make isn't predetermined by an author, sitting at a keyboard, making us argue? How do you know we won't end and the last chapter draws to a close? Surely you have read thoughts in books?" Maria spoke with energy and wound up her speech quite suddenly.

Hermione stuttered a minute, looking quite taken aback. As a man cloaked in black entered the pub, she took her seat. Everyone was too busy laughing that Hermione Granger had just lost a battle of wits to realize he took the seat across from Maria, everyone except Snape.

"Right," Harry said, finally getting his laughter under control, "I suppose we should start." He pulled out a basket of what looked like Galleons and handed them out to everyone. "The numbers around the edge of these will change to reflect the date and time of our meetings, which will take place in the Great Hall. They will heat up when the numbers are changed, so if you have it in your pocket you will know that it has been set. I'll explain more at our next meeting." Once everyone had a gold coin, they filed out of the pub.

Snape was the last to leave, casting a fleeting look to the dark corner where Maria sat talking to a man cloaked in black.

A/N~ Two apologies, one, the shortness of this chapter, two the length of time it took to get it up. Happy reading! New chapter soon I hope since I have nothing to do tomorrow! Watch For Falling Tumbleweeds!!